Tuff Profit

Hello everyone!

Wow! A lot has been going on in the Camp these days so I thought I would drop you a line and catch you up!
This Saturday is the big Ramona Street Dance. A fund raiser for the local Fire Fighters! With three bands to rock your socks off all night long. We kick off the music around 6:30pm with West Haven, then follow by Deeper. After you catch your second wind , Tuff Profit will hit the Stage!
Bring your lawn chairs with family in tow for a wonderful night!
May 5th Cinco De May, we head to Davis,OK to kick the first of many great concerts that will be held at Oklahoma's newest outdoor venue, Washita Hideaway! One mile from Turner Falls,this is a huge venue in gods country. Brand new covered 60'by30' stage with wonderful camp grounds next to a river. Holds up to 15,000 souls. We will be performing with Solomon Vine and Texas Jack!
check it out http://www.washitahideaway.net/ .
May 8th we Headline at the Wild Horse Saloon in Tulsa, Ok This Venue will blow you away!
May 25th We will team up with Josh Huckle and the Going Nowher Band at Snockers in Bartlesville,OK to see just how much Partying we can get away with in there!
May 26th back to Roxies Roost in Tahlaquah,OK to open for Hazzard, on the outdoor stage!
June 16th we been invited to perform at the Buffalo Bike Run in Miami, Ok. Opening for Keith Anderson,
Even more is coming just keep checking our web sites!
We have been pick up by new Promotion Company, Hammer DJ and Promotion out of Tulsa, Ok. They book Red Dirt Bands at all the major venues in Texas and Okla. Plus we are still with Raw Nosie Entertainment , They have another Cains Ballroom show in the works for us this summer!
Cary and Steve are writting new songs as fast as we can learn them! They have turn into a machine!
Lot's more to talk about but I will save that for the next news letter!
Be Safe- Be Smart
Peace
Danny Joe Walsh
www.tuffprofit.com

No jail for Willie Nelson on drug charge

No jail for Willie Nelson on drug charge

AP Photo/TIM LARSEN

ST. MARTINVILLE, La. (AP) -- Willie Nelson and his tour manager were spared jail time Tuesday after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor count of marijuana possession.

Nelson and tour manager David Anderson, along with Nelson's sister, Bobbie Nelson, and two drivers, were issued citations on Sept. 18 after state troopers said they found marijuana and hallucinogenic mushrooms on the country legend's tour bus during a commercial-vehicle inspection on Interstate 10.

State District Judge Paul deMahy fined Nelson and Anderson $1,024 each and put both on probation for six months. As part of a plea agreement, the citation against Bobbie Nelson was dismissed.

St. Martin Parish Assistant District Attorney Chester Cedars said he dismissed the citations against the two drivers because there was no indication they "had anything to do with the contraband."

Word spread quickly that Nelson was in this small southern Louisiana town, and a crowd of about 25 fans gathered outside to wait for the entertainer after his brief court appearance. When he emerged, Nelson obliged, shaking hands, signing scraps of paper and posing for photographs.

"Thank y'all," he said, waving as he climbed into a waiting car.

© 2007 The Associated Press.

'Idol' Moments: Doolittle's performance inspires

'Idol' Moments: Doolittle's performance inspires

By MATT GLEASON World Scene Writer
4/25/2007

Somewhere in a destitute neighborhood in America or an African village decimated by malaria, Tuesday night's special episode of "American Idol" didn't matter at all.

However, in many homes where the little ones never go hungry, Tuesday found millions of Americans wondering, "Who will get voted off this week?"

For the episode known as "Idol Gives Back," the six finalists sang inspirational songs.

Melinda Doolittle was again the best of the lot as she turned Faith Hill's ballad "There Will Come a Day" into gospel song ready for Sunday morning church.

Paula Abdul called her performance "magical." Simon Cowell said, "You absolutely made me believe you recorded it originally -- I mean that really was a vocal master class."

Hank Charles, owner of Broken Arrow studio Valcour Sound, said Doolittle looked "poised and sure of herself" and "made the soaring notes and key change seem effortless."

Charles added, "I thought she barely missed a note or two pitchwise, but her tremendous tone and presence overcame any inconsistencies."

Phil Stacey, who has family ties to Shawnee, chose Garth Brooks' "The Change" because, as he said, it "had a profound impact" on his life and reminds him of the "amazing heroism that emerged in the midst of (the Oklahoma City bombing)."

Saying that he missed his two daughters staying with their grandparents in Oklahoma, Stacey added, "Tonight, each of us are being given the opportunity to become heroes."

It was nice to hear someone mention their connection to Oklahoma. Hey, Melinda: hint, hint, nudge, nudge.

Cowell complimented Stacey on his performance and song choice, but said he would have preferred Stacey sing it with the country tone he masterfully carried off last week.

Cowell predicted Stacey could "do very well in the show because I think people like you."

Charles said of Stacey: "His voice was controlled and confident on a song that's not easy to sing. The judges and the crowd were won over, and hopefully his last two performances will move him forward in the competition."

Chris Richardson did what he always does on the show as he sang Eric Clapton's "Change the World": He locked eyes with the camera like it were a hottie in a tight-fitting shirt and performed like the best karaoke singer out of Virginia.

Blake Lewis' choice of John Lennon's "Imagine" was appro priate for the sentimental night, but he's no genius in circle-framed glasses. He's just a dude on "American Idol" trying a bit too hard.

LaKisha Jones performed Fantasia's "I Believe," but as big as her voice is, that one was too big for her.

Jones once seemed a front- runner, but now she's clinging to Chris Richardson's cargo pants, dangling over oblivion. This may be her week to go.

Jordin Sparks performed Rodgers and Hammerstein's "You'll Never Walk Alone." It was so-so for me, but the judges seemed to like it.

When Sparks sang the song's final note, a great many Americans flipped the channel to see what else was on, while the poor, hungry and diseased wondered where their next meal would come from.

