Lonnie Ratliff Country Music Newsletter

April 6th. , 2008  

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"Spotlight Artist"

" Amber Digby "

 

"Click" Yellow Speaker below to play songs by

Amber Digby

 

"Click" buttons below for more Amber Digby websites

.. ........

If you are a fan of traditional female country artists in the vein of Heather Myles, Erin Hay and  Dawn Sears you are probably already a fan of Amber Digby.  If you have not discovered her yet, trust me you are gonna love her.
 
Amber Digby
...is an artist who is climbing to the top of her game in the country music business. This gifted young woman is a pure natural on stage and her vocals portray a wisdom and maturity way beyond her years.

She was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee by two talented parents who were already working in the music industry. With her large musical family behind her, it is safe to say that Amber literally grew up on stage. Her mother sang harmony with Connie Smith, and her father played bass for Loretta Lynn for almost twenty years.

Amber started singing with bands in clubs at the age of fifteen. She was a featured female vocalist with the Missouri based bands, Prairie Wind and Livewire. In 1997, she performed at the Tulsa Bluegrass festival, and the Tulsa Channel 8 talent show. She also sang at the Iowa State Rodeo in 1998. Amber recorded her first demo, featuring four songs, in Branson, Missouri at Branson Studio. It featured musicians from the Moe Bandy and Mel Tillis road shows. In addition, was produced by her step-dad and famed steel guitarist Dicky Overbey.

She recorded her first CD, entitled "Music From The Honky Tonks" in 2002 in Austin, Texas. Amber Digby and Justin Trevino produced this masterpiece. It was released independently and later picked up. This CD has received attention from all over the world selling worldwide and creating an overwhelming fan base. It took her on her first international tour playing the Furuvik Counrty Festival in Furuvik, Sweden, Planica Slovinia, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, Australia. "Music From The Honky Tonks" has maintained a spot at the top of numerous charts on FM and internet radio stations for two plus years.

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" Skinny Dipping With Paris Hilton "

"Perley Curtis"

 

You can purchase an mp3 download of
"Skinny Dipping With Paris Hilton" for $1 at:
http://cdbaby.com/cd/perley2

  

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"Hangin' Out With Uncle Willam"
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So What Do All Those Terms Mean?

Back in the early '70s, I helped Tom T. Hall round up the information for his book, "How I Write Songs And Why You Can." One of the things we realized the book needed was a section on the Music Row Vocabulary; if one is going to learn, what the terminology means is pretty critical. A lot of that terminology has changed over the years and some stuff that couldn't even be imagined back then is pretty common, so it's not a bad idea to refresh the vocabulary from time to time.

For songwriter purposes, the bottom line item that has NOT changed is that anybody who talks about "selling" a song doesn't know beans about songwriting. UNLESS the discussion is about a singer: "Connie Smith really can sell a song!!!" Meaning: put it over in a believable manner; knock your socks off!!! "Oh, so you're a songwriter; have you sold any songs I would have heard?" is NOT the right question. "Have you had anything cut (or recorded) I would know?" is a good question. "How's your royalty base building?" is maybe more pertinent but might be considered personal.

You probably know this, but "sell" has a bad taste context today because there was a time when songwriters DID sell their rights to songs outright. It's much better to sign a publishing contract with a reputable publisher who will exploit (a good word) the song and share with you from the profits. Within that context, you "place" a song with a publisher or you "get it published," usually through the legal process of a "one-song contract." That makes you and the publisher partners on THAT song. Now, getting the song recorded by an artist who can generate some income becomes another hurdle. Don't feel like a failure if that doesn't happen; it just didn't happen, for any number of a vast complexity of reasons. Most songs "pitched" to producers and artists DON'T get cut, so understand the odds and keep putting your strongest material in front of those folks.

Oh, one thing before we leave publishers. You hear about "publishing deals." That's a contract situation wherein, during the term of the agreement, everything you write is automatically considered as published by the contracting publisher. There may be an advanced income involved; there may not be -- very few of those deals are ever quite the same, so don't feel like you're a failure if nobody offers you one. They're not as easy to come by as in day of yore, I understand; a semi-exclusive deal might be an agreement of first refusal -- in exchange for a writing room or some other consideration, a publisher might ask that you show him everything you write; if he thinks something will work with his company, he'll issue a one-song contract; if not, you can show the song to another publisher. I've seen that work well for some writers. It all comes down to relationships.

Okay, getting the cuts. In the music recording business, a "producer" is the guy who rounds up the songs, the players, the studio, and maybe even the pizza -- I love Lonnie's description of himself: "I'm the guy whose job it is to see that, five years from now, the artist is not embarrassed by the recording." For clarity, "producer" has different connotations in different creative areas: in television, he or she is mostly involved in the technical aspect while the director works very closely in the creative thing. In film, the producer essentially represents the investment, making sure the money is spent properly, although there are a variety of other roles: "line producer" works with the director on the actual set; the "executive producer" a title given to the star to indicate a hands-on involvement or it may be a person over a company with SEVERAL productions underway at one time.

A lot of terms remain the same but have different connotations: "a hit" could easily be something that charted in BILLBOARD but most people have never heard it, due to the fragmentation of today's markets. Once there were charts for "Country," Pop," "R&B," and maybe "Gospel." I haven't looked at BILLBOARD in a long time but it was way more complicated than that even then; a look of the "genres" list on MySpace is scary. I still don't know what "emo" is and I'm not sure I get it that "indie" is a STYLE, but, trust me, it's not the same music business it was twenty years ago. The major point of consistency is that you don't have a career without public involvement in your income. Whether they're buying CDs or downloads or DVDs or sweatshirts or posters or whatever, the public has got to be involved. Having a "backer" to finance the sessions can be a blessing, but it more often becomes a curse unless you REALLY know the backer and that person really knows you. There's nothing wrong with having a music hobby of putting out CDs and having fun seeing all the places around the world you're getting airplay, but unless SOMEBODY is buying SOMETHING, you don't have a career.

