The Philadelphia Chapter of the National Recording Academy holds 'In the Mix' event at Resorts for music-industry pros and aspiring artists, producers.
You will certainly hear about these two South Jersey-area singer-songwriters Amy Faden (left) and Alexis Cunningham. The pair sing solo and together (as Siren) and have been working on new recordings with N.J. label Invisible Earth Records head (and long-time musician) Jonn Savannah. (All photos Nick Valinote)
ATLANTIC CITY — Prohibition, the new club at Resorts, was transformed into a shop-talk and networking session that, with the dozens of gifted (and some truly legendary) music industry professionals in the room, could have been taking place in New York, Los Angeles — or even Philadelphia.
In fact, the nearly 25-year-old Philadelphia chapter of the National Recording Academy — the folks who give out those Grammy things each year — was indeed in the house, presenting one of its "In the Mix" events in Atlantic City to reach out to the local market of music makers and give Philadelphia and South Jersey area members and non-members the chance to network with each other, learn about the tools to utilize social media in order to promote music, and, most importantly, discover the advantages of becoming a member of the Philadelphia chapter.
Mark Schulz, the Philly chapter's executive director (who also helped open Dusk at Caesars during his stint with the club's parent company, Red Stripe Plane Group) says he had been looking forward to coming back to Atlantic City and bringing one of the chapter's popular In the Mix events to the resort after a several-year absence.
"We recognized we have been out of touch with our members and the music community [in Atlantic City] for too long," says Schulz. "The In The Mix networking events are a great way for us to reconnect with a region's music makers, and to learn who's doing what in the area."
While the local chapter's home base is Philadelphia, Atlantic City and southern New Jersey are an important part of its overall region, which also includes Delaware and other parts of Pennsylvania.
The night at Resorts started at 7pm and the networking got underway quickly. Old friends mingled, new friends were introduced and the bar was busy for several hours — except during a 20-minute slide presentation, courtesy of social media consultant Alexandra Golaszewska, who discussed how to effectively use platforms such as Facebook and Twitter to promote music, events and even for industry networking.
The room was filled with an impressive gamut of music-industry veterans, including the legendary owner, producer and engineer of Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studio, Joe Tarsia, who, aside from recording your favorite Sound of Philadelphia record and working with so many top names in the business that it's not worth only mentioning a few (Google him), was on the first governing body of the Philadelphia Chapter (in 1987); producer and engineer David Ivory, president of the Philadelphia Chapter and the man who helped to put the Roots on the map; manager, producer and multiple GRAMMY winner (and Brigantine resident) Joe Donofrio; Jonn Savannah, long-time B3 organist for Van Morrison and a one-time member of Squeeze; to name but a few.
Two young singer-songwriters from the southern New Jersey region — the extraordinary talented Alexis Cunningham and Amy Faden — came to the event with Savannah. With stars in their eyes and a passion for their art pinned to their vintage coat sleeves, the pair, who are in the midst of recording and writing at Savannah's home studio in southern New Jersey and who sometimes perform together as Siren, illustrated how important of an event this was for both veteran music makers looking for new talent to develop as well as aspiring artists looking to catch a break — or at least a tip on how to catch one in the muddy waters of the current music industry.
D'Onofrio, who represents legendary jazz guitarist Pat Martino and polka king Jimmy Sturr, among other artists and projects, helped Schulz put the event together, along with Cape May County's Jeff Morgan, who helps put on the Cape May Singer Songwriter showcase (dubbed "SS Cape May"), which is in its fifth year and will be held March 30 & 31, 2012 in Cape May.
If anything, the night proved what a massive amount of talented music makers the southern New Jersey region has among its ranks — and how small the world is — even between Philadelphia and Atlantic City.
Schulz says the night was a success and that he will absolutely look to hold another event in Atlantic City in the future.
"There's far too much great music being performed and recorded [in the Atlantic City area] for us not to have a presence a couple of times a year!" says Schulz. "I am constantly awed by the wealth and depth of the music scene here. This area has constantly turned out critically regarded music — jazz, classical, R&B, soul — you name it. And not just for some period in history, but consistently. Maybe it's because I'm not from the area, but it’s amazing to me."
