It was too late to market “Our Girl” to parents of graduating seniors and college grads in June of 2009. David put the song up on his Myspace and was flooded with people asking if they could get a copy for their daughter’s graduation video. This year was a different story and David & Sam went straight to Youtube in April 2010. Here’s how two savvy songwriters turned a specialty song about a girl’s graduation into $$

Example Video: 1 Evening of Hard Work collecting pictures, syncing the audio

Meta Tag Research: 1 Evening of Hard Work, a bit of tweaking

Website Hosting:     10.00 and you can probably do this for FREE

URL Domain:             9.00 this is important, you want to keep it year to year

Total cost:                  2 evenings and $19

It’s been less than a month and the song Our Girl already shows up on Google’s page 1 if you type graduation songs 2010. That’s progress. They sell the song directly to end users and bypass Itunes and all the other slow and bulky distribution points.

And every year, Our Girl will be the gift that keeps on giving. It says exactly what most parents want to say to their kids at graduation time.

Thank you Sam & David for sharing your story.

Chet came on board as a song writer client in 2009, and he’s an example of what all serious song writers should be doing…..Chet is always writing, always promoting his songs, networking with other writers and singers and getting his songs heard by radio and internet stations, competitions, and wherever he can share and promote his music.

Here’s one of Chet’s songs he co-wrote with ADN song writer Larry Clark, called “Before She Can’t Remember”. It’s a tender heart-felt song about Chet’s mother. The song was nominated and won “Song of The Month” on www.songramp.com.

Way to go Chet! Keep up the good work! Twist of Lemmon Music is proud to be your publisher!

BEFORE SHE CAN’T REMEMBER

Chet A Blum / Larry Wayne Clark
C2009 – - – All Rights Reserved

I say, Mom how was camp Switona
That summer of thirty-three?
She says, Oh it was great I swam the lake
All the boys were after me
I say mom did you have fun yesterday?
I don’t know what did I do?
I remind her that we were together
Oh that’s right I had lunch with you

Chorus: I tell her it’s not her fault
She’s outlived her memory
I want her to know how much I love her
Before she can’t remember me

I wish I could make her young again
Give back what the seasons stole
Once I leaned on her, now she leans on me
As parent and child change roles
She looks at me with frightened eyes
Says, why did things end this way?
And I put my arms around her
There’s really not much to say

Chorus: I tell her it’s not her fault
She’s outlived her memory
I want her to know how much I love her
Before she can’t remember me

Bridge: Yesteryear’s faded glories
Are there for her to claim
But I see the clouds in her eyes
When she call me by my brother’s name

Chorus: I tell her it’s not her fault
She’s outlived her memory
I want her to know how much I love her
I’m trying to show how much I love her
Before she can’t remember me

Many of you know that Taylor Swift won the night’s most coveted prize, Album Of The Year. Her sophomore release, “Fearless”, took the nation by storm and catapulted her into superstardom. The Zac Brown Band won the award for Best New Artist, beating out several pop acts. Lady Antebellum took home an award for Best Vocal Group in the Country category, and they offered a thrilling performance of their newest smash hit, “Need You Now”.

So what is it that these three big winners have in common? They are ALL songwriters! Taylor Swift, the Zac Brown Band, and Lady Antebellum either wrote or co-wrote almost every song on their respective albums! This is a growing trend in the Country genre and I believe that it is a step in the right direction for music. The most important thing I learned while watching the Grammy Awards is that it takes AMAZING songs to win the hearts of millions. If you’re discouraged that you have the vocal talent and the drive to succeed, but have yet to take a dive into songwriting, don’t lose hope.

Here at Artist Development Network, you are able to co-write with wonderful songwriters on staff, as they take your ideas and work with you to mold your perfect masterpiece. So what are you waiting for? Come write a song with us!

My mother wore the same outfit, so often, that it eventually became known as her uniform. She drove an ugly, white Rambler station wagon with no power steering, no power breaks, no air conditioning, a one speaker AM radio and crank down windows. Oh… yes, she drove that car for almost two decades too, in an area of town where the average car was a fully loaded Chevrolet, not more than two years old.

I would put together a Christmas list every year, and no matter how much I wanted to believe in Santa Claus, only necessities would arrive on Christmas morning. Privately I suspected that my father had gotten to Santa and somehow corrupted his generous and giving nature. Are you starting to get the picture here? My father was so tight… that he squeaked while walking.

