'Baker Street' singer Gerry Rafferty dead at 63

With so many people in the limelight passing away - actors, actresses and musicians alike, it's somewhat disheartening and sad but if it's one thing that I've learned with my mother's death, when a loved one moves on past this life beyond the veil, it's cause to celebrate with remembrance and honor. This is EXACTLY what this post is about; recognizing the unique nature in which the artists of the world create within.

	© Chris Walter/Retna Gerry Rafferty 'Baker Street' singer Gerry Rafferty dead at 63 Jan. 4, 2011, 5:47 PM EST LONDON (AP) — Gerry Rafferty, the Scottish singer-songwriter behind hit songs "Baker Street" and "Stuck in the Middle With You," has died. He was 63. Rafferty's agent Paul Charles confirmed Tuesday that his client had passed away following a long illness, but said he had no additional information on how or where he had died. Rafferty's classic record "Baker Street" — renowned worldwide for its distinctive haunting saxophone solo — climbed to No. 3 in the U.K. and No. 2 in the U.S. music charts in 1978. It still achieves considerable airplay on radio stations. The singer also recorded "Stuck in the Middle With You" in 1972 while performing as part of the Scottish folk-rock band Stealers Wheel. The ode — or mocking tribute— to Bob Dylan's raspy voice grew new wings in film maker Quentin Tarantino's movie "Reservoir Dogs," and has sold more than a million copies worldwide. Rafferty made headlines in recent years for his public struggles with alcoholism and had also undergone treatment for liver failure. He reassured fans of his well-being in February 2009 after a former bandmate expressed concerns over his health and whereabouts in the press. Later that year, Rafferty released the album "Life Goes On." After initially cutting his teeth as a busker, Rafferty appeared with Scottish comedian Billy Connolly in folk group the Humblebums and released a solo record before founding Stealers Wheel. Despite his brushes with negative press — from a long-running contract dispute with Stealers Wheel to scathing character critiques posted online by his brother, Jim — Rafferty was described by employees at his latest record label as a man who kept to himself and shunned the spotlight.

KINDERGARTENER ORDERED TO PAY COPYRIGHT FOR SONGS!

Education | 28.12.2010

KINDERGARTENER ORDERED TO PAY COPYRIGHT FOR SONGS!


http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14741186,00.html

Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Singing is a core component of many kindergarten timetablesPreschools have been sent a reminder that they need to pay for a license if they want to copy sheet music for the children to sing certain songs. This has triggered a copyright discussion in Germany.


German copyright rules require anyone who copies sheet music pay fees to Germany's music licensing agency, GEMA. The organization has begun notifying kindergartens and other preschool facilities that if they reproduce music to be sung or performed, they must pay for a license.


"If a preschool wants to make its own copy of certain music - if the words of a song or the musical score is copied - then they need to buy a license," GEMA spokesperson Peter Hempel told Deutsche Welle.


The rules have been in place for 25 years, but they have only recently drawn attention. GEMA began at the beginning of 2010 to send out reminders to daycare centers stressing that they need to sign contracts before making copies of sheet music for the children to sing from.


Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: If copies of music are made, the fee needs to be paidGEMA said that the need for licenses would not have any effect on singing in kindergartens.


"It doesn't cost anything to sing in kindergartens," said Peter Hempel. "If a kindergarten or school does not make any copies of music, then of course they don't need to pay anything."


Traditional songs are copyright-free


The copyright rules only concern the rights for modern songs. Songs written by an author who has been dead for over 70 years are automatically in the public domain.


"For old songs, for traditional folk songs for example, it costs nothing," said Hempel.


Fees start at 56 euros ($74) for 500 copies of a song, a rate charged annually, not per child.


GEMA - the German abbreviation stands for the Society for Musical Performing and Mechanical Reproduction Rights - exists to make sure that the intellectual property of musicians is protected. It is the collection agent for another group, VG MusikEdition, which monitors copyright for musicians and distributes the profits from the licensing fees back to its members.


