The Flying Cowbay, Capos Calderwood AKA Alex Whitmore

       
Photograph by Robert Corwin                                Second Life Pic by Weirdharold

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Five years as a pilot for the U.S. Navy and thirty years flying for Delta Airlines may have put Alex Whitmore’s (Alex’s site) musical career on simmer, but never killed the passion in this flying cowboy. Taking early retirement from Delta four years ago, Alex began putting his full efforts into his songwriting and performing.

Alex, AKA Capos Calderwood in Second Life, begin playing the piano at around age seven. Young Alex played by ear at home and his mother thought he showed talent, and sent him to take piano lessons. After a year his piano teacher told his mother she was wasting her money on him; he would never learn to read music. Of course Alex simply listened to what the teacher played and then performed a close version for his recital; ear training was unheard of way back then. The teaching methods were classical, and there wasn’t much room for a nonconformist. A couple years after piano, Alex rounded up a guitar and began taking lessons again. He says, “Same song, second verse.” Alex never gave up though. He played through High School and was able to go to College on a swimming scholarship, and playing music. Alex credits his interest in music to “Listening to the radio back when it was worth listening to.”

Musical talent runs deep through the family of Whitmore. Married to a classical singer and vocal coach, he has two very talented daughters, Bonnie and Eleanor. Eleanor, the elder daughter, is a fabulous fiddle player and works over a mandolin quite well also. Bonnie, the younger daughter, is a singer songwriter, and both daughters are very busy with their own music careers. Usually at least once a year the family comes together to perform with dear ole Dad.

Alex’s musical style is “Home cooked Texas style with humor for dessert.” He was impressed by guitarists Chet Atkins, Doc Watson, and Merle Travis who worked all their picking fingers to make the strings twang, and you can hear their influences in his picking style. A style of picking, songwriting, and performing that has taken him on two successful tours down in New Zealand. Playing high profile venues most any artist would be happy to play. Alex Whitmore has several CDs available for purchase and can be found at CD Baby or itunes, but folks can get a better deal if they will contact Alex directly. He will sell CDs and Tracks for Linden dollars or Via Paypal. Alex’s email address is twocapos(at)gmail.com or you can visit his web site and look under contacts.

Alex is another one of those Paltalk artist who was moved on over to Second Life by his good buddy and now real life friend Dallas Horsefly, (review of Dallas) “and I never looked back.” Leading an active life in pursuit of his real life music career Alex mostly participates in Second Life at live music events, either listening or playing. As Capos Calderwood, Alex benefits from performing in Second Life are mostly networking and exposure, “and they are well worth it”, say Capos (Alex Whitmore). Also the fans are something else in Second Life, “When fans are making lots of comments on my performance it really inspires me to do a better job”, claims Alex.

Ok, now is time for my famous tipping question.

WeirdHarold: Capos, tell me a fair way for your fans to tip you at a performance.

Capos Calderwood: Here’s a tip……show up to my shows and take advantage of the free tracks and get to know my music. Look for quality venues near you…or consider putting on a house concert for me… Doesn’t have to be 50 people 10 usually works fine. I’m getting older you know….I’m like the two vultures sitting on the limb of the tree……I may have to kill something….soon.

Capos Calderwood sings his own original songs, and he has a way of turning a phrase that will grab you attention, and a special view of life. Capos has a large repertoire of songs I don’t know how he reaches a decision on which ones he plays in a single hour of performance. The night I heard him he brought a guest performer with him and shared every other song with her, so I didn’t get to hear what I am sure are some of his most requested songs. I did get to hear many of his songs that weren’t played in the performance on his website.

I would also like to mention Capo’s special guest who performed with him in Sterling Vineyards on Tuesday January 30, 2007. She is not a Second Lifer, but she is an outstanding songwriter and performer in real life. Her name is Beth Wood and her infectious laugh and giggle alone are worth attending one of her performances; not to mention her singing voice touches sensitive areas within ones soul. I would say if you missed that performance in Sterling Vineyards you missed a treat that you may never get the opportunity to catch again. Maybe that is why Alex recorded the event and put it up on his web site under his Latest Second Life Show. I don’t know how long it will be on Alex’s site, so I suggest you get over there and give it a listen.

Other Live Performer Reviews

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