--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This email newsletter was sent to you in graphical HTML format.
If you're seeing this version, your email program prefers plain text emails.
You can read the original version online:
http://ymlp65.com/zHqM4W
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Lonnie Ratliff Country Music Newsletter
May 4th, 2009

Number of Newsletter Subscribers: 7,823

=====================================
Spotlight Artist

Mickey Gilley

"Click" Photos & Logos below for Mickey's Websites & YouTube Videos

+

____________
Early life and the rise to fame

By the end of the 70s, Mickey Gilley was already a chart-topping
country music ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_music ) singer
and musician, having a string of #1s and Top Tens. However, when the
movie Urban Cowboy ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_Cowboy ) came
out in 1980, Gilley was put on the map in country music, moving
towards a more pop direction, which proved successful for Gilley that
same year.

He was born to Mr. and Mrs. A.S. Gilley in Natchez (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natchez,_Mississippi ), the seat of Adams
County ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adams_County,_Mississippi ) in
western Mississippi ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi ). For
many years, Gilley lived in the shadow of his cousin, Jerry Lee Lewis
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Lee_Lewis ), the rock and roll (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_roll ) singer and musician in
the 1950s. The two as children grew up close by each other; Gilley
lived just across the Mississippi River (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_River ) from Louisiana (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana ) where Lewis grew up. Gilley,
Lewis, and another cousin Jimmy Swaggart (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Swaggart ) played piano (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano ) together as children. This is
when Gilley first learned to play the piano. Together, they all sang
boogie-woogie ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boogie-woogie ) and
Gospel ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_music ) music, however,
Gilley didn't consider himself a professional singer until Jerry Lee
hit the top of the charts in the 1950s. Mickey cut a few singles on
his own in late 1950s and played sessions in New Orleans (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans ) with producer Huey Meaux (
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Huey_Meaux&action=edit&redlink=1
). In 1958, he had a record "Call Me Shorty" on the Dot label and it
sold well. In the 1960s, he played at many clubs (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clubs ) and bars (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bars ), getting a following at the
Nesadel Club (
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nesadel_Club&action=edit&redlink=1
) in Houston, Texas ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston,_Texas ).
In 1967, Paula Records (
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paula_Records&action=edit&redlink=1
) released Gilley's first album called Down the Line and the
following, he had a minor hit from the album called "Now I Can Live
Again".

In 1970, Gilley opened up his first club in Pasadena, Texas (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasadena,_Texas ), called Gilley's Club (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilley%27s_Club ), replacing the club
that was there called Shelley's Club (
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shelley%27s_Club&action=edit&redlink=1
). The club later became known as the "world's biggest honky tonk." He
owned "Gilley's Club" with former owner of Shelley's Club (
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shelley%27s_Club&action=edit&redlink=1
) named Sherwood Cryer (
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sherwood_Cryer&action=edit&redlink=1
), who asked Gilley to re-open the bar with him. The club portion of
Gilley's burned in 1990, while the rodeo (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodeo )arena (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arena ) portion was razed in 2005 to make
way for a school.

________

The next Featured Artist(May 18th) will be Texas artist
Tony Boothso make sure you tell all your Honky Tonk
friends & family to sign-up for this NEWSLETTER by
sending an E Mail that says "Subscribe To Newsletter" to
Lonnie Ratliff at: NashvilleShowcase@...

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

=================================================

Great store - Traditional Country - Steel Guitar CD's - Original
Western Swing CD's

"click bannder below"

===========================================

===========================================

"Click" the "PLAY" logos below to hear these 10 original songs. For
artists this is a great way to get acquainted with the songwriter who
could end up writing the song that makes you a star. Don't wait until
2 weeks before you go to the studio to find the songs for your next
CD. Start looking now. If you are not looking for songs right now it
don't hurt to get to know the songwriters who write the style of songs
you like. In 7 days these song links will stop playing the songs so
don't wait around and lose a great song. Contact the writer by sending
them an E Mail. If you are just a fan of original songs it's OK to
send the songwriters an E Mail and let them know if you hear a song
you like as a fan.
Next week we will feature up to 10 more original songs. - Lonnie

Title Click to Play
Suitable for singer Contact copyright owner
========================================================================
1.That's What I Get For Loving A Memory Male
lindaacarter4@...
========================================================================
2. Itty Bitty Pieces Female
sugarrivermusic@...
========================================================================

3. All I Ask
Female / Male budman9927@...
========================================================================
4. Common Ground Male
edbentley@...
========================================================================
5. An Empty Whiskey Glass Female / Male
cindylaneadams@...
========================================================================

6. Country Music Is A Little Like You Male / Female
devoreii@...

========================================================================
7. M & M's And A Chocolate Shake (Male)
sugarrivermusic@...
=====================================================================

=====================================================================

======================================================================

ATTENTION SONGWRITERS - Have your song featured above

Above is a SAMPLE of what I am offering for songwriters or publishers
looking to get someone to cut one of their songs.
The cost will be $10 and you can have exactly what you see with your
song replacing one of the songs above.
There will be a maximum of 10 original songs featured in each
NEWSLETTER and a maximum of 2 songs per NEWSLETTER for
each songwriter or publisher.
The songs will be playable for a minimum of 7 days and then the link
will stop working so I can upload new songs for the next newsletter.
Just send me an mp3 or CD of the song and $10. You can pay by PayPal
or just mail me a check.
I have no idea how successful you will be and will not make any
predictions but at $10 it has to be a good deal I believe.

You get your song title listed - People can "click" and listen to
your song - Artists can E Mail you if they want to cut it. I can buy
breakfast with your $10 at Cracker Barrel so this is a winner for
everyone.

Contact: Lonnie Ratliff NashvilleShowcase@...

===========================================

Media Outlets, Magazines, Newsletters, Websites

ATTENTION" Media outlets - You will notice I have added a new feature
to this Newsletter called "Getting To Know _________ " If you would
like to reprint any of these mini-interviews there is no problem.
Just make sure you leave the artist contact website intact and that
you contact me with the name of your publication where it will appear
so I can let the artist know. - Lonnie Ratliff
NashvilleShowcase@...

Getting To Know Bengt Pedersen

www.myspace.com/bengtpedersen ( http://www.myspace.com/bengtpedersen
)

1. Where were you raised up and where do you now work out of. Are
you from a large city, small town or out in the country ?

I was raised up in a little island called Andorja, in the northertn
part of Norway. Today I live in the largest city in the northern part
of Norway – Tromso – with ca 60.000 inhabitants.

2. Have you recorded any CD's. If so what are the titles and where
can someone buy them ?

In 2006 I recorded my debut album in Nashville, with Lonnie Ratliff.
It was a great experience, and the result was great. The album is
called “Pieces of my life”, and can be bought at i-tunes or
cdbaby.

3. What is your main outlet for live performances ? Nightclubs,
Festivals, Linedance Clubs,

Me and my band perrforms both in small clubs and bars, as well as
festivals. This summer we are doing several major country festivals in
Norway.

