Jaclyn Bradley performed her newest song, “Hometown” at Rockin’ On the River in Lorain, Friday, August 30.“Hometown,” penned by Bradley and co-writer Derek Connell, is about returning to Lorain after several years away. Bradley sang the song to thousands at Black River Landing over the weekend, opening for headliner Vegas McGraw.
Accompanied by Dougie Manross on guitar, Bradley introduced the song, stating “I am a proud Lorain girl and it’s an honor for us to share this song with you tonight. It’s for
anyone who has ever left home and found everything they were searching for back where they started.” Both Bradley and Manross teach voice and guitar at Rock Town Music Academy in downtown Lorain. Bradley shared a heartfelt rendition of the song as many members of the audience sang along.
“The crowd went wild” stated Miriam Lugo Kunda via Facebook.
The music video for “Hometown,” which appears exclusively on Jaclyn’s Facebook page, features many local Lorain businesses, personalities and landmarks, has reached nearly 90 thousand views within the first week of its release and has received an abundance of positive feedback:
Chere Mason Cook stated via Facebook, “With all the negative people always talk, THIS video brings a lot of pride for our great city and its people.”
Ann Duchess shared, “I have tears. Lorain is not my hometown but I worked there long enough to keep it in my heart.”
Rachel Cruz commented, “ I moved away from Ohio when I was 19 and moved back when I was 32 and this hit home to me.”
Jaclyn Bradley, along with Mike Neff, will open for Deana Carter, singer of the hit country ballad “Strawberry Wine,” on Nov 16th at The Lorain Palace Theater. Bradley plans to share “Hometown” and its b-side “Burn for You” at the concert. Both songs were released in July and available on music streaming platforms such as iTunes, YouTube Music, and Spotify.
“I am happy people are connecting to their roots through this song,” says Bradley, “Music is so powerful. It is a privilege to make music that has the potential of making a positive impact."
Midwest Rocker’s
Cover of Elliott Murphy's Song Speaks for Our Time
Murphyland
Records’ new release of Abigail Rose Clark’s exciting version of “Just A Story
from America” (the title track off the Elliott Murphy 1977 album of the same
name which featured Phil Collins on drums) on all known streaming platforms
(Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music etc.). The release is part of celebrations of
Elliott’s 74th birthday (March 16).
Abigail
Rose Clark is the talented daughter of Dane Clark, the longtime drummer of
John Mellencamp. Dane produced “Just A Story From America” and played
drums. Check out his amazing drum fill at the end of the track. Elliott
was completely blown away when he first heard Abigail’s version of JASFA he was
thrilled with the new life she imbued in his nearly 50-year-old classic song.
Hopefully
this marks the beginning of a strong collaboration between a great new artist
and a classic songwriter...
The song, which declares, "You make me
happy AND depressed," is about the love and hate in relationships. "I
was looking for a simple way to bring different visual extremes together in one
video," says Kathy, "and we opted for the day-night quick edits that
you see. Kind of a stark difference to go from bright daylight right into
moonlight, and back again. It may even be a little disorienting, which is
exactly right! The video was filmed on my rooftop on the lower east side of
Manhattan."
The production was helmed by cinematographer
Alex Levin, who has worked with major brands including Nike, Conde Nast,
RedBull, NatGeo. He says, “I believe a good story deserves to be told no matter
the scale.”Kai and Victoria Vallas-Cullen edited
“Extremist.”
Kathy’s an indie-pop-singer-songwriter for
fans of artists like Kacey Musgraves, Phoebe Bridgers, Weyes Blood, Maggie
Rogers…. A resident of New York City, Kathy Zimmer is a native of rural
Nebraska. Her original love of acoustic guitars and tight vocal harmonies was
the product of being raised in a large musical family. In school, Zimmer
studied classical music, her education culminating in a master's degree from
the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Rock n’
Reel Magazine has declared Kathy as the “latter day Joan Baez.” The Roots Music
Report proclaims, “At various turns enchanting, haunting and soothing—and at
times a bit of all of these—Ms. Zimmer’s sophisticated song crafting never
fails to charm.”
