Showing posts with label Anne Leighton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anne Leighton. Show all posts

3/11/25

April 1: Bronx Historical Society Presents The Kindness Session, a Poetry Workshop



Bronx Historical Society is presenting "The Kindness Session," a poetry workshop on recognizing the difference between kindness and cruelty to channel that in our writing on April 1 at 6 PM till approximately 7:45. The Poetry Workshop takes place at Poe Cottage, 2640 Grand Concourse, in the Bronx. Subways near the Visitors Center are the 4, B, and D train at the Kingsbridge stop.  Buses to the Center are Bx9, Bx22, Bx28, Bx38, and BxM4 (Express bus). The Poe Visitors Center is up the Hill from the Fordham Metro North train stop.

Led by area poet Anne Leighton, the Kindness Session will include sharing works from classic and contemporary including Edgar Allen Poe, Naomi Shihab Nye, Muhammad Ali, as well as selected poems from attendees.

Once the attendees discuss poems, they’ll be encouraged to think of incidents where they recognize kindness from life experiences, friends and acquaintances, and how it affected their lives. From there, writers will be encouraged to create a first draft of poetry. Writers will read their poems, and be encouraged to revise a first draft by the first week of May.   

Anne Leighton appears on the Grammy-nominated album, “Healthy Food for Thought: Good Enough to Eat,” (Audio & Video Labs) reading her poem “Feed Your Parents Well.” She’s contributed to The Indie Collaborative, The Literary Parrot, Elephant Journal. Her poetry book “The Leighton Explosion” made enough of a profit to use her earnings to record an original song, “Got My Eye on You, Santa,” which found her a publishing deal with Sheer Music South Africa/Downtown Music, USA. Anne's performed in the Bronx at ART in the Basin, Johnny Zs, and throughout New York State include NYC's Nuyorican Poets Cafe and Peter Max's Studio. 

12/6/24

10/22/24

Bronx Historical Society Presents the Kindness Session, a Poetry Writing Workshop

Bronx Historical Society is presenting "The Kindness Session," a poetry workshop on recognizing the difference between kindness and cruelty to channel that in our writing on November 18 at 6 PM till approximately 7:45. The Poetry Workshop takes place at the Poe Visitors Center, 2640 Grand Concourse, in the Bronx. Subways near the Visitors Center are the 4, B, and D train at the Kingsbridge stop.  Buses to the Center are Bx9, Bx22, Bx28, Bx38, and BxM4 (Express bus). The Poe Visitors Center is up the Hill from the Fordham Metro North train stop.

Led by area poets Elisabeth von Uhl and Anne Leighton, the Kindness Session will include sharing works from classic and contemporary including Edgar Allen Poe, Naomi Shihab Nye, Ross Gaye, Maya Angelou, as well as selected poems from attendees.

Once the attendees discuss poems, they’ll be encouraged to think of incidents where they recognize kindness from life experiences, friends and acquaintances, and how it affected their lives. From there, writers will be encouraged to create a first draft of poetry. Writers will read their poems, and be encouraged to revise a first draft by the first week of December.  We’ll have a Zoom get-together with feedback from each other. By Christmas we’ll have created the first part of an online anthology on blogspot, which poets will study, and make “final” corrections. The anthology will go live in 2025. Over the next few years, we’ll be adding more poems to the anthology from other workshops.

Elisabeth von Uhl earned an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College. Her work has been published in Lunch Ticket, The Cortland Review, SHIFT, cream city Review, The Watershed Review, and other journals and anthologies. She won a 2021 "Bronx Recognizes Its Own" Award, Her chapbook Ocean Sea, and was published by Finishing Line Press. She’s won scholarships and fellowships to Vermont College's Postgraduate Writing Conference, Prague Summer Writer's Seminar, and Greenwich Village Writing workshop. Visit www.elisabethvonuhl.com.

Anne Leighton appears on the Grammy-nominated album, Healthy Food for Thought: Good Enough to Eat, (Audio & Video Labs) reading her poem “Feed Your Parents Well.” She’s contributed to The Indie CollaborativeThe Literary ParrotElephant Journal. Her poetry book The Leighton Explosion made enough of a profit to use her earnings to record an original song, “Got My Eye on You, Santa,” which found her a publishing deal with Sheer Music South Africa/Downtown Music, USA.  Visit workinggalrockandroll.blogspot.com.

