Dear Friends,

Holiday greetings to you all! And blessings for peace on our planet - remember, it's the only one we've got :)

My health has been better the last couple months, but I'm still running on 3 out of 4 cylinders, so I don't have a brand-spanking new album or major new symphony to announce. But here are a few tidbits to close out 2004 with:

1. FAMILY TITLES AVAILABLE AT ALL BORDERS BOOKS AND MUSIC STORES!

2. "THE SHAGGS" WINS BEST WORLD PREMIERE MUSICAL AWARD!

3. SHEET MUSIC SALES OF "SPINNING WORLD" TAKE OFF!

-------

1. BORDERS JUMPS ON THE GUNNAR WAGON

You've always been able to buy Gunnar music anywhere in the U.S., but sometimes stores did not carry enough stock, and you were asked to (gasp! ) Special Order. Borders Books and Music has seen the green light, and now has copies of both "Ants in My Pants!" and "Old Mr. Mackle Hackle" in each and every one of its retail outlets. So, when you're out for your holiday shopping, stop into Borders and simply pick up your copies of Gunnar's Family titles and take them to the cash register. Simple, eh?

2. STAR-STUDDED OVATION AWARDS IN LA HONORS "THE SHAGGS"

Last Fall's production of "The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World" scooped up yet another honor at the coveted Ovation Awards in Los Angeles. Beau Bridges, JoAnne Worley, Orson Bean, and Charles Durning were among the esteemed presenters. I was unable to attend, but my collaborator Joy Gregory received the award with grace and charm. This play is going to need its own trophy cabinet! As VARIETY wrote:

"Athol Fugard's "Exits and Entrances" won world premiere play honors and "The Shaggs: The Philosophy of the World" by Joy Gregory and Gunnar Madsen nabbed the musical equivalent at the 2004 L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, held Monday at downtown's Orpheum Theater."

3. FANS OF "SPINNING WORLD" OPT TO 'PLAY' BETWEEN THE SHEETS!

A thousand thanks to all of you who bought "Spinning World" during it's September sale. You made it one of the best-selling classical albums on CDBaby! Meanwhile, sales of sheet music have skyrocketed over the past months. You didn't know that you can buy sheet music from Spinning World? You can! Just go here: <http://spinningworldwaltz.com/sheetmusic.htm>

Love and light,

Gunnar

Dear Friends, Fans and associates,

Apologies to all who've written to me in the past months and gotten no reply. I've been faced with a few health problems (none of them life- threatening, but most of them life-style threatening). I'm starting to feel much better now, thank you. I'll outline in lurid and entertaining detail my travails with ill health below (see item #2) for those of you with an interest in such things.

But now, before I start to wade through the 700 emails from the past 6 months waiting for me in my inbox, I want to share the latest news:

1. Spinning World: 13 Ways of Looking at a Waltz Website launched!
2. Can you say Fibromyalgia?
3. Sept 26 concert at Theatricum Botanicum in LA cancelled (due to health...) 4. Gunnar's website now features both Realaudio and mp3s!


1. SPINNING WORLD: 13 WAYS OF LOOKING AT A WALTZ WEBSITE DEBUTS!

Many of you are fans of my CD, Spinning World. Now there is a website dedicated just to this CD alone! It's a place where you go to hear excerpts, to read the story behind it, to read what others have said about it, and, WOW, to buy it! And I want (and need) you to tell ALL your friends to visit and see and hear for themselves. The site is elegant, easy to explore, witty and true. And now everyone can hear this music in their own home RISK-FREE. I'm offering a 60-day no-questions- asked iron-clad money-back guarantee. No kidding! Oh, just go there and have a ball, and then forward this web address to all your friends:

<http://spinningworldwaltz.com/>


2. WHY DO I FEEL LIKE A LIMP BISCUIT?

Here's something many of you don't know: I've had Fibromyalgia for 11 years. It's a "condition" that makes you feel like you're on the verge of getting the flu, and slows your thinking to the speed of overcooked asparagus (at least, that's the AMA definition). For the first 10 years it came and went, forcing me to give up activities such as windsurfing and soccer, but otherwise leaving me able to enjoy life. Since last October, it has gotten pretty severe, and it's been hard to get any exercise at all, and sometimes hard to do the most basic of mental tasks (i.e. you remember to bring a shopping list to the grocery store, and you study it like the Koran as you fill your basket, and then you get home and find you've forgotten half the things on the list). During the fall and spring I was kind of able to dodge the pain and focus all my lucid moments on the Shaggs Musical, but by the time May rolled around, I could manage things no more. I struggled through a couple of my remaining concerts, but cancelled the rest.

