On a Mission...and with a Vision...

On a Mission…and with a Vision...

Of late I have been working on new ideas that will lead to new projects I am a partner to. This company is that brainchild spun from existing companies that all have great purpose.

Let me clarify first, I love to brainstorm, I love to talk to people about their goals, their dreams, and most importantly the paths that they choose to take with their lives to reach these achievements. I love to design logos, talk about branding and how to get to the top. I have great people around me, all unique in their own way with talents and abilities.

I didn’t really think I’d be doing what I am doing now. I have had some great jobs, great mentors and I have persevered through every type of personality that you can imagine in the workplace. I have learned many things I’ve done well and things I could do better ! I have benefited greatly from all these experiences.

One thing I didn’t allow myself until a few years ago was actually choosing that path, a clear path; working towards a vision and starting to take the steps to get there.

I began reading the books of personal experiences and inspirational things that Entrepreneur Russell Simmons would speak of. I saw him interviewed and was impressed with his kind nature, ever so positive disposition but also his business savvy. One of the first things I learned was that he surrounded himself with positive people that all had visions of bettering themselves, pursuing new ideas and always wanted to keep moving forward. And as he would always stress to “find people that were smarter than himself so he could learn from them and work towards executing his vision.”

Now lets back up –

“ Vision ” – here are just a few definitions by Websters.com

1) A vivid mental image 2) The perceptual experience of seeing 3) To see in a vision; to dream.

I love all three and think they are all capped by the last couple words “ to dream.”

I read a book called “Do You? by Russell Simmons – This book is inspirational, and it can charge and in some cases recharge our mindset as dreamers to step out on that dream and make it a reality. Stay positive; don’t let the negativity, or anyone offend your dreams! Don’t let anyone step on your dreams! When its your vision, its yours, not theirs. The theme here is keep your vision, turn it into your mission and keep pushing! I close with encouragement and a great quotation from Russell Simmons book (Do you! Gotham 2007) that inspires me daily -

"There’s only one thing that will always steer you towards success: That’s to have a vision and to stick with it…Once I have a vision for a new venture, I’m going to ride it until the wheels come off.” ~ RS

....Music is OURS.

" I wanna be Bob Dylan"...where everybody loves you...from one of my favorite 90's songs "Mr. Jones" remember the first time I heard it...driving in early spring with the windows down. Freedom and air and room to breathe....

Three and half minutes of a lifetime with more to come. What defines me - who am I ?

I can't get enough music. Its 1:56 am and I just wanna listen to words and melodies and guitar riffs and voices, voices singing their hearts out.

Without music , I 'm just not me.

As Sister Hazel said its "All For You". And it is - music is OURS. We keep it where we need it and we always have it. Never leaves ya - if you need a laugh or a really good cry- just play a song -there is one of those for every emotion / everything you will ever need.

I go to smooth 90's rock ( Better Than Ezra comes to mind and the Goo Goo Dolls) when I need an immediate calm comfort zone.

I go to Seattle in my mind and visualize sitting in an acoustic unplugged intimate setting listening to Kurt Cobain when I need the words of a tortured soul of wisdom no one but he understood and well, maybe not. He just sang what came from his heart. When I NEED a full blown rock it out loud listen - its STP or NIN...and nowadays its MUSE. ( "They can't control us..." :) Love that song.

I listen to the blues always - cause that always fills in all the emptiness. Good,Bad, Rain, Sunshine - who doesn't wanna hear Muddy Waters or Buddy Guy or Robert Johnson or dance around in their pj's singing Luther Johnson's Boom Boom. How bout some J.J.Cale or Ry Cooder? Or grabbing a broom and singing Mustang Sally ... AND I listen to Coltrane when I need style and flair and elegance. ( And I'm always in Paris in my mind...) Or Charlie " Bird" Parker... so so smooth...And I never forget New Orleans and Professor Longhair...or those early great recordings from Preservation Hall.

When I need some dirt between my toes I listen to everything Levon Helm. When I need to go back to high school I crank up " Sweet Home Alabama" and "Ramblin Man"...That usually involved skipping school on Friday's and going skiing with my friends. ( WE never got caught...:)

If I need a good hippie vibe - I put on my original Jerry Garcia dancing Bears shirt and I listen to the " Skeletons From the Closet" record and I think about the first Grateful Dead concert I went to. Ha - I still remember when someone asked me " Do you want an al a carte salad ...(little did I know it was mushrooms... I laugh so hard at that memory ) When I need to funk it out its Tower of Power.

