Hi there folks. Well, since last we spoke (see previous newsletter), there's certainly been lots of fun and games going on here in Kansas. The winter storms that battered much of the US took their toll on middle America and included a clutch of freak tornados that leveled the until-recently-under-construction Ryan Library in Leavenworth. Weirdly enough, nothing else in the city was damaged.

It was 'In Praise of Wheat Day' in Kansas when the tornados hit - a public holiday - so fortunately there were no reported injuries. However, Coathanger's offices and my apartment were buried beneath tons of rubble, forcing me to set up an emergency command headquarters at a local refuge centre, along with 20,000 homeless employees.

But apart from that, things are looking pretty good for 2007!

For example - this May, Ross is teaming up with Phil Manning & Glenn Cardier for two shows, billed as 'Songwriters in the Round'.

The brainchild of impresario Chris Swann, promoter of the very excellent  Music Warehouse in Tanunda, South Australia; the concerts are a casual onstage exploration of the art of songwriting and performance as well as an opportunity to see three of Australia's finest in action.

Those of you who have been following this saga will fully appreciate the monumentality of the occasion. After 10 years of erratic negotiations between Coathanger and EMI (See: Historic agreement), Melbourne based Aztec Music will in June be releasing on CD, Ross's iconic 'My Name Means Horse' album.

There are of course plans to coincide this with a series of exciting live performances - but then again, we always have lots of exciting plans - so who knows? We'll keep you posted!

 See: 'My Name Means Horse' news item

Meanwhile, Coathanger has begun the process of assembling a new RR compilation CD - and we'd like your input.

To be honest, none of us here at the refuge centre are particularly familiar with Ross's 70s material. Subsequently we've had some difficulty in selecting appropriate tracks. Our present plan is to draw titles out of a hat until we fill the CD.

So if any of you loyal Ryanites have other suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. What do you consider to be the definitive Ross Ryan collection? Maybe you figure Ross would be better served by an EP?

Whatever.

To air an opinion, please contact us at:

In a related matter which does have a degree of relevance; it has come to our attention that EMI has been unable to locate one of the master tapes of the 'After The Applause' album. Fortunately it's side two.

See: Missing 'Applause' tape news item

You may recall that we had a few problems with 2005. I guess we just didn't seem to get the hang of it. So it's not surprising that for his part, Ross has spent most of the last 12 months on the Pacific isle of Fongafale, hosting the midnight to dawn shift on local radio station Fong FM.

Having said that, the guy still had a busy 2006.

There were of course the two benefit gigs for former EMI producer Peter Dawkins (See: Ross's Phlog) and a subsequent appearance at the annual NSW Parkinson's Society dinner where he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Ita Buttrose and Lady Sonia McMahon.

Ross then spent a most enjoyable six weeks or so hanging out with a wonderful group of talented and starving actors, as a member of the play 'Chasing Pegasus'. Hi guys!

Written & directed by Sally Maclean, 'Chasing Pegasus' was performed as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival, followed by a season down the coast in Mt Martha.

In due course, our web team will be posting pix from the show.

  See: 'Chasing Pegasus' news item

'Chasing Pegasus' cast & crew.

Finally, we have one of those perfectly timed career affirming occasions that are hard to top.

I'd wager that all those years ago when Ross wrote his horse song, he didn't realise that it would one day give him the rare opportunity to host the Equestrian Federation of Australia NSW Awards!

And with the impending re-release of Ross's classic 'Horse' album only months away, it was on this night of nights, that Coathanger launched its all new 2007 'Ross is Still a Horse' promotional campaign.

  See: Equestrian Rhapsody

Whew! So that's our first newsletter for 2007.

As soon as I've dealt with the insurance people and the politicians leave town, I am so planning to get out of this place for a while

I'll be returning to head office in Glen Iris to co-ordinate the upcoming release of the 'My Name Means Horse' CD and to assemble the tracks for the projected RR compilation (don't forget to send us your suggestions).

Hopefully I'll also be able to catch the Ross, Phil & Glenn gigs in South Australia. See you there!

Cheers

Ms Connie Person
Coathanger Civil Defense Team Captain
Leavenworth Refuge Centre
Kansas