Kevin Mannarino - His Life In Music

To my best friend Kevin Mannarino for his 53rd birthday.

Happy birthday Jesus by Jerry Corelli

35,169,207 hits on Youtube

This has had 35,169,207 hits on Youtube since November 10, 2010

53 and I'm tired!

November 19th and it's my birthday again.  This time I'm 53 years old.  It was around this time 40 years ago that I picked up a guitar for the first time and started teaching myself how to play the thing.

My goodness, that's me and that first guitar.  It was a "Kay" guitar.  I've never seen that brand since.  I was mostly all ears back then.  Anyway, I couldn't read music but could figure out where to place my fingers on the frets using a guitar chord chart.  In order to play something I had to find what chords sounded good together and then put words to it so I could play a song.  Now 336 songs later there are times I wish I had never picked up the guitar.

I've recorded 7 albums since 1980 and out of the 7 albums I either wrote or co-wrote about 80 or so.  Yet out of the 336 songs I've written so far about 200 of them are what I consider "Recordable".  Since I've recorded 80 or so, so far, I've got another 120 I'd like to record.  But that will never happen.  Fortunately most of my songs are at least recorded on some type of media like cassette or digital.  They aren't the finished product but at least they're recorded.  I can't read or write music so I record them after I write them so the style, melody line and chords are there others to know how they go.

A few years after learning the guitar I started teaching myself how to play the piano too.  But as time goes by it gets harder and harder to pick up the guitar or sit at the piano.  Music, for me, has lost the fun and excitement it once had.  It used to be that when I was writing a song I could envision people listening to it, either in an audience live performance setting or on their CD player.  Now when I sit down to write, which is few and far between, I wonder "How many people will NOT be listening to this song?".

When I first started writing it was to spread the message of "Jesus Christ".  It was a message I thought others needed to desperately hear.  Today you're hard pressed to find songs on the Radio that speak of how we need Christ's redeeming blood on the cross to save us from our sins.  Today it's la-la-la family friendly songs, what ever that means.  Actually it means let's not play Christian music about what Christ has done for mankind.  Let's play songs that people won't find "offensive" so we can get advertisers who want to sell their cars, or furniture or whatever.  

I once again turned on the radio to a local Christian station as I was driving to work last week and for the 40 minute drive I didn't hear the words Christ or Jesus at all.  I heard plenty of "Praise and Worship" songs that had the word "God", or perhaps "god" in them.  Mostly, to tell you the truth, if I didn't know I was actually listening to a "Christian" radio station I would have thought I was listening to a station other than a Christian station.

I stopped singing live and stopped writing because I was tired.  No one wants to hear songs about Christ's redemption and no one wants to book Christian artists who write and sing about Christ on the cross.  Every time I'd begin the booking process with a church or coffee house it was, "Do you sing Praise and Worship songs?"  

My family and I attend a wonderful church that has a "Worship team" and we sing Praise and Worship songs every Sunday.  For me that's great because we're all, or at least most of us attending, are Christians.  We know what and who we're singing about if the word Christ or Jesus isn't in the Worship song.  Plus, we hear the message of Christ crucified in the Sunday sermon so the Worship songs simply add to our worship experience.

But, for me and my out dated songwriting Christian songs need to have the message that we are sinners and need Christ in our lives.  Those songs need to be played on Christian radio and in every Christian coffee house, church and Christian concert venue where a "Christian Soloist or Band" is playing.  If not, then what's the purpose?  Are we suppose to just go around and sing songs for other Christians or songs that won't offend non-Christians?  

We're suppose to "Proclaim the Gospel" and to do that we have to "Proclaim the Law first and then the Gospel".  In other words the world needs to hear they are sinners and that the only hope is Christ.  

Now on my 53rd birthday I can at least say I gave it a shot.  My biggest problem has always been the politics of it all.  If a church or coffee house asked me to tone down the "You're going to hell if you don't accept Christ as your Savior" songs then I simply thanked them for the opportunity to sing for them but that due to a scheduling conflict I would have to decline.  That's about as politically correct as I could get it without saying, "Shame on you!"  Anyway, I had to finally just walk away from it all.  Little ol' me wasn't going to change things and I finally learned that after too many years.

I have one more album, or CD, in me to record.  It's mostly going to be a CD set of Favorite songs through the years with new ones as well.  I may even release it with a DVD.  Kind of a box set.  We'll probably sell enough to pay for the packaging and overall release and then that will be that.  I might title it "The Christian songs we don't listen to anymore because their about Christ".

Well if you read this whole thing I thank you for taking the time.  I plan on having a Great day today with my family and I Praise the Lord Jesus Christ for the life he's given me through his Redeeming blood on the Cross.

Cowboy Christmas by Jerry Corelli

I'm Tired of the pointing!

I am writing this because I just can't get it off my mind.  Over the years I've heard from various people that this is wrong and that is wrong.  I've heard Christians stand there and tell me they believe in evolution.  I've heard T.V. evangelists proudly state that the words Jesus spoke, in the Bible, carry more authority than any other scripture.  And my list goes on and on.

