MAB Q&A

That was a great summary Kevin! Of your first trip. I have been going down there for 4 years now, and have experienced a much broader scope. I have seen just about every big name writer that comes down. And, it is not [just] country. There are writers from all genres. There are over 200 shows to take in, if you can find time. And you can hear both the kinds of songs that have "made it" and those that have not. And if you are observant, you will be able to compare all of those songs to your own. And if you are hones with yourself, you will see your own weaknesses.

I want to explain the benefits of this festival from a different perspective. Like I said, I've been going for 4 years now. Yes I've seen a lot of great shows, and "seen" a lot of great writers. BUT, I have also been a festival volunteer. I have worked as an evening door monitor, and as a beverage server during the afternoon lunch service. So, in addition to "seeing" a lot of writers, I have also had the fortune to MEET a lot of these writers. The first thing you notice when you get in the same small room with these folks is how everyone seems to know everyone, and those that don't, are eagerly trying to get to know everyone. It feels like a big family reunion. And when you get to know these folks, none of them brag about their success over any one song or anyone else. Sometimes they confess they don't know how a song made it, except that they and their cowriters believed in the song, and it was through their RELATIONSHIPS with industry decision makers and/or their relationship with the artist, that the song was selected to even be cut, let alone become a hit. They all have stories about the songs they wrote that got put on hold, but never recorded, or got recorded, but never got cut, or got cut, but were never released as a single. And through all of those almosts, and little and big successes, it was always the RELATIONSHIP that kept the hopes alive. Relationships is the most treasured thing all of these guys enjoy.

Almost all of these guys started as "outsiders". But they had the drive and commitment. They began their journey playing open mic's, got invited into some writers rounds, and made relationships. Then someone who had a relationship with someone on the inside heard them and liked them and introduced them. NONE of these guys were "overnight successes". It took a lot of years of hard work and relationship building. And a lot of hard work nurturing and maintaining those relationships. This songwriting business is not for the faint of heart!

The other big event during the festival is the afternoon songwriter showcase at the Flora-Bama. This is the place where amateurs and folks trying to break in get to "show off". And the host Don McNatt is always trying to get professional writers to join in for a few songs. You get to hear a lot of different styles and levels of accomplishment. If you stick around a listen to enough folks, you can see what it takes to become a professional songwriter. I have a lot of respect for ALL of these guys because not only do they write songs, but they have the courage to put those songs and themselves "out there".

And finally, the other lesson I've learned is that the music business is a big maze of traps and pit falls. You can waste a lot of time, energy, and money doing the wrong things, trying to break in. Anyone who is seriously trying to break in needs some professional help. Someone on the inside who has "been there done that". There are a lot of those kinds of folks there that will "help" you. Some are legit. Some not so much. This can be another one of those pitfalls. So, you need to find someone who is willing to talk to you first and explain what the business is about and how it works, and be brutally honest with you. Before you try to break in, I urge you to go back and browse through this entire thread, and look at the great insight and advise our very own MAB has shared with all of us. You might even consider contacting MAB privately to see where you go from here.

I wish everyone success on their journey!

phil g.

Hey guys,

Get well soon MAB! You've got to rest your voice! Take your cold meds. Lots of (non alcoholic) liquids. And, now you have no excuse to not rest your hand as well.

Dr. Phil has spoken!

Okay, I guess it's time for the Old Dog to weigh in with his thoughts about the trip.  Over all it was a great time from the ocean front Condo, having coffee with KevMo and Philboy every morning and basically just hanging out together, to attending MAB's shows and regarding him and Jimbeau as the best entertaining and high energy act there.  

 

The off season Condo rates allows for a 3 bedroom, beach front, fully equiped Condo to be rented for under $130 per day, not much when split 3 ways (not all of the Condo's had full beach front view but ours did).  The Regatta Condo units we stayed in where a bit older with it's 3 story wood frame compared to many of the more modern high rise Condo's and Hotel's that make up the 10 mile scenic route to the Florabama (the gathering spot and main attraction of the festival).  Even though it's a bit of a drive the rates and ammenities make up for it. 

 

 

I would guess all of the singer/songwriters would agree the most desired venue to play is the smaller more intiment Listening Room, one of three rooms to play at the Florabama.  In fact; even though many of the restaurants and bars within a 10 or 15 mile radius of the Florabama, feature songwriter nights,  a person could see every main attraction and most of the others by just attending shows in the Listening Room every day of the feastival.  The Listening room was a vision of the Florabama owner to model after the famous Bluebird Listening Room in Nashville.  So one thing the two venues have in common is that talking will not be tolerated while a singer/songwriter is performing.  The audience gets much more engaged with the songs and the performers receive the full attention of the audience; which can be rare for a singer/songwriter (don't Y'all know). 

