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Six student songwriters from the Delta Music Institute will be performing original songs this Thursday, November 5, from 7:00 - 9:00 pm at the Bean Counter in Cleveland, MS. The event is sponsored by the DSU chapter of Grammy U, an organization of students involved in music and entertainment industry studies. There is no cover charge for this event, but donations will be accepted to support the activities of the DSU Grammy U chapter.

Come out and support these songwriters in a continuing effort to develop a live local music culture in the Delta!

Ol' Skool Revue, DMI's R&B/Soul/Funk/Blues band, hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast last weekend for a whirlwind of performances and recruiting opportunities. The band performed three sets at Ocean Springs High School, followed by a pre-game show at the Biloxi-Harrison Central football game. The following morning, the band opened the 5th Annual Ocean Springs Music Festival while DMI instructors Tricia Walker, Mike Iacopelli, and Barry Bays facilitated three music industry workshops at the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Center in Ocean Springs. Here's a little slideshow from the trip...even with a tire blowout at 70 mph leading to a 4 a.m. arrival back home, it was a great weekend! Rock on, chillun....

P. Diddy’s Starmaker winner, Liz Davis, performs during 2005 Homecoming festivities at Delta State


Mississippi native and former Delta State University student Liz Davis was crowned the winner of P. Diddy's Starmaker during Sunday night's finale broadcast of the MTV reality competition series.
The 21 year-old claimed the show's grand prize of a record deal with Sean "Diddy" Combs' Bad Boy Records label.

In winning Starmaker, Davis became the first predominantly country artist to sign with Bad Boy.

Liz, and her entire family have strong ties to the University.

“Our whole family spent time in Cleveland and at Delta State,” said Liz’s mother Lauree Davis. “Delta State played a big part in the lives of our family. Liz’s time there helped her to achieve the success she’s enjoying today.”

Liz’s father, Dale, and mother both attended Delta State on athletic scholarships.

“Dale played baseball for Coach “Boo” Ferriss from 1977-81 and I received the first tennis scholarship for a female in 1979,” said Davis.

Liz’s older sister, Kelli Davis-Cotton graduated from Delta State in 2004 with a degree in marketing. She now resides in Cleveland and works for Coopwood Communications.

Liz’s younger brother Jeffrey is a junior at Canton Academy. “Jeffrey is an athlete and we don’t know where he’ll go for sure, but he could wind up at Delta State just like the rest of the family,” laughed Davis.

Performing at a talent show in Jackson, Liz Davis caught the eye of Norbert Putnam, an accomplished musician and producer who played bass for Elvis Presley and helped launch the careers of Dan Fogleberg and Jimmy Buffet. Putnam encouraged Davis to enroll at Delta State University, where he was director of the Delta Music Institute,a center for music industry studies focused on educating students in the technological, business, and creative areas of the music industry.

Once enrolled at Delta State, another music instructor influenced Liz’s life and career path. She received a music scholarship and was a member of “Renaissance” a popular vocal and instrumental ensemble led by Gene Ayers.

“Gene Ayers probably had the greatest influence on Liz during her time at Delta State,” said Davis. “She absolutely loved to perform and ‘Renaissance’ gave her the opportunity.”

Another instructor who recognized Liz’s talent was current Director of the Delta Music Institute Tricia Walker. “I taught Liz in a song writing class and her focus was very evident even as a student,” said Walker. “Having spent over 25 years in the music business, I believe Liz’s natural ability and instinct will take her a long way in the music industry.”

In the fall of 2006 Liz Davis left Delta State to pursue a career in music full time.

“Liz felt in her heart it was time to make the move and we supported her,” said Davis. “Even so, our whole family has fond memories and we love Delta State.”

For now, Liz Davis is back in Nashville. “She’s waiting to go to New York to sign her contract with Bad Boy/Interscope records,” said Mom. “This opens the door to a world of possibilities and we couldn’t be more proud or excited.”

Here's a shout out to all our friends along the Mississippi Gulf Coast! DMI's premier soul band, Ol' Skool Revue, is headed your way for three shows this Friday and Saturday. The band is looking for opportunities to meet high school students out there who may have an interest in the Delta Music Institute, a recording arts and music industry program here at Delta State University. Here's the info:

Friday during the lunch hour (11 am-1:15pm) the band will be performing at Ocean Springs High School.

Friday evening around 6 pm the band will be performing outside the Biloxi High football stadium before the Biloxi-Harrison Central game.

Saturday morning at 11:30 am the band will be the opening act for the 5th Annual Ocean Springs Music Festival...check out their link at www.oceanspringsmusic.com.

Saturday afternoon, DMI instructors Mike Iacopelli, Barry Bays, and Tricia Walker will be giving three music biz mini-workshops, free of charge, at the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Center at Ocean Springs. Here's the site for the Mary C: www.themaryc.org

We'll be looking for you out on the road! Sign up on our website at dmi.deltastate.edu so we can stay in touch...spread the word!

You never know what will happen when you strike up a conversation with someone...

On a recent trip to an arts conference, DMI Director Tricia Walker took her seat on the airplane by a kind woman with a contagious smile. Conversation ensued, and the lady turned out to be a freelance writer by the name of Jerre Repass. She writes about African-American history, and she also produces a short radio feature for Arkansas public radio called "Come Away With Me." She has graciously allowed us to use her piece on the DMI blog...enjoy!

