Bill, I was in the local NSAI chapter when it was located in Marshall and Battle Creek. James Oliver ran it and Greg Brayton helped out. Great guys. Brayton's a musical phenom, runs his own studio in Coldwater.

I never saw any blood-letting during the critiques. I'd drifted away from NSAI by the time the Kalamazoo chapter got going and the heavy artillery arrived. I know Rene Meave was in it. Great guitarist who'd won quite a bit of acclaim regionally playing in an act called Los Banditos - I think. A Tex-Mex border sound.

Frankie Ballard was also a member before he headed off to Nashville to take his shot at the big time. He's done pretty well for himself, landing a staff songwriting deal and a Sony Record deal. I know Marc Barnette has been mentoring him.

I used to occasionally send in a song to the NSAI critique service. They were tougher on the songs, but pretty generous, too.

Write from your heart, not what you think others want to hear.

https://dansullivan2.bandcamp.com

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