---

Matt Gleason 581-8473
matt.gleason@tulsaworld.com

By MATT GLEASON World Scene Writer

Rolling Stone TODAY'S TOP ROCK HEADLINES Tuesday April 24, 2007
RAP'S WAR ON WORDS RAGES ON In the wake of Don Imus's now-infamous racial slurs, Al Sharpton, Barack Obama and Russell Simmons offer ways to combat the negative aspects of hip hop lingo. Visit Rock and Roll Daily to find out more.
'LOST IN TRANSLATION' -- THE MUSICAL? Both had memorable turns in the 2003 film Lost in Translation -- now Scarlett Johansson and the Jesus and Mary Chain are rumored to be teaming up again on a stage near you. We've got the details you need to know&133;
NOW YOU CAN REALLY PLAY LIKE HENDRIX A new DVD provides note-for-note instruction on how to nail a classic Hendrix cut. Get the lowdown at Rock and Roll Daily&133;
HEAR NEW KANYE TRACKS We've got the scoop on two new jams from Kanye West, and you'll never believe who he's sampling now . . .
PETE WENTZ'S LATEST ENDEAVOR He's already got a clothing line and a social networking site -- now the Fall Out Boy bassist is adding something else to his growing list of enterprises. Hint: You'll need to be of a certain age to enjoy it&133;
For more of the latest music news, visit Rollingstone.com.
TODAY'S PICKS
READER COMMENT OF THE DAY: ROCK & ROLL DAILY: SIX WAYS TO KEEP THE CD SPINNING, FOREVER! "Kill the internet. For real. I'm saying this as a 17 year old: The internet blows. My friends download hundred upon hundreds of songs from limewire, and I think I'm the only one to have bought a CD in the last few years (I proudly own over 200) This internet is crap anyways." -- OShag (4/23/2007, 5:50 pm EST)
Post your response in the Rock and Roll Daily blog.
DAILY TRACK: FEIST - "MY MOON MY MAN" On the standout "My Moon My Man," she sounds sharp, sassy and smitten alongside a seductive, jazzy shuffle.
DAILY VIDEO: GOLDFRAPP - "RIDE A WHITE HORSE"
DAILY CD REVIEW: THE NIGHTWATCHMAN - ONE MAN REVOLUTION Rage against the machine guitarist Tom Morello pulls a reverse Dylan-at-Newport on his debut solo album by unplugging and writing thirteen songs about how shitty Bush's America is.
ARTIST OF THE DAY: FALL OUT BOY Visit the complete RollingStone.com archivefor videos, photos, interviews, reviews and more.
TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS KELLY CLARKSON, 24 DAVID J of BAUHAUS, 49 TYSON RITTER of ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS, 23 TODAY'S ROCK ON TV (ALL TIMES EST) NBC 11:35pm - Tonight Show with Jay Leno: AMY WINEHOUSE 1:35am - Last Call with Carson Daly: THE FORMAT CBS 11:35pm - The Late Show with David Letterman: CORINNE BAILEY RAE ABC 12:05am - Jimmy Kimmel Live: THE STOOGES

Mac Meier

Mac Meier, a Stillwater High School senior, recently received a music scholarship to Northern Oklahoma College. Jessica Blackburn/Stillwater NewsPress

SHS student sings, dances his way to music scholarship

Kristin Janloo Henderson
Stillwater NewsPress

Stillwater High School senior Mac Meier will be singing and dancing his way through college as he recently received a full scholarship to attend Northern Oklahoma College and an invitation to be a part of its musical show troupe, the Roustabouts Jamboree.

And as if that wasn’t enough, the soon-to-be college freshman also performed his way into the lead singer and dancer position during auditions, beating out the 13 other members of the group for the top spot.

“It’s a great opportunity,” said Meier, who has been singing since he was 9 years old as a member of the Stillwater Boys Choir. “They said they don’t usually give out this scholarship, so I know they really want me there.”

Meier said he plans to major in music theater at the two-year college in Tonkawa, then return to Stillwater to get a broadcasting degree from Oklahoma State University.

SHS Choir Director Steve Maison said the Roustabouts have become a tradition of glitz and entertainment at NOC and was created by Bill Heilmann, Maison’s former high school choir director in Cushing.

Maison also said he is not surprised that Meier was picked because of his experience and talent on stage singing and performing.

“I think it’s exciting for him,” Maison said. “I think for him it’s a means to an end and an opportunity to get his course work done and do something he loves.”

Before being chosen, Meier said he had to go through a full day of auditions that included more than 30 other hopeful students.

First, they had to sing a piece of music of their choice, and then they had to perform a dance number in front of the judges. After one-on-ones with the judges, students then spent nearly six hours in a dance choreography class before learning if they had made the group.

Meier is one of the 14 people in the group that performs internationally and on cruise ships.

Meier said it’s an honor to be picked to be lead singer and dancer but he wants to stay humble about it. Meier also said he is excited to get the opportunity to do what he loves.

“I have talent and self-confidence in myself,” he said. “I like to perform and entertain audiences and see their faces after a good show.”

The Flaming Lips

Live DVD to feature The Flaming Lips show

From Staff Reports


Grammy Award-winning "gonzo wig-lifters” The Flaming Lips will release their first live DVD, "U.F.O.s at the Zoo: The Legendary Concert in Oklahoma City,” on July 10.

Filmed at the Zoo Amphitheatre in the band's hometown on Sept. 15, 2006, the DVD captures the complete over-the-top Technicolor thrill of the band's local show before a capacity crowd of manic fans.

The track listing includes Lips favorites such as "Race for the Prize,” "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots” (Parts 1 and 2), "Do You Realize??” and a rarely performed version of "Love Yer Brain,” from 1987's "Oh My Gawd!!! ... The Flaming Lips.”