Oh, yeah, career. That's a good word to close with. "One's progress through life," Webster has as one meaning, along with "vocation or profession." The long haul. Take your time; if you're gonna do us any good, we need you to learn steadily and be patient. It IS a long haul.
Bill Littleton,
Nashville, Tennessee
 
There's always a chair with your name on it at Uncle Willam's Place  http://www.unclewillamsplace.com
And you're welcome to hang out at http://www.MySpace.com/BillLittleton

 

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"Click BANNERS below to watch on YouTube

 
.........Elizabeth Cook........................Shady Creek Outlaws ............................Mike Anderson...
 
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Lonnie's MYSPACE Website

Big milestone for my MYSPACE website as I pass 7,357 friends. 
Check it out Nashville Record Producer
.
http://www.myspace.com/nashvillerecordproducer 

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Independent Country Artist Gina Michaells

 produced by Lonnie Ratliff 

has one of the Most Viewed videos on

Press Release
April 6th., 2008

Over 1 Million Views1,347,019 views on YouTube as of noon April 6th.



.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EM1rIzJyW4 


.
Norway / Nashville country music collaboration
now one of the top viewed videos on YouTube
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Everyone always loves a David & Goliath story when it is about the music business and this accomplishment by Norwegian country artist Gina Michaells http://www.myspace.com/ginamichaells and independent Nashville record producer Lonnie Ratliff www.NashvilleCDStore.com
 is one of the best examples to come down the pike in a long time.
.
It all started when Gina contacted Lonnie Ratliff about producing a CD for her in May of 2008 in Nashville. She decided that she did not want to wait until May to have a record available to promote herself to radio and in the clubs she performs at. Lonnie and Gina found a couple of songs from his music catalog and he produced the music tracks for Gina and mailed them to her in Norway. Once she received the music tracks Gina went into a recording studio in Oslo, Norway and added her voice and harmonies to the tracks. Gina chose one of the songs “Somebody’s Angel” for her first record release and mailed a copy to Gary Bradshaw gbradshaw3@cox.net in Phoenix, AZ to be included in his Western Heart Promo. Compilation CD and she contacted RhonBob Promotions http://www.rhonbob.com/ to do the publicity for “Somebody’s Angel”. At this time she also produced a video of the song in Norway and posted it on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EM1rIzJyW4
 .
As Paul Harvey used to say “And now for the rest of the story” the video for Somebody’s Angel quickly, over a third of a million views in the first few hours, moved to the top of the Most Viewed videos on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/browse?s=mp&t=w&c=0&l=&b=0 where it is currently resting at # 5 with 1,347,019 views and has never been below # 7. In the few days it has been posted. This means it is competing as a country song with all other genres of music on YouTube, which by the way is the 4th most visited website in the United States according to Alexa’s Top 500 Websites. This also includes all of the political videos, bizarre accidents, comedians and disaster videos on YouTube. In other words it is the top 5 most watched video on YouTube right now. Quite the feat for a song without any major label connections and no significant airplay yet.
.
A few years ago it would have taken a lot of time and money to get the publicity that the Gina Michaells song Somebody’s Angel has generated but with the internet out there it can be done by anyone who can come up with something the public is interested in. This level playing field is apparent just with a quick GOOGLE search on a video that has only been available for a couple of days. From the link below you can see that this song is already being heard and seen around the world..
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Gina+Michaells+somebody%27s+angel&btnG=Google+Search
.

The song “Somebody’s Angel” was written by Lonnie Ratliff & Lindy Gravelle
SOMEBODY S ANGEL
BMI Work #1373401
Songwriter/Composer/Current Affiliation
GRAVELLE MELINDA ANN
RATLIFF LONNIE C

Publishers
OKIE ACRES MUSIC (BMI)
UNIVERSAL MUSIC Z SONGS (BMI)
History of Somebody’s Angel
First released by country artist Erin Hay www.ErinHay.com in 1992 and again by Erin in 2003 on the now out of print CD “Somebody’s Angel” the song has always been there just under the radar and has generated downloads on the Erin Hay version at I-Tunes and most other legal download websites.
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=4266632

Trivia: The song “Somebody’s Angel” was originally written with Ricky Van Shelton in mind as the recording artist but that never panned out.

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"Gossip Column"
A  little Cyber-Songbird told me
 
Message from Lonnie about the GOSSIP SECTION - You can E Mail me your gossip anytime. (I just save it in a file until I make up the next NEWSLETTER)
Just send me an E Mail with 2 or 3 sentences and you can include your website and E Mail if you like.  Try to make it interesting enough people will want to read it. Don't have to be about music just something that is happening to you.  If it looks like you may have thought about what you wrote for at least 30 seconds I will probably include it in the next Newsletter which means your website LINK will go out to over 4,300 people that are in the country music business.  If it looks like you are obviously just using the gossip section for free advertisment I probably will skip over it.  Heck folks most of us claim to be writers so we should be able to write 2 or 3 sentences.
 
Make sure you put GOSSIP in the subject line of your E Mail when you send it so it don't get lost.
 
