To Indie Or Not To Indie… That Is The Question

Welcome back to The Expressionist Magazine

The music industry today is far from what it was a few years ago when the Doo Wop bands and hit singles artists of the 60s, 70s and 80s were making names for themselves. The days of lucrative music contracts from top recording companies have all been put out to pasture, unless you’re one of the extreme lucky ones.

The computer is mostly to blame for this debacle with P2P file sharing and illegal music downloads which really hit the pocket books of these recording companies, forcing them to extend contracts on the talented artists of today unless it’s a for sure thing. In order to screw over the music industry and get something for nothing, the P2P really didn’t hurt the big wigs; they still make money on the distribution. Instead, whom we hurt most were the artists.

By not having lucrative contracts, it forces the artist to be what the industry calls an “indie” artist or independent artist. This indie artist can still produce their music and have CDs and digital downloads except they must fork over the millions it takes to make a successful career. Most bands are not endowed with bottomless pockets; rather they start out as garage bands. These artists, unless they have great knowledge of the music industry, are doomed to either stay at the status quo of the band never to be more than a garage or bar band, or excel in the industry. They are at the mercy of a very corrupt business.

The P2P is not totally to blame for the contracts not being dealt. The record industry itself has played a small part in the problem by not taking a good strong hold over the digital download revolution. Many people today prefer digital downloads to conventional CDs and tapes. The reason is simple; digitally you can store thousands of songs on your computer and carry them all around in this neat little box that is the size of a business card at most. The MP3 player was an answer to the clutter and damaged tapes and CDs that angered many music listeners. The digital downloads are great but they don’t make a lot of money for the record industry fast; at small $0.99 downloads, it would take a long time to reach the amount of money they would get off CDs. Yes, the industry does allow full CD downloads of any album along with singles but many people don’t want all the songs so that choice doesn’t get utilized like the singles do.

Disney, on the other hand, has found a way to stronghold the industry. For instance, lets take the Little Mermaid soundtrack for example. Ashley Tisdale did a remake of the famed song “Kiss The Girl” on the re-release of the classic movie. The soundtrack included that version, along with the original version by Samuel E. Wright. If you go to iTunes to purchase the song, you will see that only Samuel E. Wright’s version is available for singles download. If you want Ashley Tisdale’s version, you must purchase the entire soundtrack for $19.99. If the rest of the record industry did this they wouldn’t lose as much money on the digital download aspect and, in turn, could sign more people to full contracts.

Now, full contracts are nice and all but are they really worth it? When a record company purchases your contract, they own all your songs and can force you to be here or be there on a tour, of which you have no say. They can force you to produce a certain amount of songs or CDs in a short period of time which can actually cause lackluster songs that don’t make sense or don’t have feeling because of the “must get it done” rush. They may also require at least one #1 radio or Billboard chart song in the duration of the contract or they can cancel you keeping the rights to your music. Contracts almost destroyed Hall of Fame artist REM in the past.

The “indie” artist on the other hand has a lot more freedom. If you decide enough is enough, in most cases you own the royalties and full rights to your work. You have the choice to go on any tour you wish, when you want, as long as it’s in your budget. You can take the time to write quality songs and record them passionately, which in turn, could roll out a #1 hit or even a Grammy. The only downside is you need money to do this.

So what should an artist do? How do they stay away from the shysters of the industry and maximize their investment? Simple. Find a reputable manager who can help you all the way through. You want to find someone who keeps close records on radio hits, sales and your budget. Most artists have no idea what the music industry is about, what’s fair and right; therefore, teaming up with a veteran who knows the ropes can save you from getting ripped off, and make your career prosperous.

R.L. Blair: The Art of Wood Carving

For some, it may be hard to imagine life without cable television, Playstations, and the Internet.  R.L. Blair never knew of these luxuries as a child growing up on a farm in Washington.  At the age of twelve, Blair found something great to occupy his time with and it had nothing to do with video games or remote controls.  Blair had discovered whittling wood with a knife.  He began carving creations that could be found on any boy’s wish list.  Sling shots, toy guns, and bows and arrows were favorites of Blair’s to make.  Eventually the novice carver moved on to bigger and better projects.  Shortly before Blair’s high school graduation he carved the mascot, a totem pole.

