The 1999 WAMA Crosstown Jam

The Annual WAMA Crosstown Jam will be held during the third week of September. This should give us more time to produce the event. After reviewing the problems and promise of recent Crosstown Jams, the WAMA Board recently met to discuss the direction for the 1999 Jam.

First, we affirmed that we will continue to hold this signature event. Second, the Board has decided to hold a more condensed event over two evenings during the week of September 19. The first evening will be concentrated in clubs located on the F Street corridor of Washington, DC, adjacent to the new MCI Center. This area is rapidly emerging as Washington's upcoming entertainment center. We are currently engaged in discussions with owners of several large, multi-level clubs, which will act as anchor venues for that night's Jam. The second night will be held in the collection of nightclubs that form a vital entertainment scene in the Clarendon neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia.

Our goal, as always, is to focus a spotlight on the Washington area's rich and diverse music community. In the past, however, the Jam has been conducted over a one or two week-long period, incorporating as many as sixty venues and seventy-five shows. While this has been a highly inclusionary model, it has also been a massive organizational feat for WAMA as a volunteer organization. Moreover the Jam has lost money in recent years, and has suffered from poor promotion. The lack of adequate financing and publicity may well be the result of too much dispersion of effort over too long a period, creating an event that is not sufficiently friendly to media coverage, A&R rep interest, and the needs of some potential sponsors. This year's Jam will be structured to address those issues.

While this plan has been formally adopted, the WAMA Board welcomes member input that will help us all to prepare and conduct a successful Jam. We are also in need of sponsors, volunteers and artists who are willing to donate their time and talents. Please e-mail at dcmusic@wamadc.com or phone WAMA with your comments, questions or suggestions.

• Eva Cassidy's version of Songbird is going to be used in a cable TV movie called Mr. Music, starring Mick Fleetwood.
• Carey Colvin was recently selected to perform in the Indiegirl East Coast Tour to run in June and July of 1999. Colvin will be joining the tour in VA, MD and MA. Indiegirl, based in Seattle, WA, is a non-profit organization committed to promoting independent women musicians.
• Congratulations to newlyweds Bill and Kerry Parsons, who have just returned from their Hawaiian honeymoon!
• Roger Henderson and his wife Diane welcomed new daughter Galen Deese Henderson on December 7, 1998. Vital stats are 7 lbs., 12 oz and 201/2" long. With lungs like her father, she is sometimes referred to as Wailin' Galen.
• Lisa and Jim Taylor are proud to announce the arrival of their daughter, Halle Lynn (61/2 lbs, 18") Halle has already made her musical debut, helping her mom play congas with Tom Prasada-Rao at the 1998 Wammies™ Awards at Lisner Auditorium.
• Steve Hudson and his wife Heather welcomed new son Tyler Mackenzie on February 19, 1999. Tyler weighed in at 6 lbs 14 oz.
• Three DC Artists rank on Americana Charts - Ruthie and the Wranglers, The Kennedys, and John Jennings.
• Bugleweed's song "Virginia" is now on the short list of contenders for new Virgina State Song.
• Been wondering what happened to the Sean Michael Dargan Band? They did, in fact, move to Texas and set up shop in bigD. They'll be back on the East coast come Spring.
• Drummer for the Huge, Greg Berger is set to marry Skirts drummer Rene Eastman.
• BrotherMANIAC (Major Cameron) and his wife Charlene Cameron became the proud parents of a 7 pound, 13 oz. baby girl named Sharmaine Lanae, born December 17, 1998.
• Baltimore has a new concert showplace, the Recher Theatre. Formerly the Rec Room, the hall now accommodates approximately 850 people. For more information, contact Randy Alexander at Randex Communications, 609-596-1410.
• Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer received a Grammy nomination in Best Musical Recording For Children for their album, Changing Channels (Rounder Records). This is the Maryland duo's ninth recording and second Grammy nomination.
• Contemporary Music Center has added the area's only cymbal vault to its Chantilly location.
• LW BlindSight premeired his new band and CD at The Blues Alley. The Energy Connection is the debut CD by LW BlindSight who also happens to be coming off his network television debut in the highly touted, recently aired NBC motion picture, "The Temptations." LW appeared as the guitarist in the band and various scenes from 1964 through 1969. The Energy Connection was recorded and mixed at Blue House Studios in Silver Spring, MD. The album was released through Tamarack Productions.
• Vyktoria Pratt Keating has left the Blue Ridge mountains to make her home in the deserts of Phoenix, Arizona. She will continue to return to the area for performances.
• Congrats to Adam West drummer Tom, on his recent marriage.
• Last Train Home has a new website at www.lasttrainhome.com. Last Train Home was also included on the new Blasters tribute CD with their version of So Long Baby, Goodbye. Other artists on the tribute CD include Jumpin' Jupiter and The Grandsons.
• Hal Howland was appointed to the percussion faculty of the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at Catholic University. Howard has been the concert manager at CU since 1996.
• Joel Bloom is aboard as the manager of Bourbon Lilyband.
• After a month of auditions, Glassoline welcomes new guitarist Steve Lundstrom replacing Steve Romanelli who moved to Texas.
• The Levine School of Music is opening a new branch in Southeast Washington in Garden Memorial Presbyterian Church. Scholarship assistance is available for students under the age of 18. For more information, call Amy Ritsko-Warren at 202-686-9772 ext. 149.
• Big Village was selected for the main Stage Showcase at the East Coast Region NACA conference.
• Michael Fath acoustic endorsement deal with Gibson is now official. This has been in the works since July '97 and promises to be a very exciting and lucrative one. This deal will encompass fairly extensive touring for the next few years. They are also committed to heavy ad support, both for instruments and clinic touring and for record support. There will also be trade show appearances here and abroad.
• Jaared Arosemena, Saxophonist has a major endorsement with L.A. Sax.
• European label Bam Balam Records has just included a previously unreleased Mike Shupp track A Little Fun on their Explosion Vol. V USA Power Pop Compilation CD.
• WALA recently welcomed their new Executive Director, Elena M. Paul, Esq. Paul succeeds Florence R. Hart, who will remain on staff as Oversight Coordinator for Project Unite. An attorney with 10 years of legal experience, Paul is a graduate of Harvard Law School and was University Counsel in the Office of the President at University of Maryland-College Park for four years.

