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From left, Tricia Walker, singer and songwriter and director of the Delta Music Institute (DMI), accompanies award winning singer-songwriter Patti Ryan, as Duff Durrough, bandleader for Thacker Mountain Radio’s house band, The Yalobushwhackers, provides musical backing. Ryan was performing one of the most successful country hits of all time, “Looking for Love,” which she co-wrote with Wanda Mallette and musician Bob Morrison. Ryan has two American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, (ASCAP) Pop Awards, 15 ASCAP Country Awards, a Tony nomination, and two Grammy nominations.

Ryan, along with singer-songwriters George Jackson and Troy Jones, and the Yalobushwackers were featured in the live broadcast of Thacker Mountain Radio as a part of the DMI Anniversary Celebration held March 6.

Also included in the DMI Anniversary Celebration was the Mississippi Writers Roundtable for literary artists with a keynote address by Mississippi native, mystery writer and 2010 Harper Lee Award winner Carolyn Haines. The Writers Roundtable was sponsored by The Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC), Mississippi Humanities Council, SonEdna Foundation, Inc., Delta Music Institute, and Delta State University, in celebration of the “Year of the Arts.”

The Thacker Mountain Radio show was taped in Studio A of the DMI, housed in historic Whitfield Building on the Delta State campus.

Award winning singer-songwriters George Jackson, Troy Jones and Patti Ryan will be the featured songwriters during the live broadcast of Thacker Mountain Radio as part of the Delta Music Institute (DMI) Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, March 6 at 3 p.m. in Studio A of the DMI in the historic Whitfield Building on the Delta State University campus.

In addition to the radio show, Jones and Ryan will perform a Songwriter’s Show the evening of March 6, at 7:30 p.m. in Studio A. Jones and Ryan will be joined by DMI Director Tricia Walker, who spent over 25 years in Nashville as a performer and songwriter before returning to Delta State University in 2006 to lead the DMI program.

Born in Port St. Joe, Florida, Jones worked in the cotton mills of Alabama for over 20 years before trying his hand as a songwriter in Nashville. He commutes weekly to Music City to write as a staff songwriter for Carnival Music Publishing, while maintaining his home in Alabama with his wife, three children, and a dog named Buster. Jones’ songs have been recorded by Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Joe Nichols, Billy Currington, and many more.

Jones’ most recent hits include “Shiftwork” by Kenny Chesney and the smash hit, “People Are Crazy,” by Billy Currington, which was #1 on the Billboard charts for two weeks. He also performs in the comedy stage play, “Toe Roasters,” with fellow songwriters Bryan Kennedy and Wynn Varble.

Mississippi native Patti Ryan grew up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, graduated from the Mississippi University for Women, then began a career in teaching while performing on the weekends in a musical group with her brothers. Ryan’s, colleague Wanda Mallette, and musician Bob Morrison co-wrote one of the most successful country hits of all time, “Lookin’ For Love,” which held the #1 chart position for three weeks and launched country singer Johnny Lee’s career in the movie Urban Cowboy. “Lookin’ For Love” was also featured in the Broadway show “Menopause, The Musical.” In addition to that standard, she wrote additional hits “Americana” for Moe Bandy, “Just Another Woman In Love” for Anne Murray, and “Out Of Your Shoes” for Lorrie Morgan. Ryan has two ASCAP Pop Awards, 15 ASCAP Country Awards, a Tony nomination, and two Grammy nominations. She moved to Nashville in 1984, where she continues to work as a songwriter. She is looking forward to the release of her upcoming book,” An Intimate Look At Songwriting.”

Born in Greenville, George Jackson started recording for Ike Turner’s record label in 1963. He journeyed to Muscle Shoals, Ala., to work at Fame Recording Studio, where he became a staff songwriter and wrote such hits as "One Bad Apple," which was #1 for five weeks on the pop charts for the Osmond Brothers in early 1971. During the mid-'80s, Jackson joined Malaco Records as a staff songwriter where he penned the classic blues song, “Down Home Blues” for Z.Z. Hill. He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2000. Jackson’s most recognizable hit is “Old Time Rock And Roll,” which has been recorded countless times, most notably by rocker Bob Seger.

The Songwriter’s Show is free and open to the public.