Author: Catherine Bolsover
Editor: Nancy Isenson

WINES THAT ROCK!!!

FEATURED DIRECTLY FROM SITE: http://www.winesthatrock.com/

Wines That Rock believe in the power of the masses. Just like a rock concert when 20,000 passionate fans get together and share 2 ½ hours of magic, we want to share our thoughts with you and have you help us create an amazing experience that centers on wine, music and all things social – online and offline. Read our blogs, join our Facebook page, follow our Twitter feeds, check out WTR pictures on Flickr, sign-up for WTR newsletter, visit our tasting room at the Mendocino Wine Company and attend our wine-centric events. We encourage you to add your comments, stories about concert experiences, wine experiences, party planning, suggest new music for all of us to enjoy, tell us your perfect playlist when enjoying a great bottle of WTR wine and post your pictures and media to our site. We want to take this journey with you, we want to hear about your passions for wine and music and the stories they helped you create over the years…we promise to share ours. And you never know when we might be giving away free concerts tickets, backstage passes, iTunes downloads, signed memorabilia or just good ol’ t-shirts.







So case in point, if you're looking to stand out from the rest of the guests at an upscale get-together or just want to make a memorable first impression with someone you care about, THIS is an excellent gift and statement about music and who the giver is as a person. This screams, "I Have Character" and will be a mainstay for those that are listeners and players the world over. My vision is that Wines That Rock will be more than a novelty gift or drink fad. Wine is something that people are just plain and simple, PASSIONATE about. And what would be better to have than two passionate artist fields, combined: Wine and Music!

"Country Strong" OFFICIAL MOVIE!!!!

Don't miss this exciting movie (and move - think like a chess-player) for the Country Music Industry! They've taken huge steps to redirect and change their basic feel and sound from "Classic" or "Old Country" like Loretta Lynn and Waylon Jennings to acts like Big N' Rich and Lady Antebellum. 

An Alternative Rock label has been injected into the "Twangy Country" of old and morphed into the artistry we all know and love today. Others I interviewed and chatted with are keen on the marketing ploys being taken. But such is the role of music in worldly matters. The deeply moving legendary tunes will forever be known to true music fanatic.

WHAT DOES "GOOD ENOUGH" MEAN TO YOU?

Good enough can be a cop-out to me. I remember a vehicle commercial that said, "If we all settled for good enough, would things EVER, REALLY, be good enough?" And I echo that question to my readers. This is your chance to respond with your beliefs and thoughts after viewing. You DESERVE to have a VOICE!

So within the realm of music - we owe it to ourselves not to "settle". It's such a counter-productive trait with songwriting, musical learning, and perfect practice are at hand. The threat of not having enough willpower to push past the temporary discomfort of laziness or "hard work" is real. It affects us every day; sometimes, we aren't even aware of it. Which is why it's so important to wake up early before the start of your official day. It gives you leverage!

On the other side of the spectrum, when controlling perfectionist tendencies, there's a song by King Crimson called, "You Have to Be Happy with What You Have to Be Happy With". I think the title alone is awesome and the lyrical melody sounds like something Pink Floyd would've written. The words are trance-like and soothing. And it also brings up a great point; the success and effective behaviors we've learned over time have gotten us to precisely the place where we're at. And that is something to pause about and celebrate. 

::WHEN WE FINALLY REALIZE AND FIND OUR BALANCE: 

We've become Musicians with a drive & momentum toward success and joy! We write the soundtracks for the world's lives!!! One song can heal a broken heart. One song can change our state of mind and alter our reality for the better. And our listeners and fans KNOW THIS. They live in the same reality as we do but the only difference is that they don't have the same spiritual gifts as we do.

SUCCESS IS OURS, EVERYDAY WE TAKE ACTION. let's jam together (wherever we all hail from) and build up our creative muscles!!!!!!




NAMASTE' EVERYONE.

