Official Publication of the Detroit Federation of Musicians – Local 5, AFM, AFL-CIO Volume 79 Number 2 Keynote Q2, 2016 2 Lifetime Achievement Award Winners Pages 10–11 30/50-Year+ Party Monday, May 9 Home of the Pros Honoring Our Own Special Features in This Issue • Cash bar • “Music Stand” notes the passing of • Awards program three music heavyweights, pages 2, 5 • Family-style luncheon • Two Local 5 members earn lifetime achievement awards, pages 10–11 Live music by harpist Ruth Myers • New, improved format for “Welcome, MONdaY, MAY 9, 12 noon New Members,” pages 12–14 CLUB VENETIAN, MADISON HTS. Keynote 2nd Quarter 2016 LIVE Links to What’s in This Issue The Music Stand . .1 About eBilling Notification . .16 WindWords . 3. MusiCares Foundation Info . 17. Detroit Musicians Fund . 8. How to File a Gig . .17 AmazonSmile . .8 TEMPO Contributions . .17 Contribution That Costs Nothing . 8. Important Life Insurance Reminder . .17 Member Newsline . .10–11 Classified Advertising . .17 Welcome, New Members . 12–14. Executive Board Minutes . .18–21 Local 5 Support Line . 15. Get Local 5 Gear . 21. DFM Referral Gigs . .15 Closing Chord . 22. Comedy Corner . .15 Membership Survey . .22 Member Directory Info . 16. Missing eKeynote? . .22 Calendar of Local 5 Events Our Advertisers Local 5 Office Closings • Monday, May 30: Memorial Day These fine folks helped bring you this issue • Monday, July 4: Independence Day of Keynote . Your support will assure their continued advertising . May 9, Monday 30/50-Year+ Party Bugs Beddow . .22 July 1, Friday Detroit Musicians Fund . 9 Due date for 3rd quarter dues Local 5 AFM Convention . .6 WSU Music Department . 7 July 15, Friday Closing deadline for 3rd quarter Keynote materials The Music Stand by George Troia, Jr. Wind, Sails, Doors, Local 5 President and Windows can’t change the wind, but I can adjust my sails” ensure the best reading. One of my musician friends in “Iis an old adage I came across a few years back that the audience thought the set was quite good. After reading intrigued me. For me, it expresses a don’t-give-up atti- Mr. Stryker’s review of Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band tude that I realized I have practiced my whole life. When I from last year’s festival, also not the kindest review, I kind Googled the quote, I was very surprised that it is attributed of feel like I’m in elite company. At any rate, when playing to Jimmy Dean – yes, the sausage guy – who I also remem- outside – especially string players – please consider a lesser ber as a country singer. The quote actually reads, “I can’t instrument if you have one. In the case of torrential rain- change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails outs (“I Can’t Stop the Rain”), you will be paid. to get just about anywhere...” In this installment of “The Music Stand,” I will cite this concept while telling you Change the Wind, Turn Back Time about the new Detroit Jazz Festival Agreement, talk about These are two things we are powerless over but which can the benefits of union membership if you’re 76, remind you change what we do going forward, with experience often about our new format for the 30/50-Year+ party, report making us wiser. I recently received a note from a member on two notable passings and reflect back on the very elo- who is 76 years young. He plays drums once a month in a quent case of one door closing and a window opening. nursing home and was wondering, after 61 years of mem- bership, what he was getting for his $105 per year annual Detroit Jazz Festival dues ($26.25 per quarter reflected by his age and years in We have a new successor agreement with the Detroit Jazz the Federation). It made me stop and think of how to reply. Festival covering the period March 1, 2016, through April To begin with, it’s a tax deduction if he itemizes; $50 goes 30, 2018. We will see performance raises of 2.5 percent to the AFM National to keep him in the system and re- each year. The Detroit Jazz Festival continues to be the ceive 12 issues of International Musician per year; and the re- world’s largest free jazz festival, presenting four days of in- maining $55 goes to us to keep him in our system, receive credible jazz over the Labor Day weekend, as it contin- four quarterly issues of Keynote a year and $1,250 life insur- ues to flourish under Artistic Director and now President, ance to his family. He is eligible to sign up for our annual Chris Collins. MusiCares dental clinic for a cleaning and exam. My den- The Festival is an outdoor event, so when considering tist usually bills