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[b][/b]Some of you might recall a few years ago when I spoke of my dealings with a young guitar player out of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Frankie Ballard. Frankie was a great blues guitar player, 24 years old, really good looking and ready to roll full of piss and vinegar.

He became a very good client of mine, performing 6 nights a week through out mid Michigan, leaving his gigs on Saturday night, driving to Nashville, resting, going to Tootsies and sitting in with bands, and then working Monday and Tuesday, writing songs, networking and building his skills.

This yeilded 15 songs, written with myself and a few hit writers including Kim Tribble (Guys Do it All the Time) and Jimbeau Hinson (Party Crowd). He would go back and perform those songs with his bands in Michigan, and continue to make inroads there. WE produced his first CD in Jay Verne's studio, including two of my own songs that he did vocals to my existing tracks.

Each trip built new elements of his show and soon radio, large concert openings for Dierk's Bently, Shooter Jennings and Kenny Cheseny among them. He became a solid star in the Midwest while at the same time getting street credibility in Nashville.

Hit writer Walt Aldrich (Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde) took him to Sony based upon what we had both done with him, and got him a publishing deal with SONY. That was six months after we started working. Two months after that, he did two record company showcases, being signed to Warner Brothers as an artist.

Over the past few years he has released several songs, with mid success, written with many more writers and artists (Jake Owen is a good friend of his), and advanced his career. He has toured with Taylor Swift and currently on tour with Bob Seeger.

In Febuary, he had his first number one record with "HELLUVA LIFE, from his second album, and this week has hit number one again with his title track from his current CD, "SUNSHINE AND WHISKEY."

Before anyone asks, "No, he has not done any of the songs we wrote together, but that is quite normal for new artists. When you write for a large company and record for another large company, who are putting a lot of money into your career, you basically do what they say.But also, he is his own person, so I am sure they are doing what works. Hopefully my songs will come up some day, but his reputation and referring me have led to many more clients for me. Thanks Frankie.

The guy is a really great player, and really focused on his career. I am proud of him and treasure my involvement. I had a very small part in it, but a part nonetheless.

The point I am making in all this, is that the process I talk to all of you about, finding local or regional artist, working with them BEFORE they are signed, helping them achieve their own prominance in a career, and then doing it over and over with many artists, are the best way to approach a career in this day and age.
The old days of writing random songs, getting random demos, trying to get them places with third party publishers, song pluggers, film and television sources, contests, are all pretty much done, if they ever had much validity in the first place.

I suggest to all of you that instead of looking to Nashville, LA or New York for your musical fortunes, you might do better to look in your own neighborhoods first. Your meal ticket might be playing right down the street.

MAB

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Um, Yes,
I have seen him on CMT preforming the song SUNSHINE AND WHISKEY. A fair but somewhat weak rendition. Perhaps it is his "handlers" that are picking his songs as has been done over the years by the Labels. I say to Frankie, keep on plugging, you are a pretty fair Artist but E Plurun Uneum.


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Ray,

The one thing disheartening about dealing with the music industry is that often the very thing they are interested in the beginning are the very things they start to change. I agree with you in many ways and would have liked to have a little more say in his career, but what are you gonna do?

When you work for large companies, music is often done by committee, which is why artists even as amazing as the Beatles, had to jump though other people's hoops at first. Hopefully if he continues he will come into his own.

I'm sure he will keep on no matter what.
MAB

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MAB, Frankie is certainly living out the American Dream, or the Nashville version of it. I wonder if we should celebrate or feel sorry for him. Perhaps a little of both. Time will tell.


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Well,
There are stories about differences beteewn Artists and the Labels. Jim Reeves was reported to be upset about something. Didn't Waylon put out a song, ARE YOU SURE HANK DID IT THIS WAY and also having a disagreement with Chet Atkins on something. Marty Robbins had a disagreement with the Opry and resigned because when you joined the Opry you had to be there every saturday night no matter where you were in the country. Clint Black said he sold 20 million Albums and didn't get a nickle out of the deal. Same with the Dixie Chicks. And so it goes.


