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 Cliff
Adam, a veteran recording artist of DOT Records,United Artist
"Hullaballoo"tv show theme and "Ten Lonely
Guys" (Pat Boone/Neil Diamond), producer/manager Amanda
Trees Album "AMANDA" (Electric Lady), producer of
Joe Franklin Sony Presents CD Collection and a veteran of
the Electric Lady Recording Studio and the Jimi Hendrix experience
etc., has created this exciting production. Sit back, kick
off your shoes, put on your headphones and let your mind wander
with this sweet downhome electric new age collection. For
further information and promotion Call: Rivers Edge
Music/Electric Sun Productions @ 201-218-0746.
Electricsun@earthlink.net
NEW RELEASE
"EL CAMINO"
!
***
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 Young,
talented, female singer with a powerful voice and moving lyrics.
Told she was too bluesy for Canadian Idol, yet she still made
it on the pilot episode and was loved by judge Sass Jordan.
Pop, soul, blues rock and original material can be found on
her limited edition EP cd (You Will) with songs written by Layla
and some of Nashville's finest songwriters. Layla Zoe is known
to be a powerhouse singer and emotionally provocative songwriter.
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 Various
Artists CubaCuba – the official guide to Cuba Packaging:
Attractive digi-pack with 16 page color booklet. Brand new CD,
still in shrink wrap! This years’ “Official Guide
to Cuban Music” is here! ? ABOUT THE MUSIC CUBACUBA features
the stars from the legendary EGREM studios in Havana. Exclusive
tracks including traditional son* from Compay Segundo &
Eliades Ochoa, who offer their magic on such gems as “Saludo
Compay”, “Cuidadito, Compay Gallo” to the
up tempo rhythms from Ibrahim Ferrer on “El Platanal De
Bartolo”. The Cuban Charm continues with beautiful piano
from the great Ruben Gonzalez, to the romance and beauty of
Omara Portuondo on one of the most beautiful songs to come from
the island entitled “Tres Palabras”. ? FRESH SOUNDS
FROM CUBA CUBACUBA also contains brand new recordings from former
Afro Cuban All Stars lead singer Felix Baloy whose new album
“Un Poquito de Fé” has received great reviews
across the world, confirming the singer’s status as one
of Cuba’s top vocalists. This collection steps away from
the Buena Vista gang while introducing new and upcoming talent
from the land of warmth and charm (Cigars and Rhum)! Manolito
Simonet delivers Cuba’s hit song of the year with “Locos
por mi Habana” where we are given a virtual ear listening
tour of all the reasons we love Havana! Pedro Luis Ferrer who
states that his music is not traditional as it sounds, the self
proclaimed Revolutionary reinvents Cuban Music on his own terms
and offers a new style son. * son is a vocal or instrumental
dance genre that is one of the most basic forms of Popular Cuban
Music. It is danced by couples holding each other close!
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| After attending countless artist showcases
through the years as a former talent booking agent with the
William Morris Agency, I’ve decided to touch on some practical
ideas that will help promote your artist career and give you
an increased chance at a possible record deal. After exploring
much of the information available online, I determined to stay
with easily grasped concepts and ideas that would help artists
avoid some of the common mistakes.
First let’s make it clear that not every act deserves an
artist showcase, at least not in the light of pandering to
record labels in an ongoing campaign to secure a record deal.
If you’ve read any of my articles, you know I try to tell
it like it is and so once again, I will not shy away from
the truth that not every artist deserves an outlet to showcase
their “talent.” The reason is not simply because the band
is no good, but because maybe there is not a maturity or serious
quality from the members or a definitive goal in place that
everyone is rallying around. Other reasons may include lack
of a unique playing quality or an act that is simply playing
cover tunes. Let’s talk about cover tunes for a minute.
Don’t play cover tunes unless they are specifically asked
for, or unless you are a cover band playing wedding gigs,
etc. If you are truly looking to get a record deal, then showcase
your own music. This notion that your audience can relate
to you and your band simply because you are playing music
that everyone knows is false and misguided logic. Would you
have cared, the first time you heard one of your favorite
groups, that you knew any of the material – I bet not. You
were so into the music and groove you wanted to hear more
and buy the record. You think of big groups today that at
one point were nobody, and just imagine hearing them for the
first time, would it have mattered? – I bet I’m right again.
Moral of the story, play your own music.
Before you begin to look at the possibility of a showcase,
look at your objectives. Each showcase doesn’t necessarily
have to be about the record deal, but that should certainly
be your ultimate objective and therefore, everything that
you bring to the table ought to encompass and revolve around
that goal. For example, you might showcase a particular groove
and set of songs, which you would like to take out on the
track and test. Is the audience really digging it or is it
not you. Likewise, you can showcase for a lesser goal, but
yet an important stepping stone to a record deal signing like
pushing upcoming events or visibility to obtain additional
bookings, etc.
As you start planning a showcase, who will attend? – Friends
or will music industry personnel be present? Each artist showcase
ought to be driven by a marketing approach. Do you have an
artist logo, professional bios, pictures and press kits made?
These can not be a “friend of the group did it for us,” looking
press kits. They have to shine and look pro like music industry
individuals are already in play and are looking at your act.