Recently I received a prayer request from someone asking that I pray for a 19 year old woman who is engaged to a 36 year old man.  The request went on to state that the man must undoubtedly be a pedophile.  The letter also stated that both went to church, I assume a Christian church, but that the man only had a job bagging groceries.  Imagine that!  

Well here's my reply.  Church history tells us Joseph was most likely 30 years older than Mary and that she may have been as young as 13.  So what do we make of that?  Neil Diamond is engaged to a 40 year old and he's 70.  The list goes on when it comes to age difference.

Hey, in today's very rough economic times, when millions of people are unemployed this guy at least has a job.  I'm not going to pretend that I know about this couple but on the surface of the prayer request I can't believe it was sent.  Why are we so intent on pointing our fingers at people and saying this or that is wrong.

She's 19 and obviously of legal age.  You can't call someone a pedophile because they're 36 and going to marry a 19 year old.  You may not like it.  You may not agree with it.  But why send a prayer request to people asking them to pray that the marriage NOT take place.

Corelli's Music Box: Check out music from SOVERN

Corelli's Music Box: Check out music from SOVERN

The Songwriter's Guide to Submitting a Demo

The Songwriter's Guide to Submitting a Demo

Jerry Corelli at LakeBridge Forza

Join me at LakeBridge Forza on Saturday September 3rd from 7pm - 9pm.  I'll write more on the gig later.
Forza ReverbNation

Singing Again

I've been receiving requests to sing live again and with the dust beginning to settle I'm giving it some thought.  It's been since January this year, at Monroe, that I last sang live and may start singing again late September.

Selling my Guild 12 String Big body guitar

I'm needing to sell my Guild 12 string guitar so if you're interested let me know.

6 volume Hexaglot Bible

If there is anyone out there wanting to purchase a 6 volume, 1901 Hexaglot Bible for $400 just email me at jerrycorelli@yahoo.com  They are in Good, to very good, condition. 

Hexaglot Bible (6 vols.) Comprising the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments in the Original Tongues, Together with the Septuaging, the Syriac (of the New Testament), the Vulgate, the Authorized English, and German, and the Most Approved French Versions, Arranged in Parallel Columns [Hardcover]

Questions why I've retired from Live performances.

Some of you have been curious and some concerned as to why I've retired from live performances.  I have always been a strong supporter for the Independent Christian Artist, in part because I am one, but unfortunately the local support for Indie artists in this area rarely shows it's face.

The simple and plain fact that I write and sing Christian music should say to churches, Christian coffee houses and Christian promoters in this area that I sing for the Lord and minister in song.  If that wasn't the case I would sing secular music and get gigs in other genres.  But, in this area it's not enough to say that.  In this area churches, Christian coffee houses and promoters use the excuse to not pay any honorarium to local artists because they should be "Doing it for the Lord and not for money."

Churches don't survive without money.  Christian coffee house don't survive without money and Christian promoters who promote events wouldn't promote events unless they made money too.  But, all of these venues and more I suppose fail, or refuse, to pay Independent Christian artists anything for showing up and ministering in song to their audience.  So, who ends up paying the tab?  That local Christian artist who wants to share their music and ministry with others picks up the tab and ends up paying for the opportunity to sing.

Many would say that's "Going through the ropes" and "Paying your dues."  To a small degree that's true but in the big picture it's simply a way to take advantage of talent.  But then there are those so called Christian venues that not only won't give you an honorarium but won't allow you to sell your CD's at their venue.  They will tell you it's not about commercialism.  Yet those same venues will sell a wide variety of "Crap" in their display area to help them generate money.

In the end I just simply got tired of it all.  Independent artists spend months and months recording a CD.  Then they spend what money the can to record, mix, master and produce the physical product.  In the end that artist rarely gets a return on the money they've put out to make their CD.  Trust me I know.  I know plenty of local artists who have given me their CD or album in cassette form and I didn't even know they had an album.  I've asked them why they don't sell them when they sing and I hear the same thing I say about venues.  In the end they didn't make enough on the album to pay for it so they didn't even make a next album.

I'm not bitter, I'm tired.  I'm tired of the what seems to be "the fight" for indie artists to receive some kind of compensation for driving 100 miles to minister in music, or even 5 miles.  The distance should be irrelevant.  Well that's my 2 cents.  And that's about the average amount of honorarium Indie artists tend to make at live performances too.

Closing Blog

Due to the low volume of traffic to this site I will no longer be posting.  I'm not going to shut this blog down because I do believe there are a lot of good posts that people can find interesting.  And perhaps from time to time I'll be loading a new video on my Youtube channel and then post it here.

I'm in the process of recording my next CD and have renamed it due to the lack of local musician responses wanting to record on it.  The title is now going to be Jerry Corelli "The End".  It will be my last CD as I've retired from "live" performances.

I want to thank those of you who have followed this blog from time to time and hope that you find my last CD enjoyable when it's released around February of 2012.

10,000 YouTube Views and Counting!

Well today we hit 10,000 Youtube views.  I started the account in 2007 but didn't really put any videos on it until last year.  Most, if not all, of the videos on my Youtube channel are less than a year old.