EXTREMIST
Everybody
needs a little balance
A kiss from heaven, kick from hell
A proper love and a shadowy dalliance
A swimming pool, and a deep dark well
All things in moderation
Sweet and sour, this and that
A little virtue, salacious temptation
A puffed-up ego and a trip and fall flat
But you make me happy and depressed
You are nothing in the middle
My own personal extremist
One moment, I’m on top of the world
Tightrope walking, I can see for miles and miles
Next minute, cut me down to size
A wrecking ball
You capsize me
Night is dark and day is light
Don’t know to expect love or a fight
I open up to snap back shut
I can’t figure out, what do you want?
C 2022/2023
by Kathy Zimmer, BMI, Zimmer, Katherine Louise, All Rights Reserved
“Wonder” - the newest album by internationally
acclaimed American rock singer-songwriter (and long-time Paris resident)
Elliott Murphy – is available now on all streaming platforms (Spotify, Deezer
etc.) as well as a limited edition of CDs. “Wonder” marks Elliott’s
first studio album of all new original songs since “Prodigal Son” (2017)
and contains a truly inspired collection of 12 musically eclectic songs
accompanied by that endangered breed of stylish lyrics (urban, poetic,
personal, literary …) that have been associated with Murphy’s work for nearly
50 years.
“Wonder” was
primarily written during the forced period of introspection brought on by the
COVID confinement. It was produced by Elliott’s son Gaspard Murphy (a successful
producer in the French music world in his own right) in Paris at Question de
Son and Murmure Studios. The album features Elliott’s long time guitar virtuoso
musical partner Olivier Durand as well as Australian Melissa Cox (violin) and
Alan Fatras (drums) along with an impressive list of guest musicians and
singers.
Elliott, himself, takes
stock of where “Wonder” fits into his nearly half century career: “If my
early albums can be described as expressions of youthful energy, hope and
dreams, I would have to say that as I enter this later chapter of my career, as
evidenced in the songs on ‘Wonder,’ my words now tend to incorporate
buried memories that rise to the surface of my consciousness like once sunken
ships, crewed by musical references that even surprise me: Little Richard,
Robert Johnson, Tina Turner – even the iconic American TV talk show host Johnny
Carson. All these ghosts (and more) make appearances on ‘Wonder’ as well
as assorted pop cultural references that baffle me such as ‘My Own Private
Idaho,’ which, of course, was a B52s’ hit in the 1980s. But since a
troubadour’s job is to spread the news, you can even hear a mention of Better
Call Saul a favorite TV series of mine. Musically, you might say that these
days my inspiration is all over the map; although I’m still faithful to those
folk-rock sounds and chord progressions which shaped me at the time of my first
album ‘Aquashow’ (1973). I also think there’s an undeniable bit of
French chanson and even Steely Dan type jazz-rock on ‘Wonder.’
Rhythmically, I decided early on that I wanted a strong percussion element and
thus you’ll hear congas, maracas and a host of other percussion instruments
grounding the songs and giving cool flight to the lyrics. And with all the
Motown I listen to, it’s not surprising that ‘Something Consequential’ might
recall an almost Marvin Gaye-like romanticism of which he was truly the master
and I am, at best, his earnest student.”
As most of these songs
were born during the dark opening days of the COVID pandemic when confinement
became an enforced reality we had never before experienced, loneliness naturally
is a pervasive sub-theme of “Wonder,” reflected in various
manifestations not only in the titles of songs such as “Lonely” and “The Lonely
King.” Elliott uses “Loneliness as a kind of existential meteorologic metaphor
in “Raindrops” and “Hailstones,” referencing when the Corona virus seemed as
unstoppable as a hurricane.
Despite the life
challenges, Elliott’s approach to writing is still optimistic, “But inevitably
there is hope to be found in our fragile yet resilient human condition not only
in ‘Hope (In Your Eyes)’ but also in the afore-mentioned ‘Something
Consequential’ where romance springs eternal. ‘Sunlight Keeps Falling’ may be
the only fully pre pandemic song on the album as it was written as the theme
song for an as-yet unmade film about a beautiful girl who jumps from the Eiffel
Tower right into the arms of a guitar maker.