Was this really a bad thing? In hindsight, I’d have to say no. I did feel a bit like an unwanted stepchild when all the other kids had way better stuff than I did. And this was especially true regarding musical instruments. I started playing drums on the plastic lids of empty coffee cans while most of my young friends had brand new, champagne sparkle Ludwigs drum sets. But as I’ve learned, thanks to facebook, I’m also the only one of the batch that went pro. Maybe fighting and scraping and clawing my way up through the ranks was in fact, a good thing for me. Lord knows, I couldn’t wow anybody with a homemade, make shift drum set. I was pretty much forced into a competitive position where I had to look, play and perform better than the guys that had all the cool new toys.

Today, I am very aware of my blessings. Seeing doctors and lawyers and professional guys at the local Guitar Center does make me chuckle sometimes. Life is not without a sense of irony. Here these guys are, finally in a position where they can afford anything their hearts desire. Some of them have basements full of Gibson guitars and pricey boutique amps. But here’s the ironic part… the thing they don’t have is the time or the days left it will take to learn to play those beautiful guitars well.

So what’s the lesson here guys? I don’t really know… I’m just rambling. Certainly I’m not pointing fingers or making jokes at anyone’s expense. But I do recall my father’s words from years past as I write this today. I was in grammar school at the time. I think I was griping to him about the fact that Larry DeNino (a fellow 4th grader and drummer) had a beautiful new set of drums to play the local talent contest with, while I had some ratty, duct-taped thing made my Mattel. And I remember my father’s rebuttal to my passionate pleas for immediate musical sponsorship. He said: “there are two types of musicians, David… those that polish their instruments and those that practice their instruments. Be the later, my son.”

And by the way, in case you were wondering… I did win that talent show, which left Larry DeNino more than just a little pissed off.

So practice your instruments, young’ns. Your songs deserve that much.

Contact David Harper at:

musicbydavid@gmail.com

God help us.

Lately my life has been so “in the office” that I’ve actually been frequenting drive through windows at fast food joints. It’s a shameful habit, I know. But not wanting to be left out, I decided I’d try a few of these “value” items. It’s a good time to be saving money, right? But are these decoratively wrapped .99-cent gems really a value? The answer to that depends on how much you respect your body. They’re usually pure fat and well below the already low nutritional standards for fast food.

And then I got to thinkin’… junk in, junk out, right? This must apply to the songs we write too. The same laws are all over the universe. We are a product of the lives we lead. Let’s see. What have I been writing about lately? Sure enough… after a careful lyric check, I’ve been writing mostly my moods and my environment to the T. When I’m in love, I write love songs. When I’m stressed, I write songs that sound like it. If I spend too much time thinking about commercial success, my songs sound like that too. I can listen to the song, and like a little snapshot of my history, I can tell you exactly what I was going through based on the lyrics and vibe of my chord progressions.

Food for thought. What do you want to represent in your writing? The truth is, you’d better live it. You can’t write fiction in songs. Well, actually, you can… but they don’t work very well. You have to write about what you really know or you come off lookin’ like a buffoon. Like when 15 year olds sing about relationships beyond puppy love… ew. Listening to one of those give me a “post value meal” kind of nausea. Or when middle class suburban kids sing rap songs. That’s another kind of feeling all together. No, man, you have to sing what you are. You have to write what you know and live. Anything else sounds no more sincere than a Hallmark card, chosen in haste.

I can’t tell you how to live your life or what you should write about. I can only bring it to your attention that your lyrics and musical moods will reflect the love, anger, resentment or compassion you harbor. So dwell on this a little, will ya? Think about your life and where you’re going. And if you can, step outside yourself and survey your life as objectively as possible. Is the life you lead today in line with the life you want to be remembered for 15 years from now? If not, know there will be no escaping your musical history.

Take steps to get your life in order. Often, we get so bogged down with the day-to-day business of living that we fail to realize that we’re probably on a wheel. Our little feet are running like crazy. But where are we going? This economy has, unfortunately, put most of in a place where we don’t’ have a lot of expendable income to busy ourselves beyond work. So why not use some of this broke-but-free time reflecting, and doing some soul searching? Your songs, your relationships and your life will be the better for it.

