HOMEGROWN ROCKER 2/10/13 (RON RUSSELL)

[Jim Price]

Hello Everyone,

Here is the recap of the February 10 edition of Rocky 104.9 and Rocky 99's weekly local music program, "The Homegrown Rocker," which airs every Sunday night from 8 to 10 PM on WRKY-FM (www.rocky1049.com) and WRKW-FM (www.rocky99.com).

Thanks to our guests this week on the program, longtime area singer, songwriter and musician Ron Russell (http://www.hollywooddreamspublishing.com/), plus aspiring singers Jamie Shapiro and Jose Munrow! We learned about Ron’s career to date, and got inside his current publishing and record label enterprise, Hollywood Dreams. We heard songs penned by Ron, two of them sung by Jamie and Jose. Because Ron was in the studio, we dug into the archive to celebrate two moments from his past for “Local Music Flashbacks”; picking the title song from his 1999 CD Walk Away Girl during the first hour, and a 1989 song from Ron’s metal-geared band Psycho during the second hour! Along the way, we debuted new songs from Badd Seed and Borrowed Time, updated “Local Music News,” and reviewed Mason Porter’s Story of the Rifle CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner!”

Here is this week's playlist:

HOUR ONE:

THE NIGHTCRAWLERS – “African Echo”
CONNER GILBERT – “Here’s to the Days”
RON RUSSELL – “My Mellissa”
BADD SEED – “Wide Open”
JAMIE SHAPIRO – “Goodbye Yesterday”
RON RUSSELL – “Walk Away Girl” (1999, Local Music Flashback)
RON RUSSELL – “Tearstained Hurricane”
RICH EDMUNDSON – “Dreamer”

HOUR TWO:

JIMMY ADLER – “Sugar Cookie”
JOHN “JT” THOMPSON – “Cab Ride Boogie”
JOSE MUNROW – “Without Me”
MASON PORTER – “Hotel Yorba”
RON RUSSELL – “Now That She’s Gone”
PSYCHO – “Could This Be Love” (1989, Local Music Flashback)
RON RUSSELL – “Tail Lights, Goodbyes and Yesterdays”
MOUTHS OF BABES – “The Answer”
BORROWED TIME – “A Little Bit of Rock”

On our next program, we will take the opportunity to clean out the “Homegrown Rocker” mailboxes and check out new area music that has arrived in recent weeks. We will debut plenty of new songs during the show. We will also update “Local Music News,” dig a song from the archive for another “Local Music Flashback,” and review Rigel’s Sightseeing at Midnight CD in “The Professor’s CD Corner!” It will be maximum local and regional music on the “Homegrown Rocker” next Sunday night!

Upcoming guests and specials include:

FEB. 24 – MILLENNIUM MUSIC CONFERENCE RECAP SPECIAL
MAR. 3 – 15TH ANNIV. SPECIAL/MILLENNIUM MUSIC CONFERENCE CONTEST WINNER
MAR. 10 – BRAND NEW WINGS
MAR. 17 – ST. PATTY’S DAY SPECIAL
MAR. 24 – STERLING KOCH
MAY 19 – “DAY OF ROCK” PREVIEW
JUNE 16 – FATHER’S DAY SPECIAL w/BORN & THE BEANSTALK

For regular updates on what is happening on the area music scene, pay a visit to Rockpage (www.rockpage.net). Rockpage features band links, a message board, "Homegrown Rocker" updates, live show and CD reviews in “JP’s Corner," and other local music scene information.

Bands and artists interested in having music aired on "The Homegrown Rocker" are invited to send their broadcast-quality recordings to: WRKY Radio, One Forever Drive, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648; ATTN: Jim Price. Or drop the recordings off at the station during regular business hours, Monday-Friday 9 AM – 5 PM. You can also email me with inquiries about the show at profjp@rocky1049.com.

Jim Price

In Local Music News…

Pennsylvania’s own Halestorm has won their first Grammy Award, taking the award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance for their song “Love Bites (So Do I).” Halestorm’s song was up against entries from Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Lamb Of God, Marilyn Manson and Anthrax. Halestorm’s story goes hand in hand with the “Homegrown Rocker’s” story; we give a hearty congratulations to Lzzy Hale, Arejay Hale, Joe Hottinger and Josh Smith for accomplishing this huge milestone in their careers!

A benefit concert is being organized to help the family of an Altoona resident who died in an automobile accident this past week. The Benefit for Jordan Graham will take place next Saturday night, February 17, at 30 Something in Altoona, and will raise funds for funeral expenses for Graham, who died in an automobile accident on Friday morning. Several bands will perform; groups confirmed to take part this far include Deadbeat Stew, Black Sun and Left for Dead.

Former members of Ganister and Saving Jake have merged together into a new band project. Twelve features former Ganister singer Ken Gray and guitarist Eric Smith, along with former Saving Jake drummer Jamie Lane. James Lane plays guitar, and Buster plays bass. Twelve performs modern rock covers and originals; they performed last night at the City Hotel in Northern Cambria.

And the 17th annual Millennium Music Conference takes place in the Harrisburg area starting on Thursday. Centered at the Radisson Penn Harris Convention Center in Camp Hill, this year’s Millennium will feature two days of music industry panels, seminars, speakers, mentoring and a trade show, plus nearly 300 different showcasing bands and musicians – some from as far away as Greece, Kuwait and Iran – performing in and around the Harrisburg area. The “Homegrown Rocker” will be in attendance at this year’s Millennium Music Conference, and we will recap the event – complete with audio clips and comments from many conference participants – on our February 24 program.