The Muellers’ Official Christmas Letter
December 19, 2007
The Muellers wish you all the best in this blessed Christmas season, and hope that this past year has been all you hoped it would be, and more! It's fallen to me (Tom) to write a brief update on where we've been and where we're going in the coming year.
2007 was an exciting year for The Muellers. At the beginning of the year we signed a record contact with Virginia-based bluegrass label Mastershield Records, and went into the studio for a couple of weeks in March to record our label debut album, Branching Out, which was released in May to favorable industry reviews. The new album features a number of new songs and arrangements that we've played at our performances, including a signature triple-fiddle arrangement of Kenny Baker's classic "Washington County", and a haunting a capella gospel original by twelve-year-old Sarah, "Before It's Too Late".
As pleased as we are with the success of our latest album, the biggest news this year was the first major personnel shift in the band. Guitarist and vocalist Annah Mueller, the eldest daughter, departed for Nebraska in August to pursue a degree in graphic design. Fortunately, her departure coincided with my graduation from the graduate program at the University of Notre Dame, and I decided to come back to the band to take her place. It's been a lot of fun for all of us! I've been playing mandolin and guitar, singing, and doing lots of arranging and songwriting. If you're curious to see the band in its new configuration, you can check out some video clips from recent shows on YouTube, or on our MySpace page. The band was on the road for much of the year, performing throughout the Southeastern and Midwestern states; some of the highlights include successful trips to the bluegrass trade shows SPGMA and IBMA, and festival appearances at Jerusalem Ridge, Sally Mountain, Two Rivers, among others.
We have a lot of things to be thankful for this year, but most of all, we appreciate the hospitality and generosity of all the folks who have helped us with travel arrangements and logistics this year. We couldn't do any of this without you. We'd especially like to thank everyone who gave us a place to stay during our travels--offering lodging to a family of nine is not for the faint of heart!
Next year will see us traveling even more, playing in a lot of new places. In February, we'll kick off our 2008 touring schedule with appearances throughout the Southeast, including our first-ever performances in Florida. We are also looking forward to performances alongside some of the established bands that have inspired us over the years. You can always find our updated performance schedule posted online at our website, www.muellerfamilymusic.com, and we'd love to see you at one of our shows. Merry Christmas and all the best for 2008!
-The Muellers
Karen, Curt, Tom, Annah, Bob, Laurah, Sarah, John & George