Contact David Harper at:

musicbydavid@gmail.com

“As a Songwriter you want to make sure you write from a place of honesty. Write about something you have lived, have seen, or want to experience. Those are the types of songs that others will identify with. You will also want to make sure that your song is not longer then four minutes, so that it fits in with the radio format. A Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, 2 line Bridge, Chorus format is usually the longest you can go without going over four minutes.”       
Joe Sins, Professional Songwriter

“If you are seeking a singing career, your voice is your main asset and should be fully discovered, maximized and protected as such. Getting into top vocal shape first requires assessment of your vocal strengths and weaknesses: Do you need to address some vocal strain, thin tone, lack of control, pitch or range issues? Do you need to work on developing your unique sound and style of vocal delivery? These and other vocal advances can be made by getting your breath right, your throat open and your communication skills sharpened. And yes, it takes all three.”
Judy Rodman, Vocal Coach

These are just 3 of the 10 music industry experts who will be teaching at
our camp for singers this spring and summer.

Click this link for more Singer’s Performance Camp information.

It started out as a stage for a few of his friends to play, and 25 years later, it has blossomed into a hugely successful showcase of songwriters from all over the country. Although Mr. Brown passed away in 1996, his legacy has lived on and is now eternal within the community of writers at the festival.

The lineup was full of Nashville hit songwriters from today and years past, including some of ADN previous writers. It’s a community that embraces all the visitors for the 10 days in late November, and an awesome place to learn about songwriting. Every writer is accessible before and after his or her performances, so it would be a perfect learning experience for any writer looking to pick up tips straight from the source themselves. 

This festival is one of the many reasons that Artist Development Network expresses the importance of songwriting. It was a wonderful opportunity and I would go back again in a heartbeat, and encourage any writer, young or old, to make the trip for next year’s Frank Brown International Songwriting Festival! 

Please visit their website for complete information!

 http://fbisf.com

“Why Is Live Performance So Vital?”

Everyone wants to be a singer. Everyone wants to be a star. But I’m always surprised when I find out that some of these same people have never sung in public, never been on stage, never performed with a band. It’s one thing to enjoy singing, and it’s another thing to love it and be comfortable enough to sing in front of people. There’s no substitute for performing live in front of a crowd. This is where you really learn how to read your audience, measure how you’re doing, what you need to improve on, what works and what doesn’t. The stage is where you put all your talent, personality, and even your acting to the test! Can you entertain? Are you good enough, unique, and talented? Does your audience feel your music and enjoy listening to you? Are you giving them energy, excitement, and goose bumps? Do they feel what you are communicating through your songs? Can they relate? Do you interact with your band, playing off one another and making the audience feel engaged in the fun and pleasure of making music? It’s impossible to know any of these things if you’re not out performing regularly to learn and grow as a singer, as a musician, and as an artist.

“How Do You Prepare?”

One of the best ways to learn how to be a great entertainer is to study other singers and bands. You can critique someone’s performance by how they make you feel, how they look, sound, move, talk, etc. If you left feeling that your attendance there was worthwhile, that’s a good thing. Have you ever felt ripped off for spending money on a ticket for a concert or live show? Maybe the band was boring, maybe they did not interact with the audience at all, maybe they sounded terrible, or you could not hear them very well because the drums and bass were drowning out the vocals. Maybe they played such a short set; you felt you did not get your money’s worth. Maybe the artist was arrogant and you did not like their attitude. 

To prepare yourself for live performance, you must practice, practice, practice. Practice getting your vocals perfect as well as being in excellent voice by warming up and singing correctly, using your stomach not your throat, and properly breathing. Practice what songs you will sing in each set, so there are no dead spots in your show. Sing songs everyone knows and loves, along with a few of your originals to try out. Let your audience know you wrote the song and why you wrote it. Keep the music constantly flowing from one song to the next, only to stop briefly to introduce something interesting between a song or two. Give lots of eye contact; let everyone know you are a happy to be there. Try to coordinate your wardrobe with the band, so that everyone looks like they fit together; complement each other, to give a polished and professional look. Practice interacting with the band; choreograph certain moves during instrumental solos, for example, so you’re not just standing there like a stone. The audience will feel at ease, relaxed and comfortable if the band looks relaxed, confident and like they’re having fun on stage. Don’t talk too much on stage, and don’t be unfriendly either. Do what comes natural to bring the audience in and make them feel welcome and excited. Make sure at least one person in the band does great harmonies with your lead vocals. It adds so much to have great background vocals on the songs you are singing.

