Alan Burr Biography

The jam had run a good part of the day into the evening. Robert Peterson, an aficionado of music jams, was forcing himself to put his beloved "Ms. Martin" into her mobile home, which most folks would refer to as a guitar case. He had to get going and was reluctantly saying goodbye. It had been a wonderful jam, he assumed it couldn't get better.

The next morning an e-mail awaited him from D.B. Pacini. Apparently it had gotten better after he left. Some guy named Alan Burr had showed up and he sung with a voice Pacini was looking for. He had the voice she wanted for her song "Slow Motion Ocean," and she had offered one of the most important songs they had for the Emma's Love Letters CD to a guy she had spent an hour with. She urged Peterson to not do what she feared he would do, worry about her giving a song to a near-total stranger. She said she had not promised Burr the song; she just wanted to see what he could do with it. Peterson was worried, a little.

Alan Burr was skeptical, a lot. They wanted him to write music for lyrics he had not written. He didn't have a lot of co-writing experience. Were there collaborating rules for songwriting? Could he change the melody if he came up with something he thought was better? Could he change any of the lyrics? Pacini told him, "Do what you want. I want to hear what you'd do if you were allowed to do anything. If I don't like it, I'll say so."

Burr created his own melody and changed a few words. When he sang, he emphasized certain lyrics Pacini had not emphasized when she sang the song to him. The lyrics were hers, but he had made "Slow Motion Ocean" his song too. Her heart was there, inside the lyrics was her message to the audience, but Alan's voice delivered her message. His voice made the song what it was supposed to be in his opinion. Would she agree?

Pacini and Tim Christensen played Alan's recording of the song through several times. They listened to every word, to every note. Christensen recalls, "She was deeply affected by what Alan had done with 'Slow Motion Ocean.' She knew he did not know it was the most critical song of the CD. She had written it in honor of her own mother, in honor of Vincent van Gogh, and as a message to men to honor their own children. She wanted the song to speak to kids, to tell them that they are all precious, that being precious is a birthright, not something a child has to earn. We sat there listening. Alan had done exactly what she wanted. The song was very powerful, yet it had a tender quality. Alan had taken the most important song of the Emma's Love Letters CD and made it the author's favorite, not a small accomplishment."

Later, Pacini played Alan's recording for Robert Peterson. Peterson concluded, "Burr did a wonderful job, absolutely." He then laughed, "I wasn't worried a bit."

Alan Burr is a veterinarian in La Honda, California, where he lives with his wife and two children. He is a guitarist, harmonica player, and songwriter. He has also written several short stories about animals, which he plans to compile into a book with accompanying artwork and photography done by his wife and children.

Alan is fully aware of the affect music has on lives, especially the lives of young people. About the GNG program he says, "Music has the power to inspire people to greater heights; to take chances and do things for which they might have previously lacked the confidence. Music can ground you, bring you back to earth, and help you listen to your heart, not just your head. Any program that teaches kids the joys of music is a positive influence, and maybe some kids will even have their lives changed by it."