Thunderstorm in Mentone

(The Poetry of John Lee)

Released on Miramuse

 

by Gary Powell, Composer/Pianist

Thunderstorm in Mentone - John Lee, Gary PowellI’m proud to announce the worldwide digital release of “Thunderstorm in Mentone,” a spoken-word album featuring author and speaker, John Lee.

Composers are often called upon to interpret life in solitude. This project, however, was by its nature a collaborative effort. I found that musically interpreting the intimacy of John Lee’s words and voice was a wonderful and enriching creative experience. My intent was not to simply provide a musical bed for John’s rich baritone. Instead, I chose to score the music both tightly and programmatically to his poetry’s honest imagery. My wish is that you will experience this integration of poetry and music as deeply as I have and find the solo piano transparently merged with John Lee’s beautiful performance.

When Gary Powell and I first talked about him setting music to my poems I thought, ‘What a compliment,’ and ‘Sure, let’s try it.’ Then when I heard his first composition I could hardly compose myself. The sound coming out of this talented, gentle man’s soul stirred my own. Now after listening to his music embrace my poems, I want to write more poetry and be a better poet and say, ‘Let’s do more.’ And we will. – John Lee, Poet and Writer

“Thunderstorm in Mentone” – Now Available Online for Worldwide Download from These Stores

iTunes Worlwide button
amazon mp3 buttonrhapsody button

 

Thunderstorm in Mentone

Written and Read by John Lee
Composed and Piano Performance by Gary Powell
Produced by Gary Powell

 1. The Long Walk Home
 2. Ancient Paths
 3. The Man Who Had Never Seen the Sea
 4. It is a Wonder
 5. The Upward Journey
 6. Thunderstorm in Mentone
 7. Holding On
 8. Lines and Curves
 9. Letters
10. A Fall Wedding
11. Nothing
12. And Thomas Answered
13. Becoming Astonished
14. All Things
15. Bringing Forth

BLOGGING TIP: TO SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS: Click the title of this post to display its permalink URL in your browser’s address bar. A permalink is nothing but a permanent URL address for any post. Every post (or blog) has its own permalink. You can now copy and paste this URL address from your browser’s address bar into an email to share with others.

 

by Gary Powell, Composer/Pianist

Thunderstorm in Mentone - John Lee, Gary PowellI’m proud to announce the worldwide digital release of “Thunderstorm in Mentone,” a spoken-word album featuring author and speaker, John Lee.

Composers are often called upon to interpret life in solitude. This project, however, was by its nature a collaborative effort. I found that musically interpreting the intimacy of John Lee’s words and voice was a wonderful and enriching creative experience. My intent was not to simply provide a musical bed for John’s rich baritone. Instead, I chose to score the music both tightly and programmatically to his poetry’s honest imagery. My wish is that you will experience this integration of poetry and music as deeply as I have and find the solo piano transparently merged with John Lee’s beautiful performance.

When Gary Powell and I first talked about him setting music to my poems I thought, ‘What a compliment,’ and ‘Sure, let’s try it.’ Then when I heard his first composition I could hardly compose myself. The sound coming out of this talented, gentle man’s soul stirred my own. Now after listening to his music embrace my poems, I want to write more poetry and be a better poet and say, ‘Let’s do more.’ And we will. – John Lee, Poet and Writer

“Thunderstorm in Mentone” – Now Available Online for Worldwide Download from These Stores

iTunes Worlwide button
amazon mp3 buttonrhapsody button

 

Thunderstorm in Mentone

Written and Read by John Lee
Composed and Piano Performance by Gary Powell
Produced by Gary Powell

 1. The Long Walk Home
 2. Ancient Paths
 3. The Man Who Had Never Seen the Sea
 4. It is a Wonder
 5. The Upward Journey
 6. Thunderstorm in Mentone
 7. Holding On
 8. Lines and Curves
 9. Letters
10. A Fall Wedding
11. Nothing
12. And Thomas Answered
13. Becoming Astonished
14. All Things
15. Bringing Forth

BLOGGING TIP: TO SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS: Click the title of this post to display its permalink URL in your browser’s address bar. A permalink is nothing but a permanent URL address for any post. Every post (or blog) has its own permalink. You can now copy and paste this URL address from your browser’s address bar into an email to share with others.

