Stan DeWitt

Stan DeWitt has always been a musician in step with his own vision, even when it has taken him in unique directions. Proficient in many realms of music, including composition, film scoring and conducting, it is the art of writing the personal song that has been his passion for the last 18 years.

As one of the founding members of the folk-rock band The Woodbys, Stan was part of the resurgence of the acoustic music/coffeehouse scene in Southern California. It led to two acclaimed albums and a rabid following in the Western US. Solo records followed in 2001, 2002 and 2008.

Now, Stan is hitting his stride, with a band that is as adventurous and eclectic as he is. His new CD, "Musical Moonshine" is full of personal songs of love, many written for his fiancee, Lynda ("Sailor", "The Stars Sang a Song").

But the personal songs also cover pain and loss at times, including some about his divorce in 2005 ("You Were Leaving Anyway"), and difficult family relationships ("Stranded Ghosts").

"As much as I try to write about other people and other situations, I can't escape that there is an element of something personal in everything I write. It continually surprises me"

With a new band that features a whole host of instruments, Stan is anxious to get back on to the stage that gave him so much joy in The Woodbys. "The days when we were touring up and down the West Coast were some of the happiest of my life. It's hard to recreate the past, but I certainly want to get back out there and show audiences what we have going on here. It's very exciting."