“IF YOU CAN ONLY LIFT ONE FINGER…… YOU STILL CAN POINT THE WAY!”
January 5, 2012
If you’ve been following my blog then you know the battles I’ve taken on and fought for with all my heart. I’ve shamed large corporations out of withholding millions of dollars in royalties from songwriters who didn’t earn at least $250 (the amount that had to be earned before a check was issued.)
When I ranted about Time Warner cable sending out programs where the sound wasn’t in synch with the picture, hundreds of customers all over the country who were suffering with the same problem bombarded the company with complaints, who corrected the problem immediately!
I’m proud to say that I helped to break the controversial Tommy James book, “ME, THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC”, which is being brought to the screen by Martin Scorcese. In the hard hitting interview I did with my former label mate, we exposed practices by the legendary Morris Levy, whose company Roulette Records, back in the sixties was said to have made more 45’s than singles.
I also exposed a “JACK-OFFICER” (a guy at a company who keeps telling you the check is in the mail.) when I wrote a blog about up one of the companies’ dubious past which included being started by the NAZIS, I was sent a check for what the company owed me, from LA by messenger to my desert home four hours later!
I was impressed when “Biz”Stone, the guy who started TWITTER contacted me to apologize for his company signing me up “by mistake” and making things right again.
When I discovered that YouTube was paying some artists like Lady GaGa and Justin Bieber every time their video was played, while lesser artists and songwriters received nothing (although their videos were viewed millions of times)…I was livid! I became more outraged when I also found out that a large group of publishers are signing a deal with YouTube on January 16, 2012 for future rights to their music, and getting part of a 4 million dollar settlement, which may or may not be divided with the writers!
When I talked to my friend Jeremy Blietz, an executive at Warner Brothers Music, he told me that his company is not going to sign what the other publishers are. He said that WBM is making its own deal with YouTube and assured me that every writer will be equally and fairly compensated.
I told Jeremy about my suspicions of gross underpayment of royalties by the Universal Music Group (which now owns Motown records on my two Michael Jackson cuts in four posthumously released CDs).
It’s hard to believe that Michael was the biggest music artist of 2011 earning over 170 million dollars, and I earned less than five grand in packages that included his biggest Motown solo hits “BEN”, “I’LL BE THERE”, “GOTTA’ BE THERE”, “ROCKIN’ ROBIN” and the classic “LITTLE CHRISTMAS TREE” (Clinton, jr./ Wayne).
Then I told him I located 99 pages in a google search listing for “Little Christmas Tree”, with dozens of new videos put up, with items like mp3 downloads, and ringtones for sale. Jeremy a man of a few words emailed me, “Hi Artie, I’ll look into this and get back to you shortly.”
Best regards, Jeremy Blietz
Vice President, Administration
Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Considering my relationship with Warners over the past 40 years, since I was General Professional Mgr. and earned millions of dollars for the company, I know Jeremy will do everything he can to see that justice is done!
Finally, after my medical miracle last week, I’m having my dance in the wheelchair videotaped to show potential investors what THE HEALING POWER OF MUSIC is all about.
I want to create an instructional video package to motivate people who have physical problems who need to exercise but won’t! The series is called, THE HEALING POWER OF MUSIC and features abbreviated popular dance music clips BY GAGA, BIEBER etc., which stimulate us on cerebral, primal, and emotional levels. Short enough not to tire out a disabled person, but not long enough to be considered competition to the artists commercially released recording.
I’ve discovered a common denominator in all of the music that has worked a miracle on me, and I can explain what it is and show each viewer how to benefit from it.
Eventually I want to shoot a video with me showing movements to a group of people of all ages who are physically challenged and watch their faces light up when they see how much they enjoy it!
This could lead to a TV special (or series) THE HEALING POWER OF MUSIC featuring people like J.R. Martinez, who overcame incredible odds to become this year’s winner of “DANCING WITH THE STARS”, my friend, and former Quincy Jones, one of the geniuses behind, “WE ARE THE WORLD”, with segments that show how congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who was shot earlier this year, regained her voice through music therapy.
