COMBO MUSIC EXPO and UPPER COLFAX ROOT 40 MUSIC FEST!
When: April 22nd thru April 28th
Where: All along Colfax from Broadway east to Esplanade (Route 40)
Time: Various (depending on the event)
Why: To introduce YOU to the many entertainment opportunities in the area
Cost: Varies on the event
Starting Sunday, April 22nd, the Colfax Business Improvement District (“CBID”),
in cooperation and partnership with COMBO, will be presenting a week-long event in
the area of 14th to 16th, from Broadway east to Explanade, especially focusing on
Colfax businesses. Opening with the COMBO Music Expo at The Filmore on April 22nd
(Colfax and Clarkson), many music-related businesses will showcase their products and,
as in the past two Expos, we’ll have listening sessions, seminars, and lots and lots of
places for musicians/bands to play!
If you/your band is interested in playing, please click on this: Music Expo or on
the Menu at the top of any COMBO website page and fill out and submit the online form.
This info is ONLY for COMBO’s reference. We have some other big music events
coming up and will consider your band for those events as well.
So mark April 22nd through the 28th on your calendar(s) now before you forget! You won’t
want to miss out on this event – whether as a performer or as a “Patron of the Arts”!
More specific info will be forthcoming in the next few weeks so stay tuned...
We are providing videos of various presentations. You will need to push the <pause> button on the site-wide music player [at the bottom of this page] in order to avoid overlap in the audio.
Mozilla Firefox users: Can't see the video in your browser?
Click here to download the plug-in.
'Stars of Tomorrow' guests: Jaden Carlson, Jack Gaffney, Sarah Samantha Rose, and John Teas perform for the COMBO General Meeting held on November 20, 2011!
FEBRUARY COMBO GENERAL MEETING - BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO
or “How to End a Relationship Without Ending the Friendship!”
The next COMBO general meeting will be held on Sunday, February 19th at Rocky Mountain Recorders, 1250 West Cedar Avenue, Denver. Mark it on your calendar now! The program topic will be on how to make adjustments to your band line-up without burning a bridge you don’t want to burn. The panel of speakers will offer suggestions as to, firstly, how to recognize the signs that your group is going to have a problem and then, secondly, how to handle a potentially explosive situation before it gets out of control.
What: COMBO General Meeting
When: Sunday, February 19th
Where: Rocky Mountain Recorders, 1250 West Cedar Avenue, Denver
Time: 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Cost: Free and open to the public - ALL AGES!
Rocky Mountain Recorders at 1250 West Cedar Avenue is west of I-25 and north of Alameda. Take Platte River Drive one block north of Alameda and turn west to 1250.
BENEFIT FOR DISABLED MUSICIANS AND OCCUPY COLORADO
Innervision Television and the Sports Station will be presenting a benefit on Friday, February 10th. The show will be filmed for a television broadcast. Performing bands will be Alternate Route Advised, offering contemporary music; KC and Friends, a New Orleans-styled blues band; and Heartbeat World, Earth and feel-good music! 25% of the income for Heartbeat World will additionally go to Occupy Colorado.
The show starts at 7:00 p.m., ends at 11:00 p.m., and is all ages until 10:30 p.m. when under 21 year olds must leave. Cost is $5 on-line and $8 at the door.
The Sports Station is located at 850 Dayton Street, Aurora, CO 80010.
For more information or to buy tickets, contact Johnnie Johnson at 303-607-9560 or
http://www.innervisionrecords.org
ARTIST/BAND MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
COMBO’s president, Barb Dye, will be offering a workshop on Artist and Band Management. The workshop will help to get the aspiring manager started, or will help you to get your own “music business” organized whether as a solo artist or as a member of a group.
The class will include information on how to copyright your songs, registering your name, how to get gigs, how to promote your shows, getting help from roadies to management, how to set up tours, finding a publisher, band contracts, and lots more. Handouts will be included in the fee.
When: Saturday, February 11, 2012
Where: COMBO Conference Room, 1490 Lafayette Street, Denver
Time: 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $30 (current COMBO members: $25)(Number of participants is limited)
Sign up by sending a check made out to “COMBO” to the Colorado Music Association, 1490 Lafayette Street, Suite 104-B, Denver, CO 80218. Or you can use a credit card by going to the COMBO website, www.coloradomusic.org, clicking on the “Join COMBO” tab, click on the “Join as an individual or solo artist”, filling out the registration form, and put the words “Management Workshop” in the “Comments” line. Complete directions to the workshop will be sent to you with the confirmation of your registration. Pre-registration is required so we have the correct amount of handouts ready for the group. Also, attendance is limited due to the size of the conference room so register early for a space!
THE KINGSTON TRIO - 55th ANNIVERSARY TOUR
One night only! To benefit Colorado Public Television 12
The Kingston Trio were at the forefront of a folk music boom that produced Peter, Paul & Mary, The Limelighters, The Smothers Brothers, and Bob Dylan. Three college students formed the trio in 1957 and began singing in coffeehouses in the San Francisco area.
They soon gained national prominence and were signed with Capitol Records where they recorded their first single ‘Scarlet Ribbons’. Their recording of ‘Tom Dooley’ sold over 6 million copies. In 1959, The Kingston Trio received a Grammy award as the “Best Country Music Group” (there was no folk category then).
George Grove, Bill Zorn and Rick Dougherty now carry on the legend of The Kingston Trio. They will be performing on Saturday, February 18th in a benefit for Colorado Public Television 12. The benefit is sponsored by Studio 1430 KEZW, Prime Time for Seniors (newspaper), 50 Marketplace News, Senior Focus, Westin Denver Downtown and Marlowe’s.
