COUNTRY NOTES
The NSAI
bulletin for the Los Angeles area Workshop
September-October 2001
NSAI Benefit Concert
You are invited to a very special concert / picnic / wine tasting on Saturday,
Septemer 8th, aimed at
raising funds and awareness to support NSAI and the local NSAI Los
Angeles Workshop.
Think of all the wonderful music in our lives: that song that was playing
when you first fell in love,
the songs you picked to be played at your wedding, that kickin' rock
song that always makes you crank
the volume on your car stereo, the songs that makes you dance, the
songs that makes you cry, that song
played at a funeral that somehow captures the love you'll always feel
for a lost one, songs of inspiration
that carry you closer to heaven. All these songs began when a person
sat at their keyboard or with a guitar
and poured out their emotions into a magic blend of words and music
called a song.
Songs connect us all. NSAI is committed to protecting the rights and
future of the profession of
songwriting, to educate, elevate, and celebrate the songwriter and
to act as a unifying force within the
music community and the community at large.
The concert features local celebrity Debra Davis plus hit songwriters
Jerry Fuller, Jeff Silbar, and
Wendy Waldman. Debra Davis and her band have opened for artists including
Vonda Shepard, Peter
Himmelman, and Venice. Her songs have been featured on “Dawson’s Creek”
and “Any Day Now”. Her
CDs, “Angels In The Attic” and “Uninvited Guests”, were produced by
Dave Beyer (drummer for Melissa
Etheridge) with three songs on “Angels” produced by Mark Cross (Bill
Bottrell/Sheryl Crowe).
Jerry Fuller has 28 gold and platinum records as a songwriter and producer
and over 40 Top Ten hits,
including “Young Girl” (Gary Puckett and the Union Gap) and “Travellin’
Man” (Ricky Nelson). Jeff
Silbar’s “The Wind Beneath My Wings”, won the Grammy, was voted Song
of the Year by the National
Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Wendy Waldman has had more
than 130 songs recorded by
others, including the Grammy award winning, "Save The Best For Last."
by Vanessa Williams.
The concert will be held at the home of Alan & Debbie Nocita, 601
E. Orange Grove Ave., Sierra
Madre, CA 91024. The event begins at 5:30pm with a Picnic On The Lawn
and optional wine tasting.
Bring your own picnic and blanket. Music begins at 6:45.
Cost: Concert Only - $15; Concert and Wine Tasting - $30; VIP Patron
- $75 per person or $400 for
table of eight. Includes special pre-concert hors d'oeurves and wine
tasting with the artists and an autographed
CD from Debra Davis. Kids accompanied by parent - free.
Please plan on supporting this important event. Bring your friends and
family. Reservations Required
310-319-9454 or craiglack@aol.com.
September-October '01 Workshop Schedule
-
Thursday, Sept. 13, 7:30-10:30pm - Songwriter Lineup at Hallenbeck’s
General Store, 5510 N. Cahuenga Blvd., N. Hollywood. Featuring
Lady Luck (Lois Blaisch / Karen Tobin / Shandi Cinnamon) plus Robert Tepper,
Robbyn Kirmsse, Tim James, Jan Daley, Sherry Pedigo, and Heino & Garbriella
-
Saturday, Sept. 15, 10:00am-1:00pm, Pro Songwriting Seminar with
Tim James. Nashville writer Tim James, a staff writer at Paddock
Music, will share his views on the craft and business of songwriting. He
recently had a cut on Tim Rushlow and his song “My List” is slated to be
a single and video on Toby Keith’s upcoming new album. Tim will also critique
songs on a first come first served basis. Bring 20 copies of your typed
lyric plus the song on CD, cassette, or your can play it live. This seminar
is free for NSAI members, $10 for non-members.
-
Sunday, September 30, 4:00-7:00pm, Group Song Critiques at Musician’s
Institute. The song critique process allows you to receive feedback
on how effectively your song communicates to an audience. At the same time,
it helps you to develop the skills to evaluate your own songs, which helps
you to become a better writer. Bring a song to play live or on cassette
or CD, plus 15-20 copies of your lyric sheet. Lyrics only or music only
can also be critiqued.
-
Thursday, October 11, 7:30pm - Songwriter Lineup at Hallenbeck’s.
Performers TBA.
-
Sunday, Oct. 14, 4:00-7:00pm, Mini-Song Camp at Musician’s Institute.
Elements 3 and 4 of The Complete Song Wheel are writing Focused Lyrics
and Memorable Hooks. These lessons were prepared for NSAI by Nashville
pro writers Kim Copeland and Susan Tucker.
-
Sunday, Oct. 28, 4:00-7:00pm, Group Song Critiques at Musician’s
Institute. Bring a song to play live or on cassette or CD, plus
20 copies of your lyric sheet. Lyrics only can also be critiqued.
Workshop Location
Unless otherwise noted, workshops are held from 4-7p.m. at Musician's
Institute, 1655 McCadden Place, just off Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood.
Admission is free for NSAI members,
$10 for non-members. For more information, call Craig Lackey at (310)319-9454
or email Seth Jackson at webmaster.hitmeister@mindspring.com.
Got Email?
Send your email address to Craiglack@aol.com
to keep informed of the latest workshop activities and last-minute updates.
Los Angeles Area NSAI
Members - DO YOU HAVE:
-
News about your songwriting career?
-
An announcement?
-
An event?
-
A story of interest to songwriters?
Let us know, so we can tell the world what you're up to! Submit to Country
Notes by sending e-mail to webmaster.hitmeister@mindspring.com.
Submissions must be received by 12:00 noon on the 15th of each month for
the following month's issue.
Items will be printed subject to space and editorial limitations.
NSAI
LOS ANGELES WORKSHOP VOLUNTEERS
WORKSHOP COORDINATORS - Craig Lackey, Seth Jackson
SECRETARY - Tom Billingsley
EVENT COORDINATOR - Cathy Carlson
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES - Moke Cameron
PUBLICITY - Quent Schierenberg
EDITOR - Seth Jackson
MAILINGS - Craig Koller
TO GET INVOLVED:
send email to craiglack@aol.com