Songwriters Holiday Concert To Be Presented December 8 th

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1 Knoxville Songwriters Association KSA Notes & News...all that our name implies Founded by Sara Williams in 1983 Knoxville Songwriters Association P. O. Box 603 Knoxville, Tennessee a Tune a Line a Rhyme Birth of a song President s Notes KSA Christmas Party December 11 th The annual KSA Christmas Party will be on Tuesday, December 11 th, 6 p.m., at the Hibachi Grill, 9645 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN ( ). The buffet includes an assortment of entrées & desserts certain to please almost any taste. Buffet costs $9.49 each+tax (drink extra). Bring a $5 item for the gift exchange. Ugly Santa is certain to bring out the lively side of even the most shy member or guest. Details of how this works will be explained after we ve completed dinner. So far, no one has been offended or harmed in year s past, but we promise an evening with lots of fun. Please mark your calendar...tuesday, December 11 th, 6 p.m.! Edna Riddick, KSA President B o a rd of Directors President: Vice President: Treasurer: Membership: Secretary: Education & PR: Historian: Newsletter Editor: Web Master: Directors at Large: Jerry Isham Pamela Maynard Diana Moore Ruby Ridenour George Boley Edna Riddick Dan Howie John Morris Brenda Perry Anna Morris David Lauver Richard Ratledge Carla Lingerfelt Gale Horst View KSA Notes & News online at KSA Notes & News November of 8

2 KSA Notes & News F r o m t h e e d i t o r C a r l a T. L i n g e r f e l t The holidays are quickly upon us! I hope all had a wonderful Thanksgiving last week! We have a lot of activities coming up in the near future. It s hard to believe 2012 is almost over. Just a reminder that we meet every Tuesday with a jam time from 5 to 6 p.m. and meet for critiques from 6 to 8 p.m. We will meet normally and then on December 11 th we have our annual Christmas Party (see President s Notes pg.1). We will not meet again until January 8 th, 2013!! An event, Tennessee Shines is on December 3 rd (pg.6) and there is also a Songwriter s Holiday event in Maryville on December 8 th (see article below). I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!! May your homes be filled with joy and peace! Songwriters Holiday Concert To Be Presented December 8 th Start the Christmas season on the right note at our annual Songwriters Holiday performance, 7 to 9 p.m., Saturday, December 8 th, at Music Row of Maryville. Knoxville Songwriters Association members and friends will present original songs of the season, as well as familiar holiday songs and the stories behind them. Music Row of Maryville is located at 2808 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway (US Highway 321),1.8 miles past Blount Memorial Hospital heading towards Townsend. The concert will be broadcast live on WBCR, 1470 AM, and carried on the station s website, For audience members, this show is included in the $3 general admission for all Saturday evening shows. If you would like to perform, please prepare one original song and one traditional carol or secular Christmas or New Year s tune and be able to share the story behind the songs (writers, artists, first performances, etc.) Sign up and send the information on your selections by November 30 th to David Lauver, KSA education and public relations director, at lauver100@aol.com. If more than one person chooses the same song, preference will be given to current KSA members and the date song selections are made. We ll include some group numbers such as Jingle Bells, Silent Night and We Wish You a Merry Christmas so join in caroling practice at the 5 p.m. jam sessions before our regular Tuesday meetings at the Fountain City Library 5300 Stanton Road. Even if you don t plan to perform, please mark your calendars and come out to Music Row for a fun evening. David Lauver, Education & PR KSA Notes & News November of 8

