--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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://ymlp73.com/zd4NZz
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Lonnie Ratliff Country Music Newsletter
June 15th., 2009
Number of Newsletter Subscribers:  8,010

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

Part # 1 of a new short story - Raylene Ridenhour & The Red River
Renegades

Will run this first section again -
It is at the bottom of this newsletter

Lonnie

Spotlight Artist

David Cline

"Click" Photos & Logos below for David Cline Websites

______

=================================================
A Few Words About David Cline

As most subscribers who have gotten to know me through these
Newsletters know I have a weakness for country artists that get out
there and make things happen for themselves and I have never had much
sympathy for what I call the "Oprah TV Watchers" who just cut an
excellent record and then sit around waiting for something to happen.
Some artist really believe there are "Music Gods" who one day will
look down and see just how talented they are and the Gods will smile
down on them and fame and fortune will soon follow.   In the meantime
they just sit around watching Judge Judy and Dr. Phil.

David Cline is NOT an "Oprah Watcher".  He gets out there and finds
places to play his music, comes up with alternative ways to sell his
music.  Creates albums that no one else ever thought of "cutting" and
markets them to the people who are interested in the subjects that the
songs on his CD's are about.  I fully expect if David found out there
were 200,000 owners of 3 legged 1 eyed spotted cats in the world that
he would start researching to figure out if the owners of these
deformed spotted cats had a magazine he could advertise in and if it
looked feasible he would probably start writing songs to put together
a CD to sell to them.  If I hear about David deciding to cut a spotted
cat CD I will get on the ball and finish up my song about this cat
called "Tripod" because if there's gonna be a new David Cline CD you
can bet I'm gonna be trying to get a song on it.  By the way David
"Thanks" for the co-write and cut of  "Friday Night Poker Game" (
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7424161 ) on your brand new CD "Big
Slick" ( http://cdbaby.com/cd/davidcline9 )

Lonnie Ratliff ( http://www.NashvilleCDStore.com )
=================================================

Spotlight YouTube SlideShow

"You Old Dog You" - Neil Andrews (Australia)

"click photo of dog to watch"

DJ's if you need an mp3 of this song request one from Lonnie

Subscribers to Newsletter.  If you like this Song or SlideShow
please send comments to the artist  Neil Andrews at
neiland@...

Artists if you would like me to build you a SlideShow similar to this
one above for your song and upload to YouTube just contact me Lonnie
Ratliff at NashvilleShowcase@...   It will also include
sending your song to 500 + Internet Radio Stations and TRACKING your
airplay and E Mailing it to you for 5 weeks.  This is just a very tiny
part of what you need to do to promote yourself but it is dirt cheap
and you will know that it will get done, unlike many things you may
have paid for in the past.  Cost is $150.
==============================================
=================================================

Title                                                Click to Play
Suitable for singer   Contact copyright owner
========================================================================
1.Bitten By The Smitten Bug
Male     ddwortzan@...

========================================================================
2.  County Fair                                Male
flong@...
========================================================================
3. Bad Luck                     Female
lindaacarter4@...
========================================================================
4.  When We're Cheatin'              Male
tingod@...
========================================================================
5.  Slip Of The Tongue                            Female
sugarrivermusic@...
========================================================================
6.  Honky Tonk Ambush                     Male
texicanmusic@...
========================================================================
7.  A Fine Mess                      Female /Male
woodenstonemusic@...
========================================================================

8.  Please Mr. Lee                           Male
devoreii@...
========================================================================

9.  Except In Our Hearts           FEMALE
sugarrivermusic@...
========================================================================
10. 12 Year Old Whiskey & 20 Year Old Women    Male
lindaacarter4@...

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

=================================================
Getting to know Travis Logan (U.K.)

http://www.travislogancountry.com/

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

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 and raised in a small town. 3Km down the road then I'm
into countryside. City life I could never be at. Currently I live
again in a small town about 35km from where I was born and raised so
the family members are still only a small drive away.

2.  Have you recorded any CD's.  If so what are the titles and where
can someone buy them ?
Yes I have recorded 6 albums over the years, the lastest album called
"Down to Earth Kinda' Man" was recorded in Nashville and produced by
Lonnie Ratliff. Free samples to all the tracks can be heard on
www.travislogancountry.com
They're all self penned original songs.

3.  What is your main outlet for live performances ? Nightclubs,
Festivals, Linedance Clubs,
My main live performances are mainly bars and linedance clubs, but I
do about 12 festivals per year and occasionally Motels and Nightclubs.
I much prefer the concert venues where people sit and listen as
opposed to dance venues.

4.  Who would you say are your favorite country artists ?  Major
Label
I admire artists in different ways. I've always been a big Waylon
fan and regarded himself and Hank as the "engine" behind pure Country
music. I like the way Willie Nelson has used his political and
humanitarian beliefs. I like Rodney Crowell and kris Kristofeson as
songwriters, and I like the deep rich tones of a Don Williams type of
voice. Hard to say who my favourite is as I respect them all.

5.  Who would you say are your favorite country artists ?
Independent Label
I gotta admit, and I aint being sexist, but I gotta be in the mood
to listen to a full album of female artistes, however one lady I could
listen to day and night is Leona Williams.
I like Shane Worley as his voice is true country and he certainly
deserves to be up there with the best.
Scott Hisley is another guy who I admire vocally also.

