April 2007
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 12, No. 4
NEXT MEETING: 5:00pm Sunday, April 1st, 2007
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. For more information, visit our website at www.isgorlando.org .
Officers:
President/Treasurer
Russ Robinson (407) 851-5328
Vice President/Member Reception/Newsletter
Matthew Griffin (407) 903-1212
Secretary
Jacquelyn Fain, crosstyes1@yahoo.com
Website
Carlos Colon (352) 326-4295
Archives
Barbara Ross (407) 862-2795
Membership
Gilda Corrales (407) 327-5494
President's Letter
Dear Members,
Welcome to the new season. Spring is the favorite time of year for me. Take a deep breath when going out your door. Doesn’t it make you want to write a new song? Maybe I’ll have a tape Sunday of a song I wrote called “Comes the Springtime”.
Sorry about last meeting! I managed to make it into the back door after somehow getting to the building. I’ve had many calls complaining about the street being blocked off. All the signs say “Do Not Enter”. I broke the rules and pulled through to the parking lot. Only two other managed to get in for the meeting. Hopefully the street is open for use by now.
I wanted to let you know that two of our original ISG members have recently passed away: Rita Barnes and Silvio Provencano. They’d both been ill for a while. I guess there’ll be some new songs written in heaven!
I’m getting calls from some of you regarding the casino boat trip I talk about all the time. Maybe we can make plans to get a Guild group together and make that trip to Port Canaveral for a night.
Do bring your latest endeavor to Sunday’s meeting, and if you have a tape, we’ll critique as usual. Hopefully the beautiful weather will inspire you. See you then.
Russ
Old Guys Rule!
By Matt Griffin
On a warm Saturday evening a couple of weeks ago, the old guys did rule. It didn’t last very long. But for about 90 minutes, the old guys wound back the clock roughly 30 years.
On Saturday March 10th, my wife and I stood outside at Universal Studios and listened to the Doobie Brothers play. For those of you too young to remember, the Doobie Brothers were one of the dominant rock bands of the 70’s. A couple of their best songs are considered (by me, anyway) rock-and-roll classics. Like so many musicians of the era, the Doobies were fine songwriters as well as outstanding performers. Their songs sound as good today as they did then, at least to this 47-year-old songwriter.
The concert was wonderful; I swear these old guys didn’t drop a note or a beat. They seemed genuinely happy to be there, and they played with passion and joy. For the most part, the performances were faithful to the recordings and to my memory. Notably absent was the group’s most famous member, Michael McDonald, who wrote and sang most of the group’s later hits in the last half of the 70’s. The current incarnation of the Doobies understandably did not play any of these songs, but concentrated on the groups earlier hits. But the frontliners of those songs, Pat Simmons and Tom Johnston, played and sang their hearts out. They’ve still got it, they really do.
Weeks later, I still find myself humming Long Train Runnin’ and Listen to the Music. These were and are very well-written songs, especially musically. The chord changes, harmonies, and rhythms sound as fresh today as they did then. Which got me thinking again about the sorry state of today’s pop music. The current pop charts are dominated by heavily produced versions of mediocre material, written largely by artists who seem to lack basic songwriting skills. Many of the biggest hits are retreads of, yes, the well-written songs of the 70’s and 80’s.
Obviously there are exceptions; I think Norah Jones and Alicia Keys are seriously talented, and my teenaged kids listen to a couple of groups (like Relient K) that still care about the songs themselves. But as a rule, real songwriters are outcasts in today’s pop music scene.
So what’s an independent songwriter to do? Unless you can perform the song yourself, the answer may be to try a different genre. Country and contemporary Christian markets are much friendlier to songwriters, and performers of these songs are still looking for well-written material. That’s not to say it’s easy to get your Christian song recorded. But as least the average Joe has still got a shot.
For most of us though, the more realistic approach is to try to make inroads into the local market. Local bands often are looking for decent material. Orlando is a solid area for this sort of thing; there are lots of young musicians and bands performing in bars and restaurants and hotels and small clubs, and occasionally even theme parks.
Still, there’ll always be room for the old guys. Let the music play! J
ISG Bulletin Board
Jeff Mason’s gig schedule:
Appearing At O'Keefe's Irish Pub, Fridays & Saturdays from 5pm, musicians welcome!
115 S. Rockingham Tavares, FL, 352-343-2157
Appearing at Tijuana Flats on the Patio (weather permitting), Thursdays at 6pm
444 S. Hunt Club Blvd , Apopka , FL 407 774 0402
Lead Sheet preparation by Carlos Colon. A simple lead sheet contains the melody, lyrics and chord symbols. For more information, visit my website at www.cecoriginals.com and click on “Lead Sheets” at the top of the page. Website design also available. Use your website address in advertising. Newspapers, business cards, fliers, to name a few and let’s not forget the use of email. Send your link to potential clients. For more information, visit a few of my clients sites at http://www.ticopeach.net/clients.htm.
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.
We’re always looking for material for the newsletter. If you have any information that you would like to see added to the newsletter, please see Matt Griffin at the meetings or email him at isgorl@cfl.rr.com . Please keep your articles brief and to the point. Print deadline for the newsletter is approximately two weeks prior to the monthly meeting.
Classified advertising may be placed free of charge to members in good standing with the ISG . For more information on display advertising and/or classified advertising for non-members, please call Russ or Matt or email: isgorl@cfl.rr.com .
Why isn't your gig announced here? Call us with your appearance schedule!
Place your classified ad or gig announcement here! Free to ISG members as always! Just get your text to Matt by the print deadline (usually the Friday 16 days prior to the monthly meeting); email is best ( isgorl@cfl.rr.com ).
New members always welcome!
March Top Songs—Results of monthly critique session
No critiques in March--check back next month!
© 2007 ISG