4. Who would you say are your favorite country artists ? Major
Label

My favorite country artists are Alan Jackson, George Jones,
GeorgeStrait and Merle Haggard.

5. Who would you say are your favorite country artists ?
Independent Label

It must be Erin Hay from Nashville.

6. What is the highest profile "Gig" you have ever played ? Did
you open for Garth or The Beatles ? Play for the Queen or at the
White House ?

The highest profile gig I`ve done, is playing the largest festival
in northern Norway, called Halogaland International Country Music
Festival last summer.

7. What is the most personally satisfying "Gig" you have ever
played ? Disaster benefit, Uncle Joe's 100 year birthday party,
hospital, old folks home etc!

It was a gig we did in a little but very populare club called
”Rorbua” in Tromso. We played for three hours, and it was so
crowded that it was not room for a hair more. And we had the eyes and
the ears of everyone there from the first to the last song.

8. What is the most obscure CD sale and/or fan you have ever heard
from ? Sold a CD in Russia or Got an E Mail from a soldier in Iraq
Etc!

I got an order for 20 CD`s from a private club called “the lonely
housewife tee club”.

9. What is your favorite 3 songs you have recorded and also your
favorite 3 cover tunes you sing at gigs.

Pieces of my life, Hey Porter, Somebodys angel – they are in my
album. Cover tunes – I love this bar, Margaritaville, Today I
started loving you again.

10. What do you see on the horizon for your career in the next 12
months ? Recording a new CD or going on tour to Switzerland etc!

I will do a music video this summer, and I`m working on material to
my next album – and I hope to be ready to record it next summer.

All the best from

Bengt Pedersen

===========================================

ONE MORE SONG, PLEASE.

Question: "Would you care for another slice of pie?"
Me: "Well... maybe just one more."
Question: "Would you like another year?"
Me: "Yes. One more please."
Question: "Would you like another helping of life?"
Me: "You betcha."

One helping of anything good has never been enough for me.
If I had just one wish it would probably be for more of everything.

I guess I'm just having such a good time I don't want to go home.
I'll even take the hard times again.
They make the good times taste better.

When I read a good story I kinda hate to have it end.
I've gotten to know the characters,
and I've fallen in love with the heroine,
and I'll miss being with them.
It's the same with life,
but unlike life, you can read a book over again.

Thinking about goodbyes doesn't mean I'm unhappy...
it means I'm too damn happy for my own good.
I don't want to let go of any of it.
That theme shows up in a lot of the songs I write for Misty and me to
sing.

I'll show you what I mean.
You can hear the song here:
BROADBAND:
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=1101874&q=hi
DIAL-UP: http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=1101874&q=lo

The Lyrics:

Well we had some real fun baby
How the time has run away
Let's sing just one more song...
Together
While the smoke drifts away
At the closing of our day
Let's sing just one more song
Together

You know I will remember
The laughter and the tears
Your smile will be in my memory
Through all the coming years

Mmmm, every good thing baby
Must come to an end
My friend, let's sing just one more song
Together
Jack Blanchard

© 2009.

--
Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan...
Grammy Nominees... Billboard's Duet of the Year.
HOME PAGE: http://jackandmisty.com
BROWSE OUR CD CATALOG HERE: http://elvinsystems.com/jm/catalog.htm
BUY OUR CDs HERE: http://birdwalk1.tripod.com/jandmorder.htm

SoundClick:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=69863
YouTube: http://youtube.com/jackandmisty
MySpace: http://myspace.com/jackandmisty

===========================================

Spotlight on "Click" PHOTOS below

____

===========================================

Getting To Know Change Of Key

www.changeofkey.com ( http://www.changeofkey.com/ )

1. Where were you raised up and where do you now work out of. Are
you from a large city, small town or out in the country ?

The members of Change of Key, Daniëlle, Joop & Marijke, are all
raised around Gouda, the cheese town of Holland and now we all live in
this beautiful town.

2. Have you recorded any CD's. If so what are the titles and where
can someone buy them ?

Yes we released our first CD 'Home is Where My Heart is' beginning
2008. You can order this CD through our website www.changeofkey.com

3. What is your main outlet for live performances ? Nightclubs,
Festivals, Linedance Clubs
Country clubs, little theaters, Festivals and party's

4. Who would you say are your favorite country artists ? Major
Label
The Isaacs, Rhonda Vincent, Vince Gill

5. Who would you say are your favorite country artists ?
Independent Label

Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike

6. What is the highest profile "Gig" you have ever played ? Did you
open for Garth or The Beatles ? Play for the Queen or at the White
House ?

The biggest outdoor festival here in Holland, Floralia. Station Inn
Nashville, our upcoming little tour to the area of Stratford Ont.
Canada.

7. What is the most personally satisfying "Gig" you have ever played
? Disaster benefit, Uncle Joe's 100 year birthday party, hospital,
old folks home etc!

For the old folks homes here in Holland we do have special shows,
going back in time and play their music. The biggest compliment we
got came from a sweet little old lady, 96 years old, You guys made me
feel young again, thanks!

8. What is the most obscure CD sale and/or fan you have ever heard
from ? Sold a CD in Russia or Got an E Mail from a soldier in Iraq
Etc!

euh... we never got some obscure comments about the CD, well and you
know some people in the audiences can give comments during a
performance but we won't repeat them here.......

9. What is your favorite 3 songs you have recorded and also your
favorite 3 cover tunes you sing at gigs.

Step in Your Mind, Fly On My Emotions, & It Can Not Be You...
Tennessee Courtin' Time - Valerie Smith & Liberty Pike,
I've Forgotten You - Rhonda Vincent
Bye Bye Baby Blues - The Judds

10. What do you see on the horizon for your career in the next 12
months ? Recording a new CD or going on tour to Switzerland etc!

Writing new material for maybe a CD next year, going on tour to
Canada in June 2009
And just stay healthy with the ones we love around us.

BONUS QUESTION BELOW - Use this space to ASK YOURSELF A QUESTION &
THEN ANSWER IT. I probably forgot a good question that your fans
would like to have the answer to so give it your best shot.

11. This cooperation between Daniëlle, Joop & you, is that gonna
last for ever.?

We are very good friends, not only in music but also personal and we
inspire each other to make and write music together.
We believe this friendship brings us spiritually to higher level and
musically to a better performance.

============================================

Affordable Internet Radio Promotion $150

Radio tracking of your airplay for 5 weeks
I send your song mp3 to 550 + internet radio station DJ's
Build you aYouTube SlideShow of your song

Please check out the slideshow below I just posted on YouTube for
Stonewall Jackson who I am promoting.

If this sounds like something you would be interested in just contact
me
Lonnie Ratliff (615) 742 0666
E Mail NashvilleShowcase@...

"Click" on the PHOTO above to watch Stonewall's YouTube SlideShow
You get a SlideShow like this for your song on YouTube as
part of the promotion package.