With The Sword Held High CD play list.
Christmas Song play list.
Live on the Worthy Music Ministries Stage play list.
Addiction Songs play list.
Live on the Seattle Praise the Lord Show first show 2000, second show 2000 and 2003.

If you haven't checked out all the videos stop by my Youtube channel, view them and leave comments if you'd like too.  Thanks to all of you who contributed to the views.

"Battle Song" live by Jerry Corelli at Hopefest 99'

Jesus Music ( Dallas Holm)

There are very few listeners of Christian music, Jesus Music, who would deny that "Rise Again" by Dallas Holm is one of the best Contemporary Christian songs of its time, or ever.  "Rise Again" won the Dove Music Award for best song of the year in 1977 and for me its message and melody is still right on today.  Dallas Holm also received the Dove Award in 77' for Songwriter of the year, Male Vocalist of the year and Mixed Group of the year (Dallas Holm and Praise).

Dallas Holm will be 63 in November this year and he's still touring, still recording and still has something relevant to say.  Like all the pioneers of Jesus Music he still writes songs that speak of Christ's sacrifice and Love.  I could go on and on but instead I'll provide a link to his site.

As a young songwriter, like many in my day I suppose, I wanted to write a song like "Rise Again".  You knew when you first heard it that it would be around for the next 30+ years and sure enough it is. 

Jesus Music (The Wall Brothers Band)

The last time I saw "The Wall Brothers" in concert was in Denver Colorado in the early 80's.  They did a set, took a break and came back minus a Wall brother.  I don't recall which one stayed off stage.  We were told, as I recall, that it was a tooth problem.  I recall it was awkward listening to the songs minus a brother and that they had to finish earlier than scheduled.  Those things just happen and you go to the next gig.  I remember a few of us wanting to get back stage and find out what was happening.  We personally had meet Greg and Kraig Wall several times and thought we'd be able to just go right back stage.  Not a chance.

The Wall Brothers started around the same time I started my band Omega III and like other Jesus Music bands they were introduced to a lot of us kids at Calvary Temple in Denver.  I had all their albums and through the years lost them except for the one pictured above. 

Because they started out in the 70's I consider their music Jesus Music but also because their lyrics were to the point and down to earth like other Jesus Music artists of the day.  I remember many of us getting the album below, Start All Over Again, and saying to each other, "Why do they have such serious looks on their faces?"  Many of us had personally met everyone in the band and the picture on the album didn't seem to match their personalities.  That's how A&R people fix things that didn't need to be fixed.

It was a real task going through the Internet and looking for playable music from the band.  There is none that I could find, anywhere.  Youtube doesn't have anything and the sites I found that mentioned The Wall Brothers give a brief mention and that's it.   But they had a deep impact on Contemporary Christian music and in my life and the lives of most of my friends growing up.

I found a picture of a 45LP they did. 

Pastor Kraig Wall

I was pleased to find that Kraig Wall is the Senior Pastor of  Generations Church in Franklin, TN.  You can read more about what Kraig Wall has been up to by clicking the Generations Church link.  I did a search for Greg Wall but only found references to "The Wall Brothers Band".

Jesus Music ( Paul Clark)

1972

Paul Clark's contribution to Jesus Music began in the genre of Folk.  You might say he was the John Denver of Contemporary Christian music.  I am really glad to say that most of his albums, including the two listed in this blog are on Cdbaby.  Songs from the Savior Vol 1 was my first Paul Clark album and I enjoyed it tremendously.  But for every listener there's always that one album that stands out above the rest.

For me it was "Come Into His Presence", also found on Cdbaby.  Over the years I've lost both albums but now that I've discovered I can get them on CD I'll be listening to them again when I buy the Cd's.  As I listened to the short clips of every song on both albums I could recall how much influence Paul Clark had on my music.

1974

Throughout my years of song writing I have written my share of melodic guitar songs in the style of "Listen Closely".  I can still recall singing along with "Come into His Presence" back when I was a tenor and before my baritone timbre was set.

The above video shows that still today he can play that guitar like it's part of him.  Not to mention sing and pen a song that speaks to us all.  Born in 1951 Paul Clark turns 60 this year.  If you're 30 or younger that may be old but if you're my age 60 is pretty young for being one of the pioneers of Jesus Music.

His web site at www.paulclarkmusic.com will let you in on all of his new projects and tour dates.  So if you want to hear Contemporary Christian Music when it was Jesus Music back then and still today you need to put Paul Clark into your music collection.

Murder In Monroe

Photo by Jerry Corelli

It was shocking and unbelievably sad to hear the news report that Corrections Officer Jayme Biendl was found murdered in Monroe.  Then, to hear that it took place in the Reformatory Chapel was even more disturbing.

Jayme Biendl (AP photo/Washington Department of Corrections)

I sang at least twice in the same Chapel and on the same stage where Jayme Biendl's body was found Saturday January 29th.  Then to find she was strangled with a microphone cord made it even more chilling.

photo by Jerry Corelli

The suspect, Byron Scherf, had of all things earned a spot as a chapel volunteer through more than 10 years of good behavior.  "Do I remember Jayme?" I had to ask myself.  I couldn't honestly say.  As a volunteer artist for Prisoners for Christ Ministries I didn't always have a lot of conversation, or interaction, with Correction Officers.

