Well, hello there, beautiful people.

We’ve got a little news from the Smooth Hut, and it comes with a whole lot of love. After ten years of making magic with PetRock, our dear friend Scott “Maestro” Moore has officially entered retirement. The man has earned the right to put his feet up and let somebody else haul the keyboards.

For a full decade, Maestro helped make PetRock sound like PetRock. His playing, his singing, his creativity, and his love for this music have been part of the ride from the beginning. Through rehearsals, road trips, and all those nights sharing a stage, we’ve had the pleasure of making music with one seriously talented cat.

And then there are those orchestral arrangements. Hearing Maestro’s work come to life with the Omaha Symphony was something special. Having his final show with us at the Holland Center on October 9 made that evening even more meaningful. That’s a pretty magnificent way to take your final bow, baby.

But beyond the music, we love the guy. He’s our friend, and ten years together means a lot more than a stack of set lists. Maestro, thank you for your talent, your friendship, and everything you’ve given this band. We wish you a retirement full of whatever makes you happy. You’ll always have a place in the PetRock family.

Now, Pebbles, slide open the van door and make room for the newest cat riding with the PetRock crew: Hank “Hutch” Turkenton.

Hutch joins us on keyboards, saxophone, and vocals, and we’re mighty glad to have him. If you caught our Omaha Symphony show, you already heard him lay down those beautiful sax parts on “Baker Street” and “Year of the Cat.”

You know those sax melodies you’ve been singing in the car for forty-some years? Having Hutch onstage means we can bring more of them to you in all their glory.

That opens the door to songs we couldn’t properly tackle before. It also helps us get closer to the sound of those original recordings. When a saxophone is part of what makes a song so unmistakable, hearing the real thing played live makes all the difference. And around here, we dig getting those details right.

So send Maestro some love, give Hutch a big welcome, and keep your ears open for a few new tunes coming your way.

The company is good, the music is sweet, and there’s plenty of AM Gold left to play.

Keep it smooth,

Duke