Category Archives: Blog
South Wind
Through the next few months I will be making my earlier recordings available here online. I hope you enjoy them!
My song South Wind was recorded in 1990 not long after I won that year’s B.W. Stevenson Songwriting Contest in Dallas at Poor David’s Pub. A fellow contestant, Jim Jones (yes, that Jim Jones, the famous song and fiction writer in New Mexico) helped me by producing my first album of original songs, Big Wind.
The melody is also called South Wind, a traditional Irish harp and fiddle tune.
This recording features Linda Relph on fiddle. This four-time California State Champ fiddler (just by 1990) had recently moved to Dallas, and we met at a Celtic Music Session at the old Tipperary Inn on Lower Greenville Avenue in Dallas. We later formed a band together with folk singer, Bodhran player and accordionist Rupert Crabb called Pegasus Project. We played hard for about three years and it was a blast.
Ancient Valley Open Mic Season Three
Thursday, June 6 began the 2019 season of Ancient Valley Open Mic at a new location in Del Norte, Colorado Tap House and Grille/Mystic Biscuit Coffeehouse. We enjoyed using their big, well-lit stage and sound system.
Ancient Valley Open Mic is a free, weekly community event. Solos and groups, music and spoken word, all ages and languages are welcome.

KNON Dallas/Fort Worth Air Time!
The “Not Just Another Pretty Song” Texas Tour is going great. Check out my regular updates at Jenni Mansfield Peal Original on Facebook. Today I joined Anni Howe and the crew for Action Anni’s Monday Morning Blend on KNON, 89.3 fm DFW and played old and new songs.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1409648398


Not Just Another Pretty Song
April 2019 Texas Tour
With lots of stops to make and friends to see, I’m glad I had a lot of new songs to take on this tour of San Antonio, Austin, Central Texas, Dallas, and East Texas venues and events. Part of our visit down south included recording several new songs at Audio Dallas Recording Studio. You can hear some of the work we did on my post, “Evalina with Fiddle by Linda Relph.” I have deep gratitude for my many friends who made this tour a success.

Related show
Sentimental Journeys: Song Collections for Seniors
Putting On The Old Folk’s Clothes!
“Putting On The Old Folk’s Clothes,” and “The Milkmaid and Her Pail” are two original songs from my most recent album, Putting On The Old Folk’s Clothes, 2008. I only chose my favorite pioneer children’s songs for this collection, songs that were popular with the school groups I worked with at Old Red Museum of Dallas History and Culture, as well as Dallas Heritage Village, and outdoor museum in the heart of the city. Over an eight-year period I taught Texas Pioneer songs and dances, along with instrument-making techniques, to hundreds of children.
Related show
Ancient Valley Open Mic Spring 2018
Ancient Valley Open Mic Spring 2018 will be hosted at Wildwood Sounds Concert Venue in Del Norte, with its outstanding acoustics, lighting, and performance atmosphere. Check my shows for more information, and become our friend on FB: https://www.facebook.com/AVopenmic/ This is a free community arts event.
Related show
My Pledge of Allegiance
As Tom and I have become more comfortable in our new home in southern Colorado, I have come to admire Coloradans’ good nature and practical respect for personal liberty. One of our current state senators, Michael Bennet, has raised his voice for justice and fairness towards all in our country, including families who are immigrants. Inclusiveness is an American ideal, along with liberty and justice for all, that is contained in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag that so many of us learned as students and repeated daily.
It’s to Sen. Michael Bennet and other leaders who are speaking up for the civil rights of ordinary people that I dedicate this song.
My Pledge Of Allegiance