Life Member.Clarinet
(7/20/1918-10/22/2014)
By Duane Metcalfe, son
Edwin (Eddie) Metcalfe, my dad, singer, clarinetist, saxophonist, arranger of music, ardent supporter and Lifetime Member of the musicians union Local 47, died in Oro Valley, Arizona of natural causes Oct. 22, 2014. Continue reading
AB 1199 author Adrin Nazarian, Assemblymember, California District 46
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Download pdf
LOS ANGELES, CA (MARCH 30, 2015) — Thousands of California musicians suffering from the effects of runaway production are encouraged by a new bill that aims to close loopholes relating to music scoring in the California Film and Television Job Retention Act.
AB 1199, authored by Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, introduces language that would for the first time require a specified amount of the total expenditures relating to music post-production be done in California in order for a production to qualify for an added rebate. Musicians applaud this preliminary language as a significant step in the right direction, and are optimistic that further development of the bill will continue to improve upon the existing tax credit program as it relates to music scoring in California. Continue reading
On March 15, 2015, Local 47 turns 118. To celebrate, here’s a look back at the humble beginnings of the musicians union of Los Angeles.
While searching the Local’s archives last month we stumbled upon the November 1941 issue of the Overture which featured an article by former president C. L. Bagley titled “47 is 47: Local No. 47 Has a Birthday.” Therein Bagley described in detail some interesting historical aspects of the very beginnings of our union, much of which is shared in this post. Click on the images in this post to view scans of the original documents.
On March 15, 1897, Local 47’s charter and affiliation was approved by the American Federation of Musicians. This monumental day marked the end of a long struggle musicians in Los Angeles who tried, then failed, and ultimately succeeded in effectively organizing with the union we belong to today. Continue reading
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Download pdf
LOS ANGELES, CA (MARCH 24, 2015) — The Force is with Los Angeles musicians: For the first time in the film saga’s history, the musical score to “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” will be recorded in Los Angeles by members of the American Federation of Musicians Local 47.
Composer John Williams—himself a Life Member of Local 47—is currently at work writing the music for this seventh installment in the “Star Wars” franchise. Williams has composed the music for every film in the series since its 1977 debut. While previous films were scored at Abbey Road with the London Symphony Orchestra, “The Force Awakens” marks the first time a “Star Wars” score will be recorded in the United States. Continue reading
Life Member. Piano
(1939-2014)
By Jason Bourne, son
Magic piano man David E. Bourne passed away on Jan. 30, 2015, at his home surrounded by his loving family. Continue reading
#TBT – This Throwback Thursday post goes WAY back: This article originally appeared in the April 1941 issue of the AFM Local 47 Overture!
DR. CROSBY AND MAESTRO BURNS NOW MEMBERS OF LOCAL 47
Members of Local 47 take a great deal of pleasure in welcoming two of the finest gentlemen they know into their Association: Bing Crosby and Bob Burns. Continue reading
RSVP: 323.993.3179, jeff.surga@promusic47.org
Participants are introduced to orchestral instruments and their usage. Two areas are covered: instrumentation, which deals with the construction, sound production, range, notation, and playing techniques of each instrument; and orchestration, which is the actual process of scoring music for orchestra. Groups of instruments examined include brass, strings, woodwinds, keyboards, harp, and percussion. Class sessions involve score study, instrumental demonstrations, and performance and discussion of student assignments. Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of music fundamentals; e.g. notes, keys, scales, meter, etc. RSVP: 323.993.3179, jeff.surga@promusic47.org
Students will learn composition and elements of form by looking at contemporary styles of music, score study, analysis of different composers’ methods of orchestration, score reduction (e.g. learning how to reduce an orchestral score to a piano part, or reducing to a five-line staff), and possible guest lecturers. The ending course project is a recording of students’ original compositions by the Symphony 47 orchestra.
LA studio musicians who recorded the soundtrack of the 1960s profiled in Denny Tedesco’s feature documentary
By Linda A. Rapka
You may not know their names, but you know their music.
The soundtrack of the late 1950s and 1960s was largely recorded by a group of Los Angeles studio musicians known as the Wrecking Crew. The Beach Boys, Frank and Nancy Sinatra, Sonny and Cher, Jan & Dean, Elvis Presley, the Monkees, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, the Mamas & the Papas, Simon and Garfunkel, the Tijuana Brass, Ricky Nelson, Johnny Rivers, and even Alvin and the Chipmunks are but a small few of the hundreds of popular artists for whom the Crew recorded, though more often than not were left uncredited on the album sleeve. Continue reading