What: The Kingston Trio in concert
Where: The Paramount Theatre, 16th & Glenarm, Denver
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $40 (plus service charges)
Tickets are available at http://www.tickethorse.com or by calling 1-866-461-6556. Tickets are also available through Channel 12 online at http://cpt12.org or by calling 303-296-1212 (M-F, 9:00 a.m. til 5:00 p.m.)
CONCORDIA CHOIR TO PRESENT CONCERTS IN DENVER & COLORADO SPRINGS
When: Saturday, February 25th
Where: Augustana Lutheran Church, 5000 East Alameda Avenue, Denver
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $25 Adult; $20 Seniors; $10 students
When: Sunday, February 26th
Where: Grace and Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Colorado Springs
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $20 adults; $10 for students
Hear one of the nation’s finest college choirs perform Saturday, February 25th and Sunday, February 26th at the above listed venues. René Clausen conducts the 72-voice a cappella choir in several spirituals and hymns. They have performed and recorded with The King´s Singers, and Garrison Keillor calls the choir 'Exceptional!' Visit www.TheConcordiaChoir.org today for complete concert information! Tickets are available at 800-838-3600 or online at http://www.ConcordiaTickets.com.
The Concordia Choir is widely considered one of the world’s premier undergraduate vocal ensembles that tours the world, sings for royalty and garners praise from critics. The Choir continues to affirm its reputation as one of the nation’s finest choirs and a leader in interpreting and advancing the Lutheran choral tradition.
The Choir’s long and distinguished history dates back to 1920. The group has performed in nearly every major hall in the United States including Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.
COMBO MUSIC EXPO and UPPER COLFAX ROOT 40 MUSIC FEST!
When: April 22nd thru April 28th
Where: All along Colfax from Broadway east to Esplanade (Route 40)
Time: Various (depending on the event)
Why: To introduce YOU to the many entertainment opportunities in the area
Cost: Varies on the event
Starting Sunday, April 22nd, the Colfax Business Improvement District (“CBID”), in cooperation and partnership with COMBO, will be presenting a week-long event in the area of 14th to 16th, from Broadway east to Explanade, especially focusing on Colfax businesses. Opening with the COMBO Music Expo at The Filmore on April 22nd (Colfax and Clarkson), many music-related businesses will showcase their products and, as in the past two Expos, we’ll have listening sessions, seminars, and lots and lots of places for musicians/bands to play!
So mark April 22nd through the 28th on your calendar(s) now before you forget! You won’t want to miss out on this event – whether as a performer or as a “Patron of the Arts”!
SAVE THE DATES: 2012 CREATE DENVER WEEK & EXPO
Create Denver
Mark your 2012 calendars and save the date for the upcoming Create Denver Week & Expo!
- Create Denver Week: Thursday, May 10 – Sunday, May 13
- Create Denver Expo: Saturday, May 12
Continue to check out The Link and join the Create Denver Facebook page for details and more information.
Many thanks to Laurie Dameron for renewing her membership. Laurie is a long-time, true supporter of COMBO. Thank you again, Laurie, for your loyalty. Truly appreciated.
Billboard Magazine award recipient, Laurie Dameron, has been playing the guitar for over 40 years. Between solo performances and performances with her band, Laurie D and the Blues Babes, she has performed for hundreds of venues in and out of Colorado over the past 20 years.
Laurie is extremely versatile and includes selections from folk, instrumental, pop, country, blues, and jazz that allow her to play a variety of venues. Recent performances include Boulder Creek Festival, Capital Hill People's Fair, A Taste of Colorado, and the 2008 Colorado Democratic Convention. Other performances have been at Dazzle Jazz Club, The D Note, Mead Street Station and Mary’s Lake Lodge in Beautiful Estes Park.
Dameron has opened for some of Denver’s most popular bands such as The Informants, The Delta Sonics, Lionel Young Band, and Chris Daniels and the Kings.
In March of 2010 Laurie did a tour of New Zealand consisting of seven solo concerts and two concerts with Laurie D and the Blues Babes. She opened for Pacific Curls, Her Make Believe Band, and also for New Zealand’s legend Midge Marsden.
Laurie is also an active environmentalist and often incorporates her environmental/social originals into her shows and talks about issues to help educate audiences. She has performed for the Rocky Mountain chapter of Sierra Club and is a volunteer for ECOCYCLE in Boulder, Colorado.
Laurie says, “Music reaches everyone in some way. It brings us joy, gets us dancing, makes us feel, comforts us, educates us and can change the world!”
Read more of Laurie’s very full and impressive resume at http://www.lauriedameron.us
SONGWRITING CAMP HELPS VETS DEAL WITH TRAGEDIES OF WAR, TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE
By Colleen O’Connor - The Denver Post
U.S. Army combat engineer John Wall was deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan and survived several IED blasts but was hit by an "explosively formed projectile," which caused severe pain and the loss of feeling in his legs.
The blast happened in Baghdad, at a place that veterans call Predator Road. Last summer, at the first Songwriting Camp for Veterans, Wall teamed with eight other vets to turn their shared war experiences into songs.
"It was very healing for everyone who participated," Wall said. "One guy said it was a revival of the soul.
"No one was musically inclined. It wasn't like we showed up with our guitars. We learned we have something else to give and that we can do so much more than we thought."