If this sounds like something you would be interested in just contact
me
Lonnie Ratliff (615) 742 0666
E Mail NashvilleShowcase@...

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Getting To Know Bill Littleton

http://www.unclewillamsplace.com/

1. Where were you raised up and where do you now work out of. Are
you from a large city, small town or out in the country ?
I was born on my grandfather's fishing camp/family farm in Walker
County, Alabama. At 18 months, I moved with my family to Middle
Tenness and then South Georgia, where Dad was involved in military
construction. Shortly after The War started (for America), we moved
to Mobile, Alabama and Dad worked in the shipyard. We moved to South
Carolina when I was in the second grade and a pattern that is
important was established. My father never farmed for a living from
the time we moved from "the camp," but we ALWAYS lived in the country
and we always "farmed," some times as little as a tiny garden and a
goat or a few rabbits, and sometimes a BIG garden with a lot of
rabbits, a lot of goats, chickens, a cow, ducks, guineas, and
whatever. From the age of eight, I was given responsibility for
watering livestock. EVERY DAY. If I couldn't do it, I made
arrangements for it to be done. By the time I was fourteen, all of
the livestock care and a lot of the gardening was in my care. I know
a lot about responsibility.
I had graduated from college before I ever lived inside the corporate
limits of any city. Greenwood, S.C. and Nashville are the only cities
I've ever lived in.

2. Have you recorded any CD's. If so what are the titles and where
can someone buy them ?
In 2003, my first CD, "A Cupful Of Words," was released on a limited
basis, in that we had a hundred copies duplicated (plus a few for
promo purposes) and did cover copy on the computer in such a way to
enable me to hand sketch an image relating to trees in some manner on
the back of EACH copy available for sale. They were signed, numbered,
and dated. We have a few left but not a lot. It just made sense to
go small at first and do something really and truly out of the box.

3. What is your main outlet for live performances ? Nightclubs,
Festivals, Linedance Clubs,
I don't play live much at this point, but I'm working on a concept
for something that could do quite well. Once again, I'm not in the
box, simply because I'm not as strong as the acts doing "normal" stuff
at the stuff they do. They can't touch me on doing what I do, though,
and we're letting the circumstances come together in a natural
process.

4. Who would you say are your favorite country artists ? Major
Label
Well, my heroes are basically everybody's heroes, with a focus on the
stylists. Tom T. Hall is my personal guru and a long time mentor, but
Johnny Cash and Luther Perkins are part of my consciousness, as well,
along with George Jones, Connie Smith, Melba Montgomery, Laney Hicks,
and a diversity of old heads -- Harry Belefonte was a major influence
on me in high school and I'm sure I'll have at least one calypso tempo
tune on ever album I ever do. "Green Bananas" is on "Cupful Of
Words."

5. Who would you say are your favorite country artists ?
Independent Label

It's hard for me to divide up what I like -- I don't differentiate
between country and bluegrass or blues or gospel or whatever. Oh, I
KNOW the differences, but they are not part of my perception. That
being said, there are OODLES of really good acts today, including some
of my heroes of yesteryear, who are not on major labels. So ALL of
the older Opry acts, including Marty Stuart, who is a special hero,
and a bunch of groups and singles I've found on the Internet and
especially MySpace: Erin Hay epitomizes indie acts for me, plus
Rachel Farley, Rachel Harrington, Joanie Sanders, Doug Lang, Billy Joe
Shaver, Roxanne Beck, Mike Mosier, Linda Grimes, Jenny Lynn Young,
Lisa Manning ... oh, on and on. I'm particularly impressed by the
number of female instrumentalists today, many of which are fiddle
players. There is wonderful talent in every direction today.

6. What is the highest profile "Gig" you have ever played ? Did you
open for Garth or The Beatles ? Play for the Queen or at the White
House ?
Nope. Maybe the coolest thing I've done is coming up -- in mid-May,
I'm playing for a reunion dinner in the Carolina mill village where my
sister Linda and I were in grade school. This is the building where I
first played guitar in public. I first SANG in public in church, but
the guitar joined the act in February or March of 1954 in a show our
eighth grade produced to help fund the class trip to Chattanooga.

7. What is the most personally satisfying "Gig" you have ever played
? Disaster benefit, Uncle Joe's 100 year birthday party, hospital,
old folks home etc!
I can think of an edition of The Nashville Folk Festival several
years ago where, as they were tearing down after the show, I realized
one of the stage crew guys was singing my song, "Hearts." I stood
there kinda stunned; he noticed me and said, "That's an important
song." "Thanks," I told him, "I think so, too."

8. What is the most obscure CD sale and/or fan you have ever heard
from ? Sold a CD in Russia or Got an E Mail from a soldier in Iraq
Etc!

I've been amazed by all of them to people I didn't already know.
Wow, that danged Internet really works.

9. What is your favorite 3 songs you have recorded and also your
favorite 3 cover tunes you sing at gigs.
Of my stuff, "Hearts," "Sweet Virginia Breeze" and "Green Bananas."
I rarely perform other people's material on shows, but I try to work
in Marshall Chapman's "Happy Childhood," and I LOVE doing "Sixteen
Tons" and pickin' a huge list of stuff -- "Double Eagle," "Mockin'
Bird," "Carter's Blues." ... I never learned a lot of verses when I
played in cover acts because we always had other better singers. In
the current group, the focus is on my songwriting, so it becomes a
different deal.

10. What do you see on the horizon for your career in the next 12
months ? Recording a new CD or going on tour to Switzerland etc!
We've got at least one more CD recorded; next is to figure out what
to do with that material and to keep on recording. My plan for this
year includes pupblishing "The Bill Littleton Songbook," pairing
lyrics and backstories, augmented by a live-one-shot recording of the
material on a CD. Mixing is a big part of the cost of recording, so,
for this project, we're gonna do voice and one guitar, but more like a
private concert than like a demo. Trying to get my fingers built up
to seeing how much I can do at one time!!

BONUS QUESTION BELOW - Use this space to ASK YOURSELF A QUESTION &
THEN ANSWER IT. I probably forgot a good question that your fans
would like to have the answer to so give it your best shot.