3 Happenings We Were Soldiers by Ratledge is Broadcast Having fought in the Korean Conflict, Mr. Earl Richard Ratledge, long-time member of the KSA, was invited to speak at a Tribute to Veterans held at the John O Connor Center on Friday, November 9 th. Mr. Ratledge also shared his song We Were Soldiers. Not only did his song stir strong emotions from those attending the program, Master of Ceremonies Jeff Jarnigan of FM97.5 was so impressed that he played We Were Soldiers during his 5 p.m. broadcast. Congratulations to Richard for composing a song that touches strong emotions of gratitude for military service and sacrifice to our United States. L to R: David Lauver, Jerry Hogman Isham, Brenda Perry, Edna Riddick & Tommy Fox. L to R: Dan Howie, Tommy Fox, Brenda Perry and Edna Riddick perform at the Fountain City Music Festival. KSA salutes and thanks all our Veterans! KSA Members Performed at Ramsey House Market Day On a beautiful day for a fall festival, KSA members helped provide music on September 22 nd for Market Day at Knoxville s historic Ramsey House. KSA founder Sara Williams and her daughter Rene and Brenda Isham offered their support for our performers. KSA members on stage were Tommy Fox, Jerry Hogman Isham, David Lauver, Diana Moore, Brenda Perry, and Edna Riddick. David Lauver, Education & PR Edna Riddick, KSA President Visit our Facebook at Knoxville Songwriters Association L to R: KSA Founder Sara Williams, David Lauver, Diana Moore, Tommy Fox & Edna Riddick. Fountain City Music Festival Held on September 11 th KSA songwriters performed before some 50 people at the first Fountain City Music Festival at the Fountain City Library. We appreciated the opportunity to provide a musical tribute on the 11 th anniversary of 9-11, as well as to celebrate the spirit of creativity that flourishes in our country and community, said KSA President Edna Riddick. Elizabeth Nelson, Fountain City Library Manager, arranged a special display of books about music, songwriting, and Tennessee recording artists. Thanks to Sandra Clark, publisher and editor of the Shopper-News, Betsy Pickle of the Knoxville News Sentinel, and the Fountain City Focus for the great news stories and photos of the event. Those publications and MetroPulse, the Knox County Library newsletter, and local radio and television stations also carried calendar information about the event. Festival performers included Jim Butterworth, Robert Couch, Tommy Fox, Dan Howie, Ron Hughes, Jerry Hogman Isham, David Lauver, Pam Maynard, Diana Moore, Brenda Perry, Edna Riddick, Jim Riddick, and Ruby Ridenour. David Lauver, Education & PR KSA Notes & News November of 8

4 Roy Garrett Happenings Memorable Performances... From the Fall Festival to a House Concert On Stage with a Legend Your KSA President was given an awesome opportunity to participate in the Foothills Fall Festival held in Maryville, TN, October 12-14, The 3-day event consists of amazing world-class concerts, arts and crafts, 16-acres of adventure land, and activities for the entire family. A performance stage on Broadway is named for Roy Garrett, of Roy s Record Shop, and dedicated to Roy s late wife Alma Garrett, a long-time supporter of musicians in Tennessee. I had never really gotten to know Roy until we both sang at Blount Memorial s Open Stage for Musicians at the Everett Senior Center. Here musicians gather to enjoy a community of music and fellowship 10-11:30 a.m. the 2 nd Wednesday of each month. Several times, I joined Roy and sang harmony during his on-stage performance. Nearing the time of the Festival, Roy mentioned he was singing at the Fall Festival and asked if I would like to join him on stage. Of course, my answer was a resounding yes! Billing for Roy s show was that Roy would return to the performance stage with vintage country music accompanied by his two sons and his old school friends. We went on stage Saturday, the 13 th at 10 a.m. before a crowd of Roy Garrett enthusiasts eager to be entertained. I wasn t sure if Roy was a country legend or had become a rock star. Whatever it was, the crowd was truly entertained! And, of course, I enjoyed the opportunity to be there also. My husband Jim and I returned on Sunday to listen to the last day of Edna Riddick and Roy Garrett 10/3/12 music on Roy s stage. Roy was recognized and we were reminded that Roy s Record Shop which opened in 1965 would be converted the next day to Barley s. We were honored to be given a tour of the almost-empty building where Roy and Alma created and housed their legendary business for so many years on Broadway. The name may be changing, but for many the memories linger on. Edna Riddick, KSA President House Concerts Offer New Performance Options Julie Lee, House Concert 11/4/12 The topic of House Concerts is new to me, although I m aware it s been around for some time. Sunday, Nov 4 th, was my first encounter with a house concert with Ms. Julie Lee performing at The Betsy House (Clark place in Rockford TN). With an environment comfortable, casual, and friendly, the music presented was a complete joy; well worth the $10 admission. Truthfully, I m not exactly sure how I wound up on the notice about the house concert, but a quick call to Jay Clark confirmed my reservation. Research the web for more concerts. A good starting place is: Edna Riddick, KSA President KSA Notes & News November of 8