 

So keep in mind all the acts will be scattered about the area in the evening performing a various bars and restaurants; but all the entertainers gather just before noon, at the Florabama, to have a free lunch (catored by one of the local restaurants) and served by a group of dedicated local volunteers.  Our Philboy is the only volunteer to travel from out of the local area to volunteer his service, and he has done so for 4 years now.  Way to go Philboy, you are a much better man than me.  The lunches are served in the Green Room designated for the songwriters and performers only that will be playing in the Listening Room during the evening but open to guests during the day. 

 

The Showcase (open mic) begins in the Listening Room at 1:00 pm and follows a signup sheet the songwriters  add their names from 1 thru 20,  and they follow each other in that order; mostly doing two or three songs depending on how many names are on the list.  The open mic is where the local artist and visiting artists (not playing an evening venue) get to perform on stage and sing their songs.  Much like KevMo and Philboy did which allowed them to participate in the performance side of the festival along with the others to include an occasional Pro like MAB that would set in also.  You truly get to hear almost every level of songwriter and see every level of performing skills during most 4 hour open mic sessions.  They close the open mic sessions around 5:00pm to empty the room and get ready for the evening rounds ( made up of 3 or 4 performers which normally begin at 7:00 alternating performers until around 11:00 or 12 at night. 

 

Like I mentioned earlier, you could hang around the Listening Room and catch every act in town along with many others; which is what Philboy did when he first began coming to the Frank Brown Festival.  Even though you will hear every artist perform by attending only the Listening Room, I prefer to follow MAB to his venue's and watch him perform; especially when his friend and hit songwriter Jimbeau Hinson performs on stage with him.  Those two guys could be doing a Vegas act they are that good; but I admit to being biased.

 

I'll tell ya, hearing all of these song ideas can be very inspiring to come up with some new song ideas of our own.  Personally, I have lost my desire to write but to anyone that still has that creative flame burning in them, I would suggest attending a songwriters festival like Frank Brown or any other that will get you creative juices flowing and give you a sense of what other songwriters are doing out there.  What is special about the Frank Brown Festival is many hit writers attend and when you hear the many okay songs performed by most of the performers then hear a hit songwriter or Pro songwriter who writes at the bar but maybe their song didn't become a hit song, still they stand out from all of the others.  It is truly obvious but you would have to be sitting in the audience to truly witness it and hear the difference for ourselves.  A valuable lesson for all of us to realize and a real treat to hear a song when it is written so well, with some great lines that took some thought and not just the first thing that many songwriters (like myself) often put down on paper. 

 

So write all you can and with whomever you can.  But the main thing is keep it FUN.

 

OD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE AWE INSPIRING, MUCH AWAITED MAB WRAP UP OF THE

Frank Brown International Songwriter's Festival!

Each year, in November, an amazing event happens. No, I don't mean the CMA's, and NO, I DON'T MEAN THE ELECTION!!!

I mean the FRANK BROWN INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL IN GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH ALABAMA, PERDIDO KEY AND PENSECOLA FLA. and all points in between.

It is where hundreds of Nashville's biggest songwriters go to be treated as kings and queens for ten days, and for audiences to get up close and personal with their favorite radio hits, classic memories, and the stars of yesterday, today and tomorrow, in intiment performances unilke anywhere else.

This year it was the 32nd year, and it was my 23rd year to be honored by particpating. It is our Super bowl and World Series all tied up into one. Part family reunion, part showcase and it has been one of the biggest elements of my musical journey since I came down with Heather and Jennifer Kinley in 1994.

For anyone interested in the REAL heartbeat of songwriting AND to participate in keeping the craft and art from alive, I would start making your plans NOW for next years Festival, which will be held Nov.6-16 (I think, check with the site) 2017. We need the audiences to keep building to make it amazing for all. The entire communities turn out, have great deals on lodging, food, and amazing times.

So please make your plans to come on down next year. And next year NO POLITICS!!!!!

Here are my thank yous for this year:

My partner in crime, JIMBEAU HINSON. Thanks for keeping the "TWIN TORNADOES OF TWANGTOWN alive and kicking!"

Tina Swanson, my partner in life and wonderful everything!