The second Songwriting Camp for Veterans, [was recently] held at the Garden of the Gods Club in Colorado Springs.
"These guys don't hold back," said Darden Smith, the Austin, Texas-based musician who crafted the retreats based on his "Be An Artist" workshops, which coax creativity from everyone from schoolkids to corporate workers.
"Once you establish trust, they talk about things that will curl your hair," Smith said. "They have seen the best and worst of human existence, and we as civilians have a lot to learn from them."
The music camp is a new program from LifeQuest Transitions, a Colorado Springs nonprofit that helps wounded veterans transition from the military to civilian life. Founder CW Conner came up with the idea of the camp after a presentation to the Colorado Springs Executives Association, he said, attended by about a dozen business leaders.
. . .
Wall and his Army buddy had been sitting with Denver-born musician Jay Clementi ... [Read the full story at the URL listed below].
Colleen O'Connor: 303-954-1083 or coconnor@denverpost.com
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19797366?source=rss#.Tx3J5xkADbM.email
Re: GRAMMY AWARD CUTS – REVEREND JESSE JACKSON ENTERS DISCUSSION WITH RECORDING ACADEMY, CONSIDERS PROTEST
NEW YORK — The Rev. Jesse Jackson is entering the fray over The Recording Academy's cuts to its Grammy categories: He's asking to meet with the president of the organization and has raised the possibility of protests with the awards less than two weeks away.
The civil rights activist sent a letter to Neil Portnow, the president and CEO of the Academy, and expressed his dismay over the Academy's decision last April to cut its categories from 109 to 78, the biggest overhaul in its then 53-year history. In the letter, Jackson said he had been talking to members of the entertainment community and asked that his organization, the Rainbow Push Coalition, "meet with you urgently to express our concerns and to see if we might help resolve this conflict ... and allow the Grammys to do what they do best."
. . .
In an interview with the AP on Thursday night, Jackson said he wanted "cooperation, not confrontation" with the Academy. However, he did raise the possibility of a protest of the Feb. 12 Grammys, to be held in Los Angeles, if his talks with the Academy did not go well.
The Academy decided last year to shrink its voluminous categories after a year-long examination of the awards structure. Among the changes: elimination of some of the instrumental categories in pop, rock and country; traditional gospel; children's spoken-word album; Zydeco or Cajun music album; and best classical crossover album. In addition, men and women compete head-to-head in vocal performance categories instead of separate categories for each sex.
Some musicians in the Latin jazz community have filed a lawsuit against the Academy, claiming the reductions in categories caused them irreparable harm. While there haven't been widespread protests against the cuts in the industry, there have been small but vocal protests, and artists including Carlos Santana have spoken against them.
. . .
Princeton professor and activist Cornel West also expressed his concerns in a statement on Friday, saying: "I believe the elimination of the ethnic Grammy categories is unjust and unfair."
Read the complete article at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/27/jesse-jackson-grammy-award-cuts-protest_n_1237966.html
DID YOU KNOW THAT KLAUS MEINE ALMOST LOST HIS VOICE?
Excerpt from article found at:
http://www.noisecreep.com/2012/01/27/scorpions-klaus-meine/
They might have announced their retirement in 2010, but the Scorpions have been running the kind of schedule bands half their age couldn't even keep up with. Not only have the German hard rock elder statesmen been out on an exhaustive farewell world tour for the past year or so, they also managed to record a new album in between their treks.
Half of 'Comeblack' features re-recorded versions of some of the most revered songs from the Scorpions catalog. The rest of the new album features the band covering some of the artists that helped influence them in their earlier years, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Small Faces, and T. Rex.
The Scorpions may be closing shop on a high note, but little do most people know how close the band was to losing their beloved frontman, Klaus Meine. In 1982, Meine developed nodes and a polyp on his vocal cords. The condition wreaked havoc on his singing voice, and forced him to walk away from the band during a pivotal point in their career.
"During the early days of the Scorpions – when Michael Schenker was in the band – my voice was really nice and clean sounding. But the problem was we were playing all of these rock 'n' roll cover songs, and I wanted my voice to be trashier sounding. So I started really messing up my voice by screaming during those early days for hours.
"You have to understand, in my early club days in Germany, I wasn't playing the usual 90 minute set. We were doing cover songs and sometimes we would play five to six hours a night, with little breaks in between. Years later, with the Scorpions, I think the heavy touring and studio schedule finally got me. My voice was in bad shape. I couldn't sing and I thought my career was over," Meine, 63, told Noisecreep about the tumultuous period.
MUSIC TRAINING COULD HELP HEARING IN OLD AGE, STUDY SHOWS
Those violin lessons you took a kid could have a big payoff later in life, according to new research from Northwestern University researchers.
Scientists reported in the Neurobiology of Aging study that "aging disrupts neural timing, reducing the nervous system's ability to precisely encode sound." However, they found that lifelong musical training could help people have better hearing in old age.
Researchers found that the older people who were trained in music had better neural timing than those who hadn't been trained in music.
The study included 87 adults who were asked to watch a captioned video. Their neural responses to the sounds of speech were measured. The lifelong musicians were defined as those who were trained in music before age 9, and who participated in musical activities throughout life, while "non-musicians" included everyone who had a year or less of musical training, researchers said.
[Researchers] discovered that older musicians had a distinct neural timing advantage. This was determined by measuring the automatic brain responses of younger and older musicians and non-musicians to speech sounds.