Byron Scherf

However, there is no doubt in my mind that I remember Byron, the inmate suspected of strangling Jayme.  It's not that I've had long conversations with him but I never forget a face.  I don't write this to help bring about prison reform and I certainly don't want to bring attention to the gruesomeness that took place.  I find I am writing about this for two reasons.  First, I want to give my sincere condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of Corrections Officer Jayme Biendl.  My heart is always deeply saddened when I hear of someone so young, just 34, losing their life and in this case so horrifically.  Second, there is even more need for ministries such as Prisoners for Christ to go into prisons and proclaim the Gospel of Christ.  As a volunteer you don't really think about what could happen, you just go in and minister.

Information regarding Jayme Biendl's memorial service can be found at www.doc.wa.gov.  Please keep all who loved and cared about her in your prayers.

Jesus Music ( Barry McGuire)

The Archers "any day now" was my first Christian album and my first album ever.  And it didn't take long for my parents to strongly suggest that I move on regarding who I listened to.

Tim Archer, Tim Jacquette and Nancye Short "The Archer"

I was still being influenced by The Archers when they performed at the "Calvary Temple" winter retreat.  That's where Billy Masters re-vised my first song.  Don't you just "Dig" Tim Archer's pants?  Anyway, my mom cut a deal with me that she got to pick an album, a new album that wasn't the Archers, and I got to pick a new one and she'd buy them both.  She picked Jim Nabors Sings The Lord's Prayer.

And the only other Christian album that had any appeal to me was Ray Hildebrand's "He's Everything To Me".  I must say that both albums became favorites of mine.  Jim Nabor's album became my vocal warm up album and Ray Hildebrand's taught me more about song writing and I did like both of their voices too.

The next Jesus Music artist's album, other than The Archers, that I would start collecting was none other than Barry McGuire.

"Seeds" by Barry McGuire came out in 1973 when he was 38 years old.  Now, back then, at the ripe old age of 15 Barry McGuire was literally old enough to be my father.  To tell you the truth I never really did the math.  I never knew he co-wrote "Green Green" and sang with "The New Christy Minstrels".



Then he went on to write and record "Eve of Destruction".

I didn't know that he appeared in the movie "The President's Analyst" with James Coburn either.  I just knew that "Seeds" and Barry McGuire's vocal and writing style would open up my musical world even more.

"Lear Jets" and "Love Is" became my classic Barry McGuire songs.



Later, with the release of "To the Bride" in 75' songs like "Jesus People", "Walked a Mile", "Calling me home", "Doesn't that Bible say", "He's comin' back" and "Happy Road" forever embedded their lyrics in my brain.  Barry McGuires music left me unafraid to share the Gospel of Christ.  It was bold, told the story and made NO excuses.  To me the album is a classic.  Barry McGuire, The 2nd Chapter of Acts and "a band called David".  I have a few favorite Live Christian albums that I believe are not just the Best, but are absolutely "The Best" and "To the Bride" is one of them.

Cosmic Cowboy came out in 79' and it was around that time I met Barry McGuire after watching him live in concert at a small church in Aurora Colorado.  I recall so vividly being in awe of his ability.  It was just him and his 12 string guitar and it was indeed one of the best live concerts I'd ever gone to.  I remember there weren't many people there and I thought, "What's a Christian Musical Giant doing here?  He should be singing for 10 times the amount of people."  For me the lack of people showing up was a good thing.  It was easy to get to meet him and shake his hand.  I think, at the time, I was too embarrassed to tell him I wrote Christian music though.  I wasn't embarrassed that I wrote Christian songs.  I was embarrassed because he was a "real legend" and I was only one in my mind. 

Barry McGuire turns 76 years old this October and he's still going strong.  But, now he's back with "a band called David" doing "Barry McGuire the final tour", see info here.  Say it isn't so!  I just hope the tour comes to the Seattle area because those are tickets I'm definitely getting.

Thank you Barry McGuire for all the songs you've blessed me with and the kindness you have shown.

Jesus Music (The Archers)

Summer camp 1972 in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.  I was 13 years old back then and I have 4 or 5 pictures remaining from that summer camp.  I recall the memory of my mother playing music from the Ol' Time Gospel Hour radio show.  Songs like Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art and the like.  I don't recall listing to any secular music back then.  It was my parents stereo so what we listened to was just the music my mother played.  Then, in one weeks time, everything musical for me changed.

In the picture above you'll notice someone jumping up high to shoot a basket.  I'm 97% sure that's Steve Archer and the one in front of him trying to block the shot is Tim Jaquette, of that I'm 100% sure.  I had no idea that Steve Archer, at that time, was only 19 years old.  Here was a band, some of them still teenagers and a few in their early 20's on their way to Gospel Music History.

