THE KSA A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF

THE KNOXVILLE ASSOCIATION

Volume No. 4 Issue No. 5 27 Years of Serving Songwriters in Knoxville, TN Date: May, 2010

Published monthly by: Knoxville Songwriters Association P.O. Box 603 Knoxville, TN 37901

Founded in 1983 by Sara Williams

FROM THE PRESIDENT

I hope everyone is enjoying their early summer. Gardening and yard work takes up a lot of time when the rains come I had a chance, thanks to Leigh Ann Cox , to examine and the sun shines. Those events can certainly affect a some of the Blue Chip Picks that Matthew Goins is making person’s demeanor and can even bring about a song idea here in Knoxville. All you serious pickers should take a or two. I’m still trying to plant some of my veggies but the look at these picks. Numerous professional musicians are rain prevents me from doing so. Have tomatoes, beans, endorsing them because of their durability and tone. The beets and peppers in but the squash, cucumbers, okra, and web site explains the material and the process in some of the herbs are not in the ground yet. Of course, as manufacturing the Blue Chip Pick. www.bluechippick.net you all know, in the visionary world of hope and happiness, The phone number is 865-803-9442 if you want to talk to singing while in the garden calms the plants and seeds and Matthew about his product. encourages them to grow big and strong and produce lots of good, healthy food for the table. Oh well, maybe that is We’re moving right along with our critiques. We are getting just a myth but music does soothe the soul and even if it lots of good constructive comments from the ones who are doesn’t help the plants it can certainly help the gardener’s attending meetings. I would like to encourage all members spirit as he/she goes about their work. to take part in this valuable service and even if they don’t

have songs to bring in to come in and help others with their It’s not too early to be thinking about who you are going to songs. nominate for the slate of officers for the coming year. We have our elections in mid-August and that is only about Mike Gibson was kind enough to provide us with some three months away. And on the subject of officers, Linda Perry has resigned her position as Publicity Director new business cards that have an image on the back that allows ipod users to go directly to our web page. Mike is effective immediately due to some ongoing health also continuing to work on the SongwritersRadio website. problems. Linda has done a good job during the time she Mike has an ad in this issue with details on contact has held the position and I for one hate to see her give it information. We have several members who now have up. I hope for a speedy recovery for both her and her songs playing on the site and hopefully there will be more husband John, who also has some health issues. songs submitted from KSA members. If you want your Hopefully, she will be able to continue with her membership music heard this is the place to go. and attend meetings as she is able. An encouraging email from the members might help speed her recovery. Regards, [email protected] Gene B.

Anyone interested in filling the Publicity Director position until the next election should let me know. FROM THE EDITOR

Beginning this month we are offering business card size The newsletter is only as good as we want it to be so keep advertising space for music related services for a donation those articles and information coming. If you can’t seem to of $5 for three issues or $15 for twelve issues. You can get get a song cut and played at least you can get your articles your ad before the members and associate members of the published in the KSA Songwriter. Our thanks go out to KSA for less than the cost of passing out business cards. members C. D. Johnson, David Haley Lauver, Richard And by making a donation you will be helping the KSA Ratledge, and John K. Morris for their contributions to this provide the songwriting community with additional services month’s issue. and benefits. Your ad can be a simple word ad or a digital image that can be pasted into the text of the KSA Songwriter. Please contact the Editor if you wish to run an ad. 1

Sometimes I feel like a preacher that is preaching to the choir. But mostly I'm preaching to myself. Hoping I'll

stumble upon a cure for what ails me while maybe helping a fellow songwriter avoid the same pit-falls.

In retrospect, it might not be Decidophobia that is holding DECIDOPHOBIA us back. It might be Atychiphobia/Kakorrhaphiophobia (the fear of failure) or probably just Allodoxaphobia (the fear of By C. D. Johnson other people.s opinions). Whatever the unpronounceable term is don't let it stand in the way of your dreams! To Your lyrics and melody are melded together as one. paraphrase those TV infomercials, "Act now! Times a Countless hours of creative effort have finally been brought wastin'! Don't miss this limited time offer!" Seriously, when to a satisfactory conclusion. In your mind this is the best you stop and look back, have no regrets! Make no song you've ever written. The melody is perfect. The excuses! No fooling! Now is the time to take your career production has that expensive studio sound. Your CD is to next level. YOU CAN DO IT! burned. And in your hand you hold the final product and it is as near perfect as you can possibly make it.