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Chet Atkins produced some of Elvis' first records on RCA. Elvis overheard him talking to someone in the hallway saying "Elvis won't be around very long." and immediatly had Chet replaced as his producer. He never spoke to Chet again after that.

The struggle and friction between labels, and artists are legendary and one of the few constants in the musical universe.Recently one of the hottest bands out there in country, THE BAND PERRY, went to Los Angeles to record a CD with their Dream producer, Rock and hip hop producer Rick Rubin.
When they turned it into their label, the head, and their main producer, Dan Huff, listened, very calmly took the CD out of the player, and threw it in the garbage can, saying he wouldn't release it.
They had to start over.

Each of the music towns, LA, New York and Nashville have a lot of animosity between them, so if you break the "family" feel, that can get you knocked out as well.

As old as labels themselves. Everyone has their own vision and no one ever is totally right or alone.
MAB

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Hey Marc:

Thanks for sharing Frankie's story (and part of yours) with us. I'm down here in "West Mayberry" rooting for him as well as you and a couple of other songwriters I've come to "know" thanks to the Internet, JPF and the old Ramp.

You may "take it to the bank" this "Horatio Alger Story" ain't happening in Glen Rose... LOL!

All the best,

Dave

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Dave,

Pretty much all the "American Idol's and "The Voice" contestants, come from, somewhere besides Nashville, LA and New York. They are in Hot Plains New Jersey, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Osh Kosh Wisconsin, little towns and cities all over the country and many coming from overseas as well.

The point I was trying to make with Frankie is that he is an example of what can happen. And the main reason that he has done well is that he never lost the most important thing, continuing connection with an audience. He never quit performing in his local area.

The key to anything now is staying out there. And it has to be done personally, can't let the Internet do everything for us.
The reason Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber did as well as they have, is that they maintained a HUGE live presence and continued that on the Net BEFORE they were signed to anything. They did it as if they would never get a deal of any kind.

That is what everyone has to do now, as record deals all change the nature of what they offer.

My point the only real point I ever try to make is that success can be achieved by staying active. It might not be huge recording or touring successes, but it can be something wonderful even in your own community. Hearing your songs done by a really hot artist and touching people's lives are always the greatest payoff.

MAB

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i just saw his cd at walmart,the reason it caught my eye is because there's an old drunk here locally with the same name.

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He's quite a talent, I wish him the best.

Unfortunately as soon as his sales drop or if his hits stop, his label might redirect their time attention and money towards other acts in their roster on the rise. Or eventually cut, like all the many artists

It all begins with a song.

Sometimes huge artists can't ever match their previous success on their next project. Like Faith Hill, she's beautiful, she's a great singer, Mrs Tim McGraw, had blockbusters like t"here you'll be" "this kiss" and breathe
But she hasn't had a big hit in years and her CD sales we're disappointing
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_Hill


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Ande,

Normally I would believe you are right. But Frankie is a bit different that his sales have been quite flat up until recently. His first few singles did very little. I actually thought he was gone with the signing of Hunter Hayes, a younger version of him.

So they actually have picked up steam AFTER his initial sales fell flat. I attribute it to a very active live, touring life. So I don't really think he is going to drop off. Many artists find their mainstream radio career falling off, but still keep a regional following due to live performance. They become "niche artists."

You see this in careers like Delbert McClinton, kd lang, Dwight Yokum and Lyle Lovett, where they become "Iconic" artists, irregardless of their label or radio life. As a matter of fact, most Texas artists are exactly that. Have life long beyond the radio and sales.

There are many niche artists that develop their own livelyhood but it is always based upon touring and a live presence.

