Event Alert: Rolling Stone Photog Baron Wolman Book Signing in Westwood, NJ Sat. 8/6

Baron Wolman, who served as the first chief photographer for Rolling Stone, will be in New Jersey for a book signing event on Saturday, Aug. 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., at Bergen County Camera, 270 Westwood Ave., Westwood, NJ 07675.

The signing is part of a nationwide tour to promote Wolman’s new coffee table photo book, THE ROLLING STONE YEARS (Omnibus Press), featuring both classic photographs and the inside stories behind the pictures. Baron will be signing special limited editions of the book on Saturday.

According to a representative of Wolman:

“Baron Wolman not only witnessed what is without a doubt the most important period of change in popular music and popular culture, but his photographs helped shape it. Rolling Stone magazine encapsulated and distilled the most important events and changes as they were taking place. Each issue would speak to this evolving youth culture in a language that was all its own and from issue number one and for nearly three years thereafter, his photographs were published regularly in Rolling Stone and became the magazine’s graphic centerpiece.

The collection of pictures and the stories behind them in THE ROLLING STONE YEARS cover some of the most significant artists and events of the period, and visualized the music through iconic images of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, The Who, The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Santana, and dozens more! Baron’s long-time mantra, ‘Mixing Business With Pleasure Since 1965,’ continues to be his guiding light. More information can be found at www.therollingstoneyears.com.”

Event Alert: Music Unites, Rolling Stone, Garnier Fructis Cover Reveal Party on Wed. Aug. 3

Music Unites, the NYC-based non-profit organization dedicated to funding sustainable music education programs, is partnering with Rolling Stone and Garnier Fructis to celebrate the first ever unsigned artist cover.

On August 3, one of the two “Do You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star?” finalists, either Lelia Broussard (see the SonicScoop feature on Brooklyn producer Dan Romer’s work with Leila here)or The Sheepdogs - together with music industry luminaries, VIPs and media, will gather at the Empire Hotel Rooftop in New York to celebrate the unveiling of the cover and raise funds for Music Unites. 100% proceeds from this event will benefit Music Unites.

As Music Unites explains it:

Rolling Stone’s “Do You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star?” contest began with 16 unsigned acts competing for the most coveted prize in music – the cover of Rolling Stone.  After four rounds of public voting, the two finalists battled it out on stage last month at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, TN. The ultimate winner, in addition to being the first unsigned act to ever appear on the cover, will also receive a recording contract with Atlantic Records.

The winner will be announced on a billboard in Times Square on August 1 and they will also perform on “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” the following day. On August 3, the winner will be joined by the Editors of Rolling Stone and Music Unites founder Michelle Edgar at the cover reveal party. Music will be provided by DJ Paul Sevigny.

Limited tickets to the invitation-only party are available for purchase for $50 at musicunites.org/events. Also, through Facebook, people can help support Music Unites simply by clicking “LIKE” on the Music Unites Facebook page and becoming a fan of the cause. Each new “LIKE” through August 1 is automatically entered in to a draw to win a pair of tickets to the exclusive cover reveal party.  All proceeds will go towards launching the Music Unites Youth Choir campaign to create after school programs across New York City’s five boroughs.

Proceeds generously donated to Music Unites by tickets sales for the Rolling Stone cover reveal event will enable the organization to build on the foundation it has created in its first two years inspiring and supporting the next generation of musicians and music professionals.

Music Unites programs and initiatives benefiting under-served communities in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles, include the Music Unites Youth Choir, Empowering Women through Music, and Adopt-A-School. Music Unites has also hosted multiple workshops and discussion panels, some geared toward music education and mentoring for students, and others geared toward networking, for the music industry community at large.

Music Unites has fostered many exciting partnerships over the past two years, having presented several successful, inspirational and informative outreach events in conjunction with organizations including ASCAP, Girls Inc., The Grammy Museum, Bebe Stores Inc., The Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum, and the UN Foundation. Some of the artists Music Unites has worked with include Sting, Mark Ronson, Chester French, John Forte, and more recently Kate Nash, Shontelle, Caitlin Moe, and Diane Birch.

The Rolling Stone unsigned artist cover is on sale nationwide from August 5.

Full Coordnates:

WHO: Rolling Stone cover winner (either Lelia Broussard or The Sheepdogs). Music provided by DJ Paul Sevigny

WHAT: Rolling Stone cover party unveiling first unsigned act to be on the cover

WHEN: August 3rd, 2011 at 8pm til 11pm

WHERE: Empire Hotel Rooftop, 44 West 63rd Street, New York

PRESENTED BY:  Garnier Fructis  SPONSORED BY:  Heineken and Sobieski Wodka Polska

ADMISSIION: Limited tickets to the invitation-only party are available for purchase for $50 at musicunites.org/events, or via Facebook as detailed above.

