Music
Press
...As it turns out, Sen Tony Hill and Governor Christ are considering "On the Eighth Day (God Created Florida)" as a replacement for the current state song "Old Folks At Home."
When asked about the seperation of church and state issues, Ron points out "The song is about Florida, about Florida's beauty and everything that makes it a wonderful place, It referes to but is not about God. It's not a gospel song for example."
Other rootsy tracks on the CD contain lyrics about hurricanes, Mrs. Flagler's Ghost and the Everglades. It's appropriate content considering the duo's deep connection with that state. Mathews moved to the state as an infant and Johnson's family moved to the panhandle in the late 1880's.
No matter what celebrity he stands to gain from the decision, Johnson says he doesn't necessarily wish to see the state's song changed. "We're flattered, of course," he explains, "but our own personal choice for the state song would be to simply revise the lyrics a bit. That's been done in other states as well. But if they insist on changing it, well, why not our song?"
---Kara Pound (Folio Weekly)
- The Folio Weekly (may 8th, 2007)
Discography
"Sunshine State of Mind" CD with 12 original songs.
Recent airplay has included WMNF-FM in Tampa. We've been featured twice the past two Thursdays on Pete Gallagher's "Florida Folk" show. Also last week we were on James Hawkings show WSLR-FM Sarasota, 96.5. Rock 105 FM in Jacksonville has played the first song at least twice and is currently using it for their bumper music as well.
Sen. Tony Hill from Jacksonville is spearheading a move to replace the state song of Florida ("Way down upon the Suwannee River") and one of the songs being considered is the first track of the CD "On the 8th Day (God Created Florida)."
The CD contains numerous references to Florida history and culture, incl. "Everglades Man," "Mrs. Flagler's Ghost" (one of the best "ghost songs you'll ever hear), "The Legend of Bone Mizell," and the hometown favorite "The Day Jacksonville Burned (To The Ground)."
Ron & Mary mix in a little reggae at the end with the title track, a man/woman response tune that ends the CD nicely.
2 tracks stand out as obvious hits for the kids and have been already used in some local classrooms here are "Hey Diddy Down (The Critter's Parade)" and a remake of an old Irish song rewritten by Ron & Mary, "The Cryin' Swamp."
Mary Mathews has written 3 songs for this CD. "Hey Diddy Down"about the critter's in nature and preservation, "My Cedar Key" a picturesque village on the gulf coast, and "Sunbird" a great song about the joys of owning a boat in Florida.
Ron points a critical eye towards Florida history in the catchy sing-along "Broken Promises" (criticizing FEMA) and offers the whimsical "Genealogy," a gentle poke at our family histories.
This is Ron & Mary's first recording together.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Ron & Mary play original acoustic music about Florida and other things. Their style is acoustic guitar with an emphasis on vocals that suggest heavy folk-lore imagery. All this with blues-y leads and a little country thrown in as well. Ron & Mary are a regular on the Jacksonville club circuit and they even play the occassional retirement/nursing home. They are a regular act at many of the folk festivals throughout the region.
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