"The older musicians not only outperformed their older non-musician counterparts, they encoded the sound stimuli as quickly and accurately as the younger non-musicians," study researcher Nina Kraus, of Northwestern, said in a statement. "This reinforces the idea that how we actively experience sound over the course of our lives has a profound effect on how our nervous system functions."
Previously, research has shown that taking music lessons helps keep the brain sharp when it comes to memory and mental tasks. That research was published in the journal Neuropsychology.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/01/music-training-hearing-old-age-lessons_n_1244358.html
FLORIDA COLLEGE CANCELS BAND CAMP AFTER HAZING SCANDAL
By Barbara Liston | Reuters
ORLANDO, Fla (Reuters) - A Florida university on Tuesday banned all student organizations from recruiting new members until next fall and cancelled a band camp following the death of marching band drum major Robert Champion last November in a hazing incident.
The ban was set by Florida A&M University President James Ammons one day after he informed the university's board of trustees that police were investigating another hazing incident that allegedly occurred in the spring of 2011 during an initiation into a band fraternity.
Ammons also cancelled the FAMU summer band camp in which members of the university's celebrated "Marching 100" band help coach middle and high school band students.
Champion, 26, died in a hazing incident after a performance of the band at a football game. Since then, other instances of hazing and injuries have emerged. Seven current and former band members have been arrested in connection with alleged hazing incidents. Champion's death remains under investigation.
(Editing by Greg McCune)
http://news.yahoo.com/florida-college-cancels-band-camp-hazing-scandal-020615386.html
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NEW THIS WEEK:
Cash Mobs;
More on the CBID/COMBO Music Expo;
Mark Reale (Riot guitarist) dies;
Laurel Wright wins National Country Showdown;
Nathaniel Wright (Sammy Mayfield Blues) dies;
Klaus Meine’s vocal problems;
Grammy-winning composer Clare Fischer dies;
Grammy cuts protest;
Benefit for Disabled Musicians and Occupy Colorado;
Five Points Jazz Festival looking for jazz artists;
‘Soul Train’ Host Don Cornelius dies;
Create Denver Week & Expo;
FAMU cancels Summer Band Camp;
New movie and book for February;
Music training could help hearing;
Sign up to perform during Music Expo;
Roy Safstron dies.
Remember to sign up for the Artist/Band Management Workshop. Seating is limited!
DATES TO MARK ON YOUR CALENDAR
February 2012:
Mo, 6th - COMBO Board Meeting [note date change]
Fr, 10th - Benefit at The Sports Station
Sa, 11th - COMBO's Artist/Band Management Workshop
Su, 12th - Grammys!
Su, 12th - Northern Colorado/Longmont Chapter NSAI Meeting
Mo, 13th - Denver Chapter NSAI Meeting
Sa, 18th - Benefit for Public TV 12 featuring the Kingston Trio
Su, 19th - COMBO General Meeting
Sa, 25th - Performance Bootcamp with Adrienne Osborn & Lang Bliss
Sa, 25th - Concordia [College] Choir Concert in Denver
Su, 26th - Concordia [College] Choir Concert in Colorado Springs
March 2012
Su, 4th - COMBO Board Meeting
Su, 11th - Northern Colorado/Longmont Chapter NSAI Meeting
Mo, 12th - Denver Chapter NSAI Meeting
Sa, 17th - St. Patrick’s Day Parade - look for COMBO’s/Christmas Caravan's entry!
Sa, 24th & Su, 25th - UMX [People’s Fair] Auditions at Bender’s Tavern
April 2012
Su, 1st - COMBO Board Meeting
Su, 22nd - COMBO Music Expo at The Filmore!
23rd - 28th - Colfax Business Improvement District’s Upper Colfax Root 40 Music Fest
May 2012
Th-Su, 9th - 13th - Create Denver Week
Sa, 12th - Create Denver Expo
Sa, 19th - Five Points Jazz Festival
Su, 20th - COMBO General Meeting
COMBO supports our locally owned and operated Small Music Businesses like Backbone Studio and Colorado Guitar Company!
LAUREL WRIGHT WINS NATIONAL COUNTRY SHOWDOWN
Laurel Wright, representing radio station WIVK in Knoxville, Tennessee has won the 30th Annual Texaco Country Showdown produced for a one-hour television special at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium. Recording artist LeAnn Rimes presented the Grand Prize of $100,000 to Laurel. She was chosen over thousands of contestants throughout the year. The four other National Finalists were: Shane Martin (Midwest Region - KLCI/BOB FM, Ramsey); Keeira Lyn Ford (Southwest Region - KNIX, Phoenix); Paisley Van Patten (West Region- KEGA, Salt Lake City); and Gwendlyn Kay (Southeast Region - KHOZ, Harrison).
Laurel Wright has performed since the tender age of 4. This 16-year-old singer-songwriter has penned more than 30 songs. Her love for music is evident in her young life due to dedication and the hard work necessary to make her dreams come true. At the Texaco Country Showdown National Final, Laurel was accompanied by Lewell Molen and performed original songs “Can’t You See” and “All That’s On Her Mind.” Her music, photos and concert dates can be found at www.facebook.com/laurelwrightmusic .
A panel of country music experts made the final decision. They were: Lisa Ramsey-Perkins, Senior Director of A&R for Sony Music Nashville; John Ozier, Vice President of A&R for Curb Records; Rod Essig, agent from Creative Artists Agency; Tracy Gershon, Artist Manager at Red Light Management; and Tim Molyneux, owner of Molyneux Entertainment, Producer and Performance Coach.
Dean Unkefer, Executive Producer: Throughout its 30 years, the Country Showdown has helped open doors for many of country music’s most popular artists from Martina McBride and Tim McGraw to Miley Cyrus, Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert. The success doesn’t happen without support from Texaco, the corporate partner. Their support helps keep the tradition of the Showdown alive and gives struggling new artists a chance to showcase their talent and new music.
About Texaco Country Showdown - The Texaco Country Showdown begins each spring with over 450 live shows produced by country music radio stations. Local winners advance to State and then to one of 5 Regional showdowns. These 5 winners then compete at a nationally syndicated television special. This year’s show will air nationwide in April on syndicated television and overseas to military bases on government access channels.
http://www.countryshowdown.com
What Is SOPA and Why Does It Matter? - HEARING / VOTE POSTPONED
By Julianne Pepitone - CNN - The Denver Channel 7
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The tech industry is abuzz about SOPA and PIPA, a pair of anti-piracy bills. Here's why they're controversial, and how they would change the digital landscape if they became law.
What is SOPA?
SOPA is an acronym for the Stop Online Piracy Act. It's a proposed bill that aims to crack down on copyright infringement by restricting access to sites that host or facilitate the trading of pirated content.
SOPA's main targets are "rogue" overseas sites like torrent hub The Pirate Bay, which are a trove for illegal downloads. Go to the The Pirate Bay, type in any current hit movie or TV show like "Glee," and you'll see links to download full seasons and recent episodes for free.
Content creators have battled against piracy for years -- remember Napster? -- but it's hard for U.S. companies to take action against foreign sites. The Pirate Bay's servers are physically located in Sweden. So SOPA's goal is to cut off pirate sites' oxygen by requiring U.S. search engines, advertising networks and other providers to withhold their services.
That means sites like Google wouldn't show flagged sites in their search results, and payment processors like eBay's PayPal couldn't transmit funds to them.
Both sides say they agree that protecting content is a worthy goal. But opponents say that the way SOPA is written effectively promotes censorship and is rife with the potential for unintended consequences.
Silicon Valley woke up and took notice of the implications when SOPA was introduced in the House of Representatives in October. But its very similar counterpart, PIPA, flew under the radar and was approved by a Senate committee in May. PIPA is now pending before the full Senate and scheduled for a vote on January 24, though some senators are pushing for a delay.
Long article but well worth the reading for a fuller explanation:
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/technology/30232977/detail.html?treets=den&taf=den
CUBAN, SEACREST PARTNER IN NEW TV NETWORK: ‘HDNET’ BECOMES ‘AXS’
Joanne Ostrow - The Denver Post Television critic.
Mark Cuban and Ryan Seacrest on Wednesday unveiled a new TV network, to launch this summer, focusing on pop culture and live entertainment fare. The network, a rebranding of Cuban’s HDNet, will remain based in Denver.
HDNet, managed by Philip Garvin from Denver, will create a joint venture with tour promoter AEG and talent agency CAA, and will be rebranded as AXS (pronounced “axis”).
“My thinking is, MTV gave up music a while ago,” Garvin said by phone from Los Angeles. AXS “is going to be a music-lovers’ channel.”
The goal is to carry 150 concerts a year, he said.
Seacrest will be a shareholder in the network and will participate in planning and production, but will not serve as an on-air personality.
AEG’s concert events, including from AEG-owned venues including the Staples Center in Los Angeles and O2 in London, will be at the disposal of the new network. Small venues, like the Ogden Theatre in Denver, which is managed by AEG, will also be the site of concerts carried on the network, “including up-and-coming bands.”
Read the full article here (very important for local bands wishing national exposure!):
http://www.heyreverb.com/2012/01/18/mark-cuban-ryan-seacrest/
COLORADO PERFORMANCE BOOTCAMP - FEBRUARY 25th
COMBO Member Adrienne Osborn, voice and performance coach at Performance High, is organizing a one-day, jam-packed Colorado Performance Bootcamp with Nashville Live Music Producer Lang Bliss. The bootcamp is for gigging artists and bands ready to take their performance to the next level, although new performers may also attend if they wish.
COMBO members get a 15% discount by using the login bootcampvip / 15discount.
When: Saturday, February 25, 2012, all day
Where: Dog House Studio, Lafayette, CO
More information: http://performancehigh.net/stage-performance/
FIVE POINTS JAZZ FESTIVAL LOOKING FOR JAZZ ARTISTS
The 9th Annual Five Points Jazz Festival comes to town Saturday, May 19th and expects 10,000+ people to attend the event in the Five Points District along Welston Street, for a day full of food, fun and fantastic music.
Call for Musicians: Arts & Venues - Denver (“AVD”) is looking for a variety of talent for our venues - intimate theaters to large street stages. If you are an interested jazz performer, please go here: http://fs9.formsite.com/DOCA/form37/index.html
Call for Nominations: Each year, three individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to jazz and culture in the Five Points neighborhood and beyond are honored. AVD is now accepting nominations for the 2012 awards and are due March 23rd by 5:00 p.m. Go here for nomination forms: http://fs9.formsite.com/DOCA/form39/index.html
Five Points Jazz Festival Link
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
Believe in others: "If you care about manifesting [an artist's] vision, you have to jump into the trenches with them. And when you connect on a deep level, you feel like you're living again. When you believe in people, it goes beyond the music; it goes beyond the art."
~ Danny Jacob, composer (Phineas and Ferb). Interviewed in MC Feb 2012
http://www.musicconnection.com
COMBO has free copies of the Music Connection and Making Music magazines to hand out. Be sure to pick yours up at the next General Meeting!
