This week’s blog is somewhat different than what those of you who read my blogs regularly are accustomed to. Usually I talk about all the cool things that have been going on musically, the studio, the tour, and video/photo shoots etc. But not so much this week. What some of you may know from my updates, I’ve been in Texas this week at the hospital with my Grandfather.
My mom got a call from her brother at 4 am Hawaii Time saying we needed to get there right away. He said my Grandfather might not make it through the night. So my mom and my sister flew from Hawaii, met me in LA and we flew to Texas. (My dad is in meetings in South Korea and couldn’t get back.)
My week had been all planned out in the studio, but when a call like that comes in, everything changes.
With all of the emotions of this week, I’m feeling very sentimental. My Grandfather has played such a pivotal roll in my life. Growing up, my dad traveled a lot. Don’t get me wrong, my dad taught me many of the core values that I am so grateful for: how to be a leader, a provider, a strong work ethic, etc. But my Grandfather was the male figure who taught me how to love and how to cherish the ones I love. He taught me that there is a beauty in vulnerability. The way he loves my Grandmother is a love like few ever know. He is the epitome of a man. His four kids say he is the ultimate father.
One of my favorite memories with my Grandfather was sitting on a bench at the mall waiting on “the girls.” I asked him, “Da (that’s what I call him) do you ever get tired of waiting on Meme?” He said, “No, cause I know that any minute she’s going to come around the corner, and that’s worth the wait every time.” I could go on and on about him.
We spent the last week basically living at the hospital. My cousins, my sister and I would take turns pulling the overnight shift. No one ever complained. The nurses kept commenting on what an unusually loving family we have and what a special man he must be since no one wanted to leave his side.
Like I said earlier, the doctors didn’t give much hope. They said his heart was only operating at 15%, that his liver was failing and that his blood pressure was dangerously low. But did I mention that Da is a man of faith? Everyday he would make miraculous strides. The doctors kept saying, “We’re not sure how he’s doing this, but he’s doing it.” On Wednesday, they said if he can get his blood pressure up, he could go home on Friday. Shortly thereafter his blood pressure dropped even more and the nurses were concerned that he may have to stay. While he was asleep, my aunt whispered to him “Daddy if you want to go home, you have to get your blood pressure up.” Within seconds we watched it start to climb: 68, 69, 70 until it was up to 90 within a matter of minutes. So Friday they released him!!!
With the good report, my family packed up and headed to the studio so they could sing on my new Christmas song, “Home For The Holidays.” They blew me away! Every time I hear them sing, I’m amazed by their talent. How does everyone in my family sound like a rock star??!!! I can’t wait for you guys to hear the song. (My sister has a little solo…watch out!) It was a great day all around!
I wish I could say that Da was completely out of the woods, but I believe it’s just a matter of time. When something like this happens it truly puts things into perspective and reminds us what really matters. I appreciate all of your prayers more than you can ever know. I showed my family some of your messages and as I, they we’re humbled by your prayers and support. So with Da on the road to recovery, I’m headed back to LA to get back in to the studio. For me it really is Christmas in June!
What a week. These four dates with Nikka Costa have been amazing! Thanks so much to all the Cali fans that came out to the shows! It’s great to be with another artist that performs everything live. No tracks, nothing canned, all live and organic. Nikka is unbelievable live and it’s been an honor to share the stage with her.
We got great feedback from fans and critics alike. So I was very happy. I’ve spent enough time on the road to know how important it is to tour with people you really like. My band and singers always make it so much fun and Nikka’s team shares that same vibe. So all in all, I’d say it rocked!
Nikka’s band was amazing. Her bass player had this big cool fro and it made me think of how bad I wanted a fro when I was a kid. I wanted one so bad that when I was ten years old I convinced my Grandmother to give me a perm. Yeah I know…but I was ten. I ended up with Shirley Temple ringlets. It was not a good look. I ended up shaving my head. It was either that or walk around singing “the sun’ll come out tomorrow”.
Many of you have asked about us spreading out to other shows across the Country and all I can say is, keep your eyes open, you never know!
So I got back to LA and headed right into the studio to start working on the Christmas CD. Now I’m all in the Christmas spirit. Christmas in June baby!
It’s been a few weeks since I mentioned it so I think it’s worth repeating. If you haven’t picked up the Big For Me single on Itunes, be sure to do that. I’d love for everyone to buy, rate and review. Here is the link: Buy Big For Me
On that note, the EP is finished and will be available on Itunes very soon so keep a lookout for that! It’s got a few songs that many of you may not have heard yet and some hot remixes! Dresden & Johnston and Bama Boyz remixes are off the chain. I can’t wait for you to hear them!!