Today, Blair’s beautiful and original artwork is known all around the world.  In fact, it is estimated that more than 30 million people view the talented carver’s creations each year.  Many of those people see Blair’s work while on vacation, perhaps without even realizing it.  After all, he is the premier wood carving artist for Disney and has been doing so since the mid-1980s.  Blair’s work can be seen at all of the Disney owned theme parks.  In addition to the six major theme parks, Blair’s sculptures are displayed all around the country at restaurants and in private collections.

The wood carver, who resides in Oceano, California, is famous for creating contemporary fine art sculptures, wood carvings and statues which include figurative and animal designs, marine life and carved wood wall works for both the home and garden.  Blair’s sculptures are beautifully detailed, each one uniquely carved with great skill.  There is the proud eagle, handsome and strong, with outstretched wings.  A mermaid with her long hair flowing in unseen waters. And then there are the whimsical, silly faces carved in eternal laughter.   But none of Blair’s sculptures are more popular than his wooden bears.  These life sized carved creations are done in caricature style, giving these typically grizzly and menacing beasts a much softer, cuddlier side.  With these kinds of sculptures and wood art, it is no wonder Blair has made such a name for himself as an artist, earning much respect and admiration with each new creation.

An artist in other mediums such as paintings, steel, glass and stone, Blair says wood is his favorite.  ”I like to carve because I can create a tangible object.  It is something I made with my hands and will hopefully enhance your surroundings and have some affect on the viewer,” states Blair.  The artist also reveals how much he loves wood for the warmth of the patina and the unique character found in each piece.  ”It {wood} was once a living thing and is becoming rare, so this is how it can be preserved,” explains Blair.  For many years Blair studied wildlife and describes himself as an avid nature lover; therefore, he feels strongly about being able to carve anatomically correct pieces. However, one of Blair’s favorite wood designs exposes his sillier, more carefree style.  ”I like the whimsical, “goofy off-the-wall stuff,” states Blair.

And when Blair is ready to carve a masterpiece, where does he find his canvas?  Blair says he uses salvaged and recycled logs, mostly from fallen coastal redwood trees cut over 100 years ago and left on the ground, still lying in the forests.  Trees like this are no longer harvested, but many were cut in the 19th Century.  Today, redwood harvesting is closely managed to insure the future of forests and their environment.

And how exactly does Blair carve these fallen redwoods?  He uses chainsaws, various power tools, carving knives and a mallet and chisel.  Blair carves the wood with one tool at a time, working his way from the top to the bottom.  The artist explains that each tool adds increasing degrees of detail to the wood.  When finished with one tool, Blair will then move on to a new and different tool which helps to give even more detailing til the product is finished.  The process may seem simple enough, but the fact of the matter is, very few artists have the skill to do what Blair can do with carving wood. He is a master; self-taught and doing what he loves for 35 years now.

R.L. Blair’s wood creations are full of whimsy, originality and pure magic.  These pieces are a definite must-have for the person who already has everything, but could always use that extra special something.

If you are looking for that extra special something, contact R.L. Blair at 512-820-1409 or by his email address: rl.blair@yahoo.com.  His hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can view some of Blair’s work on his website which can be found at www.rlblair.com.  Blair is available to do commissions and special requests.

Blair was also recently featured in the book, Art of Chainsaw Carving, published by Fox Chapel.

Simpsons Made A Lot Of Doh

It’s hard to believe that 20 years ago the Tracy Ulman show introduced the world to a crudely drawn, poorly animated cartoon that would forever change television.  It aired as a small filler segment for the show, but the popularity of The Simpsons spread like wildfire.  In 1990, 20^th Century Fox decided to take a gamble and make The Simpsons a primetime sitcom cartoon spearheaded by creator Matt Groening.  That gamble was about to make history.

The Simpsons are a disfunctional family by every stretch of the means.  Bart, the oldest, is a crude, sassy, back talking, and disrespectful troublemaker.  His sister, Lisa,  is a straight-A, liberal genius with a heart of gold.  Maggie, the baby of the family, will probably never grow up and never speak.   Then you add in a dimwitted, drunken father named Homer, and his wife Marge, who keeps the family a bit level headed.  With these kinds of characters, you have one of the funniest cartoons in the nation.