The New 1776

by Gary Powell

This site is a very personal self-help manual for me. When beginning my career in music, the kind of mentoring insights, like the ones found here, were either absent, misleading, or simply wrong. Within this site we have visited Benjamin Franklin, Galileo, Aristotle, Rosa Parks and even Joseph Stalin. All of these people have a connection to the American holiday of July 4th; all positive ones, excepting the latter. american music flag gary powellJoseph Stalin represents the worst of what human beings are capable of when our institutions, governments and lizard-brain fears become enmeshed.

Parallel to our American heritage, my experience with institutions is that they simply have no idea what to do when a person who colors outside of the lines shows up. Missing the contribution of individuals, or not identifying talent which does not fit nicely into an existing 18th century societal curriculum, is still common to this day. Within this blind spot is where the institutions must adopt and change or risk becoming irrelevant. England rejected the idea of their own irrelevance and neither prepared for it or won the war. Fast-forward 232 years and we can project that the shear muscle of tradition, branding-power and sweat-shops won’t be enough to sustain similar institutions after The New 1776 goes world-wide. What’s this got to do with music or a successful career in the arts?

With some 45 million of my productions having been sold in 47 countries it’s hard to argue that I have not been successful. This, however, is not a simple success story. It is one that is best understood within the context of how and what I have contributed to and negotiated with – both small and large organizations and even individuals. There are not just insignificant nuances to understand about a career in music of this length. There are also accidents of fate, manipulations, weather, betrayals, luck, and bold personal moves. The New 1776 is about understanding everything in our careers until that time when old strategies transform into bold moves. The Declaration of Independence was THE bold move of our country. This came after decades of negotiations and measured strategies which did not work. We each have to know when OUR time for a bold move has come.

Most of my words here are written as fuel for personally stretching to reach my own goals. My goal is to achieve a greater integration of my talent, education, skills, self, and experience within a musical expression. Here, within this music-business blog, I have slowly been granting myself authorization to move forward in bold new ways.

In this regard, this blog is a very personal self-help manual.

It’s 1776 all over again for people like me, maybe you are another, who with conscious intention to serve the whole of the good, can now directly contribute and profit from your own individual authority. This is how we can best design and realize our well-earned and prosperous futures. I’m ready for the right people to win. The world is ready for the right people to win. How do we do it?

I’ve been supporting my artist friends since entering music school in 1970. However, I have ignored my own artistic vision to a fault. Now I find my vision pregnant with rich content – born from my own bitter wars of disappointment and the abject folly of success. Within this context, which only experience brings, I have lost all fear.

Here are some guidelines I’ve set for myself.

  • Do not follow or artistically try to find my audience. That’s what record companies are good at, not artists.
  • Invite my audience into my own musical experience, even if I know it expects more from them. I have found most individual adults hungry for music which reflects the complexity and beauty of their own lives.
  • Through continued study and experimentation, both musically and otherwise, let my music show a personal reflection from these quests for understanding.
  • Boldly put this music out there. It was healing to write it, so now share it with great pride and little expectation.
  • Ask my friends and colleagues for help and support in any way with which they feel comfortable in participating.

    From this 2008 Independence Day forward, on my site you will begin to find more links to iTunes and other download sites as well. I am now asking in a direct way for your help by forwarding my announcements to your friends and networks. You can also connect with me on Plaxo, Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin where I will be keeping my “Pulse” in regard to future releases. I will look forward to creating these new works and sharing them with all of you. We have so many ways to help each other now – through our social networks, writing and subscribing to blogs, and simple email, we can refer our support for each others’ efforts therefore inspiring more people to reach higher for others and deeper within themselves. This is how we build a world that we wish we were living in just as Thomas Jefferson did for us in 1776!

    This is The New 1776 for the entire globe. It’s time to go inward and come out with a healing hand which only inspiration and aspiration can lend, remembering that within this freedom, we all contribute and support each other by our own choice. Happy 4th of July to the whole world. I’m choosing to win.