11. A question I used to ask performers when I interviewed them for
magazines: Why do you do this?

MY answer is similar to many but different, too: It would be really
easy to stash all these song lyrics back and let that part of my past
lie at rest ... just let it go. Well, physically it would be easy
because my body and circumstances are not conducive to doing much of
what performing and recording require. But, EMOTIONALLY, I would be a
wreck, always wondering if one more shot might have turned the tide,
especially with the responses I get from my stuff on MySpace -- five
thousand plays on "Sweet Virginia Breeze" may not seem significant for
some, even for other indie acts, some of whom have THOUSANDS of
friends and hundreds of visits a day. But I know that, by and large,
those plays have come from folks who found me via the natural process
and come back and play those songs again because there is something in
them that is not available anywhere else. As long as evidence exists
that I'm serving a purpose on any level, the only way to make me quit
is to pull the damn trigger!!!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

WHP Announcement: DJ’S For DJ’S Comp CD

It’s been awhile since WHP put out a DJ’s for DJ’s Compilation
CD so we are getting ready to do another one in May 2009. If you are a
Radio DJ and have some songs recorded, new or old, you can email me a
MP3 or just mail me a copy on a CD. If you email them to me they have
to be ripped at 320 kpbs and in MP3 format. I also need the Writers
information. There are 30 slots open and it is first come first serve.
They will be distributed through Airplay Direct,
http://www.airplaydirect.com/music/ to the entire Globe Free of
charge. For those emailing them to me use this email,
gbradshaw3@.... Both terrestrial and Internet Radio Jocks are
welcome. For snail mail use the address below this.

Gary Bradshaw

4557 West Bloomfield Road

Glendale, Arizona85304

To register your Radio Station with Airplay Direct just go to the
link below, check the circle called “Radio Station” and fill in
the short registration form and then you will be able to download
1000’s of songs for free from artist from Dolly Parton to the newest
beginning Artist. This is for Radio StationsONLY. The rest of the
World can listen but not download.

http://www.airplaydirect.com/register.html (
http://www.airplaydirect.com/register.html )

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ATTENTION: DJ's looking for the latest Independent Country Music

The best way to get on artist & record label mailing lists is to POST
YOUR PLAYLIST

AM & FM DJ's post here
http://members3.boardhost.com/NashvilleBoard/
.
Internet Radio DJ's post here
http://members3.boardhost.com/WorldwideDJ/
.
Note that these websites are for PLAYLISTS only. They are NOT
MESSAGE BOARDS
If you post anything other than a PLAYLIST it will be DELETED
DJ's make sure you include your E Mail address on your PLAYLIST so
Artists & Labels can contact you.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

If you missed the NEWSLETTER where your favorite country artist was
featured just click on their names below where that particular
Newsletter is archived.

Amber Digby (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+453
), Arly Karlsen (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+946
), Becky Hobbs (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+1305
), Bellamy Brothers (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+488
), Billy Joe Shaver (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+77
), Billy Yates (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+552
),
Cindy Standage (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+1436
), Connie Smith (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+590
), Dale Watson (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+1176
), Darrell McCall (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+1082
), Dick Damron (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+1768
), Dolly Parton (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+612
), Erin Hay (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+1490
),
Ernie Ashworth (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+1597
), Gene Watson (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+1827
), Gina Michaells (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+1252
), Heather Myles (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+1044
), Inger Nordstrom (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+633
), Jack Greene (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+332
), Jann Browne (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+799
), Joe Sun, (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+1102
) Joni Compretta (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+1212
), Lance Miller (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+1372
), LeRoy Van Dyke (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+873
), Mel McDaniel (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+1001
), Mike Anderson (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+1134
), Moe Bandy (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+1550
),Perley Curtis (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+1734
), Red Jenkins (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+106
), Rustie Blue (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+404
), Shawn Camp (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+524
), Shane Worley (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+677
), Stonewall Jackson (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+241
), Sunny Sweeney, (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+88
)
Kimberly Murray (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+1868
) The Matekis (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?NashvilleRecordProducer+1920
) , Mickey Gilley ,

================================================================================\
========

Click on PHOTOS below to play demos produced by Lonnie Ratliff

Kenny Chesney
Demo

Click Photo to Play
Garth Brooks Demo

Click Photo to Play
Shawn Camp
Demo

Click Photo to Play
Jack Greene
Erin Hay / Duet

Click Photo

If you are thinking of recording in Nashville feel free the check out
the artist below that
I have produced music on. No matter who you choose to produce your
next CD you
owe it to yourself to check out their credentials as well as listen
to previous work by
that producer. After you have already written the check it is too
late to find out
you are dealing with a shyster or a producer who is more interested
in your money
than they are in your music. It's a business, treat it that way &
shop smart.

( http://www.ymlp65.com/controlpanel/ )

"Click" BANNER above for $ $ production prices $ $

============================================

Lonnie's Featured Original Song
Just Another Trucker Passing By
is a song I wrote with James Watkins and Jim Carter and this is a
rough guitar vocal work tape in advance of cutting a complete demo.
The original idea was from 1967 when I was living in a suburb of
Dallas, Texas called Farmers Branch. One night I was cruising around
on Harry Hines Blvd. and I remember looking at all the lights coming
from the houses in Dallas and thinking of all the thousands of people
living there and all the people driving by out on the highway and
figured there had to be some connections between the two that they
would never know about.
I came from Pushmataha County Oklahoma out in the country and if
someone drove by your house then nine out of ten times you knew who
they were. I guess that thought about some of the people driving by
had to be connected to thos lights in the houses just lay dormant for
forty two years before it was used in this song.
A piece of trivia about this song is the woman's name in the song
is Mary Lou McCarty and that was the real name of my first girlfriend
when I was 10 years old and going to the little country school Center
Point back in Atoka County, Oklahoma. We were in the fourth grade and
the other "hot couple" in Center Point grade school was our best
friends James Gibson and Delores Blankenship. The undying love for
Mary Lou that appears in "Just Another Trucker Passing By" was pretty
much a figament of my imagination but Mary Lou McCarty was a very real
curly headed blue eyed blonde who passed through my life back around
1959. If any of you Okie Newsletter subscribers know Mary Lou tell
her she ended up in a song.

"Click" PHOTO to play

Just Another Trucker Passing By

I should have filled my thermos at that truckstop I just passed
I'm forty miles to Dallas and I'm fading fast
I let my mind wander back . . just to help me stay awake
Does Mary Lou McCarty know I love her to this day

Some people called it puppy love but it's dogged me all these years
I roll down my window . . wash away the tears
I know she lives in Dallas and I know I'll never call
It's a long way from lost everything to once we had it all . . .

(Chorus)
Eighteen wheels roll on past a love that's been long gone
At least it's been long gone for one of us
The city lights are shining bright . . on me and this big rig
tonight
While I'm drivin' past my one and only love
Eighteen wheels roll out of sight, I whisper Mary Lou goodnight
Just another trucker passing by

Well I'll unload in Tulsa maybe go out on the town
Then I'll circle back this way from that Tulsa turnaround
This road goes on forever and forever never ends
For now it's goodbye Dallas til I see you once again

(Instrumental)

(Chorus)
Eighteen wheels roll on past a love that's been long gone
At least it's been long gone for one of us
The city lights are shining bright . . on me and this big rig
tonight
While I'm drivin' past my one and only love
Eighteen wheels roll out of sight, I whisper Mary Lou goodnight
Just another trucker passing by

Just another trucker passing by

Lonnie Ratliff / James Watkins / Jim Carter

=============================================

Risque (Dirty, Sexy) Songs

Super Secret CDSTORE for hard to find mp3's of hard to find party
songs

Party Songs. If you do not want to be offended then just
DO NOT GO LISTEN = .99 cent downloads.
"click" button below

=============================================

"Click Banners Below"

____

"Click" PHOTOS DOWNLOAD i-Tunes Legal .99 cent Erin Hay songs
from all 4 CD's

_______________

Click BANNERS below for more Erin Hay Websites and Information

.... ... ........

