Are You A Bluegrass Songwriter? Interviews with: Melissa Sherman Lynn Russwurm Mike O’Reilly, Volume 8 Issue 3 July 2014 www.bluegrasscanada.caTABLE OF CONTENTSBMAC EXECUTIVE President’s Message1 Editor’s Message2 Canadian Songwriters/US Bands3 Interview with Lynn Russworm13 Music on the East Coast by Jerry Murphy16 Ode To Bill Monroe17 Open Mike18 Interview with Mike O’Reilly19 Interview with Melissa Sherman21 Songwriting Rant24 Music “Biz” by Gary Hubbard25 Political Correctness Rant - Bob Cherry26 R.I.P. John Renne27 Organizational Member Listing29 Advertising Rates30 PresidentDenis Chadbourn 705-776-7754 Vice President Dave Porter613-721-0535 SecretaryLeann Chadbourn TreasurerRolly Aucoin905-635-1818 DIRECTORS Elaine Bouchard(MOBS) Gord Devries519-668-0418 Murray Hale705-472-2217 Mike Kirley519-613-4975 Sue Malcom604-215-276 Wilson Moore902-667-9629 Jerry Murphy902-883-7189 Advertising Manager: B MAC has an immediate requirement for a volunteer to help us to contact and present advertising op- portunities to potential clients. The job would entail approximately 5 hours per month and would consist of compiling a list of potential clients from among the bluegrass community, such as event-producers, bluegrass businesses, music stores, radio stations, bluegrass bands, music manufacturers and other interested parties. You would then set up a systematic and organized methodology for making contact and presenting the BMAC program. Please contact Mike Kirley or Gord Devries if you are interested in becoming part of the team.1 Martha White got it right! The name, Martha White, has been synonymous with bluegrass music for generations. Why? In 1899 Richard Lindsey founded Nashville’s Royal Flour Mill. He named his finest flour, Martha White, after his daughter. With an advertising bud- get of $25 per week, the Martha White brand sponsored live radio broadcasts from the Grand ole Opry. Thence in 1953, the compa- ny hired the then unknown band of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, to barnstorm the South with the Martha White Bluegrass Express—a music show that toured local festivals, while promoting Martha White flour and corn meal. The corn meal, Hot Rize, became the inspiration for a bluegrass band of that name featuring Tim O’Brien, Pete Wernick, Charles Sawtelle, and Nick Forster. Martha White’s phenomenal socio- logical success is directly attributed to their early support for bluegrass music. It has built generations and generations of loyal customers... because the company had the fore- sight to tap into, what remains, a very affordable grassroots advertis- ing medium. The longevity of the Martha white brand is due to the exposure received in front of live audiences, at concerts, on the ra- dio, and later, on tv. What business could not use the type of success Martha has enjoyed for nearly a century? In Canada, the opportunity for cor- porate partnership remains largely under-utillized. As evidenced by the Martha model, there is huge potential for using bluegrass music to brand a company and to grow a customer base. Some festivals enjoy a mutually beneficial rela- tionship with business, for example the Valley Festival in Renfrew. But a sign at a festival is merely one fret on a long neck. Tour sponsorship, corporate diddys, and heck, who among us would not want to tour around on the Martha White tour bus. But baby steps. Although the list is limitless, many types of businesses are natural- ly situated, to use bluegrass as a branding tool. Among them are ag- ricultural feed and seed companies, pet supplies, etc. For a century, Martha White has been synony- mous with bluegrass. Perhaps your company may not enjoy the same success as the Martha White brand, but wouldn’t it be fabulous if peo- ple thought of your company, when they heard a bluegrass song? You can get your name out in front of new audiences very inexpensively, and be hailed as a good corporate citizen. Would you like to support arts and culture, while deriving benefit as a sponsor? Would you like to advertise on a bluegrass radio show? We can help you with all these and more. Call us or visit our website www.bluegrassmusic.ca. Check out the bands. Call them up and hire them for your next function. The value, the buzz it creates, and the long-term effect it will have on people’s memories, will pay off! Denis Chadbourn PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE2 Just came back from the Totten- ham Festival. I was two trailers from bass player, John Renne. John crossed over Jordan after a picking session late Thursday night. The last tune he picked was “Grandfather’s Clock”, which has a bass solo. I had just seen him and Bill White put on a great show at the Legion. All I can say is he was a quiet