I became a Christian at that summer camp and the impact The Archers had on my life is still in my heart today.  Billy "Rush" Masters, who I believe was the old man of the group at 22 years old lead me to the Lord that week.

Billy "Rush" Masters

Billy seemed to be a kind person with a love for Christ that appeared to shine from and through him.  He was kind to me when I needed kindness.  I had been adopted when I was around 3 years old and always felt out of place.  I had a fear of rejection that followed me like a dark shadow back then.  It still rears it's ugly head from time to time but back then it was terrible.

Billy, and of course The Archers, introduced me to someone who would never reject me.  Someone who would always be there through the happy times and the darkest times.  Christ became my Savior that week and he became my friend too.

I recall so well how I watched Billy play the guitar so effortlessly.  As a boy who didn't play an instrument at the time it was fascinating to me that he could even play with his eyes closed.

Pastor Dave Koser, our youth pastor at Calvary Temple, announced we would be gathering at the camp music hall to listen to a group that played Christian music.  I remember thinking, "Oh great, more How Great Thou Art!"  It turned out they were no Gospel Group, they were a Jesus Music Band.

Nancye Short (Tsaparalis)

Then came the time when Nancye Short introduced a song she wrote called "As Long As I Know".  My mind seemed to explode when I thought of that concept.  You have to understand that back then I really thought that all the songs that had been written were written years ago.  I had no idea that new songs were being written and recorded every day.  They introduced other songs that Billy had written too.  It was all so exciting I had to get their album.

Front Cover

This is not only the first Archer's album but it was my first album ever, and get this, it's now 39 years old.  Everyone signed and it's stayed with me all these years. 

Back Cover

I can't tell you what songs like "God's Love", "Put on Jesus", "As Long As I Know", "Basically Roamin'" and "For Me, For You" mean to me.  Included on this album is "It Won't Be Long" & "Jesus Is The Answer" by Andrae Crouch.  I was blessed to have this album as my musical guide and introduction to Jesus Music.  The album was re-released with a more hip album cover when The Archers signed with Impact Records.

A few years later, in the 90's, I discovered that one of Billy's songs was published by "Guardian Angel Music".  It was his last recorded song and released around the time he passed away in July of 81'.  I discovered the publishing company was owned and operated by his widow and I was able to send her a recording of the song Billy helped me write and arrange a year or so after I first met The Archers.  It was my first song and you could easily tell Billy's influence in the writing.

Through Judy Spees, Billy's widow, I discovered that Nancye Short lived and worked right in Tacoma.  I was able to arrange a meeting with her and took all of my Archers albums to show her.  A lot of years had passed and when I asked her to sign the other Albums she was on before she left the band, she was hesitant.  I think she may have thought me a NUT.  Most people do of course.  Seriously, she was very shy and almost embarrassed about the whole thing.  We only talked for perhaps 10 or 15 minutes and I haven't seen her since.  She never did sign the other albums.

I have learned through the years that many songwriters and artists have a hard time accepting how their contribution to a song effects people.  For many of us we simply look back and say, "It's just a song."  But, it's not just a song.  Just as my first Archers album isn't just an album.  For me it's a moment in time where everything seemed to change.  Having A.D.H.D. music could calm me.  It helped me to focus.  As I heard the music, listened to the words and later sang them repeatedly I entered a new life.  It was a new life as a Christian but also a new life in so many other ways.

I am sure that this experience is not inclusive to me.  I have no doubt there are countless others who have experienced the same thing with artists and bands they've listened to.

"Where is your heart" Live by Jerry Corelli

Happy 70th Birthday Neil Diamond

Wow, 70 years old today and still going strong.  Neil Diamond signed with Columbia Records in 1962 and to my knowledge has never been without a record deal.  That's almost 50 years now.

He started out a BMI writer and later switched to ASCAP.  As a rule, if a songwriter writes, let's say, 40 songs under BMI's affiliation for 10 years and then switches to ASCAP all of the 40 songs stay with BMI's cataloge.  The new songs written under the ASCAP affiliation become ASCAP songs.  I mention this because for years Neil Diamond's BMI songs were in the BMI cataloge.  And for years the songs he wrote under the ASCAP affiliation were in the ASCAP cataloge.

However, publishing is now split among his Stonebridge Music and Prophet Music companies, which he started in 1968.  Then after acquiring control of his earlier copyrights, and his DiamondSongs, which publishes his most recent music.  These companies, and Diamond himself, are now SESAC affiliates.  I mention this because BMI and ASCAP now show no Neil Diamond songs.  Every Neil Diamond song is with SESAC now.  So Diamond now belongs to a small group of  Major Label performers whose names are listed as copright owners on their recordings.

I emphasized Major Label because most of us indie songwriters are owners of our songs and recordings already.  But Major Label means major dollars so one can only guess as to what it cost to acquire all of his songs through the years. 

He also has an ASCAP company, Sweet Sixteen Music, and a BMI company, Mild Ones Music, both of which publish songs that he has co-written or songs that his band members have written without his help.  I guess you can't tell I'm into publishing.