It will also feature guest superstar performers who will interact with a physically challenged audience.Finally it will also feature a riveting special appearance by Steven Hawking and his voice synthesizer, who personifies my philosophy, “IF YOU CAN ONLY LIFT ONE FINGER YOU STILL CAN POINT THE WAY”
Regards, Artie Wayne http://artiewayne.com
IF YOU HAVEN’T READ ABOUT MY MEDICAL MIRACLE CLICK ONTO https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2011/12/29/my-medical-miracle/
photo at top taken during a demonstration in 1988 that was passing by the UNIQUE CLOTHING WAREHOUSE in the East Village, N.Y.
NOW YOU CAN BUY MY NEW BOOK ,“I DID IT FOR A SONG” AT AMAZON or Barnes & Noble or from Smashwords
TO READ A CHAPTER OR TWO FOR FREE CLICK HERE
TO READ SOME OF THE COMMENTS CLICK HERE
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When I heard my pal and label mate from the past, Tommy James, who has one of the hottest books around, “Me, the Mob, and the Music”, was going to speak at Rutgers University, I was impressed.
Since I did one of the first interviews with Tommy, in which he told stories about Morris Levy and Roulette records that weren’t his book, people including myself aren’t afraid to speak out on the “Mob” any longer. Even John Gotti, Jr. did in an in depth interview on 60 minutes…without fear of retaliation.
My friend, DJ Paul Payton and I have been creating a series of 10 five minute radio shows with Tommy called, THE TOMMY JAMES COLLEGE OF ROCK AND ROLL KNOWLEDGE! Tommy not only talks about the book, but how his music was created. How they got “that sound on the last chorus of “Crimson and Clover” What was “Crystal Blue Persuasion” really about? How he was “managed” or I should say “mis-managed” in a world where assholes never take a day off!
Here is a sample of what you’ll find in THE TOMMY JAMES COLLEGE OF ROCK AND ROLL KNOWLEDGE! https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2010/02/09/tommy-james-shocking-new-book-methe-mob-and-the-music/
Copyright 2010 by Artie Wayne https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/
To reach Tommy James http://tommyjames.com
for Paul Payton http://paulpayton.com
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PART 3 – TOMMY JAMES INTERVIEW…”ME, THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC”
February 18, 2010
As “Shadow” Mann I only had one album release, one single release, and a follow up that barely escaped. After performing at a Hubert Humphrey Rally in Times Square with Tommy James and the Shondells topping the bill, Morris Levy dropped me as an artist from the label.
It’s been 42 years since I’ve been in touch with Tommy, and was excited when I heard he had dared to write a book about his experiences with Morris and Roulette Records called, “Me, The Mob, And The Music”. He gave me an exclusive “no holds barred interview” where he made even more revelations than he did in his astonishing tell all autobiography!
Tommy- “in 1969, when crime boss Vito Genovese died in prison things were tense up at Roulette. All of a sudden they were having a lot of meetings with all the “boys”, figuring out who his successor would be. Were they going to shoot up the place? Was there going to be a challenge? Morris brought me into his office I shook hands with Vincent “The chin “Gigante, “Fat Tony” Salerno (who Tony Soprano character was based on). I also shook hands with Quiet Don Cirillo, and Tommy Eboli (a/k/a) Tommy Ryan.
Morris had his hands on my shoulders and as he is introducing me to of these (notorious people) I felt like a puppet! I couldn’t believe it and said to myself oops…this must be Hell!”
Artie – WOW!”
Then Tommy said he always wondered whatever happened to the “Shadow” Mann? When I told him that I moved to California in 1970, he asked if I heard about the gang wars in New York, between crime families, where 400 gang members were killed…I told him no and confessed that I hadn’t finished the book.
Tommy – “It got so bad that Morris hid out in Spain for a year and left me and everybody at Roulette holding the bag. I had to make myself scarce and went to Nashville. All the details are in the book.”