Live tracks will be interspersed with backstage sneak peeks and various absurd events of the day preparing for the homecoming spectacle.

Edgar Cruz

Cinco de Mayo event canceled

By Brandy McDonnell
Staff Writer

MIDWEST CITY — "Edgar Cruz & Amigos: A Cinco de Mayo Centennial Fiesta” has been canceled because of the death of one of the performers.

The event was scheduled for 7 p.m. May 5 at Rose State Performing Arts Theater, 6420 SE 15, Midwest City.

Acclaimed classical guitarist Ruben Romero, 60, of Santa Fe, N.M., died unexpectedly in February. Romero often performed in Oklahoma and throughout the Southwest with guitarist Edgar Cruz and dancers Shannon Calderon and Erika Reyes, all of Oklahoma City. He was scheduled to play with them at the Cinco de Mayo event.

"Out of respect for our friend ... we decided not to do a performance right now,” Calderon said. "It's very heavy on us right now. It's very heavy on us. He was like a brother to us. We were like family.”

The Oklahoma City performers initially planned to go ahead with the Cinco de Mayo event and dedicate it to Romero's memory. But they had difficulty finding someone to play in his stead.

People who bought tickets in person should return to the Civic Center Box Office. For people who bought tickets over the phone or Internet, the ticket price will be refunded to their credit card.

For more information, call the box office at 297-2264.

Music to get electronic...

Music to get electronic boost in concerts

NORMAN — The University of Oklahoma will present Inner sOUndscapes, an electroacoustic music festival April 27-28 in Catlett Music Center, 500 W Boyd. The festival will feature compositions by OU music technology students as well as works by noted composers of this genre.

Electroacoustic music is composed with the assistance of computer technology, using synthesized or pre-recorded sound diffused live from an array of loudspeakers.

The festival opens April 27 with a 7 p.m. concert featuring works by OU students. A second concert follows at 8:30 p.m. and the final concert will begin at 8 p.m. April 28. Konstantinos Karathanasis is director of OU's music technology program. All concerts are free.

For more information, call 325-2081.

American Idol

‘American Idol' padding begins to wear thin

By George Lang
The Oklahoman

Bored and testy is no way to go through life, or even for just an hour. But this is what the "Bon Voyage, Haley Scarnato” edition of "American Idol” did to me last week.

Dedicated "Idol”-philes know the drill: Wednesday night is when Fox's Super Bowl of karaoke announces who will survive to sing another week, and who gets to pack and catch the next flight to San Antonio. I was watching because two performers have Oklahoma connections, including Phil Stacey, whose in-laws live in Shawnee. He barely beat Scarnato, but I was there at 8 p.m. Wednesday with my laptop, ready to write a wrap-up if Stacey was going back to singing in the U.S. Navy Band after that night.

By the way, what if Stacey were to win? In the event that he becomes the next "American Idol,” he is still Petty Officer Third Class Stacey. I was in the Navy when David Robinson was released from his commitment and joined the San Antonio Spurs, and there was some controversy about the decision, but he was too tall to serve on submarines or fit in a cockpit. If anyone can shed light on this hypothesis regarding Stacey, let me know.

At any rate, I was settled in to report on the outcome and was shocked and appalled at how little actually happens in this weekly "A.I.” installment. Fox earned the second highest ratings of the week for that episode, and yet nothing actually happened until the final five minutes, when the results of viewer voting were revealed. Before that, it was an hour-long water-treading exercise. We had the cringe-inducing group rendition of Enrique Iglesias' "Bailamos,” Ryan Seacrest's Sanjaya Malakar baiting, Paula Abdul's typical confusion, a taped performance by Akon, a live performance by Jennifer Lopez, more commercials than anyone should see in an hour and an extended piece on Simon Cowell's philanthropic work, ostensibly proving he is not the River Styx ferry captain we all suspected.

It was padding, from Akon to Saint Simon and beyond, all the way to the results, and it is a little insulting that Fox does this every week and reaps millions of dollars, delivering only a few minutes of what can only charitably be called substance. But 26.1 million people tuned in, and which network executive is going to toy with that kind of success?

I understand its value as a cultural spectacle, but I've never been able to truly enjoy "American Idol,” and it's not because of Cowell or the generally cheesy, bread-and-circuses tone of the thing. It's because I value people who write their own songs. "American Idol” generally chooses good material for its contestants, although the Latin and country segments of the past two weeks stretched patience. But they aren't performing songs they created. It's always an interpretation of someone else's work.

Yes, some talented singers have gotten breaks on this show, principally Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson. But I'm craving an "American Idol”-like show that features singer-songwriters, not just singers. But, such a show would fail for the same reason that it's much easier for a cover band to pack a club: familiarity is comfort food.

Plus, how many self-respecting singer-songwriters would wear a "ponyhawk”?

•I have seen the future of rock 'n' roll, and its name is the Rosebuds. Last year, Gnarls Barkley's "The Last Time” and Boy Least Likely To's "Be Gentle With Me” brought back the roller-skating jam. "Get Up Get Out,” the first single from the Rosebuds' "Night of the Furies,” trumps them both for sheer disco spectacle.

Staticblog
Music, film, TV and trash by George Lang.
Click here for the blog

Lance Faulkner - Music 4 Life studio - Tecumseh

Tecumseh man ready to record Music 4 Life
By APRIL WILKERSON Shawnee News-Star

TECUMSEH, Okla. (AP) - The latest technology in the music recording industry doesn't have to be situated on a busy street shadowed by skyscrapers and driven by a frantic pace.

The rolling pink hills of rural Tecumseh can just as easily accommodate top-notch mixing boards, musical instruments and vocal rooms.