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 ?
You might laugh at this, but I got a booking over the telephone to
play for the "QUEEN". I never knew she liked country music, but I
agreed and got all excited about it and told everyone and everyone. I
must have mis understood the event organiser because 2 weeks before
the gig, he telephoned to confirm the gig and remind me that it was
for the 'Carnival Queen'!
I've been billed on the same festival as The Bellamy Brothers, Dale
Watson and Hal Ketchum.

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!
You know we get loadsa gigs for weddings, parties etc, but I once did
a 12 hour non stop gig to raise money for cancer research. Must have
covered 200 country songs and my voice, my fingers from pickin', and
my eyes from tiredness all suffered, but the amount of money raised
made it all worthwhile.

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!
Funny enough my music has been sold in Russia, but the most obscure
sale was from a company I never heard of before. They had a website on
the invoice so I checked it out, and apparently it was a 'FUNERAL
DIRECTERS COMPANY' who provided music for people whose loved ones had
passed away. They could choose from a list of songs which music to
play at the funeral, so now my songs are available at this company if
someone dies!

9.  What is your favorite 3 songs you have recorded and also your
favorite 3 cover tunes you sing at gigs.
My favourite self penned songs are:-
1) Fishing for your dreams
2) Down to earth Kinda man
3) Sunsets every morning

My favourite cover tunes are
1) Shadows of my mind - Vernon Oxford
2) Good hearted woman - Waylon Jennings
3) Song on the Jukebox - David Wills

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!
Well I have a pretty heavy workload and quite a lot of gigs from now
till the end of 2009, but I certainly plan to release another album
before the end of the year. The songs are already written, its just a
question of getting the time to record. I certainly plan to do some
more international touring also.

11.  Of all the styles associated with Country music i.e. Western
swing, Gospel, Bluegrass, Cajun, Honkytonk, traditional, modern etc,
which would you say is your favourite style?

I can listen to all types of country music. I love the gunfighing
songs of Marty Robbins, and the cowboy songs. I tend to lean towards
songs which have great lyrics and a melodious melody. I guess I lean
more towards the traditional styles of country music, but if a song
has plenty of pedal, fiddles, dobro etc, I can listen to that till the
cows come home!
================================================================
Lonnie's Cracker Barrel Special For Country Singers

The Ads below are this week's featured country artists.  If you are
interested in purchasing one of the
slots below in a future NEWSLETTER contact Lonnie about a Cracker
Barrel Special Ad.
NashvilleShowcase@... (
http://us.mc559.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=NashvilleShowcase@comcast.net
)

For those of you not in on the insider joke about this being called a
"Cracker Barrel Special" the reason is that Lonnie spends all the
money you pay him for these ads eating at the Cracker Barrel
restuarant.

=========================================================
Maria Benham     Contact: mariabenhammusic@...  Website
www.myspace.com/mariabenham2 ( http://www.myspace.com/mariabenham2 )
=========================================================
Amanda Nagurney    Contact: AmandaNagurneyMusic@... Website
www.AmandaNagurney.com
=========================================================
Wayne Longtin Sr.     Contact:  wjlongtin@...  Website  (
http://www.waynelongtin.com )
www.waynelongtin.com ( http://www.waynelongtin.com )
=========================================================
( http://www.myspace.com/mariabenham2 )

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

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

Dale Allen Pommer's Songwriter Story

I started writing songs at age 24 after finding out that John Lennon
wrote “Julia” about his mother.  I was fascinated by the idea that
a song could be about two different people and work both ways.  I then
realized that my favorite country artists, Buck Owens, Hank Williams,
and Merle Haggard all wrote their own songs.  I wrote a song while
living in South Dakota, but it was a self-indulgent whiner about my
ex-wife.  However, I moved to NYC and wrote my first “real” song
one night on the blank spaces at the edge of a New York Times in my
friend’s apartment.  I still have the paper and I still sing the
song – probably prescient about my career – called “Wastin’ My
Time”.

While I have never had a “major label cut”, I did get a cut on an
album by Frances Black in Ireland which I am told was “quadruple
platinum” in Ireland.  (60,000+ copies)  I made some money and it
got a fair amount of airplay in Ireland and England.  I also had a
song called “Listen” that I wrote with Bill Flowerree & Bob
McCormick, performed on the German country music awards show by
Brandon Wolfe.

I wrote a song MANY years ago in a hangover haze with two of the guys
in my band called “He’s My Sister Now” about a couple who gets
married, has kids, then both parents have sex changes.  It was based
on two transsexuals I had met – one in South Dakota and one in New
York.  They weren’t married, but it was fun writing the song.
Anyway, I figured it was never going to get cut but I wanted a good
copy of it to play for people.  So I hooked up with Vaughn Lofstead
and cut a demo of it with me singing.  A couple of months later, an
old friend from New York called and asked if I had a good recording of
the song.  He had become the music director for an NBC Daytime Serial
(Another World) and had a scene where he could use the song if I could
Express Mail it to him immediately.  Thank goodness I had made the
demo!  The entire song was used in the opening scene of the show.  It
ended up playing in 63 countries.  Again, I don’t make a lot of
money, but it is fun to know that I sang a song I wrote in that many
places.  Who knows how many million people heard the song?

