COMBO is a not-for-profit organization dedicated
to helping all musicians with the "business" of
music, no matter what style of music you love.
We are run by volunteers who love music --
no one gets paid -- but your membership fees
help us to continue helping YOU.

Songwriting Contest


4 Inverness Court East, Suite 100
Englewood, Colorado 80112
(303) 694-2000
sfitzke@ssf-law.net


4730 Table Mesa Drive
Boulder, Colorado 80304
(303) 819-0590
info@performancehigh.net

Multimedia Replication, Duplication and Supply
1401 Wewatta St. Suite 103
Denver, Colorado 80202
(800) 973-9383
info@eyedeaworx.com
 

CANCELLED: NEXT COMBO GENERAL MEETING: SUNDAY, MAY 19th

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mr. Jake Jabs has had to cancel his speaking engagement at the COMBO meeting set for Sunday, May 19th. He will reschedule in the fall.

Rather than try to throw something else together, the COMBO board has decided to cancel the meeting. Our sincerest apologies if this causes anyone an inconvenience.

We do want to thank the Denver Musicians Association for offering their hall for this meeting. Please check them out at http://coloradomusic.org/l/2h0nnv/1922061; or at http://www.dmamusic.org

There are several other events taking place so we hope to see you at one of those. Or stay home and enjoy the Patsy Cline bio-pic, "Sweet Dreams Still" or the Billboard Music Awards!

Barb Dye, President
Colorado Music Business Organization
COMBO
VM: 720-570-2280
http://www.coloradomusic.org


ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS SHOW ON PATSY CLINE - SWEET DREAMS STILL

March 5th marked the 50th anniversary of the death of country music superstar Patsy Cline whose music remains revered to this day. RMPBS shows an hour long documentary on Ms. Cline on Sunday, May 19th at 7:00 p.m. A must-see show for country music lovers everywhere. Set your recorders before leaving for the COMBO General Meeting!

BRIGHTON BLUES BLAST TO BENEFIT SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS

What: Brighton Blues Blast
Where: The Armory at the Brighton Cultural Center, 300 Strong Street, Brighton
When: Friday, May 31st and Saturday, June 1st
Times: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. each night
Cost: $15 each day or buy a two-day ticket for $25!

The Blast will feature headliners The Jack Hadley Band with keyboard player Bob Lohr and vocalist Robin Jo Leady, and the Ruthie Foster Trio. Also performing: Johnny O Band, TeraBlu, Blues Musicologist Brian Neumann and Blues Dance Denver. Brought to you by The Armory, heART of Brighton, The Brighton Urban Renewal Authority and the Colorado Blues Society. Tix and info. at http://www.heartofbrighton.org 

CAPITOL HILL PEOPLE'S FAIR - SA & SU, JUNE 1st & 2nd

Go to http://www.peoplesfair.com for complete info. The bands have already been selected so it's too late for you to play!

CHALK FESTIVAL - LO DO (DENVER) - SA & SU, JUNE 1st & 2nd

The annual Chalk Festival will be held in the LoDo area of Denver on Saturday and Sunday, June 1st and 2nd. The festival features artwork by some of the best street [no pun intended!] around and live bands!

JAM OUT. TUNE IN. GET DOWN. ALL DAY LONG! MAKE MUSIC, DENVER!

Make Music Denver is coming on Friday, June 21st, 2013, are you ready?

Mark your calendar! You’re invited to help us bring live music to the streets of Downtown Denver. The 2nd Annual Make Music Denver will take place on Friday, June 21st, 2013. Make Music Denver is a daylong celebration of local live music produced by the Downtown Denver Partnership. Free music everywhere along the 16th Street Mall; outdoor cafés, hotel lobbies, restaurant patios, parks, and street corners.

In its second year, Make Music Denver joins over 520 cities around the globe in a celebration of World Music Day. The second annual event aims to be even bigger and better than the last with support from the local community.

Are you a performer or do you know one? Are you interested in hosting one or multiple Make Music Denver performances? Are you a music enthusiast in general? Just want to find out more?

Visit us at www.MakeMusicDenver.com to learn more and get involved today!

For questions email us at: events@downtowndenver.com

COMBO STARTS FIRST SONGWRITING CONTEST!

EDITOR’S NOTE re: COMBO’s Songwriting Contest: I took a “sneak peek” at some of the songs entered so far in the contest. I am absolutely BLOWN AWAY! I always knew that we had some good songwriters in Colorado but these beat my imagination (right up there with today’s contemporary Colorado songwriters like Ryan Tedder (One Republic), Isaac Slade (The Fray), The Lumineers, and so on, IMHO). We are SO going to impress the pros that are looking for songs!

* * * * * *
COMBO will hold its first songwriting contest – for COMBO members only... you won’t be competing with thousands of other songwriters AND it won’t cost you a week’s worth of groceries to enter! Here’s how this is going to work:

Please submit your song in one of NINE categories: rock, alternative, country/bluegrass, jazz, Folk/Americana, blues, instrumental, rap and “other”. Our judges will pick 2-3 semi-finalists in each category to submit to real publishing companies. No cash prizes. No professional musical judges – just people who might buy your music. The panel will be made up of a variety of people who still buy music. In case of a tie, Barb Dye, David Barber and Johnnie Johnson, none of whom write songs but are music lovers, will decide on the finalists. The reason for not having songwriters on the panels: We don’t want anyone accidently plagiarizing your song(s).

Judges will have some criteria to judge each song on such as ‘do the lyrics hit you in the heart’, ‘do the lyrics make sense’, are the intros too long. Instrumentals must bring out some emotion in you such as passion, solitude, love, excitement. The songs will be presented “anonymously” – the judges will not know the names of the other judges, nor even the names of the songs (we’ll number them so that the judge only knows that they love Song #113).

