Category Archives: All News

Michael Giacchino, Jorge Calandrelli to be Honored at Golden Score Awards

American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers and the Composers & Arrangers Foundation will celebrate the musical artistry of two Local 47 stars

by Tatiana Arias

The American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC) and Composers & Arrangers Foundation of America (CAFA) will honor award-winning film and television composer Michael Giacchino and arranger, composer, and producer Jorge Calandrelli at the 2014 Golden Score Awards.

“Both men are world renowned in their respective fields and we are excited to have this opportunity to recognize their achievements this year,” said ASMAC President Chris Walden.

The annual awards ceremony will be held Sept. 28 in the Ahmanson Ballroom at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Continue reading →

Welcome to Pasadena, ROPA!

Approximately 100 ROPA delegates gathered for a photo op outside the Pasadena Central Library at the opening ceremony of the conference, where Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Maria Elena Durazo delivered the keynote speech. Photo by Linda A. Rapka

Local 47 hosts the 30th annual conference of the Regional Orchestra Players Association

Local 47 was honored to host the 30th Anniversary Regional Orchestra Players Association Conference (ROPA) at the Pasadena Westin Hotel Aug. 1-3. ROPA President Carla Lehmeier-Tatum of Albuquerque Local 618 lead approximately 100 delegates, AFM officers and Symphonic Services Division staff through three days presenting the latest information and facts on regional orchestras. Continue reading →

Bringing it All Back Home

Entertainment workers take to Sacramento to bring jobs back to California

Words + photos by Linda A. Rapka

The behind-the-camera workers of th e film and television industry transformed the California State Capitol into a production studio on what was dubbed “Mobilization Day,” demonstrating to lawmakers how the jobs that bring our favorite movies and television shows to life also vitalize the state’s economy.

Hundreds of entertainment workers descended upon the steps of the Capitol Aug. 20 in an impressive show of support for AB 1839 (Bocanegra/Gatto), a bill that will strengthen California’s film and TV tax incentive program. Continue reading →

#listenLA spotlight: Interview with ‘House of Cards’ composer Jeff Beal

On the heals of two new Emmy nominations for his music for “House of Cards,” Jeff Beal talks about composing for the hit Los Angeles-scored series

Beautifully underscoring the dramatic intrigue of Netflix series “House of Cards,” Jeff Beal’s darkly atmospheric score just garnered two more Emmy nominations. This marks the composer’s third Emmy nod for the show, and 13th altogether.

To date, Beal has won three times, including for the 2007 TNT miniseries “Nightmares & Dreamscapes” and USA Network’s detective series “Monk” in 2003, which were also scored here with our wonderful Los Angeles musicians.

Recorded at his home studio, music for “House of Cards” features more than a dozen of L.A.’s premiere string musicians. Beal spoke with Linda A. Rapka from his home studio about composing for the hit series.

Congratulations on your recent Emmy nominations for “House of Cards”! For both seasons, you’ve recorded in your home studio with Los Angeles musicians.
“They’re fantastic. I have a room in my studio where I do a lot of live recording. With the tight schedules and turnaround times these days being what they are, I love being able to call on the best players in the world and have them available at the drop of a hat. It’s a luxury to work with them. They know the kind of stuff I write, and over the years we have developed a shorthand with each other. It’s nice not having to over-explain to musicians your approach to making music; here a lot of that is sort of a given.”

Read the full interview at listen-la.com

Listen Up! Campaign Gains International Support

At an advance screening for Lionsgate-released film “Step Up All In,” Hong Kong campaign supporters distributed leaflets to moviegoers in both English and Cantonese that described how the company is offshoring music jobs on U.S. taxpayers’ dime by accepting millions in tax subsidies. Photos & images: Courtesy Listen Up!

Activist and labor groups in Hong Kong show support for American musicians calling for Lionsgate to stop offshoring film scoring jobs on U.S. taxpayers’ dime

Hong Kong-based Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM) and several other Chinese activist groups have announced support of the American Federation of Musician’s Listen Up! campaign calling to end offshoring film scoring jobs.