MAB

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He's exceptional
I was just lamenting on how many people over the years have gotten deals & lost them
There's no doubt he'll be around for many years

http://www.frankieballard.com/video/country-now-sunshine-whiskey-performance-18206

He's Playing in San Antonio this Friday


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I'm just wondering why it's a "continuing Frankie Ballard Saga".
I think he's pretty good as a singer but where does he go from here?
He sounds great but the song is average and sounds like most of the usual pop country stuff.

Vic


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I think there are a number of attributes that an artist has to have in order to "make it" and stay there. A lot of local artists have many of them but few have all. Feel free to add to my list.....

Age - not much over 20
Looks - good, if not great. Excess weight is a negative but not a deal killer.
Dress - Must dress appropriately for the style
Voice - must be close to great in whatever style is chosen
Pitch - Must be able to sing on pitch and harmonize with others
Rhythm - Must have impeccable timing and rhythm
Instrument - A good to great player on whatever instrument is played
Personality - Outgoing and pleasing. Connects with their audience
Brains - Dummies cannot cut it from a business POV
Business sense - Must be educated and able to deal with managers, agents, etc. without being taken for a ride.
Image - Image may hide some of the "smart" attributes, but they must be there - like Mick Jagger who is very bright.
Ruthless - Unfortunately, a few support people may get stepped on.....
Work Ethic - Better be ready to put in a full work week with overtime every week (not one or two gigs and sleep the rest of the time).
Work Smart - Work on the right things. No use spending all their time writing songs and ignoring the relationships and business....

Most of the big stars who have lasted fit this profile, although a few may have slipped through in the old days. Probably will not now though.

Where does Frankie fall? I don't know......

Last edited by Colin Ward; 11/21/14 12:36 PM.

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It's fun to read your insightful stories Marc-A (pronounce: macca) :-)

Always enjoy a good Elvis story, tnx! Was a big Elvis fan as a kid, but closing in on 50, I find Chet chewed the longest straw.

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A good sense of humour helps too Colin.

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Vic,

On "Where does he go from here?" the same place everybody goes. He writes more material, stays on tour, lives his life, same as anyone.You are always trying to top the last record, always trying to draw more people, to go from opening act, to mid level act, to headliner, creating enough of a presence to stay out there until you decide not to. Or the people decide it for you.

He had his second number one this week with his Title track "Sunshine and Whiskey."

It is "The Continuing saga of Frankie Ballard, because I started this thread about five years ago when I started working with him. I was off for around two years when I had password troubles. I was picking it back up when there was something to talk about, namely that he has now had two number one country records.

What I am trying to demonstrate is the new way of doing the music business, which is not really new. It is being on the ground floor of developing an act, going through the ups and downs, the things they go through in their musical journey, passing the torch on to other people, how many people are involved in a career, the things that go on "backstage",etc. That is what I am trying to demonstrate. And that sometimes, no matter how much you work, no matter how much you wish it, no matter how much they seem to have on the ball, no matter how much money is spent, it doesn't always end up great or doesn't always include you. It is just about the musical journey and trying to stay involved.

When I come on here, I don't do second hand, scuttlebutt information. I don't do the "Internet friend of a friend, said this, and you have to join this library,"or "what agbout this web site, this song plugger, this fee for service" etc. stuff.
I suggest that if people want to be involved in this business from the real music business perspective, they are going to have to find their own versions of this.

We are in a situation in music totally that very few make money any more and there are a LOT OF PEOPLE trying to do the same thing. I am using things that illustrate what is going on that I know about.

My contributions to these pages, are simply the things I am involved in, just like everyone that comes here share their own perspective and journey.

That is what this is about.

MAB

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Kolstead,

You like a good Elvis story, here is one. My Dad was a Southern Gospel Quartet singer back in the late 50's and early 60's. He actually sang in an incarnation of the OAK RIDGE boys at one time.
He left the business in the early 60's (I was born in 58') but had a lot of friends still in the business. As they all went into other businesses, some of those friends would pop back up.
one day he ran into an old friend named Jack Marshall. Jack had been in the Gospel business with my Dad and now was selling Franchises for this new business called KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN.