Randy Brooks and Bill Whyte, a "new Twisted Christmas comedy tradition is born."

Linda Ponder, Helen B Shivers, Maggie Slay Warren, Cat and Barbara, Phil Grigg and EVERY SINGLE volunteer in the green rooms, food servings, volunteers at the venues, helping with lodging, logistics and constantly putting out fires! YOU are the backbone of this festival and the reason it works like the NORMANDY INVASION.

JOE GILCHRIST, PAT MCCLELLAN and FRANK BROWN of the FLORABAMA, for creating this insanity in the first place. So glad you didn't pick NOME, ALASKA!

All the Venues, sound Dudes and Dudettes, servers and all around great folks: My personal thanks to:

THE FLORABAMA MAIN ROOM Nov.4-10th

Joe Gilchrist's NEW MALIBU BAR AND GRILL Nov. 5th

NOLANS fine dining Nov. 8th

The HOT SPOT MUSIC & GRUB Nov. 11 (Thank you VETS!)

PERDIDO BEACH RESORT NOV. 12

(Thanks for overlooking head colds from HELL!)

THE REGATTA condos and PAM the greatest ROLL TIDE fan!

"ALL THE WAY THIS YEAR GIRL!!!!!"

Greg and Holly Stapelton, Larry and Beckett Singleton, Tommy and Susie Martin, Steve Harris, Kevin Emmerich, Missy Hecht, Janet and Charles Cox, Greg Pratt, Chris and all the other people that drove down from around the world.

Micky Roony and Clan, Chuck Lewis and Clan, and all you crazy people who drive from everywhere to see us and be with us. You make it all worth it.

The cities of Birmingham Alabama and Nashville Tn. for allowing me to do what I do, Ron Muir, Jesse Lewis, Grady Ross Barnette,Lindell Barnette and all the aunts uncles cousins friends and relatives far and wide and everyone who helped me develop over these years.

Cue dramatic end credit music JOHN WILLIAMS score!

THANKS AND GOOD NIGHT!! SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!!!



Home - FRANK BROWN INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITERS' FESTIVAL


www.FRANKBROWNSONGWRITERS.COM ;

Friends -

Our dear friend John Westwood has suffered a heart attack. He is not in good shape. I hope that this of you who pray, will keep him lifted up.

The following is from his wife and daughter:
Hi Ed, thank you for your kind words. John is still under sedation. The doctors have taken him off sedation a couple of times but he hasn't really reacted very well. They have concern he may have brain damage because he was unconscious for possibly 20 mins after the heart attack. They are going to do some scans tomorrow to try to determine the extent of the damage. Will keep you updated. Alyce and Robyn

This is sad news. I had the pleasure to meet John on Skype once. He is a truly very good guy. Is there some way we can send get well cards to him and his family?

phil g.

John is a very good guy, who I've worked with a couple of times, and always good to see him at events. Have sent him well wishes for his family and speedy recovery.

My, this really is sad news.  I certainly wish for John to get well and his family to be strong.  I'll pray along with everyone else that John comes out of this good as new. 

 

OD

 

 

Sad news indeed.John was always checking with my ndaughter how I was doing when I was so sick.Prayers sent.

Sending prayers for John and his family.

The news is not good:

Hi Eddie, thanks for the message. The MRI results came back today. Dad has suffered quite severe brain damage. He's also still having seizures when he's not sedated. The doctors have said they will keep him sedated and are hoping that over the next few days his brain will start to repair. They will likely reassess him again at the end of this week. Thank for your thoughts and prayers. It means a lot to us. xx Alyce and Robyn

Too bad to hear the news of John and I hope he pulls through well. But you did make an interesting observation Eddie. Yrall certainly proves that you can't always write people off. I am sure John is in good hands and hopefully he'll be able to battle his way back. Please keep us informed when you hear something.

AN EVENING WITH JIM PETEREK

11-22-16


From the "I KNOW THAT GUY" category.

I guess I'm posting a bit more lately, mostly because I have a great life. But also because I'm reconnecting with relatives, cousins, friends, and all kinds of relations from the "TWO WORLDS" of my life. From my "rock era" of the 70's and 80's, into my "NASHVILLE ERA" from 88' to present. There is a lot that has happened to me and Facebook and places like this, seem to be the perfect platform to bring people up to speed. So I apologize for my lengthy posts, but scroll past if you are not interested.