For more information, please reach out to Elisabeth and/or Anne at e.vonuhl@gmail.com and LeightonMedia@aol.com. 

BCHS Home bronxhistoricalsociety.org

 


12/16/21

Love & Valentines (plus one fun Birthday song)

I Know So The Kings   Upbeat with influence of 1960s power pop, rock & roll beat with horns and rock and roll guitar, Hammond b3. Male vocals. Tempo like J. Geils "I Do" and Syndicate of Sound “Little Girl” "She wants me, I want you.  I know so!"   


According to the Plan Dan Berggren  mid to up tempo folk music, baritone male, acoustic guitar w/ picking, you can't plan love, for better or for worse.  according to the plan, keep your eyes wide open, lifelong love with ups and downs.  


Beautiful Dream  Jann Klose  Midtempo, orchestral pop, male vocals, violin solo hook: I don't want to wake up this beautiful dream. feeling predestined for true love & how good it feels.  (Contact: Royalty Network) 

Long Lost Ghosts Emily Hurd  Similar to Dolly Parton, literate writer, piano, full band, Traveling song, linen sheets, ghosts, “I have come for you because.”  Her repeating herself about various things in her experiences intensify the stories actions.  For instance—she sings "I gave you a kiss that I hoped would save your life, and it did."  OR “I thought you were all there was… and you were.”  They also move the story along.  

 


FI  The Slambovian Circus of Dreams  male vocal band, horns, Tom Petty meets John Denver meets Oasis! Cosmic love song with tempo like "Sunshine on My Shoulders." If I were any more high.  “FI” is pronounced “If I.” 

 slambovia.bandcamp.com/track/fi

You Are the Best Gunhill Road mid to uptempo, male vocals chamber pop band piano and Nilsson-like tempo of "everybody's talking" a song praising you "you are the best" & "I'm in love" both repeated. 

   Halos Robert Schindler  Instrumental   acoustic piano solo, flowy, midtempo  some gorgeous synths for background,rich, epic.   

Carry Across Jessie Galante  female vocals, Anthemic, upbeat gospel-y, "Honey, you carried a cross... I'll carry you across" soulful song about compassion and strength, any sex can sing 

soundcloud.com/leightonmedia/carry-across  


Just Another Birthday Song Dean Friedman music hall pop, tenor, fun jabs at the birthday boy during isolation, "give thanks that your dad wasn't shooting blanks." "thank your mom for pushing you out."   

 

  

1/31/20

"The Greatest Lives" Live On Digital Media


New Song Inspired by Muhammad Ali about Leadership and Respect)

In support of Black History Month (February 2020), D-Zone Entertainment is proudly releasing the single, “The Greatest Lives” in digital stores and streaming sites on Friday, January 31.

The song will be on “The Greatest Lives Songwriter’s EP,” due out March 21. It is sung by Thembeka Mnguni, finalist for South Africa’s The Voice in 2016. Her name is pronounced “Them-bek-kah  Mmn-Gu-Nee.” From Durban, SA, she is signed to Universal Records. Her greatest cause is as a spokesperson for Autism. She is also a brand ambassador for MUD Designer Makeup SA and for Body Confidence International. In South Africa, Universal is releasing a new song “Stimel” from her upcoming album, which will also include “The Greatest Lives” as a bonus track.  Visit her on social media at instagram.com/thembeka_thediva.

Here are digital links as of Friday morning, January 31, 2020
GooglePlay:   http://bit.ly/2u41eDm

The idea for the song came to Anne in 1984 when Muhammad Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. She wrote on a newspaper article, “What would he want us to know?” and filed it in her box of song ideas. “It would have been a totally different song if I wrote it then, because I was more sentimental.” Instead she worked on the song as her first assignment for when she was offered a songwriting deal. South Africa’s Sheer Publishing handle one of Anne’s favorite songs, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”   

She started watching South African news, and discovered many women expressing hope for a kinder world. Many went through bullying and abusive situations, and the females were open enough to talk about their experiences. The lyrics for “The Greatest Lives” came from Muhammad Ali’s quotes and philosophies. They became a message about leadership and treating people right.

