The Songbook Highway

40 Forever: Academy Awards of Children’s Literature

Chris LeRoy — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:45:27 +0000

The Academy Awards of Children’s Literature

Here are a few of the big winners of the ALA Youth Media Awards which were announced this morning:

Sweet, Melissa. Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011. Print.

Caldecott Medal:

Raschka, Christopher. A Ball for Daisy.
New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2011. Print.

Newbery Medal:

Gantos, Jack. Dead End in Norvelt. New York:
Farrar Straus Giroux, 2011. Print.

Belpré Medals:

McCall, Guadalupe G. Under the Mesquite. New York: Lee & Low Books, 2011. Print.

Tonatiuh, Duncan, and Diego Rivera. Diego Rivera: His World and Ours. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2011. Print.

King Medals:

Nelson, Kadir. Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans.
New York: Balzer + Bray, 2011. Print.

Evans, Shane. Underground. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2011. Print.

Geisel Medal:

Schneider, Josh. Tales for Very Picky Eaters. New York: Clarion Books, 2011. Print.

Posted by Rebecca Hickman at 9:06 PM

EVENTS: Etta James

Chris LeRoy — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 04:42:11 +0000

In 1961, I was 6 and remember being drawn to a new song with piano triplets on my transistor radio. This was Etta James, and she unhinged me with her first two climbing notes, “At laaaaaaaaaaaast.”

Those two notes were my invitation to the blues. Instantly, I was in love with that blue sound, and this powerful woman. Certainly those mysterious notes were seeds planted for a songwriting future. Surely to reduce her incredible career to two notes is a travesty, but has there ever been two words in music history that said so much? Thank you, Etta

Chris LeRoy

Paul Adams Listening Theme 66: Drummers!

Chris LeRoy — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:48:47 +0000

Listening Theme 66: Drummers
by Paul Adams on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 5:58am
Hi, and a belated Happy New Year to you all.

I thought I’d start a new Listening Theme year with a bang and have a theme celebrating some of our great drummers, past and present, any genre – rock, jazz, you name it.

Just recommend your favourite drummers and some examples of their best work and I’ll add them to my playlist and listen to an album or two.

Looking forward to your suggestions.
Cheers, Paul

Trixie Picks! David Lowery Can’t Talk About Music All Day

Chris LeRoy — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:07:32 +0000

‘I just can’t spend all day talking about music’ An interview with David Lowery of Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven….

Written by Scott Allen

DRIVE BYES: Digital Wars Kill Kodak

Chris LeRoy — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:10:15 +0000

Kodak bankruptcy: Photographers mourn

By Maura Judkis

When a brand whose name is nearly synonymous with photography prepares to file for bankruptcy, photographers, naturally, are a bit upset.

Photographers mourn Kodak bankruptcy http://t.co/zVuiUdNp

THE SPIRIT THAT BRINGS US HERE: Chris LeRoy and Friends!

Chris LeRoy — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:37:29 +0000

This solo album is packed with fine songs, but it could not exist without music friends Bob Vennum, Tony Fate, Brad Vaughn, Art Shindele, Tim Loughlin, Chad Villareal, Judy Davis and a whole lotta Lisa Nemetz. A tragic tune lovefest… Chris

Help out a brotha and purchase CD or download at…. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/chrisleroy or

http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/chris-leroy/id468910976?uo=4

Vanessa Franko thinks…

“The Spirit That Brings Us Here”

Redlands’ Chris LeRoy is one of the areas hidden songwriting treasures. He’s a part of The Mighty Grasshoppers and The Dangers and so many other great music-making projects, but his latest solo effort holds its own with tracks such as “Crawl” and “Peace Breaks Out!”

On the web: www.songbookhighway.com

from FRANKO’S FAVES

MORST’S PICKS: Number meta 4 (out of order but range free)

Chris LeRoy — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:55:52 +0000

Acffh Morst

Morst’s Top 5 countdown of top 5 countdowns!

It’s a meta-countdown.

Number 4 – Top 5 NEW ALBUMS of 2011 – I saw WAY more concerts than I heard new albums, so this is pretty easy

David Lowery – The Palace Guards

Middle Brother – Middle Brother

Dawes- Nothing Is Wrong

Hickman-Dalton Gang- Vol II

Jonathan Segel – Apricot Jam / All Attractions

Hon mention cause I have not heard it yet (must see miles live to buy vinyl & save shipping!)
Miles Nielsen Presents The Rusted Hearts

LISTEN TO THE BAND: from free BLUE WAGON EP

Chris LeRoy — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:47:06 +0000

From BLUE WAGON free EP

GoHappyNewYear123
Posted a new song: “On The Way Home: BLUE WAGON” http://bit.ly/v3ITOP

LISTEN TO THE BAND: Gerry’s TOP 5 PICKS!

Chris LeRoy — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:29:58 +0000

Gerry Petit de Mange

Hi Chris! My top five music venues for the Wilmington/Philly area are as follows: World Cafe’ “LIVE” at The Queen (Wilmington DE). TLA (Theatre Of Living Arts) in Philly, PA. World Cafe’ in Philly, PA. The Note in West Chester, PA and last, but not least, The Grand Opera House in Wilmington, DE!!!!

MORST’S PICKS: 3 0ut of Meta 5 Countdown! Got that?

Chris LeRoy — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:20:24 +0000

Morst’s Top 5 countdown of top 5 countdowns!

It’s a meta-countdown.

Number 3- Top 5 NEW SONGS of 2011 – so cruel to leave out the rest, but here are the survivors of my vigorous vetting process.

#5 – Crawl – Chris LeRoy – The Spirit That Brings Us Here

#4 – She’s A Peach – Jonathan Segel – All Attractions

#3 – You Got A Problem Hickman-Dalton Gang – Vol. II

#2 – Kit Kat Clock – The Bottle Rockets – Not So Loud: An Acoustic Evening With The Bottle Rockets

#1- Submarine – David Lowery – The Palace Guards

hon mention, for the timing of their innovative April 20th giveaway…

Let’s Toke The Whole Day Off – Hickman-Dalton Gang – Vol. II

And yes, I realize that my #2 is a previously published song, but it’s never been released as an acoustic track, and it really plays like a whole new song this way.