JERRE REPASS

ON THIS WEEK’S EDITION OF COME AWAY WITH ME, TRAVEL WRITER JERRE REPASS LEARNS A LESSON ON A PLANE.

WE’VE VISITED A FEW RECORDING STUDIOS DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS, AND I MUST SAY, ANYTIME BEFORE NOON IS PRETTY IFFEY AS FAR AS FINDING ANYONE AWAKE. THE ARTISTIC TEMPERMENT BEING WHAT IT IS, IT SEEMS THE EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES OF THE REST OF US ARE DIFFICULT FOR MUSICIANS. AS COMMON AS MAKING MONEY SEEMS TO BE LOSING MONEY – AND MANY A MUSICIAN HAS ENDED HIS LIFE DESTITUTE.

BUT THAT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THE CASE. ON A RECENT PLANE TRIP, MY SEATMATE WAS TRICIA WALKER, DIRECTOR OF THE DELTA MUSIC INSTITUTE, PART OF DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, IN CLEVELAND, MISSISSIPPI.

WE PLAYED A LITTLE SOUTHERN CHESS, “WHO DO YOU KNOW THAT I MIGHT KNOW,” DISCOVERING WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE AN ACQUAINTANCE IN COMMON, A PROLIFIC ALABAMA SONGWRITER. THEN SHE TOLD ME HOW YOUNG ASPIRING MUSICIANS ARE GIVEN MORE THAN MUSICAL THEORY AND PRACTICE ROOMS IN HER SCHOOL.

WALKER EXPLAINED THAT THE MISSION OF THE INSTITUTE IS TO PROVIDE A THOROUGH EDUCATION, NOT JUST IN THE CREATIVE AND TECHNOLOGICAL BUT ALSO IN THE BUSINESS AND LEGAL AREAS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.

THAT ADDRESSES A REALLY FUNDAMENTAL NEED FOR PEOPLE IN THE CREATIVE ARTS WHO NORMALLY ARE MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN WRITING AND PLAYING THAN THEY ARE IN MARKETING, INVESTING AND PROTECTING!

SHE WHIPPED OUT A COURSE LISTING PAGE AND I WAS AMAZED TO SEE CLASSES OFFERED IN SCORING FOR FILM, THEATER, AND THE DIGITAL MEDIA. HOW CUTTING EDGE TO BE TEACHING SOUND DESIGN!

OF COURSE MUSICAL HISTORY IS FULL OF PERFORMERS WHO DIDN’T READ A LICK OF MUSIC, OR AS ONE NASHVILLE MUSICIAN EXPLAINED TO ME ONCE, “NOW I DON’T READ ENOUGH MUSIC TO HURT MY PLAY’N!” THE MUSIC INSTITUTE ADDRESSES THAT HANDICAP STRAIGHT ON WITH CLASSES TEACHING THE FUNDAMENTALS IN BOTH READING AND WRITING MUSIC.
ANOTHER CLASS ON THE CRAFT OF SONGWRITING IS ‘WAY MORE THAN A COLD ANALYSIS OF MUSIC. INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS LEARN THE USUAL FORM AND STRUCTURE, BUT THEIR OWN CREATIVITY IS ALSO NURTURED AND THEIR PERSONAL CREATIVITY ENHANCED. STUDENTS GET A TASTE OF THE REAL WORLD OF WRITING TOO. THEIR OWN SONGS ARE CRITIQUED IN CLASS. WELCOME TO THE POWER OF THE EDIT!

THE INSTITUTE IS A FAIRLY NEW KID ON THE BLOCK, BEGUN WITH A GENEROUS DONATION IN 2003. STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM CAN EARN EITHER A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES DEGREE OR A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN MUSIC DEGREE EMPHASIZING MUSIC PRODUCTION.

LARGE RECORDING FACILITIES ON CAMPUS CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO 150 MUSICIANS AT A TIME. UP TO DATE EQUIPMENT ALLOWS OTHER STUDENTS TO LEARN THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF RECORDING, HOW TO MIX, EDIT AND CREATE IN THE DIGITAL ARENA.

ANYONE WHO HAS VISITED A BLUES FESTIVAL UP AND DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA KNOWS THERE IS A RICH HERITAGE TO BE TAPPED. MANY MUSICIANS OF EARLIER YEARS SURELY HAD THEIR SHARE OF BRUISES THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. MUSICAL STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED NOT TO FORGET THE HISTORY OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE, COMBINING THOSE EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR OWN TO CREATE ANEW. MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT http://dmi.deltastate.edu. THIS IS JERRE REPASS. COME AWAY WITH ME.

DMI graduate Cole Furlow, from the band Dead Gaze, has released a new video titled, "Back and Forth." Congrats, Cole!

DEAD GAZE - Back and Forth from DEAD GAZE on Vimeo.

Ol' Skool Revue, the Delta Music Institute's R&B/Soul/Funk/Blues band, performed last week as the opening act for Blind Mississippi Morris at the world famous Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi...good food, good groove, good times!