Life Member. Drum Set
1/23/1935 – 7/3/2016
by Ron Blake, son
Originally from Chicago, he moved out to L.A. to pursue his dream of being a
musician in the ’60s.
A drummer, and a lifelong member of the Local 47, he has played and recorded with numerous artists including Dave Brubeck.
His passion for music permeated everyone he knew including his children.
He is survived by his seven children and two sisters.
Enrollment for ProMusicDB.org is off to a strong start, with numerous accomplished musicians, songwriters, singers and producers signing on as Founding Artist Members. As the first artist-controlled authority of music credits, ProMusicDB.org enables artists to take control of their credits, identity, metadata and digital legacy.
“We are thrilled at receiving such an enthusiastic response to the launch of our organization’s digital platform and are honored to include some highly respected music industry professionals as our Founding Artist Members,” says Christy Crowl, Founder and CEO of ProMusicDB.org. “Our Founding Artist Members have already done the hard work—creating the art. Now they can protect and preserve their works by their own means and control, and their metadata can be stored centrally and repurposed across industry platforms as they so desire.” Continue reading
Musicians from throughout the United States and Canada gather in solidarity at the 35th AFM Convention in Boston, 1930. (Photo: courtesy International Musician/AFM archives)
by Jefferson Kemper
Organizing has always been the foundation of the AFM. The strength of this union is predicated on our ability to get working musicians to agree on core principles and to advocate together for our common benefit. Since the late 1800s when the AFM was created and when musicians around the country founded their own local chapters, it’s been the ability to organize that has provided the leverage to demand fair compensation for the value of musicians’ work. Continue reading
Summer Institute on Union Women, Class of 2016 (Photo: Carla Zarate S. carlazarate.com / solartradio.com)
Hundreds of union women leaders convene in Los Angeles for Summer Institute on Union Women 2016
Every summer, women organizers from unions, community rank-and-file activists from the Western States, British Columbia and beyond come together for a week of leadership development, engagement on current issues, skills-building and networking.
Sponsored by the United Association for Labor Education and hosted by the UCLA Labor Center, the 2016 Western Regional Summer Institute on Union Women brought together hundreds of workers and leaders from unions, worker centers, and student and community organizations from the western United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and Japan. Continue reading
by Linda A. Rapka
In July of 1991, after a three-decade hiatus, the notion to revive an orchestra from the obscurity of distant memory became reality with a string of Independence Day concerts at the Hollywood Bowl. Rebranded in both name and impetus, the new Hollywood Bowl Orchestra made its debut under the leadership of LA Philharmonic Association executive vice president/managing director Ernest Fleischmann and the newly appointed principal conductor, John Mauceri. A quarter century later, HBO stands as a pioneer in the orchestral world and continues to deliver an eclectic repertoire as diverse as Hollywood itself. Continue reading
Congratulations to all of the Los Angeles Local 47 & AFM members who received 2016 Annual Emmy Awards nominations and awards, and to all of the talented L.A. musicians who performed on over FIFTY of this year’s nominated series, commercials & TV specials! Winners were announced Sunday, Sept. 18. Continue reading
Axel Alexander
Life Member. Piano
5/15/1926 – 6/17/2016
Survived by spouse
Professional Musicians, Local 47 and Employers’ Health & Welfare Fund
Getting healthy and staying that way doesn’t have to be complicated.
You can reduce your risk of many health problems by taking care of the basics, like preventive tests and exams and paying attention to your eye health, which might hint at bigger health issues.
Concentrate on these areas to get and keep yourself on track. Continue reading
Overture Online
October 2016
Bowled Over
Celebrating 25 Years With the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Local 47 2016 Election Update
All candidates unopposed, elected by acclamation
Made In Hollywood Honors for TV
LA City Council celebrates this year’s Emmy-nominated homegrown productions
#ListenLA spotlight: Remembering Gene Wilder
Hollywood mourns a silver screen legend
Don’t Get Penalized!
File for your LA Business Tax Exemption
Why Should You File For Unemployment?
What musicians need to know about the California EDD
and more!
The Overture Online app is available FREE @ Apple App Store & Google Play:
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 (must have flash enabled). Local 47 members may download archived pdf versions from the members section at afm47.org. Continue reading
Pasadena Symphony Orchestra member Lisa Gass not only knows how to play the bass – she knows how to build one.
The founding owner of Los Angeles Bass Works since 1984, Lisa showed an early aptitude for wood sculpture as a child after she received woodworking tools as a birthday gift. By age 13, having toyed around with piano and violin, she decided her true love was the string bass. Continue reading