“So, as I sing in “A
Lack of Perspective” (perhaps my own favorite off “Wonder”), I’m going
back in time to find what I’m looking for… Thanks so much for accompanying me
on this musical journey!”
Join the
Fun as RAMPD [Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities]
Meets the Public Live from the Grammy Museum!
The public is invited to a virtual launch event for the
new coalition RAMPD
[Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities] on Friday,
January 21, 2022 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time (2pm Pacific / 4pm Central / 10pm GMT
/ 8am Saturday AEST). This webcast will be hosted in partnership with GRAMMY Museum and will
consist of virtual performances, celebrity cameos, live giveaways, and informative
testimonials. The RAMPD Launch will highlight the lofty accomplishments RAMPD
achieved pre-launch, and celebrate the amazing talent of RAMPD’s current
professional membership roster.
TUNE IN ON YOUTUBE ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 2022 AT 5:00 PM EST:
Opening and closing remarks for the RAMPD Launch Event will
be given from GRAMMY Museum by RAMPD's President and Founder Lachi (award-winning EDM artist, producer, and
director). The event will be hosted live by RAMPD Vice President Gaelynn Lea (songwriter, violinist, and
winner of NPR Music's Tiny Desk Contest) and RAMPD Founding Member Question (rising
hip-hop star and disability advocate from Atlanta).
This ceremony will include captioning and self-description to
promote the beauty of disability-inclusive content. The virtual event
will include performances by several RAMPD Professional Members,
celebrity messages of support, trivia questions and giveaways in the live chat,
and testimonials about the importance of Disability Culture. Performers include
Eliza Hull, Adrian Anatawan, Molly Joyce, and many more professional
disabled musicians.
RAMPD has already been in partnerships with Folk Alliance, NIVA, Women In Music, and The WAVY Awards by Blonde Records. The GRAMMY Museum launch is not the first partnership with
the Recording Academy, as RAMPD has also collaborated in dialogue,
workshops and influenced the Academy’s Inclusivity platform. The group was
organized after Lachi facilitated a public
online conversation with leaders of the Recording Academy in April
2021.
RAMPD is a fast-growing coalition of established recording
artists and music professionals with disabilities whose mission is to amplify
disability culture, promote inclusion, and advocate for accessibility in the
music industry. RAMPD’s organizational model includes a fiscal
sponsorship with the non-profit organization, Accessible Festivals, a
501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to making music and recreation
accessible to all abilities.
GLORY
TO THE NEWBORN KING Erin Hannon“Hark The Herald” classical with a full lyric soprano that rolls her
rrrrs."Sleep In Heavenly Peace.” The brains behind this master is Stephen Melillo, the music director of the award-winning movie, "One Little Finger" w/ Siedah Garrett, and the longline "Ability in Disability."
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.
GOT MY EYE ON YOU, SANTA Jody Quine & the Big Mr. C. Female vocals. Christmas bells. Flirting with Santa! Like Katrina and the Waves meets the Shirelles.
CHRISTMAS
IS COMING Leo SchaffBeach Boys meets Shins. Male vocals. His
true love ran around the world, and said she’d make it home for the
holidays.A year has gone by, and he’s
singing, “Christmas is coming, New Years is coming,” sand “Will you make it
home for the holidays?”
WHY
CAN’T EVERYDAY BE LIKE CHRISTMAS(ballad)Tanga gentle, lush song with stand out
chimes, bells, violin, and viola, angels, stars shining, and bells
ringing.Denny Colt sings in a sweet,
girl-next door voice and range similar to Cassadee Pope’s or Emma Roberts.
O' HOLY NIGHT Christmas Passion, Jann Klose: classical instrumental with soaring tenor vocals. voice like Ray LaMontagne and a bold Stevie Winwood or Paul McCartney.