“My Observations”

My A&R guy, David Harper and I attended a showcase last Thursday night, October 13th, at the Cadillac Ranch on Broadway, in Nashville. An artist I represent, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia was doing a live show for some talent buyers, to try to get more bookings. This was the very first time I got to see Ryan Casper perform with his band. We had produced Ryan’s cd of many excellent songs that he co-wrote with some of the best songwriters here in Nashville, and I already knew of his amazing vocal talent. But performing in front of a crowd is a whole different experience. I listened and I watched, and I also observed others around me to see what kind of reaction Ryan and the band were getting from the audience. Ryan played the guitar excellently. He was exceptional on his vocals, too, and he did not say too much or too little. Great songs, no dead time, great range and pitch in his singing, but I would liked to have seen the band dressed up more for their show, and Ryan up there without the ball cap on. You have to look like a star on stage!!!”  

They were all well prepared in their musicianship, no complaints there. But there was one very important missing piece of the otherwise complete puzzle…they were not engaging the audience at all. It made me feel uncomfortable to see each member of Ryan’s band, despite how great they played, not moving on stage, no eye contact, no smiling or communicating any excitement or enthusiasm in their body language. I felt bad for Ryan. He was working so hard on that stage, like a one-man show, with no one coming to his aid. The band had not taken the time to practice how to move together, interact with one another, or how to “entertain” the crowd. The band needs to support the lead singer, and vice-verse. It was like being in a boxing ring, Ryan’s getting beat up by his opponent and there’s no one in the corner running to bring him water to drink, wipe the sweat and blood off his face, or treat his wounds. The band is his cheering squad, his support on that stage. If I were a talent buyer “entertainment value” is definitely something I would want to see in a live performance.

We took some videos of Ryan’s performance to show what could be improved upon. They are a great band and can be amazing once they learn to choreograph their movements and learn to “act”, or come alive on stage, as a team, not just “Ryan the singer, and his musicians”. A band really needs to work together to be in unison, to flow smoothly and in perfect harmony as a group.

There was another band that got up to perform after Ryan was finished, and we stayed to hear them. The lead singer was pretty good, and the band was more lively, they had more energy and better stage presence. My only complaint was the couple of minutes between songs, what we call dead time, that should have been filled with music, if they were better prepared with their song set selection. But this band involved the audience. An example, is that the lead singer introduced a couple that he had heard just got engaged. He had them come up to the front of the stage while he introduced them, and then he asked them to slow dance while he sang them a love song. It might be a little cheesy, but he was entertaining us. We enjoyed it, and it kept our attention. This kind of audience participation makes you feel like you are a part of the music, the song, and the celebration. You’re not just watching, you are involved, and that’s the difference between the two artists we observed last week.

“Hard Work”

I’m impressed with the artists I represent who get out and sing as often as they can, even if they are not being paid very much for their performance. It’s hard work, its dedication. It’s a lot of sacrifice practicing with a band, working out all the kinks, conflicts of personalities and egos, jealousy, etc. Rarely do band members get paid for rehearsals, so it’s hard to stick together through the tough times. But I can see the difference it makes when these individuals have the passion and the patience, and the love for the music to hang in there. I’ve seen many artists improve in so many ways, with their vocals, their stage presence, their confidence in interacting with the audience, even their personality. It’s wonderful to see people like Amy Gass who was so timid and not a very strong singer now perform so confidently, singing beautifully, and looking comfortable and happy on stage. She gets better every time she performs. And she gets better every time she records. Practice makes perfect!

One of the greatest bands I have ever seen or heard in my life are, the Eagles. Wow, they are perfection in the ultimate degree! The songs, the voices, the musicians! It would be hard to top that incredible band! That’s what I call tight. It’s obvious that the Eagles have been performing for years and years, perfecting and polishing their “act”, until they are so intertwined musically that they no longer have to think about what they are doing. It comes so naturally. Bands need to work together to be tight. Make it look and sound effortless. Then you’ll get the big bucks and have them yelling for more!

This lesson expresses one of the important factors of choosing the right song. It’s not just about having a song as good as a number one hit, it’s about having a song that’s better than the number one hit.

Watch the video for this critical songwriting lesson.

How It All Begins…
I’m not talking about the creation of the world, or the beginning of life. I’m not talking about God. Or maybe I am. Because when I think about how inter-related it all really is, I certainly could be talking about God, our Supreme Creator, the creator of our Spirits. But that’s another sermon. What I’d like to talk about right now is something we each possess inside of us. It’s our gifts and talents, the things that bring us joy and fulfill our lives. It’s those things we are most passionate about and the things that come natural to us. All of us in this world have the capacity and the need to create, to bring to life something worthwhile and meaningful. I believe that’s what brings true happiness, like the creation of life itself, giving birth and having children is probably the greatest of all eternal joys.

