Friends That Inspire
A herd of local and not-so-local friends that have helped inspire and keep me moving with my own creative voice.
I have known Jon since around 1977. A transplant from Illinois, he became a local almost immediately. Our connection has always included laughing, and we have maintained our quest for humor through the years: through good and bad times., When I became obsessed with the transformation from film to digital, he didn’t hesitate to share his vast knowled not only with equipment and editing but with printing; Jon has always been positive and reinforcing in my journey with imaging. He has been my mentor, cheerleader, and most of all, my friend. Please take the time to visit web site Prime Light. Guaranteed to blow your mind. His Images are hanging all over North America. Link www.primelight.org
Ron and I met in the ’70s. We spent time together working with autistic children in a group home. The bond was survival, nurturing our enjoyment of the outdoors and our love for music. Life moves forward and time flies by, but Ron always found a way to reach out and keep our connection.
Ron has supported me with my Photography and has nurtured my writing by motivating me to continue to share. Ron is a soft-spoken, good human, extremely creative, and talented. Ron has inspired me to continue to express myself. Once a teacher always a teacher.
After 40 years of teaching high school and college, Ron Davis left to work from home as a columnist, magazine editor, and freelance writer. His collected essays were published in 2019 by Road Dog Publication and his second is due out in 2022. His writing has been also been featured in WPR’s ” Wisconsin Life ” “Our Wisconsin and Eau Claires’s “Volume One “
Check Ron out, you will be inspired http://roaddogpub.com
The buoyancy of his personality is only overshadowed by his constant creative process. Owned a successful restaurant in Stevens Point Wisconsin for decades. He views his art the same way he views his existence and his cooking, It’s made to be experienced. His persistence in his passion is second to none. He doesn’t do anything unless it’s all the way. I watched as he began to learn to flyfish years ago and he not only became possessed he became a master and became a guide to share his passion. I would Joke that he is the only guy that I know that cleans his garage with a creative mindset. Jim is instrumental in my journey with photography and writing. His constant honesty is refreshing with smoke never being blown anywhere except where it should be. Jim’s voice mails are short and sweet. “Pinch”. I know that he has observations to pontificate.
I have known Doug since High School and don’t recall a time that he didn’t have something to do with music. I respect his dedication to his art, tenacity to survive life, and always bringing his passion with him on his journey. Doug is a true wordsmith and no doubt knows who he is as an artist. How lucky we all are that he shares all of what he is in his songs. Give Doug a Listen
Singer/songwriter Douglass Thompson spins yarns one program director called “three-minute novels.” Alternately gripping, touching and hilarious, they’re populated with such diverse characters as western swinger Spade Cooley, Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov, film directors Sam Peckinpah and John Ford, and an ornery ex-girlfriend who’s “still in jail again.”
His songwriting style draws on the Americana masters — Bob Dylan, John Prine, Guy Clark, Jerry Jeff Walker.
Doug’s engaging performance style is evident on his current CD, “It Was a Good Plan… Live at the Evening Muse.” Recorded live at Charlotte’s eclectic mecca on a rainy night, featuring a backup band of top-tier Charlotte musicians, the record captures Doug’s onstage presence impressively. A rave review at No Depression gave it “Five Jalapeños on a Stick”!
In 2019, Doug released Common Sins, a dozen songs recorded by Tim McGuire at Soul Breeze Studios, with a bunch of talented guests including NC legend, David ChildersThe record is available from Thompson or , digitally on SoundCloud
Americana music’s greatest strength is its honesty, with wit and insight tied for second place. Douglass Thompson has his sights set on all three.
-Woody Mitchell
I knew these two as we live in a small community, but when I got to know Mark and Marsha. I was very inspired by who they are. The tenacity , persistence, and love for community come out in almost every conversation.
Years ago I heard rumblings about a local public radio station. What a novel idea. I had no idea what the tenacious logistics were to get this to happen. Mark hit the ground running with his dream. Never gave up even when it looked like a lost cause. His ability to navigate not only through the bureaucracy but the pace of results is truly a Dream followed. The Waupaca area is the beneficiary of his passion and dream.
WAUP-FM 99.1 Waupaca Area Community Radio broadcast a Diverse variety of programming. News and Public Service announcement
Mark and Marsha have a show on Friday at 3pm. This takes me back to a time when we would discover music and share new music that moved us in our living rooms with friends and family. The music knowledge that these two have is truly amazing. Check it out. It’s like being in their living room. 99.1
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1006 ROYALTON ST
WAUPACA, WI 54981