And every so often I think of the struggles BIggie Smalls and Tupac were all about and well, as some say ...fighting about. All those words are heavy. But what a flow, I loved them both.

And on those days I need a good gospel song its Mavis and Poppa...and Mahalia Jackson - I love that woman. And soul - Aretha " Natural Woman". Yeah. Yeah.Yeah.

...a sad country song its George Jones " He Stopped Lovin' Her Today". Or " Someday" by Alan Jackson - what a simple yet heart wrenching chorus...then there's Merle and Willie...and Johnny Cash. That fine "Man in Black..."

And when I need a little of everything - I start with Jackson Browne's " Something Fine" and I'm in Morocco :) and then I twirl around to " Tiny Dancer". And I think of the movie " Almost Famous". And then I slowly drift to the Beatles and the Stones and U2...cause 'It's a Beautiful Day". And it goes on and on and on...I'd blow up this post if I kept going...

At the end of the day and ALWAYS the beginning, Its all about the music.

Good Nite.

Kurt Cobain is dead... ???

Has it really been 17 years ?

Kurt Cobain is dead. I heard it on MTV. Kurt Loder was on. I didn't think they had it right - I kept flipping back and forth to see if any news channels had the same info.

It was during the week of April 5, 1994 and I had just gotten separated and moved to Nashville. Everything in my life was changing and Kurt had a song for every situation for me. I can tell you what title matches where I was in my life. I love music - all music - but have ALWAYS loved Kurt Cobain -the song " Come As You Are " was and still is one of my most favorite songs EVER.

"Nevermind" a brilliant piece of art. Brilliant.

And the emotion behind it all - if anyone knew how it felt to hear the words " Come As You Are" - it was Kurt. Although, I guess he was never comfortable with them and sadly so.

But dead ? The end of something, a time when music was trying to find a new identity to change with the times. The music scene was very, very transitional - a new sound - and Kurt was real. He had a lot of problems, that's for certain, but one thing he had was that insurmountable talent to take his pain , his angst and put it into words for all of us. When we couldn't say it but were thinking it,we could listen to Kurt and let him say it for us. Somehow, it just made it all seem like life was a little "more" real when you heard a Nirvana song. His voice wasn't always consistent but always showed the intensity of how difficult fame is on the spirit of the soul.

When Kurt sang, you were never quite certain what would come out in terms of pitch in that gravelly way he'd growl sometimes, but did you care ?

Sometimes he'd oddly pause - with a phrase and you would wonder or if he'd play anything the way you heard it the time before... ( not likely) His lyrics had this cool way of saying something, but sometimes I don't think we were sure what. WE all just knew one thing universally, we

needed those words.

And I know I believed it, and that, in my world - was all that mattered.

Kurt - you pulled me through a lot of difficult times and helped me keep moving forward. I will always love music, especially yours and I still listen to you in awe like the first time I heard you.

Today,

I'm sure you're looking down at us and thinking that its crazier and certainly confusing to try and classify music or life in any capacity these days - but there is one thing I know for certain - its a hell of a lot more peaceful where you are.

Amen.

"Life's Boring Predictable Boxes"...

"After all, most are ignoring the repeated advice of their families, suffering through economic hardships, and signing up for extreme hours, scant sleep, rough road trips, and emotional rollercoasters. All in pursuit of an improbable dream, or at least an escape from life's boring, predictable boxes."

I am sitting in my house waiting out a storm and tornado watch and I was reading a link a friend posted on his fb ( which I did share on mine as well) and that was the last paragraph...Pretty true to form. How many times have I ridden in a van - sleepless !!! but traveled at all hours of the night to reach "the destination" ? More than once , twice...well just more than.... ( I also have been lucky enough to work with artists that have buses also but we all started somewhere in this " journey.." and thats usually a van...