Don’t overlook these elements. You might check out artist
press kits, bios and press blurb writing at ReelMusician.com.
How will you go about promoting your showcase? You have to
look beyond stapling flyers to telephone polls, etc. Have
you thought about creating a jingle or station ID or local
radio personality piece for free in hopes that you will get
some radio and TV exposure? You ought to look at local radio
stations and write a mix according to the style of the station
and your band – see if you can’t get some promotion that way.
Cable TV advertising is fairly inexpensive. You might consider
going in with everyone in the band and buying some advertising
from cable or local TV stations.
If you don’t already have it, and I’m sure most do, get your
web site up and going and make sure that you have a page for
upcoming events along with pictures, bio, contact page. Websites
do not have to be expensive. You can get your website hosted
for $5 - $10 a month. You most likely won’t get a lot of traffic,
but you will get credibility with the public and within the
music industry crowd – This will prove to be invaluable later
on down the road.
What will your showcase consist of and what can you do to
stand out from the crowd? Your act needs to look like they’ve
been at this for years with a comfort level exuding from who
the band is. How long is the showcase? You’ve heard the old
expression, always leave the crowd wanting to hear more. Far
better to do a rather short showcase with knock out tunes
then a lengthy, drawn out, can’t wait to get out of there,
gig. Work with your song lineup and tweak the number and length
of your set at rehearsal until it feels right. Have everything
figured right up front. Who’s going to speak when and try
to hit all of the “what ifs,” as much as you can. You want
this showcase to “wow” the listeners and create some momentum
and energy.
Re-think your image and make sure that it matches who you
are. People are not that stupid and can almost immediately
recognize when an image is forced and manipulated and not
natural to the group. Better to have a natural image, true
to who you are, than an image that you think just has to go
with your style of music.
In closing, make each and every showcase count, with calculated
marketing and a thought through line-up so when the music
industry execs start showing up, they have something to go
back to the office with!
Mr Gauger is a former talent booking agent with the William
Morris Agency and is the founder of http://www.ReelMusician.com
You may contact the author at tgauger@reelmusician.com or
615-300-5030. In addition, Free e-books "The Jingle Singer’s
Guide," and “Secrets To Great Song Demos,” may be downloaded
at http://www.ReelMusician.com
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 With
a flair for originality Gerry's compositions set the mood for
romance, relaxation, enchantment and excitment.
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 Emmy
Award-Winning Composer-Keyboardist Ken Kaufman makes beautiful
music on Relax with Swann CD: SEASONS OF TRANQUILITY. This New
Age instrumental captures sounds from around the world with
four distinctly different but equally relaxing moods: 1.Autumn
of Tranquility, Native American rhythms resonate throughout.
2.Reflections of Winter, an American flare. 3. Showers of Spring,
Strings, inspired by the sacred sites of Machu Pitchu and Kyoto,
bring out the Asian flavor. 4.Serenity of Summer, electric piano,
xylophone, bass, shakers, guitar, strings and flute help promote
a tropical mood. |
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 Playing
guitar for over 10 years, playing the cello for more than 5
years, owning his own guitar buying and selling business where
he went through over 50 vintage guitars, co-producing two independent
albums with his rock band, co-producing a full featured DVD
with that same band, starting his own independent record label,
and recording, mixing, and producing his debut solo flamenco
guitar album (all while attending McMaster University to complete
a double major in Honours Mass Communication and Multimedia)
– these are just a few of the things that keep Scott Bynoe
busy.
Scott Bynoe began playing guitar at a very young age. He
grew up with an appreciation and love for music of all sorts.
As an adolescent Scott competed in numerous guitar competitions
across North America. The act of performing was something
that quickly interested and intrigued Scott as a young guitar
player.
Every step Scott has taken in his life since picking up the
guitar has been to pursue his dream and life goal –
to be able to make music that evokes an emotional response
(within himself and those that listen). His clean and honest
approach to guitar playing is something that cannot be ignored
when listening to his music.
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 Ty
Billings Ty Billings has just recently released a solo album,
“You Can Take the Boy Out of the Country” receiving
rave reviews over the internet and through radio promotions.
Ty Billings, founding member of the popular national Celtic
group “The Minstrels of Mayhem”, has been performing
professionally for over 16 years at national festivals, theaters
and clubs across the country. He has coproduced six albums with
The Minstrels of Mayhem and now has released his first solo
album “You Can Take the Boy Out of the Country,”
under the label FHG Productions.
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 Brittlestar
is masterminded by singer/songwriter, Stewart Reynolds. Stewart
Reynolds was born in stratford, ontario, canada. raised on the
beatles, the rolling stones, elvis and the bay city rollers
by scottish parents. The cumulative effect would be a calvinist
work ethic applied to the creation of catchy tunes that you
could dance drunk to.
From releasing a single as part of pop-duo Boy Blue with
the help of celtic harpist and vocalist Loreena Mckennitt
and writing with Grammy-nominees Alan Frew and Sam Reid of
Glass Tiger, to working with past and current hitmaker Stephen
Duffy, Stewart has honed his pop-songwriting skills to a sharp
edge.
Brittlestar is looking to bring back some of the sparkle
to pop-rock.
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ONCE APON
A TIME!
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