Joe Milton to Speak at 2nd Tuesday Meeting July 8th

 Joe Milton is well-known for his independent recording studio, Jo-Musik, where he writes and records his own material and produces new talent. Joe's songs have been featured in film and television, including the NBC mini-series, Hunt For the Unicorn about fugitive Ira Einhorn. http://joemilton.com/mus.htm

JAY JOHNSON WILL SPEAK AND PERFORM JUNE 10TH

JAY JOHNSON

Jay's music has found homes in various genres, from southern rock to blues to americana/country to funk and singer songwriter...so please peruse through the entire catalog - thanks so much! 

Jay Johnson is a multi-genre (he hates that term, by the way,) multi-award winning (hates that one, too) performer singer/songwriter. Among his most recent accolades, Jay was nominated for Singer/Songwriter of the Year at the 2007 Texas Music Awards.

Jay was voted Male Vocalist of the Year at the 2005 Texas Music Awards in which he and his band at the time received the most nominations (6) in the history of the show, including Song, Album, Musician and Entertainer of the Year. He was also selected as a Regional Finalist in the 2004 Sony/USA Network Nashville Star TV Show.

This 18-yr veteran performer has self-released 3 albums (all received statewide, regional and international airplay)while sharing the stage with such talent as Jackson Browne, Pat Green, Willie Nelson, Charlie Robison, Jack Ingram, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Steven Fromholtz, Gary P. Nunn and countless others. Several of Jay's songs have been released by fellow songwriters as well. Johnson's style of writing is as diverse and all encompassing as the writer himself and his writing savvy has been compared to James Taylor, The Black Crowes, Neil Young, Jackson Browne & Townes Van Zandt.

Ted Pearce Speaks On his Career As A Christian Artist at May 13th Meeting

Christian Artist Ted Pearce

American praise and worship artist, widely admired in the "Messianic” circles (jewish folk and Israeli influences,) formerly on Integrity Records with “Lamb” and has had 2 songs covered by Paul Wilbur. Ted has produced 8 albums and written songs that are played weekly in messianic synagogues worldwide.

CO-WRITES SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 8

Co-writes are back by demand. We will divide into small groups to complete a writing assignment. More details to come. This is our most fun meetings, so don't miss this one.
Free to members. $5 for visitors

Meeting Schedule:
6:30: Sign in and network
7:00: Association Announcements
7:15: Program
8:15: Song Critiques - Members only. $10



Future Programs:
May: Christian touring singer songwriters, Ted Pearce
June: Singer Songwriter, Jay Johnson
July: Dove nominated producer, Joe Milton

PRODUCER PETE MILLER REVEALS SONG OF THE YEAR 2013

Local producer and our judge for Best Songs of the Meeting, PETE MILLER, will reveal the Song of The Year 2013 by reviewing the top five songs with their critiques.

ABOUT PETE MILLER

Pete has enjoyed a successful career in both live performance and recording. With extensive touring over the years, he has had the opportunity of sharing the stage with a number of musical greats including The Temptations, Gladys Knight, Beach Boys, Faith Hill, LeAnn Rimes, and Garth Brooks. Recording credits cover a wide range of musical styles and projects such as albums for various artists, and jingles for TV and radio. In the DFW area, he has had the honor of producing and arranging projects for many artists and songwriters. One of his most recent works was for DSA Board member Aaron Shook.

CRITQUES WILL FOLLOW

McMillen to Analyze the Grammy Winning Song Of The Year at the Feb. 11th Workshop

If you watched the Grammy Awards last Sunday, you know that the 3 hour show was full of noteworthy performances by the best of the best current artists and some oldie but goodies. Of special note to us songwriters was the award for Song Of The Year. We will analyze the melody and lyric of the winning song, Lorde's "Royals", to discover the elements that make it a popular song. Come out for some fun picking this song apart.

About Barbara McMillen: Founding President Emeritus and a voting member of the Recording Academy, Barbara currently teaches Songwriting at Collin College and workshops online. She is a performing songwriter, music therapist and producer with experience in label management, publishing, and marketing music. http://www.barbaramcmillen.com

TONY RAMEY DELIVERS BIG

Future speakers at DSA 2nd Tuesdays have a tough bar to clear. Tony Ramey (http://tonyramey.com/) set it sky high in January with a program that will be hard to surpass.  In sports terms, Ramey's a triple threat. He writes great songs. He tells great stories. And he gives gentle but helpful criticism. He's a good singer and picker as well, as the full room at The Center for Community Cooperation can attest.

Ramey can drop some names, but they fall easily from his lips because he's not trying to impress. He's been writing songs for almost 20 years, most of that time in Nashville, so he's met and worked with some of the big talents. He wrote for George Strait's publishing house, Muy Bueno, for 8-plus years. Here's Strait's version of the Ramey co-write 'Hot Grease and Zydeco': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRVtMYjIr_0

Craig Morgan, Trisha Yearwood, Doug Stone, Alabama, Johnny Lee, and the late Ray Price are among others who've sung his tunes. Last night, Ramey played the heartfelt but unreleased 'The Bible, the Bottle and the Gun,' on which Willie Nelson will sing a verse. (I hope I got that title right.) Most recently, he has a Texas music hit with Aaron Watson, 'Summertime Girl':  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnciWv9ieCI

In fact, Ramey's written something like 1,600 songs. Almost all are in full or demo production.  "And no one's going to pitch them unless I pitch them," he said with a laugh.

Don't take things too seriously. That was the theme of the night. Don't take yourself, your work or your ambitions too seriously.  Hold things loosely. Live your life loving what you do.  (Nice hook there.)

Ramey loves to write and perform. He says he was able to write 150 songs a year partly because his brain is always humming. He writes lyrics and melody at the same time. When he hears a clever phrase, he immediately begins to explore it with melodies. He says you can't wait for inspiration if you're hoping to be a professional songwriter. Writing becomes a discipline.

Ramey, who once pursued a PhD in literature at Middle Tennessee State University, now lives and works in the Dallas area, where he helped start Dig It Deep Publishing, http://digitdeeppublishing.com/. Catch him most Tuesday's at Love & War, Plano. He'll also open Feb. 7 for Mark Chesnut at Hank's in McKinney.