"You have more talent in your left knee,than I do in my whole body!" (Jon Bon Jovi to Kurt Johnston onstage, Lost Highway tour 2007) That phrase took me by surprise to say the least! However, it was affirmations like that moment that have kept me going, kept me striving to do something good with this musical ability that I've tried to honor. I must admit that many times I've taken those abilities for granted. But I digress. I am not here at this moment to write about the mistakes in my life.That would take too long. I am writing about my new 12 song CD "Acknowledging the gift vol.1"! I will talk about the music in a second but first, I must illuminate the fact that none of this effort would have been in my "wheelhouse" of possibilities if it had not been for the advent of "Protools",home studios and companies like CD Baby and Disc Makers.They have provided a professional and affordable resource for artists like me and musicians at all different stages of their journey. A Gift! I have never really had a label deal,management or agent deal to speak of. I don't possess the gift of hustling and promoting "me". In fact,quite the contrary.Long ago, I aspired to be the member of a musical unit, a team player. I was content in that image, sharing the spotlight and deflecting attention when necessary. It was an idea with an expired shelf life and I found myself alone with seemingly unlimited sounds and ideas in my head that needed to be organized and documented before I was too old to be interested. The 12 tracks on this CD are just a peek into what I have been humming in my head during the past 47 years since I've been at the business of making music. I've never had the desire to be marketed or labeled as any one style of artist. Quite honestly, there was not much choice. I had been a local musician,raising a family and working fulltime doing music. I wanted to be there at home in the morning to see my children. Not every gig was a concert. Most were clubs,dinner houses,churches,VFW's,Fairs,Senior facilities.I had to provide a wide menu of songs to be able to please those places. I never knew what I was gonna be asked to do.In a short time, I found myself liking the variety. (I get bored quickly). I kept at it until I realized this music thing I'm doing is not about me.It wasn't about being the fastest or most innovative at my instrument(s). For me, the reason I do this is to aspire to create something beautiful for this life I'm living. To share and to be a communicator, to affect the soul. To honor the Creator. I selected tried and true cover songs to surround the originals penned by myself and my wife Suzanne whose love, support and belief in me has been unwavering. I wanted to tell the truth in my originals, but I did not want to sound "preachy", a true challenge. We are looking forward to including more originals in the CD's to come. Acknowledging the Gift is not just a "one-off" but something to continue to explore and define for as long as I am able. Kurt M.Johnston 2017