[Dixielandjazz] Fwd: The Tune Sleuths

Tue Feb 27 15:45:40 PST 2007

  An ASCAP License is no big deal for most listers here. I regularly get one for any and all programs I do that are self-sponsored shows with any kind of visibility. The fee is actually quite modest. For example, when Billy Joel played Central Park sometime ago to how many thousands of people, the fee was $500. I usually pay $35 for an evening's worth of music performed in front of approx. 200 people. An annoyance? Perhaps. If you ask me, $35 is a small price to pay to support our fellow composers and their administrators. Besides, while the fee is modest in advance, I would imagine it is considerably more expensive if you are caught in the act.

 I am SURE all of you who took me to task for donating time playing at nursing facilities will SURELY applaud the fact that composers and administrators are receiving the monies due them. And I am also SURE that you 'professional musicians' who berated my actions, ALWAYS file for these licenses yourselves, when necessary. If you were unaware that such a license was necessary, I am SURE you WILL file in the future.

 I am also SURE that someday I will grow a tail and fly to the moon on broomstick. I wonder which will happen first?

 Ray Osnato
 Leader of the Massachissetts Jazz Band, Ray Osnato and the Salem Aleichims

 -----Original Message-----
 From: robert at ringwald.com
 To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
 Sent: Tue, 27 Feb 2007 5:47 PM
 Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] The Tune Sleuths

  Steve,

Great story.

Please send me your list for the future when the Tune Nazis get out here.

--Bob Ringwald

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
To: "DJML" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2007 1:25 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] The Tune Sleuths

> Got a note from a large public park venue where we are playing a concert
> this summer. It said:
>
> "The County Solicitor's Office was contacted by SESAC (Society of European
> Stage Authors & Composers) concerning musical content of the musical
> concerts being performed in the county. I know of two other organizations
> (BMI & ASCAP) that are also contacting local municipalities about paying 
> for
> a customer license to play music that is copyrighted by their 
> organization.
> etc., etc."
>
> "Therefore please list:"
>
> "Song name/title of those you are performing / Writer of the song / and 
> the
> publisher of the song."
>
> "We need this information for our Solicitor etc., etc."
>
> What to do? I prepared a 20 song program of songs all written before 1920
> and told them that they were "head" arrangements by me. Also stated that 
> all
> of these songs were in public domain, no royalties due etc. Worked fine.
>
> ---
>
> Reminded me of another Pee Wee Russell Anecdote: NBC broadcast circa 
> 1940/41
> Pee Wee Russell, Joe Sullivan, Dave Tough and Eddie Condon to perform two
> songs.
>
> At rehearsal, the afternoon of the broadcast two tune sleuths appear and
> asked for name of each number they are going to play. First was a Sullivan
> original and sleuths agree no royalties due. Second number was a blues.
>
> Condon told Russell to say it was a Condon original, untitled and 
> unscored.
> When Russell did so, the sleuths were dubious. So they played it for them,
> Pee Wee improvising while the rest played background blues chords.
>
> "It sounds all right" said one sleuth, "but how do we know that he 
> (pointing
> to Pee Wee) is going to play it the same way on the broadcast? He has no
> score to go by."
>
> Condon takes him aside and in a confidential manner says: "Don't you know
> about Pee Wee Russell? He has a very retentive mind. Once he has played a
> thing he  never varies it, he repeats the same notes time after time. It 
> is
> considered one of the most remarkable musical accomplishments in America."
>
> Sleuth nods and says; "I remember now. I knew he was famous but couldn't
> remember why."
>
> That night on the broadcast, Pee Wee, who is utterly incapable of playing
> anything in even approximately the same way twice, gave a fresh
> improvisation of the blues. When the program was done, the sleuth shook
> Condon's hand and said:
>
> "That Pee Wee is surely a remarkable man, isn't he. He played it tonight
> exactly the way he played it this afternoon." He then added after a sigh,
> "If we had as little trouble with other musicians as we had with him, our
> jobs would be easy."
>
> (From "WE CALLED IT MUSIC" by Eddie Condon)
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
>
>
>
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> Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
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>
> 

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