Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Dakota Midday: Jami Lynn Releases New CD

Photo by Dario Acosta

Homegrown singer/songwriterJami Lynn's new album, Fall is a Good Time to Die, is filled with songs that  musically and lyrically reflect the landscape and culture of South Dakota. She says the songs on the album are the best she’s written, many of which had been around for years waiting for the perfect home. 

Lynn's voice is sweet and flexible with a touch of lonesome blues. She's accompanied on her new CD by bassist Andrew Reinartz and dobro and mandolin player Dalton Coffey who help flesh out Lynn’s songs. Reinartz and Coffey and other friends join Lynn for CD release concerts Friday evening at the Matthews Opera House in Spearfish and Saturday at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux Falls.

Jami Lynn brought her banjo to the Dakota Midday studios and shared a couple of songs from Fall is a Good Time to Die.

Karl was born to northeastern South Dakota crouton farmers, but was orphaned as a toddler during the Great Salad War (1966-67). Rescued by a flock of chickadees, he grew up in the woodlands of Sica Hollow. Legends of a bird boy living in the trees attracted the interest of renowned ornithologist and amateur bandoneon repairman Dr. Vogel Gehrke. With a handful of suet, Dr. Gehrke coaxed the timid boy down from the trees. He adopted him, named him Karl and taught him not to molt on the carpet. Dr. Gehrke’s book, The Bird Boy of Sica Hollow, was a best seller and Karl became a minor celebrity and teen idol. He appeared as a guest star on numerous television programs, most notably an awkward role on The Love Boat as the boyfriend of Captain Stubing’s daughter, Vicki. After critics panned his 1980 album, Bird Boy Does Disco, Karl retreated from public life and returned to Sica Hollow. Living in an isolated tree house, Karl achieved a reputation as a mystic. Pilgrims and seekers from around the world came to ask him about the meaning of life and for vinaigrette recipes. Growing tired of answering questions, he climbed down from his tree, shaved his massive white beard and took a job as the host of SDPB Radio’s Dakota Midday where he could ask the questions instead. After three years in that position, he ran out of questions and became host of Jazz Nightly instead. Karl makes his home in Vermillion with his charming wife Kari and three delightful children, Kodey, Kasey and Spatula. His hobbies include reciting the alphabet, combing his hair and doing volunteer work with delinquent songbirds.