COMMITTED TO MUSIC ALL YEAR LONG!!! (Join Me in 2011) :o)

Hi Everyone! I hope you all had a great Christmas Holiday and New Years Eve/Day celebration! My 17 month old and I got to play with our new Vic Firth drumsticks and "Thunder Rods", which are kind of like a step up from Brushes. It was super fun jamming with Zeke and directing him to switch from the high-hats to the Ride cymbal when the chorus came.    :o)

As we begin a new year and ponder everything that we've accomplished throughout 2010, I think about the blessings that we've been given. It's been through the love and caring we've given to others. There's something strangely unique and special about THE NATURE OF GIVING that stirs in each of our hearts. Music is similar in that way. 

We wake up to it on our alarm clocks! NATURAL RHYTHMS are in our everyday lives and "imbeded"  on our To-Do-Lists.  The very breaths that we take in air by, have a pattern and rhythm. And what it does for our mind, body and soul is a testament to the privileges we have. 

I'm finding it very tough in this point in my life, to do anything alone. I think that's a portion of how/why I decided to get married; I knew that if I had someone so wonderful alongside of me in unison with my goals and journey, I'd be amplifying the love that share with friends, family and my readers.

Here's a great link to some deals that MF is having. I'm gonna brose through these as soon as i get home from the store for a diaper run!!!!! HAHAHA


REMEMBER: their Winter Sale at www.MusiciansFriend.com  is specifically on sales up to 93% off! This promotion expires in a week, next Saturday, January 8th, so now is the time to invest in guitar picks, pop filters, keyboards and a huge selection of other accessories!

FOR THE LOVE OF RECORDING!!!!!!

In my experience in recording studios, I really feel strongly in favor of having "someone else" record me (instead of doing it myself). It allows me as an artist, to get into the perfect frame of mind for taking songs to new levels. I feel it's almost mandatory.

There needs to be a calmness and peace before doing each "take". And being the red button presser AND the artist detracts from the creative energy that flows as i get into the proper space in my mind. This is where my vision is the most potent and pure. 

I LOVE, the Music Studios and their "Sound Engineers". Being involved and present during the process of creating something beautiful is remarkable. The next time you get a chance to watch someone creating, give yourself the gift of losing yourself in curiousity and wonder. Be in the space of someone who's expressive nature leads to filling silence, with love. That tip alone can help you to create yourself. Even if you don't have a creative bone in your body. Trust the unknown. Give in to the gift of creating! 

SO WHY DO ARTISTS, "DO WHAT THEY DO?"

When individuals choose to leave an almost immortalizing legacy by what they write - that is an extraordinary act. It's above humans just, "being." It allows them to think about themselves the way God does. It helps us to understand the power that we have in this world. You might not have heard it explained this way before so, open your mind to the possibilities and see what thoughts come up as new ideas. You might be surprised. :)

THE PROCESS OF BIRTHING A SONG:

Once a song is created, it's born in the light of fragility and delicate in nature. It's vulnerable man! - protect it!!! Get them to a safe place in a studio as quickly as possible, where you can be yourself with them. THINK OF A STUDIO AS YOUR MUSICAL TEMPLE.

This is where I've asked some of the most heart-felt, deep questions about myself and the song topic at hand. This approach seems to take you to a "secret location" in your mind in the song-writing process.

It's the key to finalizing each song. To truely give words the coloring chords and melodies that they deserve! They're actually very simliar to a newborn infant. As we annotate them within the world of recording, we raise them up to be able to become valliant examples of purity - an honest novel of that emotion and place in our lives.

Even anger is a healthy emotion; hate, in my opinion should never be allowed in a song. That's just mimicry going against the brilliance of true creation. If it takes away from the good in the world - it degrades the livelihood of beauty in music. And when it conveys love in the message, it counteracts the fear-based songwriting that others write from. Love is the driving emotion and goal of every human, being. Lenny Kravitz discovered this secret when recording his 1st CD. Let's let love rule!!!!

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