Our suggested movies will be ones that involve the business of making music – not the “song & dance” movies. All movies will teach you something about the music business.
MOVIE FOR FEBRUARY 2012: "Dark Street" (2008)
Directed by Rachel Samuels. Cast: Gabriel Mann, Bijou Phillips, Izabella Miko, Elias Koteas, Michael Fairman. Tells the story of Chaz Davenport, a dashing playboy who owns what promises to become the hottest new nightclub in town. Surrounded by the sumptuous blues music he adores, and with his pick of the gorgeous women who perform their sensual dance numbers on stage every night, Chaz is the envy of every man. But when he begins to investigate the suspicious death of his father his own life starts to spin out of control. "Features 12 original songs written by James Compton, Tim Brown and Tony DeMeur, performed by stars Bijou Phillips and Izabella Miko as well as legendary artists including Dr. John, Etta James, Natalie Cole, Aaron Neville, Solomon Burke, Chaka Khan and Richie Sambora. Based on a play by Glenn M. Stewart. 83 min.
BOOK FOR FEBRUARY 2012: “Tour: Smart: and Break the Band” - Martin Atkins, Henry Rollins, and Cynthia Plastercaster (2007)
Mr. Atkins has a lot of experience in concert tours (P.I.L., Killing Joke, Ministry, Pigface) and has co-written a helpful book. The book is available through Amazon.
Customer reviews (from Amazon):
Where was this book 5 years ago??
After reading this book, it's almost painful to look back at some of the mistakes I've made and the money I've lost over the past several years, and to think about how many of them I could have easily avoided by using the advice and tips that are in this book. This book is enormous, and every page seems to contain information that could have helped me out at least once... [Mike]
Probably great if your band is already big.
Man, I wanted to like this book, but I was really disappointed.
I'm in a band that tours the country about twice a year, and has for the last few years, and I'd hoped this book would have some good advice. However, this book is aimed at bands who already play to a few hundred people a night, rather than for someone at my level. Also, it doesn't give you much advice on doing things without a big team behind you: for example, it tells you that you could book a tour without a booking agent, but doesn't give you much advice on how to actually do that.
I also felt like this book was aimed at men, and assumed that the audience it was speaking to was male (lots of sections seemed unnecessarily gendered) and HATED HATED HATED a lot of the sections about being a woman on tour. Ugh... [Jane]
MUSICAL TERM FOR JANUARY 2012: “Debile” or “Debole” - feeble or weak.
Envelope: The shape of a sound’s amplitude, changing over time; an important determinant of sound quality. Most synthesizers allow modification of a sound’s envelope, from attack through decay.
Pocket Manual of Musical Terms
Here's one to watch for at this time of the year: You get an e-mail saying that the IRS is having problems processing your income tax return. "Please fill in the blanks with your Social Security number, bank account number, etc... so we can properly process your return". Like, HELLO!!! The IRS knows your SSN -- they don't need to ask you for it!
Also, here's another one: People with outside mailboxes -- mail thieves will be looking for your income tax refund -- the one you requested as a "check". You might want to consider having your refund go via direct deposit to your bank account instead.
(Thanks to AARP for these "scam warnings").
WHAT A WONDERFUL IDEA! CASH MOBS!!
Wouldn’t it be terrific if musicians hit their favorite locally owned music-store to help them out!
Now we want to hip you to a new movement designed to affect local economies.
By now, you're probably familiar with the term "flash mob"-- strangers simultaneously performing choreographed routines in public places from out of nowhere. Now there's a new trend sweeping the nation -- cash mob.
Similar to flash mobs, cash mobs are organized online through social media, and happen in the same sudden, simultaneous fashion. However, cash mobs are designed to boost local business and they're popping up everywhere from Los Angeles, California, to Norman, Oklahoma.
Cleveland attorney Andrew Samtoy created the first cash mob in November, and there are now 36 around the country, with more expected to grow. Here's how it works: A bunch of customers flood a store at one time, grab a bunch of items, pay for them, and leave. The cash mobs are not protesting big business chains such as Wal-Mart and Target. Instead their goal is to add a financial boost to the local economy. There's already a cash mob being planned in Brooklyn, N.Y., in a few weeks.
Want to start your own cash mob? There are some rules to follow: The event must be announced a week in advance on Facebook or Twitter, the business has to be locally owned, and everyone has to spend at least $20. To find out if there's a cash mob near you, go to cashmob.wordpress.com.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trending-now/shock-over-10th-u-president-grandsons-still-living-172643148.html
'PAWN STARS': RARE LES PAUL GIBSON 'SG' GUITAR
The "Pawn Stars" were the envy of guitar enthusiasts everywhere when singer Mary Ford's nephew showed up with a guitar case in tow.
Inside the case was a piece of guitar history: A cream, 1961 Gibson "SG," once owned by guitar legend, and Ford's ex-husband, Les Paul. Ford's nephew also had a stack of papers documenting Paul's tempestuous relationship with guitar manufacturer Gibson.
How could Rick and Corey Harrison put a price on such an artefact? Well, they were helped by the fact that the owner had a price in mind -- "You're getting history here" -- and he wouldn't budge until their offer matched it.
The price? A cool $90,000.
