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Four essential playlists for a Grand Canyon road trip
September 6, 2010
I had a lot of fun making music playlists for my family’s epic road trip from Chicago to the Grand Canyon this summer. We survived the trip in our rented minivan and racked up 4,200 miles and over 80 hours of driving time. If you are planning a similar trip across the country, I really recommend planning ahead and creating playlists for specific moments and experiences on your journey instead of a giant playlist that is difficult to manage.
Twas the night before the CD release
April 19, 2010
Here I sit, the night before my brand new Brunch CD hits the streets. I feel an enormous sense of accomplishment at having created an album that I am immensely proud of and the anticipation and wonder of how my new music will be received by listeners.
The idea for this album was hatched about a year ago. I decided to create an album full of music that would be great for weekend mornings. It would set the perfect tone for the casual, feel-good vibes of having freedom and space from the work week — perfect music for brunch. And who doesn’t love brunch?

Chicago pianist and keyboardist Sam Stryke (aka Sam Struyk, pronounced