Art Pitts studied music in a California junior college and obtained a Bachelors degree in Vocal Music from the University of California. While in school I sang in choirs for 18 years and had the opportunity to travel through the western United States and most of western Europe. In addition I played violin and string bass in my high school orchestra, bass guitar in the junior college jazz band, tympani in the junior college orchestra, performed in plays, musicals and operas from high school through college and attended the Music Academy of The West in Santa Barbara, California as part of my operatic vocal training. All during this educational experience I really wanted to be playing the music I was hearing on the radio.  Where does a person go to get the knowledge, experience, expertise and business grounding if they want to make a living playing popular music?

While I was at the University taking a class for beginning vocal students a guy brought a piece of sheet music and handed it to the professor. The professor looked at the music and handed it back to the student and said “This isn’t music. Bring me some real music.”

The song was written by Cat Stevens who at this time was making at least 10 times the amount this professor was making and yet the professor said the song wasn’t “real music”.

Can you see where I’m going? And I’m not talking about Rock And Roll High School The Movie I’m talking about an accredited school that would cover everything from basic musicianship to theatrical lighting and include a strong business component as well.

So why is it that popular music isn’t taken seriously in this country and artists have to leave the country to gain respect for the years spent perfecting their chops and polishing their act? And why have many of the early rock and roll artists wound up penniless even though they have sold millions of dollars worth of records during their careers?

Am I the only one who thinks there is a big hole in our educational system when it comes to those who want to play popular music?

Till next time, keep making great music!!

[Original source from The Muse Daily Blog: http://themusesantacruz.com/2012/05/16/this-is-not-rock-and-roll-high-school-the-movie/]

Nashville Music News
August 18, 2012

This festival is celebrating the 45th anniversary of 4 major music events from 1967. The Monterey Pop Festival, the release of the Beatles’ Sgt. Peppers album, The Doors ‘Light My Fire’ climbing the AM radio charts and the San Francisco Summer of Love sound.

TICKETS & INFO please see http://www.Summer67.com
Ticket price $25.00

San Francisco-based Retro Artists Group, who promoted the successful 40th anniversary in 2007 is again marking another 5 years by presenting the “Monterey Summer of Love Festival 2012 – 45 Years Later” this September 29th. Bands and Psychedelic era icons will perform again this year that performed in 1967 and 2007. Big Brother and the Holding Company, Barry McGuire and John York, It’s a Beautiful Day  and the Standells are headlining along with icons from The Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service and the Grateful Dead. The event will also feature the return of ‘The Beau Brummels’ with original singer Sal Valentino and ‘The Sopwith Camel’ who’s hit ‘Hello Hello’ was a first from the Love generation bands.

Also performing are a few Tribute acts from the hit stage show “San Francisco’s Summer of Love Revue” including Carlton Poward as ‘Experience Jimi’, ‘Dream a L’il Dream’ as The Mamas and the Papas, ‘The Who’s Next’ as The Who and ‘Spill the Wine’ as Eric Burdon & the Animals. “Experience Jimi’ will re-enact the burning Stratocaster scene from exactly where it happened 45 years ago!

Festival director Andrew Hernandez is also creating a second stage for new music acts from up and down California, “After the 50th anniversary in 2017 we hope to return this festival to its original intention of introducing new, up and coming young artists. It will be sad when most of our music heroes of the 60′s have moved on to the ultimate psychedelic trip in the sky but I think it’s important to honor the intentions of this event for years and years to come.” Hernandez continues, “This magical little arena has survived almost un-touched and looks exactly the same as it did 45 years ago, it’s a great feeling to hear the eclectic 60′s music from that stage again!” Hernandez wants this stage to attract Generations X and Y, hoping the kids of the ’60s and younger generations will connect to discuss today’s world issues and help inspire the surging young activist groups around the World. “The parallels of 1967 and 2012 are surreal,” says Hernandez. “We have got to get today’s youth out from behind their text messaging and Youtube long enough to create something meaningful and beautiful-we need to get them involved in the struggles of humanity.” Hernandez said the festival will focus mainly on the great music that brought all those groovy kids together and united them in the fight for Peace, Love and Freedom as well as exhibits of ’60s memorabilia, arts & crafts vendors and appearances of other 60′s notables.

Charter ‘Magic Bus’ trips are being organized from San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Fresno, Marin/San Rafael, Santa Barbara to make it easy for fans to get to and from the day and night festival. A $75 to $95 pass gets round trip, event tickets and motel room.

The artists and Promoters are currently available for interviews are articles. We could greatly appreciate it if you post about this monumental event! History repeats itself in Monterey! www.summer67.com,

For further contact, Karl’s e-mail address is [email protected].

SKY SUNLIGHT SAXON TRIBUTE ALBUM RELEASE DATE 
- June 25, 2012 - 3rd anniversary of Sky's passing

SWEET JAM is one of the featured artists with our rendition of "Summer of Love". Check out all the amazing musical contributions. This is going to be a phenomenal and historic album and we are extremely grateful to be a part of it!  http://skysaxon.com/SkyTributeAlbum.html

Sometimes an event in a person’s life propels them on a journey into the realms of the heart and spirit in search of answers and healing. Just such an event in the life of singer, songwriter Mark Mc Fadden was the genesis of Sweet Jam.

After the loss of Nadine, Mark’s sweetheart, to cancer he started writing songs to help him heal as he began moving into the future without his partner. On the advice of a close friend Mark met with Catherine Lewis and found that her sweet vocal style was a perfect match for his songs. They started performing together and the magic followed.

The positive response to Mark and Catherine’s music was immediate and they decided to capture what was happening on their first CD ‘We Are One’. ‘We Are One’ was recorded in the studio of Keith Graves, Catherine’s life partner and a consummate musician and performing artist himself. Keith also wrote and played the bass parts while co-producing the CD with Mark.

The final mix and mastering was done by renowned Bay Area Rocker Kevin Cadogan, formerly of Third Eye Blind, and released on the Global Recording Artists label - www.GRAgroup.com/sweetjam.html.

The sound of Sweet Jam has been alternately described as “dreamy, jazzy pop” and “heart rock”. Beautiful, haunting vocal harmonies blend with the sound of “other worldly” flutes and recorders to transport listeners to anothe, higher realm. In the book Zen Guitar, Philip Toshio Sudo states “Human chemistry is not a science. No one knows how this magic happens. But when it does, we feel the presence of something divine, and everyone who’s there knows it.” 

Sweet Jam’s vision is to share their “magic” with the world. “Our intention is to bring LIGHT, LOVE, JOY and FUN into the world through music from our open hearts. May the sweet vibe of Sweet Jam spread love and peace to all!!”