"88+ Ways Music Can Change YOUR Life" - Volume 1

It was a little over a year ago that I had this crazy idea to publish a book full of inspirational music stories. I thought if people knew how music had impacted so many lives then maybe together we could all support music just a little bit more. Well I'm here to tell you that we did it! On June 1st, My wife Joann and I published the book "88+ Ways Music Can Change Your Life" featuring 165 inspirational stories and quotes from musicians, songwriters, music teachers, TV/movie producers & actresses and music fans from all over the world.

There are stories that will make you laugh, stories that will get you thinking, and yes there are absolutely stories that will bring tears to your eyes. We have found it truly amazed at the many ways music has brought joy and comfort to so many.

Also contributing to "88+ Ways" were almost 2 dozen Grammy winning and Platinum selling artists, songwriters & composers and even a few TV & Film actresses you might know.

To learn more about it and read an excerpt please visit: "88+ Ways Music Can Change Your Life" on Amazon

Recording artists and songwriters contributing to "88+ Ways" include Bobby Kimball (Toto), Simon Kirke (Bad Company & Free), Vanessa Carlton, Siedah Garrett (Michael Jackson), Rick Wakeman (Yes), Rob Parissi (Wild Cherry/”Play That Funky Music”), Rob Hyman & Eric Bazilian (The Hooters), Billy Steinberg (Madonna), Bill Champlin (Chicago), Mark King (Level 42), Bobby Hart (The Monkees), Ciaran Gribbin (INXS), Rose Kingsley (Metropolitan Opera Singer & Ballerina) and Grammy winning Children's artist The Battersby Duo.

Film and TV actresses contributing stories include Audrey Landers (Dallas), and Darcy Donavan (Anchorman, My Name is Earl).

TV/Film/DVD producers & composers contributing include Fred Mollin (Friday the 13th, Hard Copy, Beyond Reality), Michel Rubini (Nemisis, The Hitchhiker, Tales from the Crypt), Jay Gruska (Cocoon-Movie, Supernatural-TV, Charmed-TV), Sara Flatow (Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Scandal)

50% of the proceeds from all book & ebook sales will be donated to foundations providing music instruments and lessons to schools and communities in need.

"88+ Ways Music Can Change Your Life" on Amazon

What if the Beatles NEVER existed??

What do you think music would be like if the Beatles never existed? What if Elvis, Elton John, Billy Joel, Madonna, Taylor Swift or [Insert Your Favorite Artist] never wrote or sang a single song? What if most of the artists you grew up listening while growing up never played a note?? Can you imagine never hearing those songs that meant so much to you? Can you imagine what living in a world without all the music we've ever loved would be like?? Well neither can we!!

Most of the musical history we love and cherish so much was created by people whose very first experience learning to play an instrument or sing was in school. I believe our entire musical history past, present and future depends on continuing to keep music alive in our schools and communities. We need to keep as much music and arts education in our schools as possible. If we fail to do so, then the quality of new music we hear will diminish over time as young creative minds are no longer nurtured and encouraged to create.

As part of our “Keep Music Alive” mission, we are publishing a book on May 1st entitled “88+ Ways Music Can Change Your Life”. We are searching for inspirational music stories, anecdotes and quotes to include, and I was wondering if you might have a story or quote you’d like to share with the world? Our goal for “Keep Music Alive” is to raise the awareness of how important music is in all of our lives: educationally, therapeutically and our overall happiness. The book “88+ Ways” will help us spread this message with inspirational stories & quotes, highlights of recent research demonstrating the importance of music education plus tips for schools and communities trying to save or improve their music programs.

"88+ Ways Music Can Change Your Life"

Here are some questions that may give you some ideas for a quote or story:

• Did music help get you through a difficult time in your life?
• As a musician/performer or audience member, did you witness a particular touching situation involving music?
• Was there a particular song, or artist, that strongly resonated and influencing you while growing up?
• Was a there a person in your life who influenced you with their music?
• Did you learn to play an instrument or take part in your school's band or chorus and how did this experience affect you?
• Was music used to help you during a type of therapy, either to motivate you or to "just get you through it"?

When you look back now, how do you think your life is different, or has changed, because of music?

For more information on the book and story submissions please visit www.lovesongs.com/keepmusicalive or simply visit LoveSongs.com and click on “Keep Music Alive”. Our story submission deadline is Feb 28th, 2015 so still plenty of time to have your musical story included in "88+ Ways Music Can Change Your Life".

Please also LIKE our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/keepmusicalivemission and if you have questions about the book or mission you can email us at MusicStories (at) LoveSongs.com.

We hope you all have a great weekend and we'll be back on Sunday with another pppppost!

Music, Love & Happiness

Vincent James @ LoveSongs.com

Tuesdays Tune - "If You Only Knew" by Shinedown

I'm telling ya pop and pop-rock is making a comeback :) The band Shinedown from Jacksonville has had much success on the rock charts - every one of their 11 singles has cracked the Top 5 on the Mainstream radio charts - and now "If You Only Knew" went all the way to #42 on the Billboard Hot 100 - definitely the noise from their fans is getting louder you might want to join in. This is a great pop-rock song, beautiful message and the verse AND chorus melodys are a 1-2 knockout punch - Trust me listen to this and you'll be hooked:

"If You Only Knew" - YouTube

American Idol in LA tonight - taped :)

AI comes to us from the LA live auditions from last year and with any luck we'll have some interesting singers to hear and watch. Rumors are also swirling about who will replace Simon next year...Madonna? Jamie Foxx? I dunno I think we need another music biz exec who has the charisma and comebacks to match - there must be a music biz exec whose star is just waiting to shine. I'm sure we'll have to wait until this summer before any real announcement. I will definitely enjoy seeing Ellen on teh show this year and for Simon's replacement we'll just have to wait till summer.

Have a great nite all and we'll be back tomorrow with some notes on the Idol show tonight along with another pop'n'love tune!

~Vincent

Mondays Song - "Rain" by Creed

The band Creed was a significant part of the Rock and Top 40 radio airwaves from 1997 till 2002 before going their separate ways in 2004. With songs like "My Sacrifice", "With Arms Wide Open" and "One Last Breath" it was hard not to hear their pop-friendly tunes every day. After a 5 year break dabbling in solo and other projects Creed is back and have hit the pop music nail on the head yet again. Their new CD "Full Circle" released in 2009 features their latest single "Rain" which is another excellent mid-tempo pop-rocker that feels like it keeps moving underneath you while the rain falls from above. Creed may never match their earlier commerical success (26 million albums sold in US) but they have shown they still know how to a write a great song. Please take a listen here:

"Rain" - YouTube

Live Nation merges with Ticketmaster - One big Goliath

Live Nation and Ticketmaster just got the go-ahead from the Justice department for their planned merger so look for more changes on the live music front. Together the new Live Nation Entertainment controls some of the biggest artists on the planet including Madonna, The Eagles, Christina Aguilera and Jay Z and they also control many of the large venues in major cities. There was some language in the Justice Department findings that will help the smaller companies (a little...) but it remains to be seen how this will play out long term. For more info here's the full Rolling Stone article:
Live Nation - Ticketmaster Merger/

Well Monday came and went pretty quick (which is usually a good thing). Tomorrow we'll post our Borders Valentines Tour info along with another pop'n'love tune from the radio!

~Vincent