    • Helpful? Then Copy, Paste and Tweet It:
    The New 1776 and How We Claim Our Own Authority. http://tinyurl.com/5tscyv

    All Content of Gary Powell’s Site is Licensed Under a
    Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License

    .

    by Gary Powell

    This site is a very personal self-help manual for me. When beginning my career in music, the kind of mentoring insights, like the ones found here, were either absent, misleading, or simply wrong. Within this site we have visited Benjamin Franklin, Galileo, Aristotle, Rosa Parks and even Joseph Stalin. All of these people have a connection to the American holiday of July 4th; all positive ones, excepting the latter. american music flag gary powellJoseph Stalin represents the worst of what human beings are capable of when our institutions, governments and lizard-brain fears become enmeshed.

    Parallel to our American heritage, my experience with institutions is that they simply have no idea what to do when a person who colors outside of the lines shows up. Missing the contribution of individuals, or not identifying talent which does not fit nicely into an existing 18th century societal curriculum, is still common to this day. Within this blind spot is where the institutions must adopt and change or risk becoming irrelevant. England rejected the idea of their own irrelevance and neither prepared for it or won the war. Fast-forward 232 years and we can project that the shear muscle of tradition, branding-power and sweat-shops won’t be enough to sustain similar institutions after The New 1776 goes world-wide. What’s this got to do with music or a successful career in the arts?

    With some 45 million of my productions having been sold in 47 countries it’s hard to argue that I have not been successful. This, however, is not a simple success story. It is one that is best understood within the context of how and what I have contributed to and negotiated with – both small and large organizations and even individuals. There are not just insignificant nuances to understand about a career in music of this length. There are also accidents of fate, manipulations, weather, betrayals, luck, and bold personal moves. The New 1776 is about understanding everything in our careers until that time when old strategies transform into bold moves. The Declaration of Independence was THE bold move of our country. This came after decades of negotiations and measured strategies which did not work. We each have to know when OUR time for a bold move has come.

    Most of my words here are written as fuel for personally stretching to reach my own goals. My goal is to achieve a greater integration of my talent, education, skills, self, and experience within a musical expression. Here, within this music-business blog, I have slowly been granting myself authorization to move forward in bold new ways.

    In this regard, this blog is a very personal self-help manual.

    It’s 1776 all over again for people like me, maybe you are another, who with conscious intention to serve the whole of the good, can now directly contribute and profit from your own individual authority. This is how we can best design and realize our well-earned and prosperous futures. I’m ready for the right people to win. The world is ready for the right people to win. How do we do it?

    I’ve been supporting my artist friends since entering music school in 1970. However, I have ignored my own artistic vision to a fault. Now I find my vision pregnant with rich content – born from my own bitter wars of disappointment and the abject folly of success. Within this context, which only experience brings, I have lost all fear.

    Here are some guidelines I’ve set for myself.

  • Do not follow or artistically try to find my audience. That’s what record companies are good at, not artists.
  • Invite my audience into my own musical experience, even if I know it expects more from them. I have found most individual adults hungry for music which reflects the complexity and beauty of their own lives.
  • Through continued study and experimentation, both musically and otherwise, let my music show a personal reflection from these quests for understanding.
  • Boldly put this music out there. It was healing to write it, so now share it with great pride and little expectation.
  • Ask my friends and colleagues for help and support in any way with which they feel comfortable in participating.

    From this 2008 Independence Day forward, on my site you will begin to find more links to iTunes and other download sites as well. I am now asking in a direct way for your help by forwarding my announcements to your friends and networks. You can also connect with me on Plaxo, Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin where I will be keeping my “Pulse” in regard to future releases. I will look forward to creating these new works and sharing them with all of you. We have so many ways to help each other now – through our social networks, writing and subscribing to blogs, and simple email, we can refer our support for each others’ efforts therefore inspiring more people to reach higher for others and deeper within themselves. This is how we build a world that we wish we were living in just as Thomas Jefferson did for us in 1776!

    This is The New 1776 for the entire globe. It’s time to go inward and come out with a healing hand which only inspiration and aspiration can lend, remembering that within this freedom, we all contribute and support each other by our own choice. Happy 4th of July to the whole world. I’m choosing to win.

    • Helpful? Then Copy, Paste and Tweet It:
    The New 1776 and How We Claim Our Own Authority. http://tinyurl.com/5tscyv

    All Content of Gary Powell’s Site is Licensed Under a
    Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5 License

    .