Schulz adds: "It was great to see some of our long-time members hanging out with new music makers and industry people, and the presentation on social media seemed to spark ideas and conversation as well."
Although multiple GRAMMY winner and Pleasantville native Rodney Jerkins wasn't in attendance, there was enough energy in the room to power up a jet fighter.
The chapter saw a few new members sign up, which was obviously a plus for Schulz. Before the three-hour event ended, with the Atlantic City skyline behind him, Schulz talked about what a major opportunity becoming a member is for music makers of any stripe.
"Membership is not just about the GRAMMY Awards, and voting, and these great events" says Schulz, "but it also, through our national Web site GRAMMY365.com, grants members access to the most exclusive business-related social media network, with about 20,000 other members of the music business — nationally. It's a great and very exclusive tool for music professionals to network."
As the last of the attendees and sponsors, old members and new members left for the night, Alexis Cunningham took out her acoustic guitar from its case, slapped a capo on the third fret, sat down and — with friend Amy Faden sitting on a stool and harmonizing with her — sang one of her songs to a few stragglers.
It was a chilling moment. Not because we were on the 13th floor of Resorts, but because this writer never would have heard the short performance if the Philadelphia Chapter hadn't come to town.
Dubbed “Hard Rock Rising,” the A.C. Hard Rock has 12 bands/solo artists competing on four Friday nights, 9pm-1am, starting Feb. 24. Ultimately the field is whittled to three finalists worldwide, with the grand prize being an all-expense paid trip to London for the 7th annual Hard Rock Calling music festival July 13-15. The winning band/artist will be on the bill with this year’s headliner — Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
The truth is, our region has been a live-music mecca since the early 1900s, when cats like Eubie Blake and Eddie Cantor hung out for summers and performed at local clubs. Decades later the Atlantic City jazz scene was as hot as they come, with internationally heralded performers from Billy Eckstine and Louis Armstrong playing residencies at some of the hottest clubs on the East Coast, namely the venues on Atlantic City’s fabled Kentucky Avenue — all of them are gone now — including the Club Harlem.
The guide is destined to soon become the place for local booking agents and promoters to check out local bands and listen to songs and watch video.
"The Local Music Guide is a great idea. I believe it’s very important for the musicians to work together and support each other, rather than just protect their own ‘piece of the pie.’ The South Jersey music scene seems to be growing stronger and stronger, and hopefully this guide will make it easier for all involved — clubs, fans and musicians alike — to continue that growth and bring back the ‘glory days’ once more.”
When Art Blakey, the legendary jazz drummer (and 2005 Grammy lifetime achievement award recipient), lived in Northfield during the late 1970s and early '80s, he could not help running his bicycle into the side of the 507 NJ Transit bus, which, at the time, stopped right in front of the home he shared with his longtime companion, Sandy Warren, and son, Takashi, at the intersection of Mill and Shore roads. "The bus driver would just sit there and look at him," remembers Warren. "He just never really learned how to ride his bike. But he kept trying because he thought, you know, that's a nice thing that you can do in Northfield--you could ride your bike. "It's so weird because you think of someone talented enough to be the world's greatest drummer, who can close his eyes and throw the sticks up in the air and catch them with his eyes still closed and never miss a beat - that he should be able to ride a bicycle and do some other things that require a bit of dexterity. He couldn't. Drumming was the only thing that required dexterity that he could do!" Thank heaven for that. In the decades after the Pittsburgh-born...
As a member of an Italian-American family growing up in Youngstown, Ohio, Joseph Donofrio's affiliation with music began with his being prompted to learn the accordion by his parents at age seven. At...
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1. RP_109 said... on Oct 29, 2011 at 02:18PM
“...this event was the most comfortable, straight-shootin, energized and meaningful one I've attened in recent years after a long and successful career in the biz. Congrats go to the Philly chapter as well as the great folks who came out, many legends in their own time. (you know who you are)The future of the industry is dependent upon more of the same. South Jersey in the house!! Thanks for putting this together and reaching out to the talented band of musicians and produzers we have here. Look forward to next one!!”