Well, I’m the type that likes to drive
The open road unwinds my mind
Behind the wheel, I can leave my troubles far behind
So when I head south from the City by the Bay
There’s more than just a couple of ways
To get to my hometown in old LA
So I flipped a highway coin today.

The Big Sur coast is like a roller coaster
Route 99 is hotter than a toaster
So when I want to make good time
I take straight and straighter Highway 5
I’m coming home, thru the Old Tejon

The hills above Santa Clarita
Are covered with oak and sage and smooth manzanita
Breath in that clean mountain air,
Cause in the San Fernando Valley, well there ain’t none there.
I’m coming home, thru the Old Tejon

The hills above Santa Clarita,
Sparkle like jewels on the dress of a young senorita
Laying there across her chest
Heaving up and down like the San Andreas
I’m coming home, through the Old Tejon

There’s trailer trucks and pickup trucks and mini trucks and cars
And if you make all the way down to Hollywood,
There’s a big bowl full of stars

That 50 mile mountain pass
Burns up trannys, brakes and gas
Trucks barrel down with wheels a smokin’
Think that cherry top noticed that my taillights broken?

Hauling up the Grapevine, slipping in and outta gear
Uh oh, there she goes…I think I blew a hose
I’m coming home, through the Old Tejon

The hills above Santa Clarita
Sparkle like salt on the rim of a cold margarita
One more hour and I’m almost home,
To El Coyote where the Songdog roams,
El Coyote where this Songdog’s coming home
Through the Old Tejon

__________________________________________

CLAUDIA RUSSELL & BRUCE KAPLAN:

Claudia Russell and Bruce Kaplan traverse a wide Americana landscape, stopping at wondrous musical landmarks along the way, tipping their hat to bluegrass bands, blues divas, jazz cats, Village folkies, and singing cowboys. Lesser performers might stumble or sound fake, but driven by Claudia’s expressive voice and distinctive guitar style, it all comes together beautifully.

Claudia has a knack for crafting tightly written songs that carry you to the sweet spots of youth and the autumn colors of growing older. Kaplan’s melodic accompaniment, on mandolin and electric guitar, is spot-on. All of this is served up with a generous helping of homespun humor and shaggy dog stories, making for a heartfelt and humorous evening of deeply engaging music.

Indeed, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel wrote “Russell has a voice that was born for folk music – she breaks hearts.” Russell has won numerous other accolades including Best New Artist from WUMB FM in Boston, Best Musician in the East Bay Express Reader’s Poll, 2x Kerrville New Folk Songwriting Finalist, and high praise in Sing Out, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Boston Globe. Paul Zollo, senior editor of American Songwriter magazine, called her latest CD, All Our Luck Is Changing, “a masterpiece.”

Russell and Kaplan have toured across the country, performing at the Boston Folk Festival, the New Bedford Folk Festival, Black Hawk Folk Festival, and concert appearances at major venues such as McCabe’s, Club Passim, The Turning Point, and more than a half dozen appearances at the Freight & Salvage.

The duo’s many live on-air radio performances include West Coast Live, Roz and Howard Larman’s FolkScene, KPFA’s Dead to the World, WUMB’s Live at Noon, Folk Stage with Rich Warren, KUNI’s Live From Studio One, The Morning Show on Minnesota Public Radio as well as appearances on WORT, KCBX, KSUN and numerous other stations. Claudia and Bruce were interviewed by Robert Siegel for All Things Considered on what would have been her father’s 100th birthday. He (Val Rosing) was a British dance band singer best known as the vocalist on the original 1930s recordings of classics such as Teddy Bears Picnic and Try A Little Tenderness.

Before starting her solo career, Claudia was a member of BMG recording artists Maggie’s Farm – performing around the country, including Farm Aid where she shared the stage with Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson. She was also one third of the Life Is Grand Band, an award-winning vocal trio with Jill Freeman and Laura Zambo. Their 1990 FastFolk recording has been added to the Smithsonian/Folkways collection, making them a bona fide national treasure!

Kaplan has played in bands most of his life, starting in the world of New Wave music in such bands as the Young Adults, The Skulls, The Toasters, Annyland, and the Tearjerkers, where he met Russell backstage on a shared bill. That was 1988. Russell and Kaplan were married in 1990 and celebrate their 25th Anniversary this year – by getting on a plane for an East Coast tour.

“Some couples argue about sex or money,” says Kaplan. “We argue about song keys, set lists, and ‘who stole my capo?’” All in a days work for these veteran musicians.

Visit www.claudiarussell.com to have a look/listen for yourself.

Claudia Russell YouTube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA8053B365D428F58

Facebook: www.facebook.com/claudiarussellband

CD Baby: www.cdbaby.com/claudiarussell2

Twitter: BruceKap

iTunes:https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/all-our-luck-is-changing/id667716838