Artie – “Our pal, Brooks Arthur wanted me to ask you if you remember working on a album with him, while you’re in the middle of re-negotiations and Morris comes into the studio and demands that you sign a new contract .
Tommy – “ Yeah”, Morris said, ” Okay, the contract will say twelve percent, you’re makin’ eight,…I’m paying’ you six!”“
Artie – “I know you had a problem with drugs, and my friend, Gary Stromberg, who’s written several books on addiction and appeared with Dr. Drew Pinsky VH1 on “Celebrity Rehab” Specials, wanted me to ask you , “Many artists falsely believe that drugs and alcohol are the sources of their creativity, and when they stop drinking and using they must confront their creativity without these substances”
Tommy – “ I went into the Betty Ford Center for six weeks and have been clean since 1986! Being straight has been like floating on a pink cloud…I can accomplish so much more by being clear”
When Tommy speaks of his complex love/hate relationship with the late Morris Levy, who passed away 20 years ago he still gets emotional.
Tommy – “He asked to see me on his death bed, but I wasn’t able to get to the hospital in time…something I’ve always regretted. If it wasn’t for a Morris Levy,there wouldn’t have been a Tommy James.”
It’s easy to understand what the excitement surrounding “Me, the Mob, and the Music” is all about. Tommy told me a deal has just been signed to bring his story and his music to Broadway by the producers of “Jersey Boys”, and negotiations are nearly complete to bring it to the big screen.
After I thanked him for the interview, I took the opportunity to pitch an idea to develop a series of five minute segments for “Classic Hits” and college radio stations, with my friend, “Country” Paul Payton.
I’m happy to say that Tommy loves the idea and wants to work on it with us when he gets back from his promotional book tour.
Copyright 2010 by Artie Wayne https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/
YOU CAN BUY TOMMY JAMES’ “ME, THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC” ON HIS WEBSITE http://www.tommyjames.com/
Thanks to members of Spectropop , Forgotten hits, Alan O’Day, “Country” Paul Payton, Brooks Arthur, Ed Salamon, Alan Karr, Jim Cassidy, Kent Kotal, Dee Trane, Patti Dahlstrom, Ayrton Mugnaini, Robby Leff, Art Munson, AJC, and Matthew David, for the questions this article is based on..
IF YOU MISSED PART ONE OR TWO OF MY TOMMY JAMES INTERVIEW JUST CLICK ONTO
TOMMY JAMES’ SHOCKING NEW BOOK! “ME,THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC”
PART TWO…TOMMY JAMES “ME, THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC”, AND OF COURSE,
To reach Gary Stromberg http://www.garystromberg.net/
To reach Spectropop http://spectropop.com
Forgotten Hits http://forgottenhits.com
Special Thanks to Carol Ross – Durborow and Ed Osborne for their assistance in putting this article together.
BACK TO ARTIE WAYNE ON THE WEB https://artiewayne.wordpress.com
“SHADOW” MANN RIDES AGAIN!
February 14, 2010
HE’S BACK…AND HE’S PROUD! AFTER LURKING IN THE BACKGROUND FOR YEARS, VOWING TO ONLY COME BACK WHEN THE WORLD NEEDED HIM. HERE HE IS…”SHADOW” MANN RIDES AGAIN!
WHO IS “SHADOW MANN”…HERE ARE THREE RECENT ARTICLES I’VE POSTED WHERE HE MAKES AN APPEARANCE! (JUST CLICK ONTO THE TITLES BELOW)
LEGENDARY MUSIC MAN MORRIS LEVY AND “SHADOW” MANN A LEGEND IN HIS OWN MIND!
TOMMY JAMES’ SHOCKING NEW BOOK! “ME,THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC”
PART TWO…TOMMY JAMES “ME, THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC”, AND OF COURSE, MORRIS LEVY!