For more information on the DMI Anniversary Celebration, please call (662) 846-4579 or visit dmi.deltastate.edu.

Friends and students are mourning the loss of a beloved music instructor in Winona.

Patti Finley, 50, died Thursday at a Memphis hospital.

Finley, an elementary school music teacher, was with the Winona Show Choir on Feb. 2, when the group recorded "Rise Above" at the Delta Music Institute at Delta State University. The choir is comprised of students from kindergarten through 12th grade in the Winona School District. It is preparing a demo to be considered in a Kennedy Center Honors program, which will including a trip to Washington, D.C., and a visit with President Obama.

During an interview that day, Finley said she had been told to, "get my things in order." She wasn't expected to live long enough to see the completion of the project.

Friends say she denied chemotherapy in recent weeks so she could continue working with the choir.

Before Finley's death, the choir returned to DSU to record the video portion of the package that will be submitted to the Kennedy Center.

On Wednesday, she was taken to a Memphis hospital for treatment. She died there on Thursday.

Funeral arrangements were pending Friday at Oliver Funeral Home, Winona.




Patti Finley, seated in DMI Studio A, directs the Winona Show Choir during the recording of her original song, "Rise Above."

The Winona Show Choir from Winona, Mississippi, performs "Rise Above" during a recording session in Studio A at Delta Music Institute, Delta State University. The children are from the Winona Public School District. The song was written by the program director Patti Corley (DSU '82). The choir is competing for a spot as a Kennedy Center School of Distinction. If chosen, the students will visit the nation's capitol and have an opportunity to meet the President of the United States.

Indie pop band Colour Academy recently recorded several sessions for their upcoming project in Studio A and Studio B of the Delta Music Institute. Thanks to Cliff and the guys for choosing the DMI studios for their project....they were great to work with and we wish them all the best! Check out the video the band shot in the studios...and check the band out at www.myspace.com/colouracademy. Rock on!

Cloudchase, pop/rock/acoustic band based in Nashville, TN stopped by the Delta Music Institute for a quick tour today after their performance at the Nowell Student Union on the Delta State campus. Zak and Erin Sparks entertained an enthusiastic noontime audience with their original songs from the band's new CD, "That's Love." Check 'em out at www.myspace.com/cloudchase.

Norbert Putnam, former director of the Delta Music Institute and designer of the DMI Studios, was recently recognized at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum as a part of the popular series Nashville Cats: A Celebration of Music City Musicians.

The quarterly series honors Nashville musicians. Taking place in the museum's Ford Theater, the 90-minute program includes a brief performance from Putnam and a one-on-one interview highlighted by vintage recordings, photos and film clips.

"I'm greatly honored to be included with an amazing group of players who have (been a part of Nashville Cats series)," Putnam said.

Putnam's legacy extended beyond playing his bass to also producing songs and albums out of the Quadrafonic Studio he built with friend David Briggs in 1970.

Among the artists and albums he's produced, Jimmy Buffet's "Margaritaville" and Dan Fogelberg and Joan Baez's "The Night They Drove Ole Dixie Down" have combined to sell more than 40 million albums.

Putnam's playing can be heard on recordings by artists ranging from Ray Stephens to Henry Mancini to The Porter Sisters and his favorite - Elvis Presley, "who gave it his all" on every recording.

Over a nearly four-year period, the Cats series has recognized musical legends such as bassist Bob Moore and Don Helms, who played steel guitar for Hank Williams.

Putnam's career is noteworthy because of his impact on the musical scene, from being a studio musician to producing and publishing, said Bill Lloyd, who will host the program that will be kept in archives.

"I enjoy getting to talk shop with these great players like (Putnam)," Lloyd said. "It's a great way to document their stories as well as do a public program. We try to hit almost all the high points of their career and try to make it fun and informative at the time."

(Posted from the Jackson Sun)

Congrats, Norbert!

Here's the link to a great interview by award-winning producer Daniel Lanois...insightful...

http://blog.discmakers.com/2009/10/Nothing-Is-Sacred/

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.

Enjoy!

Here are some wonderful alumni members of the Delta State class of 1958 at last year's Homecoming celebration. They joined together in Ol' Whitfield, now DMI Studio A, to sing and record the DSU alma mater. They did a great job, don't you think?