Donna Beasley: News

I am a finalist for a 2008 Independent Music Award for Americana Album of the Year. Please log onto www.independentmusicawards.com, follow the "jukeboxes" link, "hear and rate the finalists", then "view album finalists" (left side of page) to rate my CD and help me win the Jukebox vote!

This contest is sponsored by the Music Resource Group who publishes the Musician's Atlas. Artists who receive their awards are promoted to radio, journalists, performance venues, etc. through print, the internet, and compilation CDs. This is WAY more valuable than simply winning a cash prize which would, no doubt, be spent by the artist on promoting their product!

The fan rating/voting system is a separate contest where the winners of the popular vote receive similar promotion as the winners of the actual contest who are chosen by their panel of judges. So, if you have a minute, visit their site and give me a good rating!

Thanks so much for your support!
Donna

I've started my "official" submission to radio, about 100 stations or so, in the U.S. and abroad. I've unofficially (whatever that means - nothing in my case) submitted to a few stations already and received a little play. But I have been waiting on press to make the blanket submission. I'm going with what I've got, press-wise, and getting this CD out there! Wish me luck!

If anyone is aware of any play I'm getting in the next few months, send me an email to the address under "contact". Thanks, friend!!

Well, if seeing Loretta Lynn sing "Coal Miner's Daughter" in a flaming red dress on the Opry while standing on the side of the stage...or seeing Crystal Gale sing "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" on the stage I just walked off of wasn't enough to make my head spin of late, I had the ULTIMATE thrill of a lifetime this past Thursday. I FINALLY, FINALLY got to meet my all-time idol, Pat Benatar, and see her perform. Believe it or not, I had never seen her in concert.

I had bought 2 of Gaylord's vastly overpriced tickets for the Wildhorse Saloon months earlier. ($65 for an unreserved folding chair). Good thing though, because it sold out. My husband was there on official business (I could tell you but I'd have to kill you) so that's how we got backstage. SUCKA's!!! No...we were legit. He did conduct bid'ness. And, yes, believe it or not, I DID behave myself and did NOT salivate all over Ms. Benatar/Mrs. Giraldo.

She and Neil were GREAT, very nice, very approachable. I asked her if she "signs things" to which she replied "yes, I do". So, I am now the proud owner of a signed (Pat and Neil) LP album cover of "Precious Time".

The concert was AWESOME!!! Neil is an amazing guitar player, lots of fun to watch too. Pat sounds great! My fantasy concert would be one of mostly album cuts. She has so many great songs that were not singles. But she mainly did her biggest hits. I enjoyed hearing some of those live more than I expected. I mean, I really don't need to hear "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" AGAIN. But hearing it and seeing it live is, well, a moment. Neil played the solo almost note for note, which is cool, I think. That solo, and so many of his others, are integral parts of those songs. If he strayed, it'd be like Pat not singing the melody. So, while I'm sure he'd like to play something else, it's cool that he doesn't. Give the people what they want!!! Give the little buggers "Hit Me With Your Best Shot"!!!

I did get one sublime album cut moment when they did one of my all-time faves, "Painted Desert" from the "Tropico" record. WOW, of all the album cuts to do...that song has always knocked me out.

They did a CMT Crossroads in Nashville a couple years back. It was Pat and Martina McBride. So, as anticipated, Martina came out towards the end of the show and sang on "Promises in the Dark".

As y'all may or may not know, I cover one of Pat's songs, written by Neil, "We Live For Love". That was from her first record, "In the Heat of the Night" and I wanted it on my first record. I had planned to give them a copy, but the timing didn't seem right. So, I'll still work on getting that to them. Maybe they'll give it a listen, and maybe like it. Or not.

What an amazing night I had. I can't even tell ya. I wouldn't be singing if I hadn't seen that woman on tv, and hadn't bought every one of those records, devoured and digested them. I often get compliments on my vocal range. What can I say? It comes from singing to all those Pat Benatar records over and over and over. Sure, there were many other female singers before and during that time period. But she's the one that struck a nerve in me.