The winners’ songs will be put on comp CDs that we’ll send or hand-deliver in person to real publishers, along with a cover letter telling a little about COMBO and about each of the songs, like who the writers thought the song might be good for, i.e., this country song is good for Carrie Underwood. 

Entrants pay only $5 for each entry. Paid members of COMBO get to enter one song at no charge! Make sure to note on the entry form that you have a current paid membership.

If you want to enter, click on the “Songwriting Contest” button above. Fill out the form. This will go to a non-judge who will number each song and then will forward it to each of our seven judges. These judges will not know who the other judges are and will not be able to discuss or share thoughts on the songs, thereby not influencing their choices.

This could be a wonderful opportunity for someone as it is almost impossible to get your music to a publisher/publishing company. This might open a door for you to get a chance to sell your song to a big performer. Can you imagine the royalties that a songwriter might make from selling a song to, say, Phillip Phillips, that goes to #1 on the charts? Without songs, the winners from American Idol and The Voice have little or nothing to record! And without songwriters Drew Pearson and Greg Holden, Phillip would not be making the money he’s making right now. Don’t forget: They also get royalties every time the commercial for American Family Insurance is run. According to Drew Pearson, it was originally intended for Greg Holden, but was submitted to Idol as a possible finale number by Pearson's publishing company, Pulse Recordings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_(Phillip_Phillips_song) 

NSAI MEETINGS IN DENVER, LONGMONT & COLORADO SPRINGS. . . 

The Longmont Chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (“NSAI”) meets on the second Sunday of every month from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. (The Denver Chapter meets the second Monday of each month so you can attend either or both if you want!) Free to join and attend. Just bring your instrument and copies of your lyrics to pass around and join in the fun. Get reviews of your song(s) from unbiased people or just play for the heck of it. And what a great way to meet and make new friends who love writing songs, too. Who knows? You may run into the perfect person to start co-writing that million dollar song with!

What: Northern Colorado/Longmont Chapter NSAI
When: Second Sundays of the month (next one May 12th)
Time: 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Where: Check with Lee -- they are having to "bounce" for a couple of months!
Cost: FREE!
Who: ALL AGES! The more the merrier!

Join the mailing list for reminders so you don’t forget! For more information, to get on the mailing list, or just to chat, contact Lee Johnson at the below listed info:

Lee Johnson
303-442-2379
lee@boulderguitar.com
www.boulderguitar.com

What: Greater Denver Chapter NSAI
When: Second Mondays of the month (next one May 13th)
Time: 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Where: CCM Studios, 4214 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, 720-941-6088
Cost: FREE!
Who: ALL AGES! The more the merrier!

New Denver leader: Allen Krehbiel - Allen_Krehbiel@yahoo.com

NSAI MEETING IN COLORADO SPRINGS!

Rob Jones is the co-ordinator of the NSAI songwriters’ meetings in Colorado Springs. The meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at the Country Club of Colorado, 125 East Clubhouse Drive, 719-538-4080 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting room is next to the golf pro shop next to the members’ lounge. All are welcome and there is no charge to attend. Join other musicians and artists who like writing their own songs and learn a lot more about the business of songwriting!

What: NSAI Meetings in Colorado Springs
Where: 125 East Clubhouse Drive (Club house for the golf course)
When: Third Wednesday of each month (next on May 15th)
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE!

E-mail Rob at ROBJ7480@aol.com if you would like more info, or call him at 719-291-3352.

NEXT DURANGO SONGWRITERS' EXPO:

Thursday, October 3rd thru Saturday, October 6th, 2013
in Broomfield, CO - Omni Interlocken Resort

http://www.durango-songwriters-expo.com

NEW and/or RENEWING MEMBERS...

We'd like to WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Sandy Moffett and Tim Board! THANK YOU so very much for helping to sustain COMBO's educational message to musicians everywhere!

Sandy Moffett: Sandy began singing and playing keys as a hobby with country bands in the '70's. She dropped a healthcare career for full-time music in 2006 after moving to Colorado from Florida. Sandy generally plays 20 or so gigs per month so she began S-H-E Entertainment to help other musicians book gigs. S-H-E is her umbrella for a wide variety of musical services whether performed by herself as a solo, duo or band member or as host of Open Stages and Blues Jams, or in serving to fill a venue’s calendar. Always on the soapbox for respect for musicians.

http://www.she-entertainment.com

Tim Board: Tim hosts an internet radio show out of Colorado Springs. The show is dedicated to independent musicians and all things music in Colorado! More info on Tim's show coming soon. . .

http://www.frontrangeradio.net  
tim@frontrangeradio.net  

COMBO is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping all musicians with the "business" of music, no matter what style of music you love. We are run by volunteers who love music – no one gets paid -- but your membership fees help us to continue helping YOU.

Businesses: Three months of promotion on the COMBO website for a very low, reasonable price, plus more benefits. Contact Mark or Barb at info@coloradomusic.org for more information.

COMBO supports our locally owned and operated Small Music-Related Businesses like Boulder Amplifiers, FluxTone Speakers and Green Mountain Audio. Help Colorado’s economy and do business with them!

From this article in the Colorado Business e-letter:
http://www.cobizmag.com/articles/made-in-colorado-2013-music-sound#.UVx_97nCe1A.email

Made in Colorado 2013: Music & sound
By Eric Peterson

Boulder Amplifiers (Boulder)
www.boulderamp.com
High-end amplifiers
On the cutting edge of hi-fi since 1984.