E Mail GOSSIP to:  NashvilleShowcase@comcast.net
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Howdy Folks,
countrymusic24 presents today from 11 pm until 12 pm MSEZ the radio show "Town'n' Country" with Hermann the German. The Show is moderate only in English.
Birgit Walter
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Countrymusic24.com ist mittlerweile laut Hörerstatistik von www.phonostar.de im Genre Country auf Platz 1 und in den gesamten Genres auf Platz 22 WELTWEIT! Vielen Dank an Euch !
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Lonnie.. Wanted to let you know that I am celebrating 20yrs with my little PR firm  ( so much MOORE media) this year.
It’s been a real journey. Another landmark is that (legendary)Hank Cochran and I will celebrate 12 yrs of working together.
Here’s a list of my current clients:  Hank Cochran, Jeff Griffith, Lantana, Zane Lewis, Becky Schlegel & Randy Thompson
 
Martha E. Moore / so much MOORE media
(O)  615.746.3994  /  (M) 615-202-1313
mailto:somuchmoore@charter.net
http://www.somuchmoore.com
http://www.myspace.com/marthaemoore
 
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I just want to let everyone know that we are holding an auction on April 12, 2008 for the men who live here at the place i work!  i work at a facility for the developmentally disabled - 98 men to be exact!  They are an amazing group of guys to care for and they are HUGE country music fans.  The proceeds from the auction help us to meet their daily needs.  We have received some WONDERFUL donations from some of our favorite Country Artist, but if you are a country artist and would like to send us a donations of an autographed photo and CD, or perhaps an autographed t-shirt or even a hat of some kind it would be so GREATLY APPRECIATED!  We are BROTHER JAMES COURT, 2508 ST. JAMES ROAD, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS 62702.  You can visit our web page at www.brotherjamescourt.com .  You can send your donation at the above address in c/o Jane.  Thank you and GOD BLESS!
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Ray Withrow raywithrow@yahoo.com   Well, as the sign says "Kilgore was here!"  I'm glad I read the writing on the wall ' cause I've been really keeping him busy sending him my songs to demo!  What a gold mine I have found!!! All I do is send him the lyrics (my stron point), he does the music, records it, & sends me the CD!  The BEST part is the price = $20!! Yep! Ya herd rite!!! LOL So far, he's done 3 of mine, latest one hit #3 on jamwave.com charts! The charts don't mean much, but a LOT of people LIKE it! Check it out, & buy a couple hundred!!!  Ray Withrow, President of No Creek Music (ASCAP)
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Perley Curtis  www.perleyc.com  played at Russ T’s in Scottsboro, AL with Nashville based singer/songwriter, Jacob Lyda, on April 4th and 5th.   

 

Erin Hay www.ErinHay.com & Perley Curtis are raising rabbits now.  With the addition of 4 new bunnies, born March 13th (Miracle, Hally short for Hallelujah, Easter & Glory,) this couple is keeping busy, mainly trying to keep the parents, Ricky and Lucy, from having more.  Erin’s Pomeranian, Girlie, doesn’t know quite what to do with the baby bunnies, but if her Easter picture gives any hints, PHOTO http://nashvillecdstore.hypermart.net/GirlieEaster08.jpg  Erin and Perley better keep the bunnies away from her.

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Roy Cost http://www.roycost.com/

Hey Lonnie... that is one cute email... I own two cats..."Boots and Skippy".
 
I don't have much gossip but I am trying to recover from 5 weeks of chronic bronchitis.  I have coughed so much that I pulled some muscles loose in my back & side and that was more painful than the bronchitis.  I am currently going to a chiropractor two days a week.  He's got one of those computer systems in which the gun is aimed at the joints and it tells where the bad places are...he just pulls the trigger and it is suppose to correct that area.
 
