Making music for the animals at CASA

By KRISTI PIHL Staff Reporter Stanwood/Camano News
September 29, 2009

Some may sing for their supper.

But musicians in the Stanwood-Camano Island area chose to play songs to support the animals at Camano Animal Shelter Association (CASA).

The idea for "Forever Home," a benefit CD of local artists, came to Darren Hakenson while he and Norm Peterson, both of Camano Island, were working on another CD last winter. Hakenson said he thought that with the number of talented local musicians, an album for a cause would be ideal.

"It's a hotbed of artists," he said.

CASA seemed the obvious choice, since it is so dependent on donations to pay for its services, Hakenson said. In a down economy, one would expect those donations to be less.

"CASA is working most of the time with their backs against the wall," he said.

The shelter not only cares for animals until they are adopted, the employees pamper them, Hakenson said.
Peterson said he felt like CASA was a good cause to support. He will also perform at CASA's fourth annual auction, which starts at 5:30 p.m., Sat., Oct. 3, at the Camano Senior and Community Center, at 606 Arrowhead Rd.

The CASA board named the CD, using the organization's slogan, Hakenson said.

"Forever Home" includes 10 original songs by local artists. Hakenson, Peterson and Alex Cook produced the album, along with donating their own songs.
After all, part of the point was to feature talented artists, he said. An original song chosen by the artist does the best job of featuring them.

One thing "Forever Home" has for sure is variety.
"It's a nice mix of tempos, a nice mix of interesting music," Hakenson said.

The artists include One Ton of Ducks, Hurricane Ridge, Albritton McClain, South End String Band and Gerry Andel & the Roughriders.

Also included is "Common Ground" by Laurie Z., an internationally-known Camano Island pianist who died from cancer February 2006. The song is beautiful, and was likely one of the last songs she created prior to her death, Hakenson said.

Being able to include Z.'s work was an honor, he said.

"She was 100 percent for the love and care of animals," Hakenson said.

When Hakenson first heard "I Can't Wait," a rock song on "Forever Home," by Ken Shortt, it made his toes start to tap. It was both well thought out and well recorded, he said.

Peterson's favorite song on the album is Jammin' Jeff Lohmeier's "Pool of Tears." The song is beautifully done, and leads "Forever Home" as the first track, Peterson said.

Hakenson and Peterson, known as Hurricane Ridge, performed "The Hard Way," and Peterson added an instrumental solo song, called "Corgi Butts."
Peterson owns four corgis, and said the dogs, which don't have tails, have an interesting walk. The song's chorus goes "Corgi butts, drive me nuts."

Profits from the CDs will go straight to CASA, Hakenson said.

CASA appreciated that the benefit CD's producers and artists wanted to do something for the shelter, said Tegan Locker, CASA manager.

The shelter receives a small stipend from Island County for caring for dogs only, she said. For everything else, the shelter is entirely dependent on donations.

The project turned out better than Hakenson imagined it would. And with its success, another benefit CD could be in the future, he said. However, the second installment would benefit a different local charity.

Staff Reporter Kristi Pihl: 629-8066 ext. 125 or kpihl@scnews.com.

"Forever Home" will be available for $12 at CASA, 387-1902, at 160 Can Ku Rd., on Camano Island, or through the organization's Web site at www.camanoanimalshelter.org/.

The release date will be announced on the Web site. In addition, "Forever Home" will be available at the Oct. 3 auction.

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