On July 24 JoAnn and I  head north to do an all-day Creativity/SongCraft and Marketing seminar hosted by Mary Dawson and the Dallas/Ft. Worth Master Songwriting Sessions group. For details about the seminar and the organization go to www.dfwmss.com/news.html. The group launched its first session with Hit Songwriter Jimmy Webb and plans future sessions.

Mary Dawson,  a successful and respected songwriter, publisher, consultant, is founder of cqk Music Group.   Her www.iwritethesongs.com website  (formerly lyricalline.com) is a great source of information for songwriters. I highly recommend it.

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Our Houston all-day seminar on July 31 will be hosted by the local NSAI regional workshop headed by pro songwriter/artist Connie Mims. For details, contact nsai.houstonnorthmetro@gmail.com (Just cut and paste this into your e-mail program)

On Saturday, July 10th, John and JoAnn Braheny will present: Creativity, Song Craft and Marketing, an all day songwriting workshop. Cost: $80 for WCS members, $100 for non-members. Location: 271 Sylvan Way Emerald Hills. 5 minutes from HWY 280 at the Edgewood Road, Redwood City exit.10 – 11 a.m. Career Path Patterns and Team Tools JoAnn Braheny – The corporate ladder, as a career path, doesn’t work for everyone – especially if you’re in the creative arts. Here, four basic career paths, including the corporate ladder, are explored, to identify what motivates and rewards you. If you’re uncomfortable with the direction you’re headed in, you’ll find this class a liberating experience. JoAnn uses practical tools to assess your individual work-style to help you find your most productive work environment and workmates. You won’t get this anywhere else!

11-1 p.m. No Rules-Just Tools. John Braheny – John offers this popular class for writers who started writing by instinct before exploring the principles of manipulating song structure and dynamics for maximum impact. When you follow the principles rather than arbitrary “rules,” you have much greater creative latitude. If you keep getting critiques that say you need better structure or more contrast, or if you need to expand your toolbox of creative options and get more control over what you instinctively know, this class is for you.

1-2 p.m. Lunch and networking. Turkey sandwich provided. If you have special dietary needs please feel free to bring your own food.

2-4 p.m. Marketing Yourself as an Independent Artist and Songwriter 1. Are major label deals possible? Why would you want one – or not? We’ll discuss the plusses and minuses and what kinds of artists benefit the most. 2. Approaching your career as an independent entrepreneur. What should you know and how do you learn it? Best FREE learning resources. 3. Using social networking resources to promote yourself. What are the best services and resources? Is MySpace still viable? Do you need a manager? 4. As a songwriter/composer, what sources of income are available to you and how do you connect with the opportunities. Can you still get songs to major artists? How do you get your songs into film/TV?

4-5 p.m. Critiques selected at random from attendees. CDs, cassettes, (MUST have lyric sheets attached!)

John Braheny is a top consultant for songwriters and writer/artists. The author of The Craft and Business of Songwriting, which has sold over 80,000 copies (now in its 3rd edition), co-founded and ran the Los Angeles Songwriters Showcase a non-profit organization that for 25 years provided a weekly showcase and early exposure for writers including Diane Warren, Warren Zevon, Wendy Waldman, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham and many more. He’s past president of California Copyright Conference and former board member of the L.A. chapter of NARAS. Has interviewed more than 600 songwriters and industry pros. He started his career on the road for 7 years as a solo indie folk and blues performer, songwriter and recording artist and writer/producer of music for commercials. More info at http://johnbraheny.com/about/

JoAnn Braheny began her music industry career as Atlanta’s first full- time female DJ. JoAnn was soon hired in National Promotion & Marketing by GRC Records and then in their music publishing division to develop songwriters. She opened her own company, Jaffe Music Consulting, to provide career direction for both pro and new songwriters. She was the founding secretary of the Atlanta Songwriters Assn. In Los Angeles, she worked for Rogers and Cowan public relations for internationally known celebrities in music and film. Five years in Talent Development for Walt Disney Imagineering, Disney’s theme park think-tank, gave her a first class education in creativity management. Today, JoAnn is a career counselor for songwriters and artists, guest-speaking at conferences across the country. More info about JoAnn at her blog www.goosingyourmuse.com

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John

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December 17, 2009

Re: “Don’t Look Back”

Lyrics by K. Lawrence Dunham

Music by Johnny Mandel

Dear John,

Thank you for offering to post my story about the song “Don’t Look Back”. I agree that is has teaching value. However posting it also offers me the opportunity to somewhat  resolve the situation for myself although there is no feasible avenue for me to change the outcome.

This is a song which I, as a lyricist, co-wrote with Johnny Mandel. It was first recorded in the Seventies by legendary jazz vocal artist Irene Kral on the vinyl album, “Where Is Love”which only featured Kral with the fine piano accompaniment of Alan Broadbent. The album became a critical hit internationally in the world of traditional vocal jazz. It was nominated for a Grammy in 1976 and was later formatted to a CD version. “Don’t Look Back’ has had more than a few covers and is still an active copyright.

Here is the situation. Several years back I re-acquired my publishing rights for the song and became the co-publisher.  In the latest edition of the Johnny Mandel Song Book, published by Alfred Publishing Company in 2006 Mr. Mandel included “Don’t Look Back(It was not included in the first edition.) I was delighted when he informed me of his intention while he was working on the project. When the book came out this was a high point for me as a writer.

Now three years later, it has come to my attention that there is a error in one line  of the lyrics as printed in the book. That in itself is unfortunate in terms of the record for posterity. Added to this is the ongoing possibility of singers performing and even recording the song incorrectly based on the book.  This is actually is how I found out about the error. A singer who recently recorded the song sent me  a reference copy and I was shocked to hear the lyric change.  When I emailed him about it he told me that learned the song from the Mandel songbook. I must say that the singer kindly agreed to sing the correct lyric in live performance now that he knows what it is.

The lesson here is that when Mr Mandel informed me of the pending publication, in my role as co-publisher I did not request a copy of the arrangement for proofing.  True, one was never sent to me as a routine matter of procedure, but the responsibility was mine. Even when I got a copy of the book, I was so enthralled by it. I never looked carefully at the lyrics, and this is something I routinely do keenly in my role as a lyricist when it comes to lead sheets or lyric sheets

Here is the incorrect line:

“Who cares to feel what went on before, as far as love’s concerned

All those dreams will disappear and never will return.”

The correct line is:

“Who cares to feel what went on before, as far as love’s concerned

All those dreams have disappeared and never will return.”

Thanks again so much. John.

K. Lawrence Dunham

a.k.a Kaye L. Dunham

email: klawdee@gmail.com

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FOLLOWUP

I referred Kaye to Ronny Schiff, my book agent and print music expert. She told him Alfred Music Publishing was a highly respected and conscientious company and he should write to them directly and request a correction.  He did send the request and received back a very gracious personal letter from Bryan Bradley, Alfred Music Publishing’s COO, promising to make the correction on the next printing. Kaye thanked Ronny for encouraging him to follow up and in her note back to him she said, “The print companies (the few that are left) are ALL dedicated to accuracy. That’s why they’ve survived. They also are there to serve the songwriter. Without you, there would be no music business that brings us such joy.” Well said, Ronny.

Glad this worked out for everyone.

John