FluxTone Speakers (Lafayette)
www.fluxtone-speakers.com
Variable efficiency speakers
Innovative speakers for rock guitarists who want to go to 11.

Green Mountain Audio (Colorado Springs)
www.greenmountainaudio.com
High-end speakers
Green Mountain touts its speakers as the most “time-coherent” on the market.

Denver-based writer Eric Peterson is the author of Frommer's Colorado, Frommer's Montana & Wyoming, Frommer's Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks and the Ramble series of guidebooks, featuring first-person travelogues covering everything from atomic landmarks in New Mexico to celebrity gone wrong in Hollywood. Peterson has also recently written about backpacking in Yosemite, cross-country skiing in Yellowstone and downhill skiing in Colorado for such publications as Denver's Westword and The New York Daily News. He can be reached at Eptcb126@msn.com

Want to find a business or a band or some other music-related service fast? Check out The Network tab on our website: http://www.coloradomusic.org  Services in alphabetical order – just scroll down to what you’re looking for. Quick and easy! Support our local entrepreneurs!

COMBO has free copies of BMI, Music Connection and Making Music magazines, as well as ASCAP brochures and literature, to hand out. Pick them up at the next COMBO General Meeting -- Sunday, May 19th. You’ll learn a lot more about the “Business of Music” from them.

READ THE FINE PRINT! WE CAN'T EMPHASIZE THAT ENOUGH...

While we’re at it – There are SOOOOOO many services being offered on the internet anymore. PLEASE read the WHOLE DEAL before you sign on the dotted line. You would NOT believe the number of lines in the “fine print” that we’ve come across that basically say you’re going to get SCREWED but most people never get that far in reading “The Deal”. In many cases, you will be committing your charge card to charges for services for a whole year whether you receive them or not. Doesn’t matter. YOU SIGNED THE AGREEMENT so be vewy, vewy careful! And just because the site has a “Big Name”, does not necessarily mean that you’ll be getting a good deal.

[If in doubt, call one of the entertainment lawyers listed on COMBO’s website under the “Network” button. Will be worth your money in the long run.]

MORE ON THE “QUESTIONABLE MANAGEMENT / RECORD DEAL” CONTRACT

QUOTE FROM THE DURANGO SONGWRITERS EXPO: NEVER pay for services UP FRONT. You should only pay for services that have been PERFORMED.

Next Paragraphs of the Contract:
“Artists Management Company (“AMC”) artists are asked to make a monthly donation [WTF?] of at least $100.00 per month to AMC due on the 1st of each month for the upcoming month. This support primarily entitles the artist to the credibility, legitimacy, and guidance that a management covering provides.” [See above quote from the DSE – plus previous breakdowns of this contract in the past. NEVER send money in advance!]

AMC Services and Requirements:

Artists Management Company (“AMC”) uses specially designed forms and contracts that are intentionally detailed and thorough. They are not intended to be a burden to promoters, but to protect and assist all parties. These forms have been tested over time and found to be effective and user-friendly. The forms will include: offer forms, contracts, riders, evaluation forms, day sheets, and referral forms. [With this many forms, good time to contact an entertainment lawyer – one who specializes in the entertainment industry ‘cause they’ll know right off the bat if these forms and contracts are good for YOU. Also, remember – it’s not what’s IN the contract that will cause you trouble – It’s what’s NOT IN the contract that can be misread.]

Referral rewards and marketing techniques are implemented by the AMC to increase success. AMC incurs costs related to the preparation and mailing of contracts and agency marketing pieces typically. Periodically, the agency will invite artists to participate in special marketing opportunities. For example, the agency may offer a special seasonal mailing piece or a giveaway. The artist, if interested in the opportunity, will be asked to share in the related expense along with other interested agency artists. [This contract calls for an up-front fee of $2,000-$3,000, depending on what services you want. So this “marketing fee” is in addition to the thousands you’ve already paid up front. Remember, you have no way of recouping your money if they don’t do things for you to your satisfaction.]

The AMC requires that each event promoter return a signed booking contract accompanied by a 25% honorarium deposit. AMC retains the 20% portion as a booking fee for each contracted opportunity, and forwards the remaining 5% deposit to the artist along with a copy of the signed contract as confirmation of the scheduled event. The promoter pays the 75% balance due on the day of the event directly to the artist or road manager, as applicable. [AMC gets paid no matter what. You have NO guarantee that YOU will get paid your fee if the promoter does not pay up after the gig. You have a right to sue - Federal law – but most artists don’t want to go through that and we’d be willing to bet that the AMC won’t do that for you either.]

AMC does not, as a rule, require the artist to commit to an “exclusive” booking arrangement. However, experience shows that it is in the best interest of all involved to refer any and all potential bookings directly to the agency rather than being handled by the artist or a well-meaning volunteer. If the artist intends to use an additional booking agency, it is essential that clear and frequent communication take place between the artist and the agencies to prevent scheduling conflicts and missed opportunities. [This paragraph is so true. More problems have been encountered because someone forgot to tell someone that they had already booked a show on that date. This also goes for the venue. COMBO has received several messages lately about a venue “out east” that has double-booked because two relatives are apparently booking the venue and THEY haven’t even talked to each other!]

[Remember: You have no way of recouping your money if they don’t come through.]

By the way, we’ve received several complaints that venues are not paying promised amounts to artists/bands after their gigs are done. The usual excuse is “You didn’t bring in enough customers”. There are Federal laws against this practice. You have the right to collect up to THREE TIMES what you were promised. ‘Verbal Contract’ is good in Colorado although, certainly, it would be much better if you had a simple written contract signed with whomever booked you. We do have an Ombudsman in COMBO who will be willing to call the venue owner(s) and let them know that we have received a complaint and to inform them of the law – in case they are not aware.
.
COMBO has a contract that you can modify to fit your needs. Let us know if you would like a copy. E-mail info@coloradomusic.org to request one.