I have had four songs either signed to publishers or ready to record
where either the publisher or the artist died before the song got cut.
I had a song recorded for a major label deal here in Nashville by an
artist that I met in a rest room in NYC – don’t even go there you
with filthy minds!  But I don’t think Nashville was ready for a
black artist back then.  I have gotten a number of independent cuts
– eight so far of “Plug My Heart Into The Jukebox” a song I
wrote with Bob McCormick.  “Dreams” which I co-wrote with Bill
Flowerree won honorable mention in the USA Songwriter Contest the one
year I actually remembered to submit one on time.  I got to write a
couple of songs with Kostas who I met thru a mutual friend in Montana
– just before he decided to leave town!  Timing is everything.  :>)

I’ve had several songs signed to major publishers, but EVERY cut
I’ve gotten has been on my own.

Dale Allen

Little Tin God Music

912 Solley Drive, Ste 201

Nashville, TN  37216

www.littletingodmusic.com

www.myspace.com/daleallen

tingod@...
================================================================
Lonnie's Featured Original Song

"Click" PHOTO below to see Lonnie's songwriter catalog
if you are looking for original songs to record.

This PHOTO is of an oil derrick in West Texas with a tornado bearing
down on it.
I somehow doubt that there were many athiest among the roughnecks
that night.

"Click" yellow speakers below to play song
____________
Female Version --- -- Male Version

Just another country song about a lost love affair.
The photo of the tornado was just to set the mood.

Last Night Was One Of Those Days

I feel like I'm standing in the path of a storm
I should run but I don't know which way
And whatever I do will probably be wrong
Last night was one of those days

Last night was one of those days
The one I thought I could turn to just turned away
Lord what can you say when there's nothing left to say
Last night was one of those days

I feel like I'm running around in the dark
But it's not the darkness that makes me afraid
I can see everything falling apart
Last night was one of those days

Last night was one of those days
The one I thought I could turn to just turned away
Oh what can you say when there's nothing left to say
Last night was one of those days

(Tag)
One of those days - One of those days
One of those days - One of those days
It was one of those days
One of those days

Lonnie Ratliff / Larry Forney
Okie Acres Music (BMI)
Artists wishing to record this song contact Lonnie for a Mechanical
License NashvilleShowcase@...

Music Tracks available for lease also.

================================================================
Bernie  Nelson's  Songwriter Story

Bernie Nelson on MYSPACE - (Leave Messages or comments for Bernie on
MYSPACE website)

http://www.myspace.com/bernienelson

Purchase CD
http://cdbaby.com/cd/bernienelson

Came to town in 1984 . Got to hang out at MCA Music, with Don
Schlitz, Dave Loggins and Russell Smith. Got my first cut in 1986 when
my songplugger told me The Whites were not interested in cutting a
song that was as country as the one I was trying to get him to pitch
to them. It became their title cut and my first single,Aint No Binds.
Worked Target for about 8 months and met lots of other songwriters
there. Signed with Merit Music in 1986 got cuts with Neal McCoy, The
Forrester Sisters and John  Anderson. Had first hit with Conway on
House On Old Lonesome Rd. Was pitched to Skip Ewing and Conway  heard
and wanted  to cut it. . First great mentor was Norro Wilson who ran
Merit back then. Met Garth while buying cowboy boots in Goodletsville
and invited him to Douglas Corner where he met Tony Arata  and Kent
Blazy. Had first big hit on Confederate Railroad with Daddy Never Was
the Cadillac Kind. Band was not sure they wanted to cut it but Barry
Beckett said let try it and it worked.Wrote a song for the Dirt Band
cause I heard they were gonna break up and I wanted to write something
about what kept them together all those years.They cut it “The Dream
“ and said it helped keep them together at the time. Favorite
co-writers are. Dave Gibson , Frank Myers, Allen Shamblin, Phil
O’Donell, Jim Femino and Phillip Douglas to name a few.

I have had some wild cuts out of the blue stuff Kenny Chesney cut
“Its Never Easy To Say Goodbye” after Wynonna cut it. And my
favorite cut was on Randy Travis’s “Heroes and Friends “ record
. a duet with Kristofferson of a song of mine and Lisa Palas’s Walk
Are Own Road. The night they cut it producer Kyle Lehninng told me
that Kristofferson had a different song  he wanted Randy to cut with
him I later found out the other song was another song of mine that I
had written with Allen Shamblin.
Fyi some of my demo singers incuded Trisha Lathom, later known as
Yearwood, Vince Gill, Faith Hill, T Graham Brown and Terri Clark, I
also sang demeos for all of Randy Travis’s catalog at one time

"Click" ICON to watch Bernie Nelson at The Bluebird (Nashville, TN)

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

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 ..........
================================================================

THE DANCE OF THE LIVING DEAD CHICKENS. "The chicken that looked like
Hitler;
Looked just like him, but littler.
Down at the hen house they hated his guts.
He didn't know why. It was drivin' him nuts!"