I just got the mechanical license and released an album entitled "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me", the old Mel Carter song of days gone by and written by Harry Noble.  On the album are some of my standards such as "Hope You Read My Letter" as well as Kitty Houston's version of that same do wap song and my gospel "If Anybody Calls My Name".
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Tim Barber (BMI)
Just a note to let everyone know you don't need to be physically in Nashville to make things happen thanks to the Internet. Spent seven years there, but things didn't start happening until I moved to Phoenix, AZ. Now we have songs being done from Nashville to Helsinki, Finland and even on French TV! Any songwriters or artists can contact me at countrybarberproductions@yahoo.com
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New Zealand Country singer, Ann Pascoe   www.annpascoe.com  is releasing a Best of Ann Pascoe album soon. Contrary to a remark that only dead artists and retiring artists released "The Best of..."  albums, this album will include 10 back catalogue tracks selected from her four albums.  Songs by Roy G Ownbey, and Ann's own composition are among the collection, and also two new songs. "Land of the Long White Cloud" by New Zealand songwriter Dave Guillemot and a fun song by Poythress & Varble make this into a good listening album.  Watch for it soon. Bob Dyer
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Writing lyrics an playing with my 1st greatgrandson he is 10 months old now an I got him spoiled rotten he he heeee.
Terry Lee Reid  songwriter1046@peoplepc.com
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Mike Anderson has been a busy guy tearing up carpet and putting down tile along with painting the bedroom. Reason for this burst of energy is Mariannee will be having her knee replaced in May. Mike will be her caregiver so he's taking a couple of weeks off from his day job.  I bet he will be sneaking off to work on some songs while Marianne recuperates!  On an interesting note, while redoing the room the Anderson's have had to move from a King bed with an extra twin bed at the bottom to a Queen bed. Now the problem with that is, they had to bring all 10 small dogs with them. Yep, 10 Yorkies, Poms, and Yorka-Poms!  It's a bit crowded but cozy! 
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Lonnie Ratliff   www.NashvilleCDStore.com ~ Pretty ordinary week for me.  Getting ready for a recording session with Norwegian country artist "The Big B" http://www.myspace.com/bigbthevocalist who will be getting into Nashville about April 20th.  He will be bringing his trusty sidekick Pelle to play a little Telecaster on some of his tracks.  Finished up mixing the Shady Creek Outlaws new CD and will master this week.  Sounds good.  Gina Michaells, http://www.myspace.com/ginamichaells  another Norwegian artist will be recording with me in Nashville the latter part of May.  Started writing a new song with my buddy Jim Carter called "I've  Never Known Texas Without Her"  hope it turns out good because he wrote one of the best opening lines for it I think I've ever heard "The north wind is howling like a sad old coyote singing a requiem mass"
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Jetty Road (Australia) www.jettyroad.com  invited to play in Canada……
On the eve of the 2008 Tamworth Country Music Festival, Jetty Road have just received news of their successful bid to perform mainstage at Dauphin’s Countryfest in June this of year.  Organizers say Jetty Road’s application was “a stand out” and they are very pleased to include the Australian group to the line-up for this year’s festival.  Jetty Road will be performing two shows over two days between June 26th - 29th, alongside artists such as American country superstar Alan Jackson, Lonestar, Emerson Drive, Aaron Pritchett, Shane Yellowbird and Jessie Farrell.
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I will be pretty busy this week and will not have time to remind everyone to send in their GOSSIP
so if you want to be in the next NEWSLETTER be sure to E Mail it to me marked as Gossip in
the SUBJECT line of the E Mail.  If you have a WEBSITE you need to include it and believe it or
not I had to leave out a couple of people this week because the didn't include their names so I could
not tell who it was from and didn't have time to chase down that info.  Lonnie
Send E Mail to               NashvilleShowcase@comcast.net
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Stan & LaDanna Cox of Marietta, Oklahoma celebrate another robust day with their 15 children.  Finalizing the adoption of the 5 siblings that have lived in their home for over 2 years now is the reason to celebrate.  Stan says "pray we get a song recorded soon, we need the money to feed this brood"!   You can listen to our latest demo "I Thought You Were Somebody Else" at www.jamwave.com/stancox
Thanks Lonnie we appreciate all you do,
Stan & LaDanna Cox
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Julie Taylor  http://www.myspace.com/julietaylorcountry   was just in Bayou Recording Studios in Nashville on behalf of Stardust Records and recorded a session with Kenton James Koty out of North Carolina.  Everything went well, was good to see George and the boys again! Also on personal note, am hoping (FINALLY) to get into the studio sometime before the end of the summer and cut a few songs for my next CD.  Just a hint..just a few originals this time..maybe even a special guest or two (hmmmm)  Performance end - continue to do shows at the San Miguel Coffee Co. in Winchester, great atmosphere and coffee and paninis!! Will be performing with Luther Lewis and his band at the International Dogwood Festival www.winchesterdogwoodfestival.com Sunday, April 13 followed by Michelle Rae, Cody Huber, Boggy Branch Band and Ernie Ashworth.  I have a live radio show in Lynchburg with Cody Huber at the BBQ Caboose (April 26) and then over to the Elk River Coffee Co. in Lynchburg hopefully that afternoon (still in the works).
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Looking for singers and songwriters to be on my new show POP GOES THE POETRY on worldtalkradio.com starting 4-16-08 from studio A at 1:00pm CDT. Write me at Popgoesthepoetry@msn.com
If you are interested.
Ralph Watley
501-909-9539
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Jean Ann Hand  http://jeanannhand.com/  Hmmm... I don't have any juicy gossip.  My CD is finally released, getting
airplay in New Zealand, Australia, Lithuania, Florida, and Oregon.
Singing with a classic rock band throwin' down the Janis & the Journey
every couple weekends.  I could make up something juicy?
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Barbara Dunn HOPE ALL IS WELL UP NASHVILLE WAY , SUMMER IS BOUT HERE  IN TEXAS. I AM STILL WRITING JUST RETIRED AND ENJOYING THE  SPRING SCENES  SOUNDS AND SMELLS..  EHK MUSIC  http://www.wingnut.net/ehk.htm   IS WRAPPING UP CD  93 AND  STAYING BUSY  ,,
JUST WANTED TO SAY  HI  AND THANKS FOR KEEPING ME IN THE LOOP. BLESSINGS BARBARA DUNN BJD 
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Debbie Bennett  deb_bennett_7@hotmail.com  Thank you so much for the kind comments. I am in Chattanooga, Tn. until Sunday and I will sing this afternoon and tomorrow night. I am here for the SGM FanFair and Awards Show. The Award Show is tonight and I 'm hoping that maybe there will be one for me, but if not I'm just thankful to be here. Again thank you so much for the wonderful words and I do appreciate them more than you know. God bless.
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Judge Fletcher  http://www.myspace.com/judgefletcher in the beginning of March a coffee shop that a friend of mine owns was broken into an the register was broken open. not a lot of damage was done to the other contents but the insurance didn't cover any of it so the owners had to foot the entire bill. well, to help defray the cost a little, someone put together a benefit concert so i volunteered to play along with a houseful of other musicians. It was a huge success but the story doesn't end there.  a few days before the benefit, I sat down and wrote a song about the breakin to play at the benefit. The song caused such a n upraoar that more people donated money and I have been asked to perform it at other places too and people have walked up and donated money on the spot after I played the song. so now, a local studio named In The Bag is donating everything to produce a cd of the song and the coffee house will sell them to raise MORE money.