COMPLAINTS ABOUT CLUBS NOT PAYING PROMISED MONEY

By the way, we’ve received several complaints that venues are not paying promised amounts to artists/bands after their gigs are done. The usual excuse is “You didn’t bring in enough customers”. There are Federal laws against this practice. You have the right to collect up to THREE TIMES what you were promised. ‘Verbal Contract’ is good in Colorado although, certainly, it would be much better if you had a simple written contract signed with whomever booked you. We do have an Ombudsman in COMBO who will be willing to call the venue owner(s) and let them know that we have received a complaint and to inform them of the law – in case they are not aware.

COMBO has a contract that you can modify to fit your needs. Let us know if you would like a copy. E-mail info@coloradomusic.org to request one.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"I've always been open to taking outside songs," she said. "There are so many talented songwriters, and I think there are millions of songs in Nashville that are classic hits that are just sitting on a shelf collecting dust and people need to hear them. I love digging way back into old catalogs and whatnot, and finding those hidden gems."

~ ~ Kellie Pickler - Rolling Stone interview 
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news 

 

COMBO joined the Root 40 MUSIC EXPO again this year and we passed out magazines, brochures and FREE COMBO t-shirts in schwag bags provided by the A.S. Case Company! Thanks to all who came out!

FLASH:
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mr. Jake Jabs has had to cancel his speaking engagement at the COMBO meeting set for Sunday, May 19th. He will reschedule in the fall.

Rather than try to throw something else together, the COMBO board has decided to cancel the meeting. Our sincerest apologies if this causes anyone an inconvenience.

We do want to thank the Denver Musicians Association for offering their hall for this meeting. Please check them out at http://coloradomusic.org/l/2h0nnv/1922061; or at http://www.dmamusic.org

There are several other events taking place so we hope to see you at one of those. Or stay home and enjoy the Billboard Music Awards!

Barb Dye, President
Colorado Music Business Organization
COMBO
VM: 720-570-2280
http://www.coloradomusic.org


NEW THIS WEEK:

• Quote by Kellie Pickler
• Grammy winning La Mafia’s singer assaulted in Houston
• Welcome to new member Sandy Moffett
• Brighton Blues Blast on May 31st & June 1st
• As I Lay Dying’s singer arrested in “Murder for Hire” plot
• Colorado Symphony’s bass clarinetist Don Ambler passes
• RMPBS show on the 50th Anniversary of Patsy Cline’s death
• RIAA adds on-demand streaming to awards for gold & platinum count
• Five Star Talent looking for new artists
• President of DMA’s take on the exploitation of musicians
• New member Tim Board of Front Range Radio.net

May 2013
Su, 19th - Billboard Music Awards
Su, 19th - RMPBS show on Patsy Cline
Fr, 31st - Brighton Blues Fest

June 2013
Sa & Su, 1st & 2nd - People's Fair - Denver's Civic Center - all day 
Sa & Su, 1st & 2nd - Chalk Festival - LoDo (Denver) - all day
Sa, 1st - Brighton Blues Fest
Su, 9th - Denver's City Park Jazz starts
Fr, 21st - Make Music Denver Day - Downtown Denver
Sa, 22nd - Country Showdown - Walsenburg

JOIN THE CREW! THE NEW COLORADO FILM PRODUCTION GUIDE

The Colorado Film & Video Association (CFVA) announces the launch of the redesign of the Colorado [Film] Production Guide. The Colorado Production Guide(TM) is the premiere directory of businesses, crew and other resources for the film, video and multimedia industries. The new design allows for easier navigation, provides enhanced functionality, adds extensive new services for CFVA members, and encourages site visitors to explore the depth and breadth of industry professionals and businesses across the state of Colorado.

http://www.CFVA.org 

[Why is this here? Because YOUR music might fit THEIR movie!]

ON-DEMAND STREAMS NOW COUNT TOWARD RIAA GOLD & PLATINUM
By Alex Pham | Billboard | May 9, 2013

In an uncommon move to tinker with the formula used to certify Gold and Platinum awards, the Recording Industry Association of America on Thursday announced it has started to incorporate on-demand streams towards its calculations for certifying the prestigious awards.

The change, only the fifth major alteration in the methodology since the inception of the program in 1958, is meant to recognize how important digital distribution has become and how technology has permanently altered the way people access music.

The last time the RIAA altered its methodology was in 2006, when it added master ringtones. Two years before that, the organization began counting digital downloads. And prior to that, CDs and cassette tapes were added to the mix. Otherwise, the formula for Gold and Platinum certifications remained largely untouched -- 500,000 unit sales for Gold, 1 million for Platinum and 10 million for Diamond.

Among the on-demand streaming services the RIAA will accept are MOG, Muve Music, Rdio, Rhapsody, Slacker, Spotify, Xbox Music and others. In addition, video streams from MTV.com, VEVO, Yahoo! Music and YouTube will also count. Under the new formula, the RIAA will distribute awards to 56 new titles, including 30 Seconds To Mars’s “This Is War,” Emeli Sandé's "Next To Me," and Cher Lloyd's "Oath," Thursday night at the National Association of Recording Merchandisers' annual Musiz Biz conference in Los Angeles.

For the RIAA, deciding that on-demand streams should be recognized was the easy part. The hard part was in figuring out how many streams should be equivalent of a single sale. The group agonized for more than a year over that question, said RIAA Chairman and Chief Executive Cary Sherman.