5 Happenings & Upcoming Events Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood helped honor Kim Williams (center) when Kim was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Kim Williams Selected To Songwriters Hall of Fame Congratulations to Kim Williams, a lifetime member of the Knoxville Songwriters Association, who was inducted last month into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Tony Arata, Larry Henley, and Mary Chapin Carpenter are other members of the Hall s Class of Amanda Williams wrote and posted a great tribute to her father that included this reference to his early years with the Knoxville Songwriters: It was an exciting time, because I could see the determination driving him along to pursue his writing. Dad had started attending the weekly meetings of the Knoxville Songwriters Association led by Sara Williams, and was really loving the camaraderie he found there... Dad s enthusiasm for songwriting was contagious. It s all he talked about, all he wanted to do. He started making regular trips to Nashville at the urging of the Knoxville Songwriters group, to pursue his career. They sensed he had talent, and that his studying was paying off because he was actually getting better. The songs he brought in for evaluation by the group were taking on a life of their own, and his earliest cuts were written with the folks who were part of the KSA like Oscar Turman, cowriter of the Doug Stone cut Warning Labels. To read the entire article, go to the Hillbilly Culture Facebook page for Journey of a Hall of Fame Songwriter. Cyndy Montgomery Reeves, founder of the Smoky Mountain Songwriters Festival, visited the Knoxville Songwriters Association this fall. She said the initial festival had attracted dozens of performing singer/songwriters who performed before hundreds of audience members in venues throughout Gatlinburg. Cyndy encouraged KSA members to get involved in next year s festival, to be held August 15-18, 2013, and to enter songs in a contest judged by music business professionals. Closer to the festival, more information will be available at KSA member Greylan James new single If I Was Elvis is now available on itunes. The song has been getting airplay on several local stations and is the most requested song on Merle FM. Greylan continues to have a busy concert schedule and this fall appeared in Chicago on a show with major label artists James Otto and Randy Montana. KSA director at large Jerry Hogman Isham was featured in a WBIR-TV newscast in October. Channel 10 s Ken Schwall highlighted Jerry s appearance with Wade Hill on the WDVX Blue Plate Special. To go along with his song Election Time Blues, KSA webmaster Gale Horst made a non-partisan voting guide available on the Internet. It includes some good advice for any election. KSA membership director Brenda Perry performed at the Octoberfest celebration at historic Asbury United Methodist Church. Articles from David Lauver, Education & PR KSA Notes & News November of 8

