All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Kevin Dooley performed the song he wrote for the Bert Steele memorial dedication ceremony and had the crowd sing along with him during the chorus on Dec. 16, 2023.
Local musician Kevin Dooley was asked to perform six days before the Bert Steele memorial bench dedication ceremony. He responded, "I would be honored to do that. Bert was a dear friend and it would mean a lot to me to be there."
Steele, the owner of Niwot Market and beloved community supporter, passed away suddenly last August after a short illness. A special bench surrounded by flagstones with many of Steele's philosophical sayings was unveiled at the memorial dedication in front of the market on Dec. 16.
A few days before the ceremony, while preparing for the dedication, Dooley requested a list of the sayings etched into the flagstones because, he explained, "I'm waking this morning with Bert's smile in my mind and would like to see if I can write a song for him." And that he did.
At the ceremony, Dooley told the crowd of a couple of hundred people that he'd written a song for the occasion and he hoped they would participate in singing the chorus. With so many heartfelt voices belting out "Be more like Bert...," Dooley knew this song needed singing more than that one time. He wanted to preserve it and the love that was spread from those who joined in that day on a recording.
Over the last month, Dooley has assembled an impressive group of professional musicians to do the song justice in a professional recording session. Bass player Chris Engleman, an original and longtime member of the eTones, the house band at eTown in Boulder, fiddle player Oliver Jacobson, singer and upright bass player Eric Drobny, mandolin player Steve Mullins, and keyboardist Michael Tomich from the House Blend Band are on board. Chris Doyle, a local bagpipe player, will add his piece to the song, along with possibly some other Niwotian musicians, such as renowned banjo player Pete Wernick who will also overdub on the recording. James Tuttle, the chief engineer from eTown, has stepped up to be the sound engineer for the recording.
Dooley said the goal for the recording is "to end up having a digitally mixed and mastered song that can be played by individuals and can be played at various times in town." It will be available at no cost in different digital forms to be announced after the recording. Dooley wants to get it out in the world in a way that honors Bert and inspires others.
His usual way of writing a song is more like a gestational process and takes quite a while, Dooley explained. But this song was cooked up "microwave style" as he described it. Knowing Bert Steele for decades, reading his quotes, and hearing the "Be More Like Bert" phrase for the first time from their mutual friend Tim Wise, "The song kind of wrote itself...it's kind of embarrassing," Dooley said.
Dooley, who writes songs, plays acoustic guitar, sings, and has performed throughout the US and UK for 40 years, recently released an album called "Band o' Gypsys." He plays gigs in the area, teaches, and mentors other musicians as well. He's presently working on his next recording centered on the theme of water.
Be More Like Bert lyrics
Simple like his '63 Chevy
Strong like a big horse runnin'
A family grocery, that's what he put his faith in.
Couple cold ones at the Niwot Tavern
Rooting on the underdog
Helping out a neighbor, easy as falling off a log.
Two steppin' to a bluegrass tune
This wrestlin' man dancin' by the light of a Colorado moon
Universe big enough for all.....all of us
Let's roll up both of our sleeves
Hunker down and do the work
Let's be more like Bert.
(Chorus). Let's be more like Bert, let's be more like Bert, roll up both our sleeves, hunker down and do the work. Let's be more like Bert.
People worry all of the time about things that don't really matter
When there's already enough bumps in this ol' road
If you never make someone else's day any worse, you've been more like Bert.
(Chorus)
Kept his light underneath a bushel, my grandma would say, and that is why we are singing this here song.
Didn't need a pat on the back, he just got 'er done and that was that.
Most folks in this tiny town have a story to tell.
Two steppin' to a bluegrass tune this wrestlin' man dancin' by the light of a Colorado moon
Universe that's big enough for all ....all of us
Roll up both of our sleeves
Hunker down and do the work.
(Chorus)
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