Over the years I've mostly been interested in Neil Diamond's music and business savoy.  I know he's been married and divorced a few times and of course has kids and grandchildren.  I haven't been curious about getting into his personal life except to know that his son Jesse Diamond has written a song or two but that mostly he is a talented Photographer.  You can see some of his work at www.jessediamond.com/.

There's a whole bunch of trivia out there on the internet on Neil Diamond and if you want to find out more about his personal life I suppose you can dig.  However, there is some trivia regarding connecting Neil Diamond with my favorite Jesus band "The Archers" but I'm leaving that for later.

For as long as I've been listening to Neil Diamond songs I've had friends, from time to time, kid me about listening to his music.  It wasn't rockish enough or it was too mellow.  Perhaps it was because he wasn't a band and they were into just bands.  I've been into Neil Diamond the songwriter.  There have been some songs through the years that I've questioned, "What does that mean?"  But mostly, I've admired the form of his pen.  The style of his writing and the words he uses at times causes me to do a double take.  Instead of writing the obvious in a line he takes it somewhere totally different, yet it makes sense and works.

Irving Berlin was active as a songwriter for 64 years.  Neil Diamond's first songs were recorded in 1962. So, if he continues to write as Irving Berlin did then Diamond's due to retire in 2026 at 85.  Personally, I look forward to the next 15 years of Neil Diamond songs.

Again, Happy Birthday Neil Diamond.

Retiring from Live Performances

There comes a time when you have to step back and evaluate things and January has been that time for me.  It is no longer feasible for me to sing live anymore.  Music is for the young people.  It's the young people who come out to gigs and they want to see young people who relate to them.

Over the years I've known that was true but it finally hit home when I was up at the Minimum Security Unit in Monroe this month.  As we were leaving one of the guys asked a volunteer when a certain Hip Hop group was coming back to MSU, from Prisoners For Christ Ministries.  They couldn't remember the groups name but recalled there were so many inmates wanting to attend that they had to do it outside.  I realized my time had come.

I enjoy recording and will continue recording CD's.  With the internet I'm able to reach listeners all over the world.  So the recording will continue for as long as I enjoy it and listeners keep listening.  But, as a Independent Christian Artist singing live it's time for me to hang it up.

It's not like this is the end for me it's just a new chapter. 

Jammer's Scheduled to re-open in Puyallup?

 Jammer's Jammin' Java & Gourmet Sandwich Shop   Jammer's Java is closed and scheduled to reopen in Puyallup. If you have a gift certificate though Restaurant.com, call them or save until we are open. All certificates will be honored. Thank you for your support. Some of you were just awesome and let's wait and see what God will do! 

 

I just saw this posted on Facebook January 16th.  We got a call from someone saying they were the new owner but all indications are that the previous owner, before its last closing, is still the owner.  My wife and I received a phone call stating this Friday was the grand opening?

 

This announcement on Facebook seems hopeful that a Christian Coffee house will be opening in Puyallup.  However, even with the phone call we received and the announcement on Facebook we don't know the Where, When and officially the Who is opening Jammer's again.

Jerry Corelli & Friends (Musicians & Vocalists Wanted)

So with every new CD comes a name for it.  My last CD was I'm Not Dead Yet, before that was Grandfather Moon, before that was Righteous Man.  The titles of those CD's were from songs in the CD's.  This time I'm wanting to title my next CD Jerry Corelli & Friends.

My plan is to get together with other musicians in the area who would like to be a part of the project.  However, with today's technology and email it's possible for me to record certain tracks at my studio, email those tracks to other artists and have them record their part 100's if not 1000's of miles away.

So if you're a musician or vocalist who is already connected with me on a social network site as a friend, then,  I welcome you to email me about recording on my next CD.  Personally I think it would be fun to have this CD recorded by musicians I call friends locally and throughout the United States.

You can email me direct or leave a message on one my sites such as Facebook, Shoutlife, Youtube, etc and we'll plan it out.

Songs scheduled to be recorded.

Adam

Words & Music by Larry Miller

Preaching to the Choir

Words & Music by Rich Millett

Fool's Life

Words & Music by Jerry Corelli

Give Thanks

Words & Music by Jerry Corelli

This Too Shall Pass

Words & Music by Jerry Corelli

I Believe (The Nicene Creed)

Music by Jerry Corelli

I Don't Think About You Much

Words by Elizabeth & Jerry Corelli - Music by Jerry Corelli

Jesus & Me

Words & Music by Jerry Corelli

The Kiss

Words & Music by Harriet Le Marbre

Seasons

Words & Music by Jerry Corelli

Shadow Man

Words & Music by Jerry Corelli

Song in Me

Words & Music by Jerry Corelli

Took It Like A Man

Words & Music by Tom Rucker

Who Will Go

Words & Music by Harriet Le Marbre

Heads Up

Words & Music by Rich Millett

All songs published by Corelli's Music Box, BMI & My Angel's Songs, ASCAP

"I Have A Dream"

On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead a protest march in sympathy with striking garbage workers of that city, the youngest man to receive the Noble Peace Prize was assassinated.  I was only 9 years old at the time and didn't understand what had happened.