You see,
the other chickens began to notice that they all looked the same.
in order to be individualists they began making faces, and doing
other eccentric things,
like dragging one leg,
and crossing an eye or two.
When humans do this it's called a fad,
like purple hair, nose rings, and low hanging baggy pants.
Chickens are a lot like people, only shorter.

The plot thickens:

"Farmer Bob came out in the noonday heat,
saw the chickens makin' faces and draggin' their feet.
His brain went out to lunch and his body changed form,
and the Dance of the Living Dead Chickens was born."

"He combed his hair to one side, got a little mustache,
scrunched up up in a hump and let one foot drag.
He crossed one eye and let his tongue hang out.
The neighbors gathered 'round and they all began to shout..."

(EVERYBODY SING!!!):
"It's The Dance of the Living Dead Chickens,
The Dance of the...."

Repeat to fade out,
or until somebody buys the record.

Listen to the demo here:
BROADBAND:
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=7117657&q=hi
DIAL-UPS:
http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=7117657&q=lo

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

================================================================
Getting to know Kel-Anne Brandt (Australia)

http://www.kel-annebrandt.com

info@...

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 in a country town called Cessnock NSW Australia. We
travelled around Australia a lot while I was young. I finished school
in Sydney Australia and moved quite a lot after that too.
I now live near the beach on the Central Coast of NSW about 1 hour
North of Sydney.

2. Have you recorded any CD's.  If so what are the titles and where
can someone buy them ?
I have recorded many CD’s. Two of my Albums are on CD Baby and
iTunes. “I’m Into Something Good’ and the latest album
“I’m A Big Girl Now”.

3. What is your main outlet for live performances? Nightclubs,
Festivals, Linedance Clubs,
I mainly perform in Clubs and at Festivals in Australia.

4.  Who would you say are your favorite country artists ?  Major
Label
Reba McIntire, The Dixie Chicks, Shania, Brooks and Dunn, Alan
Jackson and Dolly Parton

5.  Who would you say are your favorite country artists ?
Independent Label
The list is too long, because most of my friends are Independent
Artists.

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 for me was playing on the Bert Newton Show
in Australia on National Television.

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 performed about a month ago at a Fundraiser for the Victorian
Bushfire Appeal and we raised $45,000. It was such a wonderful feeling
to be able to help.

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 have had Fan emails from Spain, France, Germany and Russia and
other parts of Europe and the UK, plus America and Canada. I have had
CD sales in some of these places and it always amazes me because I
have never even been there.

9.  What is your favorite 3 songs you have recorded and also your
favorite 3 cover tunes you sing at gigs.
1.Sometimes You Win When You Lose 2. Go Away Come Back 3.Oh Boy
1. Crazy, 2. Why Haven’t I Heard From You? 3. Rockin’ With The
Rhythm of The Rain

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!
In the next 12 months I will be releasing and promoting more single
from my new album “I’m A Big Girl Now”.
I would love to be on a major tour either around Australia or
overseas or both. It would be wonderful to perform my new songs in as
many places as I can.

11.    Name 3 things that you like to eat and drink?
1.Seafood  2. Chocolate  3. Gloria Jeans
Coffee(Caramel Latte) YUM
================================================================

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

"click bannder below"

================================================================
Julie Taylor's Songwriter Story

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

E Mail Julie at:   iaintbeenright@...

Julie Taylor - I moved to Nashville about 10 years ago from New
Jersey.  I mainly moved because the country music dwindled to just
about nothing after having my own band in NJ for 7 years playing 5-6
nights a week down to lucky if you played once a month. I was writing
some in New Jersey but my favorite co-writer Luther Lewis had made his
move to Nashville and we were writing long distance..Wanting to learn
more about songwriting since I was already past the "major label"
status in age and I didnt want a major label singing deal anyway, I
made the move to be closer to the music to hone in on new ideas,
skills in the craft.
I have always worked a full time job with my music as I know the
music biz is up and down and my first priority is my husband, home,
etc. So I did the songwriting part-time.  Met some new friends when I
started singing at the songwriter showcases in Nashville through Debi
Champion and it was where I met a couple other co-writers, Gordon
Ellis and Bill Warrington. Another co-writer, Tonya Williams I met in
the law office, she an attorney and me the secretary.  The most
influential person I met would have to be Becky Hobbs. I met her in
New Jersey when I opened for her at a show there and we stayed in
contact even to this day. We even went to Australia together.  I love
her attitude, personality and her crazy sense of humor, kinda like
mine! As far as demo singers, either myself or one of my co-writers
generally sang the demo accept for the songs I did co-write with that
famous songwriter/producer extraordinaire, Lonnie Ratliff.! And
speaking of Lonnie, have had a couple independent artist cuts on a
couple of our songs, the most recent one being "Thats the Way it Goes"
by singer Casey Dilworth, which my husband said he actually heard iton
a local station, which was cool.  As far as pitching, well most people
know you cant walk into any place on music row now without "knowing"
somebody or "already be somebody".  So once I went into alabama's
publishing house, locked gates, etc. rang the bell from outside the
gate and said "Delivery service" and they let me in! Never heard
anything on those songs, but hey a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta
do! Also during an event at Christmas time when you can tour the tour
buses of the stars, I went in all of them and hid my CD in a
compartment either above a seat, under a bench, between cushions, etc.
Again, ya gotta try something! Most publishing companies will not
accept any music from people like me, so I have to think of more
creative ways I guess.

