Author Archives: admin

Final Note: Ralph Jungheim

Former Member. Trumpet
5/19/1929 – 1/5/2019

by Kirk Silbee

Ralph Jungheim, a record producer, impresario, photographer and an all-around friend to jazz, has died. He oversaw 58 albums as an independent producer for such artists as Earl “Fatha” Hines, Freddie Hubbard, Ruth Brown, Joe Pass, Michel Legrand, Jimmy Rowles, Freddy Cole, Jimmy Witherspoon, Howard Rumsey’s Lighthouse All Stars, Jack Sheldon, Wild Bill Davison and Eddie Miller, Jackie Allen, Dr. Bobby Rodriguez, Bill Berry’s Ellington All-Stars, Charles Neville, Tommy Newsom, Mavis Rivers, James Zollar and John Dentz. Jungheim passed away on January 5, due to complications of a longtime illness. Continue reading →

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2019 Member Directory out now!

Copies of the 2019 Local 47 Member Directory are out now!

These books are published annually and made available exclusively to members upon request as a free member benefit.

Pick one up at the union or request a copy by filling out the form below or by calling 323.462.2161.

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Super Bowl: Personal Foul

We have a very serious problem in Los Angeles, and there’s a certain project that’s on all our minds: Magic Johnson’s Super Bowl ad.

The music for this commercial was recorded non-union, by CMG. If the gig were union, these musicians would have been paid for the session, the airing of the ad on TV and internet, benefits, and sidelining. If this gig were union the musicians would have earned $933.82. Instead, the musicians were paid a paltry $175 in a buyout deal. Continue reading →

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Guest Column: My Personal Experience at the Celebration for John Williams

John Williams (left) and Gustavo Dudamel (right) shared the stage during an intimate concert series at Disney Hall in January 2019. [photos by Linda A. Rapka/AFM Local 47]

by Bill Peterson, AFM Local 47 Life Member & President Emeritus

I read the glowing review by Mark Swed of the first night of the Celebration of John Williams in the Times last month, and was moved to have a personal kind of celebration; of knowing John Williams, from our time in Tucson in the 775th Air Force band, through my time as Union VP and President, when I presented both John Williams and Steven Spielberg a commemorative plaque on behalf of Musicians Local 47 at a scoring session of 105 players. The plaques were inscribed with our Local 47 musicians’ thanks for consistently scoring their films here in Hollywood, and thereby using our musicians in the resulting scoring processes. Mr. Spielberg told me at that time that he was genuinely touched by this recognition. Continue reading →

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Throwback: Beyoncé records national anthem

On Feb. 1, 2004, Beyoncé performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl XXXVIII. The track was recorded in Los Angeles with a 69-piece AFM Local 47 orchestra contracted by Ernie Fields Jr. with Rickey Minor producing and Randy Waldman arranging.  Continue reading →

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Kevin Kaska & the Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles

Epilogue from Christopher Columbus Suite

Recorded at Sony Pictures, Culver City, California, August of 2018, this piece, composed and conducted by Kevin Kaska, was performed by the Recording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles — all members of the American Federation of Musicians Local 47. Continue reading →

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