If it looked at, for any single song, how many on-demand streams would generate as much revenue for rightsholders as a download sale, the answer would be somewhere in the hundreds of thousands. The RIAA rejected that path because it would be "impossible" to arrive at a number, given that on-demand streaming contracts are confidential and can vary considerably, Sherman said. In addition, such contracts expire and change continually, rendering any formula based on current contracts obsolete in a short period of time.

"We also felt that pure economics should not be the basis for acknowledging artistic achievement," Sherman said.

Instead, the group opted to rely on average consumption patterns -- for every download of any particular song sold, how often is it also being streamed on demand? The answer: 100.

Eleven new songs, including 30 Seconds To Mars’ “This Is War,” Aerosmith's "I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” and Lana Del Rey's "Video Games," earned first-time awards because streams tipped them over the marks.

Article Link

[Thanks to Steve Garvan of GarvanManagement.com for this contribution.]

GRAMMY-WINNING TEJANO SINGER ATTACKED IN HOUSTON
Associated Press [5/14/13]

HOUSTON (AP) — The lead singer of the Grammy-winning Tejano group La Mafia has suffered head wounds in an unprovoked attack outside a Houston club.

Band co-founder Armando Lichtenberger Jr. says Oscar De La Rosa and his driver were knocked unconscious by a man they didn't recognize in the attack early Monday. Lichtenberger says De La Rosa is resting at his Houston home Tuesday.

No arrests have been made. Houston police are looking for a man who became violent after being thrown out of the bar.

Lichtenberger says De La Rosa has facial cuts, eye damage and he lost two teeth.

The band, which formed in 1980 in Houston, won a Grammy in 2006 for the album, "Nuevamente."

Online: http://www.lamafia.com/  

Article Link

SINGER ARRESTED IN CALIF. MURDER-FOR-HIRE STING
Authorities: Lead singer of As I Lay Dying tried to hire undercover detective to kill wife
Associated Press – Wed, May 8, 2013

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (AP) -- The lead singer of Grammy-nominated heavy metal band As I Lay Dying was arrested Tuesday in Southern California as authorities said he tried to hire an undercover detective to kill his estranged wife.

Tim Lambesis, 32, was arrested at a retail business in Oceanside, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said in a statement.

The statement said detectives received information Thursday that Lambesis had solicited someone to kill his wife, who lives in nearby Encinitas. A task force from several law enforcement agencies quickly launched an investigation that led to the arrest.

The department would give no further details on the investigation.

As I Lay Dying formed in San Diego in 2000 and has released six albums including 2007's "An Ocean Between Us," which reached No. 8 on Billboard's charts. A track from the album was nominated for a Grammy for top metal performance.

It was not clear whether Lambesis had hired an attorney, and a phone message seeking comment left at a number listed in his name was not immediately returned.

According to its website, the band is scheduled to tour the country with several other metal acts starting later this month.

Article Link

SPIDER CALLED PIVOTAL IN SLAYER GUITARIST DEATH
By Derrik J. Lang | Associated Press (5/03/13)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman thought he was on the mend after a spider bite followed by an infection. He'd been writing songs with the band in anticipation of recording a new album later this year.

But in an unusual chain of events, a representative for the band said the bite may have contributed to Hanneman's death more than two years later.

Hanneman died Thursday morning of liver failure at a Los Angeles hospital with his wife, Kathy, by his side, according to Slayer spokeswoman Heidi Robinson-Fitzgerald. He was 49.

Family members and doctors were not immediately available to discuss the cause of death.

Robinson-Fitzgerald said Hanneman had been slowly recovering from necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating disease that nearly cost him his arm. Such an infection can develop from a minor cut or scratch; Robinson-Fitzgerald blamed the spider bite, for which he failed to seek immediate treatment. She said he was bitten while in a friend's hot tub.

Infections by flesh-eating bacteria are rare. The affliction can destroy muscle, fat and skin and may require surgery to remove the diseased tissue to save a patient's life.

Hanneman had several operations to remove dead and dying tissue from his arm, the band said on its website last year.

It's unknown if Hanneman was bitten by the dangerous brown recluse spider. Robinson-Fitzgerald said the spider that bit the Slayer guitarist was never recovered.

The government estimates roughly 750 flesh-eating bacteria cases occur each year, usually caused by a type of strep germ. About 1 in 5 people with the most common kind of flesh-eating strep bacteria die.

People with weakened immune systems can be more at risk.

Flesh-eating bacteria, by itself, doesn't cause liver failure. But at least one type of strep bacteria can cause streptococcal toxic shock syndrome, which can lead to liver failure.

It is unclear whether an autopsy will be scheduled. No funeral arrangements have been made.

"Jeff Hanneman will always be a metal god," rocker Andrew W.K. posted on Twitter.

Hanneman co-founded the thrash metal pioneers in Huntington Beach, Calif., in 1981.

AP Music Writer Chris Talbott contributed to this report from Nashville, Tenn., and Medical Writer Mike Stobbe contributed from New York.

Article Link

CONGRATULATIONS, KUDOS, PATS-ON-THE-BACKS TO ...

. . . Sydney & Fallon for winning the POP PARTY SING OFF held at Southwest Plaza last weekend. This very talented duo sang two songs with terrific harmonies to win out over the competition that included the Cherry Tones (a division of the Cherry Creek Chorale) and Girls on Fire (from the American Academy school) – the final three!

Congratulations, Sydney and Fallon! Way to go and we look forward to hearing more from you in the coming years.

. . . Brad Richmond for winning the Fort Morgan division of the Texaco Country Showdown on Friday, May 3rd. Brad now advances to the Colorado State Show to be held at Copper Mountain in September. First runner up was Tallie Heid of Yuma, Colorado, and 2nd runner up went to Sophia Conrad of Wray, CO. Congratulations, all. We're sure you're going to be hearing more from them in the future.

