Corelli Music Group: January 2011

Monday, January 31, 2011

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.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

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.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

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.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

"Where is your heart" Live by Jerry Corelli

Monday, January 24, 2011

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.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

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.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

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