Now, after what felt like a long, long time, I'm feeling much better. The aches and pains are receding, I'm feeling mentally competent, and I'm feeling SO much happier! Health is SO important. I've not taken it for granted in my life, but I've never been so sick for so long, either, and just one day without pain can feel like one of the greatest gifts imaginable.


3. SEPT 26TH THEATRICUM BOTANICUM CONCERT CANCELLED

Sorry, LA, but I can't come and play! Sometime this spring I injured my left shoulder. Don't know how, maybe it was carrying my lovely 1.5 year- old son around too much. It wasn't until the Fibromyalgia pains began subsiding that I realized the pain in my shoulder was a mechanical problem. I've been doing physical therapy for the past 5 weeks, but there's been no improvement yet. What this means, musically speaking, is that I can't play the guitar. So I can't perform any concerts. Bummer, eh? But don't worry, I'll let you know when I'm hale and hearty and ready to rock out again. <http://www.gunnarmadsen.com/>


4. SUNNY-SIDE UP, REALAUDIO OR MP3?

Ah, the web and technology are ever-evolving. I've been getting increasing reports of fans unable to listen to the RealAudio-encoded tunes at GunnarMadsen.com. So, okay, in addition to RealAudio, you can now listen to all the selections on my site as mp3s as well. If this all sounds like gibberish to you, fear not: all it means is that when you go to my site, you should be able to click on a song selection and hear it. No matter what computer you're using.


Peace and blessings - here's to a wonderful end of summer for all of us!

Gunnar Madsen

Dear friends and fans,

Late breaking news from the fingers of Gunnar:

1. April 28, Gunnar rocks the San Leandro Library - 7:30pm
2. Gunnar tops Sondheim at LA Weekly awards - Wins Musical of the Year and Best Original Score
3. New website celebrates The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World The Musical
4. The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World opens in Chicago this weekend.

1. FAMILY FUN WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN SAN LEANDRO!

Gunnar brings mirth and merriment and mockabilly music to the San Leandro library this Wednesday night, April 28. it's free, there's room for the whole family, so come on down:

Wednesday, April 28 7:30pm
San Leandro Library
300 Estudillo Ave.
San Leandro, CA 94577

where's the library? click here:

<http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?ed=YoverOp_0TqnAwh7b1HKQcMbis9RhLxhUTM-&csz=San+Leandro+CA&country=us&cat=>

2. WHO'S BETTER: STEPHEN SONDHEIM OR GUNNAR MADSEN?!

Well, now, let's not get carried away. Mr. Sondheim has a long and distinguished career. I'm just a pipsqueak. But the musical I wrote with Joy Gregory took the Musical of the Year award at the LA Weekly awards last night, winning out over productions of Sondheim's Company and Anyone can Whistle. Wow and yowsa! I also won for best Original score. Doesn't it make you curious about this musical? Then read on...

3. THE SHAGGS MUSICAL.COM WEBSITE IS UP!

Go to <http://www.theshaggsmusical.com/> and slurp up all kinds of info on our musical. A dedicated fan from LA (and ace web designer) put this site together out of the largeness of his heart. Ain't it beautiful?! Doesn't it make you want to SEE this musical? Then read on...

4. THE SHAGGS: PHILOSOPHY OF THE WORLD OPENS THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO!

I'm afraid that the first two shows of the run (this Saturday and Sunday) may be sold out, but the show will be running into June at the least, so there's still time to get your tickets. But remember, this show was HOT in LA, and we're turning up the heat in Chicago. So don't delay, get your tickets now at: <http://www.lookingglasstheatre.org/>


Blessings and peaceful easy feelings for all of us,

Gunnar

Dear friends and fans,

First of all, I apologize for being out of touch the past few months.
I've received many wonderful emails (my inbox is overflowing) but I was
quite sick for 2 and half months, and could only attend to the most basic
of tasks. Happy to report that as of last week my health has returned,
and I am chipper and full of frisk! I'll be getting to your emails and
more as time permits...And now, here's the latest news:

1. Concerts - Boston (Feb 14!), SF, Chicago
2. Musical Scoops up Awards in Los Angeles, heads for Chicago and
(maybe) New York!
3. Download (legally) Gunnar's music from iTunes, BuyMusic.com and more!
4. Sign my Guestbook - Please!
5. Gunnar writes hit holiday movie - sues New Line Cinema!
6. Gunnar sings on new release from The Bobs and on Outer Space CD!

