Meade Sings

In High school I was active in choir, and even did some class plays.  Eventually, I did have a nervous break down and had to be home schooled, but at that point, I became more serious about doing musical performance. I didn't really perform out much as a teenager, but I did get my start doing the nursing home circuit. When I was in my mid to late teens, I performed at various  nursing and retirement homes all over the Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia area. I did a variety of songs, but very few of my originals. I did mostly covers from the past. A lot of the old folks seemed to enjoy it. They would ask me how I knew all these "old songs". I just told them from my grandfather's record collection.  In those days, most of the people were still alive from the World War II generation. The legacy of Patsy Cline was strong, because she sang at many of the bars and restaurants in the Tri State area.  This area was her stomping ground. Some people in the area still res...

I some times forget that I'm a public figure. I assume most no one has heard of me. But upon occasion I will be reminded by someone I encounter in public that has heard of me or my music, or both. that there is definitely more people that know of me, than not.  I usually air on the side of caution when being approached by strangers, but I am very appreciative of people who enjoy the music and I really think they are swell! Some times people do ask me if I'm that musician guy who wrote the "sweet tea song"... Or they mention hipsters.  I get approached by a lot of people from out of nowhere and usually when I am least expecting it. The other night , a man next to me in the check out line of Kroger's,  was singing the words to "Sweet Tea". He then broke out into some song by the Georgia Satellites. I guess he didn't want me to know who he was ,but that he know who I was.   So, things like this do happen! He definitely had good taste in music. Some ...

This is a song from "Joseph and The Technicolor Dream Coat"

 Above: Oh, dear, please don't call my music "Pop Rock". I started eagerly pursuing doing the coffeehouse gigs in about 2004, when I first played at the Mudhouse in Charlottesville, Virginia. That was one of the mainstays for me. It was on the downtown mall, tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the main shops . The staff was always friendly to me. One time, when I parked my car in one of those "tourist traps", I got my car towed away and they held it for ransom. I had no cash on me, so the girl who worked at the shop and her boyfriend helped me get to an ATM machine so I could withdraw some cash!  It was very of nice of them to do. So, after all, I did pay for my parking ticket, but I forgot to leave the receipt on the car. Oh, well, lesson learned. That event inspired "One More Latte In Love".. The Mudhouse also had a location in Crozet, Virginia, as well. I would play there too- although the vibe wasn't as "quaint" as the ...

These promo pictures were taken at Clark's Barn near Richmond in December, 2001. This is when I was just starting out in the local music scene here.

I have seen the cost of fame in many people in the entertainment world. I find that it's not worth it.  As a non-famous person, I can live my life in solitude. I can go out in public and no one bothers me. No one  has to know who I am, where I am, or what I am doing.  I have freedom. I'm not bound by pressures of the outside world.   Years ago, I wanted fame badly. But only to prove myself to those that were mean to me in my schooling days. Those days are long gone, and many of my enemies then have long forgotten me already. Even if I became a "Star", many of them would either not know, or not care. Most people are  too consumed with the goings on of their own lives and too busy to notice or keep track of how others did in their graduating class , especially after 20 years or more have passed. The expression "What price glory?" often refers to what people give up when they pursue fame. If they make it, they find out it's not what they thought it would ...

This is a song made famous by the Monkees. I found it very endearing, and it speaks of Conservative Christian values, so I include my own version here.

I'll be doing short podcasts for Meade Skelton Radio. I'll be publishing once a month. A variety of topics will be discussed. Enjoy the first Episode: Entertainment Goals !

Words by : Kim Wendell Music By: Meade Skelton Haufe

From July, 2011. I was 32 years old.  

In the dawn of 2017, now in my late thirties, I have come to realize something which I might have known already: I am a failed singer. I have never had the opportunity to sing on national television (only local). I have never held a recording contract, or sung on the Grand 'ol Opry, or the famed Ryman auditorium. All of which I dreampt about since I was a teenager. And yet, I still refuse to give up. I keep plugging along. I will write, sing, and sing again until I draw my last breath on earth and return to Jesus. As conceited as it may sound, there are people of lesser talent than I who have accomplished much in life. I know that I will not give up, and never never will I quit. I don't know where this road will end, where it shall take me, or how I'll even manage. But years ago I decided I wanted to be a professional singer and perform in front of audiences far and near. Every time I get up and sing, I am living that dream. I sing in church, I sing in front of a small g...