Joe Deninzon, who grew up in Cleveland, OH, went to college in Bloomington, Indiana, and played throughout the Midwest, knew Muhammad Ali’s hometown of Louisville. He understood the Midwestern sound that Anne was looking for, made a demo, and then the two began to put musicians to work. Using John Mellencamp's "Ain't Even Done with the Night" as a role model, they asked Cactus and Vanilla Fudge's Carmine Appice, who also played with Rod Stewart.  

Thembeka loved THE GREATEST LIVES’ message about having strong character. Joe and Anne chose her because they thought she was one of the greatest singers they ever heard. Thembeka showed she was (as the song says) a master by being the runner up on “the Voice South Africa.” She liked the recording enough to also want to include it on her upcoming album.

After they heard Thembeka’s performance, they found inspiration from keyboards on albums from the late Oliver Mtukudzi. Joe knew the perfect keyboardist, Jeremy Beck, who used both acoustic piano and Hammond B3. Hence, the hashtag #BeckDeninzonAppice. 

“Joy and optimism in this song, I think, come from its mission and inspiration. Muhammad Ali dealt with obstacles with optimism and a wink and smile,” Joe says. Joe and Anne, and their musicians, know “The Greatest Lives” will make a difference, and are proud to—as their lyric says--take a “Never say die” attitude in promoting it!




1/9/20

The Greatest Lives January 31 on Social Media, New Album March 20



"Great Chorus"

-Terry Ellis, Founder The Chrysalis Orchestra, co-founder Chrysalis Records

The Greatest Lives is the new single from Joe Deninzon & Anne Leighton's "The Greatest Lives - Songwriters' EP."  Both veterans, the two knew they had a special song, and asked one of their favorite singers, South Africa’s Thembeka Mnguni to record it.

Though known for his prowess as a violinist, fronting Stratospheerius and playing in orchestras for acts including Game of Thrones, 50Cent, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, and Renaissance, Joe produces, plays guitar, and bass on it. Other musicians are Carmine Appice (Cactus, Vanilla Fudge, Rod Stewart) on drums and Jeremy Beck on keyboards (piano and Hammond B3); hence the hashtag #BeckDeninzonAppice. A working creative writer and publicist, Anne got the idea in 1984 after Muhammad Ali announced his diagnosis with Parkinson’s Disease. She wrote “What does he want us to know,” and put it in her song idea box that she started as a teenager.

THEMBEKA MNGUNI
(pronounced—Tem-Bekka mm-Guuu-ni )

Thembeka loved THE GREATEST LIVES’ message about having strong character. “It's important to always remember that I'm nothing without my supporters ‘cause they drive me by just looking up to me. Though it's a heavy load but it comes with the job. That's why I speak so openly about my son, life, past abuse and my current....    

Thembeka is signed to South Africa’s Universal Music, and on the verge of releasing her first album. A finalist on The Voice South Africa and a Mommy, Thembeka's greatest cause is as a spokesperson for Austism.  She is also a brand ambassador for MUD Designer Makeup SA and for Body Confidence International. 


The Greatest Lives

I won’t look down on those
that look up to me
we all wanna shine bright
but sometimes there’s reason to fight
It’s always the season
to fight for equality
Some may hate what we achieve
but we got reason to believe
CHORUS: The Greatest lives for the greatest lives
there’s light and there’s fight in your inner child
The Greatest lives for the greatest lives
To face all our fears and to Never Say Die
Character matters
and strong action make us masters
Ali says Protect them
so they won’t be suffering.