I love to co-write.  Some of my co-writers I mentioned above.  I just
think it takes a few more brain cells to come up with ideas or lines
to a song, you feed off one another. Just talking with Billy Keeble
the other day and he made a comment that just hit me..and after having
writers block for a while, I started writing a chorus! My husband I
are heading to Texas to sing at a festival and a couple other local
joints and will approach Billy and inform him that we are writing this
song together! I love the music biz plain and simple.  I moved to
another County in Tennessee and I am actually playing/singing more
than I did in Nashville since Nashville is full of all the "next big
stars".  My husband and I run a small independent record label, we
help promote other artists and give advice and information freely to
other artists because I feel that is what I need to do.  We are all in
this together and if I can help others...WHY NOT? I have been to
Europe twice and Australia once.  I would love to afford to go back to
Europe again..Australia as well and maybe make that one trip to New
Zealand before I leave this world.  I enjoy meeting people, I enjoy
playing music, I enjoy life!  My one goal/wish is to meet every
DJ/friend who has played my music or friend I have met online thru my
music.  That was one of the best things during my overseas trips,
putting faces to everyone and getting to thank them in person..I think
that is the most important part, connecting with the people.  So I
guess that is me in a nutshell, just a nut! haha So if you need
someone for the special event, party, or festival, just give me a
shout! Have airfare will travel! haha
================================================================

Singing Contests

“And the Winner Is”

By

Lonnie Ratliff

I have never been a big fan of singing contests, but with American
Idol, Nashville Star and Colgate Country Showdown (
http://www.countryshowdown.com/%20 ), along with numerous other
contests, producing such a large amount of our top selling country
artists today, I have had to reevaluate my position on this. I have to
say that the bigger contests, where millions of real fans end up
choosing the winners by their phone in votes, beat the heck out of the
way it has always been done. Until these big contests became so
influential, future stars were brought into the business by music
lawyers, managers or some other movers and shakers on Music Row (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_Row ) who had never been more than
a mile or two away from 16th Avenue in twenty years. They have always
tried to convince us that they know what America wants to hear, while
glossing over the fact that they were all right there in agreement
saying that Garth Brooks ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garth_Brooks )
just didn’t have what it takes and instead of wasting their valuable
time he should just pack his bags and head on back to Yukon, Oklahoma.

Another thing that contests like American Idol do is bring in an
artist with enough clout after winning that they are not going to be
able to manipulate that artist away from the music they want to do. I
would imagine the discussion would go something like this when you
have a big winner like Carrie Underwood (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrie_underwood ) come into Nashville to
sign with a major label after winning American Idol. The all knowing
producer and label head probably tells her they are ready to sign her,
but they plan on cutting a Polka (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polka_music ) album or maybe a Tejano (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tejano_music ) album on her because they
“feel” that is what will really fit her voice and will sell. This
is when Ms. Underwood would more than likely inform them that she has
over six million fans who voted for her the way she is and are out
there at this very moment with their credit cards just waiting to buy
6 million of her CD’s, and they want them to sound like the Carrie
Underwood they voted for. This will probably be the end of the
label’s plans for artistic control because they know she can walk
across the street to their competition and sign a deal with no strings
attached. I am guessing this is about the time that all discussions of
making Carrie Underwood into a Music Row created image would be
shelved.

.

I remember when I first came to Nashville , there was one of the
older, retired music executives that said the music business needed to
get back to doing their jobs before they ruined the business. It was
his belief that singers should sing, songwriters write, publishers
publish, producers produce records and the labels sell the records.
That way you have the best people working at all levels and don’t
let the “Peter Principle” (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_principle ) kill your careers and
business because you got a little too greedy.

.

Now getting back to the subject at hand, as an artist, getting to the
finals of one of  these big singing contests is a monumental task to
say the least. You are probably going to do a lot of smaller contests
to get there or maybe have to attempt the bigger contests more than
once. This is going to mean you need to understand how contests work
and how little control you have over anything they do or what they
decide. Always keep in mind that any artist can look good as a winner,
but a real “star” even looks good when they lose. Put winning out
of your mind and sing for the crowd. Just tell yourself that you
don’t have a prayer in Hades ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hades )
of winning but you are going to have fun and leave that contest with
some new fans. There is no way I can write the following into a
readable paragraph so I will just list some of the things I have
picked up on over the years from being around singing contests.

1. Someone is making money off this contest, and they probably could
care less who wins or loses most of the time. They just want to put
the butts in the seats and sell some booze and hot dogs.

.

2. When it is all said and done, let’s face it, it is mostly a
popularity contest at some level or the other - not something to be
taken very seriously, much like those online charts and contests,
where you harass all your family, friends and totally innocent
strangers into going to vote for you. Serious artists don’t put much
stock in the end results. At least in the singing contests, there’s
a chance you can make more fans than enemies.

.

3. There is going to be at least one local favorite who has brought
enough fans and family to the venue to raise the roof when they walk
out on stage. Don’t try to compete with him or her on a personal
level but instead say something to their fans like “ I met him or
her earlier today and they seem to be a very nice person and I predict
they are going to have a great future in country music.”  This takes
you out of the fans’ line of sight because you said something nice
about their hero. Now they will get back to cheering on their hero and
hating every other singer in the contest except you.

