Creative Arts Guild welcomes musician/attorney for February Noon Arts

Published 2:25 pm Saturday, February 14, 2009

The Creative Arts Guild will feature musician Andy Cohen for its February edition of the Noon Arts Series Thursday at noon.

The Noon Arts Series features local and regional artists offering a free performance in the Guild’s main gallery every third Thursday of the month. Guests may bring their lunch or preorder a lunch from the Guild for $8.

Cohen has been playing the guitar and singing since the age of 10 and contends he knows how to do very little else. He said he frittered away the majority of his youth and prime in California and Washington State, where he made a living as a singing telegram messenger, a travelling musician, and a music teacher.

Eventually, the lure of the big top was too much to resist. The dream was short lived, however.

“After an embarrassing and unfortunate incident which led to my expulsion from the circus, I decided to return to the South to attend law school,” Cohen said.

“Somehow, the state bar overlooked my sordid and ridiculous past, allowing me to pass the bar exam and take a job as a public defender in Dalton.”

“The culture shock has not really worn off yet, resulting in odd outbursts characterized by singing and whistling in inappropriate places and at inopportune times. Incredibly, I have not been run out of town — yet, and therefore I remain in our fair city, where I am raising a son who is my pride and joy.”

In his self-deprecating style, Cohen said he has no aspirations of playing professional basketball and says he is a fitness enthusiast and clown by nature, and has promised himself to never stop playing music or lifting weights. His neighbors all confirm the fact that he sings in the shower.

Cohen’s musical influences include Frank Sinatra, Led Zeppelin, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa, Lawrence Welk and SpongeBob Squarepants. Having already forgotten more songs than most people will take the trouble to learn in a lifetime, Cohen also writes songs of his own, albeit sporadically. As a result, he tends to perform an eclectic mix of original compositions and songs written by better known artists.

The high point of Cohen’s life is probably the well-documented incident in which he rescued a group of senior citizens being held up by armed mimes. When pressed for comment, he would only say, “I have a lot of respect for senior citizens, and I am not afraid of mimes. I couldn’t just stand idly by.”

Cohen will perform mainly on guitar and vocals, with possible appearances by his mandolin and steel guitar.

The Thursday event begins at noon and concludes by 1 p.m. Those attending may bring a lunch or purchase one from the Guild by calling 706-278-0168 by a day prior to the event. For more information, contact Music Director Lisa Elders at 706-259-1822 or email music@creativeartsguild.org.