Mega Music Talent

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It’s not surprising that one of the best guitar makers of all times have countless guitar players voluntarily endorse their brand. The word “Gibson” evokes the images of a legendary performance in nearly any type of setting. They are coveted guitars by all players of all skill sets, from the very bottom to the very top. Whether it’s the abundance of concerts or famous recordings, many of the notes that made music history were played on Gibson guitars by innumerable legends from various genres.

Blues legend Robert Johnson famously plucked a Gibson. Though his career output was limited to fewer than forty songs, he vastly influenced the many American and British players of the sixties and beyond, most notably Eric Clapton. He’s possibly one of the reasons slide and finger-picking blues is so associated on Gibson. The image of Johnson nattily dressed up in suit and fedora smoking a cigarette while holding his Gibson in his lap is etched in the minds of all guitar players. Other legends include none other than B. B. King, Jeff Beck, and Muddy Waters!

The folk singers and songwriters utilizing Gibson’s catalogue was no less impressive. The demi-god of folk Bob Dylan played a variety of models all throughout his career. Before him were the Guthrie’s, Arlo and Woody. Earl Scruggs and Bill Monroe played on Gibson Banjos and mandolins respectively, testifying to the companies’ wide-ranging prowess. Sheryl Crow uses Gibsons now, as did George Harrison and Paul McCartney of Beatles fame. Read the rest of this entry »

Booking talent is a tricky combination of finding a performer who will entertain your audience at the right cost and still leave everyone wanting more. There are some important things to avoid when booking talent towards this end and years of experience will help you avoid these issues. So let’s take a look at what NOT to do.

A good friend of mine had a scheduled phone interview for a job right smack in the middle of Spring Break towards the end of college. We were out on the Colorado River after a pretty late night. The woman on the phone kindly asked my friend what he wanted to do. Tom replied back with “Well, I know what I DON’T want to do”. Let’s just say he didn’t get that job but his answer is not too far off when planning an event around talent. There are certain things you DON’T want to do and we’re going to walk through the big ones here. Obviously, this is a short list but as professionals of 25 years in booking talent and bands, we’ll make sure to protect you from the rest.

The most common mistake is to be unrealistic in terms of what talent, bands, comedians, or celebrities you can afford. Be realistic…If your organization has a $20,000 budget then you can’t afford the Dave Matthews Band or Lady Gaga.  Make a list of 10-20 performers that you and your committee will be happy with.  Once we have that list, we can find out who’s schedule will work to be in your area and who can perform for the budget that you have allocated.  Don’t get your heart set on one band.  You need to have a fairly open mind so that you end up with someone you are happy with but who works within their touring schedule and your desires. We can work with anyone out there and we’ll negotiate with a proverbial baseball bat but that doesn’t change what certain talent expects in terms of payment. Read the rest of this entry »

Having conquered the R&B, jazz, rock – even opera industries – African Americans seem to hit a roadblock in regards to country music. Can we make a lasting impact? Do we have what it takes to do so?

In 1926, DeFord Bailey broke racial boundaries when he became the first African American to appear on stage at the Grand Ole Opry, the very representation of country music.

It would take some 40 years before another African American made such an impact. It was 1962 and Ray Charles, although primarily an R&B artist, released the groundbreaking album “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music” featuring the number one hit “I Can’t Stop Lovin’ You.” The tune made Charles a household name in country-lovin’ homes all across America. To emphasize its massive appeal, it is among Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, as well as the 100 Greatest Songs in Country Music.

That same year the legendary Nat “King” Cole cut a tune called “Ramblin’ Rose,” which became the second country hit by an African American in the genre.

But it wasn’t until the mid-60s when a young Charley Pride caught the attention of record producer Chet Atkins that Black country singers were taken seriously. Marketing Pride simply as “Country” Charley Pride, Atkins had no photos distributed of the African American baritone. Rather, he would let the music speak for itself.