That's the dream-come-true setting for Lance Faulkner, whose Music 4 Life studio continues taking shape in the country just west of Tecumseh. Inside his studio, he has a mixing board that's the only of its kind in Oklahoma, and the capability to record everything from country to hip-hop to gospel. Outside, he's putting the finishing touches on a performing stage where he hopes to hold concerts throughout the year. It's intentional, this technology in a rural setting, because that's where people relax and do their best work, he said.

"This is something I wanted to get into as a stress reliever," said Faulkner, whose day job is designing prosthetic limbs at his business, Prosthetic Designs of Oklahoma. "I've got a slogan: 'Welcome to my world, where simplicity is needed and music calms my soul.'"

Faulkner has been in the business of making music sound good for more than a decade. He has run the sound board at concerts for artists like Gary Allan, Chad Brock, Tone Loc, Sir Mix-a-Lot and Jeff Bates. In 1990, he moved to Oklahoma and continued doing sound, even investing in his own PA system. A few years later, his equipment was stolen and he decided to quit for a while. But he couldn't stay away too long, and two years ago, he started designing his own studio on his 20 acres.

The centerpiece is his 32-channel digital mixing board, made by DigiDesign, that Faulkner says is the only of its kind in Oklahoma. It represents the industry standard used on both coasts (country duo Big & Rich has two of them, he notes), and uses the computer software ProTools.

"It's the Cadillac of the industry," Faulkner said. "It's basically a computer, and everything is operated from a keyboard. I'm finishing courses to be certified in ProTools."

The 32 channels of the mixing board allow Faulkner to lay down track on top of track, he said, as well as experiment with vocal and instrumental sounds. For example, the word "walking" can be lengthened or shortened without the singer having to re-record.

"It's the same with instruments. You have many different options," he said. "Today it's much different. It's a matter of pointing and clicking."

Faulkner also designed the rest of his Music 4 Life studio: the two vocal rooms and a "live" room where the musicians play. He keeps many instruments on site, from guitars to keyboards to acoustic and electric drums. The vocal rooms feature the latest types of microphones and are lined with cedar, an acoustic-friendly wood; acoustic foam lines the rest of the studio. He also plans an expansion that would create extra piano rooms and an echo chamber for better drum sound. Faulkner learned more studio tips during a recent trip to John Carter Cash's studio, where The Man in Black used to record, he said.

Faulkner said he hopes to attract singers of many styles and levels, from the local person with big dreams to the big star passing through the state. Mostly, he wants Music 4 Life to be a place where people can make their music without being rushed, as often happens in bigger cities, he said. He's even building his family a new home and plans to turn his existing home into a "band house" for traveling musicians.

"I want people to relax and not feel pressured to get it done in two hours," he said. "That's the whole idea of having it in the country. They can enjoy themselves, go fishing, feel at ease."

Faulkner will do most of the sound mixing himself, and he plans to hold auditions for professional musicians and background vocalists who can work as needed. He said he's ready to put his ear for music to work with the technology he's already assembled.

"Having a good ear (is the most important skill)," he said. "In the studio, I may be able to hear things that other people can't, and most people outside the studio will hear things that I can't."

Outside his studio, Faulkner is wrapping up work on a stage that is reminiscent of the Zoo Amphitheater, along with a separate deck seating area and a sound booth. Bleachers are in the works as well.

Faulkner hopes to host at least two major concerts every year, and he's already planned one for this spring. On April 14, country artist Jeff Bates (known for hits like "Long Slow Kisses") will headline a concert that starts at 7 p.m. Also performing will be Jeff Sibble and the Trailblazers, an Ada group.

Finally, Sanjaya says goodbye; only six remain

Finally, Sanjaya says goodbye; only six remain

By The Associated Press


NEW YORK — Sanjaya Malakar, the under-talented but unflappable singer who horrified and captivated millions in his improbable "American Idol” run, was voted off the show Wednesday.

When the result was announced, Malakar wiped away tears and got a big hug from LaKisha Jones, the next lowest vote-getter.

"I'm fine,” he told Ryan Seacrest. "It was an amazing experience.”

Malakar then performed one last song, "Something To Talk About.” Putting his own twist on the song, the 17-year-old known for his pretty looks and ever-changing hairstyles ad-libbed: "Let's give them something to talk about ... other than hair.”

On Tuesday night's show, Simon Cowell had slammed his performance as "utterly horrendous.” And for once, the mean judge was vindicated.

"I'm beginning to sense something here,” a grinning Cowell said when Malakar wound up in the bottom three.

Six contestants are now left: Jones, Blake Lewis, Jordin Sparks, Chris Richardson, Melinda Doolittle and Phil Stacey. Doolittle grew up in Tulsa, and Stacey's wife is from Shawnee.

Simon's expression misinterpreted

An annoyed look from Cowell as a contestant expressed sadness over the Virginia Tech shootings was drastically misinterpreted, Cowell said.

Cowell rolled his eyes and raised his eyebrows as contestant Richardson of Chesapeake, Va., followed his performance on Tuesday's show with a comment about the 32 people killed on the campus by a student.

"My hearts and prayers go out to Virginia Tech. I have a lot of friends over there. ... Be strong,” Richardson said onstage.

The camera caught Cowell's expression and showed him tapping his hand once, in apparent impatience, on the table in front of him and fellow judges Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul. In contrast, Abdul could be seen nodding in approval.

Cowell said he was talking to Abdul about Richardson's contention that he deliberately sang "Mayberry” in a nasal tone, Cowell told "American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest on Seacrest's radio show Wednesday. "I was saying to Paula, ‘What does he mean, he sang nasally on purpose? I didn't understand what he was saying.'”

Brown's trust owes $70,000 for funeral

Brown's trust owes $70,000 for funeral

By KATRINA A. GOGGINS
Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Jeff Christensen

AIKEN, S.C. (AP) -- The trust handling James Brown's estate owes more than $70,000 for his elaborate funeral and care of his body for nearly three months before it was laid to rest in March, according to the funeral director who handled the soul singer's arrangements.

