John Pennell and Eva Cassidy

I found this on the internet yesterday. John Pennell is the founder of Union Station which as you probably know is now Alison Krauss' band.

This message is partially a thank you, an inquiry and
an acknowledgment. Sometimes regretfully, a person that I should have known about slips through the cracks and I am unaware of something I should have known about all along. Such is the case with Eva Cassidy. This is especially so since she recorded one of my songs and it has been included on her recently released album SOMEWHERE. My song,"If I Give MY Heart", was originally recorded by Alison Krauss on her first recording for Rounder Records, TOO LATE TO CRY.(c.1987) First of all, what an amazing voice!
Eva's recording of my song is so soulful and beautiful I have no adequate words to really describe her performance.
I became aware of all this yesterday, after returning from a playing gig with The Charlie Sizemore Band(bluegrass) out east. Sorting through my mail, I came across a letter from someone who wanted to buy one of my cds and mentioned that "If I Give My Heart" was on Eva's new recording, SOMEWHERE. After checking it out and verifying that it was indeed my song, I left a message with Alison. When she called me back, she told me what a great singer Eva was and she considered her one her favorite singers ever and that she was respected all over the world as one of the best singers of her generation. I bought the album on itunes and have been playing it non stop since. I can't adequately thank the people enough who are responsible for selecting my song to be part of this project. But more importantly, I can't thank Eva and her brother enough for learning, performing and recording my song. I wish she were here today so I could thank her in person. But a voice this beautiful and a soul this pure, surely already knows how I feel.
It's amazing that, in less than 24 hours, I went from absolute ignorance to absolute bliss(no, ignorance is(was) not bliss in this case). I consider myself to be one of the luckiest people in the world to have been honored by Eva's singing.

John Pennell
Nashville,TN

Reply written by Laura Bligh, Webmaster at August 31, 2008, 3:15 PM, EDT

Mr. Pennell, thank you for your wonderful message! Eva loved "If I Give My Heart," and performed it often. She also used to sing "As Lovely As You," which I believe you also wrote. It would have thrilled her to know that you enjoyed her music. Thanks also for letting us all know that Alison Krauss is an Eva Cassidy fan. Eva certainly was an Alison Krauss fan!