How many times have you gone thru this scenario? How many finished CD's are languishing in your “to be submitted file?” How many of these perfect songs are going unheard because of your Decidophobia?

Yes, Decidophobia . . . a strange word indeed. The AMA defines this phobia as the fear of making a decision. Or the “Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting” “deer caught in the headlights” syndrome. The inability for a songwriter to make a decision and then act on it is not as Updated for NSAI Seminar uncommon as you might think. For whatever reason many of us reach a certain stage in our song writing careers and By David Haley Lauver never progress any further. A lot of the time it is not a lack of talent that has caused this stoppage but rather the fear Ralph Murphy , veteran songwriter and ASCAP Nashville of deciding on the direction our music needs to take in vice president, updated his “Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting” order to continue toward our goals. In short we have for a 2010 “Spring Training” session sponsored by the reached an intersection. Not an intersection labeled with Nashville Songwriters Association International. clearly marked signs that are easy to follow but crossroads that would cause even "bluesman" Robert Johnson to Unlike the traditional “law” that says “if anything can go become disorientated. Thank goodness we don't have to wrong it will go wrong,” Ralph Murphy’s advice is designed sell what Robert did to gain success. All we have to do is to reduce the things that can go wrong on the way to make a decision. If we can! And I believe we can! writing a number-one hit song.

In my humble opinion the term “marketing”, as viewed by Each year, Murphy analyzes the top songs on the previous most songwriters, is the stop sign at our intersection of year’s country charts, looking at the song structure and success. To most songwriters marketing is an elements of the writer’s craft. incomprehensible concept that has nothing to do with the creative process and should just occur naturally as a by “I only study #1 records,” Murphy said. He said that when product of your fabulous music and the desire of your fans his first country song went to #2, “I realized they don’t throw to own a piece of your heart and soul. As fantastic as this #2 parties.” school of thought is we all know that if your finished CD's remain in the “to be submitted” bin no one will ever hear “The competition is tough,” Murphy said, “because there’s them. And there is a possibility that you will remain at your not much income stream outside the top 40 songs.” Out of intersection forever lost in Decidophobia. Don't let 111,000 CDs released last year, only 6000 sold more than Decidophobia decide your future! Get out the bubble wrap 1000 copies. mailers! Stuff them full of those master pieces. Drive on down to your local Post Office and take the first Murphy said we all hear good songs at writers’ nights and rudimentary steps at marketing yourself and your songs. wonder why they aren’t hits. But music industry decision You can have the greatest song no one has heard or you makers listen to the songs “when the personality of the can share your genius with the world. There are outlets for singer and the ambience of the room are gone,” and often your original music everywhere. Maybe not the historically find reasons a song “doesn’t work” commercially. conventional ones that make a person rich over night but smaller venues that appreciated great new music and can “All that really changes across genres is vocabulary and act as a stepping stone for those willing to put themselves technology,” Murphy said. He said consistent elements in out there! It is up to you! 2

today’s hit songs are a memorable melody, a well-defined 5. From your song, what would a distracted song structure and the use of humor, irony and detail. woman at the worst time of the day think of the character of the singer? “Women buy 50 percent of the music—and make men buy the other 50 percent,” Murphy said. He said women 6. Is the singer’s role in the song consistent with generally hear new songs on the car radio during morning the artist you want to pitch it to? (Fans want to “drive time,” when they’re distracted taking kids to school or see the singer in a familiar role, so artists going to work. generally don’t change “persona” in a song.)