At the time, my Dad had become a private pilot and owned his own plane, so Jack needed someone to fly up to Memphis, to try and sell a franchise to Elvis, who they all had known as a snot nosed little kid trying to get in to all the Gospel shows, and told him that he wasn't good enough. JD Sumner, who would end up being his bass singer, told him he needed to "go back to driving a truck."

So, they found themselves that afternoon in Memphis at Graceland. Pricilla met them at the door and led them into Elvis' jungle room and the 'Memphis Mafia" served them drinks. After a little while, Elvis shows up and asks if they wanted to play pool. So the next couple of hours were my Father, Jack Marshall, Elvis and a few of the Mafia boys, Joe Espisito, played pool and talked about Gospel music, one of Elvis' favorite subjects. Elvis knew all the songs and groups and even knew my Dad. He beat everyone in pool, and avoided the subject of KFC franchise. Guess he might have eaten too much of that.

They left about 2 in the morning and flew back to Birmingham, where my Dad lived.

A few years later at the Frank Brown Festival, I got to know another guy who had played Elvis in pool. Around his neck was the solid Gold TCB lightning bolt that Elvis gave to his best friends. He had beaten Elvis in pool.

I guess if my Dad had been a better pool player I would have one of those TCB necklaces today. LOL!

MAB

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By the way, on the bus before every show, Frankie plays the intro to Elvis in ALOHA FROM HAWAII. Gets him fired up for every show.
So there is an "Elvis connection' everywhere you look.

MAB

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MAB:

"I suggest to all of you that instead of looking to Nashville, LA or New York for your musical fortunes, you might do better to look in your own neighborhoods first. Your meal ticket might be playing right down the street."-MAB

I have been saying exactly the same thing since 1985 when I started JPF.

"Learn from the world then do it right locally" -Brian Austin Whitney

In my view, you've proven by example most of the things I have been saying and I will likely use your story to illustrate the point. Once you learn do it locally among your own people, the world will come back looking for you.

Right on brother.


Brian Austin Whitney
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Skype: Brian Austin Whitney
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"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney

"It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney

"Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
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Thanks Brian,

Actually I quote YOU a lot. You once had a formula of getting "1000 people to pay you $25-$30 a year. That is a career.' I am paraphrasing of course and probably don't have all the details correct, I have heard similar things, but yours always made the most sense to me. The same way as this site and your philosophy, "JUST PLAIN FOLKS", that kind of says it all.

I deal with people on a daily basis that make Nashville (or LA or New York, Austin, etc.) their "end all", and it really is not. They are destinations to be sure but not everything. And you have to build in your own backyard before trying to take over the world.

There is some amazing talent out there, and in the "rising tide lifts all boats" mentality, we need our numbers to support our local venues, artists, songwriter groups, etc. It benefits us all.

So thanks, as always for allowing me to post my opinions and activities here. I hope some of these stories can help others to know that very interesting things can be done. I'm proud to be a part of this site and always hope I add something to it.

MAB

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Sent you a PM Marc, please check it ASAP.

Thanks, Brian


Brian Austin Whitney
Founder
Just Plain Folks
jpfolkspro@gmail.com
Skype: Brian Austin Whitney
Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks

"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney

"It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney

"Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
Joined: Jan 2009
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Sent something to you today. If that is not what you need, let me know. Feel free to edit, adapt, however you need.

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Originally Posted by Brian Austin Whitney
MAB:
"I suggest to all of you that instead of looking to Nashville, LA or New York for your musical fortunes, you might do better to look in your own neighborhoods first. Your meal ticket might be playing right down the street."-MAB
I have been saying exactly the same thing since 1985 when I started JPF.
"Learn from the world then do it right locally" -Brian Austin Whitney
In my view, you've proven by example most of the things I have been saying and I will likely use your story to illustrate the point. Once you learn do it locally among your own people, the world will come back looking for you.
Right on brother.


