Mark Parsell :The Man with the finger on the Pulse of Local Memphis Music

My weekend was a pretty productive on in terms of photography. I was able to witness the Brass Blues Note award ceremony and single release of Keith Sykes .

Keith Sykes

+Skyelor Anderson  from +NBC  +The X Factor USA  was down the street playing at +Double J Smokehouse 

Skyelor Anderson

  

As well as being able to photograph a special event held by local radio station  94.1 +The Wolf, as they hosted  Songwriterfest2160 featuring +Shane Minor, +Phil O`Donnell +Shelley Skidmore  , and +Greg Bates as they sat in an open forum and told the stories behind your favorite hits.

All made possible through the help of Mark Parsell the owner of South Main Sounds. A tiny venue he runs where he showcases local talent in the Mid South area,

Mark Parsell and Michelle Bush Shrader

I first met Mark during my first Trolley Night (which is normally the last Friday of the month) In the South Main Arts district in Memphis. Marks was always walking around networking and checking on thing. See when you are on South Main and you are hearing live music and the acts playing. that`s Marks handy  work. Out there keeping the ball rolling. I`d only see him in passing never really speaking, just snapping and posting away.

Shortly after that Mark started his lovechild of local music South Main Sounds

From here not only was there live music to listen to on the streets of South Main, but you could walk into 550 have a seat and listen to local musicians preform in three to four sets of original songs written by the artist themselves. Again with Mark buzzing in and out saying "Are we good Brad" "Are we good?? Okay". Me just taking pictures, learning new talent, and posting online.

Then November 22,2014. I was planning to visit Lafayette`s Music Room in +Overton Square 
 because Brad said a band called American Fiction( +AF BAND ) was having a vinyl release party for their album "Dumb Luck". Brad couldn't  make it due to a prior engagement  and I was going anyway so hey way not. While I`m setting up I notice Mark walk in and pass me, he doesn't speak doesn't say a work. It  doesnt bother me because up until that point we`ve only been introduced once and never had a conversation of any kind. About forty minutes later as I`m walking around looking for angles and taking photos, Mark walks up to me and says "Hey I really appreciate  you coming out and doing this I know the pictures are going to be great, there in really good hands" and I really think nothing more of it. The next day I`m pranking  Brad on line by asking him did he go (which I know he didn`t because I`m the only photographer there). He replies "Frank Chin" didn't and I didn`t go so I take you didnt go either " Then I popped the pic on him.

American Fiction

He`s really thankful and says I know Mark`s thankful and that he`s going to look out for me and I`m like "Awe man its no big deal" and he replies "No man you don`t know how big of a deal it is"

Jump ahead December 28,2014. I walk in and check my +Facebook and there a message from Mark
"Hey do you have any plans for New Years? The Madison Hotel is having a New Years Eve Party and are looking for a photographer. do you think you would be interested?"Next thing I know I`m working The Madison hotel

Mark has brought in a lot of incredible talent over the past year including Nashville artists +Karen Waldrup who`s video Classy Trashed the Party stayed in the top 3 on +CMT   video countdown for weeks.

Karen Waldrup

+Jordan Allena  and +Ashley McBryde  who both have EP`s releasing this year

Jordan Allena

Ashley Mcbryde

As well as artist who have recently received national attention like +Angie Keilhauer  and  Chris Johnson who are and have been on +The Voice  and +American Idol respectfully

Angie Keilhauer

Chris CJ Johnson

And I would never had the chance to capture such amazing talent in such a pivotal time if it weren't for the man with his finger on the pulse if local music. So many thanks to you Mark Parsell. It`s kind of funny because every now and again at the end of a show as I`m leaving he will say "Thanks for all you do" as if its no big deal and now I`m the one thinking "You don't know how big of a deal it is".

South Main Sounds : Meet Me in Memphis A Place to Catch Stars on the Rise.