“Your songs are scripts to make the singer look good to 7. Did you speak the language and use the women at the worst possible time of the day,” Murphy said. vocabulary appropriate for the artist and familiar He said that although he enjoys hearing traditional “cry in to the listener? your beer” songs in a club at 10 p.m, on the radio at 7 a.m. “it just doesn’t work.” 8. Is the story set up so that it progresses with new detail in the second verse? “You can’t ever assume a listener knows what you’re talking about,” Murphy said. “Writers often write what 9. Is the hook or title properly set up? (The title should be the second verse first because, by the time you should be the destination, the fulfillment of put pen to paper, you already have details in your mind the expectations.) listener doesn’t know.” 10. Is the title memorable, and does it deliver the “The ugliest words from a writer are ‘I’ll leave it to the hook? listener’s imagination,’” Murphy said. “The listener has no imagination.” 11. Is the language consistent with character and setting? “It takes eight ‘listens’ to ingest a song,” Murphy said. “We don’t multi-task when we hear music. What invites listeners For more of Murphy’s examples of song forms and in is the melody. The lyrics keep them there.” characteristics of #1 songs go to www.murphyslawsofsongwriting.com In addition to writing with the music consumers (did I mention they’re mostly women?) in mind, Murphy advised @@@@@@@@@@@@ thinking about a song’s impact on the song plugger. IRVING BERLIN’S NINE RULES FOR SONGWRITING When we tell friends “you gotta hear this,” Murphy said, part of the reason we share songs is that it makes us look 1. The melody should be within the range of most good to our peers. He said song pluggers are more singers. inclined to keep pitching your songs if you give them something that “makes them look good” to the producers 2. The title should be attention getting and, in and industry staff they work with on a regular basis. addition, repeated in the chorus of the song

Murphy said the “song form of choice at country radio” last 3. It should be “sexless”, able to be sung by men year was verse, verse (optional), chorus, verse, chorus, and women. bridge, chorus. He said the “boredom factor” sets in at 2 minutes, so writers using this form should get to the bridge 4. The song requires “heart interest”. at 1:40 minutes with a “new wrinkle” melodically, lyrics that show the other side of the coin, provide contrast, or 5. And at the same time it should be “original in introduce the “what if” factor. idea, words and music”.

Here’s a quick checklist of “Murphy’s Laws.” 6. “Stick to nature”, advised Berlin. “Not nature in a visionary or abstract way, but nature as 1. Did you take no more than 60 seconds to get to demonstrated in homely, concrete, every day the first use of the title? manifestations”.

2. Did the first verse explain the premise? 7. Sprinkle the lyric with vowels so it will be euphonious. 3. Did you establish the structure of the song? 8. Make the song as simple as possible. 4. Did you invite the listener in and play the “you” card? (Tell them how great they are, talk about 9. The songwriter must think of writing as a how life would change “if you were here,” etc.) business, that is to make a success of it one must work, work, work and write everyday.