I just love that woman.

I've been fortunate to either witness or be part of a couple of REALLY cool shows lately.

The first was an Elizabeth Cook Opry performance on a Saturday night show which featured Loretta Lynn. It was a privilege and an honor to stand on the side of the stage and watch Ms. Lynn perform "Coal Miner's Daughter" on the Grand Ole' Opry in a flaming red dress!!! Especially since I had just watched the movie "Coal Miner's Daughter" for about the hundredth time on the very same day.

I had also watched "Walk the Line" for about the 20th time the same week and was a little awe-struck to see John Carter Cash hanging out backstage as well. I'm smart enough to know that a Hollywood version of someone's life is only a shallow representation of the real thing. But I'm still goofy enough to be impressed by it all.

I was fortunate to meet the famous Lynn twins, Patsy and Peggy, who had their own band called The Lynns for which my husband played guitar. Very nice ladies, both of them. As they both stood chatting with John Carter Cash, it struck me how as children of Country/Americana music icons they are members of an elite club. They have paid some heavy dues, no doubt.

Then, a week or two later I sang backing vocals for Elizabeth at a charity event featuring performances by some seasoned Opry performers like Connie Smith, Jan Howard, Brenda Lee, and Jeannie Sealy, and Pam Tillis. The highlight of that evening was watching Crystal Gale perform "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" and a couple other songs she absolutely sang the heck out of! (The other highlight was being offered pizza by Marty Stewart, which I politely declined but was glad to be asked just the same.)

I have to say, neither Loretta nor Crystal have lost a THING since their heyday as hit makers and chart-toppers.

I was quite pleased with myself as I was told by Vince Gill's backup singer "Boy, you sure do sing high"!

Two great nights, several great performances, a couple of indelible memories. Thanks to EC for inviting me along to the party, once again.

I am really looking forward to my gig tonight at The Family Wash, opening for Kylie Harris. You can check my calendar for the details.

I will have some fabulous people backing me up -- Tom Spaulding on guitar, Steve Mackey on bass, and Marco Giovino on drums. WOW, I am so fortunate to have a lineup like that!!!

It's going to be one long day of anticipation.

It's 101 degrees at 8 o'clock in the p.m. That's what I call hot. I had to wait for 20 minutes outside today to catch a shuttle out of downtown Nashville. Toasty, it was. The poor ole' stray cat that usually passes through the yard offering little more than a quiet "meow" has been complaining loudly and begging for food and water. I think it's just too darn hot for her to get out and hunt down the major staple of her diet - those cute little backyard birdies we also feed. Hmmm, no wonder she likes to eat THEM, we're fattening 'em up for slaughter. At least they go to meet their maker on full bellies. What can ya do?

Fun gig last night. Click on "show past dates" on my Calendar page for the recap.

Stay cool.

So, what happens when you make an independent record...it's finished, you've got your 2000 copies sitting in boxes at your house...what's next?

BOOK GIGS. "How hard can that be"? If you are an unknown artist and don't have a ton of peeps who will show up every gig, then gigs are tricky, especially in a major music center like Nashville. Bar owners need to sell drinks. Musicians who play with you need to be paid, even though, many times, YOU get paid nothing. I guess that's why they call 'em the dues. So, I'm grateful when people like Elizabeth Cook and Chelle Rose ask me to sing backing vocals at their gigs and people like Kylie Harris ask me to open shows for her. And I am BLESSED to be encircled by so many of my husband's fabulous musician friends who bring their energy and talents to my recordings and my gigs. These things help venue owners to eventually say "Oh yeah, I've heard your name before".

"Hey, when will your CD be in stores"? In order for that to happen, an artist must have a distributor. If you're on a record label, they handle that. But there are marketing and distribution companies – independent of record labels - who sign artists to their rosters. Many people believe that the role of the record label has become greatly diminished with the birth of home recording studios. If you can make a record yourself, do you really need a label, or just a distributor with a good marketing plan?