    Gary Powell Awarded 2008 Austin Toastmasters

    “Achievement in Communications”

    gary powell austin toastmasters award
    On June 24th, the Austin Toastmasters Club presented Gary Powell with their respected “2008 Communication Achievement Award.” The club’s 28th annual banquet was held at the Austin Country Club. Kristi Curry, owner of Survivorship Now, presented the award and introduced Gary Powell.

    No one is quite sure how Mr. Powell was nominated for this award – much less how he won it. Club president, Scotty Burch, suspected foul-play. Others, however, because of the uncommonly beautiful club members, men and women alike, were simply suspicious of illegal Botox being smuggled from Mexico through Mr. Powell’s studio. We will continue to monitor how many Toastmasters’ music careers soon start to blossom. Regardless of the accusations, Gary Powell has the trophy displayed in a place of honor in his Austin recording studio.

    Mr. Powell’s parents, longtime Austinites Max & Jessie Powell, who now reside in Huntsville, Texas were present at the event along with Gary’s life-partner and Austin psychotherapist Amy Person and her parents, Ralph & Peggy Person of Temple, Texas. This was a most gracious evening for Gary Powell, who would like to thank Scotty Burch, Kristi Curry and all the club members who gave him such a graceful reception. Mr. Powell’s speech is best described here by club member and presenter, Kristi Curry.

    Our keynote speaker took us on a tour through the internal spaces of a producer, musician and someone who has a heightened awareness of changing the world with music. He told us how seamy the music business can be, and how this music industry is a barometer of the health of our culture … like canaries in a coal mine. Gary then took us on a tour of what it’s like to compose music. As he played on a baby grand piano, he walked us through the process. He added humor, drama, random thoughts and a little peek into the “other side” of a symphony production. Finally, he brought it all together with how he writes music with the most personal themes. He sang, “In My Palm,” – the lyrics describe what we all could only have wished for from our parents at our birth.” – Kristi Curry

    Past Honorees

    2008, Gary Powell – Composer/Producer
    2007, Ronnie Earle – Travis County District Attorney
    2006, Sarah Weddington – Attorney, Leadership Philosopher
    2005, Judy Maggio – Anchor, CBS-42 K-EYE News
    2004, Kinky Friedman – Humorist, Performer, Mystery Writer
    2003, Liz Carpenter – Author; Lecturer
    2002, Admiral Bobby Inman – Venture Capitalist, Austinite of the Year
    2001, Kirk Watson – Mayor, Austin Texas
    2000, Chuck Meyer – Minister; Author
    1999, John Kelso – Humor Columnist; Author
    1998, Marion Winik – Author; Lecturer
    1997, Willie Kocurek – Community Leader
    1996, Toody Byrd – Humorist; Lecturer
    1995, Lloyd Doggett – U.S. Representative
    1994, Cactus Pryor – Humorist
    1993, Brigid Shea – Director, Save Our Springs
    1992, Nick Barbaro – Publisher, The Austin Chronicle
    1991, Molly Ivins – Syndicated Columnist
    1990, Ben Sargent – Political Cartoonist
    1989, Wally Pryor – Sports Broadcaster (“Voice of the Longhorns”)
    1988, Gonzalo Barrientos – Texas State Senator
    1987, Jodie Conradt – U.T. Women’s Basketball Coach
    1986, Barbara Jordan – LBJ Centennial Chair on National Policy, UT Austin
    1985, Jim Hightower – Agricultural Commissioner, State of Texas
    1984, Ann Richards – Treasurer, State of Texas
    1983, Ron Mullen – Mayor, Austin Texas
    1982, Neil Spelce – TV News Anchor

    Mr. Powell has agreed to terms with his estate and airs to make the video, which was recorded during his speech at the Austin Toastmasters Club, available for release to the public 25 susan baughman, gary powell, max & jessie powell, helena escalanteyears after his death.

    Pictured at left and from left to right are: Susan Baughman, Max Powell, Gary Powell, Jessie Powell, Helena Escalante.

    gary powell austin toastmasters award
    On June 24th, the Austin Toastmasters Club presented Gary Powell with their respected “2008 Communication Achievement Award.” The club’s 28th annual banquet was held at the Austin Country Club. Kristi Curry, owner of Survivorship Now, presented the award and introduced Gary Powell.