Matt Groening is a genius.  He created a town called Springfield that is filled with so many characters of all nations, religions, and social statuses and then combines them into one town.   The jokes of the cartoon will offend probably just about everyone, so don’t feel singled out.  Despite the diversity, it allows us all to relate to someone in the cartoon.   Like it or not, the Simpsons family is a model of the modern American family; we just don’t want to admit it.  We all have a Bart or a Lisa in the family, and we all have a Homer too somewhere if you dig deep enough.

Want some more amazing facts about this series?  The Simpsons have completed this January, 450 episodes.  Each one of those episodes was completely different than the previous, and never overlapped a topic once.   The jokes are new each show, while maintaining the standard themes of each character.   I don’t know how the creators made that possible for all these years.   The show is also the longest running cartoon in U.S. history, and has won just about every award given including a Guilder Award.

Today, The Simpsons is a household name and the characters’ faces show up on just about every kind of merchandise you can imagine, including bottle openers.  Since the first show appeared, they have come out with two video games, the first which appeared in arcades and on the original Nintendo Entertainment System.  In 2007, the Simpsons family starred in their first ever full length motion picture.   Heck,  they are the only non-living actors/actresses with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Simpsons were considered vulgar back in the early ’90s and most stations boycotted them.   The current president at the time, George H.W. Bush, even mentioned them in a speech as something we should not model our families after. That would soon change as America grew more and more tolerant and what you see now on television makes the Simpsons look like saints.

To enhance the awe of this amazing show, some of Hollywood’s brightest stars have made guest appearances on The Simpsons, including Bill Clinton.  Everyone wants to be a character on the popular cartoon because if you land on the Simpsons, you’re one of the in-crowd.

This series has set a huge milestone for animation in general, to which many people have tried to match the bar The Simpsons have set.  Creator Seth MacFarlane of The Family Guy said he got a lot of inspiration from The Simpsons for his hit cartoon. If you watch the two shows you can see how similar they actually are.   Matt Groening states that the trick to the comedy is to “do what you think is funny, don’t worry about who you will insult or what others think because in comedy you always insult someone.”  That is the mantra that has made the success of these lovable yellow characters, and that mantra has oozed over into The Family Guy as well.

Love them or hate them, The Simpsons are here to stay, and will probably be here for another 20 years.   It wouldn’t be America without this family.  This is Homer’s world!

Country’s In The Cards – Jenna Zablocki

In the music industry today we find an abundance of talented performers, however, with such mass numbers it’s easy to fall into a niche where you sound like or act like the rest of the stars, losing your individuality.  It’s important to find your specific niche that sets you above the rest, giving you that brand that when your song comes on the radio, people know you sang it.

Being a celebrity musician is the dream of just about anyone in the modern music era, and with MTV and VH1, it’s been glorified and glamourized.  So when a talented artist comes along that can take that childhood dream and turn it into reality with their own unique sound, style and brand, then you have found a star.  For Jenna Zablocki, she has not only found her niche in the music industry, but also gives something extra to the package because she can act too.

Since the young age of five, Jenna has been tinkering on the piano playing her heart out.  She loved to perform and let the music run through her, releasing her soul.  Jenna continued to pursue singing and music for eleven more years.  She studied classical composers and tried her hand at opera and gospel music.  It was her love to perform that gave her the idea to also act, and her first act was at a school production.  Jenna decided to stop music for a while, and pursue the acting career she enjoyed so much.

Jenna’s acting career got started in a strange place.  As the saying goes, sometimes you are where you are for a reason.  Jenna was discovered by a casting director at the JFK airport in Boston, and never looked back.  She would move herself to Los Angeles to make this dream a reality.

Her first major role came when she played April Meadows in The Portal, which airs on the silver screen in 2010.  She has also performed in supporting roles and fill-in’s on Repo Chick as Eggi,  Project Solitude as Sara, and Killer Weekend.  However, she never lost her love for music either, and her home in Los Angeles made it possible to pursue both loves at once.

In 2009 Jenna went into the recording studio to record an album, and it was there that she sang a song which defined her musical style.  It was very different from her childhood training.  The producer said, “Man, that sounded almost country.”  So, from then on Jenna was a country singer and produced her debut CD, Powerful Stuff, set to be released nationwide in January 2010.

Hearing Jenna sing on her new CD you will understand exactly what I am talking about with her unique style.  Her voice is sultry smooth, feminine and powerful with a mix of  slight country feel, but not being overpowering, which can land her music on easy listening, country, and top 40 radio stations.  If you don’t like country, you will still love Jenna and her CD has something for everyone to enjoy.