NYC Drummer Brian Doherty Releases Volume 2 of “Keep It Simple” Royalty-Free Drum Tracks

NYC-based drummer Brian Doherty has released Volume 2 of his Keep It Simple series of royalty-free drum tracks.

Created by Doherty, the Keep It Simple series is designed to offer practical songwriting and production solutions: Each drum track is between two and three minutes long (the average length of a pop song) and was performed by Doherty in a single take. All tracks were recorded without editing or digital enhancing, and can be used as is, or can be tailored by editing.

Keep It Simple, Volume 2, includes fourteen drum tracks and is complete with organic fills, crashes and natural subtleties.  It is now available on CD Baby or on iTunes.  Volume 1 of the series was released in December of 2010.

Doherty’s Keep It Simple series provides the organic foundation for any music production.  “I felt there was a void, since most loops are only short segments and are sometimes too ‘drumistic’ or complex to be truly helpful,” Doherty explains.  “Instead, I wanted to create a collection of drum tracks similar to what you might expect from drummers like Mick Fleetwood or Jeff Porcaro, while remaining faithful to my style and musical instincts.

“I realize that there are plenty of good loop libraries on the market,” Doherty continues.  “However, most of those loops are short segments which might sound impressive initially, but fail to create an atmosphere of believability within the music.  It becomes apparent that the whole track is synthetic and not really played by a real drummer.  With the Keep It Simple series on the other hand, you have full-length drum tracks right out of the box, complete with song form, phrasing and natural transitions.  I feel that songwriters and producers can compose right on top of the grooves in this series.”

A veteran drummer, Brian Doherty is known for his versatile style, and work with bands like GRAMMY winners They Might Be Giants, British super group XTC, and The Silos (Rolling Stone Magazine’s Best Band in America).  Doherty has also supplied beats to Ben Folds, Freedy Johnston, Twyla Tharp, Christy Thompson, M2M and Frank Black of The Pixies.

Music Unites: Inspiration and Music Education in Motion Across NYC

MIDTOWN, MANHATTAN: Charged up is a good way to describe the onset of Music Unites. A non-profit focused on bringing music education to underprivileged children in underfunded inner city school systems, Music Unites is one of many emerging organizations with an ambitious agenda.

A classically-trained pianist, Michelle Edgar launched Music Unites in mid-2009, after looking extensively for a charity that she would be thrilled to donate $1000 to. But lacking a match, she moved fast to start her own philanthropic program. Just a year later, Music Unites has made itself heard quickly by hosting innovative events, then following up with a star-powered style of community outreach that appears to be resonating.

The founder filled us in on the eve of two notable events in one week. First they’re teaming with Rolling Stone to present InTune with the Fiery Furnaces and DJ Alexandra Richards downtown on Tuesday, 6/29. The next day, Wednesday 6/30, Music Unites will be the sole charitable beneficiary of an anticipated Culture Project production, the performance of “Twin Spirits” with Sting and Trudie Styler at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Why did you kick off Music Unites?

I wanted to create a community that supported emerging and established musicians across all genres of music, and broke down traditional barriers between classical, rock, hip hop and jazz—bringing that music to underserved communities and funding music education programs.

I also wanted to give artists a chance to develop and build a philanthropic outreach program tailored to what they’re passionate about. We work closely with the artists and their teams to develop long-term initiatives, and fundraise on the artists’ behalf to make their initiatives and programs come to life, so they’re proud of their initiatives which are personally tailored to what they stand for.

The community of artists and the showcases are meant to inspire artists of different genres to collaborate with one another, and expose people to new types of music across all genres that they traditionally might not be used to.

This seems to be a concept that’s gaining steady steam, city-wide. Why do you think the focus of Music Unites — bringing music education to underprivileged children in inner city school systems – seems to have such a sense of urgency?

An investment in music education is an investment in both our children and in our society: Our mission is to foster and nurture the next generation of young artists.

Regardless of age, race, gender, or ethnicity, music has the ability to transcend barriers between people and effect positive social change. Music provides children with a creative outlet that promotes the development of self-discipline, self-esteem, cross-cultural understanding, teamwork, critical thinking, and problem solving skills. In adults, music can help strengthen the connection to our local community and society at large.

It’s well documented that the skills learned through musical training and education are critical to both scholastic and future workforce success. Music Unites strives to build a platform for emerging artists – one that connects with under-privileged youths to engage them in music education.

That’s a big mission to take on. So tell us about the approach you take to accomplishing your goals: How are you spreading the Music Unites message and helping it to take effect?

