From Producer Greg Hansen to Fellow Musicians

Fellow Musicians,

After my 30 years in the music business, we FINALLY have something that is EXACTLY what songwriters and singers need, to be heard and get opportunities.

YourLDSneighborhood.com has sponsored an idea fostered in the FCMA (Faith Centered Music Association) by Jeannine Lasky and Staci Peters, -it’s called the Neighborhood Jukebox. It’s just that-a free online jukebox player. (http://www.theneighborhoodjukebox.com.)

Singers and songwriters can upload demos and songs, and get them heard by producers and voted on by the public. Established artists can get more exposure for their albums. By encouraging your family and friends to go listen to your songs on the Jukebox, everyone benefits from the traffic. It’s free to listen and vote. It’s the go-to place for producers to find new songs and singers for upcoming albums. It even links to your site or your album for purchase. The Jukebox is heavily advertised on BYUTV, billboards and radio.

To contribute songs to the Jukebox, you must be a member of the yourLDSneighborhood Music Directory-the yellow pages of LDS musicians. A $75 a year fee gives you the benefits of basic advertising, as well as making it possible to upload your songs to the Jukebox for $5 a tune.

Professionals such as Jason Deere, Jon Schmidt, Jessie Clark Funk, Michael Dowdle, Alex Boye, Dallyn Vail Bayles, Dan Beck, Sam Payne and Steven Kapp Perry have all joined the Jukebox and Directory. After only two months of operation, two new people are already negotiating record deals as a result of being on the Jukebox.

But it gets better! At the end of the year, the songs and singers with the highest views and votes will be considered by a committee of professionals, to have their songs produced at no cost to them on the Best of the Neighborhood Cd.

This is such a no-brainer great deal for every musician, I have gotten completely behind it. It's a total, everybody-wins, and everyone-can-be-included thing with no downside.

Please go to the Jukebox and sign up. You can push the Contribute to the Jukebox button to pay your $75 fee and upload your songs. Instructions are on the Help button.

If you want to just listen, push the category button, then the song button, and listen. To vote and comment on songs, follow the directions given on the Join the Jukebox button.

If this all just sounds too hard, simply email me and I'll get you signed up and all set.

Remember: the greatest song ever written does no good without an audience.

Sincerely,
Greg Hansen

Performing Opportunities Abound for Musicians

by Greg Hansen, Visiting Blogger
yourLDSNeighborhood -- Music Block // Jukebox

Many singers and musicians wonder how to get opportunities to perform, but a little effort and research will turn up more possibilities than ever before.

As an example, a simple look at PositiveMusicandArts.com magazine reveals a host of events, contests, classes, venues and locations with chances to perfom for those with a good act or presentation.

The In the News column of the magazine lists five recent music and dance contests that had open auditions, resulting in national exposure or cash prizes, and those who won them.

Check your local paper: for example, The Utah Valley Event Calendar has four pages of activities going on, many that include open audition performances, and even some paying gigs.

There have been four open calls for songs in the last two months found on PositiveMusicandArts. Last week, a BYU student won $1000 for his song about the march of the Mormon Battalion.

By using a little initiative, musicians will realize that every city has their festival week and needs performers, there are artists who sing but don’t write songs themselves, and there are more performing contests than ever before, due to the spread of reality tv.

Look for city festivals, fund-raising dinners for charity, and the educational performances, dance concerts, non-profit venues and arts festivals in your area. Just by entering, and having a good presentation, you can get as many gigs as you want.

Summer events, winterfests, Christmas events, and holidays all provide occasions needing entertainment.

Those who are willing to do a little homework can go as far as their talent will take them.



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Lindy Kerby—One of God’s Great Instruments

Have you ever been so thrilled by the unexpected that it puts you to tears? I recently was by my good friend Lindy Kerby. I’ve known Lindy for several years as she was one of the foursome, along with myself, who performed together as the “Perfect Mother’s Society”. I thought I knew Lindy’s music and style better than just about anyone, but at BYU Women’s Conference, held the end of May…Lindy totally blew me away!

Sitting in the DeJong Concert Hall at BYU I probably bragged just a little too much to the sisters sitting next to me about my good friend Lindy’s amazing musical talents. She was performing at the end of the “Women of God” workshop we were attending. I can’t describe what a thrill ran through me as I saw and heard Lindy perform her original duet “I’ll Stay with You” with the fabulous actress/singer Jessica Perry. I was overcome with the spirit during their incredible vocal performance as they acted out the parts of Naomi and Rachel from the Old Testament. It felt like we were watching the climactic scene of a Broadway theatre piece. Everyone was brought to tears and when it was all over I turned to the gal next to me, as we were wiping our eyes, and said “Didn’t I tell you she was good?”

