PLATTSBURGH — Post-"Chronicles from the Love Shack," singer-songwriter Roy Hurd is busy in his Hurdsongs Studio in Lake Clear.

Last winter, he attended a recording school in Nashville to learn digital editing and recording.

"I cloned my teacher's studio," said Hurd, a Redford native and one of the Adirondacks' favorite singer/songwriters. He performs Friday at the Palmer Street Coffeehouse in Plattsburgh.

"I'm working on my project for 2010 ('Echoes From Lake Clear') and 2011, depending on how 'Chronicles From the Love Shack' sells."

He's happy as a bear in blueberries with his new enterprise.

"I'm getting some real good sounds. I did a few good guitar things here myself. A couple of singer/songwriters are coming in late fall and early winter. I hope that works into a CD project for me."

OTHERs' DREAMS
Running a recording studio extends his consummate artistry to others. For 11 years in Nashville, Hurd was a staff songwriter for Sony Music Publishing and later Warner/Chappell Music.

There, Hurd crafted country hits recorded by the likes of Paul Brant, David Kersh, Sonya Isaacs, the Oak Ridge Boys, Duane Steele and the Gibson Brothers. Jo Dee Messina recorded his "Nothing I Can Do" on "Burn," her platinum Curb Records release.

Now, Hurd takes his songwriting and studio-production expertise to help other musicians realize their dreams.

"A CD that reflects where they are musically, melodically and lyrically and their artistry at that point," he said. "I hope I can help other artists with that. We'll see. I also can do some spoken word."

He estimates he will save two-thirds of the cost doing his own recording projects.

"I have a setup for singer/songwriter, duet or little combo or trio. No big drums. Hand drums. Acoustic instruments."

KITTY FIRST
Hurd was the first to ever play Palmer Street way back when. Friday, he was looking forward to the cool X-factor harmonies that his daughter, vocalist and violist Meadow Merry, adds to his performances. She may or may not show.

Minnie, Merry's black cat with no tail, is very sick with a rare blood disorder. Since a blood transfusion was cost prohibitive, Merry is trying to save her cat's life with medicine and TLC.

"Minnie was removed from an abusive situation by court order," Hurd said.

He spent last weekend rehearsing with Merry, who lives in Ithaca.

"Steve Langdon is opening up for us," Hurd said. "He's cool. Living up here in Saranac Lake, I get to hear other artists like Steve."

E-mail Robin Caudell at: rcaudell@pressrepublican.com