Click Banner ABOVE --- The Circle CD___ The Collection CD___Bid on
Erin CD's EBAY

===============================================

====================================================

Lonnie Ratliff Original Songs

I have spent a lot of time updating my SONGWRITER website so artists
can find the original songs they are looking for much quicker. Hope
you will take the time to check it out if you are looking for original
songs for your next recording project. If you find a song you are
interested in just E Mail me NashvilleShowcase@... or phone
me at
(615) 742 0666 and I can issue you a Mechanical license (Cost is
normally $45.50 or $91.00) to use + I have several (Music Tracks to
these songs for lease for $250 where you can just add your vocal to my
tracks). You can have original songs legally that you can perform
live, use in contests, put on your CD or demo or sell downloads of on
the internet. Keep your career legal and keep out of trouble. "Click
Link Below" for 4 pages of Lonnie's original songs.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=392838 (
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=392838 )

"click" to E Mail Lonnie below

NashvilleShowcase@...

====================================================

Country Music Fan from England visits Nashville

Hi Lonnie

I was sorry not to have been able to meet you while I was in
Nashville
in February & March, but it was nice to be able to talk to you on the

phone. I am looking forward to seeing Travis Logan again and getting
a
copy of the CD you produced for him. I should be seeing him in a
couple
of weeks time and again at the end of May.

When I was telling you about my trip to the USA you asked me to write
up
about it so that you could put it in your newsletter. I will try to
keep
it brief ... difficult as I packed so much into my three week visit.

I flew from Manchester UK to Orlando on the 18th February before
driving
up to Sanford in order to meet up with Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan.
I
had befriended them via e-mail in early 2005 after hearing their
Tennessee Birdwalk song on the radio. We had corresponded for two
years
before I met them for the first time in April 2007 and this was my
third
trip to visit them. Three days later I drove to Yulee FL to stay for
two
nights with their ex-band leader and friend Mike Miller before
heading
north towards the Smoky Mountains. I had hoped to hear Mike's band
playing again but the gig was cancelled at the last minute.

I stopped off overnight in Hendersonville NC before driving through
the
mountains to Pigeon Forge. Snow had fallen two days earlier, but the
roads were all clear I am glad to say. I always book a rental car
with
the 'NeverLost' GSP fitted so I had no trouble finding my way. The
GSP
is a 'must have' for me as I travel alone so I have no one to
navigate
for me ..... and anyway maps never give enough detail about road
junctions .... nor do they tell you which lane to get into.

I have two 'adopted sons', Joey and Paul, who live in the Smokies.
Joey
had found me on MySpace in August 2006 and I had stayed at his home
on
my 2007 trip and while there I met Paul who was living with him at
the
time. I call them my 'adopted sons' as they are just a bit younger
than
my own sons. Once in Pigeon Forge I located Paul's work place to pick
up
his apartment keys as he was working late that day. I then went to
Joey's home for the afternoon. Later I found my way to Paul's
apartment
making sure I arrived there before he got back from work as I had his

only set of keys.

The next day I set off for Nashville where I was staying for six
days. I
had a lot of people to meet up with there again. They included Arlene

Faith (formerly Gidget Baird who I met through MySpace in 2006),
Cowboy
Jack Clement, Chance Martin (a.k.a. Alamo Jones), Jim Ed Brown, Chip
Smith and Charlie Craig. Some of the other musicians I had met on
previous visits were not in town this time ..... but new friends made

this trip included Troy Cooke Jr. (and his parents and girlfriend),
Hal
Willis and Irma Young. I also met Mike Mayo, Monte Good, Jesse Lee
Jones, Craig Bickhardt, Nathan Bell, Walter Forbes, Kenny Malone,
Sunday Sharpe, Cley Reynolds and Jamie Cutler Harper plus others at
the
Hall of Fame Lounge. I also went to the Bluebird Cafe and the Blue
Bar
as well as Legend's Corner, Robert's Western World and other Broadway

bars. Arlene took me to see the Opryland Hotel.

Next I headed south again, staying overnight in Cordele GA before
going
to Ocklawaha Forest FL where I stayed three nights with Suzie and
Bill
(Tall Timber Medicine Show). I first met them in July 2008 after
befriending them when I heard their music on the radio. Then back to
Sanford for my final four nights where I spent more time with Jack &
Misty again.

I drove a bit over 1700 miles in all and I had a wonderful time.
Everyone made me feel so welcome that I can hardly wait for my next
visit. I left the USA with mixed feelings wishing that I was able to
be
in on both sides of the Atlantic at the same time.

Best wishes to you .... and maybe we will meet one day.

Moragh

www.myspace.com/musiclovermo
www.bird-walk.com

====================================================

Do these 7,823 people in the country music business know about you ?

How many times have you said to yourself "If the right people knew
about me and what I am doing I bet I could get signed to a record deal
or maybe get one of my songs recorded by someone"
Nashville is full of stories of how artists and songwriters have lost
thousands of dollars trying to find a shortcut into the business.
There ain't no easy answers but there are a lot cheaper ways to get
your name out there. Here is a way you can at least let people in the
business know you are trying.m Just write a simple update about
yourself and what you are doing and I will include it in the next
Newsletter I send out. Now that alone will probably not be the answer
to all your dreams of stardom but I can guarantee it will do you more
good than sitting on the couch watching Oprah and wishing. And it
COSTS YOU NOTHING.
All you need to do is to put some thought into it and realize that
7,823 people in the music business are going to be reading it. If it
looks boring no one will remember it and you are back to watching TV
and wishing. If it stands out from the crowd a little bit a few
people will probably "click" on your website URL and go check you out
a little closer. You don't have to write like John Steinbeck or Mark
Twain you just have to make your half a dozen sentences more
interesting than the rest of the artists that submit an Update for the
Newsletter. You can do this every issue and never spend a dime.
Remember it is real easy to make your Update so lackluster no one will
read it but that kind of defeats the purpose. Spend a few minutes
working on it. You may not have thousands of dollars to spend on
hiring a promotion firm but you have access to a lot of people in the
music business who could help you out. It is up to you if you take
advantage or not.

To submit your Artist Update send to E Mail address below (Don't Hit
Reply)

Include you website URL if you want me to include it
E Mail me your Update to

NashvilleShowCase@...

