Volume 2, Issue #14

Jeff Creamer

Jeff Creamer is using his faith in God to spiritually touch people in countless ways. Whether its gospel songs, instrumental music for events or his worship leading abilities, Creamer has spent the past 15-years bringing souls closer to their maker. After traveling and working with parishes in Texas and Illinois, Creamer and his family are residing in Georgia, where he is currently a freelance consultant and has been at The New Life Worship Center since July of 2003. His current singles “Holy In This Place” and “Lord We Worship You” are receiving extended radio play, as Creamer is expanding on his already long and prosperous musical foundation.


Five Questions for Jeff Creamer

1) How did you get started down the religious path?
“I grew up into it. My father was a pastor and my mom sang in the churches we worshiped at. My father worked for a bunch of different churches, so we traveled a lot. I’ve always been connected to the church.”

2) Both “Holy In This Place” and “Lord We Worship You” are being played on Gospel and Country radio stations. Are you happy with that?
“Yeah, but I don’t understand why. Neither are country songs. But I really don’t care if they’re played on rap stations, as long as people get to hear them.”

3) With 40 songs at your disposal, what’s the game plan concerning a future album?
“I hope to have one for early next year. The goal is to have three songs in the top-100 of the Gospel charts before I put an album out. Some of the songs will be for radio play and some for worship services. A double-album could be a possibility.”

4) As a Worship Pastor, who has done a great deal of traveling, what other duties have you come across besides the actual singing ones on your journey?
“I’ve provided background music for live world wide television broadcasts on Trinity Broadcast Network/PTL. Written original music scores. Conducted weekly rehearsals for praise teams, band, and choirs. I’ve also written original songs for weekly services.”

5) Despite all that you have accomplished thus far, you still have several ideas for future projects. Can you share them with us?
“I’m trying to find a neutral site where I can play Christian music and have people from all religions come gather and listen without any pressures. I’m also trying to use that same concept for a tv worship show.”

----Joseph Barracato

Robben Ford

Robben Ford has been around the block. The Blues guitarist has been hammering out celebrated albums for almost four decades and is still going strong. His 2003 release “Keep On Running,” which could be his finest work to date, has remained on the Billboard Blues charts for over a year now. The follow-up to 2002’s Blue Moon, provides remixes of some soul classics, as well as several brilliant originals. And it’s been speculated another album is in the works for early next year. Ford’s unique style paved the way for himself to burst upon the scene at the age of 18, when he formed the Charles Ford Band (in honor of his father). Since then, Ford, 53, has grown as a solo artist and has enjoyed success working with an uncountable number of talented and proven musicians.

Five Facts for Robben Ford

1) While growing up in the musically diverse ’60s, Ford found himself listening to such artists as Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Mike Bloomfield, Eric Clapton and B.B. King. In his 20’s, he began following the blues trail as he joined The Jimmy Witherspoon’s band.

2) In 1974, the guitarist was recruited by saxophonist Tom Scott, who led the fusion group L.A. Express, into collaboration with singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell. Ford supported her “Court and Spark Tour” and played on two of her albums (1974’s “Miles of Isles” and 1975’s “The Hissing of Summer Lawn”).

3) In addition to Mitchell, Ford has worked with an impressively broad range of other musical personalities including Miles Davis, George Harrison and Little Feat. An overlooked characteristic of Ford’s is his ability to creatively mesh with these artists. The guitarist easily blends his original blues-based background with whatever musical stylings he encounters.

4) His exposure in the mid-70’s led to the formation of The Yellowjackets in 1978 with keyboards player Russell Ferrante and their first album “The Inside Story”. Two years later, he added to his collaboration resume when he started performing with the Doobie Brothers’ Michael McDonald and saxophonist Sadoa Watanabe for a small tour. In 1986, he joined up with the aforementioned Davis for a tour of USA and Europe.

5) Personal accolades began to rain down in 1988 when Ford released “Talk To Your Daughter”, which was certified gold a year later. The album marked a triumphant return to his blues roots after a few years of experimenting and picked up a Grammy nomination in the Contemporary Blues category.


----Joseph Barracato

SNOOP DOGG BEGINS NEW ERA

Snoop Dogg’s reign as one of the most identifiable artists in hip-hop, and even in the entertainment world for that matter, is a credit to both his stoned sense of humor and his intelligent business making decisions. Most recently, the latter is going to land the colorful lyricist back in the drivers seat of the rap game for a while. The Long Beach native signed on with the hottest producers in the world over the past two years: The Neptunes. The duo, who have started their own Star Trak label under Geffen Records, will provide ”The Doggfather” with a bounty of uptempoed, pimpin’ beats that is sure to utilized by his distinguishable, mellowed-out bark.

After stints with Master P’s No Limit and Priority, Snoop decided to work with N.E.R.D. after last spring’s collaboration with Pharrel on “Beautiful”, his most stylistic and club demanded song since the since the days of “DoggyStyle”. For his new album “R&G (Rhythm and Gagsta): The Masterpiece,” which drops on November 23, Snoop recruited an All-Star team of artists for guest spots. 50 Cent lays down some vocals on "Oh No", while Nelly kicks it with Snoop on the track “Girl Like You.” Justin Timberlake and Gap Band founder Charlie Wilson partner up for "Signs”. While Lil Jon and Trina add some Crunk flavor on "Step Yo Game Up.”

The first single "Drop It Like It's Hot,", which features Pharrel, is tearing through the Billboard charts. It’s currently No. 4 on the Hot 100, No. 1 on the Hot Rap Tracks and No. 2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. Snoop and Pharrel are set to perform the hit single November 14 on the American Music Awards. Snoop will step back in front of the camera on November 6 for a Spike TV appearance where he will unveil his remixed version of The Doors' classic "Riders on the Storm," which he constructed for the video game soundtrack of "Need for Speed Underground 2," which also includes jams from Xzibit and Chingy.

Snoop will stay in the public’s eye as he promotes his newest project playing host November 28 on MTV2's "Sucker Free Sunday." A tour for “Masterpiece” is being plotted and could begin as early as February of next year as Snoop looks to recapture the spotlight he once owned many years back with Dr. Dre during the G-Funk Era.

----Joseph Barracato

Q: What is the real deal with Publishing?

-- Borg 5

A: Publishing is an important part of the business that many artist overlook. Partially because it is farily complex and partially because they don't really understand it. In the simplest terms publishing is the exploitation of an artist's creation for the benefit of that artists..

For example, without publishing your songs could not be played on the Radio or in a TV show. Therefore, publishing companies are in the business of exposing (exploiting) your music whenever possible. Sounds simple? This pary can be. However, compensation and admistration are the most complex areas of publishing. I will review in our next issue.

--- Adam P.

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