"Uh, when will we hear your songs on the radio"? With the current state of the music industry, probably never. The people you hear on your car radio have record deals with major labels, or strong independent labels, thousands, maybe millions, of dollars have gone into their career (and their record). Mainstream radio is now dominated by major players.

Luckily for us all there's satellite radio, internet radio, podcasts (what else?) playing a greater variety than what the mainstream rock, pop, and country stations in the U.S. are offering. Gratefully, some of these folks are playing a few of my songs. And I haven't really submitted to radio yet. Because I'm waiting on…

PRESS!!! You GOT ta have somebody besides your mamma saying "this music doesn't suck". So, you submit, pray, follow up, pray, and review the publications daily to see if you struck gold – somebody wrote about you AND they said something nice. BE FOREWARNED!! Most of them won't write about you or even listen to your CD and, if they do, they may not give you a good review. OUCH…but my mamma liked it!!!

So, that's the kind of stuff you do, rather, that's the kind of stuff I'm doing. The way isn't always clear. But you just keep shooting up flares and hope someone sees them. And gives you a lift.

I'm a little behind, here. But I had a SUPER week the end of June. It started out with a bang, though.

I had a two day trip to Paris to join my husband on the road. Unfortunately, I went through travel H-E-L-L getting there. I flew into Miami (which seemed a weird way to go to Europe) in a storm. Upon landing, I learned that the airport was shut down due to weather. The plane sat on the tarmac for 2 hours for lack of a gate. The airport reopened, we sat. My plane to Paris left, we sat. The only other plane to Paris left while I stood in line for an agent. I was a whole 24 hours behind in leaving --no luggage all the while. There are many other sad details of my plight which I, mercifully, will not share.

Finally got there -- still no luggage. So, I was forced to buy hundreds of dollars worth of clothes in Paris. How sad is that??? Ok, maybe you're not feeling so sorry for me at this point.

However, once fate turned my way, it was m-o-n-e-y. At some point, everything became perfect -- all tentatively rescheduled plans, my husband's passport issues, our hotel room availability situation, the weather, the clothes...everything. I saw a terrific Aerosmith show, toured The Louvre, walked over the Seine to the Eiffle Tower, and, best of all, got to see my husband for the first time in 3 weeks. 48 hours in Paris.........a lifetime of wonderful memories. Can't wait to go back some day!!!!!!!

And to top it off, I get back and am informed that I made USA Today and XM Satellite Radio's Radar Unsigned while away. I will never doubt the gods again!! (At least, not until the next time I'm stuck in the same airport for 24 hours.)

Thanks to Billy Zero of XM Satellite Radio's Radar Report for playing me on their Radio Unsigned program this week. They reportedly receive 500 CD submissions per week. I'm second on the list of 12 bands played. Cool opportunity, cool people, cool bands! You can find them at:

www.radiounsigned.com

A really cool radio program/podcast has added me to their playlist. This one is out of the UK called The Miller Tells Her Tale. Check them out for details on the when's and who's and where-to-for's. Looks like their MySpace is their most up-to-date link.

Thanks to Karen Miller!

www.myspace.com/themillertellshertale www.themillertellshertale.com

I met some nice folks who have a cool website called www.musictogousa.com. They play music from independent artists like me. In fact, they play me! Looks like I'm number 9 on their chart.

The show airs on Saturday nights beginning at 7pm EST. You can visit the site and just listen to the music or you can set up a profile and chat. It only takes a minute to set up and you need only provide an email address. Bert and Ginny would love it if you logged on one Saturday night and requested a Donna Beasley song! Honest, they told me so!

Thanks to Ginny and Bert for all the work they, no doubt, put into such an endeavor just so people like me can be heard. That makes me get darn right teary!