    No one is quite sure how Mr. Powell was nominated for this award – much less how he won it. Club president, Scotty Burch, suspected foul-play. Others, however, because of the uncommonly beautiful club members, men and women alike, were simply suspicious of illegal Botox being smuggled from Mexico through Mr. Powell’s studio. We will continue to monitor how many Toastmasters’ music careers soon start to blossom. Regardless of the accusations, Gary Powell has the trophy displayed in a place of honor in his Austin recording studio.

    Mr. Powell’s parents, longtime Austinites Max & Jessie Powell, who now reside in Huntsville, Texas were present at the event along with Gary’s life-partner and Austin psychotherapist Amy Person and her parents, Ralph & Peggy Person of Temple, Texas. This was a most gracious evening for Gary Powell, who would like to thank Scotty Burch, Kristi Curry and all the club members who gave him such a graceful reception. Mr. Powell’s speech is best described here by club member and presenter, Kristi Curry.

    Our keynote speaker took us on a tour through the internal spaces of a producer, musician and someone who has a heightened awareness of changing the world with music. He told us how seamy the music business can be, and how this music industry is a barometer of the health of our culture … like canaries in a coal mine. Gary then took us on a tour of what it’s like to compose music. As he played on a baby grand piano, he walked us through the process. He added humor, drama, random thoughts and a little peek into the “other side” of a symphony production. Finally, he brought it all together with how he writes music with the most personal themes. He sang, “In My Palm,” – the lyrics describe what we all could only have wished for from our parents at our birth.” – Kristi Curry

    Past Honorees

    2008, Gary Powell – Composer/Producer
    2007, Ronnie Earle – Travis County District Attorney
    2006, Sarah Weddington – Attorney, Leadership Philosopher
    2005, Judy Maggio – Anchor, CBS-42 K-EYE News
    2004, Kinky Friedman – Humorist, Performer, Mystery Writer
    2003, Liz Carpenter – Author; Lecturer
    2002, Admiral Bobby Inman – Venture Capitalist, Austinite of the Year
    2001, Kirk Watson – Mayor, Austin Texas
    2000, Chuck Meyer – Minister; Author
    1999, John Kelso – Humor Columnist; Author
    1998, Marion Winik – Author; Lecturer
    1997, Willie Kocurek – Community Leader
    1996, Toody Byrd – Humorist; Lecturer
    1995, Lloyd Doggett – U.S. Representative
    1994, Cactus Pryor – Humorist
    1993, Brigid Shea – Director, Save Our Springs
    1992, Nick Barbaro – Publisher, The Austin Chronicle
    1991, Molly Ivins – Syndicated Columnist
    1990, Ben Sargent – Political Cartoonist
    1989, Wally Pryor – Sports Broadcaster (“Voice of the Longhorns”)
    1988, Gonzalo Barrientos – Texas State Senator
    1987, Jodie Conradt – U.T. Women’s Basketball Coach
    1986, Barbara Jordan – LBJ Centennial Chair on National Policy, UT Austin
    1985, Jim Hightower – Agricultural Commissioner, State of Texas
    1984, Ann Richards – Treasurer, State of Texas
    1983, Ron Mullen – Mayor, Austin Texas
    1982, Neil Spelce – TV News Anchor

    Mr. Powell has agreed to terms with his estate and airs to make the video, which was recorded during his speech at the Austin Toastmasters Club, available for release to the public 25 susan baughman, gary powell, max & jessie powell, helena escalanteyears after his death.

    Pictured at left and from left to right are: Susan Baughman, Max Powell, Gary Powell, Jessie Powell, Helena Escalante.

    Sir George Martin – “In My Life”

    Producers Gary Powell - Sir George Martin
    by Gary Powell

    Coming home from the dentist in the spring of 1997, I found an unusual message on my answering machine. It was a female voice with a very proper British accent asking, “Gary, Sir George Martin is calling from London. Would you please ring us back?” I was not used to the title of Sir being in front of the Beatles’ producer’s name, so it took me a minute to snap to.

    Of all the musicians or producers I would want to meet, George Martin would be at the top of the list. I took a deep breath, hoping this was not a prank, and ‘rang’ back as requested. The operator said, “Gaaaary, Sir George is at home awaiting your call. Would you please ring him there?”

    “Yes, I will do that!”