I call that "be a star where you are"
Many people think they need to be in Nashville to become a country star. I call it
moving to Nashville with nothing.
In Texas I've seen many acts come up over the years , artists like
Lyle Lovett, Christopher Cross, Robert Earl Keen, Pat Green, Kevin Fowler, Shawn Colvin, Jack Ingram or Bob Schneider, there's many others
They just kept writing songs, gigging & making CDs, in time each created a following, could draw crowds to various venues and had decent Indy sales.
At some point the labels came to them and at other points they had their break / song on the charts that did well & lifted them even higher.

I also love what David Grohl wrote:

“When I think about kids watching a TV show like American Idol or The Voice, then they think, ‘Oh, OK, that’s how you become a musician, you stand in line for eight fucking hours with 800 people at a convention center and… then you sing your heart out for someone and then they tell you
it’s not fuckin’ good enough.’
Can you imagine?” he implores.
“It’s destroying the next generation of musicians!

Musicians should go to a yard sale and buy and old fucking drum set and get in their garage and just suck. And get their friends to come in and they’ll suck, too. And then they’ll fucking start playing and they’ll have the best time they’ve ever had in their lives and then all of a sudden they’ll become Nirvana. Because that’s exactly what happened with Nirvana. Just a bunch of guys that had some shitty old instruments and they got together and started playing some noisy-ass [naughty word removed], and they became the biggest band in the world. That can happen again! You don’t need a fucking computer or the internet or The Voice or American Idol.” - Dave Grohl

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I don't agree with Dave Grohl on much, but that is ONE THING I SURE DO. Another part of this is the "guitar hero" and other video games. People push buttons on a piece of plastic and believe they are actually playing guitar. South Park did a GREAT EPISODE ON IT.

We are in an age of "AMATEURIZATION OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.' and it permeates everything. People write these alleged songs in the morning, do a laptop recording of it, slap a camera phone video, up on YOU TUBE all in an hour.
And they think they are in the music business.

Then they come to LA, New York, Nashville, and get shot down immediately. It is so routine it's not even funny. And why it is so hard to get anyone to listen to anything. It mostly sucks.

I do admire the Texas spirit, where they get into the game. Not all Texas music translates into the rest of the world, but it is a "whole nother country." Gotta love those Texas boys and girls.

MAB

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Great Elvis story, MAB. Elvis can be read into everything for sure, that's the narrative function of an icon, I guess. I held one of Elvis original TCB necklaces a couple months back at the Elvis museum in Denmark. Sometimes the mountain comes to you.

Btw, Elvis is the top streaming artist of the last decade according to Sound Exchange http://themusicbusinessandrecordingindustry.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/top-streamer-of-the-decade/

In this digital age, time and place means less and less for doing work. There are some inspirational magic in those mythological places, though, and nothing beats talking to likeminded people.

But if it's about getting the job done, you get to be much more creative when you're not interupted, intimidated and inferior :-)
[i][/i]

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Kolstead,

I just saw where you are from Denmark. Don't know why I never saw that. One of my best friends is from Denmark but her family moved here when she was about 13. She and her husband go back every couple of years. One of the things they and others have told me is about the propensity for people over there to smoke cigarettes all the time.

Even while eating, they have a fork in one hand and a cigarette in another.

While I would LOVE to see that country, I don't know if I could deal with that. One of the things I really like about most venues and bars in this country now, is that there is NO SMOKING. One of the few "Group think' policies of this country, I don't fight.

My voice has been damaged over the years due to second hand smoke, my Father, Grandfather, other relatives and LOT OF BAR GIGS have had a ton of smoke blown in my face. That is one thing I can do without.

MAB

Ps: My friend Charley, who has the TCB medallion, keeps it in a safe, but only brings it out for one reason. When I perform. He always wears it for me. Very cool.

Last edited by Marc Barnette; 11/23/14 03:49 PM.

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