3

From the book, AS THOUSANDS CHEER, that they would report back to me after they listen to the Irving Berlin songs. I could have given out many more, but I did not take but five with me. Submitted by John K. Morris I counted 62 booths on the program so I assume that is the @@@@@@@@@@@ number of groups that were there. This is a good venue for gospel songwriters to access and network with gospel SOUTHERN GOSPEL FAN FAIR AT PIGEON performers. FORGE OUT AND ABOUT By Richard Ratledge By Gene Blair I recently had the opportunity to attend the Southern Gospel Fan Fair held at the Pigeon Forge Convention I managed to again visit both the Nashville Connection Center located on Parkside, which is the main street and Town and Country Music during April. Anyone who through Pigeon Forge. The dates I attended were May 3, wants to hear country music, dance and socialize for three and May 4. This is an annual four-day event. The next evenings in a row can start on Thursday at 7 until 9:30 p.m. one will be held in May of 2011. at the Lafollette Senior Center . The line dancing is almost continuously going on there. On up the valley on Since I write a gospel song occasionally I thought this Highway 63 about 8 miles or so at Town and Country might be a good opportunity to get my songs before a Music the band starts playing at 8 and goes until 12 p.m. singing group. I had no idea of what a great opportunity it Dancing and socializing is continuous during that time. On was for a writer of gospel songs to make contact with the Saturday night one can head on up Highway 63 to just west performers of gospel music until I attended this event. The of Harrogate on Saturday night and Andy Maiden and the parking lots were filled with large buses and other vehicles Silver Clouds , along with a menagerie of talent from the that bring the groups from many states. local crowd, will entertain you from 7:30 until 11:00 p.m. The following information concerns local and close-in Their method of operation is quite simple. They have a venues that you might want to visit if you are in the mood good stage, lighting and sound system, and a good MC for some good music and an evening of entertainment or if that introduces the guests and keeps the show running. you want to just strut your own stuff in front of an open mic. The show ran from 3:00 p.m. until 11:15 p.m. each night. Each group is given 15 minutes to perform so they can Andy Maiden and The Silver Clouds perform every usually perform three songs and sometimes four. So the Saturday night at the Nashville Connection on Highway first group goes on from 3:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. and etc. 63 west of Harrogate from 7:30 until 10:30. This venue is There is usually a one-hour break once or twice during the family entertainment with lots of young talent on the stage. show to enable people to go have dinner or go back to their Open mic is available and there is always someone who motel rooms to rest for a while. wants to sing. As well as the local talent folks come in from Kentucky and Virginia to perform and to listen to others. Admission fee for fans is $19.95 each day but if a person No smoking, no drinking, no drugs. Theatre style seats wanted to buy tickets for the 4-day event they are eligible to near the stage are comfortable. Décor is all music and receive a discount. country related. Dance floor for line dancing and two- stepping. Cover is $6. Sandwiches, popcorn, soft drinks, The talent varies from average to very good. And by and a bottomless coffee are available. Check out The watching the performance of each the writer has a chance Silver Clouds Website for further information at to determine which group he would want to offer a CD of http://www.myspace.com/andymaidenthesilverclouds his or her songs. Some of the groups were nationally Several links to other performer’s websites are also known and have songs on the charts. I believe that most of available through this website. the groups were new groups. But based on their performances I believe that a few of them will soon be on Town and Country Music is located on Highway 63 about the charts themselves. 6 miles east of Lafollette. Jim Poindexter on guitar and vocals, Jim’s wife Linda on keyboard, and their friends, The ease in which you can approach these groups is including Herschel Turner and comedian Danny unbelievable. To perform on the program each group must Brassfield, play and sing Friday and Saturday nights, 8:00 rent a booth to display and sell their material. The cost of a till 12:00. They had a new steel player the last time I was booth was $300 and when the performers were not on there and I did not get his name. Joyce Arrington handles stage they were at their booth talking with people who the backup and harmony. Open mic is available if you wanted to visit with them. All were very accessible, and want to participate. No booze, no drugs, no smoking. that offered an opportunity to say, “Hey, I like your singing. There is a large dance floor for line dancing and two- I am a songwriter and I'd like to leave you a CD and lyric stepping. Cover is $5. Sandwiches, soft drinks, and a sheet to see if this is a song that you would like to sing.” I bottomless coffee are available. was able to give out five of my songs to my favorite groups and they acted very happy to receive them. They also said 4