Jenna intends to set her ambitions high, and succeed in both acting and music, and a role in a musical movie would fit her just fine.  When her career has ended she hopes to someday win a CMA, as well as an Oscar, Grammy and Tony award.  “An award is the ultimate symbol of success.  I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to win one… and it’s the utmost honor because your fans voted for you to win it,” Jenna states.

With the launch of her debut album and her ability to act and sing well, Jenna’s career is only heading up, and success is on the horizon for this young star.  You’re sure to see her name in lights and a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame one day.

You can get Jenna’s CD Powerful Stuff through iTunes and Amazon.com.  Find out more about Jenna, her amazing budding career, and her current projects at www.jennazablocki.com

Forever Studios- Timeless Photography

In 2010 a new photo studio will be taking the Bay Area by storm.  Well, it’s not exactly new, just redesigned.  The studio, known formally as Dowd Studios, will have a new name and identity in the new year.  It won’t be under new management, just a new name… Forever Studios.

Jason Dowd opened Dowd Studios back in 2003.  It was his dream to own a business and to be an artist.  Throughout the years, Dowd incorporated web design and even video into his collection of services offered.  Dowd says the business wasn’t going “into the red,” and there were no complaints, but it took a side to focus on a dedicated client.  ”In that time, we focused on one person.  We lost contact with some of our other clients and that bothered me.  This studio was designed for the family; to create beautiful works of art that they can treasure for generations and do it affordably and in the privacy of their homes if they wanted.  That dedicated client was great, but I lost the spark of why I am an artist.  We were still around and shot portraits and such, but not to the extent we wanted… and in 2010 that changes.”

Forever Studios is the reincarnate of Dowd Studios.  It contains the fixes Dowd Studios incurred, and bloomed into a beautiful butterfly.  Forever Studios is a mecca of art for their clients, as they offer: photography, web design and hosting, video just like before but now with the addition of Dowd’s private acrylic and oil paintings, stories and more. For the first time, Dowd will open his private photographic art collection for the world to see and buy prints of, which have been collected over the past six years from all over the United States.  Forever Studios will focus on black and white photography and pet portraits as their main objective, but not omitting any kind of photography someone may want.  ” You will still get the same quality color portraits, but we finally will focus on what we love the most and specialize in, which is black and white.” Forever Studios will also offer vintage photography and bring forth green screen technology.

Dowd also states that commercial photography is going to be another important interest for this studio.  He loves still life and making amazing pictures that businesses will want to put on their ads and promotional materials.  A properly done photo of a product can sell it for years to come, and may even become timeless classics like some of those Coke commercials you see.

The best part of this studio is that Dowd didn’t abandon his roots meaning he will still come to the privacy of your house to shoot studio quality photographs, and for no additional cost.  Dowd Studios was based on that because of personal experiences Dowd encountered with clients when he worked for a chain photo studio.  ”Being in the comfort of your house or office allows the person to feel comfortable; it’s not like all eyes on them.  So they stay more relaxed, and in turn, they get a better photo.  Another plus is, should something go wrong if they have kids, they are right there to get a quick fix and won’t have to reschedule.”

From the first time Dowd picked up a camera to photograph, even in the commercial chain studio, he was deemed one of the most compassionate and patient photographers ever which makes him great for taking pictures of young children and animals.  When Dowd is on a job, he is dedicated to the client and will stay as long as it takes to get those amazing photos.  That’s customer service you don’t see often in business anymore, and Forever Studios vows to keep those good old fashioned business morals at hand.

So, why the name Forever Studios?  ”That’s a good question [laughing]. I wanted something to incorporate all my art, not limiting me to just photography.  I wanted something elegant like you’d see on old cabinet card backs, and I wanted something as traditional as I am.  I love the Beach Boys and they did a song which John Stamos sang on Full House, that was called “Forever.”  It was one of my favorite Beach Boy songs, so one day trying to come up with a name, I heard the song and said… THAT’S IT… Forever Studios.”

So if you’re into taking vintage pictures, or just want plain headshots, Jason Dowd and Forever Studios will help you get that moment captured in time.  From family portraits to professional models, he will help you all.  The website is coming soon, called www.foreverstudiosinc.com.  Make sure to check it out in February where Dowd’s art collection will be available for sale.