For those who have the record, I'd really appreciate a short review of it on CD Baby. Once you go to my page, scroll to the bottom of the page, and click on "write a review". It may help others visiting my page decide whether or not to buy the CD.

Thanks for your help!!!

Steve Earle's Air America show mentioned earlier will air this Sunday, June 3rd. Check my previous blogs for the what-up on that.

Feeling bogged down with the everyday grind of WORKING a music career. That means, in this day and age, spending countless hours on the internet looking for Americana/Alt-Country/Roots Music magazines, radio stations, and supporters of various kinds. It's a little discouraging to send your CD to a magazine that reportedly gets 100 new CDs a week. Or to hear that a leading Americana magazine only reviews 5-10% of CDs submitted -- and divides those numbers between major label artists, indie label artists, and self-released CDs. Some days I'm determined. Some days I want to bury my head under the covers.

For an independent artist, "releasing" a CD is pretty anticlimactic. Yes, you're immensely grateful to call it finished and to hold it in your hands. But from there, you send it out to a bunch of industry people who, really, just don't care a whole lot. So, forgive me for feeling like I'm stabbing at an iceberg with a toothpick these days.

I must say thanks to those who've helped me thus far. And to be fair, I know that all these people are overwhelmed with music. They have their job...but I have mine too. I guess I need to get into that "it's not personal and it's all a game" mode of thinking. That always seems to help.

Hubby is gone to countries I've never heard of, assuming the role of bass tech for Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith. I've started a new part-time job working for "the man" again. So far, so good. I just want to get PAID!!! Am slowing healing from a root canal on a cracked tooth probably due to night-time teeth grinding. OUCH!!! So, I'm just generally out of sorts right now.

Thanks to my friends and supporters out there. Sorry for the puny attitude. And to all those overworked music reviewers, magazine editors, and radio program directors I say a big BLESS YOUR HEARTS.

They tell me the Air America show is going to air in 2 weeks. So, check it out June 10, 10pm est, 9:00 central on the show's website, http://www.airamerica.com/steveearleshow/
Check out my "calendar" and "show past dates" for a recap of last night's show at The Family Wash. I also posted a blog on MySpace, if you want to follow my link on the "links" page to get an even more animated recap. (I was pretty hyper when I posted the MySpace blog. Now, I just need a nap.)

I'm very excited to get a one-time play of my song "City of Devils" on Steve Earle's Air America show on XM Radio. Unfortunately, I don't know when it will air. But, if you're a listener of that program (Sunday nights at 10pm EST) then it will be on the show that features Elizabeth Cook as Steve's co-host. WOW...thanks to EC, Steve, and whoever else needs a thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity to reach MILLIONS of people...gulp! (Ouch...I just pinched myself.)

I was driving back home after a near dusk walk in the park and wondering "when are the lightning bugs coming?" Haven't seen any so far this year. I was also wondering if the mosquitoes are out yet. Only one way to test that. I did, and the answer is "yes." No lightning bugs, tho.

So, I went online and was reading about how they burrow underground during winter - guess they're still sleeping in their warm beds. I also read an interesting fact. There are only a couple of reported instances of lightning bugs lighting in unison. And one of these is in Elkmont, a gorgeous spot in the Smoky Mtns. This phenonmenon occurs the second week of June. Wish I could be up there in Elkmont camp ground to witness that!

My other lightning bug thought concerns a certain high profile country star with a recent album called "Fireflies." Besides the title track, the album features a song in which the artist lays claim to her Mississippi roots. Something that bugged me (no pun intended) about that record was her use of terminology. Wouldn't a southern, "Mississippi Girl" call 'em "lightning bugs" instead of "fireflies"? Seems a couple of online sources agreed with me on that one, stating that nearly 80% of Americans call them "lightning bugs" and that the term "fireflies" is mainly used on the Pacific coast and in the far north.

