Michael Murphy's Blog, page 13
August 6, 2012
Freedom…freedom…freedom…freedom…
The story of how Richie Havens came to perform his signature Woodstock song, “Freedom” is the stuff of legends, one of the many Woodstock legends.
Richie Havens memorable Woodstock performance
Friday, August 15, 1969 the Woodstock music festival had gotten off to a slow start, or more accurately, no start. Several hours after the festival was to begin, scheduled opening acts were still blocked from arriving due to the massive traffic jam. With 400,000 impatient fans, festival organizers talked a reluctant Richie Havens into performing first.
He was encouraged to perform a lengthy set, and with few options, organizers talked him repeatedly into returning to the stage. After performing for nearly three hours, he’d exhausted all the songs he knew. When he was asked to return to the stage one more time, he improvised a song that defined him to a generation and made famous by the 1970 documentary, Woodstock. Havens song was based on the old spiritual “Motherless Child.” Looking out over the crowd he improvised by singing ”Freedom” repeatedly.
As he explained later, “When you see me in the movie tuning my guitar and strumming, I was actually trying to figure out what else I could possibly play! I looked out at all of those faces in front of me and the word “freedom” came to mind.”
Richie Havens’s Woodstock performance was a major career changer. After Woodstock started his own record label, Stormy Forest, and produced his first album Stonehenge. Later in 1970 came the album Alarm Clock which included his version of George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun.”
He appeared on popular television shows including the Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. During the 1980s and 1990s, Havens continued to tour the world and release albums. In 1993 he performed at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton. In 2003, the National Music Council awarded Havens the American Eagle Award for his place as part of America’s musical heritage, and for providing “a rare and inspiring voice of eloquence, integrity and social responsibility.”
In 2012 Richie Havens retired after 45 years of performing due to health reasons. But his music lives on, nut just in Woodstock history, but in American music history as one of the giants.
The post Freedom…freedom…freedom…freedom… appeared first on Goodbye Emily.
August 2, 2012
Obtaining Publicity for your book
Stop by as I share five tips that have helped me obtain interviews in daily newspapers, radio and television as part of an overall marketing and promotion campagn.
Michael
August 1, 2012
Joan Baez Closes Day One of Woodstock
Woodstock didn’t define Joan Baez as an artist, she helped define Woodstock. Neither a husband in prison for draft evasion, being pregnant, or the rain, was going to stop Joan Baez from closing day one at Woodstock.
Joan Baez closed day one at Woodstock
When Joan Baez took the stage, she’d established herself as a successful folk singer/songwriter and political activist for a decade. She just didn’t sing about peace, social activism, civil and workers rights, she’s lived those principles from an early age. In 1963 Baez led the singing of We Shall Overcome, at Martin Luther King’s famous March on Washington where he proclaimed, “I have a dream.” She was one of the earliest protesters against the Vietnam war. In 1968 she married activist and draft resister, David Harris, and spoke about his imprisonment on stage at Woodstock.
We Shall Overcome at the 1963 March on Washington
Fifty-two years after her first album, Baez still tour with her ageless music and soprano voice. She continues to blend music and social activism, whether protesting against landmines, campaigning for the environment, or war. Fortunately for us she still performs and is currently in the middle of a tour of Europe. My favorite Joan Baez quotes best explains her life. “You don’t get to choose how you’re going to die. Or when. You can decide how you’re going to live now.”
Trivia question: Joan Baez was one of three female solo acts to perform at Woodstock. A second is Janis Joplin. Who was the third? Find the answer to that and other Woodstock questions on my website.
Next featured artist? The roads were packed on day one at Woodstock. The scheduled opening acts weren’t able to get in because the roads were blocked. Organizers sought out volunteers and talked one man into reluctantly opening Woodstock. Who was he?
The post Joan Baez Closes Day One of Woodstock appeared first on Goodbye Emily.
July 27, 2012
Woodstock Today
Like the characters in my novel Goodbye Emily who return to the original site of Woodstock, you too can go there. If you didn’t make it to Yasgur’s farm in ’69 (or if you did) and you’d like to experience what it was like, plan a visit to the Woodstock Museum. A Woodstock museum, how cool is that!
Photo courtesy of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.
