Brad Delp once said, “Mark ‘Guitar’ Miller is one of the best bluesmen in the country”. As the lead singer for Boston, he’d seen a lot of players, so he had some basis for his opinion.

In the late 1980’s Mark played guitar for Brad for three years on Brad’s solo project, which, in the end, was never released. Nevertheless, Brad later reciprocated by traveling to Maine twice to lend his distinctive voice to many tracks on Mark’s “Whatcha Gonna Do!” CD project. Brad is known as “THE” voice of the band Boston which featured Brad in multiple layered tracks, where he would basically harmonize with himself. While this CD is definitely not a Boston CD, in many ways it is better, in that it shows that you cannot put talent in a box – Brad was just at home singing lead and background harmony to blues and roots, as he was singing multi-track harmonies to pop-rock tunes. Since his tragic death, this will no doubt be one of the last projects showcasing his phenomenal voice that will ever be released.

This project, started in 2000, had more than a few setbacks, the most significant of which was the untimely death of Brad in March of 2007. Mark was very close to Brad, and that death, coupled with multiple other tragedies that year, really took the wind out of Mark’s sails. Mark had been living in Austin, Texas at the time, and returned to the East Coast when he heard about the tragedy. It would turn out to be the first of nine funerals in less than a year he would attend, for friends like Brad and Bill Chinnock, and family like his brother Gale and his “second Mom” Rose Jamo.

By early 2008 Mark, with some help from friends, redesigned the CD and cover, and went back into the studio to finish the mixes he felt were never done properly before. On December 21st – barely in time to have a “Christmas release”, the finished first batch of CD’s arrived. On January 4th it became available through CD Baby as a physical CD, and by January 21st it became available digitally on CD Baby and iTunes.

Maine Center for the Arts Reopens for the Remainder of the 2008-2009 Season

In August of 2007, the Maine Center for the Arts at the University of Maine closed its flagship venue for an 18-month, $11 million renovation. On Sunday, February 1 the Center will host its first official performance, the Bangor Symphony Orchestra performing Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto.

“The opening of this redesigned facility marks a significant milestone in University of Maine history,” says UMaine President Robert A. Kennedy. “It dramatically improves UMaine’s ability to provide vital access to cultural experiences for our students, our faculty and staff, and people from a wide geographic area who depend on the University to provide unique linkages to the world around us.”

The Center has been renamed for renovation donors Richard R. and Anne A. Collins.  Now called the Richard R. and Anne A. Collins Center for the Arts, the Center’s rehab used 61 tons of structural steel – 18 tons in the auditorium, 43 tons in the roof and entry pavilion and 3,808 square feet of glass in the entry wall.

The renovation included a number of updates that are unseen to the public – such as new ventilation and fire alarm systems – and many updates that will make a patron’s visit more satisfying.  The renovation made major changes to the exterior façade and entrance, improved amenities for visitors, vastly improved the lighting, sound, and drapery in the hall, refurbished the lobby space, enhanced the Bodwell Lounge, increased the number of restrooms, improved ADA access to restrooms and theatre seating, and created a cafe for guests that will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The Hudson Museum will have its own dedicated space on the second floor.

Part of the renovation includes a high definition digital movie projector and a large movie screen. These additions will allow the Collins Center to offer a Movie Series. The Series will show independent and non-mainstream films every Thursday evening in the Hutchins Performance Hall. “Three out of five of the movies nominated for Oscars this year are not playing in our area,” says Associate Director, Adele Adkins. “These are the types of films we will be showing on Thursdays.”

“We want to thank all those who contributed time, money and energy to this renovation project,” says Dick McDonald, President of the Center’s board of advisors. “Especially Dick and Anne Collins – their incredible generosity had enabled us to create a facility that reflects the University’s high quality and lofty aspirations. The Center is fabulous and the impact of the Collins Center for the Arts will only grow as generations of UMaine students and Maine people visit this facility to experience the arts in ways that will transform their lives.”

 In addition to the Bangor Symphony’s Sunday performance, the public will be able to experience a number of high-quality performances in the new facility. A full list of performances is available online at CollinsCenterfortheArts.com.

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