CCMHOF ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR 2013 AWARDS

All Awards will be presented at the 15th Annual Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame Inductions and Awards Banquet!

When: Sunday, August 11th
Where: Werth Manor & Event Center, 8301 Rosemary St., Commerce City, Colorado
Time: 2:00 p.m. (Afternoon)

Country Music Artist Award Nominees for 2013 Festival are:

For Induction into the Colorado Country Music Legends Of Legends Hall Of Fame
Jeff Golden

For Induction into the Colorado Country Music Hall Of Fame:
Chris Alan; David Willis, and Susie Lewis

Nominees for 2013 Entertainer of the year:
Dick Frost; Lee Sims; Jerry Frase; Kenny Brent; Chris King; Jim Hyatt; Teri Cee; Peggy Malone, and Dennis Thornberry

Nominees for 2013 CCMHOF Male Vocalist of Country Music:
Lee Sims; Jerry Frase; Jim Hyatt; Audy Baldridge; Pete Luthman, and Chris King

Nominees for 2013 CCMHOF Female Vocalist Of Country Music:
Karen Osburn; Peggy Malone; Teri Cee; Sandy Moffett; and Wendy Reed

Nominees for 2013 CCMHOF Band of the year:
Colorado Storm; Chris King; The Bakersfield Band; Cactus Jack; Jim Hyatt Band; Red River Band, and Southern Hell Train

Nominees for 2013 CCMHOF Instrumentalist of the year:
Ronnie Cook; Ricky Martin; Kenny Brent; Dana Vernon, and Jim Hyatt

Nominees for 2013 CCMHOF Song Writer of the year:
Chris Alan; Kenny Brent; Kristi Koope; Robert Kilgore; and Jackie Reed

Nominees for 2013 CCMHOF Venue of the year:
Buckin' Harley's (Wesminster); LuLu's Inn (Watkins); Widow McCoy’s (Loveland); White Fence Farm (Littleton), Frontier Club (Aurora), and Lupita's Restaurant & Showroom (Aurora)

For more info, contact Sheila Gaccetta at 720-859-8988

http://www.ccmhof.org 

THOUGHTS ON THE EXPLOITATION OF MUSICIANS

Pete Vriensenga, president of the Denver Musicians Association, has posted some interesting “points of conversation” on the DMA website. Take time to read the article. He has some really good thoughts on the horrible practice of not paying musicians for providing entertainment.

http://www.dmamusic.org/news/1187/into-the-belly-of-the-beast 

TIM McGRAW SUED: COUNTRY MUSIC STAR ACCUSED OF COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT

NASHVILLE, TENN. — Curb Records is suing Tim McGraw. Again.

The Nashville, Tenn.-based label has filed a lawsuit against the country music star and Big Machine Records in federal court, alleging copyright infringement and breach of contract.

Curb also has sued McGraw in Tennessee state court, but has thus far failed to keep McGraw from recording new music under a new agreement with Big Machine, which put out "Two Lanes of Freedom" earlier this year.

The lawsuit asks for a return of master recordings, compensatory and punitive damages and an injunction against future recording or releases until its contract with McGraw has been fulfilled. The state case remains in front of a judge, but the court allowed McGraw to record for a new label in a decision that's been upheld on appeal.

Article Link

ACTRESS LOSES LAWSUIT AGAINST IMDB FOR REVEALING HER AGE
By Graeme McMillan

On the Internet, the truth will come out – or, at least, it will when it comes to the true ages of television and movie actors. A Seattle court ruled last week against the actress suing the Internet Movie Database for revealing that she was, in fact, 42 years old, with the jury deciding that the site hadn’t broken any laws in doing so.

Admittedly, by the time of verdict, the lawsuit brought by Huong “Junie” Hoang had undergone more than a few twists and turns. Hoang initially filed the case anonymously, with the lawsuit citing that it was brought by a woman “of Asian descent.” The original incarnation of the suit claimed breach of contract, fraud, and violation of privacy on IMDb’s part, and asked for at least $1 million dollars in damages as well as a restraining order against the site.

Unfortunately, the anonymity didn’t sit well with U.S. District Court Judge Marsha Pachman, who ordered the actress to either refile the case under her real name or see it dismissed entirely, stating that “the injury she fears is not severe enough to justify permitting her to proceed anonymously.” When Hoang revealed her identity, Judge Pachman allowed the case to proceed, but only in part; the claims of fraud were tossed out, as were Hoang’s claim that IMDb was violating the Washington Privacy Act by disclosing her age. Pachman also objected to the $1 million baseline for Hoang’s suit. That was far from the biggest bump in the road for Hoang, however; that came when her attorney died suddenly last August in the middle of litigating the case.

As the suit moved forward, Hoang’s new attorneys sought to increase the scope of the case by involving other actors whose careers had supposedly been hurt by revealing their true ages. Interestingly enough, IMDb’s response was to simultaneously take the high and low roads, protecting itself by pointing out that it was merely engaged in what its lawyer reportedly called “a search for truth,” as opposed to trying to manipulate others with fake information – something that, it claimed, Hoang was trying to do by hiding how old she was from potential employers.

Hoang’s initial complaint had rested on the idea that, as she put it, “in the entertainment industry, youth is king.” Under that mindset, the need to hide your true age is somewhat understandable, if hardly something that many would be eager to defend in a courtroom setting.

Ultimately, the jury sided with IMDb, and ruled against Hoang. What will be interesting to see is whether Hoang’s career will be affected by this lawsuit at all. At the very least, it’s raised her profile more than any of her actual work – but she can rest assured that almost everyone knows her age regardless of what she original sought not to share.