"I'm just waiting on them to get some of this mess straightened out," said Charles Reid, manager of the C.A. Reid Funeral Home in Augusta, Ga., which handled Brown's funeral. "I really haven't pushed the issue, even though I'd like to have my money."

Some of the funeral costs have already been paid and trustees have mailed a check to Reid this week covering the outstanding balance, Brown's longtime adviser and trustee Buddy Dallas said Wednesday.

"It was the children that ran up a funeral bill of over $150,000, not the trustees," Dallas said. "We've done our very best to do what we could to accommodate the creditors. There's no great big pile of money or surplus of money just lying around."

Louis Levenson, an attorney for Brown's six adult children, said Wednesday it is the trust's responsibility to pay for the funeral costs, which he considers a "reasonable" amount.

Brown's children filed a motion this week asking a judge to provide accounting records of Brown's trust and estate before and after the singer's death, Levenson said.

Brown's children also filed two other motions Tuesday. One claims Brown's trustees have been trying to sell off some of their father's assets against court orders and the second motion asks a judge to modify his previous order that appointed two special administrators to help Brown's trustees settle his estate, giving them more control.

Dallas called the allegations in the motion "bogus and baseless."

"The trustees and the personal representatives are certainly not going to do anything - as much scrutiny as this has been given - improper, inappropriate and certainly not illegal," Dallas said.

A hearing is scheduled for later this month on the motions filed by Brown's children and a motion filed on behalf of the singer's partner, Tomi Rae Hynie. She is asking a judge to appoint a special guardian for her son, the first step toward determining the child's paternity.

An e-mail and a message left for Robert Rosen, Hynie's attorney, was not immediately returned Wednesday.

Brown died Dec. 25 in an Atlanta hospital and his body was placed in a crypt at the Beech Island home of one of his daughters March 10.

The crypt might not be Brown's final resting place. Brown's family has said a public mausoleum will be built and its location will be announced once it is completed.

© 2007 The Associated Press

Yale scholar finds rare art of ‘line singing'

Listen to line singing by members of Thewarlee Indian Baptist Church

By Judy Gibbs Robinson

Staff Writer

At a little backwoods church in Oklahoma, a Yale University musicologist was surprised to discover Muscogee (Creek) Indians singing a nearly obsolete style of worship service. Called "line singing,” the musical church service originated in Scotland in the 1600s, came to the United States with Scottish immigrants and was picked up by black slaves.

It consists of one person singing a line of Psalms, which the rest of the congregation then repeats, adding their own harmonies.

Until the Creek church service two years ago, Yale scholar Willie Ruff thought the history ended with a few surviving pockets of line-singing churches among Scottish descendants in Appalachia and blacks in Alabama.

The American Indians added a whole new twist — linking white, black and red in the New World to Scottish Highlanders in the Old World.

"It spans the arc of American music history,” said Hugh Foley, a music professor at Rogers State University in Claremore, who connected Ruff to the Muscogee (Creek) churches.

International conference

All three groups — black, white and American Indian — will demonstrate their versions today and Friday at the second international conference on line singing at Yale. Twenty-two members of several rural Oklahoma churches will share the conference stage with members of the Indian Bottom Old Regular Baptist Association from southeast Kentucky and the Sipsey River Primitive Baptist Association from Alabama.

"This is one of those things that maybe once in a lifetime comes up,” said Eugene Harjo, pastor of Hutchee Chuppa Indian Baptist Church in rural Okfuskee County. Until Ruff expressed interest, "it was just a Creek thing. That's what I thought,” Harjo said.

Scholars of music, sociology, political science and history also will weigh in. Katherine Smith of Dundee University in Scotland will talk about early Scottish missionaries who brought line singing along with Christianity to the Creeks in their pre-removal homelands in Georgia, Florida and Alabama. Foley will talk about the content and form of Creek hymns.

Yale also hosted the first line-singing conference in 2005, when Ruff was unaware of the Indian connection.

His first clue came in an e-mail from Jane Bardis, a Muscogee (Creek) woman from Tulsa. She had heard a radio story about the conference and wanted to know why the Creeks were not invited because they, too, did line singing.

A week later, Ruff flew to Oklahoma to investigate and found himself listening to the traditional Scottish service sung in Creek at the Hutchee Chuppa church.

"Of course the language is different. What is alike, really, is the passion and the deep commitment to this form of worship,” Ruff said.

Foley, a jazz scholar, believes the Creek version of line singing represents a unique place in American history.

"It is one of the earliest — maybe the earliest — truly American music because it's a synthesis of all three — Anglo, African and American Indian,” he said.

Except for the enclaves Ruff has discovered, line singing died out as hymn books and organized choirs grew, beginning in the 19th century.

"It's really almost extinct everywhere. We may not be able to save it, but we can give it one hell of a funeral,” Ruff said.

"This is one of those things that maybe once in a lifetime comes up. It was just a Creek thing. That's what I thought.”

Eugene Harjo, pastor of Hutchee Chuppa Indian Baptist Church in rural Okfuskee County

Sanjaya finally gets heave-ho

'Idol' Moments: His Hairness Sanjaya finally gets heave-ho

Malakar

By MATT GLEASON World Scene Writer
4/19/2007

Wednesday night, there was a girl out there in America with a broken heart. You remember her, right? The darling tween who sobbed for Sanjaya Malakar a while back as if he were the second coming of Elvis.

Yes, little girl, your idol is gone, shipped back home in a box marked "Do Not Return -- Ever."

Holy Vidal Sassoon, it finally happened! His Hairness is gone.

America, I've questioned your taste for weeks now, but you finally came to your senses when 38 million votes were cast to send him and his bag of hairstyling products home.

After Ryan Seacrest gave him the bad news, Malakar wept but went on to sing his farewell song, "Something to Talk About," with a new chorus: "Let's give them something to talk about -- other than hair."