A country star was born. Before the predominantly-White country-music-lovin’ population knew what hit them, they’d bought his records, requested radio air play and made him one of the top artists for RCA Records ? second only to Elvis ? during Pride’s heyday in the early- to mid-70s. The strategy worked: to date, Pride has sold over 70 million records, is inducted in the Grand Ole Opry and today is arguably one of the best country singers of all time ? Black or White.

There have also been other “crossover” African American artists who have made an impact on country music, such as The Pointer Sisters (“Slow Hand”); and Lionel Ritchie (who collaborated with Kenny Rogers and is credited with such hits as Rogers’ “Lady” and “Through the Years,” among other country tunes).

And lesser known Black country singers have certainly put forth great effort. In the late 90′s, Trini Triggs made a few waves on the country music scene. At first glance it seemed as if the attractive cowboy was going to strike gold, but just a few short years later and his star has yet to reemerge. In fact, his Wikipedia page lists minimal information and his Web site simply states, “Coming soon.” But when?

Black Country Singers in the 21st century

What about Black country singers in the 21st century? Will the country music landscape continue to reflect a “Whites only” policy? It’s doubtful. While we’ve a long way to go regarding Black country singers ? there have been strides.

In the past several years, chart-topping African American artists from other music genres have segued into ‘country’ territory. One such surprising collaboration involves hip-hop artist Nelly who collaborated with top-country performer Tim McGraw on the catchy tune “Over and Over,” which received air play on both R&B and country stations throughout the U. S.

Cowboy Troy is also making a name for himself by blending country music with rock and hip-hop to form a unique sound all his own.

But the most popular of all Black country singers today is the multi-talented Darius Rucker, former lead singer of Hootie and the Blowfish. Rucker, who decided to ‘go country’ just a few short years ago, has made a seamless transition from rock music to country music in a few short steps. In 2008, Rucker became the first African American since Charley Pride to reach Top 20 on the country charts with his “Learn to Live” album. And his single, Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” reached number one in September of that year, making him the only African American since Pride to reach that status.

With his appearance at the Grand Ole Opry and his album going platinum in 2009, Rucker is well on his way to country stardom.

African Americans are resilient and multi-talented. It is no longer of question of ‘whether’ we will prevail in country music but rather ‘when.’ As those before us (Pride, Charles, Cole and others) have indicated, we have what it takes to get there. And with today’s star on the rise (Rucker), Black country singers shall remain.

Author Bio: J Blair Brown is a writer for ; Regal Black Mens Magazine The publication focuses on ; African American Community News Politics Sports Health The magazine features a ; Local Online Classifieds & Job Classified Black Business Directory Visit to read about ; Black country singers

The Essential Charley Pride

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What is the next big thing in music? This is a question that every musician and music lover has asked themselves. The answer is never simple, and always coupled with uncertainty. The most common answer is that “it’s impossible to predict”, which is probably true but also somewhat of a cop out. So for the sake of this article we are going to denounce this theory. We often hear that the next big thing in music will be a completely new genre that hasn’t been established yet; almost as if music will take some futuristic turn led by robots. Though rare, originality has indeed occurred in music, but it’s usually either accidental or influenced by something that’s already been in existence. After much thought and consideration, we have created our own theory. Music is cyclical! Much like weather, finance and even clothing, music is no stranger to reoccurring trends. So this idea leaves us with one question. What genre will be next to make a comeback? In this article we will take a look at popular music history, and let patterns guide our prediction on where we believe the scene is heading.

Let’s turn back the clock to the 1930′s, when use of the radio first became widespread. For those who are unaware, the time frame between 1930 and 1950 is often referred to as radio’s “Golden Age”. Since most of you probably view reading about the 30′s as a snoozefest, we’ll do our best to keep it brief. Just think about this; prior to the 30′s the radio wasn’t a household item, and therefore music wasn’t nationalized. Without getting too bogged down by needless information, we’ll keep this decade simple and present you with one more takeaway; that by 1935 “Swing” had taken over the music scene, and continued to dominate throughout WWII and further into the 40′s. By the late 40′s, “Big Band” had become renowned and impeded on “Swings” turf. With all this in mind, we have concluded that since radio was still in its infancy, popular music in the mid 30′s and 40′s lacked a universal identity. Read the rest of this entry »

Showing my age here, but I love Bob Segar and I love that old time rock and roll. Reminds me of motorbike rallies and motorbike club discos, good music and good memories.