Sometimes we feel alone
Because others just don’t know
Raise up your fist
and find our courage to resist
CHORUS: The Greatest lives for the greatest lives
There’s light and there is fight in our inner child!
The Greatest lives for the greatest lives
To face all our fears and to never say die
BRIDGE: And even though you feel like screaming
at all the hatred in this world
It’s so surreal you must be dreaming
It’s time to let your love unfurl
© 2019 Joe Deninzon (FiddleFunk Music) and Anne Leighton (Sheer Publishing)
All Rights Reserved.
Published by Sheer Music Publishing (Leighton) and Fiddlefunk Music (Deninzon)
Contact: Sheer Publishing:
info@sheer.co.za, + 27 11 438-7000
JDeninzo@gmail.com and Anne@AnneLeighton.com
THE GREATEST LIVES
Lead Vocals, background harmonies: Thembeka Mnguni
Jeremy Beck: piano and Hammond B3
Drums: Carmine Appice
Producer, background vocals, additional percussion, guitars, bass, keyboards, co-writer: Joe Deninzon
Assistant Producer, co-writer: Anne Leighton
Durban Producer/Engineer Dale Wardell
Durban assistant: Sequoia Duncan
Drum engineer: Jz Barrell
Mix: Alex Salzman, Mastering: Fred Kevorkian, Art Work: Arie Monroe               

Studios: the Deninzoo-Dumont, NJ ; Randyland-Manhasset, NY; AudioSuite-Durban, SA

1/24/19

2019 Love is in the Air!



Rebecca's latest album GIVE UP YOUR GHOSTS (on Austin's Blue Corn Records) features GROWING UP, a collection of poignant observations on how things change.  Sounding like one of Ed Sheeran's waltzes, GROWING UP''s hook "growing old, getting over it."  


P.S. Rebecca's looking forward to opening for Suzzy Roche & Lucy Wainwright Roche Cookout Concerts in Novato CA 6/2! http://tinyurl.com/yytveyra 

ROLLING STONE loves Rebecca’s album, comparing her “coffeehouse Americana and light folk-pop” to Norah Jones.

 
Rachael Sage has been an inspiration to friends for years.  
"Alive" is such an upbeat song, listing topical possibilities "including microfilm being pulled out of the archive," " the olympics where nobody ever cheats!"  She mentions Frida Kahlo,  and the hook "IT’S GOOD TO BE ALIVE." 


 Dean Friedman's perfect Love Pop song:  PUT YOU IN MY POCKET

Dean has a great Easter song "The Ducks of St. Stephens Green."
PUT YOU IN MY POCKET and other Valentine & Love songs are at 
https://soundcloud.com/leightonmedia/sets/valentines-love

AMAZING LOVE by Phoebe Legere is a LOVE song. Someone was that self-centered until YOU came along!  Enjoy the beauty of the video—Phoebe strutting and playing with her squeeze box on an enchanted tropical island.
 .

UNFINISHED by Lisa Sniderman / aka Aoede  
Unfinished is from an album Lisa created (but hasn't released) while writing a book, "A Light in the Darkness", about how she is able to write and record music, score plays, win awards, and many other things while living with a debilitating disease.

UNFINISHED is chamber pop, and about reconnecting with lost love, growing up.  It could be used for themes of either Optimism (with a Hollywood Ending) OR Toxic Optimism. Heartfelt, Yearning, Wishful, Poignant, Questioning.

So much distance 
So much unsaid 
We’re perfect strangers 
Under painted smiles  
And I remember 
Remember dreaming 
When we were younger
Oh-we had it all-had it all 

And memories flash in my head    
Back to a time when nothing could break me
Ba ba ba ba da  
Ba ba ba ba da
Ba ba ba ba da-a

If only I could forget you 
Wake up and just regret you 
Ba ba ba da     
Ba ba ba da-a 
Maybe-we’re unfinished

Full of hatred
And foolish games
We blamed each other
Always wanting more-always more
And I closed that door 
I swore I locked it
But I keep trembling
Oh-now you’re here-so near

And we keep playing in my head    
There was a time when nothing could break me
Ba ba ba ba da  
Ba ba ba ba da
Ba ba ba ba da-a
Nothing could break

Do you believe in second chances
Do you believe in charmed romances
oh whoa-oh whoa
Do you believe in second chances
Do you believe in charmed romances
oh whoa-oh 

If only I could replace you 
Wake up and just erase you 
Ba ba ba da 
Ba ba ba da-a
If only I could reject you 
Pretend I never met you 
Ba ba ba da 
Ba ba ba da-a 

Maybe we’re unfinished   
Maybe we’re unfinished
Maybe we’re unfinished
©Aoede/Lisa Sniderman Feb 2017 


Lisa interviews me about how I've been songwriting to share insight on healing and abuse.