Started only one year ago, Music Unites has garnered much acclaim by raising $55,000 to support our first major initiative — The Music Unites Youth Choir, an inner city choir bringing together under-privileged children from the five boroughs of New York City together with our partners from the Young Audiences of New York.

Launched in fall 2009, this free after-school program allows young people to develop their musical, vocal and performance skills under the guidance of professional vocalists, musicians and theater artists, while exploring a variety of musical styles. The kids made their debut at Carnegie Hall in a Who tribute back in March and we’ve brought our artists, including John Forte and Jaicko, to do workshops and speak to the children. Back in May, we also brought the kids into a studio to record their first song they wrote.

On the educational outreach front, we’ve brought our services to inner city schools in Harlem and Brooklyn by doing programs with our artists where they go into the schools and share and inspire the children through their stories on how they got where they are today—teaching them the right lessons as well as their struggles and challenges along the way.

You do a lot of public events as well, including a dynamite duo this week: first InTune with the Fiery Furnaces and DJ Alexandra Richards on Tuesday, followed by benefitting from a a production of “Twin Spirits” with Sting and Trudie at JILC. Wow.

The charity continues to grow in leaps and bounds as we’ve produced successful events and gotten a diverse community of artists to support our cause from Sting, Joshua Bell, Lang Lang, Melanie Fiona, and Peter Bjorn and John, Fiery Furnaces to Alexandra Richards and more. Through these events and many others, we’ve worked with prestigious venues including Lincoln Center, the U.N. and Carnegie Hall which has helped us garner a certain level of respect in the industry, being such a young grassroots organization.

We are currently at a pivotal point in our organization’s growth to help support of our music education initiatives, which include a nationwide instrument drive and the creation of an all-scholarship-based Music Unites Summer Camp, similar to that of Tanglewood but for children who would traditionally not have the opportunity to go to such a camp.

Those are some fast achievements, and tantalizing possibilities. But what differentiates Music Unites from other non profits out there?

We’ve built a dynamic and culturally diverse community of artists that are committed to our mission, and we give our artists an opportunity to create their own programs tailored to their passions — so they can feel strongly for what they represent and stand for.

There’s consistency and regularity with our artist showcases which happen on a monthly basis. We’ve created a community where musicians across genres come and support one another

In less then a year, we’ve been able to partner with major companies like OK magazine, Rolling Stone and Lancome which has been tremendously exciting to such a young charity.

What’s rewarding about working with a musical non profit? Let us in on a memorable moment or two.

There are so many—it’s hard because they’re all very special for different reasons and a labor of love. I would have to say the UN peacekeeping concert with the UN, Lincoln Center Fall Masquerade with the Young Patrons, The Who Tribute at Carnegie Hall where the kids made their debut and the HIGHLIGHT- our December event with Sting and Trudie premiering their Twin Sprits project, a classical music project which I really think speaks to what we stand for.

And now, being involved with the live production of the music on the 30th at Lincoln Center with our Music Unites artists including Joshua Bell and Natasha. Sting and Trudie’s Rainforest Foundation gala was the inspiration of Music Unites and it has been such a true privilege and honor to work with them.

Those are some serious privileges. On the flipside, what makes this initiative a bigger challenge than you expected?

The desperate need for this kind of thing. With budgets being cut every single day we need to raise significant funds to service the schools and communities, to keep music alive. We have the artists who are willing to do whatever it takes: Now the focus is on fundraising and helping take this organization to the next level.

We all need mentors. Who are people that have been inspiring you along the way?

Gustavo Dudamel, Conductor of the LA Philharmonic, Julie Greenwald, Atlantic Records President, and Sylvia Rhone, the President of Universal Motown. I’ve been inspired with the work Gustavo has done tied to El Sistema orchestras and want to be part of the work he is doing here in the US with building these orchestras. Also, he works hard in bridging the gap and looks to do things out of the box by pushing the envelope. This is needed, especially right now to attract new audiences to classical music.

Julie and Sylvia are women I look up to. They are leaders and innovators in the music business who inspire the next generation. If I can do half of what they’ve contributed to the music community over my lifespan, I’d be content with myself.

If people or companies want to get involved with Music  Unites, what are the different ways they can help?

We’re always looking for strategic partnerships and are always open to new ideas across a multitude of industries from music, fashion, technologic, entertainment. We build platforms and look to 360 marketing integrations that are mutually beneficial for the organization since they help raise money, in addition to being mutually beneficial for the brand and company.

Finally, we say: Why must you be in NYC?

We were born here and NY will always be home. It’s the melting pot—uniting people and music!

– David Weiss