Rich Ridenour has had an impressive career. After studying music at the University of Michigan and Juilliard, he went on to perform around the country. But his greatest passion—spreading his enthusiasm for piano and music—is what drives his career. To perform around the country. He also arranges, tackling music ranging from classical to ragtime to rock ‘n’ roll. But his greatest passion—spreading his enthusiasm for piano and music—is what drives his career.
Last year Sergei Teleshev won the prestigious US Roland V-Accordion contest. This accordion competition, unlike many others, is open to anyone of any age, amateur or professional. In the initial rounds Teleshev played his own accordion, but the four finalists were provided the latest V-Accordion to play in the last round. “I had only four days to learn the V-Accordion,” says Teleshev.
“Russian folk music has rich melodies and harmonies,” explains Russian immigrant Sergei Teleshev who first came to the US to share his culture in 1996 when his group, Trio Veronezh, was invited to perform at the Oregon Bach Festival in Eugene, Oregon. The trio relocated permanently to the US in 2000 and spends most of the year touring and teaching audiences about Russian folk music traditions.
Jason Matthews moved to Nashville in 1995 to follow his dream of becoming a songwriter. His first big hit was “That’s Just Jesse” recorded by Kevin Denney in 2000. Today, Matthews is a full-time songwriter for Warner/Chappell and has written hit songs for many big name artists, including Billy Currington’s recording of “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right,” Luke Bryan’s “Muckalee Creek Water,” and Trace Adkins’ “Tough People Do.”
Growing up, Joy Collins never wanted to do anything but sing. Her father, who was in the military, was a gospel singer. He taught Collins and her sisters to sing harmony. “I would make my sisters be Louise and Irlene, and I was Barbara [Mandrell], and we would have little talent shows in front of my parents and their friends,” says Collins.
The corporate world and the rock world are not as dissimilar as one might think. Being a CEO, or even managing a staff of employees, can be a lot like leading a band. The parallels between the two are indisputable. Charting a direction, team building, hiring and firing, and communicating ideas are all equally applicable job-related concepts whether you’re the head of a company, a department, or a band. Stu Kemper of Dublin, Ohio, and Ozzy Nelson of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, are both bandleaders and bosses at their companies.
By day, members of Lenox Underground run law firms, head marketing companies, and raise families. The seven bandmates, ranging in age from 49 to 59, juggle the responsibilities of life, while having fun in a band. And beyond all that—they give back every cent they make from gigs to their charity, the Lenox Underground Foundation, […]
Stephen Lynch Explains Why Music Came First By Cherie Yurco In 2012 Stephen Lynch launched his fifth album, Lion, and a tour that’s brought him across the US and all around the UK, where he wound up 2013. Lion is acoustic guitar, catchy duets, and hilariously clever, but sometimes slightly off-color, lyrics. Here he explains […]
rammy-nominated singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb launched into the spotlight in 1994 with her platinum-selling, number one hit song “Stay (I Missed You)” from the Ben Stiller-directed film Reality Bites
This is a continuation of the Q&A from the online story … Patrick Jason Matthews: A Day in the Life of a Nashville Songwriter Did you start out working as a full-time songwriter when you arrived here? No, I have a college degree to teach English, but I didn’t want anything that had any responsibility […]