Lisa Sniderman (AKA Aoede): a quirky folk winner of the IMA, John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and also playwriting contest. She also writes children songs.


Sharon Katz is now on tour in North America

HAMBA KAHLE MANDELA (GO WELL MANDELA) - Sharon Katz & Nohlandla Wanda: 
 A stirring and gentle ballad to say goodbye to Mandela and a challenge to carry his lessons forward.  (pronounced HAM-BA-KAH-LE  MANDELA)  (H=soft sound)
She continues to lead multi-racial choir performances and marches.




HER OWN LAGOON by Josh Lewis is part Aerosmith/Cheap Trick/Black Crowes: 
The song is about an abused person now in the hospital, and a million miles from the truth.  She’s sending him postcards from her room.  




AMERICAN HEART: Jaclyn Bradley Palmer  
dark patriotic pop, inspired by her love for America, yet sadness over it's current state. The song is still hopeful.
Sounds like pop Halsey mixed with the dark folk pop of Phoebe Bridgers. 
Jaclyn had an amazing time, performing both pop and opera on Ireland's Got Talent this Spring.



Holiday Songs
https://soundcloud.com/leightonmedia/sets/seasonal-christmas-hannakah

JOY TO THE WORLD I GUESS by  Rebecca Loebe and Findlay Napier is topical, about people’s arguments through during the holiday season, and the resolutions we make to fight less, “Joy to the world I guess….  There are friends we no longer will see in the holidays, because they’re shadows in the moonlight on the lawn.”  

9/14/18

Christmas Songs from Soul Moves Music


NEVER TAKE LOVE FOR GRANTED Dan Berggren 
 Shopping in the malls for Christmas. “You’ll never take love for granted if you always give love in return.”  Male bass/baritone and acoustic guitar.  Folk styled.  

WHAT CHILD IS THIS  John Driskell Hopkins Featuring Balsam Range (Reckon Whose Young’un This is mix)
Lead singer of Zac Brown Band singing classic Christmas song, with string section and acoustic guitar and banjo, an “Andy Williams” vibe. 



JOY TO THE WORLD Rachael Sage
Mid tempo, joyful vocals, driven by an upbeat cello, string quartet, lilt of a gentle voice, spiritual, gentle bells.




GOT MY EYE ON YOU SANTA by Jody Quine & the Big Mr. C (Dan Berggren) This flirtatious song has sleigh bells. Like Meghan Trainor, Katrina and the Waves, administered by SHEER PUBLISHING. c/o info@sheer.co.za and+27 11 438 7000.










10/28/17

Christmas 2017 Songs: Jody Quine, Dan Berggren, Ian Anderson, Carducci Quartet...



Got My Eye On You, Santa: Jody Quine & the Big Mr. C  (Optimistic Kitty) 
“Got My Eye on You, Santa” was created in the magical workshops of Jody, Mr. C (aka Dan Berggren, who worked in American Forces Radio in the late 1960s). The song GOT MY EYE ON YOU, SANTA was written by Anne Leighton, music director/songwriter Roberta Piket, and songwriter Priscilla Harriett. The song’s message transcends all barriers, “Santa, I love you, and I’ve got magical presence and presents for you, created in MY workshop.” “Santa” appears on the compilation “Let's Have a Rockin Christmas Volume 2” by Bongo Boy Records.
Got my Eye On You Santa: ©Leighton/Hairriett/Piket


Ring Out These Bells (Ring Out, Solstice Bells): Ian Anderson & the Carducci Quartet (The End/BMG) 

Ian Anderson’s “Ring Out These bells” (Ring Out, Solstice Bells) first appeared on Jethro Tull’s tenth studio album, “SONGS FROM THE WOOD.”  With merriment and folklore imagery, the song has found different arrangements and life on 2003’s JETHRO TULL CHRISTMAS ALBUM and 2009’s CHRISTMAS ALBUM.  This year JETHRO TULL THE STRING QUARTETS, Ian’s collaboration with the Carducci Quartet was released, and hit number 1 on the Classical Music Charts.  
Ring Out These Bells (Ring Out, Solstice bells) © Jethro Tull