 

Greatest Hits

Bob Seger has racked up a lot of worthy tracks over the years, but it took until 1994 for a greatest hits package to appear. Voilà. The bad news: We're missing an awful lot of songs here. Night Moves is Seger's crit-pick album, and a great place to start if you don't have any Seger at all. Next in the rankings is Stranger in Town. Otherwise, his highs are pretty scattered, which would make any best-of package a worthy investment. But if you want to get comprehensive, "Rock & Roll Never Forgets"

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Bob Seger – Turn the Page
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I am sure you have heard the phrase “practice makes perfect”. Do you agree with that? I don’t. This is because if you practice the wrong things, then you will only perfect the wrong things. So the phrase should be “perfect practice makes perfect”, isn’t it? So what has this got to do with your singing career and confidence building? Plenty. I will explain in a little while.

Similar to the phrase above is “knowledge is power”. What if the knowledge you have contains grave misinformation, then by applying the knowledge, then you may make grave mistakes. That can be terrible and potentially ruin your reputation as a singer or in any other careers.

There are many myths about singing methods and vocal training and such misinformation can damage your voice permanently, shatter your confidence or worse prematurely end your career. Even if the knowledge you gained is correct, it means nothing until it is properly applied. Then will you see results and feel the difference. This is when your confidence will grow. As you see better and better results, you thus will continue to grow more competent and confident. Read the rest of this entry »

What’s A Quick Breakdown Of Jobs In The Music Industry?

Article by Myron Chana

There’s a lot more to the music industry than standing up on stage and singing your heart out. A love of music is a key ingredient in all jobs in the music industry – however all of us show our love in several ways. Not all jobs within the music industry are about performing. For those who’re thinking about making music part of your working life, there are attention-grabbing jobs in the music industry that make use of the skills that you just have.

What sort of jobs can you find within the music industry? Everybody is aware of about musicians and performers, or course, however there’s a complete trade devoted to supporting, producing, educating, publicizing and supporting performers. In case you’re searching for jobs in the music trade, listed here are simply some of the careers you may consider.

Music Trainer

A music trainer may fit in a public or private faculty, have a job with a social agency that gives enrichment, or give personal lessons. Based on the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 3 in 10 music teachers are self-employed, and plenty of music teachers only teach part time. There were about 253,000 music teacher jobs in 2004, however that number is anticipated to develop faster than jobs in other industries as child boomers continue to embrace lifelong learning. The median salary for a music instructor is .eighty five per hour.

Music Ministry

A music minister is far more than the Church organist. Beneath the direction of a senior clergyman, a music minister could arrange the choir, take part in planning of musical occasions for a church, encourage attendance in church and help parishioners develop and present their own musical worship and praise. The American Guild of Organists offers salary pointers for Music Ministers that range from ,000 for a minister with a Service Enjoying Certificate to $ sixty seven,000 for a music minister with a Doctorate in Sacred Organ Music.

A&R Scouts, Coordinators and Directors

If you have an excellent ear for music and a very good grasp of what folks like to listen to, you could possibly find a profession within the A&R (Artists & Repertoire) area. Among the many most enjoyable jobs in the music industry, A&R scouts and different professionals actively search out talent for file labels and manufacturing companies. A&R scouts visit golf equipment and live shows, hearken to demo tapes and watch movies to search out new expertise, and are often liable for discovering songs for existing talent to perform.

Music Therapist

Do you believe within the therapeutic energy of music? Music therapists work both independently or in nursing homes, faculties and other establishments to make use of music as an assist to healing, deliver enjoyment to sufferers at various phases of restoration, relieve ache and provide emotional comfort to sufferers with varied physical and emotional illnesses. For a musician who desires to feel good about his or her work, it could possibly be among the most rewarding of jobs within the music industry.

