Category Archives: Features

Jazz Appreciation Month Featured artist 2016: ‘King’ Benny Carter

JAM Poster-2016 Benny Carter_022216_2Every April, the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. selects a jazz icon to feature on the annual Jazz Appreciation Month poster. This year’s poster honors performer, bandleader, and
composer “King” Benny Carter.

A Lifetime Member of Local 47, Benny Carter — known simply as “King” to his fellow musicians — was a largely self-taught artist who became one of founding fathers of big band swing music. Early in his career, Carter arranged and composed scores for Fletcher Henderson, Benny Goodman, Chick Webb, and McKinney’s Cotton Pickers, as well as for his own highly respected orchestras. Continue reading

John Clayton: Playing it Cool

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John Clayton is a natural born multitasker. The multiple roles in which he excels – composer, arranger, conductor, producer, educator, and extraordinary bassist – garner him a number of challenging assignments and commissions. With a Grammy on his shelf and eight additional nominations, artists such as Diana Krall, Paul McCartney, Regina Carter, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Gladys Knight, Queen Latifah, and Charles Aznavour vie for a spot on his crowded calendar. His many musical pursuits include the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, which he founded along with his brother Jeff in 1986, and the Clayton Brothers quintet, which includes his son Gerald on piano. As a teacher, in addition to presenting individual clinics, workshops, and private students as schedule permits, he directs the educational components associated with the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Centrum Festival, and Vail Jazz Party. Continue reading

Happy 100th Birthday, Slim!

Local 47 President John Acosta with Life Member Homer Archibald "Slim" Tanner, celebrating Slim's 100th birthday! (Photos by Linda A. Rapka)

Local 47 President John Acosta with Life Member Homer Archibald “Slim” Tanner displaying proclamations from the City of Downey and U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein in honor of his 100th birthday, March 7, 2016. (Photos by Linda A. Rapka)

Today, Life Member Homer Archibald ‘Slim’ Tanner enjoyed the celebration of the century, literally — March 7, 2016 marks his 100th birthday!

Local 47 President John Acosta, along with Communications Director Linda Rapka, visited Slim at his home in Downey to present him with a birthday card, balloon, and a special gift: a Certificate of Recognition signed by Downey Mayor Alex Saab, Mayor Pro Tem Fernando Vasquez, and Councilmembers Sean Ashton, Roger C. Brossmer, and Luis H. Marquez, expressing their “sincerest best wishes on this very special occasion.” Continue reading

Women’s History Month: Exploring the Important Role of Women in Labor History

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The history of America’s working women is a history of advocating for the abolition of slavery, the right to vote, the right to unionize, the welfare of children, and the extension of human rights to all. Women were among the first workers to bear the hardships of the industrial revolution, and among the first to unionize.

Women have participated in the labor movement in both a lead and supportive role through its entire history, but the movement has not always been friendly in return. Continue reading

ASMAC ‘FIRST WEDNESDAYS’ Series Takes Off at Local 47

Ross de Roche, Liz Finch, Kim Richmond (photo by Tapia Corel)

Ross de Roche, Liz Finch, Kim Richmond (photo by Tapia Corel)

The American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC) presented The Art of Music Preparation on Wednesday, March 2, 2016, hosted by Local 47.

Part of a new monthly series held on the first Wednesday evening of each month featuring a variety of topics of interest to arrangers and composers, the March 2 event included veteran music copyists Liz Finch, Ross deRoche and Kim Richmond, with a demonstration by Jim Ciancaglini, owner of Valle Music.  Continue reading

Book review: Don’t Stop the Music: Finding the Joy in Caregiving

9781504344654_COVER.inddIn her new book “Don’t Stop the Music: Finding the Joy in Caregiving,” author and musician Nancy Weckwerth (horn) has created a “survive and thrive” manual for caregivers.

Based upon over 25 years of caregiving for her friend and partner, composer and trumpeter John D. Swan (trumpet), the book describes lessons learned and solutions on how to find the joy in caregiving. Although it is written specifically for caring for a stroke survivor, the message transcends that particular condition. The wisdom within is meaningful for any caregiving situation. Continue reading

Book Review: ‘I Have Hundreds of Stories, Some of Them True’ by Russell Garcia

garcia book‘I Have Hundreds of Stories, Some of Them True’

Author: Russell Garcia

In a unique refreshing style, world-renowned composer/arranger/conductor Russell Garcia relates the stories of the glitz and glamour of Hollywood during his many years writing music for films and television in his posthumously released book, “I Have Hundreds of Stories, Some of Them True.”

His inimitable, delightful sense of humor comes through even when he’s winning World War II single-handed. This is a wonderful inspiring book by a legendary icon who spent some 70 years in the music business. As a young boy in school, he taught himself to play trumpet and organized his own little band.  Fortunately, in high school, he had teachers who recognized his genius and encouraged him to write music. He later studied with Ernst Toch, Edmond Ross and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. His break came when he substituted for an ill colleague on a radio show. Subsequently, he went on to become a composer/arranger at NBC Studios for television, and his work can still be heard today on such shows as “The Twilight Zone,” “Laredo,” “Fame is the Name of the Game” and “Rawhide.” Continue reading