    Oh my God, this is beginning to sound like a real call. My pulse quickened, but now encouraged, I dial again. On the line is yet another sweet British accent, but this time it is Sir George’s wife’s voice, who responds to me with “Gaaary, George is so pleased you called. Please hold and I’ll get him.”

    He answered with a gentle, “Hellooo, Gaary, so glad you called.” I quickly said, “George Martin, before I even learn why you called, and I know you probably are sick of hearing this, but it is because of you that I am in the music business. There is no individual in our business that I would rather meet than you.”

    “Thank you, Gary, and no, hearing this is not something I have ever tired of.” He went on to report that a producer at DreamWorks in California had referred him to me when he’d inquired as to whom to call in Texas about an upcoming recording session with Goldie Hawn. He explained that he was producing his “swan song” album and Goldie was in Houston shooting a movie, so he needed to come to Texas and find a studio and a jazz trio of our best session players. George Martin - In My LifeMy job was to be the session “fixer,” which is British for what Americans call “contractor.”

    Within a few weeks, we were all gathered with a film crew to record Goldie singing “It’s a Hard Day’s Night” with a jazz trio of Austin players at Ray Benson’s Bismeaux Studios. That Austin recording session became part of the album entitled “George Martin – In My Life” which we already know ten years later was not Sir George’s swan song.

    As I thanked Phil Ramone, I also thank you, George Martin, for your contribution in raising the bar of our popular musical lexicon and for your important influence on my personal musical journey.

    My thanks to the Austin recording session musicians who played this memorable “Hard Day’s Night” session for Sir George Martin:

    Piano: Jeff Hellmer
    Upright Bass: John Fremgen
    Drums: A.D. Manion
    Recording Engineer: Larry Seyer

    Producers Gary Powell - Sir George Martin
    by Gary Powell

    Coming home from the dentist in the spring of 1997, I found an unusual message on my answering machine. It was a female voice with a very proper British accent asking, “Gary, Sir George Martin is calling from London. Would you please ring us back?” I was not used to the title of Sir being in front of the Beatles’ producer’s name, so it took me a minute to snap to.

    Of all the musicians or producers I would want to meet, George Martin would be at the top of the list. I took a deep breath, hoping this was not a prank, and ‘rang’ back as requested. The operator said, “Gaaaary, Sir George is at home awaiting your call. Would you please ring him there?”

    “Yes, I will do that!”

    Oh my God, this is beginning to sound like a real call. My pulse quickened, but now encouraged, I dial again. On the line is yet another sweet British accent, but this time it is Sir George’s wife’s voice, who responds to me with “Gaaary, George is so pleased you called. Please hold and I’ll get him.”

    He answered with a gentle, “Hellooo, Gaary, so glad you called.” I quickly said, “George Martin, before I even learn why you called, and I know you probably are sick of hearing this, but it is because of you that I am in the music business. There is no individual in our business that I would rather meet than you.”

    “Thank you, Gary, and no, hearing this is not something I have ever tired of.” He went on to report that a producer at DreamWorks in California had referred him to me when he’d inquired as to whom to call in Texas about an upcoming recording session with Goldie Hawn. He explained that he was producing his “swan song” album and Goldie was in Houston shooting a movie, so he needed to come to Texas and find a studio and a jazz trio of our best session players. George Martin - In My LifeMy job was to be the session “fixer,” which is British for what Americans call “contractor.”

    Within a few weeks, we were all gathered with a film crew to record Goldie singing “It’s a Hard Day’s Night” with a jazz trio of Austin players at Ray Benson’s Bismeaux Studios. That Austin recording session became part of the album entitled “George Martin – In My Life” which we already know ten years later was not Sir George’s swan song.

    As I thanked Phil Ramone, I also thank you, George Martin, for your contribution in raising the bar of our popular musical lexicon and for your important influence on my personal musical journey.

    My thanks to the Austin recording session musicians who played this memorable “Hard Day’s Night” session for Sir George Martin:

    Piano: Jeff Hellmer
    Upright Bass: John Fremgen
    Drums: A.D. Manion
    Recording Engineer: Larry Seyer

    Ted Kryczko Honored as “Distinguished Alumnus”

    University of California at Irvine

    ted kryczko distinguished alumnus uci
    by Gary Powell

    Just thirty years after earning his MFA, the University of California at Irvine (UCI) awarded Walt Disney Records’ Vice-President of Artist & Repertoire (A&R), Ted Kryczko, with a Distinguished Alumnus Award on May 8th, 2008.