Catch up with the "Pawn Stars" every Monday, 10 p.m. EST on History.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/24/pawn-stars-les-paul-guitar-video
ERIK DYCE’S NEW WEBSITE CONNECTS MUSICIANS TO THE MASSES
DENVER, CO – Musicians playing in that space between free and a few thousand dollars per gig often find it hard to reach the people who want to hire them. Erik Dyce, the marketing man behind the world’s number one outdoor music venue, recently launched the beta website http://inDemandbandsUSA.com to help up-and-coming artists market themselves, connect to potential buyers and identify a pool of resources to assist in their success.
After spending decades rubbing shoulders with the world’s finest musical artists, Dyce is known as the “go to guy” for music. Says Dyce, “I get several calls each week from friends and colleagues looking for the perfect band for a party, corporate event or fundraiser.” While Dyce knows the top local favorites, he is continually surprised at the talent pool yet to be discovered.
“The bands just need to choose a genre, post a YouTube video and list their fee.” Once the site is populated with several hundred bands, it will be marketed to those seeking to hire them. Initially focusing on Colorado, inDemandBandsUSA.com will feature bands who charge $2,500 or less per gig. This site is different than any other in that the Company takes no fee from either buyer or seller.
In addition to connecting musicians and event organizers, inDemandBandsUSA.com is building out a Resources section. Most new bands spend countless hours honing and perfecting their sound, but don’t have the skill set or connections to take it to the next level. Dyce’s inDemandBandsUSA.com screens businesses that specialize in the music arena – from lighting and sound technicians to accountants to stylists – and provides that information to bands to help them turn their garage band into a marketable name.
Music is a passion for Dyce, who also plays in a cover band. “There is so much talent out there and I want to put my knowledge to use to help take them to the next level.” While inDemandBandsUSA.com will launch locally, the plan is to market the website nationally to connect artists to the buyers in their area.
For more information, visit http://www.inDemandBandsUSA.com
Interesting songwriting fact:
Paul Anka wrote the theme song [for The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson] ("Johnny's Theme"), a reworking of his "Toot Sweet", given lyrics, renamed "It's Really Love," and recorded by Annette Funicello in 1959. Before taking over The Tonight Show, Carson wrote lyrics for the song and thus claimed 50 percent of the song's performance royalties – even though the lyrics were never used. The theme is heard being played on sound recordings of Carson's first Tonight Show, and it was used without interruption through to his very last broadcast in 1992.
http://www.wikipedia.com/JohnnyCarson
LONGMONT CHAPTER OF NSAI MEETS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12th
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 February 12th)
Time: 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Where: Fire Station #3, 1000 Pace Street, Longmont
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
http://www.boulderguitar.com
For more information on the next meeting of the Denver Chapter of NSAI, which will be held at CCM Studios, 4214 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, 720-941-6088, contact Elvira Hall at WalltoWallMusic@aol.com or Bonnie Essex at b2thumzz@aol.com
THIS EVENT IS NOT TO BE MISSED! YOU'LL BE DOING YOURSELF A DISSERVICE BY NOT ATTENDING...
NEXT DURANGO SONGWRITERS EXPO - MARCH 1st THRU 3rd, 2012
The next Durango Songwriters Expo will be held Thursday, March 1st through Saturday, March 3rd, 2012 at the FABULOUS Marriott in Santa Ynez, California. Terrific hotel and fun to stay there so you'll not miss the "getting to know you" times! Sign up at:
http://www.durango-songwriters-expo.com
http://www.omnihotels.com
(Don’t let the name fool you, folks! The event started out in Durango but now involves songwriters from all over the planet - literally).
PRAYERS NEEDED FOR...
ROBIN GIBB, BEE GEES SINGER, UNDERGOING CHEMO, STILL BATTLING LIVER CANCER
By Theo Bark
When we last heard from ailing Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb, he was already planning his return to the stage, however it has now been revealed that the disco legend has opted to undergo an intense eight-week chemotherapy course, in an attempt to battle his life-threatening liver cancer.
The 62-year-old 'Stayin' Alive' singer was rushed to the hospital in November, but appeared to be making a quick recovery, thanks to some alternative remedies suggested by his wife, Dwina, a druid priestess.
However, when he was unable to attend the launch of a charity event on Wednesday night (Jan. 18), his spokesman Mick Garbutt revealed that Gibb is undergoing chemo, and that he is still "very unwell."
"It is true to say he is very unwell, but he's an incredible man and enjoys lots of support from his close circle of friends and family, and particularly from his wife Dwina," Garbutt said. "He is receiving regular chemotherapy and fighting hard.
Despite the chemo, Gibb is still determined to to attend his classical debut, a concert performance of 'The Titanic Requiem,' which he composed with his son Robin-John, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ship's ill-fated launch.
"He's set himself a goal to be at the show on April 10 and everybody hopes he will," Garbutt continued. "He's very strong willed -- if anyone can beat this, it's Robin."
http://www.spinner.com/2012/01/20/robin-gibb-bee-gees-chemo-cancer/
IN MEMORIAM
ROY C. SAFSTROM (63), 2/01/1949 - 1/13/2012. Survived by the love of his life Denise, mother Marjorie, brother Harry and sister Elaine. Roy was a dedicated teacher, musician, photographer and outdoor enthusiast. A memorial service will be held 5 p.m., Saturday, February 4, at New Hope Presbyterian Church, Castle Rock. The Littleton Symphony will include a dedication to Roy in their Feb. 10th concert. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Roy's name to research at http://www.amyloidosis.org or to the Denver Zoo.
Roy's father, Harry Safstrom, was also a bassist and member of the Denver Symphony Orchestra.