================================================

Here's the Artist Updates for this NEWSLETTER

Be sure to submit yours for the next one.
It is OK to send an Artist Update every week if you have anything
newsworthy. Send in at anytime. Just put UPDATE in the Subject Line
of your E Mail and send to
NashvilleShowcase@...
.

www.allisonjanisse.com

Allison Janisse
Just want to let you all know what is happening with this very
talented, Canadian recording artist Allison Janisse. She had 2 CD’s
released in 2008, Come Dance With Me and Journey – A Special
Edition. Now from every sale of either of these CD’s from her
website or from any live performances she will be donating $3.00 to 3
separate Charities – Dreamcatchers For Abused Children, Big Brother
Big Sister and Fishing For Kids. Each Charity will be receiving $1.00
from each sale.

You can check out her website for more information and her CD’s are
also available at www.allisonjanisse.com

This may be of more interest for those in town, but the first Friday
of every month I co-host the Co-Creators' Coffeehouse at the Nashville
Center For Spiritual Living, 6705 Charlotte Pike, from 7 - 10 p.m.

FRIDAY, MAY 1ST, we will be celebrating our TENTH ANNIVERSARY.
Unlike our normal format which includes an open circle for performers,
followed by a featured act, May 1st, we will have a 3 hour concert
from 7-10 bringing back over 20 of the acts that have been featured
since our 5th anniversary celebration.

We will each be doing a song, I will also be co-hosting the event,
which will also serve as a benefit for one of our members who had some
major surgery and an extended hospital stay.

This should prove to be a great night, as our 5th anniversary concert
was, and I invite anyone in the vicinity to drop by.

Thanks.

Gordon

www.gordonellismusic.com ( http://www.gordonellismusic.com/ )

=========================================================

JUDY WELDEN has a single out this month on the UK HOT DISC, called
FISHING FOR A NEW LOVE.

Though not really looking for a new love, these catchy lyrics came to
Judy as she was walking along JENSEN BEACH near her FL home, before
moving to GA.
Music was written by Tom Littleby and it was "song of the year" by
ICMA (Germany) in '99. Video is by: Tonya Williams
See the new video of this song at youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCcCy8OCtNY Here's what some folks
have written as concerns the video:

Judy that was spectacular - I loved it! and I'd love to get an MP3 -
that is by far (I think) one of your best songs - it is not only
catchy, but good beat and good words - this one should rocket you to
the top NOW!! Kathleen Dyer

What fun! Catchy tune and lyrics! Sherry

Judy, I really enjoyed hearing this song. This is really a good one
that I have heard you sing., Fishing for a new Love, Fish can be a lot
like a man, because some you get are Great and some can really stink,
You have to have the right bait and just like a fish, A way to a man's
heart is through his stomach. Lisa Wilkinson

Very cool! Of course, I like it best seeing you in your videos, but
this one was fun!
Catchy tune- I like it. Thanks for sending it. Allen Foster

As you know, I love your songs, so please send me this song! Crazy
Joe, DJ

www.judywelden.com judywelden@...
=========================================================

Heidi Raye
I just received my first country music news letter update, and I was
wondering if I might be able to get in on the next letter?
I recorded my debut album on music row with producer Arlo Gilliam
from Emerson Drive in Decemeber, 2008. My first single, "My List" was
released in February 2009 to Canadian Radio and since then has made it
on the Top 100 Canadian County Music Charts. My single has also been
picked up by several other stations accross the States. My CD will be
released on April 18th at my CD release party in my home town of
Dawson Creek, BC, Canada. As of that date, the CD will also be
available on all online music stores as well as in hard copy from
www.heidiraye.com
I have placed as Top 100 contestant on Canadian Idol and have opened
for Randy Travis. This summer I will be performing as a mainstage
artist at Extrene Country Fever in Grande Prairie, AB, and will be
opening for Paul Brandt and Crystal Shawanda at Merritt Mountain Music
Festival this coming July.

Thank you for your time,
Sincerely,
Heidi Raye

=========================================================

Hoss Curtis

Hi all CW-lovers!!!

I'm a CW-singer/musician from Norway. Been singing most of my life,
but more formally with a band since 2003. The name of the band is "The
Ramblin Men". I will keep on working on my skills as a musician;
mainly singing and rehearsing on the guitar. I do sing other stuff
too, and I like a lot of different music -but nothing beats country!!
I also like a lot of music from Norway, Denmark and Sweden. I am also
working on other projects, as my own music-studio -also looking out
for other talents and wannabis. It is partly dedicated to "poor"
musicians/artists and teens/young people with some "baggage" in life
trying to do something better with it! Look me up if you live in the
area or nearby. I have uploaded a few songs that are homemade demoes
-"garage-style", but it sounds a bit like live -without audience! Real
basic takes with a few mics and a 4 track analogue tape recorder...
I'm out with 34 takes on my pages, look them up! Nowadays I'm working
with two CD's, hopefully it'll be out in the fall! Hope to see you on
my sites -my main site is on Myspace, but I'm also on other sites too!

Regards,
Hoss Curtis

Links:
http://www.myspace.com/hosscurtisandtheramblinmen
http://www.reverbnation.com/hosscurtis

Hope to hear from you Lonnie! I've also been thinking of going 'over
there' and cut a cd, been studying you offer and it seems very
interesting. Tell me if I'm good enough to try!

Hoss ;-)
========================================================

Leyla Fences

Hey Lonnie,

What’s new with me? Well, I’m in the process of recording my
debut CD – 12 original tracks of Girl Power Country!

I just posted the first song (lyrics and link can be found on my
website) and will post the others as we wrap them up.

Let me know what you think!

Next project …. Coming to Nashville to do a traditional country
music CD.

P.S. If you are in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex, come out and join
me and Brazos Valley Boys of Texas (Hank Thompson’s Former Backing
Band) for

a night of country music like it used to be! Our schedule can be
found at www.leylafences.com ( http://www.leylafences.com/ )!

Living the dream,

Leyla Fences

www.leylafences.com ( http://www.leylafences.com/ )

www.myspace.com/leylafences ( http://www.myspace.com/leylafences )

Tel: 214-862-0229

====================================================

Larry Bisbee

Countryfolk Music Theatre opens its 10th consecutive season on
Sunday, May 25, 2009, Memorial Day Weekend. (every Sunday thru Labor
Day 12 noon-6PM / always free and for families)

Big plans are in the offing this year for the 10th year celebration
including lots of traditional country music, folk and gospel and
bluegrass.

Scheduled Jamborees, Christmas in July ( July 5th), youth music
scholarship weekend, Banjos to Bagpipes & Old Maine Days celebration &
Mountain Man Rendezvous, 4 days with 50+ musicians, dance and special
guests ( July 23, 24, 25, 26) A Dick Curless Look-A-Like contest
(Labor Day Weekend- 3 days of music), country dances, 50/50 and door
prizes, Barefoot Country Girl (the movie, with cast members at
Countryfolk), pot luck meals and loads of FUN.

We welcome new musicians every week and also have a Friday night
campfire jam too from 5-9PM

Tent and RV Camping for musicians is always welcomed and free and we
now have a free "Countryfolk Bunkhouse" for musicians.