Thanks again to all of you guys for all of your love and support. I honestly couldn’t do it without you!!
PS – Here’s a video from the first night of tour, at the Independent in San Francisco:
Ahh summer how this Hawaii boy loves you! I went to the Hollywood Farmers Market today and I have 4 words: Peaches and Heirloom Tomatoes. It’s days like this that I love LA. It was nice to be back in town this week.
I finished the Big For Me acoustic remix this week and I’m so happy with it. I can’t wait for you guys to hear it. It’s on the EP available this weekend and will include the remixes I talked about last week as well as two new songs from “The Introduction”! I know some of you are past ready for your Jd Webb “The Introduction” CD so hopefully this will tide you over until August 25th.
The week has been full with recording the EP and rehearsals gearing up for my tour with Nikka Costa. The tour starts this Thursday! Here are the dates again just in case you missed them:
June 11th in San Francisco at The Independent
June 12th in LA at The Troubadour
June 13th in Hermosa Beach at Saint Rocke
June 14th in San Diego at The Belly Up Tavern
You guys can also check out my acoustic set and interview that I did for lp33.tv
Btw, if you haven’t joined the street team, we’re kicking it in to full gear! You can join by CLICKING HERE. You’ll be the first to get Jd Webb gear, exclusive downloads and the Big For Me Giveaway: A trip for 2 to LA, a VIP concert at my exclusive listening party and a tour of the Days Of Our Lives set (which includes a “Days” gift bag and a meet and greet with some of the shows cast members)! How cool is that?! Now if that doesn’t make you want to join the street team, I don’t know what will!!!
OK friends as usual, it’s way past my bedtime and if I’m going to get any sleep before sunrise, I better close now. I hope to see all my Cali friends at one of the shows this week! I’ll be hanging out after the shows to meet you!
Hope you had a great weekend! I’m gearing up to hit the road with Nikka Costa in a few days (the tour kicks off June 11 in San Francisco!) and I wanted to reach out to you, the fans, to join the JD Webb army and get the word out in the street about me and The Introduction.
What does being the street team entail? Before the show we will provide you with stickers, buttons and other cool JD Webb stuff to pass out to old and new fans as they leave the venue. This way they not only get to go to the concert but they get some free stuff afterward!
If you are going to any of the 4 dates on the Nikka Costa tour and are interested in joining the street team please send an email to jdwebbstreetteam2009@gmail.com and we’ll get you on board! I would love to meet you all along the way and for your efforts you’ll get extra special VIP treatment including the chance to catch me at sound check and a special meet and greet before the show.
Big For Me Remixes!
Man this week has flown by. I’ve been busy in the studio working on a couple of acoustic remixes. One for Big For Me and one for a song called Sky Is The Limit. I can’t wait for you guys to hear them. Some of you may have heard them on your favorite radio stations. (Thanks for calling and requesting them!) I’m finishing those remixes for the EP and they’ll be available on my tour with Nikka Costa. We’ll also have it available on iTunes very soon!
One of the tracks on The Introduction and also on the EP is a new song called Better Man. There will be a couple of sick remixes for that song as well. There’s the Better Man dance remix by Dresden & Johnston. Their mixes always hit the top of the dance charts. You may have heard the #1 remix that they did for Lily Allen. If you haven’t heard of Dresden & Johnston, check the out. They are ridiculous! And they killed on the Better Man remix! You can become friends with them (and hear the Better Man remix!) HERE
The Bama Boyz did the Better Man hip hop remix and its awesome as well! They’ve done a bunch of remixes for Beyonce and well, Google them, they’re everywhere!
So this week has been studio, studio and more studio. Which I love! Trust me today I thought I was ready for a little break. This afternoon my Dad called, his flight got rerouted to LA so I got to spend the afternoon with him. Always cool to see my Pops!
Btw, if you guys are haven’t joined the street team, which you can click HERE to become a member. There you can be one of the first to pick up my latest merch and there’s a bunch of free stuff for you there too!
A bunch of you have been asking about the Big For Me video. I’ll have my latest video blog up soon with some behind the scenes footage! For those of you who sent messages saying you can’t wait to see it, me too!!
Ok friends, it’s now after 2:30 AM and way time for this insomniac to try and get some sleep. I hoping for 5 hours, but whatever. I’ll sleep when I’m dead!