HANUKKAH
IN THE VILLAGE Rachael Sagemellow piano, singer-songwriter.Rachael’s observations on the eve of Hanukkah
in New York City.
HAPPY
DECEMBER Jaclyn Bradley PalmerAffectionate singalongthat mentions every big holiday: Christmas,
Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, New Year’s into one song!
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
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!
Avant
fusionist available for all media Joe
Olnick’s new avant-fusion album, IGUANA is out, and available on every major streaming/download platform
online in the world: Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Tidal, Deezer, Amazon,
Google, CD Baby. Look for the album on Bandcamp, plus CDs through CDBaby. Here's the SmartUrl: http://smarturl.it/4a8362 The
media is giving a thumbs up to IGUANA, which is Joe’s 7th
album.
Jeff Collins, host of Hard Rock
Hell’s radio show, The Rock Jukebox” calls IGUANA “one of the best of the
year! a magnificent album!” KOCF Eugene,
Oregon’s Andy Goldfinger says Joe’s album has “that feel of cool. It crosses
the boundaries of genre and lets the listener just feel the music." Vents Magazine’s Steve Kinrade offers an eclectic comparison in his review of
the album, mentioning its range from musical styles from Yes, Ian Dury, James
Brown to an obscure British singer-songwriter named Peter Greenwood. He writes
that the album is “worth a thorough investigation.”
Olnick,
and bandmates—bassist Jamie Aston and drummer Stew Bradley are performing live,
"Our live shows have become a
really cool multimedia experience, with custom videos being projected during
most of the show. And our concerts have always expanded on themes from the
recordings, using exciting improvisational techniques that come from playing
for many years. Every concert is unique, and a lot of fun.”
Along
with the album release, the group's second track is “Don’s Theme,” an introspective instrumental based
on the Iguana (from the album cover) walking into the room in a slow and thoughtful
way.
Designed by artist Ron Good (of the horror series,
God-Awful Comics), the album art tells the story of a misunderstood iguana
named Don, who struggles to find his own hot rock to rest on. Joe says there
are parallels of the animal’s life and his career, as it’s a struggle to find
support for creating original, instrumental music! Joe calls his music “avant-jam” and fusion like Medeski,
Martin & Wood and New Mastersounds. In addition to guitar, Joe plays sax
and bass, plus works as a recording engineer. In 2012, he released his first
CD, and continued self-producing with albums from ambient to jazz/rock
genres.
Buffalo, New York - "Dyin' Tonight," an original song performed by Robby Takac of Goo Goo Dolls fame for the upcoming horror film Johnny Gruesome, has been released by Funhouse Productions and is available for purchase on major music platforms ahead of the film's October 16th VOD release. Takac co-wrote the song with Armand John Petri and Joe Rozler, and recorded it at his GCR Studios in Buffalo, New York.
The film Johnny Gruesome was written and directed by Gregory Lamberson (Slime City, Killer Rack) and stars Anthony De La Torre (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Lords of Chaos), Michael DeLorenzo (New York Undercover, Head of the Class) and singer-songwriter Aprilann ("Crown and the Girl"). The film tells the story of a murdered heavy metal rebel who returns from the grave for vengeance. Red Hill Movies, Deinstitutionalized, and JFR Productions co-produced, with Uncork'd Entertainment distributing.
Petri and Rozler also composed the score, and additional songs used in the film were created by Dean Italiano, Giasone Italiano, and Aprilann. The Italianos' contributions were created for a rock CD, "Gruesome," to promote the novel on which the film is based; that CD is available separately.
Trailer for Johnny Gruesome:
"Dyin' Tonight" by Armand John Petrie, Joe Rozler, Robby Takac:
Hysteria The hit by (UK rockers) muse, reimagined. Wagnerian rock with shades of Queen. Hard and faster, Passionate vocals. The electric violin gives the recording electric heavy metal power. “I want it now.”
Road Rage Aggressive, electric violin driven songs with the power and energy similar to Slamming metal, pace like Flight of the Bumblebee.