We're always looking for NEW musicians to come and join us, so come
along and have some fun with us. We're the "BIGGEST" backyard jam in
Maine with 20-40 musicians each weekend and "special" events.

More info at 207-645-7531 or email mainebiz@...

or catch Larry "BUCK" Bisbee on the nearest streetcorner telling one
of his "Wicked Good" Maine stories, singing his new "Mosquito" song or
telling his whopping big ol' "Black Fly's of Maine" tale. No matter
what ya do, get ahold of him soon.

====================================================
Just in case there is even one person left in the world who hasn't
seen this !

Susan Boyle (Scotland)
From her debut performance on Britan's Got Talent

====================================================

Artists make your music available to radio stations around the world
for free downloads through Airplay Direct. Only radio stations are
allowed to download from this website so it does not hurt your paid
downloads. Contact Gary Bradshaw for setting up a website for your
music (Reasonably priced).
E mail Gary at gbradshaw3@... or phone (602) 896 9910

Radio Stations "Click" on these artist names to see what music
they have available to radio free.

Allen Karl ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/allenkarl ), Cheryl K
Warner ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/cherylkwarner1 ), Cindy Lane
Adams ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/cindylaneadams ), Cindy
Standage ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/cindystandage ), Copperhead
Creek ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/CopperheadCreek ), Danny Griego
( http://www.airplaydirect.com/dannygriego )
David Cline ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/DavidClineTexasHoldEmAlbum
), Desi Hickman ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/DesiHickman ), Dick
Damron ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/dickdamroncanada ), Distillery
Dave ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/distillerydave ), Erin Hay (
http://www.airplaydirect.com/ErinHay ), Ernie Ashworth (
http://www.airplaydirect.com/ErnieAshworth ), Hal Willis (
http://www.airplaydirect.com/HalWillis ), Irma Young (
http://www.airplaydirect.com/irmayoung )
J. Gale Kilgore ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/jgalekilgore ), Jack
Blanchard/Misty Morgan (
http://www.airplaydirect.com/jackblanchardmistymorgan ), Jamie
Cutler Harper ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/jamiecutlerharper ),
Jerry Hill ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/JerryHill ), Jessee
Williams ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/JesseeWilliams ),
Jim and Linda Davis ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/heartsinharmony ),
Joni Compretta ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/jonicompretta ), Lana
Brown ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/LannaBrown ), Mark Chesnutt (
http://www.airplaydirect.com/MarkChesnuttAXBARWHPRecords ), Michael
B. Rowe ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/michaelbrowerowe ), Myrol (
http://www.airplaydirect.com/myrolmusic )
Paul & Helen Mateki ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/paulandhelenmateki
), Peggy Lynn ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/PeggyLynn ), Perley
Curtis ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/perleycurtis ), Ron Wayne
Atwood ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/ronwayneatwood ), Stephen
Shepherd ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/stephenshepherd ), Stonewall
Jackson ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/stonewalljackson )
Ted Snyder ( http://www.airplaydirect.com/tedsnyder )

WHP Digital Comp Vol 94 (
http://www.airplaydirect.com/whpcompilationvol94 )
WHP Digital Comp Vol 95 (
http://www.airplaydirect.com/WHPDigitalCompilationVol95 )

"Click" BANNER below

Listen to Nashville Nightlife
Internet Radio Station while
you read the NEWSLETTER
I do not program this station
so I can't put your song on it.

===========================================

Tips for Chasing That Neon Rainbow

Well-Rounded Doesn't Cut

Imagine the world's attention as a big foggy cloud. So thick you
could cut it with a knife.
You want to cut through that foggy cloud, to call attention to your
music.
Only problem is, if you're well-rounded, you can't cut through
anything. You need to be sharp as a knife. Sharply defined.

Example: Your name is Mary and you put out an album called “My
Songs”, and the cover is a picture of your face. The music is good
quality, songs about your life, and when people ask what kind of music
you do, you say “Oh, everything. All styles.”. You send the album
out to be reviewed and nothing much happens. Doors aren't opening.

Imagine instead: Your name is Mary and you write 9 songs about food.
You put out an album called “Sushi, Souffle, and Seven Other Songs
about Food”. Maybe you recorded your vocals in the kitchen. Maybe
you quit cooking school to be a musician. Yes it's a silly example,
you see how this would be MUCH easier to promote.

You may be thinking, “But I have so much to offer the world, I
can't just limit myself like that!” If you want to increase your
chances of the world hearing your music at all, though, strongly
consider stretching-out your musicial offerings to the world, and
keeping each album focused clearly on one aspect of your music.

Notice the long careers of David Bowie, Madonna, Miles Davis, Paul
Simon, and Elvis Costello to name a few. Each went through
sharply-defined phases, treating each album as a project with a
defined mission.

Here's some top-sellers at CD Baby:
Eileen Quinn. She's a full-time sailor. She writes songs about
sailing. That's it. Five albums of them. And sailors LOVE it. She gets
written-up in sailing magazines all the time.

Rondellus. Sabbatum. A traditional medieval music group from Estonia
doing an album of Black Sabbath songs played on medieval instruments
and sung in Latin.

425th. American soldiers in Iraq wrote and recorded an album in their
barracks on a cheap computer with a $100 mic, about what it's like to
be over there at war.

Each of these albums got a LOT of press and a lot of sales, because
they were sharply-defined, newsworthy, interesting to write about,
easy to tell friends about.

======================================
If you don't say what you sound like, you won't make any fans
A person asks you, “What kind of music do you do?”
Musicians say, “All styles. Everything.”
That person then asks, “So who do you sound like?”
Musicians say, “Nobody. We're totally unique. Like nothing you've
ever heard before.”
What does that person do?
Nothing.
They might make a vague promise to check you out sometime.
Then they walk on, and forget about you!
Why???
You didn't arouse their curiosity! You violated a HUGE rule of
self-promotion! Bad bad bad!
What if you had said, “It's 70's porno-funk music being played by
men from Mars.”
Or... “This CD is a delicate little kiss on your earlobe from a
pink-winged pixie.”
Or... “It's deep-dancing reggae that magically places palm trees
and sand wherever it is played, and grooves so deep it makes all
non-dancers get drunk on imaginary island air, and dance in the
sand.”
Any one of these, and you've got their interest.
Get yourself a magic key phrase that describes what you sound like.
Try out a few different ones, until you see which one always gets the
best reaction from strangers. Use it. Have it ready at a moment's
notice.
It doesn't have to narrow what you do at all. Any of those three
examples I use above could sound like anything.
And that's just the point - if you have a magic phrase that describes
your music in curious but vague terms, you can make total strangers
start wondering about you.
But whatever you do, stay away from the words “everything”,
“nothing”, “all styles”, and “totally unique”.
Say something!