IBMA Nominations

Several area artists have been nominated for IBMAs (International Bluegrass Music Awards). They include Dudley Connell of Seldom Scene for Male Vocalist of the Year, and Jerry Douglas and Mike Auldridge of Chesapeake for Instrumental Performer of the Year.

Levine School Receives Grant

The Levine School of Music will receive a $127,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSI) to develop a new and innovative program, Music Technology Training for Secondary Music Teachers. The first community school to offer such a program, Levine will provide the training free of charge to 100 Washington area high school music teachers and develop a model curriculum designed for schools across the country.

RIAA Fights Illegal MP3

RIAA is currently working with Lycos on resolving the MP3 issue. Lycos has committed to work with RIAA to develop procedures to eliminate infringing sites from their directory. They have also indicated their intent to fulfill their obligations under the newly enacted Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which requires them to take appropriate action whenever they become aware of an infringing musical recording. RIAA intends to continue its search for and enforcement efforts against illegal MP3 files.

Innercity Cartel

The Innercity Cartel launched their new website, www.InnercityCartel.com. The website was produced by St. James III who is best known for his work on websites for 93.9 WKYS jocks Ez Street and Russ Parr. The Cartel website will keep fans updated on the progress of the group and individual solo acts that make up the Washington, DC based hip hop family.

Bill Holland Receives ASCAP Award

The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers announced the winners of the 31st Annual ASCAP-Deems Taylor Awards. A special citation was presented for an important two-part series on the state of record company archives, Labels Strive to Rectify Archival Problems, that appeared in Billboard. The writer is Billboard's longtime Washington Bureau Chief Bill Holland. Over the years, tens of thousands of dollars have been distributed in cash prizes to winning authors, journalists and broadcast producers and personalities.

Hungry for Music

Hungry for Music is seeking volunteers for it's musician mentoring and creativity workshops for inner city children. For more information on muscian mentoring volunteer opportunties please contact David Kosutic at (703) 538-4385. For more information on creativity workshop volunteer oportunities please contact Jeff Campbell at (703) 521-4361. Hungry for Music's website is at http:/www.crosstownarts.com/hfm

HFM is also looking for musicians to perform for it's concert programs at shelters, schools, hospitals, and churches. A coordinator for the concert programs is also being sought. If you are interested in either performing and helping coordinate concerts please contact Jeff Campbell: hungryformusic@worldnet.att.net

TMOTTGoGo Awards

The following Go Go Awards are based on activities during the year of 1998 and The title stands through 1999. These awards are based on the community's favorite choices.

Women Rock DC

Women 'N Rock is currently accepting band promo kits (photo, demo, mailing list info, etc.) for the 1999 Local Metro/Mid Atlantic "Kick Off" Festival to be held next summer. For those bands interested, a 1999 kit needs to be sent to: 5608 Eton Court, Alexandria, VA 22313. For questions or concerns, call Pimp Mama at 703-658-9450. Women 'N Rock is also taking requests for Chairpeople of Concerts (i.e. Program Manager for Phantasmagoria) who would book all of the shows and work with the booking agents, as well as selecting the bands to perform. http://members.aol.com/WomenRok

Blues Experience

Steve Hoffman's The Blues Experience is now on the internet 24 hours a day. The show is being continuously on broadcast.com at http://www.broadcast.com/music/shows/blues/bluesexperience/. The show will take you back into the alley, down into the roots, and deep into the heart of the blues, just like he used to do on WDCU.

Once Hush Captures MARS Battle

The modern rock group, Once Hush, one of five finalists selected fromover 100 entries from the MD, DC and Philadelphia region, placed first in the biggest Battle of the Bands event in the area. The competition, which was held at Mars Music Store in Catonsville, MD, was sponsored by 98Rock, The Hard Rock Cafe, Mars Music and WMAR-TV Channel2 in a collaborated effort to bring national attention to the regional music scene.

Judging the competition were representatives from Yamaha, 98Rock, MarsMusic, The Hard Rock Cafe, WMAR-TV as well as a popular local musicians.

Once Hush and the other finalists were given a twenty minute performance for the competition and were judged on quality of songs, stage presence and the enthusiasm and size of their crowd. The event was covered by WMAR-TV and segments broadcast during the 6 pm Newscast. The first place prize package included a Fender Squire Stratocaster guitar, a Sabian cymbal, an AKG wireless mic, a beta cam videotape of the performance and a 24 channel mix ADAT.

Once Hush will also perform for the pilot of the local network affiliate television show entitled, "Rockin' Live From The Rock" to be held at the Hard Rock Cafe inBaltimore. The show is due to air in April and will be hosted by popular 98Rock morning jock, Kirk McEwen. Once Hush tours over 220 dates per year from Atlanta up the coast through New England and west into Cleveland, OH.

Once Hush released their second studio disc in October, Superior Machines, which is distributed through Redeye Music.