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS...

MEDICAL FUND SET UP FOR FELLOW MUSICIAN STEVE LEHN

DMA member Steve Lehn has recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. To assist with Steve's sudden and escalating medical costs, Our Musical Heritage, Inc. (OMH) a Colorado 501c(3) non-profit arm of the Denver Musicians Association (DMA) has established an Assistance Fund in Steve's name. OMH is accepting tax-deductible contributions from friends, colleagues and the general public who wish to assist during this difficult time.

Cash or checks will be accepted. Checks should be made out to Our Musical Heritage, Inc. (or OMH). Be sure to include "Steve Lehn Medical Assistance Fund" in the memo. and mail to: Our Musical Heritage, Inc., 1165 Delaware Street, Denver CO 80204.

[From the Denver Musicians Association newsletter: http://www.dmamusic.org]

IN MEMORIAM...

COLORADO SYMPHONY’S BASS CLARINETIST DON AMBLER PASSES

On May 9, 2013, our musical community in Denver lost a treasured teacher, mentor and friend - Mr. Don Ambler. Mr. Ambler was an amazing human being who touched lives in a deep and lasting way. A humble man, his goal was to play and teach the clarinet and share his love of music and the instrument with others. He was the bass clarinetist for 30 years with the Denver Symphony Orchestra - now the Colorado Symphony. Mr. Ambler taught the clarinet at Rockley Music Center for 30+ years.

The Colorado Clarinet Choir was one Ambler's most enjoyable environments for teaching. For nearly four decades, Ambler has overseen the choir, so long that clarinetists who started in the choir as his students have grown to become professionals and teachers and even retirees, but still return to play with the group. And there is no doubt that Ambler, who played with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra for 30 years and has taught hundreds to play the clarinet, is its patriarch.

"He's a real treasure," said Michael Weaver, a professional clarinetist who plays with the choir, "and it is unfortunate that not everyone outside of our little community have had the privilege and opportunity to work with someone as wonderful as Mr. Ambler. He certainly was 'one-of-a-kind!'"

Ambler didn't have much of a family as a child. He and his twin brother, Dale, grew up in an orphanage in Indiana. When Dale died from an illness at age 9, Ambler was all alone. But he had his clarinet - cheap and metal, bought at a pawn shop for $4. Ambler taught himself to play, and he practiced as much as he could as he bounced through six foster homes.

"I made a lot of mistakes," Ambler said of his first efforts on the instrument. "It was a little slow starting, but it picked up pretty well." By high school, he was already teaching others. College in Chicago led to stints in New York and Philadelphia before he landed a job playing bass clarinet with the Denver Symphony. Here Ambler built his legacy. Beginners just learning how to play a note, he nurtured. Professionals trying to nail an audition, he encouraged. When a college kid was hungry, he bought dinner. When a student needed a clarinet part, he provided.

Mr. Ambler loved jokes and puns and for some reason it was always his birthday when he stopped by!

Memorial service and reception will be Monday, May 20 at St. Philip Lutheran Church, 7531 S. Kendall Blvd, Littleton, CO 80128 (Ken Caryl Ave. at Kendall), at 11:00. .

Memorial gifts can be made to the Donald L. Ambler Trust, P.O. Box 270043, Littleton, CO 80127. The purpose of the trust will be to provide scholarships to young clarinetists pursuing an education in music, as well as to continue the good work of the Colorado Clarinet Choir.

Sources: The Rockleys & The Denver Post



JOE CAHILL, LIGHTING DESIGNER FOR BOULDER’S LEFTOVER SALMON, KILLED IN NEW ORLEANS
Coroner ID's Cahill as intruder shot by Louisiana homeowner
By Mitchell Byars, Quentin Young and Joe Rubino | Camera Staff Writers | dailycamera.com

In the words of his ex-wife and mother of his 16-year-old daughter, Joe Cahill, a longtime Boulder concert lighting designer killed Sunday in New Orleans, was a man with an "enormous heart" who had a positive effect on the many people he met in life.

"He did everything he could do for people he knew, and he knew a lot of people," said Andrea Rossin, who first met Cahill in their home state of New York when she was 17.

Rossin said she was first attracted to Cahill because he was cute, played guitar and listened to jam bands like the Grateful Dead and Phish. She said Cahill and the couple's circle of friends rallied around the "awesomeness of live music."

Rossin would eventually follow Cahill to Colorado. The couple had a daughter, Cassidy, and spent time following Phish around in a Volkswagen bus.

Cahill turned his passion for live music into an accomplished career, doing lighting work for musicians including The String Cheese Incident, Leftover Salmon and Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, as well as the Fox Theatre and Boulder Theater.

"There were a lot of people who his life touched," Rossin said.

The New Orleans Coroner's Office on Wednesday confirmed that Cahill was killed Sunday after police say he barged into a New Orleans residence and was shot by the homeowner, according to the Times-Picayune newspaper.

Cahill, 40, had been on tour with Boulder-area jam and bluegrass band Leftover Salmon. John Joy, the group's manager, sent a statement to the Daily Camera on behalf of the band.

"Joe was an essential part of the Leftover Salmon team," Joy wrote. "He was a hard worker and loved by all. We are all shocked and saddened to learn of his tragic passing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Cahill family, his friends and the music community that Joe was such a big part of. He will be greatly missed."
. . . . . . . . . . .
"And whatever happened, I'm sure after knowing him for years, that it was a tragic mistake brought on by those dark forces in his nature," Denson wrote. "But that wasn't the real Joe. He was a genuinely nice man who tried to do the right things. He loved his daughter and looked forward to being there to help lead her through her blossoming life. He was like a little brother to me."