Nerves Of Steel – Hollie Steel

Like Americans, the British love talent and reality shows, making them quite the rage across the pond.  One of the more popular shows is Britain’s Got Talent, which is like American Idol but they allow different kinds of performers to compete, making it not just a singing competition.  Unlike American Idol, they allow any age to compete as long as they have the talent to move to the next round.  However, here is a similiarity between the two shows: on the judging panel is the man who makes them quiver, Simon Cowell.

About a year and a half ago the multi-decked theater was sold out.  The judges sat waiting for their next performer in the initial audition, when out comes a ten-year-old dressed in ballerina garb and a beautiful tiara that sat upon her head, sparkling in the stage lights.  The judges ask her, “What’s your name?” and with a soft English accent she mutters, Hollie Steel.  Little Hollie points off stage to queue the music, and starts to perform a interpretive ballet dance.  The judges sit back with baited breath knowing she will probably sing, mainly because she has a small head mounted microphone on.  Her dance didn’t last long before coming to a complete stop.  She then looks at the audience, cool and collected, and belts out one of the most amazing sounds ever heard.  Simon Cowell’s eyes grow wide in shock over the vocals of this young lady, and with a heart felt passion she sings, “I Could Have Danced All Night.”  That performance won her a trip to the next round, allowing her to compete in the finals last year.  Sadly, she didn’t win the competition, but is proud to say she made it farther than she ever expected.

Talking with Hollie, I discovered she originally was in ballet.  She loves to dance which frees her spirit, allowing her to express herself through her movements.  I don’t know too many young ladies who don’t want to be beautiful ballerinas performing on stage.  I know many also that wish to be singers, performing for their adoring fans.  Hollie, at the age of ten, got that chance for both of her loves which soared her into the hearts of millions.  Singing came later, but it was something she loved to do, so combining the two was like the cherry on the cake for Hollie.

Her appearance on Britain’s Got Talent led her to record her first album, set to be released in 2010; a feat Hollie is quite excited over and hopes the enthusiasm will trickle down into the album for her fans.  The album will contain mostly contemporary-crossover and opera-like compositions.  Granted, Hollie loves pop music and rock, but prefers to sing the music that expresses her young heart the best.

Despite the success, Hollie has a great head on her shoulders and hasn’t let the fame and success get to her.  When she is not singing, she loves playing with her teddies, listening to music, playing with her friends and doing what a typical now eleven-year-old girl would do.  She also loves spending time with her family, who have supported her all the way on this amazing journey.  If you see Hollie around town, or walking down the road she will gladly give you her autograph and thank the people who cherish her music.  That’s how you can tell she hasn’t let stardom affect her, which is also a sign of great parenting.

Hollie has performed on TV,  and has an album coming out this year, but believe it or not she still has one dream she hopes to fulfill in her new career.  Hollie wants to tour the U.S. and sing for her fans here in America.  Hollie’s mom says that she has a tremendous following here in the states, and is touched how the American people have taken Hollie into their hearts.  I have a great feeling that this will come true faster than she expects and she will get to greet those fans here face to face.

If you want to find out more about this amazing young lady, you can visit her official website and sign up for her fan club at www.holliesteel.org.uk and tell her how much her music touches your life.  There is no greater compliment than that for an artist.  Once you see her, you will know why she can capture your heart with her voice and charm and not ever have to meet you in person to do so.

Don’t forget to listen to her podcast where she sits down and talks with The Expressionist Magazine on “Artist One On One.”  The podcast is found on our podcast link, or you can search The Expressionist Magazine on iTunes.

Drifters- The Legend Continues

It’s hard to believe that fifty-six years ago, five men would grace the country and the world with their amazing singing talent.  They would help define a new style of music called doo-wop, which was branching away from the traditional music like that of Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and even some of the big band and jazz era melodies.  This was a whole new style and look, complete with fancy stage outfits and fun lyrics you could dance to.  Those five men made up the legendary group called The Drifters, and their name says it best, they drifted right into our hearts.

Back in 1953, a man by the name of George Treadwell, creator of Atlantic Records, started a conversation with Clyde McPhatter to start a group.  This group was to be recorded with Atlantic Records, and McPhatter did just that, naming the group The Drifters. Their first hit would come three years later in 1956 called “Money Honey,” which also was their first number one hit.  The five man band became quite popular, and started a trend among other artists such as The Temptations and The Four Tops.

Clyde McPhatter wanted out, and the group would go down to four members and continue that way.  A few years after McPhatter left The Drifters, they started to get in trouble, showing up late for practice and even for some shows. George Treadwell wouldn’t stand for this kind of behavior and fired the whole band.  Infuriated with the band, Treadwell went across the street and hired a five man band called The Five Crowns to replace his Drifters.  That move would turn out to be special because they lifted The Drifters to super stardom.  In fact, in that new group was vocalist Ben E. King, also noted for his solo career following his stint with The Drifters, giving us a hit called “Stand By Me.”  The new line up included Ben E. King, Charlie Thomas, Doc Green, Elsbury Hobbs, and James “Poppa” Clark.

Ben E. King’s Drifter line up is commonly referred to as the “Golden Age” of The Drifters.  They produced great songs such as “Dance With Me,” “This Magic Moment,” “Save The Last Dance For Me,” and so many more.  During this time, this particular line up went into tumultuous situations, because many of the fans knew and adored the first line up giving this one grief.  This new group lasted only two years for a few reasons.  Lover Patterson, the road manager,  had a fallout with Treadwell.  King was under contract with Patterson when he was The Five Crowns, so Patterson refused to let King tour with the band.  King continued to record the songs for one year while another man, Johnny Williams, toured in his place.  To make matters worse, King asked Treadwell for his share of the royalties, which he was denied. King would go on to a very successful singles career.

Despite the fact their lead singer King was gone, Rudy Lewis took over in King’s spot and recorded hits like “On Broadway,” “Some Kind Of Wonderful,” and “Please Stay.”  The band would also find more changes in the future.  Hobbs was drafted and Tommy Evans from the original lineup came back to fill his spot.

Amazingly, the group started to tour in 1953 and still does so today, making them the oldest consecutively touring group in the world that we know about.   Currently, there is a new generation of Drifters.  George Treadwell is no longer with us, but his daughter Faye Treadwell continues the legacy.  She gets new band members from time to time.  Each Drifters member that is chosen must look similar to, and sound similar to the original Drifters to ensure the quality is maintained.  Today, that group has a new CD out titled, The Drifters – Five Decades and Moore.”

This new CD is a tribute to the late band member Johnny Moore.  It contains some of the classic hits from the original Drifters, with a few lost songs from the ’60s decade no one knew existed.  There are also some songs written and performed by the current Drifters line up. This CD can be obtained at Amazon.com, iTunes and their official website.

George Treadwell’s The Drifters would continue to morph members in and out, but they always kept to their roots and sang the songs that brought them to the level they are known for today.   The Drifters were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in a few ways.  One way was as Ben E. King and The Drifters, and secondly as The Original Drifters (this one was a separate group run by original Drifter Bill Pinkney).  The Drifters would go on to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as well.

To find more about The Drifters, see their official websites:

The Drifters:  http://www.thedrifters.co.uk/
The Original Drifters (Bill Pinkney):  http://www.originaldrifters.com

Destino3- Harmonic Popera At Its Best

In the ’90s, boy bands were all the rage.  They made tween and teen girls fall to their knees with full shreaking screams.  They were pop sex icons put together by large pocketed conglomerates, with amazing sense of marketing.  The bands were like puppets; they all had very similar qualities and most of them sounded very much like the other.  Their voices and talent didn’t matter because their looks were what brought in the money, and when the looks faded and the next rage came about, they fell from grace.

Then, out of Canada, comes another boy band trio.  Before you roll your eyes, I must say they are nothing like the others. They call themselves Destino3.  Sure, they have incredible looks that make the women go nuts, have harmonic vocals that will soothe the savage beast, and unlike the other boy bands of the past, these guys sing something none of the other boy bands even dared to try… classical crossover.  They have everything the other bands don’t, and are set to stand the test of time because they attract the younger generation, but they also appeal to those who love opera, classical, and gospel music.

Their name translated means “destiny,” in both Italian and Spanish.  The name was chosen because they knew they were destined to be singers and perform what they love the most.  Destiny is exactly what they got.  They all had acclaimed solo careers and rich musical training before joining Destino3.  They all had various genre backgrounds such as pop, gospel, opera, and classical, that when combined, would make for a delightfully unique sound.  In turn, that would make them a household name.  The group was joined by Paul Ouellette, the mastermind and founder of Destino3.  He brought in Joey Niceforo and Hans Munoz to complete this dynamic trio.  They originally lost one of their first members, bringing in Munoz in his place.  Munoz brought a new pop style and sound to the band, as well as an amazing song writing ability that Destino3 hopes to utilize in the years to come.

