Down On The Corner

By Paul Moffett

• Just for the record, this issue is the 120th of Louisville Music News. April 1989 was the first issue. It's been a very real ten years. Or something like that.

• Ray Yates and Brian Curella, co-owners of Media Beat and Flying Hands School of Music on Bardstown Road, have decided to split up the businesses. Yates has bought out Curella's interest in the library of production CDs and is moving Media Beat into a space at Gary Falk's building south of GE. Curella retains the music school and will remain in the current location in the Schuster Building.

• The Louisville Youth Orchestra is looking for alumni. Their 40th Anniversary Gala is set for March 20, 1999 at the Louisville Palace and if you are an alumni and don't know about the event, contact Melody Welsh-buchholz at 502-582-0135.

• Place Yer Bets, Ladies and Gentlemen Dept. The 1999 Kentucky Opera Raffle will again offer a 1999 Porsche 911 as the prize. There are only 2000 tickets, so the odds are good. Each ticket costs $100, of course, so it's not a casual purchase. The drawing will be held on May 15 following the Preakness Stakes. Call 502-584-4500 for more information and to charge by phone.

• The Bunbury Theatre has been searching for a way to use the space for music for a while. Now they're doing live recordings. On March 6 and 7, Joel Timothy will record a video and tunes for a CD live. Vince Emmett and Joseph Castriota of Melody Hill Farms will handle the audio and filmmaker Phillip Lacey will shoot the video. For tickets and information, contact the Bunbury at 585-5306.

• Butch Rice played at the Nashville Entertainment Association's Extravanganza 99, performing at Windows on the Cumberland. The event is promoted as a national showcase of up-and-coming artists.

• I ran into Greg Martin of the Kentucky HeadHunters a few days ago, when he was in town buying a new mixer for his radio show. He said that a new HeadHunters CD is in the works, set for a release on a subsidiary of House Of Blues.

• Songwriters, take note. The 1999 USA Songwriting Competition is open and accepting entries through May 31, 1999. Prizes include an assortment of cash and music merchandise. They've lived up quite an assortment of corporate sponsors, including Musician Magazine, Fender Musical Instruments, Digitech, Mackie, D'Addario Strings, Cakewalk Music Software, Rane, Presonus, Quantegy, Superdups, Line6, Audix, ASN and Musician's Friend.

The press release didn't include the entry fees, so you'll have to find out for yourself. For more information on the event's rules, regulations and entry forms, contact: USA Songwriting Competition, Toll Free (in US) 1-877-USA-SONG. Outside US: (781) 397-0256 http://www.songwriting.net info@songwriting.net.

• Bluegrass fans will be pleased to note that bluegrass-formated WKXF in Eminence, KY has re-acquired its FM sister, WXLM FM 105.7, which is now simulcasting the WKXF signal. According to station owner Dave Marcum, the FM signal reaches into East Jefferson County as far West as the Watterson Expressway. Marcum said that the WXLM's now slogan is "Bluegrass Radio the X."

For Cincinnati Reds fans, WXLM will soon begin broadcasting Reds games.

• If you like to look at photos of your favorite rock stars while listening to live music, then Lexington will be the place for you. A March 14 reception at the Long Island Recording Studio, Clays Mill Plaza, 3323 Partner Place, Suite 16, will kick off the exhibit, called "It's Only Rock `n' Roll," of the photos of Lexington photographer Estil Robinson. Jazz guitarist James Whited, Lexington alternative act Ingrain, Louisville singer Rebecca Burkhard and country singer Michael Matney will perform at the reception,

The pix will be on display in Studio B of the Long Island Recording Studio facility until June . Admission is free and the exhibit is sponsored by the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Foundation. Contact the Long Island Recording Company at 606 224-2071 for more information.

• Word comes from Gotham Records that "Push," the first single from Supafuzz's first CD, Supafuzz, is getting spins on commercial radio. Stations WXRK in New York City, KUPD in Phoenix, AZ, WTFX and WLRS in Louisville, WKQQ and WXZZ in Lexington, KZRK in Amarillo, TX and KZZK in Quincy, IL. The label is hoping that "Push" will break into the Gavin top 5 most-added chart in the next few weeks. Supafuzz has sold through its first three pressings. Info about Supafuzz's tour can be found at www.gothamrecords.com.

• John Grantz is again promoting the Powertel Rockin' at Riverpoints Concert Series, set to start May 14 and run through July 23. While the main slots will be reserved for the important national acts, original acts from the region are being sought for opening slots. Send a sample cassette / CD to Rockin' at Riverpoints, C/O Media Events, Inc. P. O. Box 4126 Louisville, KY 40204, no later than March 30. No phone calls, please. Selected acts will be notified by April 10.

• Bill Duke is back at his favorite activity: promoting country music. This time, he's doing a series of shows at the Derby Dinner Playhouse, beginning March 15 with a show called "Tributes To Country Legends," with guests Rachel Coogle and the Kentucky Sisters.

Duke is also looking for country music impersonators for future concerts. Call him 812-923-1464.

• Anthony Irwin, who performs as "The Grand Incredible O.N.E.," has released a new tape project, "Why?," on the Better Days Records label. "Why?" is dedicated to the memory of Stephanie Bacon, a young black woman who died on January 6 following a stabbing by her boyfriend. She left two young children, who are now in the care of her wheelchair-bound mother, Shirley Nolen. Partial proceeds from the sale of the tape will donated to Ms. Nolen. Tapes are available at Better Days Records in Lyles Mall and on Bardstown Road.

• Pianist Rick Williamson of Jeffersonville died some months back, leaving behind a widow and unpaid bills, due to a number of chronic ailments that rendered him ineligible for insurance benefits. A benefit on behalf of his widow will be held at Music Ranch USA in West Point at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 14. Call the Music Ranch at 502-922-9393 for tickets and information.

Club News

• Coyote's Music & Dance Hall has been nominated for Nightclub of the Year by the Academy of Country Music. The club is competing against eight other clubs throughout the nation.

• The club at 142 Outer Loop is now called Shockers, says new owner Jack Bohn. The club is open on Fridays and Saturdays and will feature DJs until a live music schedule can be established. Look for drink specials and such on Friday. Hours are 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. The phone number is 368-4663.

• The Warehouse Pub at 1618 Wathens Lane in the Western Louisville/Shively area is now open seven days a week, from 6 a.m. until 2 or 4 a.m. Bands are featured on the weekends.

• Whiskey Bob's at 2427 Bardstown Road is up and running and featuring live music Thursday - Saturday. The phone number is 459-5400.

Codas

• Ramon Louis Howard, 64, died in Louisville on January 30. He was a musician at Watson Memorial Baptist church and a member of the Musician's Union.

• Lorene S. Wells, 59, died on February 20 in Louisville. Wells was the widow of Louisville blues musician Foree H. Wells. She also managed the Walnut Street Blues Band and was a stalwart member of the Kyana Blues Society.