                                  

   I made a post on my +Instagram page  (IG:harvtography)in which I state that I have had the pleasure to shoot two different artist +Angie Keilhauer  and Chris Johnson of +AF BAND   who both in just the third month of this calender year, have both have been on two different television networks (Johnson on +Fox Network  and Keilhauer on +NBC ) on two different singing competitions ( +American Idol -Johnson and +The Voice -Keilhauer), what are the odds?? Well its not so much odds than it is opportunity and that is something I have had a lot of thanks to South Main Sounds "Meet Me in Memphis.

  When a lot of people think about downtown Memphis and music they mainly relate it to Elvis, Sun Studios, and Beale Street. But what you should add to the list is The South Main Arts District. I first found this out via something called Trolley Night. On the last Friday of the month, its like a huge outdoor block party with vendors stores to travel up and down , in and out, live music and musicians playing and when the original trolleys were running you could ride one for free and view areas, drink and converse. One the far end of the Arcade Restaurant, there a small building with a mannequin  in the window (South Main Sally). Thats 550 South Main.

  550 South Main is a building with a small stage, theater  chairs and a chance for local musicians to shine. All performers take turns in "rounds" of three or four ORIGINAL  songs..No COVERS!!!

Keturah Brown & Eric Hughes

 So if your looking for a place to hear incredible talent and music stop by admission is free

Ori Naftany &Tierinii Jackson

https://www.facebook.com/meetmeinmemphis1/?fref=ts

Chris Johnson from American Fiction to Idol Reality

I first met Chis Johnson on November 22, 2014 as he and his band  American Fiction  ( +AF BAND ) were having an album release party at  Lafayette`s Music Room on +Overton Square  in Memphis Tennessee. A friend of mine was suppose to do it but a previous engagement  and the time they were suppose to perform prevented him from attending. I pretended I didn`t  make it then surprised him with a photo, he said he was very grateful and I told him it was no big deal to with he replied "No dude you don't know how big of a deal this really is". I had no idea how right he was.

I`ve seen "CJ" perform in several stages besides Lafayette`s over the past few years but no bigger stage than that of the fans of +Fox Network  +American Idol as a contestant of the shows final season

 

Chris made it to the top 25. But was sent home with a new fan base, great exposure , and the opportunity many never have....A chance to live his dream....

Follow Chris on is +Twitter   and +Instagram at @cjsingsforyou and @thisisAfiction

Mary Owens: A Treasure the Should be Discovered!!!!!

If you do not have heard of or listened to "Sweet Soul" from  Mary Owens which is on her website   ( http://maryowensmusic.com ) Please take a moment stop be itunes or +Spotify   and take a listen. I`ve had the pleasure of hearing her live twice both with a band and acoustically which totally sold me over to get her cd which by far is the most enjoyable CD which I have heard in a long time.

The songs carry with much  pride and an old time-y R&B feel.You know, that feel you get  when you`er listening to on flashback station and you say "Man they don`t make music like that anymore".

I know now they do ( I mean when was the last time you head a song with horn sections or an organ? (Listen to Made to be Mine.. it triggers me back to thoughts of the first Blues Brothers movie and we all know what that music like).

 So if you want to hear something "Fresh" with a "Classy soulful feel to it  "Sweet  Soul" is for you

Saturday Shot: Roger Wild

This Saturday`s Shot is a photo of local musician Roger Wild one of most original songwriters I`ve had the pleasure to hear in quite a while visit him on +Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/roger.wild.37). And if you can catch him live you`ll be in for a treat.

 Image captured with +Nikon USA D40  body    and +Nikon 35-135 mm lens.

Photo of the Day

 

Today`s Photo of the Day was taken at the +Delta Fair and Music Festival . Shot was taken with the +Nikon USA D40 with a +Nikon USA  35-135mm lens which can be found on +Amazon.com and +eBay .

Saturday`s Shot

 

Today`s photo is of +Tierinii jackson  (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1807030304&fref=ts) Who along with +Ori Naftaly (https://www.facebook.com/ori.naftaly?fref=ts) were the opening act at +Mark Parcell`s   Singer Songwriter Night which he does in the South Main Art`s District downtown in Memphis, Tennessee.

The photo  was shot with my +Nikon USA D3000 which can which is being sold on +Amazon.com for $199.00 and my lense is a +Nikon USA  Nikor 70-210 mm that I grabbed on +eBay  for $10.00!!!

Photo was edited using +Adobe Photoshop Lightroom

If you have any questions on comments please reach out.

Amy Burcham: Looking to share traditional music to a new generation

 At the end of one of  the monthly local music events I attend, a lady I was holding the door for asked me whom was I working for? I told her I wasn`t working for anyone and this was just a freelance thing that I do on my own. She told me that she was doing something at the new +Whole Foods Market and would I be interested in stopping by and taking pictures of her and I said sure not a problem. She gave me her card and told me her performance would began at noon.

 Well the lady is Amy Burcham and the card  reads West Tn Choro which is a non-profit organization started by Ms. Burcham to raise awareness of Choro( pronounced as SHOH-roh) which is a form of 19th century Brazilian music featuring clarinet, saxophone, trumpet,  trombone, and her instrument of choice the day the mandolin

 

"It is very difficult to interest local musicians in playing something different - people are busy, and learning a new skill is intimidating -it has just been hard to get anybody's attention about choro up to now."

"A big focus of our organization's efforts will be to establish ways to encourage participation by local musicians of all ages - from young students to older amateurs who play an acoustic instrument.  "

"Far too often, those of us who devote ourselves to music in these formative years find ourselves putting the instrument under the bed as we graduate and go off into our working lives. Choro - the study of choro as a group activity, and the nature of this particular repertoire - provides classically trained students a perfect sweet spot between playing "on the page" and improvisation. it is, more importantly, a way to collaborate with others musically in the closest thing to recreational chamber music I've ever personally seen. I am passionate about choro primarily as a result of having been given workshop and seminar opportunities that allowed me - one of these adults who "used to play" - a new chance at music, a feeling of extended family connection, and endless creative and intellectual challenge through a rich and generous musical culture."

For more information on the West Tn Choro visit their web site http://westtnchoro.org  or visit their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/westtnchoro

 All photos taken with my  +Nikon USA D40 and my +Nikon USA  35-135mm lens

Mara Daniele : Never again will she go back to her old ways

When I first started doing the blog, It was to showcase my photography, talk about, my lenses, camera/cameras used etc.  But you have to also factor in that there's a  story to every photo as well. So here`s my story of a very talented young singer named Mara Danele .


I first heard Mara outside of Earnestine and Hazel`s on South Main in Memphis Tennessee during a monthly event called Trolley Night. It`s an event that happens on the last Friday of the month with vendors, art and of course live music in shops and one the streets.

Mara was amazing. Her voice, her lyrics, her presence were all wonderful. I gave her one of my cards after her final set and asked her to email me so I could send her some of the photos I took

These were all shot with my +Nikon USA  D3000

The next time I heard her was again on a Trolley Night. In an event called Meet Me in Memphis which features live music from local artist. She was also selling an EP entitled Mara. 

The second song is entitle "Tennessee" which is about a young lady on a quest to follow her dreams "Never again will she go back to her old ways" Which is just what Mara is doing. I found out that she`s heading out to The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance and  just wanted to wish her all the best

So wish her will and give her support

https://mara80.bandcamp.com/album/mara-2

http://www.maradaniele.com/

https://www.facebook.com/maradanielemusic

"Getaway" to Itunes

On June 12th Karen Waldrup made a stop in Memphis Tennessee and played at The Hard Rock Cafe. I was able to catch her with my Nikon D40.  Her new single "Getaway" became available in itunes August 4th 2015. You can download it here (  http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1024810345?ls=1&app=itunes      ), visit here site here (  www.karenwaldrup.com    ) and see my pics of here here ( www.flickr.com/photos/95748450@N04/sets/72157654374953418      )