COMING ON TUESDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2010, IS THE FINAL INSTALLMENT OF MY EXPLOSIVE INTERVIEW WITH TOMMY JAMES AND MORE STORIES YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU’D NEVER HEAR!!!
BACK TO ARTIE WAYNE ON THE WEB https://artiewayne.wordpress.com
Photo at top of “Shadow” by Stephen Paley
Here is part two of my exclusive interview with Tommy James (“I Think We’re Alone Now” , “Mony, Mony”) about his controversial new book, “Me, the Mob, and the Music”…and the owner of Roulette Records Morris Levy! the story starts back in 1967.
“Although I was apprehensive about having a label with Morris and being an artist for the notorious Roulette records as “Shadow” Mann, I felt somewhat safe because my silent partner in my publishing company was Irving Green (who owned Mercury and Smash Records), who was not only my partner Kelli Ross’ father, but also Morris Levy’s best friend.
I always considered Tommy James, Roulette’s top artist, and his records to be ahead of their time, but I wonder how many people know that he was a major creative influence on the Beatles. How many people are aware that George Harrison even wrote a few songs for him (which were eventually passed on because they too much in the vein of “Mony, Mony”).
Now I had a chance not only to see how the infamous but charming, Morris Levy and Roulette promoted records, but also how Tommy James made them! One day I was up at the label walking past Morris’ office and I heard some great music coming out. I couldn’t help but stop and put my ear a little closer to the door. SUDDENLY…the door swings open and I’m a bit scared to see a startled, serious looking Morris less than a foot away from me!
Then a smile sweeps across his face as he grabs my arm and says, “Shadow…I want you to meet somebody.” Then he introduces me to Tommy James, who brought by a test pressing of his next single, “Crimson and Clover”. From the beginning it sounds like a hit, but when it reaches the end and goes into an electronic chant “Crimson and Clover…over and over”, it sounds like a classic!
(Here’s the original clip of “CRIMSON AND CLOVER” 1969) http://www.faniq.com/video/Tommy-James–the-Shondells-Crimson-in-Clover-YouTube-38590
When my pals at Spectropop and Forgotten Hits, the ‘60s and ‘70s music forums, heard I was interviewing Tommy they submitted six pages of questions. Two of those pages were filled with questions that basically asked, “How did you get that sound on “Crimson and Clover”?
Tommy said, “We had done the record with tremolo on the guitar. It’s just a built-in sound on guitar amplifiers. When I played the guitar, we recorded it with tremolo pretty much in synch with the music. In other words, we tried to make it so that it was vibrating at the same speed that the drums were playing. So we made the whole record that way. And then at the end, it was like one of those whimsical ideas, we said, “Why don’t we put it on the voice?” So that’s what we did, we ran the vocal mike through an Ampeg guitar amp, turned on the tremolo and miked it, and ran it back through the board. It was just that simple. What was so amazing, back then, if you wanted to make a sound wiggle, you had to basically do it yourself. There was no button you could push on a synthesizer, you basically had to build the circuits yourself and everything else. So that’s what we did, we just ran the vocal mike through the guitar amp, and then miked the amp and ran it back through the board.”
“Crimson and Clover” was not only a major point in their career turning them overnight from AM singles artists into FM album artists; it was also the first of the hits that Tommy James and the Shondells created themselves. After working with producers Ritchie Cordell and Bo Gentry on his earlier records, “I Think We’re Alone Now”, and “Mony, Mony”. ” Tommy says, “Those guys were the best and we learned a lot about producing and getting new sounds from them!”
I then I told him that Forgotten Hit’s Kent Kotal, wanted to know if there are any stories about “Crystal Blue Persuasion”. Tommy said, “That’s from the Crimson and Cover” album. At that point we had drastically changed our style. It was a difficult record to make. We completely over produced it, so gradually we started pulling instruments out, guitars, congas, percussion, etc. until it became as you know it.”
Artie – “So basically you let it breathe”
Tommy – “Yeah, we let it breathe…and it came to life!”
