Bobby Wood: A Word for New Songwriters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPenWf0tTe4

"Legendary songwriter, musician and artist Bobby Wood recounts meeting Elvis for the first time, writing for Garth Brooks and gives advice to songwriters entering the music industry. Wood is performing at the "Wake Up Nashville" event September 29th at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum to support Narcolepsy."

American Studio Mixing Console

Earlier this year, the Georgia Music Hall of Fame ceased operations at its Macon, GA, location. Most of the contents went to the University of Georgia in Athens. This photo shows Chips hauling the American Studio mixing console back home.

From the article:

"Moman said he hadn’t laid eyes on the board since it landed in the at the hall 15 years ago. He said he wasn’t sure what he was going to do with it besides take it home. “If this old board could talk, I’d have somethin’,” he said."

http://www.macon.com/2011/06/23/1606574/georgia-music-hall-of-fame-signs.html

Bass Guitar Transcriptions

Lots of people come to this blog seeking bass transcriptions -- and for good reason! Two sought out examples are Mike Leech's part on Bobby Womack's "Woman's Gotta Have It" and Tommy Cogbill on Dusty Springfield's "Son of a Preacher Man." Tommy's bass part was fully transcribed in the March 2006 issue of Bass Player Magazine, but I can't find it anywhere online. I can't find any transcription of Mike's part on Woman's Gotta Have It. Someday I will transcribe these two bass parts and post them on this site!

I found this interesting on-line course from Berklee School of Music -- lesson 10 reviews "Son of A Preacher Man." Looks like an excellent course -- too bad it's not free!

Symphonic Elvis on YouTube

Mike, Reggie and Bobby Wood appear in this video about the Symphonic Elvis CD. Mike and Reggie at about 3 minute mark and Bobby briefly at 6:50 or so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtssgDoBo1g&feature=related

MusicMemphis -- History of Memphis Music Blog

Check out this blog on the history of Memphis Music -- very nice:

http://musicmemphis.wordpress.com/

He'll Take You There

Not directly related to American, but Sherman Willmott has done (and is doing) great things for Memphis music! His book Kreature Comforts looks like a great read. This article appeared in the August 2011 issue of Memphis Magazine:

http://www.memphismagazine.com/Memphis-Magazine/August-2011/Hell-Take-You-There/

Charles Heinz Recalls Memphis / Satellite Music with Chips Moman

http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/b-side-players/Content?oid=1135862

""I went to White Station and was singing with a group there that included Jim Dickinson on piano. I was introduced to the people at Stax, Satellite at that time, and they wanted me to record. In about '59, Jim Stewart was looking for artists. Chips Moman and I wrote 'Destiny.' It was on the charts here in Memphis for about 10 weeks."

Charles Heinz Photo: