JANICE STARODUB- 2017 RIP
How it CAN BE DONE
Hello everyone and happy New Year. Hope it has started well for all of you and I hope to be bringing you positive upbeat messages through 2018.
I must start out, however, on a somber note, in the passing of my good friend, co-writer, musical compadre, JANICE STARODUB, Of WINNIPEG, MANITOBA. Janice passed away from Cancer, New Year’s Eve, but like all things I do, I would prefer to celebrate the LIFE of the person, rather than focus on the demise.
I met her about 6 years ago, as she attended one of my SONGPOSIUM CLASSES, for NSAI’s workshop program. A mid 40’s, very attractive, reddish brunette, she asked more intelligent questions than anyone in the class, and while she showed up late, she actually seemed to absorb more than anyone. Sometimes you just get a feeling.
After I was finished, she stuck around and asked more questions and since I was already going to an industry showcase, I asked if she wanted to tag along.
Getting in my car, she said one of the funniest things I’ve heard. “I am doing exactly what my Mother told me not to do. Get in a car and go somewhere with a guy I don’t know, who says he’s going to help my career.”
Sometimes you have to listen to your mother with a grain of salt.
Over the next four years we became best friends, confidants, co-writers and all around buddies. I gave her some ins and outs of Nashville, pushed her in some right directions and kept her out of some wrong directions. She showed me Canadian life, REALLY COLD WEATHER, how to get a car started in 40 below weather (Get an idiot guy from Nashville to go start it and sit in it, LOL!), and introduced me to dozens of people I would have never met. She was amazing that way.
She was an incredible person. Always positive, endless energy, boundless optimism. She never believed something couldn’t be done. She would see something and go do it. I always warned her about overreaching expectations. Most people who try to do this, suffer from this. But she never suffered from that. She achieved whatever she sat out to do.
She improved the life of everyone she ever met. Especially me.
She was a living embodiment of what I believe we all have to be, and anyone trying to approach music HAS TO BE. When there was no LOCAL scene in Winnipeg, (and if you knew the weather in Winnipeg, you would know why) she INVENTED ONE. Starting out with one writer/artist, who she brought to Nashville to work with me, she soon had dozens. All types of people, males, females, groups, duos. I would go up there and she would bring them here and there was never a dull minute.
She had this funny way of talking and never breathing. I’d see her familiar number come up on my phone, and I knew I’d be in for an hour of nonstop conversation. Never figured out how she could do that. IT was like this rapid fire nonstop about EVERYTHING. I’d be worn out after our conversations and I DIDN’T SAY MUCH OF ANYTHING!
But I did kind of have fun with her when she would tell me how tough it all was. She was dealing with publishers, writers, artististic ego, producers, labels, people that were boorish, guys that constantly hit on her, people who would literally suck her dry for info or energy and she would STILL KEEP GOING. But I always used to say after one of these long, exasperated diatribes, “THIS IS THE EASY PART!”
She never found that as funny as I did.
Cause it didn’t matter. She was just going to rise above, and keep on going. She helped one pair of brothers, Tom and Jason, PETRIC,
Rise to the top of the Canadian heap with hit records, tours and nomination for Canadian duo of the year honors. (If I get this wrong, folks, please correct me. I missed some of this stuff.) Ano0ther artist, she helped go to CHINA. She was truly a worldwide phenomenon.
And everyone LOVED HER!
She was well known in Canada but also in America. She made regular trips to Nashville to meet with hit writers and artists, producers, publishers, and had a dual career in both places. She just kept going. The real ENERGIZER BUNNY!
She was beautiful, smart, funny, as hell. Never met a stranger. Was a good wife and mother of three great kids.
She really could DO IT ALL.
I lost a little contact with her over the past two or three years as she just was over busy and as usual, I am into my own things and the next project. But we wrote a few songs, shared a bunch of great times and I think made a difference. I know she made a difference in me.
My deepest condolences to her friends and family and hope you find your ways to get through all this. I know she would tell you to “get your butt in gear, and keep going!” She was kind of like that.
Janice, you goof! I miss you a lot. Love you and so glad I got to know you! Take care girl! You made a difference.
MAB
How it CAN BE DONE
Hello everyone and happy New Year. Hope it has started well for all of you and I hope to be bringing you positive upbeat messages through 2018.
I must start out, however, on a somber note, in the passing of my good friend, co-writer, musical compadre, JANICE STARODUB, Of WINNIPEG, MANITOBA. Janice passed away from Cancer, New Year’s Eve, but like all things I do, I would prefer to celebrate the LIFE of the person, rather than focus on the demise.
I met her about 6 years ago, as she attended one of my SONGPOSIUM CLASSES, for NSAI’s workshop program. A mid 40’s, very attractive, reddish brunette, she asked more intelligent questions than anyone in the class, and while she showed up late, she actually seemed to absorb more than anyone. Sometimes you just get a feeling.
After I was finished, she stuck around and asked more questions and since I was already going to an industry showcase, I asked if she wanted to tag along.
Getting in my car, she said one of the funniest things I’ve heard. “I am doing exactly what my Mother told me not to do. Get in a car and go somewhere with a guy I don’t know, who says he’s going to help my career.”
Sometimes you have to listen to your mother with a grain of salt.
Over the next four years we became best friends, confidants, co-writers and all around buddies. I gave her some ins and outs of Nashville, pushed her in some right directions and kept her out of some wrong directions. She showed me Canadian life, REALLY COLD WEATHER, how to get a car started in 40 below weather (Get an idiot guy from Nashville to go start it and sit in it, LOL!), and introduced me to dozens of people I would have never met. She was amazing that way.
She was an incredible person. Always positive, endless energy, boundless optimism. She never believed something couldn’t be done. She would see something and go do it. I always warned her about overreaching expectations. Most people who try to do this, suffer from this. But she never suffered from that. She achieved whatever she sat out to do.
She improved the life of everyone she ever met. Especially me.
She was a living embodiment of what I believe we all have to be, and anyone trying to approach music HAS TO BE. When there was no LOCAL scene in Winnipeg, (and if you knew the weather in Winnipeg, you would know why) she INVENTED ONE. Starting out with one writer/artist, who she brought to Nashville to work with me, she soon had dozens. All types of people, males, females, groups, duos. I would go up there and she would bring them here and there was never a dull minute.
She had this funny way of talking and never breathing. I’d see her familiar number come up on my phone, and I knew I’d be in for an hour of nonstop conversation. Never figured out how she could do that. IT was like this rapid fire nonstop about EVERYTHING. I’d be worn out after our conversations and I DIDN’T SAY MUCH OF ANYTHING!
But I did kind of have fun with her when she would tell me how tough it all was. She was dealing with publishers, writers, artististic ego, producers, labels, people that were boorish, guys that constantly hit on her, people who would literally suck her dry for info or energy and she would STILL KEEP GOING. But I always used to say after one of these long, exasperated diatribes, “THIS IS THE EASY PART!”
She never found that as funny as I did.
Cause it didn’t matter. She was just going to rise above, and keep on going. She helped one pair of brothers, Tom and Jason, PETRIC,
Rise to the top of the Canadian heap with hit records, tours and nomination for Canadian duo of the year honors. (If I get this wrong, folks, please correct me. I missed some of this stuff.) Ano0ther artist, she helped go to CHINA. She was truly a worldwide phenomenon.
And everyone LOVED HER!
She was well known in Canada but also in America. She made regular trips to Nashville to meet with hit writers and artists, producers, publishers, and had a dual career in both places. She just kept going. The real ENERGIZER BUNNY!
She was beautiful, smart, funny, as hell. Never met a stranger. Was a good wife and mother of three great kids.
She really could DO IT ALL.
I lost a little contact with her over the past two or three years as she just was over busy and as usual, I am into my own things and the next project. But we wrote a few songs, shared a bunch of great times and I think made a difference. I know she made a difference in me.
My deepest condolences to her friends and family and hope you find your ways to get through all this. I know she would tell you to “get your butt in gear, and keep going!” She was kind of like that.
Janice, you goof! I miss you a lot. Love you and so glad I got to know you! Take care girl! You made a difference.
MAB
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