Lafollette Senior Center , live country music on Thursday ______7-9:30 p.m. and Saturday 7:00 till 10:00. The center is located in downtown Lafollette. Open mic is available if IN THE EDITOR’S OPINION you want to sing or play. They have a large dance floor for (This opinion piece ran in the August, 2008 issue of the line dancing and two-stepping and line dancing instruction KSA Songwriter.) on Tuesday mornings. No booze, no drugs, no smoking. Open to all ages on Thursday and Saturday. Cover is $5. One of, if not the worst, statement that can be made out 423-562-6672 loud or written on a lyric sheet during critique of a lyric sheet goes like this, “I can’t tell much about it without the Judy’s Barn , Maynardville. Southern Gospel only. Opens music. Bring it back when you have the music and we’ll April 9 for the summer. Associated with Union Gold take another look at it then”. For those fledgling wannabe Studios. No booze, no drugs, no smoking. No cover songwriters that neither does vocals nor plays a musical charge. Summer schedule as well as sample videos are instrument, this statement is usually the kiss of death for shown on their MySpace page listed here. what might be a pretty good song if allowed to develop http://www.myspace.com/judyscountrygospelbarn further. But when this statement is made during an initial Time Warp Tea Room , 1209 N. Central Street, Knoxville. critique of a lyric the writer is usually stymied and the song Open mic on Monday evening 7-9:30. No booze, no drugs, is in effect “dead in the water”. Since I am one of those no smoking. No cover on Monday. 865-524-1155. writers that, at present, only do raw lyrics I would like to offer my opinion on this subject. Ray’s ESG , 7355 Kingston Pike, across from Chili’s Restaurant near West Town Mall. Open mic on the first I believe that first and foremost we must define the purpose and third Tuesday of each month. 10 p.m. till ???. 865- of the Knoxville Songwriters’ Association. Why do we meet 330-0159. every Tuesday night? I was and am under the impression that we, as amateurs, meet to network with others who Mulligan’s Restaurant in Gettysvue Center Shopping have the same or similar interest in the craft of songwriting. Center, near the intersection of Ebenezer Road and By expressing our ideas to others and looking and Westland Drive in West Knoxville. Open mic 6:00 till 10:00 discussing each other’s works we may better understand p.m. on Wednesdays, hosted by songwriter Rex Gibson . the craft and learn from the mistakes (and successes) of 865-691-1324 our fellow members. If there is another purpose, if we are just trying to play the part of the “professional song police” Brickyard Bar-B-Que at 7554 Brickyard Road, Powell. in Nashville or New York by looking at only “finished works” Open mic at 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays hosted by songwriter or “performances” from those that have their own studios or Rex Gibson . have been arranging and playing music for years, or if we are just meeting for a social hour, I wish someone would let If anyone is familiar with any locations in the Metro area me know. Otherwise, I am going to keep on believing that where they play music and you think they should be we, as a group, can find ways to help each other become included in the KSA Songwriter please let me know. better songwriters no matter what our individual limitations [email protected] and skills might be.

KSA QUOTES OF NOTES Here is an example of what could happen from the other side of the “song” fence. What if someone, such as C.D., FISHING FOR A HIT??? brought in just a music sheet and passed it around for critique? No lyrics, just sheet music with notes A good hook in the chorus won’t catch ‘em without the accompanied with a synthesized arrangement on CD with proper bait in the verses. all the bells and whistles thrown in along with double reverb. What would the comments be from those that do Mark Gormley not read music notation or know diddly squat about the ______mysterious workings of keyboards or the bending of strings on electric guitars? Would someone say, “I can’t tell much KNUCLE DOWN… about it but you can bring it back when you have the lyrics finished and we’ll comment on it then?” Would someone I takes hard work to take home the prize. else say, “You need to put the turnaround in another place”, or “You need to substitute a D7 for the Am chord in John K. Morris the third bar of the chorus.” Or “You’ve got the drum track ______off beat just a little toward the end.” I doubt that anyone would make these comments but there’s always the KEEP A VIGIL possibility. Some of us would just sit there looking blank since music notation appears to us as nothing more than Melody and lyric are gifts that come out of life’s ancient hieroglyphics on a cave wall. We might like, or not experiences, and they’re with us every day. like the arrangement but would not know how to critique it even if we did hear a sour note, since a single note is a Jerry “Hog Man” Isham fleeting thing and once it’s heard it’s gone. 5