It was terrible and cheesy, and it just doesn't matter. He's gone.

Geez, now that I think about it, "American Idol" sure is going to be boring without Malakar to kick around. No longer will we be able to wonder what whacked-out hairstyle he'll come up with next, or what song he'll choose to brutally strangle the life from.

Man, he's actually gone. Huh, in just a few paragraphs I've gone from overjoyed to a bit sad that my favorite punching bag's gotten the old heave-ho.

Come back, Sangie. The girl with the broken heart and I miss you.

---

Matt Gleason 581-8473
matt.gleason@tulsaworld.com

By MATT GLEASON World Scene Writer

The Zig Gazette

The Zig Gazette

Vol. 7 #10

The Zigs’ website is TheZigsBand.com

The Zigs are: Jim Ziegler, Bill Raffensperger,

Frank McPeters, Mike Johnson, Jim Downing

Saturday: Jazmo’s Bourbon Street Café, Cherry Street

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Unsung Heroes ~

We’ve written here before about Bert Russell Berns. He was a songwriter and producer for Atlantic Records Corp. Even most musicians have no idea who he was. Well, he wrote all these songs: A Little Bit Of Soap, Cry To Me, Everybody Needs Somebody To Love, Twist And Shout, I Want Candy, Here Comes The Night, Are You Lonely For Me, Baby?, Hang On Sloopy, and Piece Of My heart, to name just a few.

He also produced all the original versions of those songs and some of the covers too. Solomon Burke, Lulu, The McCoys, Janis Joplin, The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Erma Franklin, The Beatles, The Isley Brothers, Otis Redding, Al Green, Buddy Guy, and Faith Hill recorded his songs.

I heard a band in 1967 in New York doing Are You Lonely For Me? The first time they played it, I loved it. I wish I could write a song like that; I’m still trying. It wasn’t a big hit, it never got on Tulsa radio at all, but Freddie Scott’s original had gotten some play on the east coast. I’ve sung it in most of the bands I’ve been in since and it always works, though most people have never heard it. It’s on the 1980 Flying Horse album.

Berns had a serious heart problem as a youth. Perhaps he knew he wouldn’t live to a ripe old age. He was certainly extraordinarily creative up until his early death at 38 in 1967.

There is now a Bert Berns web site, Bertberns.com. You can read all about him there and see his immense discography. There are links to other articles about this talented and soulful man.

I signed the guest book and was honored and thrilled to receive a personal reply from Berns’ son, thanking me for appreciating his dad.

BANG records was an Atlantic subsidiary and the initials are the principals at Atlantic: Bert, Ahmet, Neshui, and Gerry. There is going to be a documentary film about him, probably a Broadway show featuring his songs, and there is a push to get this gifted man into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. If anyone deserves it, he does.

Saturday: Jazmo’s Bourbon Street Café, Cherry Street

Tulsa Hippie Chick

‘Twas our European correspondent, Wynton Bluitt, who reconnected us with a long lost protégé, Ms. Kelly Sisson, ne Kelly Ellis.

At the end of the sixties there was sort of another revival of acoustic music and several coffeehouses operated here in town. Someone asked what kind of coffee they served; it wasn’t really about coffee. No, these aren’t the coffee-snob houses of today; these were bar alternatives, frequented by those who generally preferred more esoteric refreshments.

These joints were mainly about the music. Some of the early local songwriters that played were Keith Slane, Charlie Rayl, Geoff Bond, Sam Routh, Randy Crouch, Bill Baldwin, and Oister – which was Dwight Twilley and Phil Seymour.

Little Kelly was just a rebellious teen who was hanging out and being corrupted by Don Duca, Jack Wolfe, and David Tanner. Fool that she is, she was inspired to a career in music and songwriting. She moved to Louisville in 74 and is now in Jacksonville Florida. As we speak, her band is doing a Grateful Dead set with the Jacksonville symphony orchestra. Our weirdness certainly rubbed off on her.

Check her out and listen to her music at kellysisson.com. The Folk Salad boys liked what they heard, so they may be spinning her disc soon.

The Zigs Web Site is happening. The address actually comes up on The Music Store’s space. Larry York, one of our great friends, gave up some of his web space for us. He’s renting more than he can use so he allowed us to put our pages on his service. You can’t beat a deal like that. And, ahem, you can’t beat the deals at The Music Store either. It is not allowed. John Hoff just got a ridiculous deal there on a new set of Gretsch drums. We will not tell you just how ridiculous it was, but it was not even funny.

Gazintas

We heard from Frank Ray! Frank has not been in the public eye much in recent years, but he is not about to lay down his guitar. He lives out south of Bixby and is building up quite a studio and a library of original music. Ask any guitar player and they will tell you that Frank is one of the best around. Of course, he’s hopelessly insane, but it’s a good kind of insanity.

Eric Grimshaw forwarded us an inquiry from a Tulsan in Colorado named Teb Blackwell. He and Rhett Lake have been working on a discography of Oklahoma music and they have quite a list of Okie singles already. Actually several people are trying to consolidate our musical history. David Arnett would like to have more posted at Tulsatoday.com where my series Tulsa Rocks can be read. Stephen Todoroff has The Tulsa Area Music Archive at Preservemusic.org and he is seriously looking at some space for a Tulsa music museum. If any of you have any information regarding Tulsa bands of the past, feel free to send it here and we’ll disseminate it to these resources. If all these projects get together, we might have quite a story to tell. This is a labor of love; no one seems to be trying to make a buck out of this. It could be a good selling point for the future of music in this region. Oklahoma continues to produce music that is as good or better than anything in the market place.

Here are a couple of questions: who all was in The Urchins, who was in Revolution and who was in Home Cookin? If you know of any bands from around here that put out records, we’d like to have that information too.