We lived in Denver, Colorado and I was too young to even connect where Memphis was or even relate it to Elvis.  Back then we could get 5 channels on  T.V., that's right, 5.  ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS and a local station.  T.V. for us was in black and white and when the news broadcast the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr I had to ask my parents who he was.

At the age of 9 years old, growing up in Denver, I had no concept of the word discrimination.  I had no idea that people had actually posted signs at drinking fountains that read, "Whites Only".  I didn't know that in areas of the United States buses only allowed people with white skin pigmentation to ride in the front of the bus.

As years passed I never gave the color of someones skin a second thought when I made friends.  It never occurred to me to think twice about someone's ethnic background and the color their skin.  To me it was "Jesus loves the little children.  All the children of the world.  Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight."  The only difference I noticed in the different friends I had was the way they talked.  And I thought that was cool.

I can't honestly say what impact Martin Luther King Jr. had on how I viewed people back then.  At 9 years old my view of people in the world was that Jesus loved them.  Jesus didn't look at skin pigmentation and say you're acceptable because you're skin is black and you're not acceptable because your skin is white.  And I've never read anywhere in the Bible that Jesus died only for white people.  Perhaps the effect Martin Luther King Jr. had on my life is more in the awareness of man's insurmountable way of insane thinking and actions.

It was in Tucson, Arizona on January 8th that my oldest son was born and 33 years later on the same day, in the same city another crazed man with a gun decided to take lives rather than save them.  The world hasn't changed.  Mankind still hates, still murders and still needs salvation.  Mankind still seems to work at hating others while men like Martin Luther King Jr. seem to die in vain.

I used to look back on the 60's and 70's and think of what violent times those were in our society.  But again, nothing has changed.  Let's remember, at least for a day, that one man in America had a dream.

I must be burnt out!

The last CD I released "I'm Not Dead Yet" was started in Sept of 2009 and we released it in April of 2010.  My plan is to release my next CD in March or April of 2012.  In order to not try and cram all the recording sessions into a few months time I've decided to start gathering the songs and begin the recording process now.  For example, one song is 10 minutes long and to record a song that long takes time.  It's a song that took me 10 years to write the music for because it's very Tchaikovsky-ish.

 

About half of the songs I'm going to record are songs I've published from different songwriters that I'm finally able to record and debut.  The other songs are songs I've written and their time is due as well.  When I write a song, or publish one from a writer, I look for the overwhelming factor of "Does the Song have a Message?"  The problem today is that the Radio stations today don't want songs with a message.  They want songs that fit into the format of "Non-offensive, let's not talk about sin and damnation" songs.

I recently talked to a church about booking me and they declined because most of my songs, in their words, "seem to talk about the dark side of life".  They wanted happy happy happy songs.  They wanted someone to come in and tell them everything is alright, Jesus loves them and we Christians don't have a care in the world.  I'm glad it didn't work out to sing for this church because I need to sing for a group of people who aren't perfect and have gone through life with some scrapes and bruises.

 

After dealing with that church I almost re-thought the songs I'd be recording.  For a split second I thought maybe I should record a majority of happy happy songs without using the name "Jesus", "Christ", or all the other words we've strayed away from in Christian music over the past 15 to 20 years.  But no, I decided to keep writing and recording music about Homelessness, Addiction, Christ Crucified, Hell and Damnation.

So as to the Burnt Out!  I'm burnt out with the politics of walking a line so as to not offend someone.  If hearing about your struggle with addiction offends you when you hear one of my songs, then I say you're not offended, you're feeling convicted.  If you're embarrassed or offended about playing music that speaks of Christ Crucified then I say that makes you feel convicted too.

 

And to songwriters I say don't be a singer/songwriter wanting to ONLY write songs for Worship in the safe environment of the church.  Worship songs have their place but people need to hear about Christ dieing on the Cross for their sins and saving them from Hell.  People need to hear that their struggles and burdens in life, Christian or not, are shared by others and that Jesus is the answer.

Jerry Corelli, his life and times.

About six months ago I started a site where I could write a chronology  about my life.  It starts from when I was born and takes the reader through my life.  It's called Jerry Corelli, his life and times.  As life goes on and I find pictures from my past from other contributors, friends, I will probably post them in the appropriate year.

I mainly started this because through the years I've met fascinating people who's life story isn't written down.  When you talk to their family they'll say, "Yea, dad or grandpa or mom or grandma served in this war".  But they don't know much more information.  I wanted to get it down in writing.  It's therapeutic for me and informative to old and close friends, and of course family.  

It would take awhile to read through it all so if you're interested just read a bit at a time.  Laugh a little, cry a little but hopefully enjoy it. 

BMI and ASCAP licensing!

About a year ago I contacted a small coffee shop in Puyallup regarding me singing there.  Everything was cool and then they referred me to their music policy.  It stated that the licensing fee to play music affiliated and licensed through BMI and ASCAP was outrageous and they weren't going to pay for one.  So, long story short, if you're a musician who wanted to sing at their coffee shop you couldn't sing any song licensed through BMI or ASCAP.  Now if that wasn't enough they also insisted that if it was a song you wrote it couldn't be copyrighted either.  