There were many very talented people last night. Some were just amazing. I felt very inadequate. However, the audience seemed to really like my yodeling, and my "sweet tea". I got a request for "sweet tea" so I did that one, and then I followed up with "two step 'round the Christmas tree"- a Michael Martin Murphy tune, also done later by Suzy Bogguss. I got a good response from the table next to me afterwards. There were 11 performers for the night (all from each month that won for the monthly prize- January through November). After getting a wild response, I thought maybe I had a chance at being in the top three finalists. I kept hoping and praying that would happen. It didn't , though An Oriental guy wowed everyone with his piano playing. He was very good- but he didn't sing. All he did was play the piano.  He did versions of Queen Bohemian Rhapsody and some other semi-Classical stuff like that. You know what folks? I can play Classical pia...

Live from the Tin Pan in Richmond, Virginia (Photos by Dave Pearson Richmond, VA)                                                                                      

I have always enjoyed yodeling. Like most everyone else, I was self taught. I started listening to German yodelers such as Franzl Lang, but naturally picked it up also by listening to Country and Western infused songs by Hank Williams Sr. Cowboy/Country yodeling is slightly different than German and Swiss and Austrian yodel, but not remarkably. They are more similar in most ways, although there is more tempo changes in Germanic yodeling than in cowboy style. Cowboy yodeling or in Country Music, has more sustained falsetto and not quite as much shift between the chest and head voice. Many of Hank Sr's yodel songs include "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" and, of course "Lovesick Blues". Two of my favorites. When I lived on the farm as a teenager , I used to yodel inside the old Silo in the barn. I used to yodel to my horses as well. They never yodeled back. But it was a neat way to get them inside when it was time to feed them. So basically I started yodeling in my mi...

Every August we have the Watermelon Festival, and each year its packed with thousands of people, and each year its usually the hottest day of the summer . I have performed many years there , but I never seem to get any watermelon! This year it  was a very humid 97 degrees (with a heat index of 110), but luckily we had some shade. I played this year with the band, as we have performed there in the past few years as well. It was a good turn out. I remember the first time I played the Watermelon Festival. It was back in 2000, and I was 21 years old. I was right nervous, and had a lot of bathroom issues that day. I didn't want to be in large crowds, but I felt it would be neat to gain new fans by exposing myself! Back in those days, I had a little digital Yamaha keyboard that was basically like playing chop sticks. I didn't have as much experience performing. Even though I did some plays in high school. I was nervous that first year , and I remember throwing up all that morning i...

This past weekend was right busy! Friday, July 1st, I performed at the Fredericksburg Center For The Creative  Arts Gallery on Sophia Street. Since there was limited space, and a storm was brewing, I had to perform inside the entry room.  I had to sing as softly as possible, but Bessie and I were able to give a fairly good sample of our best known hits including "Sweet Tea" and "Clean Livin". The atmosphere was inspiring, and the many talented artists who's work filled the spaces of the gallery were appreciative! The acoustics were marvelous and I certainly didn't need any microphone.  I had to stay overnight at the Hyatt Place near Mary Washington College  and went to the George Rowe Family Reunion the following day. It was a very uplifting experience. Many people were there, and discussed was the illustrious  history of the Rowe family in the city of Fredericksburg and its environs, as well as ancestral connections to the Patawomeck  Indian Tribe of...

                              MEADE    SKELTON                             A lot of folks ask me where I get the name "Meade Skelton".   They ask me "Are you related to Red Skelton?" Is that your real name? "Meade Skelton sounds like a  made up hipster name to me" , Etc. Well, no, I am no kin to Red. But yes its my real name!  Meade, of course is my first name, and Skelton is actually my middle name, but since I have a short first and last name, I decided to use my middle name for my stage name moniker. It just had a nicer ring to it. They come from my mother's side of the family.  Both Meade and Skelton are family names. Skelton is my grandmother's maiden name. My gr...

My Coffee Shop Country is officially released! The CD format was the most cost efficient this type around, but its still got 10 really nice and nifty songs inspired by yours truly. I hope Y'all will enjoy this one. You can order from me direct by going to my website and using the contact page. From there i take Paypal and can ship it to your address- autographed and all! CDs are just 12$ which includes shipping. Thanks and God Bless!

Me and Bessie!