1. Concert Schedule

Give a valentine to your whole family and take them to the Regent Theatre
in Arlington, MA on Valentine's Day for a love-and-music-fest with
Gunnar! And look ahead to forthcoming concerts in Chicago and the SF Bay
Area:

2/14/04, Regent Theatre, Arlington, MA, 10:30am, 781-646-4TIX
2/22/04, Buddy Club, Berkeley, CA, 1pm, 510-236-SHOW
3/7/04, Buddy Club, San Francisco, CA, 11am, 510-236-SHOW
4/4/04, Old Town School, Chicago, IL, 12pm, 773-728-6000
4/28/04, San Lorenzo, CA, 7:30pm, 510-577-3954

Full concert details at <http://www.gunnarspot.com/main/tour.shtml>


2. The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World wins BIG in Los Angeles

Gunnar and Joy Gregory's new musical not only broke box office records
and got the critics in a tizzy, it beat Mel Brooks' 'The Producers' and
Cy Coleman's 'Like Jazz' to win Best Original Score Award from
Entertainment Today. And it also won the Garland Award from Backstage
West for Best Original Score. A new production opens at Chicago's
LookingGlass Theatre May 1, and the Manhattan Theatre Club is producing a
reading (sorry, closed to the public) in March, to see if they'll be
including it in their '05 season off broadway. Wow! Feel the love...


3. Don't go to jail - Go to iTunes for Gunnar's music!

Let's not even go into the absurdity of arresting people for downloading
music. The genie is out of the bottle, we gotta live with the new genie.
And one of the best ways to live with it is with iTunes. For a mere
$.99 you can download any one of your favorite songs from Gunnar's
repertoire, or download a whole album's worth for $9.99 The itunes
software and the system are THE answer, in my opinion. It's the best,
and now available for windows too. If you've a different favorite
provider of downloadable music, don't fret - Gunnar's music is now
available for download at virtually all of them, including:

- iTunes
- Rhapsody (Listen.com)
- BuyMusic.com
- AudioLunchbox.com
- MusicMatch.com
- AOL's MusicNet


4. Guestbook broken no more. Send in your piece and love!

It seemed odd that since August my guestbook had been quiet - but, like I
said, I was too sick and busy to attend to it. I've now, with the help
of a techno-savvy friend, nursed it back to health, and it's dying to
hear from you. I LOVE to read your comments, so go forth and sign in:
<http://www.gunnarspot.com/guestbook/index.shtml>


5. Why would Gunnar sue New Line Cinema? Isn't that elfish?

You all know I'm a creative guy, got all my fingers in all sorts of pies
all the time. One of the projects nearest to my heart was a screenplay
about a guy named Elf, who outgrows his co-elves at the North Pole and
goes south to New York to try and fit in there as a human. I worked on
it (with a partner) for 9 years. Imagine our surprise when they made a
movie out of it - without telling us! I am thankful that our legal
system still allows mere people like us to sue major corporations, 'cause
it's our only recourse. What they done is criminal (or, technically,
civil), and I hope that some sort of justice will prevail. Meanwhile, I
take some satisfaction from the fact that we wrote one of the biggest hit
movies of 2003!


6. Gunnar sings on new CDs - Bobs and Space Fans Rejoice!

The Bobs have released a new CD called "The Best of the Bobs:20/20". It
celebrates 20 years of living the Bob life. 20 years?! I was a chief
Bob for the first 10 years, and this new album offers some previously
unreleased live takes of some of the classic songs that I wrote and
performed, including a way wacked out improv fest on 'Mopping, Mopping
Mopping'. I'm also singing lead on a new studio song by amy Bob called
"Giant Robot Store". Learn more at <http://bobs.com/shop.html>

"To Touch the Stars" is a new compilation of songs celebrating space
exploration. It features songs by Christine Lavin, my pals The
Birdwatchers, and me singing on a couple of songs by Leslie Fish. On one
song I was supposed to be a Russian singing about Sputnik. Look, I've
never studied Russian, but 10 months of editing the Svetlana Village film
gave me an ear for the dialect. That, plus a childhood of imitating
Boris on Rocky and Bullwinkle. Anyway, my accent may not be accurate,
but it's fun. Listen and learn at <http://www.totouchthestars.com/>



That's all, folks. Peace and light and love to you all,

Gunnar Madsen