​Greetings friends, 
        Wow, looking here at how long it has been since I last posted an update surprised me. Between Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and all the other social media posts that seem necessary -oh yea - life too, sometimes the essential updates get looked over. I am trying very hard to get all of my content onto my website and not so much on social media, but it is proving more difficult. You can help by reminding me and visiting my website often. I welcome all thoughts and suggestions on how I can make my website better. Okay, enough of that. Let us get on with the news. 
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ABBA MANIA - 2022 Winter/Spring Tour

Our winter/early spring ABBA MANIA tour was a huge success. We had many more dates than usual, which was great, but it made staying fit on the road more complicated. During our fall 2021 tour, I did my first daily "Tour Blog." I had always wanted to do one, so I am glad I saw it through. However, I found that it was very time-consuming, and due to my schedule on the road, I found myself getting behind more than I wished. I did make a point to include photos, videos, and the video stage walks that everyone loved so much in the past. So if you missed that, you can find it here under the tour section. I received a lot of positive feedback, and many people enjoyed it, but unfortunately, it was just way too a daunting task to undertake on this last tour. I hate that because it is a cool artifact to have when looking back. Back on track!

Yes, I had a wonderful time on this tour. We celebrated Birthdays, crossed the country again, had epic bus parties, played in gorgeous venues, ate too much chocolate and pizza, and saw many friends along the road I had not seen in a very long time, some in many years. I even got to meet one of my childhood heroes, Brian Forster. Brian played Chris Partridge in The Partridge Family Television Series in the 1970s. He is a wonderful and kind man, and I am thrilled to have gotten to know him. I have tons of photos that I would like to share, but I am not sure when I will find the time to log them here correctly. So with that said, if you want pictures, then please follow me on instagram.
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www.instagram.com/therealjeffpike.

I am posting all the photos from the tour and more, and I still have a long way to go. I post once a day, so please join me on my journey.

RIGHT WHERE I AM - ALBUM UPDATE 
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There are a couple of new updates I have to share with you regarding the release plan for my next album, 'Right Where I Am.' If you have been following closely, then you know, I finished recording the album back in late 2021. I planned to release it in the fall of 2022 but touring, life, and many other obstacles made me reconsider. Sometimes obstacles can be a good thing. After much thought and conversation with my producer, Gino Vannelli, we concluded that the best way to proceed is to make videos for each of the songs and then release some of them as singles over time. So the ball was passed from Gino to his brother Ross Vannelli.

Ross Vannelli is a highly successful songwriter, producer, audio engineer, video director, and Gino's business and creative partner. Being very familiar with Ross's work, I am very excited to have him in charge of this part of our ambitious project. The first song we decided to shoot is a song called "Sunset On L.A." As luck would have it, the ABBA MANIA tour ended in Hollywood on March 13. Since Ross is based out of Los Angeles, Kathy Mullen flew out, and we decided to stay a few extra days and shoot the video. I could not have planned a better experience if I had scripted it myself. Ross is a helluva guy with a beautiful sense of humor. Like his brothers Gino and Joe, he is a creative genius, so new creative ideas were always bounced around. The weather was stunningly perfect, and we spent two days shooting in Hollywood, Malibu, and Ross's studio. I can honestly say that I have not had that much fun working in a long time. Everything went smoothly, and we all worked together very well. Also, like his brothers, he works and hardly ever sleeps, so in less than two weeks, the entire video was finished. We are all thrilled with the results. In late May, we are heading back to California to start work on the next video, " Right Where I Am." Stay tuned for more as it develops. ​

ALWAYS - ALBUM UPDATE

A little over a year ago, my good friend and colleague Paul Leslie suggested I record an album of classic, romantic jazz ballads from the early to the mid-20th century. Unbeknownst to Paul, Gino Vannelli and I previously discussed the same thing. So after bringing on board Joseph Patrick Moore, Wayne Viar, and Conal Fowkes, work began. Paul Leslie is the Executive and Co-Producer, Joseph Patrick Moore will produce and mix, and Gino Vannelli will be my vocal and creative advisor. As I mentioned previously in this update, sometimes stumbling blocks get in your way, pushing things aside for a while. Such was the case with this project, which has been for the best. As of this month, work has resumed on 'Always." I am looking forward to digging into these old songs and sinking my teeth into them. I am sure I will learn a lot and be a better singer on the other side of this project. ​

The 2021 Fall ABBA MANIA tour was very successful and packed with great times, spectacular performances, lots of stories, and loads of laughs. The short month we were out on tour supplied us with memories that will remain with us for some time to come. 

At the onset of the tour, I decided to try something I had never done before. With the encouragement of others and my curiosity, I decided to try writing a tour blog while I was out on the road. I knew that it would be an undertaking, but I was willing to give it a try. It was, just like I thought, very time-consuming, and I did fall behind a time or two. I did enjoy it, however, and I feel that it could turn into a lovely coffee table book if I were given more time to finish each blog. 

At any rate, I have finished it as much as I am going to at the moment and would love for you to check it out. It covers 25 days, so I would not recommend you read it all in one sitting! I do hope you finish it, though, and I would love to hear your thoughts, comments, and suggestions once you are through. Thank you for being part of my journey. 

ABBA MANIA - FALL 2021 TOUR BLOG
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