Saturday: Jazmo’s Bourbon Street Café, Cherry Street

Zig Movie Viewer¸¸¸

Classic Albums: Electric Ladyland – Jimi Hendrix is our pick this time. This features everyone who was involved in the making of the album; Chas Chandler, Mitch & Noel, Buddy Miles, Steve Winwood, Jack Cassidy, Mike Finnegan, Dave Mason, Eddie Kramer and others. This is a classic movie now, it’s ten years old but we just ran onto it.

Kramer sits at the board and mixes the tracks as we listen, showing various parts that we might not have noticed before. He also divulges some of the tricks he and Jimi came up with. It’s a study in contrasts: Gypsy Eyes was on its 40^th take when Chas said “Goodbye. House Of the Rising Sun” was first take and cost ten pounds.”

Nothing was said about “Come On, Part One” which has one of the fastest licks ever recorded, nine bars into the solo.

Surprisingly, “Rainy Day Dream Away” was pretty much a live track that was not even rehearsed. Mike Finnegan tells all about it. Buddy Miles says it’s the best track of his career. There is no bass on the song; it’s Finnegan’s left hand on the Hammond.

Side four is one of the great album sides of all time: Still Raining, House Burning Down, All Along The Watchtower and Voodoo Child (slight return). The latest CD version is better than the original release: Kramer has remastered all the Hendrix albums since Jimi’s family regained control. The first test pressing said “Electric Landlady”!

Bar Wars

You’ve heard about them, but it really happens, like at that west side joint we’ve been playing; that we WERE playing. The owner seems like a nice enough guy, to us anyway, and appears to know what he’s doing. We played out there three or four times and the crowds were a little bigger each time. We’re good at holding on to a crowd, too. People who come in usually stay. Usually.

This last time we played there we had the best early crowd yet. It was looking like it was going to be a good night. Suddenly, during the second set, most of the crowd left. Some of them came back later. We were puzzled.

Well, there’s a strip club next door. That doesn’t sound like direct competition to us. The kind of person who goes there isn’t likely to leave to see a bunch of old hippies play classic rock songs. In fact, isn’t a little shared business a good thing? It’s possible that some of our listeners might poke their heads in there to see what was happening.

What happened was the management of the topless joint sent someone into our venue and passed out free tickets to the Pat Benatar show at The Osage Casino, so a good part of our crowd left. The neighbors evidently spent a good chunk of change just to be mean. Go figure.

Saturday: Jazmo’s Bourbon Street Café, Cherry Street

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FLOTSAM

Our first appearance at the Arrowhead yacht Club was a raging success. We had to set up before dinner; “This isn’t a gig, it’s a career.” joked Bill. After we set up, we ate at Frosty & Edna’s by the dam and went to Frank’s where he forced us to watch comedy videos of The Smokehouse Band. Ok, some of it was very funny.

The Yachters loved us, of course, as did the owner. We had as many dancers as we get at Mooney’s, maybe more. We’ll be back.

Hawaiian music great Don Ho passed away last week. He was not a nappy-headed Ho.

A $90,000 Bosendorfer Piano fell off a truck in England last week. These are the Rolls-Royce of pianos, hand made in Austria. Keyboard players all over the world were screaming in pain.

Saturday: Jazmo’s Bourbon Street Café, Cherry Street

Preview: Randy Genét Benefit ~

Want to see The Jumpshotz, Glenn R. Townsend, Steve Pryor, Wanda Watson, The Plumbers, The Tulsa Boyz, David Dover with Rocky Frisco, and Minnie Moore for ten bucks and feel good about it?

The Randy Genét Benefit is percolating along nicely. Ms. Watson is the musical director, and she’s lined up a variety of good bands. Terry Dikeman has so far amassed over ten thousand dollars worth of musical gear to be auctioned off, so if you need some stuff, here’s a chance to get some bargains that you can also write off as charitable donations. You can’t beat a deal like that, unless they paid you twice to haul it away and then did the hauling for you.

The big gig is April 29 at The VFW on Sixth across from Centennial Park, staring at 2 PM. Contributions can go now to Randy Genet Fundraising Account at Security Bank PO Box 47136 Tulsa OK 74147.

We wish we’d known in advance, but last Saturday 94.1 was doing a “Pay for Play” to help renowned Tulsa DJ Jan Dean. Jan is one of the greats in local radio and has a rare brain cancer. She is heading to Texas for some new therapy and if you’d like to contribute, contact 94.1 FM.

Saturday: Jazmo’s Bourbon Street Café, Cherry Street

Disclaimer: For entertainment purposes only. Not to be taken seriously or internally. Intentional misuse of contents may result in serious injury. Feedback may be included. The Zigs urge you to send this to everyone you have ever met and even people you don’t know. The Zig Gazette is published whenever it comes out by The Nigerian Rigging Company, LTD. If you would like to receive it by email or if you have changed your address, send an email with “Fresh Meat” in the subject line to ziggazette@sbcglobal.net

Celtic Oklahoma

Episode 6 of Celtic Oklahoma is out!

"Dustin" dmusica@cox.net earlymusican

Boru's Ghost is our guest on the latest episode of Celtic Oklahoma. I
had the pleasure of hanging out with them at their practice this last
Friday (Friday the 13th, most appropriately). I am afraid their
drummer Van Williams could not make it, but I am sure I will corner
him sometime for an interrogation..oh, I mean interview.

To hear and/or down load this episode, go to: http://
celticoklahoma.podbean.com
(e-mail me at dmusica@cox.net if you have any problems downloading it).

This was the first time that Celtic Oklahoma has recorded out side of
OKC! I hope that becomes more common because I thought I was going to
have to change the name to Celtic OKC ;-) It looks like Roger Graham
has been busy getting this podcast new recordings, so stay tuned for
more of his interviews! Next week will feature the "Mega Band" from
the Scissor Tail Contra Dance group that we have here in the City
(yes, I made sure my mic was working correctly this time).