The song “I’ll Stay with You” can be found on Lindy’s newest CD “Thy God, My God”. While this album only contains three of Lindy’s original songs it also includes the background tracks to all three allowing you to sing along if you want and perform them yourself. Plus it includes one of Lindy’s beautiful original piano medleys as a bonus track. Lindy has used three wonderful vocalists, besides herself, on this album…Jessica Perry, Angel Howlett, and Rebecca Lopez. You can go to The Neighborhood Jukebox at http://www.yourldsneighborhood.com/ and listen to a full length recording of “Living Water” sung by the gorgeous vocals of Rebecca Lopez.

I know how many years this has been in the making for Lindy and I’m so happy to see her dream finally start coming to fruition with the release of her first album of her original songs. Her first album, of just her beautiful piano medleys is called “Little Miracles” and can be found at http://www.kerbymusic.org.

So do yourself a favor and check out Lindy Kerby’s music and see why she is an inspiration in my life and will be in yours!

Jukebox Hero

“With stars in my eyes”…I’m sending you to www.theneighborhoodjukebox.com. Okay, in your kids' eyes, you have to be older than dirt to know I started this blog out in reference to an “Old” Foreigner song…but how could I resist since the “Jukebox” is such a cool new part of www.yourldsneighborhood.com to visit?

Of course I’m totally partial to the www.theneighborhoodjukebox.com since I’m a songwriter and, YES, you can check out a couple of my songs on the Jukebox. Although I’m listed as the artist, I’m really just the writer of the two songs I have on the Jukebox: “Toward Zion” is sung by Jen Handy and “Tempted” is sung by Jennifer Griffiths, who was also my cowriter on that song.

But enough about me…check out Dylan Jackson or Michael Squires with their cool sounds and vocals. You’ll love Michael’s tongue-in-cheek version of "LDS Piano Man." And if you’re a rocker, you’re going to “Bang Your Head” for joy to the heavy guitar sounds of Mark Hansen. Mark’s music proves the spirit works (lyrically anyway) through rockers too…though most of his songs will probably only get mom’s approval for play Monday-Saturday. Mark does NOT do easy-listening, help-you-unwind-on-the-Sabbath-day, kind of music.

If you want a cool pop or country sound that doesn’t require the sub woofer blasting to get the full effect of the song, then you’ll enjoy the music of Jennifer Lerud and Jeannine Lasky. Also there are more artists, songwriters, and composers to discover—some you probably already know, such as Barry Hansen, who sings a great Christian/country song called "One Step Closer."

Best of all, if you happen to be an LDS musician, or a musician who is LDS, or even an nonLDS musician looking to share your positive music with a growing market, you can become a member of the www.yourldsneighborhood.com music registry for only $75.00 a year. With your membership you get the neighborhood’s basic advertising, AND you also qualify to add your music to the Jukebox for one low fee per song. You can also add a link for each song that sends listeners to purchase your music. Plus you can receive feedback and ratings from listeners. As the Jukebox concept becomes known, over time you will see many more artists sign on. Be one of the first to join www.theneighborhoodjukebox.com and get DISCOVERED!

Alex Boyé…He’s Got SPIRIT!

Have you ever dreamed of being on stage, singing your guts out as the next American Idol finalist or for anyone who would listen? Okay, maybe you’re only brave enough to sing your guts out in the shower when no one but your dog is home to hear. Either way, I have good news for YOU!

Alex Boyé (http://www.alexboye.com/), entertainer extraordinaire, recently started conducting workshops (http://www.stagepresencelive.com/ ) tailored to teach you how to be a much better stage performer. His workshop will help you “be brave” on stage AND give you the secret for selling twice as many CDs.

Recently, I saw Alex and Jessie Clark Funk perform together for a Valentine’s concert sponsored by http://www.yourldsneighborhood.com/. I was Amazed at his performance, especially considering he did all his singing, dancing, and comedy while sick. He lives by the actor’s motto “The Show Must Go On,” and with Alex, the show is never disappointing…no matter what state of health he’s in.