smiling gentleman for all the years I knew him. And he passed in the midst of friends playing the music he loved so dearly. We will miss you John. Rest in Peace. This issue is about songwriting. I managed to interview Lynn Russ- worm, Mike O’Reilly, and Melissa Sherman, all accomplished Cana- dian songwriters. They were most generous of their time with me, and had lots of hints to give aspir- ing musicians. Consider their ideas and learn how it is done. They have lots of experience. Something new this issue for you: I managed to find some rants. I have been following Bob Cherry and “The Boman” for years on the net. I subscribe to “The List” that comes out of The University of Kentucky almost on a daily basis. These fellows tell it like it is, and I’m sure you will find their views stimulating for thought, even if you do not agree. Feel free to comment by dropping us a line or email. mikekirley@gmail.com Their opinions are not necessarily those of the editor.! Back to songwriting. Here’s my two cents. First, go somewhere new, like a local park you have never been before. Take your guitar. Sit somewhere where you are alone. Pick a word phrase you like. i.e. “I just thought you should know…” Play a chord in a key you like and repeat this phrase over and over until another thought comes. When you get four lines, write them down and put the chords over the words. Now for the chorus; it should go up higher on the scale, rising out of the verse as it were. And it should have a “hook” that people will remember. It is nice to use certain vowels, like the sound “o”. I think that is the best vowel to sing. “Let It Go”, by Disney has just received 265,000,000 hits on Youtube as of June 26. “Rain and Snow”, by Del McCoury has a great chorus on the “o” vowel. “Georgia Rose” is another one…”go…snow… rose….” These words work for sing- ing long and loud and with tone. How about Jimmy Martin on “Now dooooooooo’nt forget me little darlin’ while I’m growin’ old and grey”? Have a good one. Mike EDITOR’S MESSAGE Anyone recognize the little guy? Early Bluegrass Enthusiast? Mando Art?3 The following article was published in the November 2009 Issue of Country Music News, P.O. Box 7323, Ottawa, ON K1L 8E4. Ph: 613-745-6006. Research and compilation by Larry Delaney, Publisher and Editor of the monthly magazine. A CMT SPECIAL FEATURE Canadian-born songwriters are renowned internationally for penning some of the most popular songs recorded by Nashville artists. In fact, CMN annually (January issue) publishes a listing of songs recorded during the year by Nashville artists.Typically, that annual CMN feature makes reference to “country” recordings, but it should be noted that many Canadian songwriters have also contributed to the American “Bluegrass” scene.In order to provide an accurate overview of the depth of Canadian songwriter’s involvement in the American bluegrass recording scene, CMN has compiled this extensive listing of songwriter’s credits in Bluegrass music. Unlike the ‘country’ side of things where numerous songs written by Canadian songwriters are ‘charted’ on the Billboard Country charts, seldom does a Canadian bluegrass songwriter get to see his/her song reach the ‘charts’ in the USA. Bluegrass Unlimited the bible of bluegrass music for the past four decades publishes a monthly Top 30 ‘National Bluegrass Survey’ hit chart, the only one of its kind, and seldom does a song written by a Canadian song- writer find its way to that chart ... however, there have been exceptions. LIMITED CHART ACTION NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF SONGS RECORDED. Likely the only Canadian-written song ever to top the Blue- grass Unlimited hit chart came in modern times when James King scored with the #1 hit 30 Years Of Farming, a tune penned byFred Eaglesmith (b. Hamilton, Ontario). Just recently there was a surprise entry on that chart when the bluegrass group The Circuit Riders made it on to the B.U. charts with a bluegrass version of the Neil Young penned song Powderfinger. While Canadian songwriter action on the U.S. bluegrass charts is somewhat of a rarity, it is not because of a lack of songs recorded, as is attested to in the following list. CANADIAN SONGWRITERS RECORDED BY U.S. BLUEGRASS BANDS Fred Eaglesmith4 GORDON LIGHTFOOT SONGS FAVORITES WITH U.S. BLUEGRASS BANDS It is not surprising to find the songs of Gordon Lightfoot (b. Orillia, Ontario) being the most prominent of this list. Quite early in his career, Lightfoot’s songs were covered by bluegrass art- ists like Mac Wiseman, and Tony Rice who record- ed entire albums of Gordon Lightfoot songs. (See CMT June 2009 for special feature on “The songs of Gordon Lightfoot”). At latest count, there have been some 75 cuts by U.S. bluegrass artists