Derek Sivers

NOTE from Lonnie - I always feel a little guilty because I never have
time to listen to mp3's new artists and songwriters send me,
unsolicited I might add. I hate it but I just delete them because I
finally figured out I could try to be a nice guy or I could try to
work and pay my bills. My banker had a very stern suggestion that I
needed to keep working and be a nice guy on my own time after all my
bills were paid. Turns out that spare time does not exist so I just
had to give up on listening to unsolicited mp3's, CD's and giving my
opinions and suggestions. Now I just concentrate on my music business
out of necessity but I figure I can give you some links that will
answer your questions better than I could anyway.

Here's some books available this week on EBAY
..........
========================================
Click Link to read old NEWSLETTERS
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive.php?NashvilleRecordProducer (
http://www.ymlp65.com/pubarchive.php?NashvilleRecordProducer )

===============================================

Lonnie Ratliff ~ Record Production~ 5 Songs

1. Cost for 5 songs is $3,750 (Three Thousand Seven Hundred & Fifty
Dollars). This includes Studio, Musicians, Etc! and you end up with a
mixed CD of your project. There are not a lot of hidden costs that
will be tacked on. The only additional costs I can think of would be
$150 if you want us to Master it for you before it goes to your
pressing plant. (Call me and I can explain Mastering to you) The other
thing that could cost you later is that you might have to pay
songwriter royalties if you have recorded someone elses songs and are
gonna include it on your CD to sell. (Example = If you want to record
a George Strait song or a Taylor Swift song then you will have to pay
a royalty to use that song) I can help point you in the right
direction to obtain a license from the Harry Fox Agency (
http://www.harryfox.com/public/songfile.jsp ).

2. For those artist who are new at this, Production is just about
getting your songs recorded and ready to be made into CD's that you
can sell. I don't press up the 500 or 1000 CD's for you but I can
recommend Karen Bruno at Amazon Audio ( http://www.amazonaudio.com/
)who can take care of everything for you. I believe it costs about
$1500 for a 1000 CD's. A lot of the artists I produce will cut a
couple of 5 song sessions with me and then put them together and press
up a CD they can sell and get their money back.

3. First thing we need to do is figure out if we can work together
and come up with something we can both be proud of. You can listen to
the artists I have produced (Click Here) (
http://members6.boardhost.com/SongReviews/ ) and get an idea of what I
do. If you are a decent singer and I believe we can make a respectable
recording then I will probably be glad to work with you.

4. Deposits & Payments: The first thing required is a $200 deposit
and once that is paid we can start putting together your session. I
will help you find the songs if needed and will arrange them for you
using any ideas you may have. Once we find the songs and have picked a
date you send me the balance of $3,550 at least 2 weeks before the
session date and I book your session at a studio on Music Row. I
normally use Dixiana Studio (
http://nashvillecdstore.hypermart.net/Joni_Session.html ). We will cut
the basic tracks and overdubs there and then cut the final vocals,
harmonies and mix at Smokehouse studio.

5. The Band normally will consist of Bass, Drums, Rhythm Guitar,
Piano, Steel Guitar, Fiddle, Dobro, Electric Guitar & Mandolin. If I
believe a particular song calls for a specialty instrument I will use
it and there is no additional charge. I do not try to cut corners by
taking short cuts on the musicians we use.

6. Original songs. I have about 200 songs in my Music Publishing
Company that you are welcome to use (Royalty Free) if you are using
them on any project I produce.

7. Time it will take to record. Figure that it will take about 3 days
in the studio. If you are on a tight schedule you're part will be over
in two days. First day we cut the tracks with a scratch vocal and the
second day you will sing your final vocals. I figure you will have up
to 45 minutes to sing each song.

8. Practice Guitar tracks if needed. If you think you may have
trouble singing any of the songs you pick and do not play an
instrument I can record and send you an acoustic guitar track of the
song so you can practice it before you come to Nashville.

9. Final thoughts. Keep in mind that you are hiring me to make you
sound good and I take my job very seriously. I will do my best to see
that you have a good time in the studio. I work with some of the best
studio musicians in Nashville and they will do everything in their
power to make the best recording of your music as possible. Feel free
to E Mail any of the artists I have worked with (Click Here) (
http://members6.boardhost.com/SongReviews/ ) before and ask them any
questions you may have about working with me. Once you have paid your
deposit I am on your team and you can call(615) 742 0666and ask me any
questions you have and I will try my best to give you an answer.
Probably half of the artist I work with are recording their first CD
and have a lot of questions so don't be embarrassed to ask about
anything you don't understand.

I look forward to working with you and hope I can be a part of your
musical future.

Lonnie Ratliff

http://www.NashvilleCDStore.com

( mailto:NashvilleShowcase@... )
===============================================

Buying a house in Nashville ?

If you are thinking of moving to Nashville and need to buy a house I
recommend you get in touch with my buddy Craig Stahl.
Some of you will know Craig from his 13 years working with Alan
Jackson and also as my partner in Okie Acres Music & Studio.
Give him a call when you need property in Nashville or sign up for
his Newsletter
I hope you enjoyed our first issue of Roadie Real Estate.com. Please
email me your thoughts and suggestions. If you liked it
please hit the forward e-mail button at the bottom of the page.
Please visit my website at www.RoadieRealEstate.com (
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=8jdziecab.0.rguiddcab.iwlxrccab.36&ts=S0278&p=http%3A%2F\
%2Fwww.roadierealestate.com%2F
)I would love t
o help you buy or sell your next home or help you with any of your
Real Estate needs. If you are not moving anytime soon,
please keep me in mind to be of service to friends and family. I
really appreciate your referals.

Craig Stahl "The Roadie Realtor"
615-578-9175
rocksolidproperties@... (
http://www.ymlp65.com/controlpanel/rocksolidproperties@gmail.com )

======================================================================

( http://www.myspace.com/nashvillerecordproducer )

Dixon DeVore http://cdbaby.com/all/devore (
http://cdbaby.com/all/devore )

Imprinters To The Stars Since 1985

Since 1985, we have been imprinting and/or embroidering apparel,
pens, cups, keytags, mugs, Tote Bags, Equipment Stickers, CD Carrying
cases and thousands of other products for Bands, Artists DJs and
Promoters. We have our own in-house art department and can take the
simplest idea and morph it into aneffective, multi-color design.
You'll wow 'em in Vegas!
We know The Music Business.

==================================

Artists release your songs worldwide on

Gary Bradshaw's WHP Compilation.

.

.

=======================================================================

Artists if you need a little help getting your latest record off the
DJ's desk and
on to their turntable you might want to contact Sherry.
She speaks the DJ's language fluently.

**************

Artists looking for someone to help you with your CD Cover artwork,
printing and pressing your CD ? Check with Karen Bruno at Amazon Audio

****************
=====================================================================

_____________________________
Change email address / Leave mailing list:
http://ymlp65.com/u.php?YMLPID=guhssuegsgwbqsguybh
Powered by YourMailingListProvider



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]