For those of you who don’t know much about Alex and his amazing accomplishments, let me just share this snippet from his personal bio with you: “Alex Boyé was born and raised in London, England. Alex became the lead singer in the European boy band Awesome and signed a recording contract with Universal Records in 1996. The band had hits in more than 15 countries, selling over half a million CDs and has performed alongside such artists as N'SYNC, The Backstreet Boys, Missy Elliott, Bryan Adams, Mary. J. Blige, the Smashing Pumpkins, and George Michael to name a few. Alex has since received the 2005 Male Artists Listener Award by the LDS Booksellers Association for his album entitled Testimony, and he also received the 2006 Spirit of Heritage Award for his notable work with youth, an honor also given to Senator Hatch, NBA star Thurl Bailey, and Elizabeth Smart in previous years. Additionally, Alex is the winner of two Pearl Awards from the Faith Centered Music Association.”

How Alex left his band and growing success behind and eventually wound up in Utah is an inspiring story he’ll have to share, and you’ll have to hear one day from him…as I could never do it justice.

So…back to making your dreams of stardom come true. I was fortunate enough to attend Alex’s very first stage performance workshop (http://www.stagepresencelive.com/), and I came out of it on fire! In it Alex shared his surefire performance plan—a “script” as he calls it—that guides you on how to rate each of your songs, choose the order to perform them in (or how to choose the right song if you can only sing one), and what you need to know about an audience.

As I listened, I remembered the times I performed with a group called the Perfect Mother’s Society and wished I had attended this workshop back in those days. One of the things I noted, with my past performances in mind, is that our most successful gigs (where we communicated well with our audience) were the ones where we had actually followed the steps (without us knowing it) that Alex outlines. It was AWESOME to get that kind of information on paper and learn how it has worked in Alex’s career. So, check out Alex’s website, http://www.stagepresencelive.com/, or http://www.alexboye.com/ right now, and find out how you too can attend his next workshop and become a STAR on STAGE! And, while you’re checking out Alex’s website, make sure to find out how to purchase his terrific new soulful CD Spirit.

If you live in Utah, go to http://www.rodgersmemorial.com/ in Centerville for information on the production of Big River that Alex will be starring in from the end of February through March.

Oh! And I forgot to mention…Alex is a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir too! Check out his solo, with full choir back up, at the link below. (NOTE: Drag the cursor to 18mins 46 seconds to get the video going.)
Watch the video now

Calling All Angels

Have you ever had a connection with a song or a singer’s voice that just hits you hard…maybe even hard enough that the tissues come out? Well let me share with you one such event that happened recently: My first time listening to (and several times since) Jessie Clark Funk’s new album “Everything Speak His Name” found at www.music@soundsofzion.com.

You see this summer will mark my oldest daughter’s 18th birthday. However, my Jessica won’t be blowing out candles or eating the cake and ice cream with us. We won’t be watching her walk, with hundreds of other classmates, to receive her high school Diploma in June or see her off to college. Jess lived only three weeks in her short life. I have spent the last nearly 18 years watching others her age live life, wondering to myself “What would she look like now? What boys would she like? Who would be her friends? The questions are endless.”

So…as not to depress you all, I share my very personal feelings only briefly as a way of helping you understand just how much Jessie Clark Funk’s latest album “Everything Speaks His Name” has touched me…comforted me.

Sadly, Jessie and Jim Funk also lost a baby girl this past year. And so it is no surprise that Jessie’s latest album is filled with songs that deal with struggle, grief, and loss, but always with a sense of Hope. Hope that comes from the promise and comfort the spirit gives to us that we will indeed see our loved ones again, who have passed on, because of the great sacrifice of our Savior Jesus.

I entitled this interview not after her album’s title, but after the song I love the most from it. The one that reaches me the deepest is written by Jessie’s husband Jim and co-writer Scott Van Orden, Calling All Angels. Maybe only a mother, who has known the loss of a child, could fully appreciate this song, but it is so simple and so expressive of how a mother feels about losing her child. Jim’s ability to actually “feel” the heart and thoughts of a woman, especially in this song, has always impressed me. Few men are in touch enough (including my own husband who has given up trying to understand me) to write a song like Calling All Angels or Kenny Rodger’s #1 hit Buy Me a Rose as Jim Funk and co-writer Eric Hickenlooper were able to.

Mostly though, I’m impressed with whom Jessie is at her core and the incredible way she is able to express the feelings of each of the song writer’s on this album. This is why Jessie is a multi-award winning vocal artist. Her ability to interpret and express the heart of the songwriter and bring the canvas of their words to life is truly legendary within the LDS music industry. You can hear some of her wonderful artistry, as well as that of fabulous entertainer/singer Alex Boye, and other talented guest acts, this coming Saturday, Feb. 16th, in a special Valentines Concert sponsored by your friends at www.yourldsneighborhood.com. Check out Jessie’s website at www.jessieclarkfunkmusic.com, or Alex Boye’s at www.alexboye.com for concert details.

