I recently had an opportunity to visit with singer-songwriter Dale Pyatt about some of his recent projects. He’s excited about the just released Run Secretariat Run, a song he wrote about the great racehorse, which he recorded with the help of Steve Thomas, Jenee Fleenor, and Aaron McDaris.
This is a song of personal significance to Dale, as he had the opportunity when he was a child to see and photograph Secretariat, and some years later as an adult he had the opportunity to groom the champion thoroughbred in the stallion’s retirement.
The song is available as a single at www.secretariat.com. Who knows… maybe this is the next great racehorse bluegrass song?
Run Secretariat Run: [http://traffic.libsyn.com/thegrasscast/secretariat.mp3]
One of Dale’s other recent projects is Life Goes On, a song he and Steve Thomas wrote for Musicians Against Childhood Cancer. The song will be released as the title cut on a new Rural Rhythm release planned for Spring 2012. With its all star cast, the history of the last MACC release (Celebration of Life) winning IBMA Album of the Year in 2006, and the great cause the CD will benefit, Dale is understandably proud to have co-written the title song.
A common thread through Dale’s projects, which he presents using the name ChickenGrease Band, is the involvement of Steve Thomas. Most of the projects are recorded at Steve’s Gain Train Studio, with Steve contributing his multi-instrumental and vocal talents. They added video to the audio on Lazybones, another Pyatt composition, and were selected as a finalist in a CMT talent search for unsigned artists.
If you watch the video closely, in addition to Steve, Dale, their sons, and Steve’s wife Janet in primary roles, you’ll see a cameo appearance by banjo player/DJ Charlie Hall, and a cast of dozens.
A construction contractor and a true renaissance man, look for more interesting music from Dale Pyatt in the future.
