The Lonesome Sparrows
Black Velvet Royalty (2010)

James Velvet: songs, vocals, acoustic rhythm guitar
Johnny Memphis: acoustic lead guitar, fiddle, vocal harmony
Johnny Java: electrified bass guitar, percussion
DickNeal: dobro, mandolin, banjo, vocal harmony

Written by James Velvet
Arranged by The Lonesome Sparrows
Produced, Recorded, and Mixed by DickNeal at Circle Sound, Stratford, CT
Mastered by Vic Steffens at Horizon

Disc Available for purchase ($10, cheap!)
Locally at Independisc.com
Disc & Downloads at CDBaby.com

Holiday Weekend * House For Sale * The Royal Heart *
Summer Touch * Mother, O Mother * My Blue Boat *
Gotta Keep Goin’ * John Alley * My Wife * The Circus *
The Wrath of God * Jesus and Elvis and Me *
Empty Table Blues

The critics start to weigh in:

“These are songs largely about the transcendent or emotionally charged points of everyday life — gazing upon black velvet paintings of Jesus and Elvis, an adult son taking responsibility for his aging but rebellious mother, key moments in American history remembered because they’ve also led to getting Monday off from work. . .. altogether it’s a remarkably strong — and fun — set of songs worth living with for a while.” 
— Brian LaRue, NH Advocate

“Velvet’s songs and intelligent lyrics shine when put in contrast with Memphis’ guitar work, Java’s bass and Neal’s assortment of dobros, mandolins and banjos. On first listen, you may hear a fairly simplistic folk work, but given the time, “Black Velvet Royalty” will unveil itself as a deceptively complex disc with a lot of excitement bubbling underneath the surface.” — Pat Ferrucci, The New Haven Register