September 2017
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 22, No. 9
Next Meeting Sunday September 3rd 5:00pm.
The International Songwriter’s Guild meets at 5 PM on the first Sunday of every
month at the Central Florida Musician’s Union building, 3020 East Robinson St.,
Orlando, FL 32803 (at the extreme east end of Robinson, near Orlando Executive
Airport)
Songwriters, composers, performers, publishers, and the curious are encouraged to
join us. Non-members are invited to attend a meeting or two to get a feel for our
group and what we do. If you wish to join, there is an annual fee of only $5. For
more information, visit our website at www.tinyurl.com/isgsongs or myspace page at
The meetings will be structured as follows: 5:00 to 5:30, business and
introductions. 5:30 to 6:00, presentation by a guest speaker (when scheduled), 5:30
or 6:00 to 8:00, song critiques. Please bring a CD or I-phone or mp3 player or
perform your song live, and bring 10 or more lyric sheets. If we have at least 5
songs by members who wish to be scored, and 6 members scoring, then we will have
them entered in the Monthly competition. Everyone is encouraged to write
constructive comments on the lyric sheets.
We welcome new member Anthony Rouhana. He is a wonderful songwriter, and he also hosts some
open mics around town. We visited his Thursday open mic at Rogue Pub, and had a great time.
Any Details not in this newsletter are at:
If you wish to join our Facebook group, please check us out at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/831814850193553/
Rock And Roll Never Forgets
by Jeff Mason
We have lost many fine songwriters in the last three or four years. I could pick any of them and write an article but for me the passing of
Chuck Berry seemed to slip by. Perhaps it was because he was 90 when he passed. I am not saying there was no coverage. There were plenty
of fine tributes. Still it didn’t seem quite enough.
I first need to kick the negative stuff out of the room. One cannot talk about him without considering the pervasive racism that shaped his
life and the music business. This is from a Los Angeles Times article about him; “Berry spent time in reform school as a teenager, served two
prison terms (one for a Mann Act conviction and one for income tax evasion), no doubt saw millions of dollars slip through his hands because
of the one-sided recording and publishing contracts rock performers routinely signed in the '50s, and experienced the sting of racial discrimination,
including seeing doors open much faster for many far-less-talented white rock musicians.”
After the first prison term, Chuck returned to the music business; “Never saw a man so changed,” is how the great Carl Perkins described
the experience of touring England in 1964 alongside Chuck Berry . “He had been an easygoing guy before, the kinda guy who’d jam in dressing
rooms, sit and swap licks and jokes. [But] in England he was cold, real distant and bitter.”
I will say that I think if Chuck had been white he would have been as big as Elvis. For while Presley was a charismatic performer and a
great singer, Chuck had a little more to offer. He could sing, perform, play the guitar and he was an incredible song writer. I would direct you to the
1956 movie “Rock, Rock, Rock” and watch Chuck’s dynamic, humorous performance of “You Can’t Catch Me.” It can easily be found on YouTube.
Chuck was a heck of a performer. Oh yes and don’t forget the duck walk!
The title of this article is the title of a Bob Seger song. In the song Bob claims “Well all Chuck's children are out there playing his licks.” He laid
a guitar style down that still influences musicians. He knew how to create a train sound. He could create a car horn sound. Some of Chuck’s
children include the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan. “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Rock and Roll Music”
were early Beatle covers. The Stones introduced themselves to the world with “Come On” and later “Around and Around.” The Beach Boys “Surfin’ USA”
was set to the music of Chuck’s “Sweet Little Sixteen.” Johnny Rivers did a great cover of the hard driving “Memphis.” That song has been covered by
many artists. A personal favorite of mine is Dave Berry’s version. Dave Berry was an English artist with an odd performing style. A grainy black and
white video of Dave singing “Memphis” can be found on YouTube.
It is as a lyricist that I find Chuck most impressive. I hear his influence in Bob Dylan’s songs. Author Stephen Akey addresses the triteness of
most rock and roll lyrics. “As in much of the best rock and roll, the majesty of the music disguises the triteness of the lyrics.” In his 2012 article
“Torch Ballads & Jukebox Music, Chuck Berry, Neoclassicist” Akey continues “There’s no triteness to be disguised in “Rock and Roll Music.”
http://www.themillions.com/2012/07/chuck-berry-neoclassicist.html
This is true. Chuck was a folk poet and a skilled story teller. There are details in Chuck’s songs. If one thinks of a song as a construction like a
house then each room (verse/chorus) should be filled with furniture. Chuck accomplished this even as he wrote commercial songs for teenage music
consumers. These are two verses from Chuck’s song “Nadine.”
“As I got on a city bus and found a vacant seat,
I thought I spied my future bride a-walking up the street,
I shouted to the driver "Hey conductor, you must"
"Slow down, I think I see her, please let me off this bus
I saw her on the corner when she turned and doubled back
And started walkin' toward a coffee colored Cadillac
I was pushin' through the crowd tryin' to get to where she's at
And I was campaign shouting like a southern diplomat”
In my opinion this is the work of a skilled lyricist. You may find other examples in Akey’s wonderful article if you click the above link.
It is not well known that Chuck was influenced by music from The Big Band Era. No album better exemplifies this than “Blues.” Recorded at
Chess Records between 1955 and 1956. Backed up by standout session musicians Willie Dixon, Matt Murphy and Hubert Sumlin. I must also
mention the ever present piano player Johnny Johnson. Chuck covers “St. Louis Blues” and “Route 66.” My favorites are “Wee Wee Hours” and
the haunting instrumental “Deep Feeling.”
I had a good time writing this article. I suggest you grab a guitar, if you play, and surf the internet while digging his music. See you next month.
ISG Bulletin Board
Meeting space graciously provided by Central Florida Musicians Association,
Local 389. You are invited to join the largest union in the world, representing the
interests of the professional musician. Visit their website at afm389.org for more
information. You may reach them by phone at: 407-894-8666.
Why isn't your gig announced here? Members in good standing
call SusieCool with your appearance schedule! 407-760-2153
If you want to join us at the Central Florida Folk song circle, please show up at
Bikes, Beans and Bordeaux at 3022 Corrine Drive on the last Wednesday of each month
from 6 to 8:30pm. The BBB has many delicious items on their menu, and also have some vegetarian stuff.
They also serve beer and wine.
On September 20th we have a playing circle with the Fingerstyle Guitar Group
in the Community room of the winter Park Library. This is usually on 3rd Wednesdays.
460 E. New England Ave. Winter Park, FL 32789. 6 to 8:30pm. Songwriters are welcome,
but we do try to play our fingerstyle songs and not use picks. There is more info on
the facebook group page.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/228147620559285/?fref=nf
SusieCool has become the organizer of a Meetup.com group called
"Orlando Creative Music Network". Please check out the webpage
for all sorts of upcoming events. It is free to join.
https://www.meetup.com/Orlando-Creative-Music-Network/
We also have a Facebook page for this group if you are not in meetup, but want info.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/274152179716552/
Current members please send us your website info if you would like your site to be
listed in the ISG members page.
https://sites.google.com/site/isgsusiecool/home/links-and-recommended-reading/member-websites
August 2017 Critique Results:
1. I'm Doing Nicely Kent Trewick, Susan Foster-Trewick, Jeff Evans
2. Leaves at 12 'O Clock Jeffrey Mason
3. Night and Day Anthony Rouhana
New members always welcome!
© 2017 ISG