At an advance screening for “Step Up All In,” the fifth release in the motion picture franchise, Hong Kong campaign supporters distributed leaflets to moviegoers in both English and Cantonese that described how Lionsgate Entertainment is offshoring music jobs on U.S. taxpayers’ dime by accepting millions in tax subsidies. Continue reading →

Keeping the ‘Hollywood Brass Sound’ Alive

Vince DeRosa tribute album pays homage to the local living legend

words by Linda A. Rapka

photos by Bonnie Perkinson

In homage to one of the greatest brass players of the Hollywood Brass Golden Era, “Hollywood Epic Brass: The Vince DeRosa Tribute Album,” an album conceived by Kevin Kaska, debuts this month.

It was from listening recently to a massive number of film scores on which DeRosa played that Kaska hatched the idea for a tribute album. “I wanted to pay tribute to one of the world’s greatest brass players still alive,” Kaska said. “Many Los Angeles brass players have him to thank for the techniques he has taught.” Continue reading →

Roy’s Run for Christopher

Onlookers at the Burbank Tennis Center cheer on Roy Wiegand during his July 4th Run For Christopher, during which the trumpeter and ultra-marathon runner ran 86 miles to benefit families and children suffering from cancer. All photos courtesy Roy Wiegand

Trumpeter and ultra-marathon runner Roy Wiegand runs 86 miles to benefit families and children suffering from cancer

by Linda A. Rapka

Christopher Wilke, the inspiration behind Roy’s Run for Christopher.

Fourth of July weekend to most of us means lazing around with family, friends and BBQ. But for Roy Wiegand, the holiday weekend was spent running 86 miles in the blistering summer sun in memory of a young cancer victim.

In honor of Christopher Wilke, a 12-year-old boy who died of cancer in March, the trumpeter and ultra-marathon runner ran his Run for Christopher all the way from Angels Stadium in Anaheim to the Michael Hoefflin Foundation in Santa Clarita, all to raise funds to benefit the families of children with cancer as well as the children themselves, in addition to child-cancer research. Continue reading →

Boundless Resolve

Horn player Brian O’Connor received the Tenacious Bravery Award at UCLA’s Golden Portal Awards July 12, where the two-time brain tumor survivor performed two of the horn solos he originally played on the TV series “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” and “Star Trek: Generations.” Photo: Vince Bucci

Renowned horn player, two-time brain tumor survivor Brian O’Connor receives Tenacious Bravery Award from UCLA Medical Center

by Marie Matson and Linda A. Rapka

Internationally recognized French horn player and teacher Brian O’Connor boasts an impressive career. He has recorded more than 2,400 films, numerous television shows and records during his career as a first-call L.A. studio player. He served for seven years as president of the Recording Musicians Association of Los Angeles, and taught French horn at UCLA for 11 years.

But most impressive of all is the strength and bravery O’Connor has shown in overcoming a brain tumor and surgery — twice. Continue reading →

#listenLA spotlight: Heroes in a Half Shell

Brian Tyler scores big on the new “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” movie

The latest reboot of the classic “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” film series boasts an orchestral score by Los Angeles composer Brian Tyler and a 70-plus piece orchestra contracted by Peter Rotter.

On the famed Eastwood scoring stage on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, the scoring sessions took place over several days in June.

Read more and check out photos from one of the recording sessions at listen-la.com!

‘King of the Honkers’ Still Going Strong

Big Jay McNeely made some of the biggest waves on the 1940s R&B scene with his screaming tenor sax and still reigns supreme

His mighty tenor sax squawking and bleating with wild abandon, Cecil “Big Jay” McNeely blew up a torrid R&B tornado from every conceivable position — on his knees, on his back, being wheeled down the street on an auto mechanic’s “creeper” like a modern-day pied piper. As one of the titans who made tenor sax the solo instrument of choice during rock’s primordial era in the late 1940s, McNeely could peel the paper right off the walls with his sheets of squealing, honking horn riffs.

Big Jay had been retired from full-time music for 20 years, but in 1983 he returned to performing and hasn’t looked back. He is still tearing it up at venues around the world and knows how to delight and entertain an audience of any size, from small clubs to stadium crowds. He speaks here with Linda A. Rapka about his incredible musical career.

You became known as “the king of the honkers” as much for your skill on your instrument as for your flamboyant stage presence.
“I first started playing in Clarksville, Tennessee, a small little country town down south. People didn’t respond to our music. After intermission I was trying to figure out what I could do, so I got on my knees and laid on the floor. The crowd went wild. After that I said lemme try this again. I laid down anywhere I could get the suit clean the next day. When I got to L.A. a couple sax players started copying my act.” Continue reading →