Jumpstart Music Group is also sponsoring a Songwriting And what is a song anyhow? Does it consist of individual Contest beginning on April 1 and ending on July 31. components arranged in a way that is pleasing to the ear? Submissions must be received by them before midnight on Is it a group of words, and a few minutes of controlled noise July 31. Entry fee is $5. First prize is a professionally arranged in a certain melodic way that creates a reaction or engineered demo of the selected song. Additional some sort? I usually refer to a musical number without information can be obtained at JMG Music Group’s lyrics as an “arrangement”, not as a “song.” In my opinion Website: www.jumpstartmusicgroup.com a song is a combination of lyrics and music that compliment each other and create some sort of emotion in the listener. Rick Harrell has touched on this in some of his writings. KSA member Mike Gibson informs us that his start-up So, we go back to the chicken and the egg theory, which venture on SendUsSongs is going well. The radio portion, comes first. Does the lyric come first and does it need to SongwriterRadio is drawing songs from all over the U.S. be written in such a way as to fit a pattern so that the You can post your songs on this site for publishers to hear musical notation can be written to compliment it? Or does and also for the general public to hear. You can also list the lyric have to be written, set to music and then rewritten your songs for sale as downloads through a method of after the arrangement has been put on CD? This is an trading purchased “credits” for a period of time that the expensive process for those of us who do not play music songs will be available for sale. Check out this Website, it and who do not have sound engineering experience and is being improved and updated frequently. the benefit of our own home studios. It’s not a simple task www.sendussongs.com to completely change an arrangement when someone has gone to the expense of producing a CD just so those USA SONGWRITING CONTEST CONTINUES members who are more interested in critiquing a finished production can send us back to the studio to pay to have a song completely done over. Entries for the 15th Annual USA Songwriting Competition are currently being accepted. Winning songs of the So what do we do? How do we handle just a simple lyric Competition will receive airplay on a nationally syndicated sheet during a critique session? Should we just not accept radio program "Acoustic Cafe" as well as Siriu s XM lyrics for critique until they are in a finished song? Is it a Satellite Radio. The USA Songwriting Competition is waste of time to even look at a lyric sheet by itself and try sponsored by major music companies such as Sony, Guitar to help the writer by making notations of what or how we Player Magazine, Ibanez Guitars, D'Addario Strings, Audio- think something should be written or rewritten? If you think Technica, Mackie, PreSonus, IK Multimedia, and many the lyric is ready to be set to music then say so. Don’t be more. Entries accepted through Ma y 28, 2010. For more vague and discouraging by telling the writer that you can’t information, visit http://www.songwriting.net . tell anything about his or her pride and joy until it is arranged and set to music. A lyric that has been properly N.O. Songwriters Fest announces contest prepared and corrected prior to arrangement is a lot easier (and cheaper) to deal with in the studio than one that is Songfest Foundation, Inc., sponsor of the New Orleans fraught with mistakes in meter, rhyme, and basic form when Songwriters Festival, will be conducting a Song Contest as taken into the studio. part of the 2010 Festival. Entries are now being accepted. The grand prize is a two-day writing session with Jim Telling a lyric writer that you can offer no help just with the McCormick. The New Orleans native’s songs have been lyrics is like a building inspector telling a contractor that he recorded by Tim McGraw , Trisha Yearwood , Randy can’t tell much about the foundation but to call him after the Travis , Ronnie Milsap and many others. All entrants will building is up and he’ll suggest changes to the foundation receive a one-day pass to the New Orleans Songwriters at that point! Festival in November. As long as your song is words and music, it is eligible for entry. Visit the official website at THINGS OF INTEREST http://www.sonicbids.com/Opportunity/OpportunityView.asp x?c=6050 . Jumpstart Music Group of Sevierville, TN recently sponsored an Acoustic Singer/Songwriter Contest at ********************************* Mulligan’s Restaurant in Knoxville. The preliminaries are complete and the final competition date will be announced Blue Chip Picks, the new pick of choice by professional soon. Grand prize is services valued at $1,500. Entry fee musicians. The manufacturer and testimonials claim that is $20. Competition will be judged by stage presence, this pick material has great tone like tortoise shell but Blue originality, overall performance and audience participation. Chip Picks require no polishing and outlast tortoise picks. The contest is being managed by KSA member Sharon Used by many professional string players. Blue Chip picks Parks , singer/songwriter Rex Gibson , and KSA member are made right here in Knoxville, TN and are being used by Michael Huffman , singer/songwriter and founder of JMG many professional string players. Contact Matthew Goins, Music Group. For additional information on this contest 865-803-9442, email [email protected] See and additional info on the current events at JMG Music testimonials and details on their Website at Group go to: www.jumpstartmusicgroup.com www.bluechippick.net