But when we look around us, there is a vast of other creations that bring us great joy as well. Someone, somewhere, at some time had to invent, create, discover, or design all these wonderful things we see and enjoy in the world around us. How did they do it? How did it all start? I don’t know the intricate details of architectural or fashion designing, or writing a computer program. I have no earthly idea how those doctors can operate on someone’s heart, or do brain surgery, or even set a broken arm or leg. I’m not even very good at baking the perfect chocolate chip cookie. But I do know one thing. It all begins with a vision, looking ahead and seeing, what you want to do or what you want to be. When I visualize that perfect looking, round, tender, chewy and gooey on the inside, and golden crispy on the outside, buttery melt in your mouth delicious chocolate chip cookie, it motivates me to really make the effort to get it exactly right this time. And I can’t forget the ice-cold milk.

Start With The End In Mind
The very first step anyone must have before they can create something is that they must imagine it in their mind, have an idea, a dream, or a vision of what they want to do. What is your main objective? We must VISUALIZE any goal we want to accomplish. That vision is the driving force, or you can call it the “faith”, that brings that thought into motion. It’s that thought, that idea, and I will go further to say that we create that idea spiritually first, before we create it physically, or temporarily. We must first see it in our mind, believing in that dream or goal, and visualize it, so we can actually see into the future to work towards making it happen, making it REAL. But a vision without effort would accomplish little. Therefore, once we visualize that thing we want in our life, we must make the necessary steps toward accomplishing short-term goals that accomplish our long-term goals, to bring our dream closer to reality.

Can you imagine wanting to becoming a doctor without first visualizing yourself caring for the health and welfare of others? I imagine that a future doctor can see himself in his stethoscope and white coat, consulting a patient. Would it be realistic to think you could ever be a doctor without going to medical school? Could you be a lawyer without going to law school? If you start with the end in mind, you realize the necessary time, cost, and sacrifice it would take to get the training, education, the studying, practice, interning, clinicals, etc. that these professionals must accomplish before they are qualified and ready for their demanding careers.

Although simple compared to treating a patient or representing a client in a court of law, an example for me, is that every time I have taught a class or given a talk, I first asked myself, “What it is my main objective?  What am I trying to teach? How can I inspire this group of kids? Do I have any experiences that would relate to my message and help reinforce what I am trying to help them internalize? Starting with the end in mind gives me focus on the steps I need to take to accomplish the assignment. Taking small steps really helps me not get overwhelmed and discouraged. When we see progress from taking small steps, it gives us the incentive and self-motivation to continue moving forward. It becomes exciting and fun to accomplish our goals when we can see results.

Another Personal Example… 
In the past seven past years, I have gained about 20 pounds, due to getting older and still eating as much as I did when I was younger and active while raising my five children. A few years ago, I kept saying I was going to lose the weight, but I have failed to lose even a couple of pounds. So this time I “visualized” myself 20 pounds thinner. I imagined myself working out on the exercise machine downstairs in the family room where that machine has sat untouched for over 9 years. I envisioned myself working out, squatting, strengthening my legs, rowing my arms, feeling my heart rate go up, getting fit, losing the weight, and looking like I did 10 years ago! I visualized seeing real results. I imagined myself toned, with muscles on my arms, firm thighs, and a flat stomach. OK, so I’m not there yet, I do not have a flat tummy, but it’s only been 4 months, and I have lost 10 pounds, and my arms are not as flabby, my thighs don’t rub against each other anymore, and I’m losing inches off my waist. This time it’s working, because I actually get up and exercise every day until I’m soaking wet with sweat! I realized that dieting alone does not work, at least not for me, so I needed to go the extra mile to reach my goals of losing the extra fat on my body. And it’s a daily battle I must continue to fight the rest of my life, if I’m going to be realistic about keeping the weight off.

Seeing Results
With any desire we have, setting small attainable goals helps us see results that inspire us to work harder and not give up. It does not matter if you fall on your face a hundred times, as long as you continue to get up and start over again. Like with my goal to drop 20 pounds, I feel confident I will lose that last 10 pounds if I am consistent. I’m motivated and excited, because I’m now finally seeing my clothes fit loosely after all these years! I see more definition around my face, muscles on my legs and arms I have never seen before, plus I have more energy and I’m feeling better about myself. I’m happier because I am accomplishing a worthwhile goal to be healthier and to look my best. I purposely visualize myself staying in shape all my life, so I will never allow myself to gain back that extra weight. That vision drives me each day, to continue to work hard and not slack off. I created a thinner, healthier me, (in my mind), and I am slowly becoming what I created spiritually. I must keep that vision of the thinner me right in the forefront of my mind. It’s really pretty easy once we understand that faith precedes the miracle.