The museum uses film, interactive displays, text panels and artifacts to tell the story of the sixties. There’s a photo gallery, theater, shop, cafe, classrooms and outdoor terrace stage.
Photo courtesy of Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.
The Museum at Bethel Woods is part of the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, which houses concert and performance venues as well as the historic festival bowl of the 1969 festival. Bob Dylan, Kid Rock, Stevie Nicks, Country Joe McDonald, Elton John are just some of the top acts who’ve played Woodstock. Coming in August is Joe Cocker, Huey Lewis and the News and Brad Paisley.
Whether you come for the music of the present or the past, browse the gift shop, soak up the atmosphere or to experience where it all began, it’s not too late this summer for a roadtrip back to Woodstock. I know I’m planing mine, but it won’t be until April.
I had to pause on my look back at Woodstock to talk about the fabulous museum and center for performing arts. August 15 is the 43rd anniversary of the Woodstock Music Festival.
Next I’ll feature one of just three women solo performers who performed at Woodstock and her performance is mentioned in my novel. Hint? She was pregnant at the time.
And if you’d like some more Woodstock trivia, I’ve posted them on my author website.
The post Woodstock Today appeared first on Goodbye Emily.
July 22, 2012
What Woodstock performer would you like featured?
The 43rd anniversary of Woodstock is coming up in three weeks. Hope you’re enjoying some of the great artists I’ve featured, Country Joe McDonald, Wavy Gravy and Arlo Guthrie.
As you can tell, I’m not following the order of appearance at Woodstock. I thought I’d let the followers of the blog determine who I should feature next? Drop me a comment and I’ll get to work.
I’ve posted more Woodstock trivia on my website. Includes my favorite Woodstock trivia question: What Oscar-winning director worked as a film editor on the 1970 documentary Woodstock.
Speaking of movies, the Wavy Gravy documentary Saint Misbehavin’ is available on DVD. If you haven’t seen it, check it out. We must have been in heaven, man!
The post What Woodstock performer would you like featured? appeared first on Goodbye Emily.
My Goodbye Emily/Woodstock blog
So far I've stuck to day one and featured Country Joe McDonald, Wavy Gravy and Arlo Guthrie. With the 43rd anniversary of Woodstock coming up I'd like to feature your favorites. Leave me a comment and let me know.
July 14, 2012
Goodbye Emily blog
Michael
July 8, 2012
Goodbye Emily
If you'd like to find out what Country Joe McDonald and Wavy Gravy said about Goodbye Emily, or read an excerpt from the novel, you'll find it there.
Hope you'll take a look. Goodbye Emily blog.
May 10, 2012
How to obtain lyric rights for your work
Before seeking licensing rights to use the material, make sure you’ve identified the actual title, the writer, and the recording artist. Permission is usually granted by the publisher. If you don't know the publisher, there are two general sources where you're likely to obtain the information, ASCAP, www.ascap.com and BMI, www.bmi.com. Both have websites with database searches where the publisher can be found by searching the title, writer, or recording artist.
Once you identify the publisher, contact them via email or in some cases by completing an online form. The publisher will ask several questions, how many books will be printed or sold, the name of the novel, author, publisher and the territory where the book will be sold. You'll probably be asked to provide copies of pages where the lyric will appear.
Cost of obtaining permission is based on the information you provide, but primarily on how much of the song lyric will be used and the number of books sold.
Permission to use music for a book trailer, that's called synchronization rights. That is a separate but similar process
Whether you use a song lyric in your novel is an artistic decision. If you choose to go ahead, I hope this information has been helpful.
Michael Murphy
Good-bye, Emily
They met at Woodstock, and their love lasted a lifetime. Heartbroken but determined, he calls on his two best friends to help him return to where it all began. One last roadtrip. One last chance to say Good-bye, Emily.
http://www.koehlerbooks.com/2012/05/k....
May 1, 2011
Scorpion Bay book launch
It was wonderful meeting in person people I've only known through Facebook, Goodreads or Twitter. And I made plenty of new friends who'd heard about the event through the media.
Special thanks to my wife Jennie and our good friend Jane who helped me get ready for and enjoy the event. They both made it so special.
The release of a novel is a wonderful feeling for an author. My day, my launch party, was made even more special by friends and family who shared a special moment with me yesterday.