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Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan  The hardest part of making a new album is waiting for it to come out.
Amazon, Target, Tower, and all the internet record stores tease us with "pre-order" ads, but we haven't held it in our hands yet. We watch a little TV, go to Walmart, restring a guitar, and go nuts waiting. You can't even write a song when this happens.
    Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan
Grammy Nominees... Billboard's Duet of the Year.
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Home page: www.jackandmisty.com  Myspace: www.myspace.com/jackandmisty  Videos: www.youtube.com/jackandmisty
CD catalog: www.elvinsystems.com/jm/catalog.htm
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Animated Children's DVD soon to be completed and released. Entitled: "EUDORA MAY" it's a narrated story with music about a budding little girl concert pianist and her odd "friend" she discovers living among the piano felts. PARENTS' CHOICE MAGAZINE called it----"A Charmer."
Written, Narrated & Produced by: Dixon DeVore  Cricket Power Records International
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Please announce in your newsletter that I just got a great cut on one of my songs by my friend, artist  BILLY EGR:
"TOUCHED ME AGAIN." Billy will also have a new Gospel CD out, soon. my website:
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Had a great Gig on an excursion boat in Seattle. I'm sure it would have been a great job , but as I was taken my gear aboard someone passed me by and knocked me in the water--not much fun.  Oh well!  Bill Moyer of www.silverrosecountry.com       silverrosecountry@comcast.net
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Hi Lonnie, I had a HUGE ALBUM LAUNCH in my home town......people all over the place came along to see me with my support acts, Lee Brittain, Jamie Agius, Peter Pratt, Shaynae Pokoti, (12 yrs old) Triston Severs (7 yrs old) Doug McIntyre, Mike Casey along with my Cowgirl Dancers "The Calamity Clampets"  What a great night it was.........Patti McKinnon
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Paul Taylor phtaytlor@sbcglobal.net   in addition to keeping americana alive in the san francisco bay area, paul h taylor and the montara
mountain boys are working on a live release as well as a new video
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Dorothy Crawford & Jean Martin
We are songwriters.  We have a "train" song on NBT's latest album, RIDE THE TRAIN!
Enjoy your newsletter!
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Christian Lamitschka has found new partner to produce the charity auction to benefit handicapped children.Christian Lamitschka chose Chris and Birgit King, owner of an online-western-store, for the new collaboration. According to Christian Lamitschka, they are the perfect partners for the charity auction, because they understand the kind of charity auction Christian Lamitschka has designed.  Artists, who want to take part in this special charity auction to support handicapped children in Germany and America (with Christian Lamitschka and the owners of “Rednecks Western Store“, Chris and Birgit King) are welcome to contact:
Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de     www.myspace.com/christianlamitschka
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This is Rob Jarvis, my latest gossip is that i barely made my mortgage today, i've been welding up a storm to pay my bills, working on my latest CD, trying to get some people in my studio,  seeing my daughter as much as i can, and have decided to try and sell some songs but have no way of doing it. if anybody is interested in any of this then email me at www.myspace.com/robbyjarvis. i would be glad to hear your gossip feedback and maybe can add some gossip of my own!
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TONY GOODACRE   www.tonygoodacre.com
 Hello there from ENGLAND, to all my friends in country music around the world.  After over 50 years of singing and recording classic traditional style country music (with plenty of steel and fiddle), appearing not just in every corner of the U.K., but also taking in Australia, New Zealand and much of Europe (not forgetting several trips to the U.S.A with appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, Wheeling Jamboree, Grapevine Opry in Texas and shows in Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia etc, I have decided to RETIRE from full time touring at the end of this year, 2008, perhaps doing a few 'one-off' special shows in 2009.
This year, 2008, I have been cutting down on my usual hectic schedule of shows (for many years, between 200 and over 300 every year), giving me time to work on new CD's and DVD's, taken 'from the archive' - film of old shows and recordings never before released on Video, DVD or CD.
My wife Sylvia and I are also taking a 3 week vacation next month, May, (a belated 70th Birthday present to myself), realising a lifetime ambition to see the Canadian Rockies and take a cruise to Alaska.  If anyone out there knows of any country music shows in Vancouver, or between Vancouver and Calgary (I'll be self-driving), we'll see if it fits in with our schedule.  Just e-mail me at tonygoodacre@hotmail.com
My website, www.tonygoodacre.com was updated mid 2007, but there's all the new stuff to add, which I'll be doing later in the year when I've finished all the new DVD's.  Do keep in touch - I'll have more time to reply  to e-mails and visit your own websites soon!!!.
Keep on Keeping It Country, Tony Goodacre.
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UK singer songwriter Tjaye Martin. www.tjayemartin.com   After her solo success at Americana International last year when Carlene Carter headlined, Tjaye has been invited to perform again this year with her band. Topping the the bill at this four day event will be Asleep at the Wheel.
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DJ's Alan & Sonia     http://www.freewebs.com/alan-and-sonia
hi there Lonnie, just spotted your bit about the gossip and you wanting interesting websites linked to country, you could visit us at
we are a couple of teachers from south yorkshire, england and decided to create a website for our dancers and other dancers to watch and review western dance, we also have a few interesting video clips of other stuff associated with our love of country music.
oh by the way lonnie, I received your e.mail as I am the person that owns Don Valley Country 1467 AM, we have just recently relocated to a new address so the station is off the air for 2 months whilst we have a new building erected, we are also going to be streaming to the internet when we re-open
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I'm Mel Hague, I was one of the UK's top country music entertainers from 1964 to 2004 when I had to retire with severe back trouble.  I won many awards from club level to national with the highlight being The Golden Guitar Award as Britain's Top Country Music Entertainer in 1981,
The Golden Guitar was valued at £1000 at the time.  I recorded 17 albums, some of which are still available from me on CD.  I'm a writer
now with 3 published western novels and a 4th on the way.  You can catch up with my "doings" at www.melhaguecountry-western.com, I'm always pleased to hear from folks from all around the world.  Keep up with Lonnie and the NashvilleShowcase as I think it's the cat's cream and whiskers.
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 Dear Music friends:  In an industry that is always changing and many folks choose to take advantage of Indie Artists, it is good to show you 3 people that are working together to help Artists, and at the same time keep their prices very reasonable......  LONNIE RATLIFF (Producer/songwriter), GARY BRADSHAW (WHP compilation) RHONNIE SCHEUERMAN(RhonBob Promotions) Visit us and learn why we have been successfully filling our promises to the artists we deal with.