A Dream Is Just A Fantasy Unless You Set Goals to Achieve Those Dreams
Too many singers profess that their dream is to be a recording artist. They tell me that want to be a star. “All I have ever wanted to do is to be a singer” That’s pretty much what I hear on a daily basis. But if I ask, “Are you performing out anywhere?” Or “Are you working with a band?”, or “Do you play an instrument?” or “Do you do any songwriting?” or “Have you ever taken any voice lessons?” or “What is your genre?” I’m surprised too often, that these “wanna be” singers have never (or seldom) get out to perform in public, nor have they prepared themselves in any way to make their dream a reality. As a result, most of these well-meaning individuals will find themselves still wishing and dreaming about stardom 30 years from now, wondering why they never got their lucky break. It’s quite comical when you think about it. I’ve heard it said that if you are not moving forward, you are only falling backward. Life is constant motion, and we must take those steps to make those dreams we want come true.

How can you want to be a singer if you are not getting out singing? If you are serious about becoming a successful singer, you have to take those steps that will prepare you for the hard road ahead. If you’re not willing to plan your work, and work your plan, you are not serious enough. You must visualize yourself confident and ready, singing on stage, performing in front of crowds of people, entertaining, selling records, giving radio and television interviews. You must have a vision of how you will look, what you will wear, what you will say, how you will sound, what your style is and how you want to portray yourself to your audience. You must be realistic. You need the talent and the training to be your very best, to be competitive. You’ve got to visualize the hard work of choosing the right songs, recording, vocal coaching, staying in shape, choreographing your stage movements, interacting with your band and with your audience, traveling all over the world touring, etc. Is it really, what you want to do? Are you willing to make that kind of sacrifice? Is this the talent you were born to share? Are you passionate about it enough to make it your life?

As a songwriter, you must visualize that great song that touches people, that clever hook, or chorus that is catchy and those meaningful verses that tell the story you want to communicate. Imagine and visualize how you want the song to sound and what you want others to hear and experience through your music, through your creation. Begin with the end in mind, and then start writing!

Determination and perseverance are important in the music business. Those few that make it in this industry are the ones who push forward despite obstacles. It is not talent alone that opens the door for that lucky break, it’s more about hard work, perseverance, and drive, and wanting it bad enough to hang in there through the hardships and disappointments along that bumpy road. It’s not giving up, it’s believing in yourself, it’s loving what you do, and focusing on that vision.

Choose Realistic Goals
Ok, so sometimes we are not realistic about our goals. Like I would be very unrealistic if I wanted to be one of those beautiful, graceful ballerinas you see at the ballet, or at the Opera, leaping effortlessly across the stage like a gentle swan. I’m smart enough to know that I have large feet and lack of coordination! I would not want to be a cardiologist either, because I’m simply not willing to dedicate myself to years of medical school and studying. I’ll leave that for those who love school and all that hard, technical, medical stuff. I’m happy doing what I do best. My creation is my family, my home, my little music business. We should choose those things that bring us joy and satisfaction, while helping others.

Find Your Niche
It took years of making a lot of mistakes and trying many new things for me to find what it is I was suppose to do with my life. But I finally found my niche. Sometimes we need to have experiences that teach us what we are good at and to discover what things we are better off leaving alone. Through the gifts and talents we each possess, we eventually find that perfect thing we do that gives our life balance. When that happens, it’s a wonderful blessing. I believe prayer plays a huge part in being led to what you are suppose to do with your life. You can call it your “mission” in life. What I have learned about myself is that I am good with people. I also know that I have always loved music. I love to sing, I love to hear the creation of new songs. I enjoy hearing all styles of good music and the miracle of the production process, hearing a song come together in it’s fullness. It’s so much fun to me. I love to be in the studio producing tracks and vocals.  It brings great satisfaction to hear these new and beautiful creations come to life! So coming to Nashville as a singer/songwriter and ending up running my own music business came natural to me. It is a result of my life’s experiences and the talents I have been blessed with. I’m grateful to be involved in a career that fills my life with music.

It’s important that each of you find that thing that fulfills you and brings real lasting meaning to your life. You need to be realistic, and then visualize it as if it has already happened. Plan your work and work your plan, until it is accomplished. I believe we can achieve whatever we want to in this life. It is my belief that our Heavenly Father wants His children to be happy, healthy, and successful, and to help each other along the way. Let’s create beautiful things with our minds and our hearts, and make them become a reality.