    The Claire Trevor School of the Arts at UCI has adopted the motto, “Create. Explore. Innovate.” Certainly, no one has ever reached Ted’s achievement level in the music business without understanding the full intentionality of these three verbs. Now, continuing his relationship with his alma mater, Ted is currently serving on the Dean’s Leadership Council at Claire Trevor School of the Arts. Ted Kryczko brings a big presence to my studio in Austin and now the students of drama and music at UCI will also benefit from his years of experience.

    Here, you can view a beautiful UCI Adobe pdf in your browser with news and photos Ted Kryczko and Gary Powell holding a vocal audition at the Claire Trevor School of the Arts.

    You can also read Ted Kryczko’s full biography and also learn more about our UCI Disney audition here at www.garypowell.com.

    Mouse Tracks


    The Story of Walt Disney Records

    by Gary Powellmouse tracks written by tim hollis greg enrbar

    If you were born into the world, as I was, with Walt Disney Records as the dominant deliverer of family entertainment, then you will cerainly enjoy reading Mouse Tracks written by Tim Hollis and Greg Enrbar.

    Joining the enormous legacy of Walt Disney Records in 1989, I thought I had a solid knowledge of the record company. I did read stories, recognized names and saw faces in Mouse Tracks that were familiar, like Annette Funicello. However, there were also surprises to me, like, reading about the record mogul Mike Curb’s varied career. The book also recounted stories of old recordings, still fresh in my musical memory from childhood, like, “Davy Crockett – King of the Wild Frontier.” Obviously, the researchers and authors, Tim Hollis and Greg Enrbar, spent many hours in the archives and on the phone with the principle contibutors to the record company since its inception in 1955.

    I am not an employee of Walt Disney Records, but as a prolific contract producer for the company since 1989, the authors contacted me and asked for a memorable story from my studio, Powell Studio Productions here in Austin, Texas. I won’t give it away, but you can read about the unusually simple technique used to create the singing aliens for “Toy Story Sing Along Songs” on page 185.

    Thank you, Tim Hollis and Greg Enrbar, for including my work and studio in your wonderful book.

    FROM THE BACK COVER:

    “Tim Hollis is the author of three books – histories of tourism and children’s television – all published by University Press of Mississippi.”

    Greg Ehrbar, a twenty-year Disney company veteran and a two-time Grammy Award nominee, is a writer of advertising, books, television specials, radio shows, compact discs, and Walt Disney Records Read-Alongs.”

    by Gary Powellmouse tracks written by tim hollis greg enrbar

    If you were born into the world, as I was, with Walt Disney Records as the dominant deliverer of family entertainment, then you will cerainly enjoy reading Mouse Tracks written by Tim Hollis and Greg Enrbar.

    Joining the enormous legacy of Walt Disney Records in 1989, I thought I had a solid knowledge of the record company. I did read stories, recognized names and saw faces in Mouse Tracks that were familiar, like Annette Funicello. However, there were also surprises to me, like, reading about the record mogul Mike Curb’s varied career. The book also recounted stories of old recordings, still fresh in my musical memory from childhood, like, “Davy Crockett – King of the Wild Frontier.” Obviously, the researchers and authors, Tim Hollis and Greg Enrbar, spent many hours in the archives and on the phone with the principle contibutors to the record company since its inception in 1955.

    I am not an employee of Walt Disney Records, but as a prolific contract producer for the company since 1989, the authors contacted me and asked for a memorable story from my studio, Powell Studio Productions here in Austin, Texas. I won’t give it away, but you can read about the unusually simple technique used to create the singing aliens for “Toy Story Sing Along Songs” on page 185.

    Thank you, Tim Hollis and Greg Enrbar, for including my work and studio in your wonderful book.

    FROM THE BACK COVER:

    “Tim Hollis is the author of three books – histories of tourism and children’s television – all published by University Press of Mississippi.”

    Greg Ehrbar, a twenty-year Disney company veteran and a two-time Grammy Award nominee, is a writer of advertising, books, television specials, radio shows, compact discs, and Walt Disney Records Read-Alongs.”