of a Gordon Lightfoot song. Another song that has frequently been recorded by U.S. Bluegrass artists is the Don Devaney (b. Halifax, N.S.) tune, “Listening To The Rain”, which at last count had been covered nine times. Adam Mitchell’s (Ontario) popular tune “Out Among The Stars”, noted best for versions by country artists Merle Haggard, Joe Sun, Waylon Jennings, etc. has been cut by some seven differ- ent bluegrass bands, including the legendary Seldom Scene. There are many oddities among this listing. Canadian songwriter Paul Anka(b. Ottawa, Ontario), noted more for his Pop songs, had his Buddy Holly popularized nugget “It Doesn’t Matter Any More” recorded by a variety of U.S. Bluegrass bands and Leonard Cohen (b. Montreal, QC), also better known for his Pop songs, had his tune “Tonight Will Be Fine” recorded by the fabled duo Flatt & Scruggs. Flatt & Scruggs also scored a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Country charts with the bluegrass-flavoured song”Just Ain’t”, a tune co-written by Canadian husband/wife team ofGinger & Hal Willis (b. Rouyn, QC). Folk/Rocker Robbie Robertson (b. Brantford, ON) of The Band fame has also seen several of his songs cut by U.S. Bluegrass artists. One of the latest cuts by a U.S. Bluegrass artist of a Canadian-penned song comes from award-winning musician Randy Kohrs who has recorded the song “Quicksand”, written by Codie Prevost (b. Rose Valley, SK). Kohrs has entitled his latest album with Prevost’s song. CANADIAN SONGWRITERS RECORDED BY U.S. BLUEGRASS BANDS, CON’T Adam Mitchell Gordon Lightfoot5 Ward AllenMaple Sugar SweetheartMac Wiseman Leroy AndersonThere’s a Treasure In HeavenDoyle Lawson & Quicksilver Paul AnkaIt Doesn't Matter AnymoreThe Grass Cats It Doesn’t Matter AnymoreLare Williams It Doesn’t Matter AnymoreFrances Mooney It Doesn’t Matter AnymoreKukuruza Lee BachTalking To Your PictureScenic Route Someone’s ChildTim Graves Borrowed AngelBobby Osborne South PaBobby Osborne Blue Mountain MelodyLarry Sparks Polly BeauchampRebels Ye RestSeldom Scene Victoria BanksSittin’ On A GoldmineMarty Raybon Willie P. BennettWhite LineJohn Starling White LineJonathon Edwards Ray BonnevilleForty Nine Keeps on Talkin’Tim O’Brien Norm BowserRoad To JerichoCharlie Waller & The Country Gentlemen Road To JerichoThe Principals Keep Following MosesCharlie Waller & The Country Gentlemen Keep Following MosesThe Principals Lisa BrokopThe Day Before YouMelonie Cannon Barry BrownCarpenter of WoodBluegrass Cardinals Carpenter of WoodBrush Arbor It’s Lonely I Can’t StandWilliams & Clark Expedition Alfred BryanA Cradle In BethlehamBass Mountain Boys A Cradle In BethlehamVince Gill Lorne BuckMountains & MemoriesThe Country Gentlemen Mountains & MemoriesSouthern Rail Mountains & MemoriesCurley McCormick Julie ChadbourneA Sinner’s PleaThe Rarely Herd Tears From My Broken HeartThe Rarely Herd Kerry ChaterI Know A Heartache When I See OneThe Grass Cats John ClinchArrow Through My HeartLost Highway Thanks AgainSally Jones Bruce CockburnOne Day I’ll WalkFront Line Leonard CohenTonight Will Be FineFlatt & Scruggs Jim Cuddy/Greg Keelor5 Days In MaySalamander Crossing Clint CurtissAngel In DisguiseCharlie Monroe Angel In DisguiseBill Monroe CANADIAN SONGWRITERS RECORDED BY U.S. BLUEGRASS BANDS, CON’T6 Don DevaneyListening To The RainThe Osborne Brothers Listening To The RainSpecial Consensus Listening To The RainFrances Mooney Listening To The RainCrossfire Listening To The RainIdle Time Listening To The RainPam Gadd Listening To The RainRonnie Reno Listening To The RainClearwater Connection Listening To The RainBlue Shades Comin’ Home To KentuckyKane’s River Comin’ Home To KentuckyCabin Fever Band Comin’ Home To KentuckyDoc & Merle Watson Fred Eaglesmith30 Years Of FarmingJames King Flowers In The DellJames King John DeereArt Stevenson The RocketArt Stevenson Wish I Was A Freight TrainBlue Moon Rising Wish I Was A Freight TrainThe McLains CarterRalph Stanley II Wilder Than HerRalph Stanley III Shirley EikhardSomething To Talk AboutLonesome Road Tammy FassaertJust Passin’ ThroughAmy Gallatin Roy ForbesStill A FoolLaurie Lewis Ring The Bells At MidnightCathy Kallick David FranceyTwo Faced LoveDel McCoury Mill TownsDel McCoury Mill TownsThe Wright Kids Mill TownsDiamond Hill Station Wind In The WiresKane’s River Gilles GodardTrains I MissedBalsam Range Gary ‘Pig’ GoldFamily TreeDixie Bee-Liners Carl GoodmanSatan’s ChainsRalph Stanley Satan’s ChainsThe Isaac Family Satan’s ChainsNew Harvest Satan’s ChainsThe Principals She Wore Pretty DressesThe Principals She Wore Pretty DressesCharlie Waller & The Country Gentlemen Is There Room In His KingdomNew Harvest Slim GordonPistol Packin’ PreacherMac Wiseman CANADIAN SONGWRITERS RECORDED BY U.S. BLUEGRASS BANDS, CON’TNext >