Artie- “There has been a lot of speculation about the meaning of “Crystal Blue Persuasion”. I always thought you were writing about Crystal Meth.”
Tommy – (smiles) “No. It’s about my conversion to Christianity…just listen to the lyric.”
The more time I spend up at Roulette I start to believe more and more of the stories I’ve heard about Morris. One day I see him and Nate McCalla, his friend and partner in Calla Records getting off the back elevator with a dozen hot TV sets…giving me the pick of the litter!
Although I was honored to sit in on some of Morris’ meetings there were times when I’d leave the room for fear of hearing too much…especially when the conversation would turn to Morris’ favorite forms of promotion…payola and intimidation.
Tommy told me about his first day up at Roulette, when he overheard Morris and some of his pals, talking about beating up some guy for bootlegging his records, then resumed the conversation as if nothing happened.
Tommy actually tells dozens of compelling stories in his book, “Me, the Mob, and the Music”, which made my hair stand on end…or laugh, sometimes both at the same time!
I told him how my producer Ron Haffkine and I would sit in Morris’ office while he was on the phone “encouraging” disc jockeys to play my records. “You play the Shadow’s records…or I’ll break your legs!”… Then Tommy told me something that made my mouth drop open!
(To Be Continued)
From my forthcoming book, “I Did It For A Song” Copyright 2010 by Artie Wayne https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/
YOU CAN ORDER TOMMY JAMES’ “ME, THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC” ON HIS WEBSITE http://www.tommyjames.com/
Thanks to members of Spectropop , Forgotten hits, Alan O’Day, “Country” Paul Payton, Brooks Arthur, Ed Salamon, Alan Karr, Jim Cassidy, Kent Kotal, Dee Trane, Patti Dahlstrom, Ayrton Mugnaini, Robby Leff, Art Munson, AJC, and Matthew David, for the questions this article is based on..
IF YOU MISSED PART ONE AND PART THREE CLICK ONTO
TOMMY JAMES’ SHOCKING NEW BOOK! “ME,THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC”
PART 3 – TOMMY JAMES INTERVIEW…”ME, THE MOB, AND THE MUSIC”
To reach Spectropop http://spectropop.com
Forgotten Hits http://forgottenhits.com
Special Thanks to Carol Ross – Durborow and Ed Osborne for their assistance in putting this article together.
BACK TO ARTIE WAYNE ON THE WEB https://artiewayne.wordpress.com
A#@HOLES NEVER TAKE A DAY OFF!
January 30, 2010
Back in the ‘60s, a songwriter and a publisher were supposed to split two cents for every record sold. When the infamous but charming, Morris Levy (Roulette records) asked for a “special rate” of one-half cent per song on my Shadow Mann album, I laughed and said, “Sure, why not? You’re not going to pay us anyway!”
Today writers and publishers divide upwards of eight cents for every unit sold and sometimes share hundreds of thousands of dollars that come for licensing fees from films, TV, and commercials.
Since I resumed writing and as well as pushing other people’s songs using the Internet, dozens of people I know from back in the day have been in touch with me to breath new life into their catalog and get new recordings on their songs. Unfortunately, many of these people are nefarious characters and are notorious for screwing anyone they can, and I’d be stupid to do any business with any of them. Needless to say I’m also wary of anyone I’ve never dealt with before, so I make sure I get a fee up front against a percentage of whatever income I’m able to generate, but even so I get taken in at times.
A top writer from the ‘60s, I knew casually, asked me to get a former number one song of his to Miley Cyrus, which I did foolishly, before I had an agreement with him. I stopped trying to deal with him when he became evasive. I never told him that I had played it already for one of Miley’s producers who flipped out over his song. I also never told him that I lied to the producer and told him Carrie Underwood had just cut the song, which of course stopped Miley from recording it!
A few days ago, I got a call from one of the owners (whom I’ve never met) of a publishing company I once was signed to. He wanted me to share my intimate knowledge of his catalog, and asked if I wanted to show some of his copyrights. He said was willing to give me a percentage, but not pay me a fee which…of course I wasn’t interested in.
