Author Archives: admin

My Union Card

Reflections by Local 47 member Ross Altman, Ph.D

Recently I had the strangest dream. It had to do with my union card for American Federation of Musicians Local 47, and what it means to me. In my dream I just barely touched the truck in front of me when we were both stopped at a red light. The driver got out and decided to make a federal case out of it, even though there was no visible damage to the back of his truck. He said that he would not report it if I agreed to give up my “freight card” (in his words) for good; I would no longer be a member of the professional musicians’ union. I told you it was a strange dream. And yet it forced me to confront the question of what my union card meant to me—and whether it was worth all the hassle and potential expense of dealing with my insurance company and the DMV in order to keep my card. Continue reading →

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Free Webinar: Royalties, Residuals and Retirement

Presented by ProMusicDB Wednesday, Nov. 8

Musicians: Do you need advice on how to make ongoing charitable giving contributions? Do you want to learn what options are available to you that can make your various income streams work better for you right now as well as in retirement?

ProMusicDB invites you to attend our FREE “Royalties, Residuals, and Retirement” Webinar with Jeff Hammer of Northwestern Mutual on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m. PST.

Join us and get your financial questions answered, and to be empowered by your financial options. Attendees will receive a two-hour free consultation with Jeff Hammer, Managing Director and Financial Advisor, Northwestern Mutual.

Sign up to attend today!

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Memories of Fats Domino

Photo by Heinrich Klaffs, Creative Commons
Fats Domino in 1973 performing in the Musikhalle Hamburg, Germany.

One of the founding fathers of rock ’n’ roll, Fats Domino (AFM Local 174-496) injected a Creole-infused shot of rhythm and blues, jazz and boogie woogie to the genre.

He was born Antoine Dominique Domino Jr. on Feb. 26, 1928 in New Orleans, where he began playing local nightclubs at age 14. Throughout his astounding career, Domino sold over 65 million records whose hits hits include “Blueberry Hill,” “Ain’t That a Shame,” “I’m Walkin’ ” and his version of “My Blue Heaven.”

His remarkable abilities on the piano proved that the instrument had as vital a place in rock ’n’ roll as the guitar.

Domino died Oct. 24, 2017, at 89. Continue reading →

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Final Note: Michael Consoldane

Life Member. Guitar
4/24/1945 – 8/30/2017

Michael passed away suddenly after a brief illness on Aug. 30, 2017. He was born in Youngstown, Ohio on April 24, 1945 to Anthony V. Consoldane and Ruth Oberlin. Raised in Warren, Ohio, Michael learned to play the trumpet at an early age and was a member of many high school bands including the Warren Jr. Military Band sponsored by the VFW Post 1090.  Continue reading →

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Final Note: Maurice Grants

Member. Cello/Bassoon/Contractor
12/7/1960 – 8/21/2017

by Lynn Grants

Born in New York City, Maurice remained a quintessential New Yorker, even after his family relocated to Los Angeles when Maurice was in his early teens. On discovering that his new school didn’t have an orchestra, he organized one, recruiting like-minded friends, and setting up a rehearsal schedule. This expanded to his forming a community orchestra, the Symphony of the Chaparral, in the Sunland-Tujunga foothill communities. He took on conducting duties with the orchestra, as well as setting programming, securing rehearsal and performance space, and acting as personnel manager. Continue reading →

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