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Hello fellow country music lovers I just wanted to say hello and let you know I enjoy all your wonderful music ,Iam still working on my first CD and hope to release it by late summer ,Have a great week and God Bless ,Donna Clark.  donnaclarkebaby@gmail.com
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Here's some tongue lashin' gossip fer ya! Sad but true...Well, life ain't a finger-lickin-good bucket of KFC around our house lately.I've been sick, unpaid bills are piling up and my sixteen year old son is in love with a thirteen year old with bi-polar problems whose under psychiatric care in a local hospital.Think I'll write a song about it...On a good note: I just entered a song in the American Idol Songwriting contest called "Shine" so cross your fingers I get a lucky break!  Have a great day,
Olivia Francis, A.K.A. Turquoise Rose http://www.soundclick.com/TR_Museic
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Hi there yall! Hee Haw from Norway!  Big-B  http://www.big-b.no
Yea its time to start the countdown  for me to come over to the big US of A
For the first time in my life. I'm coming to Nashville on my 40'th birthday, to cut a 10 song cd with the famous producer Lonnie Ratliff 
20 of April and staying to the 4 of may, I am really looking forward to see the land where the Country music is a way of life.
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This year Ellis Manley, the morning DJ for KJIC radio 90.5 FM and www.kjic.org celebrates his 25th year in Southern Gospel radio.  KJIC serves the Houston/Galveston area of Southeast Texas with Southern and Country Gospel music 24 hours a day.  Ellis began his work in radio with KJOJ in 1983 where he worked his way up from the overnight DJ to being the afternoon drive air personality.  In 1994, KJIC asked him to join their team and he’s been there ever since serving as the Morning DJ, their Music Director and the assistant chief engineer.  He said, “When I was a young man going to see the Blackwood Brother, The Statesmen, The Rebels, The Rambos and all those great groups from the 1960’s I never dreamed that I would one day work in this industry.  It’s great to get paid for having fun.  God has blessed me beyond all I could imagine.”
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http://www.myrapearce.com/
ALYMAR RECORDS
PO BOX 531
BELGRADE, MT  59714
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Hi Lonnie,
Thanks so much!!!!  I have a new CD being released this month....THE  GHOSTS OF YELLOWSTONE....I'll send you one ASAP!!! Keep up the good work
& many happy trails..!!  Love,
Myra Pearce 
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This October sees me complete 40 years on air as a Country Music Presenter.    Among the Stations I have broadcast for are BBC, Stray FM, Yorkshire Dales FM, Wharfedale FM and Tempo FM, plus WBVH New York (Mooneys Melodies).
DJ Alan Potter (United Kingdom)
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Bonifacio Dominguez
The Academy of Western Artists 14th Annual Will Rogers Awards  Show Garland, Texas, Granville Theater, September 23, 2008
For More Information: working_cowboy@hotmail.com
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Columbia River Cowboy Gathering -TRAC Pavilion Pasco, WA - April 11, 12, & 13, 2008
Johnny Lee-Rex Allen Jr.-Sourdough Slim + 25 more entertainers from OR, WA, MN, UT,& ID
www.cowboygettogether.com          www.soundclick.com/bodie   Ticket Info (509) 947 5785
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Hi from Mexico.....this year in 2008................I will be celebrating fifty years of recording.....my first single in 1958 was GONNA HAVE  A PARTY I will send  a little write up soon
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The next "Branson" Country Music Type Park.  They say it's coming to my 'Neck of the Woods' Dothan, Alabama.
A 700 + acre parcel of land has been purchased by entrepreneur and developer Ron Gilley and associates on which to create a new 'Pure' Country Music Park similar to Branson, Mo.  The associates which include besides Gilley, James Stroud, Nashville Producer among others, and such Top Country Stars as "Possum" George Jones, and Tracy Lawrence and other unnamed stars who have committed to build Theaters and entertainment Centers, etc.  Land purchases are reportedly closed out this week.
The Park will be called "Country Crossing" and will be located just south of Dothan, Alabama along US 231 South which leads to the Panama City, Fl. Beaches.
Seems a prophetical coincidence that my last released CD  in December of '2007 included a song I wrote about my hometown titled, "I Heard 'Em Say, 'Let's Go To Dothan"  ...'and they're coming now from every place on earth...'
If things go as planned looks like Country Music Fans at least may be coming in droves by latter part of 2009 and thereafter.Thanks Lonnie, for the opportunity to post, and the above is a little more than 'just gossip.
Marty Whiddon  mwhiddon@juno.com
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Clint Maki
Hi Lonnie , Hey you oughta get up here to the great white north some day.We got another half a foot a snow last night.Went for an all day snowmobile ride Saturday,snow still up to my waist,had a blast! Hope everybodys happy safe and got beer in the frig! That reminds me, gotta get goin' Clint Maki cgmakisongs@yahoo.com 
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 Michelle Knight and Charlie Helmick just completed recording there Tribute To Cash Album this week.  This is a Ten Song Album of classic Johnny and June Cash songs.  Recorded by Dick McVey at his studio "Moonlight Recording" in Hendersonville Tn.
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Danney Ball  info@danneyball.com
Howdeeeeeeeeeeee!!! ... I just have to send you all a note today to let you know how great it is to be part of this independent network of really great country and gospel music lovers ... you mean so much to people ... especially the writers of this music that love it so much and in many cases have sacrificed so much to do what they love ... and to the people who really struggle every day trying to figue out what their listeners want ... and how to keep them glued to the radio ... it is atough job ... but somebody has to step forward and do it ... so to all of you who do this from your HEART ... thank you ... and may God bless you in your part in this music that HAS A MESSAGE and if it weren't for us all working together ... MIGHT NEVER BE HEARD!
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I saw Kris Miller  www.krismillermusic.com  on The Kitchen Sink on Gospel Music Channel!!!! Her "Inner cell phone to Jesus" video was shown on The Kitchen Sink Sunday night, and they repeat that episode a lot so that's GREAT! I loved it. I was so excited to see Kris Miller on Gospel Music Channel!!!! Tell her congrats on that, from me. Mark Weber  editor Christian Music Daily
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Country Music Internet Organization
We have now updated our web site with a new Artist / Band Of The Month
This month the featured band is BUCHANAN. A Western Swing band from the north west of England
There is a link on the front page of the site http://countrymusic.org.uk  that will link you directly to the Artist Of The Month page.
You may also find more information about the Artist of the month in our discussion Forum
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DJ Linda Axman - Hi friends!  Just wanted to let you know that I will be once again co-hosting a Bluegrass and acoustic music radio show with Dan Awendar commencing Wednesday April 9th.  The show will remain to be called the "Blueridge Expess" and will be one hour in duration for now with another 1/2 hour added once some program changes are made at the station.  It's on CKWR 98.5 FM and will start at 7:30pm and will run weekly.  For those of you out of the listening area, you can listen to a live feed at http://www.ckwr.com/  
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      Recording Artists