6

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& out as demos. Michael produces quality work out of his studio located in the basement of his home northeast of You can now advertise your music related business, Andersonville at 459 Mill Creek Road. Cell Phone number product, or services in the KSA Songwriter. We are is 865-755-5665. accepting business card size ads that will be published in three issues for a donation of $5. For a donation of Tim Worman : (banjo, guitar, fiddle, and mandolin) Works $15 your ad will appear in 12 issues. Send your copy out of a studio above Pick and Grin on Kingston Pike. 865- or card to [email protected] along with your 556-7147 (Bearden area) check for the donation amount and we will get the ad in the next issue. Closing date is the 25 th of the month Pat Corn : (guitar, voice, songwriting) 865-453-1031 Pat preceding the next month’s issue. has played on 5 gold records and is the Music Director for Cowboy Church in Pigeon Forge. ####################### Blake Russell : (guitar) 865-363-1624 (Seymour)

The following URL is for Kim Copeland , a Nashville song Wayne Kouhn : (guitar) 865-546-4804 promoter who also operates a professional demo studio. She has a newsletter that you can subscribe to that has Robert Lovett : (guitar) 865-898-3175 (West Knoxville) beneficial information. June Goforth : (lap dulcimer and possibly other www.kimcopelandproductions.com instruments) 865-687-9418 (Fountain City) www.myspace.com/kimcopeland Leigh Ann Cox : Guitar, Bass, Banjo, and Dobro. Graduate of Belmont University in Nashville with a degree ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ in Commercial Music/Music Business. Graduate of the School for the Performing Arts in Chillicothe, Ohio, and Here’s a good website from the gal that hosts at the former staff writer and picker in Nashville. Does arranging, Bluebird Café on songwriter’s nights, Barbara Cloyd . number charts, and work tapes. Leigh Ann works out of http://www.barbaracloyd.com/ Broadway Sound in Fountain City. 865-599-8277

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jack Hatfield: Banjo. Smoky Mountain Banjo Academy. 1-800-426-8744 or contact Jack at [email protected] Vince Denimarck , male vocalist. Lives and works out of or www.hatfieldmusic.com Florida. Will do demos. Contact by email at [email protected] DUES REMINDER ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Questions about membership and due date of Check out www.tspcountryradio.com Dixie McCorkell will annual dues should be directed to Richard accept songs from any independent artist as long as they Ratledge 865-573-1025 are good quality and the artist holds the copyright. Members due in May:

James Bowlin 5/25/10 Joyce Brown 5-12-10 Mark Gormley 5-26-10 RESOURCES Jerry Isham 5-30-10 Jeff Johnson 5-16-10 If anyone knows of an instructor or studio that should be David Weaver 5-6-10 included in this section, please let me know. Members past due: Old phonograph repairs : Terry DeWick , WB4NHB, 1829 Plumb Branch Road, Knoxville, TN 37932. Phone 865- Tom Cole 4-14-10 691-2446. Antique repairs, audio repairs, electronic restoration. Sam Laugherty 4-7-10 Gary Howard 3-17-10 Wolf Valley Productions is a one-man operation but this Billy Graham 2-1-10 one man can do wonders for your songs. The studio Brenda Hill 2-1-10 belongs to Michael de Bills , an experienced artist, Edna Riddick 12-9-09 songwriter, author, producer, musician, arranger, vocalist, Shannon Walsh 11-18-09 ASCAP member, and all around nice guy who can put your songs into a professional format for you to enjoy or send 7

Please keep your annual dues up to date in order to continue receiving member benefits, including The KSA Songwriter . And keep in mind that you cannot Knoxville Songwriters’ Association serve as an officer if your dues are in arrears. P. O. Box 603 OFFICERS Knoxville, TN 37901 President: D. E. “Gene” Blair 423-562-9866 Vice President: C. D. Johnson 865-609-9844 Treasurer: John Morris 865-687-0273 Secretary: Anna Morris Membership Dir.: Richard Ratledge 865-573-1025 Education Dir.: David Haley Lauver 865-671-0432 Publicity Dir.: Vacant Newsletter: Gene Blair cell 770-377-6817 Directors at Large: Art Daniells Vacant Jerry Isham Mike Paul Vacant

Note: Closing date to submit material for the June issue of the KSA Songwriter is May 25, 2010.

YOUR AD CAN BE RIGHT HERE.

CONTACT THE EDITOR

8