When he mentioned, however, that he was considering selling his publishing company for $300,000 (10 times recent earnings) my eyes lit up and off the top of my head I came up with a unique idea to sell his company for a million dollars instead, in a way that’s never been done before…an innovation sure to make the front page of Billboard Magazine!
He thought it was a great idea and asked me to draw him up a proposal. He only had two songs that were bringing any income in the catalog, and I knew I could get hit covers on them as well as about 15 other “undiscovered” gems, but I played it cool as he was trying to pick my brain. In my head I was casting his songs with artists I could get to…Beyonce…Adam Lambert…Alicia Keyes…etc. knowing that I could significantly increase the value of his underexploited catalog. Before I talked with him initially, I checked his two biggest titles on “Google”, and found a John Mayer performance video of one of his songs…which he didn’t know about. He didn’t even know who John Mayer was…but that’s why you hire someone like me.
I wonder why this guy hasn’t responded to my phone calls or e-mail, but if he’s thinking of “appropriating” my idea, he should be aware that he needs someone like me with the expertise to pull it off, as well as means to publicize the sale (like my blog with over 1,450,000 hits). He probably doesn’t know I’ll get a “Google Alert” the minute my idea goes up on the Internet, and I’ll jump in 30 minutes later offering one of my clients catalogs, and crush him in the marketplace..
Last week was my birthday, I was 39 for the 29th time, and I’m working harder than ever before. I’m still recovering from contacting every Michael Jackson fan club in the world to alert their members to my song “Little Christmas Tree”, which led to 110,000 views on YouTube during Christmas week. I’m also developing a few ideas for Tommy James (“I Think We’re Alone Now”, “Crimson and Clover”) who has a book coming out Feb.16 called “Me, The Mob, and The Music”. I hope he doesn’t go into some witness protection program before I have a chance to interview him!
Alan O’Day (Undercover Angel”, “Angie Baby”), DJ Paul Payton, and I are finishing up some demos to pitch to classic hits stations which could liven up their formats and attract new listeners. Finally I’m in the editing stages of my book, “I Did It For A Song”.
Of all the things I’m doing, however, I’ m most excited about reconnecting with hundreds of old friends on Facebook, Twitter, my blog, Forgotten Hits, and Spectropop, and helping them reconnect with each other. I just wish those who try to con me into doing one thing or another for free would stop…but I suppose a#@holes never take a day off!
Copyright 2010 by Artie Wayne https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/
Photo at top by Stephen Paley left to right- Artie Wayne as Shadow Mann, Producer Ron Haffkine, Kelli Ross, and Morris Levy
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EXCLUSIVE! THE ANATOMY OF A GIANT MEDIA HOAX!
October 19, 2009
Today I was planning to pitch a radical promotion idea for Tommy James (“I Think We’re Alone Now”) who’s about release a book, “Me, the Mob, and the Music”, but the “Balloon Boy” incident stopped me in my tracks!
I was going to propose that Tommy start using Twitter to let his fans know his every move up to the release of the book…then send one last message that says, “This will be my last “Tweet” for a while, I’m going into the witness protection program.”
Then go silent for three days.
Can you imagine the media frenzy…the world wide speculation? The attention “Me, The Mob, and The Music”, would get? But when Tommy returned and innocently said, he was “only kidding”, and needed some time to himself, would he be greeted by adoring fans throwing “Crimson and Clover”, or a torch bearing mob tired of media “Hanky Panky”?
I’m sure Tommy will get a laugh out of my “plan” when he hears about it, but he’s one artist who doesn’t need any gimmicks to get the attention he deserves. Here he is performing one his biggest hits “CRYSTAL BLUE PERSUASION” and you’ll see what I mean.
Copyright 2009 by Artie Wayne https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/2009/07/12/thank-you-for-one-million-hits/
For complete story of Balloon Boy Hoax. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8313439.stm
For Tommy James http://tommyjames.com
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