I have been honored to be around so many amazing people, and a few famous ones. Part of that happened to me last night when I attended a show in Nashville's "CITY WINERY of a friend and co-writer of mine, JIM PETEREK.

All my Alabama friends will know OF Jim, because we used to play all his songs.At that time, we just didn't know it.

As I have gotten to know and write with him, I have been playing catch up on Jim;s career and I never cease to be amazed.

He started in the 60's with the band "IDES OF MARCH" that big song was "VEHICLE" (I'm the Friendly Stranger in the black sedan want you jump inside my car!!!" ( A REALLY CREEPY LYRIC TODAY.) But extrodinary song. I'm now doing that one with our horn band "DANGEROUS DAN AND THE FUNKTOWN HORNS."



When I started playing music, the hot guitar southern rock era began and there was Jim. 38 Special. ROCKING INTO THE NIGHT, HOLD ON LOOSLEY,SO CAUGHT UP IN YOU. Yep. Played em all.



As the 80's hit, he had a new band, SURVIVOR. And had "TOO LATE TO TURN BACK NOW" and the amazing "THE SEARCH IS OVER." And of course, for anyone with a pulse, THE SONG that hit us ALL and STILL DOES, "EYE OF THE TIGER" from the "ROCKY III soundtrack and the one that has launched a million campaigns, sporting events, and people's personal triumphs.

Yeah. That was ALL JIM.



As I sat last night and saw him onstage, redesigning all these songs in a stripped down, mostly acoustic and new sounds of songs I thought ":Wow! I know that guy!" We've written two songs together, along with our mutual friend Joie Scott, and I couldn't help but think, "HOW COOL IS THAT? He's my buddy!"



As I was thinking of that and immersing myself in all these memories, he started telling the story of writing with HIS HERO, BRIAN WILSON, of the BEACH BOYS. They wrote one that he performed called "THAT'S WHY GOD INVENTED RADIO" which went to Number 3 on Billboard charts. Everything is relative.



He brought up a new singer he is working with, who did two great songs, showing he is moving on even today. He did a Sammy Hagar song, a title track "HEAVY METAL", brought up NIGHT RANGER drummer and singer KELLY KAEGY, for that one. And then of course, ended with EYE OF THE TIGER. The new version. But it still has the power of the one we're so familiar with.

Backed by an incredible band led by my neighbor and another friend, producer Fred Mollin, featuring Jim’s son on keyboards, it was just amazing. Afterword I bought his book, "BEYOND THE EYE OF THE TIGER" and spoke for a few minutes. What a classy gentleman.

So that is my life. That is what I get to do and people I get to meet. I am amazingly fortunate and just have a great time. Being THANKSGIVING, I think it is a perfect time to talk about what I am Grateful for. That's just one of them.

I hope you all have a great thanksgiving. Here are a few pictures, and My God bless you all and this country.

Love,

MAB

Well, I guess I'll share the things I'm thankful for this year also. First and foremost, I am thankful for the woman who has stayed by my side through thick and thin and has loved me and put up with me for 50 years of her life. The greatest lady in the world; My wife; Billie.

The next big thing I'm thankful for is relatively good health for a [almost] 72 year old. A lot of joint pain, a little high blood pressure, but still feel pretty good most days. Still have some energy and a little bit of a sense of humor (most of the time).

I am also thankful for all the great friends and acquaintances I've made over the last 5 years or so. I have had the pleasure of being on stage with some hit songwriters at the FBISF, and have met and can call friend, some big #1 hit writers. But of all these new friends I've made, there is one that stands head and shoulders above the rest. He is the guy who opened my eyes and showed me how to maneuver in this writing environment. He has introduced me to several other great writers, and has guided me in my endeavors. He has given me encouragement and confidence to be able to do what I do. If not for him, I probably would still be writing in my living room and never "getting out there". He has been around to support me when I played at writers nights, and has even gotten me special slots to perform. This one guy I'm most thankful for is our very own Mr. Marc-Alan Barnette, affectionately know to us as "The MAB". Thanks MAB for all you've done for me over the years!!

phil g.

Sad news, friends.

Hi Eddie, no good news unfortunately. The doctors talked with us on Friday morning and said that John will not recover. The doctors are turning off life support tomorrow. They've advised us he is not in any pain. Thanks for being such a good friend to John. We'll be in touch next week. xx Alyce and Robyn

Sad Praying for the family.

Sad to hear about John. Thoughts and prayers for his family.

John Westwood.

Eddie,

John will be missed a bunch here on the Ramp.