It’s hard to believe they’ve been around since 2006, and started to sell out theaters and opera houses all over their native country of Canada.  The group realized they had a talent that the rest of the world needed to see, and in 2009 started to tour the United States.  Destino3 started a tour throughout the entire southeast, which has been a great success.  They are very honored that the rest of the world is starting see the gifts they bring to the music industry. Their music even brought them their most acclaimed performance to date; it took place in 2008 at the Beijing Summer Olympics.  Ouellette states the band was very honored to be a part of something so special.  It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity which made them feel like they earned a gold medal for their talents.  That performance put their music in front of the nations and set an international stage unlike any other.

In 2009, they released their first major debut CD titled, Forte.  It boasts an exotic name supported by the great variety of tracks contained on the disc.  It contains songs such as ” Adagio” and “Una Furtiva L’Agrima” that have an operatic feel.  Included as well is “Breathe Again,” originally recorded by Grammy Award winning Toni Braxton, thus showing the diversity of the album.  It even has the track “My Baby You,” in both English and French.

The band looks forward to seeing what 2010 has in store; the places they will travel to, the people they will meet.  They look forward to making songs that everyone can love, no matter what your musical style is.  We know that once you hear their soulful, harmonic voices you will be hooked on their “popera” sound and be a fan of Destino3 forever.

To find out more, go to their website www.destino3.com

Fauxto Shop Deception

Just a few weeks ago a story surfaced, rocking the Internet.  It  involved ’60s supermodel Twiggy and an ad she was in promoting a skin care product.  The ad angered the UK government so greatly, they banned the use of photo manipulation advertisements in their country, citing it to be misleading and false.  The ad was for an Oil of Olay anti-aging cream that removes wrinkles and tightens the skin.  Twiggy was featured on the ad, being in her mid-50s, showing little to no crow’s feet wrinkles around the eyes, wrinkles at the corners of her cheeks or any other signs of aging. Instead, her skin looked radiant and young.  Without makeup to cover some of the lines, Twiggy actually does sport crow’s feet and wrinkles, but it doesn’t truly hinder her looks.

What we found was this ad was photoshopped to the max, giving a completely false result to what this cream does.  It made it look like it worked miracles when really it was a talented photoshop artist that made the product perform better than it actually does.  Unfortunately, people look at these ads and completely believe them which drives them to buy the product with sub-par results.  In defense of the company, everyone has different skin and in some people it may work wonders on even the deepest wrinkles and aging skin, and not touch someone with minor wrinkles at all.

Nevertheless, Twiggy was clearly doctored up in that photograph, so the government decided to do something about it. That brings me to a few critical points: 1. Should the government have the power to censor and ban this kind of thing no matter how blatant it is?  2. Should we really photoshop someone to the point they don’t even look the same?  3.  Is it the people’s fault for believing everything they see?

To point one, especially in the United States, we have the ability to be free and express ourselves.  Europe is not as free as we are; they are socialist in many to all aspects of government, and this is how the government can control the art and how it’s portrayed.  They have complete power over everything, silencing the right to speak freely and promote your art as you deem fit.  If the United States is going in this direction, you can see a serious problem coming our way. Sure we have the Constitution to protect us, but the government has already shown they don’t care what that document says.  In order to have a socialist government, the Constitution would have to be absolved or the government would not have sovereign power to do as they seek fit to control the aspects of our lives.  Is this really what we want?  Do you think the UK has overstepped their bounds?  Sure the ad is misleading, but do they have the right to censor it?

To point number two, the fashion and modeling industry is obsessed with perfection.  Women and men who are already as perfect as can be are doctored up to be extra perfect.  In my opinion, we are human and we all have some flaws, but those flaws are what makes us unique, special and beautiful in our own right.  If you want to remove a mole, pimple, freckle or scar I say go ahead, but to completely photoshop the skin from head to toe making it look plastic, or shrinking someone’s waist size to something they are not, does give off a deceptive persona which can be disappointing when we see these people in person.  It also sets a false standard of beauty that the model doesn’t even have that the rest of the world tries to mimic.  In doing so, they hurt themselves with unnecessary plastic surgery, expensive creams, and unhealthy diets all for the chance to look like the photoshopped model in the magazine.