more than $100 for this service. He is also accepting employment, please keep this in mind. During eligible to attend any union membership meeting where these negotiations, we talked about extreme weather con- we usually serve refreshments or even meals depending on ditions, heat, sunlight, rain-outs, etc. Great lengths are taken the meeting, including a free meal if he chooses to attend to cover performance venues, but sometimes we just “can’t the annual 30/50-Year+ party mentioned below (dona- change the wind” and in some cases can’t even “adjust our sails!” tions are optional for him). If we find out about an illness, A few years back I wrote to Detroit Free Press critic we send a greeting card, call or visit if possible and for Mark Stryker, who reviewed a big band set I played that he those in extreme circumstances, we try to find financial reviewed poorly. What we were playing were newly com- help through various grant programs. There are probably missioned pieces, and even after rehearsing them once, we additional benefits I am forgetting, but as I like to do, I could not always wind-clip the multiple pages in time to continued on page 2 Keynote u 2nd Quarter 2016 u 1 The Music Stand, continued from page 1 Keynote simply thank you (and him) for be- of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sam- Editor ing our member and being counted my Davis and Joey Bishop. In one of George Troia, Jr. as a unified voice for musicians in our our last conversations, Lee comment- Managing Editor area and nationally. ed on having a 10-piece band in the Susan Barna Ayoub intimate 400-seat venue. Lee played 30/50-Year+ Party Graphic Designer guitar and piano, was a huge Beatles Virginia L . Hunt Speaking of change, the annual 30/50- fan, loved music and musicians. Our Produced via Year+ party will be one week earlier musical community will miss him. Adobe Acrobat Pro this year and will be open to any Lo- Published by cal 5 member and a guest. It’s always Kay Ragsdale (1952–2016) Detroit Federation of Musicians fun to catch up with and honor those Theatre musicians in Detroit and Local 5, members who have reached the mile- around the world mourned the pass- American Federation of Musicians stone years of membership. We have ing of Kay Ragsdale, flutist extraordi- Keynote Ad Rates also been a draw over the last couple naire. Many of us here in Detroit got Full page $225 .00 of years to attract musicians, sound to know Kay when she came through 2/3 page $155 .00 engineers and others that have Local for a four-month stay of Miss Saigon 1/2 page $120 .00 5 connections. You never know who (Engineer Company) at the Masonic 1/3 page $80 .00 you will see. I look forward to seeing Temple and later with Phantom of the 1/4 page $60 .00 1/6 page $40 .00 you all on Monday May 9, at Club Opera and many stays of the Lion King 1/8 page $30 .00 Venetian. (By the way, if you want (Gazelle Company). She was the lady 25% discount to members to come, please let us know ahead of that played 15 flutes for Lion King All ads must be time – by Friday, April 29, if possible.) and would always be happy to tell union compliant. you about them. She was a consum- NOTED PASSINGS Call for rate card and full details . mate musician and a pleasant person Materials deadlines: January 15, Lee Rifield (1966–2016) to work with. She began the Ga- April 15, July 15, October 15 As Director of Operations at Olympia zelle tour of Lion King in 2002 and Entertainment and directly over the was with them in Chicago where she LOCAL 5 COMMITTEES Fox and City Theatres, Lee Rifield took ill in December, was hospital- DSO Orchestra Committee: passed very suddenly on March 15, a ized, and passed on April 5. Robert Stiles (chair), Joseph Beck- few days after his 50th birthday. “...therefore my harp is turned to er, Monica Fosnaugh (ICSOM), You may have recognized his name mourning, and my flute to the sound Bryan Kennedy, Sharon Sparrow, from my last column where he was of those who weep” (Job 30:31) – but Kenneth Thompkins mentioned regarding the new Fox the heavens will rejoice at the sound Fox Theatre Negotiating Com- agreement. I met and worked closely of her flute.... mittee: David Denniston, Christa with Lee on the last two agreements Grix, Paul Onachuk, George Troia, Leslie Basset (1923-2016) for the Fox, and recently discovered Susan Barna Ayoub we actually worked together at the Many of our members may know this Local 5 Development Commit- City Theatre back in 2005, when he name through various associations tee: George Troia, Susan Barna was first hired by Olympia.