If you have any questions, suggestions, or want to be on the show,
please contact me at: dmusica@cox.net

Thanks and enjoy!

Dustin Cooper
Celtic Oklahoma

From a friend....

When Joni Mitchell was 22, she was a homeless folksinger - the courts took away her 2 year old daughter and the daughter was adopted out. Then Joni Mitch0ell wrote the legendary song, "BOTH SIDES NOW".

One stanza of her brilliant prose...

“Dreams and schemes and circus crowds, I’ve looked at life that way.
But now old friends are acting strange, they shake their heads, they say
I've changed. Something is lost but something's gained in living every day"

SO FOR ME -- Life is a gift, HOWEVER, it is not a Disneyland ride. No one gets out alive.. spiritually maybe, you be the judge...

Love and much Respect,

Gilbert

Fla. gov. considering Morrison pardon

Fla. gov. considering Morrison pardon

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON
Associated Press Writer

AP Photo

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Gov. Charlie Crist said he was seriously considering pardoning music icon Jim Morrison's 1970 indecent exposure and profanity convictions stemming from a Miami concert the year before.

"He died when he was 27. That's really a kid, when you think about it, and obviously he was having some challenges," Crist said Monday, after attending a rally against global warming with rock star Sheryl Crow. "There's some dispute about how solid the case was."

Morrison's arrest generated a lot of attention at the time and is still a part of the Morrison legend. He was drunk at the concert and police said he exposed himself, which Morrison denied.

Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek said Tuesday that he never saw Morrison expose himself and none of the more than 100 photos entered into evidence showed Morrison's genitals.

"He taunted the audience. 'I'm going to show you! I'm going to show it to you!' Then he took his shirt off, held it in front of him like a bullfighter's cape, wiggled it around as if there was something going on behind it," Manzarek said.

Morrison appealed the convictions, but was found dead in a Paris bathtub before it could be heard.

"Trying to clear his name and then he dies. If you have a heart pounding in your chest, that has to tug at you a little bit. It should," Crist said. "To have that much talent and to have it sucked out, even if there was some self-involvement ... that's very sad and very tragic."

The issue was brought to Crist's attention by Dave Diamond, a Doors fan from Dayton, Ohio who wrote the governor last month.

Crist said he has his legal team reviewing the case and determining the procedure for granting a pardon. There are no procedures for posthumous pardons.

Manzarek was elated that Crist is considering the pardon.

"You know what would really be nice? Florida is Jim's home state. He's a Florida boy. Wouldn't it great if Florida could finally say, 'Hey, native son, Your name is cleared. We recognize you as a young American poet,'" he said.

© 2007 The Associated Press.

Green Lemon

Tour News The Winter/Spring Tour was off the hook! We had a blast playing for kynd folks all across the southern United States and meeting so many new friends. We were on the road for three months without a pause and loved every minute of it. We're taking a quick break for a week and then we'll hit the road again. We'll be kicking this next tour off with a smokin 4-20 run through the central US. Shows are being added to the tour schedule all the time, so keep checking our website, MySpace page and Jambase.com calendars. GL Concert Fix Here are a few songs from our live archives until we're in your area. Give a listen to Different Faces, Smack by the Pound, Love, Love, Love, and My Favorite Lick. Happy Listening! Smokin 4-20 Run We're keeping it all green as we celebrate 4-20 with six big shows! Catch one of the dance parties in Columbia, MO; Hattiesburg, MS; Jackson, MS; Springfield, MO; Chicago, IL and Green Bay, WI. In Chicago we'll be playing as part of the Green Apple Festival which is taking place simultaneously in New York City, San Francisco and Chicago. The big 4-20 party will be at Martin's in Jackson, MS. BTW, did we mention that 4-20 is Steve's birthday? It's gonna be crazy! Drinko de Mayo We'll be home in Colorado for a big Cinco de Mayo party at Quixote's True Blue. So round up your amigos and get out to Quixote's for the big Verde Limon fiesta! Green Lemon Unplugged While we were in Florida, we had the opportunity to do an interview on WMNF in Tampa. The DJ Thor was great to work with and even talked us into playing a few acoustic tunes in addition to the cuts he played from our studio album. You can listen to the interview and the tunes by clicking here. Texas Shows During May we'll be in Texas for four shows. This is a new market for us and we'd like to thank all of our Texas friends for helping to spread the word and get a crowd out! We'll be cruising through Lubbock, Big D, Austin and Houston and look forward to making lots of new friends along the way. Help Us Spread the Word If you know someone who would enjoy Green Lemon's music please forward this message and tell them to sign up for the e-mail list too. Thanks for helping the Lemonhead ranks grow! 04-18-07 Mojo's Columbia, MO 04-19-07 Bennie's Boom Boom Room Hattiesburg, MS 04-20-07 Martin's Jackson, MS 04-21-07 Outland Ballroom Springfield, MO w/Bockman 04-22-07 Kinetic Playground Chicago, IL Green Apple Music Festival 04-23-07 IQ's Bar Green Bay, WI 04-26-07 Trilogy Wine Bar Boulder, CO 05-05-07 Quixote's True Blue Denver, CO 05-08-07 Jake's Sports Cafe & Backroom Lubbock, TX 05-09-07 Lakewood Bar & Grill Dallas, TX 05-10-07 Flamingo Cantina Austin, TX w/Moving Matter 05-11-07 Dan Electro's Guitar Bar Houston, TX w/Moving Matter 05-12-07 Luna's Bar & Grill Lake Charles, LA 05-16-07 Two Stick Oxford, MS 05-18-07 Base Camp Birmingham, AL 05-19-07 Buffalo Creek Music Festival Lexington, VA 06-07-07 Wakarusa Music Festival Lawrence, KS See the full tour schedule on the band's web site. Leave us a comment at www.myspace.com/greenlemon www.greenlemonband.com