Short of doing a decade overview – and this decade was quite a changing up decade with three albums released, tours of Italy and the U.K. and many awards and videos with great Detroit shows, too (and a wedding and teaching and Wayne State University degrees, health challenges, very challenging and sad loss of my father, but also much grateful love 🙂 – here’s a little recap of 2019
The first book is here! “Detroit (Maiden Energy)” is available now with “street princess poems & lyrics” with some prose, finally done. The next book features much more prose but first things first! Thank you to Aquarius Press/Aux Media and Heather Buchanan, to the great writers who sent me blurbs for the book and fantastic reviews and family, friends and Scott Dailey and the band for the support! And to WDET-FM NPR Detroit’s Ann Delisi for the great interview which ran for 2 weeks on WDET-FM.
One of the bigger highlights was returning to Detroit’s Concert of Colors with Don Was in July at The Michigan Theatre in Jackson, Michigan and the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) Film Theatre for shows filled to capacity.
I was featured in a PBS special “Those on the Front Lines of Cancer” and my song “I Will Rise” was also in the film. Scott Dailey and I performed the song at “Dancing with The Survivors” for The Pink Fund in Southfield, Michigan, a beautiful night!
We performed up at Earthwork Harvest Gathering up in Lake City, Michigan, with Erin Zindle joining on violin and started doing new recording for a 2020 release
The Downtown Detroit Tree Lighting was amazing in November with approximately 50,000 people attending in the freezing just before Thanksgiving with WXYZ-TV Detroit (ABC) and Downtown Detroit Partnership. Thank you!
November also included the first Book Events at the stellar bookstore Book Beat in Oak Park, Michigan, world-renowned for its particular attention to writers, artists and literary fulfillment. We were also at the River’s Edge Gallery for a Book Event reading in Wyandotte.
I’m also honored to have one of my poems in RESPECT: The Poetry of Detroit Music and reading at the Book Event at Third Man Records Detroit. I just another great Book/Music Event In Traverse City, Michigan with Horizon Books and a fun interview with DJ Racin’ Jason on WKLT’s Morning Show – thanks to fabulous DJ and friend Terri Ray as well.
Also, there’s a great new album titled “Recreation” produced by Freddie Brooks and Orchide Records – it’s a great, rare 10 inch red vinyl, and it features our celebrated band Detroit Energy Asylum and Patti Smith. Here’s a link https://orchiderecords.bigcartel.com/products
With some nice radio airplay this year – thanks to WDET-NPR Detroit, WKLT-FM Traverse City, WHFR-FM Dearborn, 107.1 WQKL-FM Ann Arbor, Michigan, WAKT-LP 106.1 FM Toledo, Rock-Radio-UK Spins in Porstmouth England U.K., WYCE-FM 88.1 Grand Rapids, Ferndale Radio 100.7 FM, WLNZ 89.7FM in Lansing, thanks!
Happy December 1st. There is so much beautiful music and energy coming up in The City of Detroit, and Metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, and all through Michigan, Canada and the world. Time to think about the strength and hope of the cold winter resilience as a theme with creating this winter. Just an update or two on what I just did and am doing 🙂 A couple of Friday nights ago, November 22nd in Detroit, I performed at Detroit’s Tree Lighting at Campus Martius Park. Attended by nearly 50,000 people and broadcast on WXYZ Detroit Channel 7, we were thrilled to be on the main stage! We performed with Mayer Hawthorne and Beth Griffith Manley, and there were beautiful choirs and skaters, families and friends…with many thanks to my amazing musicians, Scott Dailey, Dave Dion and Dominica Lamarra, and the fantastic Downtown Detroit Partnership! https://www.facebook.com/events/488208235243032/Â
Sunday December 1st at Third Man Records Detroit Cass Corridor, it is the debut for the new book “Respect: The Poetry of Detroit Music” on Michigan State University Press. I’ll be reading one of my included poems in this very cool anthology. Thankful! Details http://msupress.org/event/r-e-s-p-e-c-t-book-launch-at-third-man-records-detroit-mi/
The holidays are coming and please don’t forget to check my new book “Detroit (Maiden Energy)” as a holiday gift. You can find it locally at Book Beat, Mayflower Bookstore and Dearborn Music – soon to be added to stores in Ann Arbor and Traverse City, and Toronto, Canada – or on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Aquarius/Auxmedia’s website. Thanks again to the Metro Times for the November feature!  I’ll be heading up to northern Michigan for Book Events/Signings/Readings and also over to Canada in the New Year. https://www.amazon.com/Detroit-Maiden-Energy-Carolyn-Striho/dp/1733089837
We’re on a new Michigan CD Benefit album with many Michigan bands This compilation features Carolyn Striho’s “East of Eden” written by Striho and Scott Dailey. We’re grateful for the Michigan music community coming together for Ralston Bowles, and we’re happy to be included on this special “Michigan Music” compilation album, featuring over 30 songs from artists across Michigan. BUY ALBUM: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/michganmusic DETAILS & INFO: https://localspins.com/the-unprecedented-michigan-music-co…/
I’m grateful for writing today on December 1st and gratitude is a theme…Thank you again to Jim McFarlin/Detroit Metro Times for the nice 2 page feature on my new book earlier this month. Also so many gracious thanks to everyone who came out to the shows and book events, and bought my book from me or online – or at a store! Also, thanks to NPR Detroit’s WDET-FM’s Ann Delisi for the great interview and airplay. Thanks to WHFR-FM Henry Ford College and Scott Boatright. And thanks to Gary Graff, Ann Delisi, ML Liebler, Brian Jabas Smith, Brian Gilmore, John Jeffire, Heather Buchanan and kind words about the book from many… I’m amazed, and it’s deeply super stuff to have so many care about my music, and writing. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzaa – more shortly xo
On Friday night, November 22nd in Detroit, The Carolyn Striho Group will be performing in downtown Detroit at Detroit’s Tree Lighting at Campus Martius Park. Attended by over 50,000 people and broadcast on ABC Detroit Channel 7, we’re thrilled to be onstage at 7 pm November 22nd – stay tuned! https://www.facebook.com/events/488208235243032/
Sunday December 1st 1 pm at Third Man Records Detroit Cass – the big debut and celebration for another new book RESPECT! A real honor to have one of my poems included in this celebrated anthology! Details http://msupress.org/event/r-e-s-p-e-c-t-book-launch-at-third-man-records-detroit-mi/http://msupress.org/event/r-e-s-p-e-c-t-book-launch-at-third-man-records-detroit-mi/
Also, thanks to Jim McFarlin and the Metro Times for the nice article on the book, and check the December issue of Metro Parent for a new feature, too. With thanks to NPR Detroit’s WDET-FM’s Ann Delisi for the great interview and airplay. And to WHFR-FM Henry Ford College.
