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Singles Charts and the Battle for Bullets

In our continuing excerpts from MICHAEL SIGMAN's memoir Just Remember: Field Notes from a Music Biz Life, the author recounts the tumult that erupted when Record World dared to print charts reflecting actual record sales.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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The End of the ’60s? Where Do I Begin…

In this installment of his forthcoming memoirs, contributing editor MICHAEL SIGMAN lands a full-time job at RECORD WORLD right out of college, at the very moment sure signals of the '60s' end could not be ignored.
by David McGee
 

 

 
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Brooklyn, Blintzes, Baseball and Ballads With Johnny Mercer (Field Notes From a Music Biz Life)

In chapters 6 and 7 of his memoirs, MICHAEL SIGMAN recalls his father CARL SIGMAN's songwriting apprenticeship with JOHNNY MERCER and how the rocky course of his adolescent years seemed to parallel his dad's hit songs.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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The Old Guard Hated the Rock But Loved the Bankroll (Field Notes From a Music Biz Life, Part 4)

In Part 4 of his autobiography, MICHAEL SIGMAN explains why the old guard post-war pop songwriters 'hated the rock but loved the bankroll'
by David McGee
 

 

 
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A Gathering of Voices, in Celebration and Covenant

Continuing a journey embarked upon three albums ago, MOIRA SMILEY & VOCO and The Choir of YOU bring voices, instruments and a gumbo of American and Eastern European folk music together on LAUGHTER OUT OF TEARS.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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How To Have Fun With a Serious Song (Field Notes from a Music Biz Life, Part 3)

In this installment of his autobiography, MICHAEL SIGMAN recounts some amusing incidents following in the wake of his father CARL SIGMAN's now-classic hit song 'EBB TIDE.' JERRY COLONNA makes an appearance.
by David McGee
 

 

 
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‘Star Spangled Banner’ @200: Five Noteworthy Classical Versions

Marking the 200th birthday of the 'STAR SPANGLED BANNER,' we present five notable classical versions and debunk the urban myth about STRAVINSKY being arrested for defaming the anthem.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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At the Intersection of Abbey Road and Tin Pan Alley (Field Notes From a Music Biz Life, Part 3)

In Part 3 of his autobiography,, MICHAEL SIGMAN recalls how his father Carl's song 'Ebb Tide,' which was the #1 hit in America in 1953, brought father and son closer when the RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS recorded it in 1965.
by David McGee
 

 

 
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Field Notes From a Music Biz Life (Part 2)

In Part 2 of his autobiography, MICHAEL SIGMAN recalls the 'extraordinary collection of minds, heart and ears' that gathered for Saturday night festivities at the Sigman household.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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Video Moments for the Ages

A few memorable moments courtesy JERRY REED and STEVE GOODMAN, gone but hardly forgotten
by David McGee
 

 

 
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Sorrow and Suicide

'Robin Williams's death has really stirred up a lot of stuff for me. Big time.' TONY CAPUTI reflects on his personal travails and gives thanks for the healing gifts a comic genius left us to savor.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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Field Notes from a Music Biz Life (Part 1)

'No Brill Building, no me.' So begins Chapter 1 of MICHAEL SIGMAN's autobiography, FIELD NOTES FROM A MUSIC BIZ LIFE, previewed in serial form in Deep Roots.
by David McGee