I wanted to find out from Jessie, after getting her terrific album, what inspired her choices of songs. Her reply “Nature songs really appealed to me” as well as positive hopeful songs. Songs like Again and The Prayer (which she sings magnificently as a duet with my favorite tenor, Daniel Beck) brought her comfort and she just loved No One Knows My Heart. All these songs speak to one going through trials but with the understanding, as Jessie states, “that we have trials for a reason”. She said to me that this “latest album represents me the best, and I hope people give it a listen.” I sure hope people do too, because some albums you listen to once in awhile and others more often. I listen to this one quite often!

As for that never ending balancing act of career and family I asked her how she manages. I was so impressed with her answer as she said she loves to do so many things “but, I have to say ‘no’ to a lot of things”. Jessie sets limits for herself, allowing herself only to do a few music things a month, as she doesn’t want her daughter to feel she comes in second place behind music. Personally…I needed to hear that, as I often allow my writing to come before my children. “Mom, when are you getting off the computer?” is unfortunately a cliché in our home.

Now, if there is one thing I learned about Jessie Clark Funk while doing this interview, it’s that she has her priorities right. I had read that she had signed a contract and went to Florida, but I had no idea that the contract was with an independent label associated with Sony Records. They were grooming her to be huge and gave her the lavish lifestyle she had always dreamed of. If she had continued with them, no doubt by now the entire world would know her too, and the fame and wealth she once wanted so badly, would have been hers. But, after only a few months of living in such worldly splendor, she felt “a heaviness…darkness” she’d never felt before. She was surrounded by a lifestyle that was against everything she’d been taught growing up. So she left it all behind her and went back to Utah putting her trust in God that he would lead her. She didn’t even know, until she came back to Utah, that there was a music industry in the state…one that focuses on the LDS market. Now she is at the top of that market and blessed with greater wealth than the world could offer…her beautiful family.

So, if you can make it, don’t miss a magical moment this Saturday to catch Jessie Clark Funk, www.jessieclarkfunkmusic.com in song. I’ll be there too. If you catch the concert, be sure to reply and give some feedback on “Your Music Notes” blog site and…I’ll see you there!

Sadness and Song

A journal entry from Alex Boyé

Last night, while in the Tabernacle rehearsing songs for President Hinckley's funeral, President Mac Christiansen (Chairman of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir) made a surprise announcement. He informed us that we were to cut our rehearsals short tonight, as we had been requested by the invitation of Elder Hinckley, (President Hinkley's son) to join with him and members of his family for a private viewing of President Hinckley. What an honor! We were instructed to bring our hymn books, in the likelihood of being asked to sing for the family. As we made our way through the halls to where our beloved prophet was laid to view, President Hinckley's son addressed us for a few minutes. He told us that his father found much pleasure, enjoyment, and pride in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and that he was happy with the choir. He told us that as we viewed his father's body, it may be a seemingly sad occasion to us, but that it was not. After his short address, he thanked us for our service in the choir, and told us we could stay here as long as we liked, but asked that we might favor him and his family with a few songs. Let me say this: I have performed many songs in my short lifetime in many venues across the world. I have performed in stadiums filled with thousands of people and sung on TV shows broadcast to millions of people. But to be in that room gathered around the Presidents casket along with over 300 choir friends, singing God Be With You 'Til We Meet Again, was the most amazing experience for me. That night, I witnessed a special outpouring of the spirit, and felt the presence of our beloved prophet in the room. We all did. Needless to say, there was not a dry eye in sight. This single event will go down as the most significant, and most memorable performance of my life! How blessed we are to have been alive during the tenure of President Hinckley! During rehearsals last night, one of the choir members put it in a nutshell when he said to me, "Not only have we lost our spiritual leader, but it also feels like we lost our grandpa." I suppose that's the way we all felt about him. How blessed we are to have been alive during the tenure of President Hinckley, and to have witnessed the incredible growth of the church under his divine leadership.

I testify to all who are reading this entry, that the man I sang to last night was a Prophet of God, who held all the necessary keys and authority to lead and direct this church as the Savior would, if he were here himself, and that through his teachings and counsel, we are surely better people as individuals and as a Church, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.