Songwriter

From freelance to staff songwriting positions, there are numerous jobs within the music business for songwriters. It’s possible you’ll work alone to put in writing and produce your own songs, work as a workers author for a record or publishing company, write jingles and ads for the radio or tv commercials, perform your own work in front of an viewers or by no means sing a note. You may write just the phrases, please, focus on the composition of instrumental pieces or write both.

About the Author

For knowledge in regard to music production software, swing by Carola Keirele’s internet site without hesitation.

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Working in the Music Industry: How to Find an Exciting and Varied Career in the World of Music

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Explores various career areas - record companies, music publishing, and sound engineering. This book presents practical advice. It features case studies and top tips on finding and getting jobs.

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The alt emo punk pop band Paramore shot to fame recently when its song ‘Decode’ featured on the wildly successful ‘Twilight’ motion picture. The film’s soundtrack also features another song from the same band ‘I Caught Myself’. The movie has won a lot of new fans for this outfit that has been around since 2004. If you have never heard of Paramore before, you certainly would have after the astonishing success of “Twilight’ and anything or anyone that has a connection with it.

This band, hailing from Tennessee, has always been in the limelight Its second album ‘Riot!’ was released in 2007 to rave reviews and it went platinum not just in the United States but in many more countries as well. It is no surprise that this band has developed its fan following steadily over the years. It certainly is very unusual in that it has a female lead vocal, Hayley Williams who is also the group’s song writer. She is joined on stage by brothers lead guitarist Josh Farro and drummer Zac Farro. The band is completed by bassist Jeremy Davis and rhythm guitarist Taylor York.

The band has responded to its amazing success by going on a series of tours all over the United States and then to some places abroad as well such as Japan, Australia and Europe.

Do you need more information about Paramore? The best place to get all the information you need about this outfit and its stars is the internet. The meteoric rise of this band to superstardom means that there are many fan sites to choose from. You can get almost anything on these sites, from details of their tours to the latest photographs of the band members. There is also a lot of merchandise available, from T shirts to ring tones to bags. The band is also available on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and Purevolume. Read the rest of this entry »

You have probably seen a lot of people buying wireless speakers nowadays and it makes you wonder what’s with all the buzz about going wireless. In order to answer this question, you must familiarise yourself with both wired and wireless speakers. Knowing what they are and their features can help you understand why a lot of people choose wireless over wired today.

It might surprise you to know that perhaps the only real difference between wired and wireless speakers is the way they receive sound. You see, wireless speaker systems do not utilise cables and wires to transmit signals that carry sound information. How it works is that the wireless device uses radio frequency waves or infrared signal and then changes this into an acoustic sound. Such technology has made it extremely popular, which is why there are many brands and models being sold in the market and more are still on the way.

Wireless speakers features convenience and portability. Think about it. All you need to do is to plug the system’s base to the stereo and then you can place the speaker anywhere you want to. You can even position the receiver in any area where you want the sound to be, and this gives you the freedom to simply move the speakers around without having to worry about how long the cable is. Remember, you don’t need cables! Read the rest of this entry »

If you have not done it before, and you’re planning to buy your first electric or acoustic guitar, chances are you are a little anxious about the selection and offers at the stores. Either if you look at some of the on-line music retailers as well as the off-line stores close to you, the amount of options and alternatives can sometimes be overwhelming if you are not sure of all the variables.

Let’s go over some basic rules that would help you make the right guitar decision:

Be patient. As they say, good things happen to those who wait. This cannot be more true. You don’t have to rush into making a purchase that same day you go to the store, or simply because you got a new offer in the email. Take your time and explore the alternatives before committing to any instrument.

Keep your cool. Be always in control of the situation. Don’t allow any salesman to intimidate you, even if you’re not certain of instrument’s specifications. Ask questions, don’t be afraid to ask what you don’t know, remember that as a customer, you’re entitled to get answers about the product you’re about to purchase. Read the rest of this entry »