8/7/17

Anne Leighton Performs Returns to the Poetry Stage Aug. 28 at the Indie Collaborative

Poet Excited to Shake Her Hips and Swing on Stage at Legendary New York City Club 

Anne Leighton is making her first public appearance, performing her poetry since the 2016 publication of her book, THE LEIGHTON EXPLOSION.  She joins over 50 performers from all over the world at INDIE COLLABORATIVE on August 28 at the Bitter End, New York City.
The Bitter End is at 147 Bleecker Street (between Thompson and LaGuardia), 
New York City.
The INDIE COLLABORATIVE takes place from 1 till 4 PM, and 7-10:30 PM
Venue phone is 212-673-7030
Admission is $25 and available online at: http://indiecollaborative.com/Tickets/index.php

Accompanying her is multi-instrumentalist Alex Otey, who will be performing on trumpet.  His website is http://www.alexotey.com.

Anne Leighton’s 2016 poetry book, THE LEIGHTON EXPLOSION is published and distributed world-wide through Canada’s Soul Asylum Poetry. It’s the result of a lifetime in poetry and a successful crowdfunding campaign, which includes her goal of performing live in five different locations.  Anne is also a recovering Agoraphobic, and active music services consultant/publicist with clients that include classic rock acts Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson, Orleans’ John Hall, Grand Funk Railroad, Gentle Giant, plus Outlaw Americana artist Phoebe Legere, alternative violinist master Joe Deninzon.

Known for her radio-styled speaking voice and optimistic sense of humor, Anne has found work recording her poems, which appear on the Billboard top 10 album, ACTION MOVES PEOPLE-UNITED, the Grammy-nominated HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT, and 3 of prog artist Jay Tausig’s TRIP AROUND THE SUN releases. Her poems have been published in BOG GOB, Powerline, the Aquarian, and “Nickel.” She has performed at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe and Peter Max’s Studio. She has 3 other books including top-selling UK cat book: PAWS FOR THOUGHT: HOW TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR CAT IS THINKING (Rockwell Books).  Using the $1500 profit plus some earnings from her publicity work, Anne produced a flirtatious Christmas song she co-wrote with Roberta Piket and Priscilla Harriett called, GOT MY EYE ON YOU, SANTA, which is out on digital September.  

The Indie Collaborative is an organization of independent musicians and music industry professionals which holds several showcases each year for its members. Founded by Grant Maloy Smith (now with his album, DUST BOWL-AMERICAN STORIES is in BILLBOARD’s Americana/Folk Album Sales Charts’ Top Ten) and lyricist-playwright Eileen Sherman in 2015, the Indie Collaborative has held events in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, Chicago, Philadelphia and Nashville. The August 28 showcase at the legendary Bitter End in New York’s Greenwich Village spans the afternoon and evening. The event features more than 50 musicians from classical guitarists and pianists to pop, rock, country. Among the performers: GRAMMY-winning flautist from South Africa, Wouter Kellerman, Actress/Singer of Sophisticated Lady & movies Sonya Hensley, plus Anne, Grant, Eileen, and a variety of working musicians/songwriters. The showcase features a keynote address in the afternoon by Tony Van Veen, CEO of AVL Digital Media on how independent musicians can manage their careers.  




  




3/21/17

Anne & Her Artists Remember Chuck Berry

  When you lose someone you love, you tend to compare notes with friends.  Four of my artists and I have things to say about Chuck Berry’s impact on our works.

“I thought he was just great.”
-Allan Holdsworth 

“I saw Chuck Berry open for Frank Zappa, Oct. 8th, 1971 at the New Haven Arena with Syracuse legends Bobby Comstock and the Counts backing him up (and they were damn good too, no ‘sloppy back-up band” from my hometown)… and I recall thinking, “This is the greatest rock’n’roll show I have ever witnessed.”
-Gary Lucas  

“Chuck Berry was the TRUE king of Rock’n’Roll! A revolutionary performer with a dynamic stage presence. He created the duckwalk, revolutionized slide guitar and rock guitar soloing. He created the blueprint that we follow to this day. Long live the king!”
-Joe Deninzon    

