Summary: <p>After completing a landscape architecture degree at Cornell in 2001, Chris Merkley quickly discovered he actually wanted to pursue a career in music. Chris has performed over a thousand shows from the streets of Paris to venues through out Europe and across the United States. He has released nine albums with a variety of groups which include the song writing duo Merkley & Morgan, his high octane Bluegrass and Country Blues globetrotting band The Crooners, and the swampy blues rock trio of Digger Jones. </p> <p>Listen in as Chris chats with Juliana Garcia '14 about a new music venue he's building on Main Street in Cortland, made possible by a $10M grant from NYS for downtown revitalization. You'll hear about how his Cornell degree and connections are helping him in this new venture and how bringing people together through music is one of the driving forces in his life.</p> <p><em>“More and more I realize just how important it is to bring people together.”</em></p> <p>Learn more about Chris's music career, his record company <a href="http://www.oldboyrecords.com/">Old Boy Records</a>, and The After School Special (a school bus he's transforming into an eco-minded tour bus and recording studio) on his website <a href="https://chrismerkley.com/">https://chrismerkley.com/</a>. </p> <p>Read the <a href="https://cornell.box.com/s/9zcq745vasb1mmu0287vogg4bf3mpojh">episode transcript.</a></p> <p>Episode recorded at the <a href="https://as.cornell.edu/language-resource-center">Language Resource Center</a> on Cornell's Ithaca Campus.<br> Created and produced by Amanda Massa.<br> Music by Kia Albertson-Rogers '13, <a href="https://anchor.fm/freshfromthehill/episodes/koa3@cornell.edu">koa3@cornell.edu</a>.<br> Artwork by Chris Kelly.</p> <p>*The views expressed by <em>Fresh from the Hill</em> hosts and guests do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Cornell University.</p>
