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2026 Back On The Road

tablaven55
Jun 27
4 min read

Updated: Sep 7

Welcome back everybody and to my new subscribers!


2020 is when I last posted, so I'm a bit overdue. I don't even know where to start!!

Just got back from San Antonio, TX doing a new theater show with Art. The past several years it's been pretty much just Art and myself on stage performing. This time around, Art has added Clifford Carter on keyboards. Clifford was James Taylor's long time piano player on stage and on his records. Kim Bullard, who is joining us on synth, has played for the past twenty years with Elton John. Before that he was with Crosby, Stills & Nash & Poco and many others.


The Majestic Theatre, San Antonio, TX
The Majestic Theatre, San Antonio, TX

Clifford, Me & Kim @ rehearsals in NYC
Clifford, Me & Kim @ rehearsals in NYC

We have twenty plus shows booked out into the summer and into the fall including the Royal Albert Hall in London (which is already sold out) and Paris at the Olympia Theater.

(See calendar page for more info)


At the end of May, Art was invited to join Charlie Puth on stage as a surprise guest to sing The Boxer together at his sold out show at Madison Square Garden, May 29, 2026.


Charlie Puth, Art Garfunkel & me at Madison Square Garden
Charlie Puth, Art Garfunkel & me at Madison Square Garden


A little over a month ago we also did a Legends of Rock Cruise with Art as one of the headliners. It was a five day excursion out of Ft. Lauderdale down to Turks and Caicos. It was a blast! Met some of my favorite artists from my past. Burton Cummings of The Guess Who, Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon and Blue Oyster Cult (you know the song, "Don't Fear the Reaper") and Gene Simmons of Kiss. I was able to chat with these guys on and off during the cruise.


Burton Cummings of The Guess Who...amazing singer and songwriter
Burton Cummings of The Guess Who...amazing singer and songwriter
Kim Bullard, me and Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon
Kim Bullard, me and Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon
Clifford, Gene Simmons, Kim & me. Super cool, funny guy.
Clifford, Gene Simmons, Kim & me. Super cool, funny guy.


At the end of 2024, Art did another Garfunkel Family show at the Caryle Hotel in Manhattan. It was a 5 night sold-out run. I always love being back in New York City.





In 2025, with a couple of good friends we created a trio called, Sidemen Of Note. We've been doing these shows all over the country. The trio consists of Jeff Dayton, who was Glen Campbell's guitar player and bandleader for 15 years. He's a talented storyteller, singer and a great guitarist (obviously he has to be if he worked with Glen Campbell, who is considered one of the best), Eddie Kilgallon on piano and vocals. Eddie is a #1 hit songwriter and tours with well known country group, Montgomery Gentry as their keyboardist, bandleader and background vocalist. Sidemen Of Note is a fun show to do, as we all have a lot of laughs, play the music of the artists we work for and tell great stories about our time on the road with these legends. If you want to checkout the trio, click on this link: https://www.sidemenofnote.com


Sidemen Of Note,  Eddie K, me & Jeff Dayton
Sidemen Of Note, Eddie K, me & Jeff Dayton


If you go back to my blog dated, August 4, 2019, I wrote about meeting Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts NFL football team. Art and I played at his 60th surprise birthday party at his home in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jim had the world's biggest collection of iconic guitars and historical artifacts. He and I became friends and he invited me back to his home a few months later for several days to make a video of me playing some of his favorite acoustic guitars! It was a dream come true!! The collection was staggering. Unfortunately, Jim passed away unexpectedly last year and the entire collection was brought to auction at Christie's and sold.


Jim Irsay
Jim Irsay

Playing Eric Clapton's 1939 Martin 000-42 guitar that he played on MTV's Unplugged TV show, sold for over 4 million. The electric guitar just below my right elbow is Jerry Garcia's custom made "Tiger" guitar that sold for 11.5 million. The acoustic 12 string guitar below my left elbow was George Harrison's guitar he used to record  "My Sweet Lord".
Playing Eric Clapton's 1939 Martin 000-42 guitar that he played on MTV's Unplugged TV show, sold for over 4 million. The electric guitar just below my right elbow is Jerry Garcia's custom made "Tiger" guitar that sold for 11.5 million. The acoustic 12 string guitar below my left elbow was George Harrison's guitar he used to record "My Sweet Lord".

David Gilmour's Martin D-35. This is the guitar he wrote all of his well known Pink Floyd songs on. It sold for 2.4 million. The black electric guitar just behind my head is David Gilmour's famous "Black Strat" Fender guitar. It sold for over 14.5 million.
David Gilmour's Martin D-35. This is the guitar he wrote all of his well known Pink Floyd songs on. It sold for 2.4 million. The black electric guitar just behind my head is David Gilmour's famous "Black Strat" Fender guitar. It sold for over 14.5 million.

Jim's intention for his entire collection was to build a museum for future generations to see and enjoy, as opposed to going to private collectors never to be seen again. His collection also included Ringo's drum set from the Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, original handwritten lyric sheets, John Lennon's upright piano he got from his Aunt Mimi's house that he wrote many Beatle songs on including, "Lucy In The Sky". Countless historical documents, such as handwritten letters from Abraham Lincoln, JFK and one of the surviving original printed copies of the Declaration of Independence (14 copies were made), sports memorabilia, famous manuscripts, etc...


He was a good friend. Rest In Peace, Jim.



It feels great to be back up and running!

Thanks for checking in.


If you feel like sharing or leaving a comment, please do.

-Tab


 
 
 

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8 Comments


Billy Nichols
Billy Nichols
Jul 16

Great update Tab! Have a wonderful tour. Amazing that you got to play all those guitars. Hope to see you perform again in the San Diego area in the future. Take care and please say hi to Annie!


Edited
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janis.fabre
Jul 16

Great blog Tab, and I would have been star struck on that cruise ❤️

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tdrewfleming
Jul 16

Great read. Lots going on. Art Garfunkel is the best, still has the chops. And of course I love my buddy Eddie K. You are in great company.

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jcj1216
Jul 16

Wonderful update! Looking forward to hearing more as you continue on!

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Chris Kennedy
Chris Kennedy
Jul 16

Hi Tab, I wrote a song for Art called New York City. Would you be open to hearing it?

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Tab Laven
Tab Laven
Jul 19
Replying to

Sure, go to my contact page listed under More...located on the tool bar at the top of this page.

Thanks!

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