I love the phrase " escape from life's boring predictable boxes "... and I was thinking - Is that what I am doing and have been for the last 15 years? Maybe so... I've never been one to do what anyone expected. I have taken a lot of chances and dared to dream big and I'm glad for that. I've worked with honest hard workers, lazy excuse makers, and those that seemed to be so self absorbed that they were oblivious to anyone's needs but their own. It ALL comes with this Music biz territory - it is what it is...but I love it. I love "those" people - cause they are for the most part - just " creators " dreamers also - just in a different way than myself. They know what they know. And most of the time, its not what you know, its who you know. And then sometimes that doesn't even work that way...but "who" you know has brought some really cool people my way that have taught me many of life's lessons about patience, trust, courage and honor. You need all of those elements to make music. I've never talked to any musician or artist that has a predictable life or wants one. Thats where the patience, courage, trust and honor come in. You have to be very very patient, it can take years. You have to have courage , cause you are going to get beaten up alot. You have to trust that you're doing the right thing and keep on doing it, and lastly, you have to have honor and stay true to yourself. EASY - NO !!!! NO NO NO.... But if you can keep yourself going on this fuel - you won't ever live in "Life's Boring Predictable Boxes"...

How to Have a Rock Star Career

I think everyone wants to know how to maintain and manage a successful career...

this is a good article...

http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/03/04/rock.star.career.longevity/index.html?hpt=C2

"SIX POWERFUL WORDS"...

Six powerful words....

"Baby Shoes" by Ernest Hemingway

According to legend, Ernest Hemingway created the shortest short story ever told. While having lunch at New York City's famous Algonquin Round Table, Hemingway bragged that he could write a captivating tale -- complete with beginning, middle, and end -- in only six words.

His fellow writers refused to believe it, each betting $10 that he couldn't do it. Hemingway quickly scribbled six words down on a napkin and passed it around. As each writer read the napkin, they conceded he'd won. Those six words? "For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn."

While the anecdote may be apocryphal, whoever did write "Baby Shoes" has forced writers forever after to consider the economy of words. Today, the work has inspired countless six-word memoir and story competitions, proving that a story's brevity is no limit to its power.

( I thought this so interesting...read it on a CNN blog site...and I thought I'd share it with everyone - words are power.... ) Leigh

"...And the Winner Is ..."

NOTE : I wrote this last year and somehow forgot all about it - I've been following these guys since and they are becoming a very successful Indie band that deserves the Nashville Music Scene's support - IF YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN THEM - GO !!!

They will melt your face - make your feet move - and you'll wish they'd never stop ...

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WINTER 2010

Last Saturday evening I had the pleasure to be a part of Belmont's Rock Showcase-
as a judge for the top performer of the evening / one that will participate in Belmont's Best
of the Best competition at the end of the 2010 school calendar year.

My expectations were high - I knew for this competition my ears and eyes should be sharp and rested
and I should be ready to be blown away by talent.
And I was. Each act was prepared.
I could feel the anticipation and exhilaration of everyone in the Curb Music Arena ; the support from the students and community
is apparent here. The lights dimmed and the show began and 4 acts later ...
An easy choice... and
I am now a fan of yet another talented Belmont group of musicians ; and I say that - because so much talent
comes from Belmont University.

THE DELTA SAINTS

You see what you will hear - beyond the surface. Intrigue in
presentation , you feel the soulful persuasion with the first note.
(I knew that I would love this.)
A powerful compelling vocal laced with the personality of comfort -
The stage - the comfort zone.
Supported by musicians fully aware of the sensibility of
the material and the equality - themselves - a force of nature / talent on stage.
Delta Blues mixed with rock vibes, a rare and raw tone interlaced with edge , range capability beyond that
of compare.
Perhaps maybe - for my senses and this is just my initial thought / back a few ( ha) years ago - a comparison to the "first time" I heard Joe Cocker 's version of
"You are So Beautiful" .
Sheer chills. I suddenly had to remind myself that I had to get up out of my chair.
Lets leave it at that.
Day or Night - These "SAINTS" stars are aligned and will continue to shine long past that of Belmont Boulevard.

"Gotta Have Faith"

The words Rock n’ Roll have far more meaning than music lately in my little corner of the world. I’m way overdue on this blog in general. But it happens when it happens and much has happened the last few months and I have been procrastinating piecing it all together. (That would be all the notes here and there / on my iphone, my computer, notebooks,bar napkins…you get it) The first totally dumb thing I did was forget my password to even getting into my blog. I’m usually not someone that forgets things like this but I have over 10 accounts that are password protected and I thought I had written this one down. After 5 tries – apparently you get locked out … believe its called “attempted security breach”. And then, because of something else it got “white-listed” which is even more of a pain in the you - know - what. I drove my business partner crazy (he’s the true computer genius in the “family” so to speak, trying to figure it out – and he did… after 1 hour and 45 minutes. He made certain I knew that by the way… photographed the picture of the face of his iphone … yep, he did. ( insert “sigh” here…)

So I now sit here looking at all these bits and pieces of my life on paper and try to recall in my head the last several months. Certainly no one can claim I lead a mundane existence - after reading everything I have written, at least I have myself convinced I don’t. I’ll save you the torture and condense it a bit. Even though this is my blog, I am just certain “someone” else is reading it – Right? Just sayin’… go ahead and laugh – I am.