“Chuck Berry: Took the classic slide guitar double stop and simplified it to its orgiastic essence.
Chuck Berry shaped the vocabulary of rock n roll with a wizard smile and the flesh of a single finger.
Chuck served it up smoking hot, real and golden brown to a mass audience of sex-crazed pubescent malcontents,
Chuck exposed the dark and grinning demonic scatalogical backside of the American Dream,
He transformed Ida Red to Maybelline in a brilliant stroke of Commercial Pop Art savvy.
He made us shiver with joy at the sound of of his libidinous luminosity.
Chuck also tortured 3 generations of mercenary pick-up bands who shit in their pants just trying, in vain, to please him.”
-Phoebe Legere

“I’ve stolen so much from him.I loved that he created the phrase ‘motorvating over the hill.’ I stole that for a Motivational article I posted; Wayne Kramer wrote me a note, and gave me thumbs up. I’ve stolen from Wayne, too!  Hail hail rock and roll!”
—Anne Leighton

12/10/15

Anne Leighton and Priscilla Harriett Looking For Musicians’ Whose Eyes Wander... To Santa

Win $100 Making the Best Youtube Video of Songwriting Duo's XMAS Song

It was a spontaneous decision that Anne Leighton had with her friend, songwriter Dianne Baumgartner, “Everyone would have fun with your Christmas song.” Dianne, whose songs have been recorded by Carla Olsen and Shelby Lynne, also taught Anne how to write songs when she was starting in the music business.

Anne dabbles a little bit in songwriting, winning a DAR Songwriting contest in the 1970s as a high school student, and then in the ‘90s sharing an honorable mention with Buffalo’s first lady of Rock, Jessie Galante in a Billboard songwriting contest, Other than that, her career is in artist development and as a writer, doing publicity, management/music services, and poetry these days. (Anne’s new book, THE LEIGHTON EXPLOSION on Canada’s Soul Asylum Records—released this past October—is still selling into the Christmas Season).

Priscilla Harriett is more focused as a songwriter and musician, and still is popular in the New Jersey/LeHigh Valley music scene. Famous rock musicians who later went on to play in Cinderella, Enuff Z’nuff and Britney Fox were in Priscilla’s bands.

“I Got My Eye on You, Santa” is a flirtatious Christmas song. Anne wrote most of the words and music. Priscilla improved it, tweaking some the melody plus getting specific with the lyrics, “waiting by the chimney with homemade cookies and a smile that is sparkling so bright!”

“I Got My Eye on You, Santa” lyrics and melody, plus the contest rules are available at soundcloud.com/leightonmedia/i-got-my-eye-on-you-santa.

The contest is free to enter.

These are the rules:

Make the best youtube music video of this song, with a wandering eye of "I Got My Eye on You, Santa," by Jan. 1, 2016, 12:00 AM EST, and you will be awarded a money order of $100 by Jan. 20, 2016.

Be creative-if you rap, go for it. If you do choir arrangements, get your choir to flirt with Santa. Rock it, folk it, funk it, showtune it. Most of all, have fun!

Choice of video to be determined by songwriters Anne Leighton & Priscilla Harriett. Money will be sent via money order from New York State.

Once you post the video, please tweet to Anne at @LeightonMedia on Twitter or feel free to post the youtube link below in the Comments' section for this song on soundcloud.

Downloadable flyer to share with musician friends for the contest:

2/28/15

Artify Norwood Seeks Musicians For its Event March 28

Contact: Anne Leighton: 718-881-8183
This is our temporary logo.  Get ready, because we're
working with some artists on the "To Be Announced" logo.

 Info@ArtifyNorwood.com

ARTIFY NORWOOD would love to hear from Bronx-based musicians and poets at  info@artifynorwood.com.

Please send links of your websites and music videos online. Please include your zip code, as well.

Artify Norwood has some performance opportunities available on March 28 at our kick off Artify Norwood event on at Beso Lounge, at 320 E. 204th Street (between Hull and Perry), in The Bronx. This is near the D Train. The March 28 event runs from 3 till 7 pm.

Please note that the performers must be living in the Bronx, ideally in Norwood, Allerton, Williamsbridge, Fordham, Little Italy/Belmont, Kingsbridge, Riverdale, Olinville, Bedford Park.

