various news notes

First off, I have a new blog--an open letter to TONY SNOW at myspace site, http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog&Mytoken=11826CA5-13C1-826A-1E8179C05087F2B959959309

Tony is one of the journalists on my e-mail list, and is being considered for the job of White House Press Secretary.  I want to see how much he truly wants the gig as he has twice said to me, "I want your job (publicizing Jethro Tull)," and I'm willing--for the good of our country--to offer him the job with Tull. I believe that rock and roll publicists work with journalists who enjoy their publicists.  Meanwhile the Press Secretary for the President really has a hard time.  Tony's a nice guy; his website is www.tonysnow.com, and tell him I sent you.

Here are some musical things that might interest you from artists I'm not working with, but I truly adore:

A) Wendy Flower has a sweet, Jackie DeShannon-esque ecologically-minded and animal-loving CD, FLOWER POWER.   Proceeds go to Freethechildren.org, an education program for children in 45 countries.  She's at wendy@flowerpower.com.

B) WDFH is a radio station I used to work at, and they're having Jordan Rudess (keyboardist from Dream Theatre) making another visit there for a  Moog Space Jam with Richard Lainhart.  The tentative date is May 19th at 7pm.  
Stay tuned to their website at www.wdfh.org.

If I had the time I'd be involved with this station interviewing people.  It's freeform with a mixture of news and public affairs, that gives voice to unique perspectives ignored by mainstream media; there is very little syndicated NPR or Pacifica programming on this station; practically everything is original programming including local music, and the station is home to an upcoming national show, RECOVERY TALK hosted by Robin Leary. The FCC has just authorized the station to expand WDFH's signal to a much larger area of the lower Hudson valley; join me in supporting the station. All contributions are federally tax-deductible.   You can make a secure donation online a www.wdfh.org.  Or send a check to WDFH, 21 Brookside Lane, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522.


C) Speaking of radio, my radio teacher from Fredonia has retired from teaching and is working on his folk music career. Dan Berggren has a song "Only an April Fool" from FRESH TERRITORY to be released in May.  You can download it by
   1) going to http://www.berggrenfolk.com
   2)Then in the first category with the left side that says VIEW CART, the right side will have a select category section, select BERGGREN FOLK RECORDS.
  3) Scroll down to APRIL FOOLS, Then click on TRACK LIST & SAMPLE MUSIC and click on to hear "Only An April Fool."  You'll hear his seasoning and warmth as a singer who has been doing this style of music for decades.  He has a one-on-one communication style.  Dan has another song that's not online called "Power From Above," which is about wind power and the ecology.


D) MaryLenore Arsenault was my partner-in-crime working with Lucia Micarelli for the Jethro Tull 2005 tour.  Now she's been hired as the marketing consultant (advertising, street promotion, publicity & retail) for the Bleeding Edge doll company (www.begoths.com). She's also publicizing three books for BACKBEAT BOOKS:
B.B. King--THERE IS ALWAYS ONE MORE TIME and STEVE EARLE FEARLESS HEART by  author David McGee, plus THE FUTURE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY by music
attorney and copyright/clearance specialist Steve Gordon.  Her e-mail is mla@bopstar-pr.com and phone 212-362-5766.

E)Here's another classic rock publicist and author who handles artists similar to mine:  Billy James out of North Carolina: 910-395-8265, Antbee0@cs.com  

F)Andrea Karmer is your contact for Van Morrison's new album, PAY THE DEVIL. kramer67@mac.com. office 480 214 5855.

G)Some public service announcements...  Brian Kilcommons, Director of Training for the New York City animal shelter, has had his arms filled with too many Christmas puppies being returned to the city shelter, and it's a higher number this year than last year.  His website is www.mysmartpuppy.com, and it offers animal training advice.  He has a DVD that he's doing press for--his publicists are Rosemary and Jen at 212-593-0078, tjpublic@aol.com.  I do not want to tell you what condition some of these pups have been returned in, so let me say that some owners think violence is the way to teach animals a few tricks.  Please contact Rosemary and Jean if you'd like to get some puppy raising tips on your media outlet.   Brian Kilcommons is very articulate--he's been on OPRAH, COULD MORNING AMERICA, CNN, A&E, TODAY SHOW, PBS and more.  


and finally, the New Orleans Public Library is asking for any and all hardcover and paperback books for people of all ages in an effort to restock the shelves after Katrina. The staff will assess which titles will be designated for its collections. The rest will be distributed to destitute families or sold for library fundraising. Please send your books to:

Rica A. Trigs, Public Relations
New Orleans Public Library
219 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70112.