Music – the main reason I exist. Being a tortured painter second. Some days I wanna’ be Bono and some days Picasso. And some days, well – I don’t care as long as everyone else is happy. But nonetheless, both artistic endeavors that feed on the other for me. Makes me “passionate” a friend of mine said the other day. My comment in return was “Big Yay", thanks, great - but can passion feed my bank account? All of my business clients / musicians look to me to get it done -they look at me like “you’ve got this”… but in all truth I am just like everyone else - I do it ALL and I do mean it all by trust, faith and hope. There are no coincidences. There’s this church around the corner from where I live – actually in my neighborhood there are 4 or 5 but anyway, this particular church is huge, and is one of those with a marquee type board that has a quote on it daily. For about 8 weeks the same quote had been on that marquee ”Trust in God”. Seems like I drove by there every single day and I was always turning my head and looking like I didn’t “trust” it to be there or something…

Or something…yeah, since “The Flood” everyone in Nashville has felt an “or something”. You see someone and the first thing you say is “How did you do in “The Flood”? I don’t know anyone that wasn’t affected by those few days in May, and I know so many that still are. I have seen people come together in a way that I didn’t know existed in the real world, or at least one I would ever live in. ‘Kinda sad in a way to have those feelings, but I’ve seen so much mistrust and lack of honor and loyalty in my chosen business profession, so it really gave me back a little “peace of faith”.

To digress even more so, that was a surreal time. For 4 days I was a houseguest in a dear friends home while mine waited for utilities to run again. Homeless…no – but many were and still are. As I continue to watch the Oil Spill Emergency, I wondered, like most of Nashville – would WE return to normal? Would we still feel the music as passionately after we saw our beloved “Grand Ole Opry” flooded and learned that archives were destroyed? Now beautifully resurrected, we have pieces of our musical home back - to a certain extent. The spirits and bones are all here certainly. The music has returned. Our love and care never left. But looking back, how had we all felt after 2, 3 days passed and not one national news outlet seemed to think we weren’t in a state of emergency? I can’t describe it. The phrase “ We Are Nashville” has become our mantra. We have done countless benefits, we have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the rebuilding of our city and all because we “Trust In God” and ourselves. Oh, and yes - the Media finally showed up here and it did help - BUT we had pulled together because “We Are Nashville”. WE have faith in one another.

That “sign” means something to everyone that sees it and everyone has their own interpretation of those words. And yet, one particular day a month or so after, I felt some sense of challenge again. I drove by that church and those three words repeated over and over in my head. An early morning call that a friend had passed. One of the truest most genuine souls I know; from a long and courageous battle with leukemia. Not once did he lose his faith, trust or his hope – so where was mine? Sadness of his loss, happiness he was now resting peacefully - but those emotions battling one another all day in my head.

And life continues to happen…

A month or so later, I had a car accident. I broke my arm, threw my back out, wrecked my ankle and so it goes…but I didn’t lose my faith or my trust in people. I knew that there would be those that would help me get through it. And I needed help. What’s that country song - “ You Find Out Who Your Friends Are”... well that can certainly be a wakeup call. And I drove my car recently for the first time in weeks – I was almost like a 16 year old learning all over. Once again, a life lesson - and you know, again (!) I realize I am very, very lucky. Faith in many many things.That one word says it all.

On a whim, I thought it’d be cool to see how many songs have the word “friend, faith or trust” in the lyrics – so I went to my good “friend” Google. How did we ever exist without Google by the way? SIDE NOTE: Thank you to my friends and what you continue to be – and I’ll just say those “words” above I use to describe you are listed well “OVER” 8 million times in songs around the world in many, many languages…

I’ve said this before – and a subtle reminder once again to anyone that feels a tug or a challenge … “I Get By With Little Help From My Friends…”

10/16/10