Published in Denver Post on February 1, 2012
NATHANIEL WRIGHT - BASSIST - DIES
It's with great sadness that I let you all know of the passing of my dear friend Nathaniel Wright, bassist with the Sammy Mayfield Blues Revue. Will post more details when they become available.
Courtesy of Scott Rivera
MELVIN LEE - BASS PLAYER
With the greatest of sorrow, we are so deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our dear friend Melvin Lee. He was a friend to us all. Always with a kind smile and warm greeting, he made the music he played look easy. Just being able to “Watch ‘n Learn”, he’d say with a wink, he only inspired me as a bass player to work harder at my craft. He will be missed by all that have ever known him. Lisa McCall and I would like to extend your deepest sympathies to his family and friends. Mr. Melvin Lee, you were one the best!! My God Bless the Music Makers... We miss you very much!!
Courtesy of Rick McCall
SINGER ETTA JAMES PASSES ON JANUARY 20th
[Ms. James was being cared for at home and passed away after long illnesses including leukemia.]
ALSO IN REMEMBRANCE THIS PAST WEEK:
‘SOUL TRAIN’ HOST DON CORNELIUS DEAD OF SUICIDE
By Associated Press | Stop The Presses!
Don Cornelius, creator of the long-running TV dance show "Soul Train," shot himself to death Wednesday morning at his Los Angeles home, police said. He was 75.
Officers responding to a report of a shooting found Cornelius at his Mulholland Drive home at around 4 a.m., police said. He was pronounced dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 4:56 a.m. at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said Los Angeles County Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter.
"Soul Train" began in 1970 in Chicago on WCIU-TV as a local program and aired nationally from 1971 to 2006.
It introduced television audiences to such legendary artists as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Barry White and brought the best R&B, soul and later hip-hop acts to TV and had teenagers dance to them. It was one of the first shows to showcase African-Americans prominently, although the dance group was racially mixed. Cornelius was the first host and executive producer.
"There was not programming that targeted any particular ethnicity," he said in 2006, then added: "I'm trying to use euphemisms here, trying to avoid saying there was no television for black folks, which they knew was for them."
Cornelius, who was inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame in 1995 and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, said in 2006 he remained grateful to the musicians who made "Soul Train" the destination for the best and latest in black music.
"I figured as long as the music stayed hot and important and good, that there would always be a reason for 'Soul Train,'" Cornelius said.
The series spawned a franchise that includes the Soul Train Music Awards, the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards and the Soul Train Christmas Starfest.
Cornelius stepped down as "Soul Train" host in 1993.
In his later years, Cornelius had a troubled marriage. In 2009, he was sentenced to three years' probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor spousal battery. In his divorce case that year, he also mentioned having significant health issues.
Thank you and credit to:
http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/stop-the-presses/soul-train-don-cornelius-dead-75-apparent-suicide-152756913.html
UPDATE: Cornelius, 75, was plagued by health problems in the last three decades of his life. He underwent a 21-hour operation in 1982 to correct a congenital malformation in blood vessels in his brain. "You choose your brain surgeons for their stamina," he said afterwards, according to The Washington Post. "You're never quite the same afterward. Travel is always a real test."
http://news.yahoo.com/don-cornelius-suicide-reveals-troubled-life-soul-train-165333194--abc-news.html
FOUNDING ‘RIOT’ GUITARIST MARK REALE DIES
by Cameron Matthews
Mark Reale, guitarist and founding member of metal band Riot has passed away at the age of 56. Reale was recently admitted to a San Antonio hospital in critical condition due to complications of Crohn's disease. According to Blabbermouth, the guitarist had been in a coma for the past two weeks after suffering a subarachnoid hemorrhage on Jan. 11.
Read the full story here:
http://www.noisecreep.com/2012/01/26/mark-reale-dead/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl2%7Csec3_lnk3%26pLid%3D130530
For full biographies and obituaries, see http://www.wikipedia.com
GRAMMY-WINNING COMPOSER CLARE FISCHER DIES
Clare Fischer, a Grammy-winning composer who wrote scores for television and movies and worked with legendary musicians like Dizzy Gillespie, has died. He was 83.
Fischer died Thursday at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank after suffering a heart attack two weeks ago, family spokeswoman Claris Sayadian-Dodge said.
An uncommonly versatile musician, Fischer worked as a composer, arranger, conductor and pianist for more than 60 years.
He is best known for his arrangements for Prince, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Branford Marsalis, Raphael Saadiq, Usher and Brandy.
Nominated for a Grammy 11 times in the Best Instrumental Arrangement category, Fischer won in 1986 for his album "Free Fall" and in 1981 for "Salsa Picante plus 2+2."
Born in Durand, Mich., Fischer got his start playing piano and writing jazz-inspired arrangements for the group The Hi-Lo's, an a capella quartet popular in the 1950s.
He worked as the arranger on Gillespie's "Jazz Portrait of Duke Ellington."
Fischer recorded 51 albums over his lifetime with his son Brent Fischer. The music ranges in style from jazz to salsa to symphonies.
"Clare Fischer was a major influence on my harmonic concept," Herbie Hancock is quoted as saying on Fischer's website.
"(Fischer) and Bill Evans, and Ravel and Gil Evans, finally. You know, that's where it really came from. Almost all of the harmony that I play can be traced to one of those four people and whoever their influences were," Hancock said.
Clare Fischer is survived by his wife, Donna; sons Lee and Brent; daughter Tahlia; and three grandchildren.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/28/clare-fischer-dead-composer-dies-83_n_1238956.html
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