It’s quite extraordinary when a composer writes music for two of the biggest motion picture releases of the summer — and even more extraordinary when they are recorded within just a few weeks of each other! Continue reading
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An Update on our Move to Burbank
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As we embark on a new chapter in our local union’s history we pay homage to our predecessors who established our union in 1897 in a small Los Angeles office on the corner of 2nd and Spring Streets, then to 2nd and Hill. In 1924 our union leaders took us to our first building in downtown L.A. (which still stands on Georgia St.), then in 1953 they moved us to Hollywood at our current location. Today in the spirit of forward progress, as our leaders had done in the past, we move to our new home in Burbank. Our union has been through many changes and many moves, but one constant has always been the incredible artistry that you display on the concert stage, recording studios, films and on TV; musicians are this union, and we are proud to be able guide this union’s transition to a new and exciting facility. Now as we move to our new Headquarters at 3220 Winona Avenue, Burbank, our staff, executive board and my fellow officers are deep in planning and organizing the transition to our new space. We move from 817 Vine Street effective July 14th, 2017. Over the course of the following week, we reestablish ourselves at our new location in temporary office bungalows which will be housed on our new property as the finishing touches are being made to our permanent offices. We along with the AFM West Coast office will run operations through the end of August out of these temporary offices, moving into the new space in early September. Initially our plan was to make one move on July 1, but due to construction delays and our need to vacate Vine Street it was necessary to go through this two-step process. Members will still be able to do union business in person at the new facility, business hours will remain the same, and our phones and computer systems will all be fully operational as always. The rehearsal facilities will be offline for up to 6 weeks during the construction. We ask that you be patient with the transition, knowing that our new facilities will be spectacular. We will have a new musicians lounge with the ability to offer food and refreshments, and a place for members to hang. All the new rehearsal rooms will be sound treated providing much needed isolation between rooms, with more rooms added which will be more spacious for larger ensembles. The newly merged Credit Union will also be housed on the first floor of the new facility with an ATM machine and staff. Our new offices will be sleek and modern, representing the new look for AFM Local 47. In Unity, John Acosta |

Charles Billingsley: ‘It’s Christmas Time Again’
For his upcoming album “It’s Christmas Time Again,” Charles Billingsley flew in from Virginia specifically to use L.A. union musicians and singers, and a great L.A. studio to record full big band, orchestra and choir. Continue reading
Save the Date: Celebrating Lalo Schifrin: An 85th Birthday Celebration Concert
Musicians Target Offshoring to Bring Jobs Back to California
AB 1300 will expand domestic film and TV music scoring by boosting state tax credit for foreign productions
LOS ANGELES, CA (June 13, 2017) — As California suffers an exodus of film and television music jobs, musicians are battling offshoring head-on with a new bill that would boost the state tax credit for foreign productions.
AB 1300, recently introduced by Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon, would bring the success of the California Film & TV Tax Credit Program to musicians and the scores that are an integral part of every motion picture and TV project. Continue reading
Dave Pell – Celebration of Life
No Turning Back: LAANE honors female leaders at annual women’s luncheon

Representatives from AFM Local 47 and the Recording Musicians Association wore white in honor of the suffragist movement at the LAANE “No Turning Back” luncheon. From left: Organizing Coordinator Jefferson Kemper, President John Acosta, RMALA President Steve Dress, Communications Director Linda Rapka, RMALA 2nd Vice President Elizabeth Hedman, RMA International President Marc Sazer, Local 47 & RMALA Director Bill Reichenbach. (Not pictured: Local 47 Director Pam Gates.)
Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy honored SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris and Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Chief of Staff, Ana Guerrero, at the annual Women for a New Los Angeles luncheon on May 12, 2017. Continue reading
Final Note: Chris Cornell
Vocalist
7/20/1964 – 5/17/2017
Chris Cornell, the powerful, dynamic singer whose band Soundgarden was one of the architects of grunge music, died on May 17 in Detroit hours after the band performed in concert. He was 52. His death was ruled suicide.
Cornell was a modern innovator who transcends genre. He was the chief architect of the ‘90s grunge movement and remains one of the best rock voices of all time. Achieving multi-platinum success with three legendary bands – selling over 30 million records worldwide – he forged his own unique identity over three decades as a Grammy award-winning, Golden Globe nominated singer, songwriter, guitarist, composer and lyricist. Continue reading
In Memoriam: June 2017
Chris Cornell
Vocalist
7/20/1964 – 5/17/2017
Survived by wife & children
Virginia DiTullio (Royer)
Life Member. Piano
12/13/1934 – 4/8/2017
Survived by siblings
L.J. (Jack) Imel
Life Member. Marimba
6/9/1932 – 5/2/2017
Survived by spouse
Derrick A. Lefebvre
Copyist
8/24/1974 – 4/17/2017
Survived by mother
Dave Pell
Life Member. Saxophone
2/26/1925 – 5/7/2017
Survived by wife & children
June 2017 Overture Online: May Day LA Draws Thousands
Cover Story:
Thousands Take to Streets for MAY DAY MARCH Los Angeles
Also in this issue:
AB 1300: Let’s Bring More Music-Scoring Jobs to CA!
New tax credit bill promises to lure back out-of-state and low-budget film and TV productions
Musicians Stand Up Against Poverty Wages
Instrumental Casting, Shahkar called out for exploiting non-union musicians
Next Steps for Healthy CA
Universal Healthcare bill SB 562 heads to Senate floor
and more!
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Overture Online is optimized for reading via smartphone or tablet. For those without access to a smart device, this issue may be viewed on a web browser. Local 47 members may download archived pdf versions from the members section at afm47.org.