6 Upcoming Events, etc. Tennessee Shines Dec. 3 rd with Amanda Williams, Karen Reynolds, and Scott Southworth Fans of talented singer-songwriters will get an early Christmas present on Monday, Dec. 3 rd, courtesy of WDVX radio. Performing on the 7 p.m. Tennessee Shines live radio show are Hillbilly Culture founder Amanda Williams; Karen Reynolds, host of the Writer s Block show on WDVX; and Scott Southworth, host of the Music Row Show on WSM radio and BlueHighways TV. The program will be broadcast from the WDVX stage at the Knoxville Visitors Center, 301 South Gay Street. Tickets are $10, and more information is available at tennesseeshines.com. David Lauver, Education & PR L to R: Mike Nash & Brandon Fulson Join the Crowd at Quaker State and Lube for Tuesday Writers Nights The Songwriter Showcase Night hosted by Mike Nash of the Southern Drawl Band has moved to a new night and location. East Tennessee songwriters can now perform their songs at 8 p.m. Tuesdays at Quaker Steak and Lube, 5616 Merchants Center Blvd. The Lube is an all ages/family friendly restaurant in north Knoxville, just off the Merchants Drive exit from I-75. If you re hungry after an evening of jamming and critiquing at KSA meetings, Tuesday is also all you can eat wings night at QS&L. KSA member Brandon Fulson, alum John Condrone, and KSA education and public relation s director David Lauver are among the regular performers, and you ll enjoy hearing the variety of new songs from singer songwriters throughout our region. David Lauver, Education & PR This is a time to bring your talent to the people. Remember the opportunity to perform at Cold Springs Community Center (see map below) the 2 nd and 4 th Thursday of each month 7-9 p.m. Go ahead and mark these dates: November (no more dates); December 13 th ; January 10 th & 24 th. Plan to arrive around 6 p.m. to enjoy beef stew, hotdogs, or frito pie. Of course there are also desserts, and where else can you eat for $2.00? Hope to see you there. From Maryville 1. Travel from Maryville toward Smokies on US Hwy 321/73 2. Nearing Rocky Branch/Walland area, watch for gas tanks on right of hwy, then antique shops on left. 3. Past Pure Pleasure sign (left) turn left & go across bridge. 4. At stop sign, turn left. 5. Take 1 st right onto Cold Springs Rd. (watch carefully for turn) 6. Go little over 1 mile (largest winding road you will ever drive) 7. Look for white bldg. on right. (Cold Springs Comm. Ctr.) 8. Small donation at door to cover use of bldg. Toward Smokies KSA Notes & News November of 8

7 Tips & Songwriter News Notes Avoid lyrical side trips and get to the point. As your lyrics wander so does the listeners attention span. Make sure each line is set up by the line before it. And keep it brief. Some writers fall into the trap of turning a three minute idea into an eight minute song. Treas. John K. Morris Avoid clichés like the plague, they're old hat. Treas. John K. Morris Write every day. Even if you just come up with a single line of lyrics, or a fragment of melody. 365 bits and pieces should add up to at least a few complete songs a year. And the more you write the easier it gets. Treas. John K. Morris The greatest challenge facing lyricists is to keep the words simple without making them sound weak or lame. Treas. John K. Morris Songwriter News Notes David Lauver, Education & PR KSA education and public relation s director David Lauver was among the performers at an October event that Hillbilly Culture founder Amanda Williams organized to benefit the Rogersville Arts Council. Hillbilly Culture s next Songwriter Retreat will be February 21-24, 2013, at the Park Vista Hotel in Gatlinburg. See for more information, including how to qualify for a scholarship to the retreat. We welcome back KSA director at large Ruby Ridenour after successful heart surgery! She even returned from the experience with an inspirational song. Cindi and Jeff Alpert, owners of radio stations The River and Q-Country in LaFollette, are actively supporting local music and music education. They are sponsors of the local Songwriter Showcase Night, as well as a CD of original Christmas music to benefit Knoxville s Joy of Music School. The CD will be available for purchase online at and at The Orangery during Cindi s Christmas show with the Corduroy Jazz Trio on December 20 th. Steve Laciak and Kate Phillips performed November 16 th at Free Music Fridays at Gatlinburg s Hard Rock Café. Check the Hard Rock s web site for upcoming performances by other singer/ songwriters and see Steve and Kate on Tuesdays at Songwriter Showcase Night at Knoxville s Quaker Steak & Lube. KSA Notes & News November of 8

8 KSA Notes & News otes & N ews KSA N Knoxville noxville otes & N The official publication of the ews noxville Songwriters ongwriters Association ssociation WE MEET EVERY TUESDAY FROM 5 6 P.M. FOR PICKIN & SINGIN CRITIQUE SESSION FROM 6-8 P.M. AT THE FOUNTAIN CITY LIBRARY 5300 STANTON ROAD ON CORNER OF ESSARY ROAD Knoxville Songwriters Association P. O. Box 603 Knoxville, Tennessee KSA Notes & News November of 8