That leads us to point number three.  With all the knowledge of photoshop being used in the fashion, marketing and promotion industry, it’s almost unimaginable that we would believe these people really look the way they do in the pictures.  I mean come on already, do you really think an anti-aging cream company would put someone on their ad that has less than perfect skin?  No, why even place the ad because nobody would give it a second look.  Since no one looks like that, they have to doctor the photo manipulation. It’s hard to believe some of us are this gullible and nieve to believe this garbage.  The best thing we can do is to say, “I’ll try it and see if the results are the same,” but to run out and expect the same results and get angry when it doesn’t happen is just plain stupid in my opinion.  Air Jordan shoes never made anyone jump like Michael Jordan.  Gatorade never made you perform any better, it just kept you from dehydrating.  So why are beauty creams and cosmetics any different?

It’s terrible that we have to doctor photos to show perfection, when perfection is already achieved with the natural beauty we possess.

The Seasonal Magic Of Rankin and Bass

Around Christmas time or the holiday season in general, we tend to cling to traditions that were passed down through the generations probably because they help to preserve and recreate the magic of the past.  One of those traditions started in the 60s, which may be your generation or  your parents’ generation, but now is being passed on to your kids’ generation.  That tradition is gathering around the television watching Christmas specials with the Christmas tree a glow, lights out and sipping on hot chocolate or egg nog.  These seasonal television specials are a wonderful way to spend time with your family, sharing quality time and passing on a childhood memory to your children.

Since the mid-1960s, Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass created these timeless classics. It started out with Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer,  which aired in 1964 on NBC.  The sponsor was General Electric (G.E.).  This doll like classic was narrated by singer Burl Ives, featured in the film as “Sam The Snowman.”  The series has several original songs such as “Silver and Gold,” “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas,” and “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer.”  This mini special is the longest running television special airing every year for 45 years now.

The amazing success of Rudolph led to many other specials produced by the Animagic studio such as Santa Claus is Coming to Town in 1970, narrated by Fred Astaire, and Mikey Rooney’s voice was that of Kris Kringle. This special, like Rudolph, utilized the stop-motion production.  That process can be seen with the robotic or choppy like movement of the characters. Some other great specials produced by this studio using this same process were The Little Drummer Boy, The Year Without A Santa Claus, Nestor the Long Eared Christmas Donkey, and The Leprechaun’s Christmas Gold.

Rankin and Bass also used traditional cartoon animation to create a few timeless classics, one of their most popular being Frosty The Snowman in 1969.  Narrated by comedian Jimmy Durante, this classic has run every year since its creation, elapsing 40 years.  We all love watching this terrible magician, tread hell or high water to return that magic hat to his possession.  In the end, he does manage to retrieve the hat and temporarily kill Frosty, but Santa comes and saves the day.

Though stop-motion animation is what got Rankin/Bass famous, the traditional animation made a huge impact for them as well producing classics like Cricket on the Hearth, ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, and The Stingiest Man in Town (their version of A Christmas Carol).

Today, adults and children alike revere these classics close to their hearts.  When many people pick on adults for watching kids’ stuff on television, nobody will pick fun of you for watching these.  What’s even more magical is how they bring out memories of Christmas past for the viewers, as well as making the older generations feel like children again.  Honestly, ask anyone and they will tell you the same thing, “It’s not Christmas until I see Rudolph and Frosty on TV.”

When I was younger these shows used to play two or three times a year, but within the last four to five years you will find they play these specials one time, and usually right after Thanksgiving.  If you miss them you better go to the store to buy the DVD, because it won’t be shown again in the year.  If you want to see these shows, best advice I can say is to look at your local TV Guide the week of and the week after Thanksgiving and mark them down on the calendar.  They are seldom played close to Christmas. With DVDs out now, it’s more profitable for the studios to have you buy them than to play them on television.

For those who do watch these specials, they will tell you the same thing.  Watching them on DVD is great, but not the same because one of the things that makes them so special are the holiday commercials, something that definitely is not on the DVDs.   So share a piece of your childhood memories with your children.  Sit down in front of the TV, get out the hot chocolate, snuggle into your PJs, and watch the magic that Rankin and Bass can only make.  Watching the smiles on your children’s faces will be a new memory for you to remember for years to come.

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