.

4. Judges: Every contest is normally decided by about 3 judges. This
is very important for you to understand and will make losing a lot
easier (keep in mind that my article is not intended to teach you how
to win a contest, but just how to survive and keep from making a fool
of yourself if and when you lose.) Remember in all contests, if you
change even one judge’s mind, you will change the winners. Once
again, this is something you have absolutely no control over. One of
these judges is usually a local DJ, one may be a music teacher or
music professional of some kind, a contest winner from a previous year
and maybe a songwriter or maybe just someone who is a big country
music fan. There is no way you can know what kind of music they will
all like because they will be all over the map with their opinions.
Don’t gear your performance to something you think will get them to
vote for you. I know this is a worn out cliché, but just be yourself.
OK, this is something you probably never thought of before, so keep it
in mind before you go bad mouthing off at the judges after they make
some idiotic decision, which sooner or later they will do if you keep
entering contests. These judges all have something to do with the
music that goes on in your community, and some of them are probably on
the fair and festival boards that decide who gets hired to play at the
county fair, the blackberry festival or the annual cow chip throwing
contest. They are the people in your area who will get called when
someone needs a band for a wedding or a family reunion. These people
are going to be in your life for a long time more than likely, and
they have long memories. You should always try to remember that
probably 95% of the people you meet when you are out there singing
can’t do a thing in the world to help you out but 100% of the people
you meet have the ability to say something that can hurt your career.
Don’t give them a reason to dislike you.

.

5. Song choice: Please think about this before you do the current
favorite contest song. What I am calling “contest songs” are those
songs that get sung at every contest from “Desperado” to “Wind
Beneath My Wings,” “Crazy” or “Broken Wing.” If you are the
only one who sings one of these contest songs in the competition then
you are only competing with the artist who had the “hit” with that
song. If you are the second one who sings it, you are competing with
the other contestant that sang it plus the original artist. If you are
the third one in the contest to sing it, the judges are going to be so
sick of hearing that song, it may not make any difference how well you
sing it because they have already tuned you out.

.

6. Band:  You have to remember this, there’s no use getting mad at
the band no matter what happens. They are as proud of playing their
instrument as you are of your singing, and they did not get up that
morning and plan on messing up your song. The odds are they don’t
even know who you are. If they miss a chord in your song, get it too
fast or slow or make some other mistake, it is just that, a mistake,
and it’s just the luck of the draw that it happened on your
performance. You can minimize this by choosing simpler songs that they
will probably be more familiar with. If you plan on making a career in
singing, you are probably going to have to play in your local area to
start out, and let’s face it, there’s not an unlimited supply of
good pickers around, and the bands at these contests are usually made
up of the best pickers available. You are more than likely going to be
working with them again or some of them may end up being in your
personal band someday. Not a good idea to throw a hissy fit and burn a
bridge today that you will need tomorrow. If the band makes a mistake,
whoever did it already feels bad enough, so just let it go at that.

.

7. Be really careful about attempting to get any audience
participation for your singing at one of these events. A lot of those
people out there in the audience want someone else besides you to win.
Maybe it’s their brother, girlfriend or grandson, so that old
“Let’s all put our hands together and clap along to this song”
or “help me out when we get to the chorus” suggestion has a real
good chance of falling flat on its face. This is not worth taking the
chance I would say. This next one is probably the kiss of death.
Please don’t seed the crowd with a few of your fans and have them
try to instigate a standing ovation by standing up at the end of your
song. If you live to be a hundred years old, you will probably never
forget the humiliation you feel when this ingenious plan goes down the
crapper, taking you and your former friends with it. Just don’t even
think about doing it.

.

8. When it is all over and you’ve lost to some little no-singing
twit who is the niece of one of the judges, which eventually is going
to happen, you will be at that point in your career where they test
the metal and see what you are really made of. How you conduct
yourself at this moment is going to tell you if you have what it takes
to be a Garth Brooks or a Dolly Parton. Most of the losers in these
contests, as soon as the winner is announced, will take their hurt
feelings and damaged egos and hit the door, getting out of there as
fast as they can. The real winners that night, and I don’t mean the
one who gets the trophy and the check, will be the singers who
congratulate the winner and go introduce themselves to the judges and
tell them they’re glad they weren’t the ones that had to pick the
winners because there was a lot of  great talent on that stage. No
need to be phony about anything, just adopt the attitude that the
contest is over and done with and move on to your next obstacle. Walk
around in the crowd, and if some fan comes up and tells you they think
you should have won because you were the best singer in the contest,
just laugh and tell them you are going to try to get them a job as
judge next time and that it is worth more than any trophy to just hear
them say they liked your singing. Most singers won’t be able to do
this, and that is one reason why artists like Garth and Dolly don’t
come along every day.

.

That’s about all the things I can remember about singing contests
off the top of my head, so now I will tell you a little anecdotal
story about a singing contest that I am familiar with.

.

Erin Hay ( http://erinhay.com/ ) told me she was going to enter a
singing contest awhile back that they were having at the Little
Nashville Opry in Nashville, Indiana, and I was more than a little
surprised because she never showed any interest in being in a singing
contest.  I asked her why the change of heart? She said that she
wasn’t interested in competing or winning the contest, but she
wanted to use it as an audition so the club owners could hear her sing
and maybe she could get a job playing at the club. The Little
Nashville Opry caters to a more traditional country crowd, and that is
exactly the kind of music Erin sings ( http://www.myspace.com/erinhay
) for those not familiar with her. Erin said she had figured out that
they would have a good back-up band there to play for the contestants
and that most of the singers in the contest would be playing the more
modern country songs that were on the radio, so she would just go sing
a couple of old country standards, and though she didn’t figure she
had a shot at winning, the club owners could hear that she sang the
kind of music their regular crowd liked and maybe she could get a gig
singing there. Erin said it was a typical contest and sure enough
everyone except her sang the current radio hits. Four different girls
sang Martina McBride’s “Broken Wing,” and when it was Erin’s
turn, she just sang the old Leroy Van Dyke (
http://www.leroyvandyke.com/ ) standard “Walk On By” and Jack
Greene’s ( http://www.jackgreeneopry.com/ ) “There Goes My
Everything.” The back-up band was the regular house band from the
Little Nashville Opry, so they had probably played those two songs
thousands of times, and they really sounded good. She said as soon as
she finished singing, she located the club owner and got to talking to
her about maybe coming up there and playing a regular gig. Not
anticipating she would place even a distant third, she said she almost
fainted when they announced she was the winner of the contest. Erin
said she will always suspect they gave it to her just because she
didn’t sing “Broken Wing.” The icing on the cake was that night
they hired her to come back and open a show for one of her idols from
the Grand Ole Opry, Connie Smith (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connie_Smith ). She also got $500 for
first place. That was her one and only singing contest as far as I
know.
================================================================
Getting To Know Wayne Longtin

www.waynelongtin.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 raised in Northern Minnesota, close to Grand Rapids, MN.
Close to a little town called Warba.

My wife Wendy and I now live in LeMars, Iowa and I travel the
Midwest states of Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri.

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

I have 3 CD’s of original songs recorded.  “Take Away the
Music”, “Take the Gospel to the World” and “Be All you Can
Be” Each one available on CDBaby, Personal appearances and by mail.
I also have 2 CD’s titled “Music From My Heroes”  Volumes I  and
II.

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

Live performances at Country Music Festivals, Nightclubs and Country
Music Theatres.

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

Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Charlie Daniels,
Asleep at the wheel, John Prine, George Jones, Hank Williams Sr. &
Jr.,  Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Gretchen Wilson, Everybody!

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

American Mood, Simply Lauri, Ed & Kathy Dovel, Elaine Peacock,
Jackie Shewey, Terry Smith, The Kenaston Family Band, Outback Band,
Bob & Sheila Everhart.  Not enough room!

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?

Played with a band called “Heritage” in Spokane, Washington.  We
opened for George Strait, Vern Gosden and the great Ray Price.

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 enjoy nursing home performances, Most satisfying, South Dakota
State Prison in Sioux Falls,  Iowa State Prison in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
Gospel Mission in Sioux City, Iowa.

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!

Got a message from an Eskimo Village near the Artic Circle.  They
wanted the words to my Gospel song, “Jesus, My Jesus.”  From my
“Take the Gospel to the World” CD.

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

America’s Best Friend, 100 % Healing and Reflections in Black.
Cover Songs:  “What you gonna do with a cowboy?”  “Mama’s
Hungry Eyes” and “Walk through this world with me.”  (For my
wife, Wendy.)

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!

One of My songs recorded by a major artist.  More bookings on the
road at major venues.

BONUS QUESTION BELOW - Use this space to ASK YOURSELF A QUESTION &
THEN:

11.   Why do I put myself through this music experience for very
little money?  Answer:  Love of Music and songwriting.  40 plus years
and still haven’t learned any life lessons to make me quit.  Hope is
what it’s all about!
================================================================

================================================================
Getting to know Country Manny

www.country-manny.de

www.myspace.com/countrymanny

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 come from a small place into Germany with Name Großenseebach.That
is in the Federal State Bavaria. From here start I mean musical
activities.

2.  Have you recorded any CD's.  If so what are the titles and where
can someone buy them ?
I brought and sell 4 CD`s out`s her with my appearances. There is
partial own and also Coversongs in German and English on it.

3.  What is your main outlet for live performances ? Nightclubs,
Festivals, Linedance Clubs,
I play music on all meetings where Country Music am wished.

4.  Who would you say are your favorite country artists ?  Major
Label
My favourite artist is George Strait. I estimate it much.

5.  Who would you say are your favorite country artists ?
Independent Label
For me it would be to be stood the largest experience with it on the
stage.

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 ?
My largest Gig were two TV Shows with Radio Bremen, Germany. In the
USA I did not play yet. I was to visit USA States.
I gave a few Live Shows with Americans in Germany.

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 had my most beautiful appearances in Kindergartens and with
handicapped humans. The participated with so much love.

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 sold up to now my CD tos only in Germany. By post office or with my
shows.

9.  What is your favorite 3 songs you have recorded and also your
favorite 3 cover tunes you sing at gigs.
My dearest song with the title "My dearest One" from my 1st CD. I
have my wife dedicated as it very ill was.