Website VOICES OF NY calls "Artify Norwood" "A new movement...bringing artists and businesses together in the Bronx neighborhood to promote the arts in a new way that helps both artists and the businesses that will be sponsoring them."  It is the goal of Artify Norwood that artists (musicians, writers, visual artists, dancers,...) make money from their art. The group's founders, Fernando Tirado and Anne Leighton, are focused on Artifying the Norwood section of the Bronx.

For more info, please call 718-881-8183.


JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/groups/RESPECTPROARTISTS

2/6/13

Anne Leighton Crowdfunding Her Poetry Book, "The Leighton Explosion"

Writer/Music Manager/Publicist's CrowdFunding Campaign Runs Through March 27th, her Father's Birthday

Performing Poet Anne Leighton is crowdfunding to publish her up-and-coming poetryprosepoetry book and perform her poems live. Her book THE LEIGHTON EXPLOSION will be published late winter/early spring 2014 with a Canadian publisher. The link is http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/anneleighton/1046158700?token=f9ff5eb5

April 2013 through May 2014, Anne will performing at least five or six shows in Washington, DC, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey with Jim Gibson, who was in Tooth Fairy, who were popular on the radio show of the late BBC presenter John Peel. This spring, she and New York City-based poet Cornelius Eady plan on laying some grooves to their poems live in New York City for a show. She is scattering her tour dates because she also has an active management and publicity career, publicizing Ian Anderson/Jethro Tull, the Strawbs, Emily Hurd, Lonnie Hill, Grand Funk Railroad...

Anne believes the road will be a powerful experience for her, "I used to travel all the time on my own, but developed agoraphobia. As recent as September 2012, I was sobbing and having panic attacks on the streets AND in wide open spaces including sidewalks, even when other people were helping me. I've come a long way."

Anne's poetry has been read in THE AQUARIAN, BROADSIDE, THE MUSIC PAPER, NICKEL, BOG GOB, POWERLINE, SHOUT!, and LIVE WIRE. Her poems are also heard on the GRAMMY-nominated album, HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT: GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT, and on Jay Tausig's THE TRIP AROUND THE SUN progressive rock series on the Greek Zodiac. She is recording a poetry album, HEAVY PEOPLE that already includes other artists including actor/poet Michael O'Keefe, New York City performance artist Marla Mase, and her other artists Joe Deninzon and Jann Klose, along with Jahmane Bright of Triangle Studios producing.

She's written books: USING YOUR ART & THE MEDIA TO COMFORT PEOPLE and PAWS FOR THOUGHT: HOW TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR CAT IS THINKING, and plays, including REACH FOR THE SUN (Performed by the Poets Repertory Theatre of Long Island), ONE WAY TO HEAVEN (performed by the Living River Church in San Antonio, TX, and read at the HOWL! Festival in New York City), and THE PASSION OF MARY (read at the Kingsbridge Library Center, Bronx, NY).

Anne hopes to raise $3500, and her rewards include writing personalized poems, phone or SKYPE consults, a copy of another upcoming self-published book, GET THE GIGS, which will be available late 2013. The least expensive reward will be two PDF files of one of her plays and one of her screenplays for a $10. donation. The most expensive reward for a $10,000. donation includes autographed CDs, DVDs or photos of her artists, a phone and SKYPE chat, personalized poem and inclusion in her book credits.

For $3500, (plus travel and lodging expenses), Anne will lead a poetry and creativity workshop and present a reading with the students.

An autographed copy of the LEIGHTON EXPLOSION for $25 (or more with other rewards) is also a reward.

Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects: films, games, music, art, design, and technology. Kickstarter is full of ambitious, innovative, and imaginative projects that are brought to life through the direct support of others. Since its launch on April 28, 2009, over $466 million has been pledged by more than 3.3 million people, funding more than 35,000 creative projects. See http://www.kickstarter.com/ .

1/26/11

Anne Leighton's MY BRAIN, THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS


A heads up that my poetry and prose book, MY BRAIN, THE PARK AND OTHER THINGS will be published in July 2011.

The web page for it is up, and includes this downloadable flyer that you can share with friends and art lovers!

Here's the site: http://workinggalrockandroll.blogspot.com.