Well as far as me singing there I was out on all three counts.  First, I'd never sing one of my songs that wasn't copyrighted.  Second, I'm an ASCAP publisher and a few of the songs I sing, and have recorded, are licensed through ASCAP.  And third, I'm a BMI publisher and songwriter, so, most of the songs I sing are licensed through BMI.

Now just recently I've been contacted by an establishment willing to book me so they referred me to their music policy.  They are licensed ONLY through ASCAP and can't have any BMI songs performed there. 

Does this make me frustrated, not a chance.  I became a BMI songwriter in 1981 and ever since then BMI has rallied congress and the world, just as ASCAP has, for my rights as an affiliated member.  Every song that I've licensed through BMI, that I've recorded, cost me more money than I'll probably make on them.  The gear involved in recording the song, manufacturing the CD, setting up internet distribution costs money.

I've heard from establishments that claim buying a license to play live, or recorded,  ASCAP and BMI music is too high.  I won't tell you the absurdly low price I've heard establishments pay, because they did some research.  I'll just say that if I don't play another gig again because my songs are licensed through a performance organization designed to protect my rights and collect money due me, then I'll be happy to never sing another gig again.

Well, that's my 2 cents.

Monroe Massacre!

The first week of the year started out pretty good, great in fact. The end of the week and now the beginning of week two looks bleak.

About 5 miles from MSU my car started giving me problems but I made it to Monroe and was able to sing for the men at the Monroe Minimum Security Unit.  Afterward I got in my car and headed down the road to the main street.  I almost made it to the highway entrance when it was apparent I had to turn around and park the car.  For some reason my wife handed me the cell phone, earlier before I left, so I could call if I had any problems.  She was a bit surprised to get a call from me that I indeed had problems.

The car wasn't going anywhere Saturday night and my wife had to enlist the help of a friend to drive from Puyallup and pick me up in Monroe and then back to Tacoma.  We got back about 12:30 am Sunday morning and went back up today around noon.  We've decided to forgo a funeral service for the car and it's now living up to it's name, Found On Road Dead.  

2010 was a real good year for me singing at all the places I was able to share my music.  I've been truly blessed by all the people I've met, both performers and audience goers.  But, the fact is most of the gigs were more or less volunteer performances.  I've realized that in 2011 I simply can't afford to do that anymore.  Perhaps this is the year for me to begin gearing up and record another CD.

Well, for now, I'm needing to suspend any future performances so my wife and I can focus on our needs, such as; rent, food, elec, you know the basics.  It's been a tough few years but I'm sure God has a plan.  I just don't know what it is yet.

The year of 2010 and the beginning of 2011

Wow, it's been a busy first week of 2011 for me.  I wanted to post on the 31st but didn't get a chance.  Some exciting things are coming up for 2011.  One of them is certainly the  18th Annual Washington State Christian Talent Contest.

You can check out videos of the past Grand Prize Winners on YouTube here. You can view tons of pictures from past finalists and Grand Prize Winners, along with Contest info here.  The official site is www.ChristianTalentContest.org but you can find out on all 3 sites when, where and how to sign up.

This Saturday January 8th, also Elvis' birthday, just happens to be the birthday of my sons.  But no they're not twins.  Jerry Jr. (Jay) was born in 1978 and Alexander was born in 1996 and yep both on the same day.  So, I want to wish them a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY(S)!

I'll be in Monroe singing through Prisoners For Christ Ministries on Saturday and I look forward to it every time I minister in song there.  Then I'll be in Forks on the 15th singing through Prisoners For Christ Ministries too.

So, again if you're a songwriter, singer, dancer, etc then you should check out the Christian Talent Contest and tell them Jerry sent you.

Some notable deaths in 2010

If I learned anything in college it was that the history books are filled with the names of those who have died.  For those of you who are from my generation you'll remember all, if not most, of those I've listed below who have died in 2010.  The oldest listed died at 100 and the youngest died at 42.  Regardless of their time here on earth the one thing that stands out for me is that death is inevitable.  I know where I'm headed

Art Linkletter dies at age 97

Barbara Billingsley dies at age 94

Dennis Hopper dies at age 74

Dixie Carter dies at age 70

Edith Shain dies at age 91

Fess Parker dies at age 85

Gary Coleman dies at age 42

Gloria Stuart "Titanic" actress dies at age 100

Harold Gould dies at age 86

James Gammon dies at age 70

James MacArthur dies at age 72

Jill Clayburgh dies at age 66

Jimmy Dean dies at age 81

John Forsythe dies at age 92

Kevin McCarthy dies at age 96

Lena Horne dies at age 92

Leslie Nielson dies at age 84

Lynn Redgrave dies at age 67

Merlin Olsen dies at age 69

Mitch Miller dies at age 99

Patricia Neal dies at age 84

Pernell Roberts dies at age 81

Peter Graves dies at age 83

Robert Culp dies at age 79

Teddy Pendergrass dies at age 59

Tom Bosley dies at age 83

Tony Curtis dies at 85