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 would like to please humans with my music further. Switzerland is
not planned necessarily, since I am a small artist and only a small
budget have. It would be beautiful, if someone would look at itself my
web page: www.country-manny.de + www.myspace.com/countrymanny and
guest book would mark. I wish all homans peace on ground connectin and
much fun with our Country Music.
My English is not so good. I hope your understand me!

Country Manny, Singer, Songwriter & One-.Man-Country-Band with
Keyboard, Harp & Voice.
================================================================

Lonnie's new short story
Part I

Raylene Ridenhour And The Red River Renegades
Part I "Counting Worms"
by
Lonnie Ratliff

The sun was just coming up over the Kiamichi mountains behind her as
Raylene fought back sleep behind the wheel of the big Chrysler Newport
convertible.  She glanced in the rearview mirror to make sure the Red
River Renegade's band trailer was still back there.  Sprawled out in
the big Chrysler's leather seats, sound asleep were the band members
who had all insisted they go to the after hours party last night when
they finished their gig at the Texoma club there on the Red River just
North of Paris, Texas.  All of the loud promises from pre-party
negotiations with her band insisting they would help drive home were
now replaced by loud snores and incoherent grumbling in their sleep.
WBAP was playing on the radio and Raylene turned it up just a little
when the DJ announced the next record would be Johnny Bush's "You Gave
Me A Mountain" thinking to herself, "damn, I can relate to that this
morning".

Raylene's life had been pretty uneventful until three years ago when
she decided that country music would be her life.  With absolutely no
idea of what she was doing, she formed the Red River Renegades and
never looked back.  At the time of her life changing decision Raylene
was working at the Grandpappy Point Marina on Lake Texoma in the bait
shop.  It was about the most boring job in the world but she tolerated
it because there were not a lot of career opportunities open to a
Colbert High School graduate in Bryan County, Oklahoma.  Then the
proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, which by the way turned
out to be a worm and not a straw, was the day that Raylene found
herself in the back of the bait shop counting fishing worms and
putting them into cardboard containers to sell to fishermen for bait.
Heaven forbid that there wasn't exactly thirty six worms in the box of
three dozen that a fisherman bought later.  After taking a long hard
look at her slimy hands and bleak future Raylene never made a big
scene, but instead just walked to the front of the store and told the
owner's wife they could just mail her check to her because she was
quitting.  This didn't seem to come as a surprise to anyone at the
bait shop.

With her career in the fishing industry behind her, Raylene now had
to deal with the fact that there were not a lot of options open to her
when it came to employment.   She knew if she wanted a job she would
have to create it herself.  Raylene sat there in her bedroom in their
trailer house in Cartwright, Oklahoma thumbing through the Country
Music Roundup magazine scanning the lyrics to the latest hit songs.
She had already read all the articles in the magazine the first day
she bought it at the drugstore in Durant so the printed song lyrics
were all that was left to read.   Her guitar was lying on her bed and
the radio was tuned to the Sherman, Texas country station and finally
these obvious signs dawned on her.

Raylene realized what she really wanted to do was be a country
music singer.  This should not have come as a big surprise as she knew
that her parents had named her after the legendary country singer Ray
Price. Country music was as much a part of her life as the air she
breathed.  The one thing needed in her life right now was some good
advice as to how she should go about pursuing this new career path.
Raylene as usual turned to her grandparents Ernest and Mattie
Ridenhour.  Over the years she had learned that most of the time when
she tried to talk to her own parents, it always ended in a vocal storm
of shouting .  She had no reason to believe that an announcment that
she was going into the music business would cause anything short of a
full fledged Oklahoma "Twister".  Raylene knew if it was left up to
her Mom and Dad she would be counting worms for the forseeable future
and thanking her lucky stars she had such a good steady job.   Until
she had some answers to at least the most obvious questions about why
she thought she could be a singer, Raylene planned to keep the
confrontation with her parents somewhere in the future.

Grandpa was a lot more excited about Raylene's announcment that she
was going to be a singer than she would have ever thought possible.
When she thought about it though she remembered his independent spirit
and realized that old Ernie wasn't the kind who would have counted
worms for anyone either.  He told her they would need to talk to
anyone they could find in the area who was or had been in the music
business and see if they could get any pointers or advice on the best
way to go about making a living in the music business while living in
Bryan county.  Grandpa said he had heard of a man named Spears, from
Antlers, Oklahom, a guitar player who had moved to Lawton and made a
living out there in the clubs.  Raylene insisted that she was not
interested in any permanent move and wanted to remain in Cartwright if
she could.  They were able to track down Ken Spradlin in Denison,
Texas who had played in the area all his life.   Just across Lake
Texoma in Kingston they found Dale Lay who had spent his whole life
working out of the area and had even recorded a few records for a
label out of Texas.  Grandpa got both singers to agree to talk to them
about the business and Raylene's journey down that honky tonk highway
began.

Copr. 2009  Lonnie Ratliff
================================================================

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

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

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

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

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.ymlp73.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://ymlp73.com/u.php?YMLPID=guhssuegsgwbqsgeuej
Powered by  YourMailingListProvider



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