Karen Shaviv, a production manager at the Fox who knew Cahill for more than 10 years, told the Camera on Wednesday that Cahill had been touring with Leftover Salmon as the band's lighting designer and had just helped the group wrap up its tour Saturday night.

While most of the band and crew returned home, Cahill stayed in New Orleans and was planning to visit friends and take in the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

According to the Times-Picayune, people alerted two New Orleans Police Department bicycle officers that a man -- identified as Cahill -- was bloody and acting irate in the street not far from the fairgrounds, which was hosting the first weekend of Jazz Fest at the time.

As the police were speaking with him, Cahill pushed one of the officers and began running on North Broad Street, the newspaper reported. The officers lost sight of him, and when they reached the 1500 block of North Broad, they heard a gunshot.

The homeowner told police a bloodied Cahill entered his residence and began fighting with people inside. Fearing for his life, the homeowner shot Cahill, who later died at a nearby hospital, according to the Times-Picayune.

No charges have been filed against the homeowner.

Cheryl Liguori, CEO of Z2 Entertainment, the entity that runs the Fox and the Boulder Theater, described Cahill as a kind and happy person.

"He was very skilled. He was a sought-after (lighting designer) for bands heading out on tour. He was responsible and a pleasure to work with," Liguori said. "It's tragic, and everybody is pretty shocked and extremely sad. He will be sorely missed."

Liguori said planning is under way for a larger, public memorial for Cahill to be held at the Fox Theatre in a few weeks. The event will likely also serve as a benefit for Cahill's daughter.

Contact Camera Staff Writer Joe Rubino at 303-473-1328 or rubinoj@dailycamera.com.

Read the whole article, which includes a nice photo of Joe, here:

REGGAE GREAT CEDRIC BROOKS DIES AT AGE 70

KINGSTON, JAMAICA — Cedric Brooks, a Jamaican saxophone player and influential roots reggae musician, has died. He was 70.

One of Brooks' sisters, Paulette Keise, said he died Friday of cardiac arrest at New York Hospital Queens. She said Saturday that he suffered from high blood pressure and diabetes and fell ill several years ago, losing his ability to speak.

Brooks began his music career in the late 1960s as a studio musician, playing in songs such as Burning Spear's "Door Peep." He also had hits with trumpet player David Madden including "Money Maker" and "Mystic Mood."

Brooks also was a member of the Jamaican ska band The Skatalites.

He is survived by seven children and four sisters.

Article Link

Other notable musicians’ deaths...

May 2013:
15th :
Albert Lance, 87, Australian opera singer.

12th :
Nico van Rensburg, 76, South African Afrikaans Boeremusiek musician, heart failure.

11th :
Grayson Minney, 28, American rock musician, traffic collision.

9th :
Zia Fariduddin Dagar, 80, Indian dhrupad vocalist, musician and maestro.
Grete Dollitz, 88, German–born American radio presenter and classical guitarist.

8th :
Bill Langstroth, 81, Canadian country music producer (Singalong Jubilee), inducted into Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame (2011).
Delia Rigal, 93, Argentine soprano.
Juan Tarodo, 52, Spanish pop musician, songwriter and producer, leukemia.
Ken Whaley, 67, British rock musician (Man, Ducks Deluxe, Help Yourself), lung cancer.

Source: http://www.wikipedia.com  

Our suggested movies and books involve the business of music. Learn something from them!

MOVIE FOR MAY 2013: “WALK HARD: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)

This is a SPOOF MOVIE (not real)! But it contains some really hard truths about the music business. Maybe it’s time for a little “light” education!

Director, Jake Kasdan. Cast: John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Raymond J. Barry, Margo Martindale, Kristen Wiig, Chip Hormess, Tim Meadows, Chris Parnell, Matt Besser, David Krumholtz. The up-and-down and then up-again biopic of musician Dewey Cox whose songs would change a nation. On his rock 'n roll spiral, Dewey marries three times, has 22 kids and 14 step-kids, stars in his own 70s TV show, collects friends ranging from Elvis to the Beatles to a chimp. He becomes addicted to and then kicks about every drug known to man. Despite it all, Cox grows into a national icon and eventually earns the love of a good woman, his longtime backup singer Darlene. 96 min.

BOOK FOR MAY 2013: “The Doors Unhinged” - John Densmore (2013)

The subject of the book is the “greed gene,” and how that part of the human psyche propels us toward the accumulation of more and more wealth, even at the expense of our principles and friendships and the well being of society. A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band, The Doors, fractured because of this. In his book, drummer John Densmore looks at the conflict between him and his band mates as they fought over the right to use The Doors’ name. At the same time, Densmore examines how this conflict mirrors and reflects a much larger societal issue - that no amount of money seems to be enough for even the wealthiest people.

In short, the book is about the battle with Densmore’s bandmates to keep from using The Doors music in commercials, etc. (per Jim Morrison’s wishes).

Available at Amazon.com for $14.95 +

MUSICAL TERM FOR MAY 2013: “Rabbia con” - With passion, frenzy, furiously

~ Pocket Manual of Musical Terms 

MUSICAL THOUGHT: If you haven’t seen Smash or Nashville yet, you’re missing out on some terrific music and good screen writing! Soap operas at their finest! Don’t forget that The Voice and American Idol competitions are on right now. And supporting musicians in more ways than one are Dancing With The Stars and Glee. AI, The Voice, and DWTS also use live musicians for their shows. Finally – lots of shows that support musicians and for those that LOVE them!!

UPDATE: Unfortunately someone at the network decided to cancel "SMASH" - big tv loss in our opinion. Wonderful show, great writing, production, and songs!