A few months back, I was lamenting to a friend about how tough Nashville is on songwriters. My last go-round in Nashville had me paired with a few pro writers who were basically...drunks. We went to lunch, they had three beers. We went to a showcase, they had two more beers. We went to dinner and an open mic, 4 more beers.

They barely make it money-wise. What songs they have sold have come and gone. Fame, if any, was fleeting at best. But they still love to write and believe it or not, part of… Continue

Dear members,
In the 40+ years that I have been in music, man and boy, I have extensive experience in the field of failure. Being turned down for shows that I felt might make a huge difference, to flail endlessly and ram my head against the stone wall that is the organized music business. This struggle is now showing some signs of abating, the wall is softening, my swimming lessons have started to pay off. In other words, my career is starting to move and move quickly.
Gator and Mudcats music wa… Continue

As songwriters, I bet we all have a copy of Tunesmith by the great Jimmy Webb. I would also wager we have at least one book written by Pat Pattison. But how many of you have a copy of Bird by Bird by Anne Lamont?

If I was forced to burn all my music related books but one, I would save Bird by Bird. It's not even about songwriting per se. It's about book writing. However, there is so much information applicable to our art and it is written in such a compelling way that it is the one book I can a… Continue

For those of you who like harps (harmonicas that is), I just got my new harp tune worked up that I've always associated with this Celtic new year [Samhain time for you Celtic folk out there]. Dunmore Lasses is a lively tune, and yet has a mystical feel about it that I've always loved. Hope you do too. Visit my KelticDead Music site at www.kelticdead.com.

Hi Folks,
Heres is how the CCSA is gaining some regional exposure. To all members or those of you awaiting your ticket to regional stardom, DU Uncuts is being shown in the following areas: Southwest Missouri on KOZK (3rd Saturday of the month) now showing, Kansas City on KCPT Sundays at 11pm (show started Sept 27th). Oklahoma on OETA (launching in November) and Arkansas on AETN (shows times TBA).
Many of your fellow CCSA members are on many of the shows. If you have friends in these areas, pass… Continue