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News
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Singer-songwriter Kris
Kristofferson, who recently released a politically potent concert
CD, Broken Freedom Song: Live from San Francisco (Oh Boy,
www.ohboy.com),
received the 2003 "Spirit of Americana" Free Speech Award
at the Americana Music Association Conference in September. Presented
in partnership with the First Amendment Center, the award recognized
Kristofferson's lifelong commitment to free expression in music
and films.
Steve McCreary, general
manager of Collings Guitars, and his wife, Felice, have set
up a website—Sophie's Support Page (www.anm.com/sophie)—for
their eight-year-old daughter who suffers from early onset bipolar
disorder. In addition to helping the McCrearys raise funds to meet
the astronomical costs of caring for Sophie at a residential treatment
center, the website includes links to pages with information about
the disorder.
A Nashville court has
awarded sole ownership of a cache of rare 1950s Hank Williams
recordings—from WSM radio's Mother's Best Flour Show—to
his heirs Hank Williams Jr. and Jett Williams. The ruling effectively
blocks a planned telemarketing campaign to sell 42 overdubbed versions
from the collection and paves the way for the Williams family to
release the historic live performances, which have not been heard
by the public since their original broadcasts.
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New
Releases
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Nineteen pieces for
guitar by Haitian classical composer Frantz Casséus
(1915—1993) have been collected and edited by avant-jazz guitarist
Marc Ribot in The Complete Works of Frantz Casséus
Vol. I: Music for Solo Guitar (Tuscany Publications, www.tuscanyguitar.com).
The 48-page book includes poster images and photographs of the pioneer
who introduced classical guitar to Haiti as well as a biographical
sketch of Casséus by Harriet and Marc Ribot.
Two classic albums by
"American primitive" fingerstyle guitar master Peter Lang—1975's
Lycurgus and 1977's live Prime Cuts—have been
reissued on CD by Horus Records (www.millcitymusic.com).
Two seminal roots
music documentaries, J'ai Été au Bal (about
Louisiana Cajun and zydeco) and Chulas Fronteras (about Tex-Mex
border culture), are now available on DVD with bonus footage from
Arhoolie Records (www.arhoolie.com).
The former features D.L. Menard, the Balfa Brothers, Marc and Ann
Savoy, and many others; the latter spotlights artists such as Lydia
Mendoza and Flaco JimŽnez and comes packaged with Del Mero Corazon:
Love Songs of the Southwest.
The master craftsmanship
of Toronto luthier William Laskin is celebrated in the new book
A Guitarmaker's Canvas: The Inlay Art of Grit Laskin
(Backbeat Books, www.backbeatbooks.com),
lavishly illustrated with 200 color photos.
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In
Memory
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Brazilian guitarist
and composer Paulinho Nogueira died of a heart attack in
S‹o Paulo on August 2. He was 73. Credited with inventing the craviola,
inspired by Brazilian folk instruments, and influencing the rise
of bossa nova, Nogueira made some two dozen recordings and penned
such hits as "Menino, Desce Dai," "Menina," and the classical-inspired
instrumental mainstay "Bachianinha #1."
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Contests
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The winner of the LadySixString
Lyric Writing Contest will receive a Daisy Rock Stardust Venus
guitar, a Marshall amp, and other goodies. Other winners will receive
a subscription to Women Who Rock magazine, copies of The
Indie Bible, and more. Women of all ages can submit their song
lyrics or poetry in all musical styles. Entries must be postmarked
by December 31. For more details go to www.ladysixstring.com/lyricwritingcontest/index.htm.
The grand prize winner
of the Nashville Song Search (www.nashvillesongsearch.com)
will collect a Music Row king's ransom that includes a $1,500 Garrison
guitar, a mentoring session with a hit country songwriter, a professional
promotional package to pitch the song to record labels, and the
chance to have his or her song performed at the Country Music Association
Fan Fair. Entries, including a recording of an original song and
lyric sheet, must be received by November 15.
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Cyber
Notes
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If you surf on over
to the Bridge Guitar Reviews Web page (www.xs4all.nl/~guitars),
you can easily click your way to Henk te Veldhuis' updated, no-frills,
links-laden Acoustic Connections and Acoustic Spirit Portal
pages, listing scores of guitar and accessory makers, record labels,
magazines, acoustic guitarists, and more.
Northern California
roots music fans may fondly remember KFAT radio, the funky
Gilroy station that broadcast a free-form format of country, blues,
old-time, bluegrass, Hawaiian, and other music (as well as comedy)
from 1975 to 1983. Now it's back for audiences worldwide to enjoy,
streaming on the Internet (www.kfat.com)
and billing itself as "the only dead radio station you can listen
to on your computer."
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Click
here to meet the Acoustic Guitar team at a wide variety upcoming
music events and trade shows. Listed below are some things happening
in the next few weeks.
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Excerpted from Acoustic
Guitar magazine, December
2003, No. 132.
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Got some news? Send it to Happenings, Acoustic
Guitar, PO Box 767, San Anselmo, CA 94979-0767; email happenings.ag@stringletter.com;
or fax (415) 485-0831.
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