 
 

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Original songs  

 

"Click Yellow Speaker" below  Billy McCoy singing I Always Dream In Color 

 

Tested on Real Player & Media Player.  Works on both players

 You may have to "Click" the yellow speaker a couple of times to get it to play but it does work.

If you have problems getting the songs to play go to this SoundClick website (link below) and they are the first 2 songs and you can play them there or download them.
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I Always Dream In Color 
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" I Always Dream In Color " started out from the age old question "Do we dream in color"?  Thanks to cowriter Billy McCoy he was able to pull it from a simple question to the point where it ended up as a pretty romantic love song and we all know you can't get too many love songs in your catalog .
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"I ALWAYS DREAM IN COLOR"
WRITERS:  BILLY A. MCCOY/LONNIE RATLIFF
OKIE ACRES/SILVER STREAM MUSIC

"1ST VERSE"
I DON'T THINK ABOUT THE DAYS TO COME...
OR ALL THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS THEY MAY BRING.
WHEN I'M WITH YOU IN DREAMLAND...
THE WORLD IS OURS AND I DON'T WORRY ABOUT A THING.
JUST THE TWO OF US WITHOUT A CARE...
SURROUNDED BY THE BEAUTY OF OUR PRECIOUS LOVE.
I ALWAYS DREAM IN COLOR...
'CAUSE YOU ARE THE ONE I'M ALWAYS DREAMING OF.

"CHORUS"
I ALWAYS DREAM IN COLOR...
'CAUSE NIGHT AND DAY IN EVERY WAY YOU ARE MY LIFE.
YOU'RE ALWAYS THERE BESIDE ME...
SNUGGLED UP TO ME WHEN I TURN OUT THE LIGHTS.
AND I JUST BET YOU ANYTHING...
YOU'LL BE THERE WITH ME IN MY DREAMS AGAIN TONIGHT.
I ALWAYS DREAM IN COLOR...
I COULD NEVER DREAM OF YOU IN BLACK AND WHITE.

"INSTRUMENTAL BREAK"

"REPEAT CHORUS"
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If you are interested in recording any of my songs
just E Mail me for info and a mechanical license
I have another website with over 80 demos you can
listen to.
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I Wanna Do What We Did 

The double entrendre in the title of "I Wanna Do What We Did" takes this song to a slightly risque place which never hurts as long as you don't cross the line.  The little "Hiccup Harmony" production in the chorus is pretty catchy also.  I have always thought this song might even be a little stronger if it was recorded by a male artist.

.
 

"Click Yellow Speaker"  Sharon Beavers singing I Wanna Do What We Did 

  You may have to "Click" the yellow speaker a couple of times to get it to play but it does work.

Tested on Real Player & Media Player.  Works on both players

If you have problems getting the songs to play go to this SoundClick website (link below) and they are the first 2 songs and you can play them there or download them.

http://www.soundclick.com/pro/view/02/default.cfm?bandID=392838&content=music

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"I Wanna Do What We Did"

It's been another wasted day but lately that ain't news
Leavin' sure looked easier from the other side of these blues
I remember thinking freedom would open a lot of doors
Now I'm free to do what I want but I wanna do what we did before


I wanna do what we did
Before we didn't do it anymore
I wanna go back to the good times that
I didn't think were so good before
Now I went runnin' for greener pastures
And I wound up walkin' the floor
Now I wanna do what we did
Before we didn't do it anymore


They say you never miss the water til the well runs dry
You never know what a good thing is until it says goodbye
Well I know I am guilty of tearing our world apart
I can put the pieces back if you can find forgiveness in your heart

(Repeat Chorus 2X)
Tag: Yeah I wanna do what we did before we didn't do it anymore

Lonnie Ratliff / Lindy Gravelle
Copr. Okie Acres Music (BMI) Lorelle Music (BMI)

 

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Buying a house in Nashville ?
 
If you are thinking of moving to Nashville and need to buy a house I recommend you get in touch with my buddy Craig Stahl.
Some of you will know Craig from his 13 years working with Alan Jackson and also as my partner in Okie Acres Music & Studio.
Give him a call when you need property in Nashville or sign up for his Newsletter
I hope you enjoyed our first issue of Roadie Real Estate.com. Please email me your thoughts and suggestions. If you liked it
please hit the forward e-mail button at the bottom of the page. Please visit my website at www.RoadieRealEstate.com I would love t
o help you buy or sell your next home or help you with any of your Real Estate needs. If you are not moving anytime soon,
please keep me in mind to be of service to friends and family. I really appreciate your referals.
 
Craig Stahl "The Roadie Realtor"
615-578-9175

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"When It's Too Country For Everyone Else, It's Just Right For Me" 

 Erin Hay

THE COLLECTION "Click" Photo to purchase Erin's CD's THE CIRCLE 

 "Click" Yellow Button below to play

Lo-Fi Samples from THE CIRCLE CD

 

Lo-Fi Music Samples from this 23 song CD

"click" on EBAY Logo below

 

 

 

Artists release your songs worldwide on

Gary Bradshaw's WHP Compilation.

