The New Music Seminar Meets David and Goliath!

Last week I attended New York City’s New Music Seminar, and even wrote a little wrap-up article about it. I called it The New Music Seminar Meets David and Goliath.

The ever-resourceful Greg Rollett has posted it as a guest blog on his Gen-Y Rockstars Blog, and I’m totally excited!

Click to read The New Music Seminar Meets David and Goliath.

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Rock Star Life Lessons is Expanding!!!

As some of you know, for the past few months, I’ve been focusing on my music marketing consulting business. After much thought, I realized that I have two audiences: friends and fans who like my music, but who aren’t necessarily interested in music marketing info, and musicians who enjoy my workshops and articles, but aren’t necessarily my music fans. I’ve finally made peace with this

Tooth and nail, I had been resisting the part of me that is, in fact, a teacher (“I don’t see Beyonce teaching music marketing!”). But teaching runs in my family; it’s in my blood, and I’m damned good at it. So for my clients and musicians who enjoy my music business writings, Rock Star Life Lessons will soon become my second newsletter. This will also enable me to keep both audiences happy, which makes me happy!

I’ve also started working on my first Rock Star Life Lessons (RSLL) podcast, which will be available on iTunes in the fall. The first episode will feature my interview with the fabulous Mary J. Blige, and I can’t wait for you to hear it. I’m also working on a Rock Star Life Lessons Online TV Series, and other cool projects that you’ll be hearing more about in the upcoming months, so stay tuned!

But don’t worry, I’m still making music, and I have a bunch of gigs coming up starting next month. I just needed to get my house in order!!!

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Soulflower Summer Sale!

Perhaps I’m a little nutty from the heat (okay, I’m nutty all year round!) but I’ve decided to offer a special summer sale of my very first CD, Front & Center. Many of you know, or already own, my Soulflower CD, but you may not have even heard of Front & Center, which I’m selling this month only for $7.

Front & Center is the live CD that I recorded live in NYC from 1995-1999. At the time, I had just moved to New York City, and had no recording studio budget. So I recorded almost every live show I did, and created a CD from my favorite cuts. Because of my unauthorized rendition of Jimi Hendrix’ “Little Wing”, I was previously forbidden to sell the CD on iTunes. Thankfully, I’ve since worked things out with the Hendrix Estate, but before I re-release this last batch of CDs, I’d like to offer it to my Rock Star Life Lessons readers for the special price of $7!

To make things even more intriguing, if you buy Front & Center, I’ll also add my unreleased live EP, Dirty5, for no charge! Dirty5 is another live CD of mine, slightly naughty in nature, once even referred to as “A one night stand with music”. I don’t know about all that, but it was a lovely gig recorded during the last days of NYC’s CBGB’s Gallery – it was springtime, and I was feeling free!

Anyway, if you’re interested in this special offer, you can take advantage of my
Soulflower Summer Sale via PayPal. This price also includes shipping and handling! And if you want one or both CDs autographed, just let me know in the “special instructions” section of PayPal’s order form.

I only have a batch of Front & Center CDs left, so get ‘em while we’re all hot!

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Music Success in Nine Weeks by Ariel Hyatt – Week 1

My friend Ariel Hyatt has launched the 2nd edition of her Music Success in Nine Weeks book! To celebrate, she’s starting a new Blogging Challenge today, July 5th, which ends September 6th.

Although I’m one of the contest judges, I still couldn’t help creating my own blog for my upcoming Rock Star Life Lessons internet TV show! Music Success in Nine Weeks is an invaluable guide for any musician wanting to learn about social media, and I highly recommend it!

Check out Music Success in Nine Weeks by Ariel Hyatt

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Jeffrey Paul Bobrick Performs at 2010 Michael Jackson Tribute

It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since Michael Jackson’s death.

This year, there are many tributes celebrating the life and music of “The King of Pop”, and Jeffrey Paul Bobrick, my friend and fellow musician was invited back by Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network to once again share his song with MJ fans.

Jeffrey, a long-time Michael Jackson fan, performed his original song “Michael (The One and Only” at a Memorial Service at the Harlem State Office Building on Friday, June 25th, 2010. Check out the video below.

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Harmony for Haiti Benefit Tonight at Joe’s Pub!

Tonight, June 28, 2010, I’ll be singing with Grammy Award-winner Gordon Chambers and Zoe Lyons Nieves at Joe’s Pub NYC!!

The Outreach Ministry from Unity of New York, A Spiritual Center for Creative Living presents Harmony for Haiti…A benefit concert, featuring performers from Broadway, Recording Artists, and Grammy Award winners. 100% of the proceeds from this concert will be donated to Operation USA for the Haiti Earthquake Recovery – School Rebuilding Project in Jacmel.

Hosted by spoken word artist, Gha’il Rhodes Benjamin

Performers: Gordon Chambers, Antonio Edwards, Rosena Hill, Zoe Lyons, Marieann Meringolo, Luis Villabon, and vocal ensemble, Spiritus.

Tickets: $30
There will also be a Silent Auction beginning at 6PM featuring a variety of high-end goods and services.

Joe’s Pub
425 Lafayette Street
NYC
6:00pm – 11:00pm

Directions: Subway – 6 to Astor Place & Lafayette St. / 4th Ave.
or N/R/W to 8th Street/NYU at Broadway

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Happy NYC Gay Pride Parade 2010

In other parts of NYC, my roommate Tym Moss was making things hot during the NYC Gay Pride Parade, on top of the float featuring Metro Bears. Tym probably had a dream or two come true by getting to ride aboard an NYC fire engine. What can I say, the man knows how to get around!

Love the closeup view!

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Hot & Sticky in NYC!

Dang, it’s hot and humid in NYC today (86 degrees)! These kids have the right idea, and if I wasn’t wearing my nice clothes, I might have jumped in and joined them.

Shoot, I still might!

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Michael Jackson Dance Tribute by MC Rebecca “Butterfly” Vaughns

My cousin, the Miami poet MC Rebecca “Butterfly” Vaughns created a dance tribute last year after Michael Jackson died.

For the anniversary of MJ’s passing, Butterfly’s aiming to get 1000 YouTube views of the video. Her dance tribute, filled with classic MJ songs and dance moves, is basically a sincere love letter from a long-time fan. Check out the video and see for yourself.

Back in the day, Butterfly wore a silver glove all the time – for real!!!

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Make Music New York 2010 – featuring Hungry March Band!

Make Music New York is a live, free musical celebration across the city that takes place each June 21 — the first day of Summer (and longest day of the year).

On that day, hundreds of public spaces throughout the five boroughs — sidewalks, parks, community gardens, and more — become impromptu stages for over 1,000 free concerts. Musicians of all ages, creeds, and musical persuasions perform for new audiences, who come out from under their headphones to hear unfamiliar groups risk-free on the first day of summer.

Last year’s Make Music NY, I sang in front of my friend’s yummy store, Divalicious Chocolate. For this year’s Make Music New York, I skipped doing a solo gig in favor for participating in a New Orleans-style Second Line parade through the streets of New York City, organized in part by musician Evan Hammer.

I ended up becoming a member of Brooklyn’s Hungry March Band for the day, dancing, playing, and parading through mid-town New York City, from Lincoln Center down to Columbus Circle. It was a lot of fun to dance through the streets, with people following and dancing along. It was a happiness-maker, for sure!

Check out my video to see how much joy the Hungry March Band had. Please excuse all the movement of my video cam. It was hard to dance and videotape at the same time, but you’ll definitely get the idea of how much fun was had by all!

Visit the Hungry March Band website

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