I guess I shouldn't let it "bug" me so much. Said artist wrote neither song. The songwriter on "Fireflies" is from Stoughton, MA (maybe they use the "F" word up there instead of "LB"). Further, "Mississippi Girl" was written by 2 guys - which, if I am not mistaken, automatically disqualifies them from being "Mississippi Girls" regardless of where they're from. I'll just file this under the catagory of often what-you-see-is-not-what-you-get, especially in here in Nashvegas.

Sure wish I'd see some lightning bugs, tho.

Thanks to Elizabeth for letting me be a small part of her fabulous CD release party last night. I sang backing vocals on 5 or 6 songs. Be sure to check her out on CMT, GAC, in this month's No Depression, in the Tennessean's Living section, and coming soon, in Rolling Stone. In fact, that darned Elizabeth is everywhere these days. She's an overnight sensation. And it only took her about 25 years to get there.

As far as my own press reviews that some have asked about, that is a longgg process. Most magazines only publish once a month. And there are about 50 million CDs sitting on the desks of most reviewers. I'm just now submitting (since I just now have a CD!) so my little CD is somewhere at the bottom of the stack, hoping like "the little engine that could" that it will get reviewed and nice things will be said. So, that's how that works. So stop asking me when I'm getting reviewed! Just kidding. You can ask all you want. The answer is still "I don't know."

Anyway, this post is about EC's show, which was great. I can now say I have shared a stage with Rodney Crowell. That was cool! Uh-oh, back to me again, it's always about ME. Well, it was a fun show and a room full of musicians, artists, and beautiful people. Lovely, lovely. A good time was had by all, including, yes, ME.

I have had a wonderful 5 days in Las Vegas, my first ever visit. My husband has been on tour in South America for the last several weeks. He's back in the U.S. now, with several days of "rest" at Mandalay Bay on the Strip, before tonight's show.

Our "rest" has included a hike of Fletcher Canyon in the Spring Mountains, walking the Strip, and strolling Bellagio, The Mirage, and Caesars Palace. Yesterday was topped off with the "The Beatles LOVE by Cirque Du Soleil" show - a wonderful birthday treat for me!

We're such huge Beatles fans and I had bought my husband the LOVE CD for Christmas, so it was almost transcendental to see such beautiful and creative intrepretations of this music. A friend managed to snag us second row tickets. It was a once in a lifetime experience. What can you do to top a night like that? How about see an Aerosmith show tonight? That might do it.

I never really had any desire to visit this town. I'm not a gambler, all the lights, smoke, and noise of casinos...not my thing. But everyone should visit Las Vegas at least once. Save up lots of mad money (forget gambling - by mad, I mean the madness of spending $8 for a bottle of water) and GO...ENJOY. See a show, hike a canyon. My head is turned ON. It's a beautiful thing.

I had a wonderful compliment today. My song "Rise Above" was included on a compilation CD a while back. From that, a therapist has begun using "Rise Above" at her Vanderbilt Hospital music therapy class. WOW! I was blown away by that!

When I decided to pursue a career in Psychology (short lived as it was) I did it because I had a desire to help people. Once I started writing songs about my life - struggles, sadness, insecurities, sometimes the good stuff too - I began to think that maybe I could help people through music as much or more than I ever did professionally in the psych field. Maybe I wasn't too far off base with that. Thanks to Terri Clement for letting me know that and for using my song! I am honored.

The CD is finally available! Wow, it has taken two years for me to be able to say that! Can I say it again? No, I think you get it. And, uh, I hope you will "get it." I hope lots of people "get it."

For an independent artist the challenge is to get your name out there and find people who are interested in what you have to offer. So, that laborious process begins now. But best not to look up at the mountain top when you're standing near the bottom. I'll just continue to take one step at a time. But forgive me for being proud of the GIANT step I just made. Now, hmmm, where to put all the boxes of CDs???

Welcome to my new website! It was fun to design. I have a little more control over this set up so that I can easily update it with news, musings, etc. I'll be adding more stuff later on. The record is brand spankin' new...so I'm still getting it to the press, still working on booking some shows, etc. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check back!