e v o L , Peace Music &
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ocal musician and realtor David Neal Carroll has always had a passion for music, and over the last several years, that passion has grown to include the special adults that make up Pockets Full of Sunshine. Mr. Dave volunteered to play for ‘the Rays’ one Sunday
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When acceptance and melody merge, beautiful friendships are born.
after a crafting session the adults were participating in. The bond was immediate and electric and neither party has ever looked back. A PFS activity doesn’t take place without several Rays inquiring if ‘Mr. Dave’ will be joining in, and Mr. Dave has rarely missed a Sunday Session or special event with the Rays, always sure to include several renditions of the original songs he has written for them. David doesn’t just play for the Rays, but with them, and watching the group make music together is an immersive experience. The Rays adore Mr. Dave, and it’s obvious the feeling is mutual. He knows each of them by name, their favorite song and most of their favorite dance moves and he never bats an eye when they bring along an instrument from home or break into peals of laughter or squeals of joy mid song. The last year and a half have been nothing short of difficult and David says he found himself distraught at the state of the country and the strife he was witnessing. “From out of
nowhere, the peace, love and music symbol came to me, I sketched it on a chalkboard and from there the idea grew. I wanted to make songs and a record that would unite people and express that we all really want the same thing. It has been on my heart ever since I started playing with the Rays to feature our songs together on my next record. The four songs I wrote for Pockets Full of Sunshine celebrate life and are as close as I have ever been to successfully putting into words and music what unconditional love is.” The idea for the project was born and couldn’t have come at a better time. When the pandemic decreased social opportunities for the Rays even further, they met Mr. Dave for outdoor singalongs and a remote recording session in a park with his dear friend and producer Greg Critchley. And in true PFS form, it didn’t stop there. David turned the Peace, Love & Music symbol from his dreams into art that not only graced his album cover, but was also screen printed by the Rays onto t-shirts that they tie dyed themselves. Each one unique and an individual work of art, just like its creator. The Rays are incredibly proud of the shirts they created, and of their musical debut. “To witness the expression of trueness, honest and sheer joy the Rays get (and give) when singing these songs is one of the biggest blessings I’ve ever had in my life,” says David. And now to be able to hear themselves singing their songs and be included on a professionally made CD is nothing short of a miracle.