 

 

 

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RhonBob Promo for Country & Gospel

    

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Artists looking for someone to help you with your CD Cover artwork, printing and pressing your CD ? Check with Karen Bruno at Amazon Audio

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Work In Progress
 
This is a song I am working on with Vaughn Lofstead.  It has taken several months to get it whittled down from this epic story it started out as that should have probably been a book or a movie script to a condensed version that possibly might eventually make sense as a song.  I have loved working with the character "Owen" who all the way through the song seems to be a little unstable (I see him as just being a little slow mentally) and I believe we have it set up now to where the listeners first thought when they hear the line about the gunman barricaded in the school with the children the first thought is that it is probable "Owen". 
        It is a nice little twist that he ends up being the hero in the song.  There is a little bit of symbolism in the lyrics where Owen is walking toward the school with his arms outstreatched in that it relates to the pictures of Jesus that would have been in the church and also the scripture about "suffer not the little children to come unto me" 
      Owen was a pretty strange duck and people like him were once more common in the little towns in America. Today they are pumped full of drugs and monitored pretty closely.   If we can ever finish this song I hope it will be a lasting tribute to all the "Owens" in the world and we will at least pause and consider the possibility that there may be more to them than meets the eye.
 

 
Owen
 
The town knew Owen as a loner, a man who always stayed to himself  
If he had any deep dark secrets Owen never asked no one for help 
He just went about his business, never spoke unless he was spoken to 
Marching to a different drummer just a little out of step with me or you 
 
As the years rolled slowly by like a horse drawn hearse headed for the grave 
Owen showed up every week at church but we never heard him pray 
He'd just listen as the children sang how Jesus loved each of us one and all  
Then he'd slip out the side door Owen never stayed around for alter call
 
     (Chorus)
     Owen had a dark side there's no doubt
     But Owen fought those demons he never let 'em out
     He'd sing "Jesus Loves Me This I Know"
     That's how Owen took control
     That's how Owen took control
 
(Bridge)
It's on the T.V. and the Radio the whole world's upside down and come undone
There's some crazy fool down at the school he's got our kids and he's got a loaded gun
 
The schoolyard fills with people today we're bound together by our fear 
Owen stepped out of the crowd and whispered something in the Sheriff's ear 
The Sheriff turns white as a ghost cause there was no way out alive with Owen's plan
The way that Owen took control that day was more than we would ever understand
 
With empty hands streatched out Owen sang Jesus Loves Me This I Know
Shots rang out from the school and Owen headed toward the gunman walking slow
Some bullets missed some found their mark as Owen headed straight into that hell
When the gunman's gun fired empty Owen took his final breath and fell
 
     (Chorus)
     They said Owen had a dark side but I've got doubts
     All I saw was an angel when he stepped out of that crowd
     Singing "Jesus Loves Me This I Know"
     Owen just let Jesus take control
     That's Owen took control
 
Lonnie Ratliff / Vaughn Lofstead

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Artists looking for original songs click on my banner and check out my songwriter website with 2 pages of original songs.  If you hear something you like and need more info or a mechanical license to record it just contact me. 
Lonnie Ratliff
NashvilleShowcase@comcast.net 

 

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY CDBABY

Hi Lonnie -

I started CD Baby 10 years ago this week - in March 1998.

You probably know that I'm just a musician-geek, not a business-man.
Never meant to start a company.  I was just selling my own CD, then helped
some friends do it, then it accidently turned into CD Baby.  (Ooops!)

Now CD Baby has paid over $70 million dollars(!!) directly to musicians.
And despite the moaning you hear from the majors, independent artists are
selling better than ever. Even physical CD sales are up 30% over last year!

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Friends will tell you that for the past 10 years I've spent most waking
hours, 7 days a week, doing nothing but CD Baby.  Last year I just slept on
the couch at the office for 6 months, usually working from 7am to midnight.

So today seems like a good day to tell you that I don't work at CD Baby
anymore, and haven't in months.

I'm still the owner, but haven't been to the office since May.  The crew
there is running things better than I ever could.  They know more than I
do, and do a better job.

I've made that transition from self-employed to business-owner.  (You know
you're a true business-owner when you can leave your business for a year,
and come back to find it's doing much better than when you left.)

WHY AM I TELLING YOU THIS?

Because the reason I freed-up my time is to find more ways to help you.

Helping you develop, create, promote, and sell your music makes me happier
than anything.  It's still why I bounce out of bed in the morning.

I love it even more than making my own music.  (Weird, huh?)   By helping
you get your music out to the world, and helping you make a living doing
it, I feel that in a way I'm making more music than ever.

There are many ways I can help, but I'll email you about those next week.

Today was just a CD Baby birthday announcement.  Still, I wanted to let
you know there are exciting things to come.

--
Derek Sivers, founder, CD Baby, HostBaby
http://sivers.org <-- bookmark or subscribe for insider news

 

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ROOTS MUSIC REPORT 
http://www.rootsmusicreport.com

 
This is the top 50 this week of Traditional Country Artists
Those in RED were produced by Lonnie Ratliff  www.NashvilleCDStore.com

Lonnie’s Economy Recording Music Package

 

Check out my little side business. For you artists that can’t afford the time or money to come to Nashville to record right now or just need a song or two to finish out your CD or to put up on MYSPACE etc! - I have a website of songs I own the Master Recording on and I can lease you the track and furnish you with a Mechanical license so you are 100% legal for $250 - The only catch is that you have to be able to sing them in the key they are recorded in so just go to the website to find out. They are much like the Karaoke tracks you buy except most of them are original songs but not all of them and you will have a Mechanical License giving you the right to use the songs. You can pay for these tracks with your credit card if you prefer. I then mail you a CD with the music track and you just take it into your local recording studio and add your vocals and harmony and you got it. If this sounds like something you may be interested in just go to my website below and see if there is anything you like there that is in your key. I have most of the Lyrics posted. Just “Click” on lyrics to see them. Any questions just E Mail me NashvilleShowcase@comcast.net

Visit my website to see what songs are available

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Attention Recording Artists

     If you are planning on recording in  Nashville in the future I would appreciate you checking out my website and listening to some of the artists I have worked with.  Remember when you are planning to work with a record producer, if it is me or someone else,  be sure to check them out and contact some of the former artists they have produced before you write them a check. 

Lonnie Ratliff.