The Greatest Lives Joe wrote the music, tweaked lyrics, produced, and arranged this song about "The Greatest"--Muhammad Ali. Sung by Thembeka Mnguni for Universal South Africa, this version song recalls Midwest rock and soul. Vocals will remind you, probably, of Etta James, Mavis Staples, Cissy Houston.
”
Game of ChickenViolin-driven rock, similar to Survivor, but with electric violin. Chasing to fight reckless causes. We are all speeding towards the edge of a giant cliff screaming at each other as a way to try to solve our problems. The one who swerves will be called a "chicken,” or a coward.
Climbing Vocals kindred to Jack Bruce, electric violin-driven. Song is inspired by music of Marshall Tucker/Pearl Jam. CLIMBING is about never giving up!
Listen to Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius' new album, GUILTY OF INNOCENCE, now on over 100 stations in North America:
CLIMB THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN by Gary Lucas (co-writer of Jeff Buckley’s hits MOJO PIN and GRACE, and Joan Osborne’s Grammy-nominated song SPIDER WEB). Gary’s soaring and motivational rock song with horns and a wailing chorus, “Climb the highest mountain so you can stand tall!”
Gary and his rock band, Gods and Monsters, will perform at the Iridium, NYC, on May 31. He’ll include some of his classic Chinese pop with long-time collaborator singer Feifei Yang. Classic folks from the NYC rock and punk scene (bassist Ernie Brooks (Modern Lovers, Elliott Murphy, David Johansen), and drummer Billy Ficca (Television, Waitresses, Washington Squares), and saxophonist/analog studio owner Jason Candler) are in Gary’s band. Ernie, Billy and Jason do sessions.
Then look for a full show of Chinese Pop from Gary and Feifei, on July 25, at The Loft at City Winery NYC
8pm. That show will feature dreamy ’30s Shanghai Pop,
and new Mandarin versions of songs by Bob Dylan and other great artists.
TWINKLE LITTLE STAR by Miss Amy is one of the most pure-in-heart versions of the classic lullaby that you're ever going to hear!
TCHATCHAKES LATKES by Rachael Sage
a perfect song for the news this Hanukah (Dec. 12-20). She sings the ingredients in this festive ditty which sounds good late night/early morning.
FROM EVERY MOUNTAINSIDE by Dan Berggren is for the Fourth of July, and is the same melody of "My Country 'Tis of Thee." Dan's version is about fighting for the environment and liberty to keep us strong.
Lots of underdogs coming into their own nowadays. From the #MeToo Movement to those learning the hard way to not take their friends for granted, the lesson is to learn how to treat everyone with respect. Music and learning to turn our struggles into strength helps.
Making sense of resistance is one way to grow & suggested in fitness teacher Lori Harder’s inspiring TED TALK at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZE7V-UL5zA, but first check our inspiring AND recovery-provoking songs!
CANNONBALL Rebecca Loebe
Mid-tempo, female sung. Two people co-existing, living under abusive partner, and saying she wishes to blow through the walls to make him aware of the damage. Because she’s scared to death, she’s doing it with her eyes closed.
THE BLOOM IS OFF THE ROSE Bill Leverty rock song kindred to the (heavier) Eagles meets Molly Hatchet/Lynyrd Skynyrd because of singer’s ballsy bass voice. Exposing a sociopath or narcissist, that “everybody knows the real you,” and it’s time to stop with the drama. #Grandiosity
WARRIOR Karen Besbeck: Acoustic: Proclaiming "You will not wreck me, ‘cause I’m a warrior, The Truth protects me!”
LOVE THE BODIES WE’RE IN Jaclyn Bradley Palmer
Self-and-friendship acceptance with a loved person.
This song stopped a battle every day of the Easter Rebellion, in 1916, Ireland.
THE DUCKS OF ST. STEPHEN’S GREEN Dean Friedman
Old time waltz melody based on a true story about how ducks stopped the Easter Rebellion, in Dublin, Ireland in 1916.
REINER THE RHINESTONE REINDEER Phoebe Legere
a gay reindeer that the others bullied, and then he & the brightness of his bling saved Christmas!