Joanne Brokaw: January 2009 Archives

I just wanted to take a minute to clarify - and apologize - if my Phil Stacey post came off as critical. I got a comment from CFPhilfan made me go back and reread the post, and he/she is right: I was the one who jumped the gun.

I had been talking to someone recently about American Idol, because this music fan was saying that singers who got on American Idol got the fame without all of the work. I was arguing that many of the singers had been involved in the music business before getting on the show, and that winning doesn't necessarily equal success.

That conversation was fresh in my head when I saw the news that Phil had left Lyric Street and signed with Reunion, which was just a couple of hours after I saw an ad with Taylor Hicks in a touring production of "Grease." It kind of reinforced what I'd been telling this friend, that being on American Idol doesn't mean a free ride to the top.

I went to MySpace.com/PhilStaceyMusic, but there wasn't any note about the signing. It wouldn't be the first time that an artist posted news on their MySpace and had to take it down because they jumped the gun. (The labels like to be the ones to make the announcements.) There wasn't anything on his website either, and I really did search for that blog post, so I just figured that's what happened. I learn now that apparently Phil doesn't use that MySpace as his official page; he uses MySpace.com/joelphilip. I would have never found that.

But basically, I was just continuing the Idol conversation on the blog without better explaining what I was musing about. When I got a press release later in the afternoon which confirmed the signing, I did an update, but I guess it still came off as a critique at Phil, rather than a more pointed American Idol/success post I was writing in my head. So Phil Stacey fans, I apologize for that.

The one thing that I totally stand behind is what I said about Reunion in my comment to Meliss. The label is a great fit for him, and I think he'll grow musically and spiritually at his new home.

For those of you who think American Idol is th fastest way to the top of the music industry, be warned: even Idols get the axe.

Phil Stacey parted ways with his label, Lyric Street, according to the Country Standard Time. But that's OK, because he's signed with Christian label, Reunion. The website cites Stacey's MySpace blog as announcing the new signing, but the blog post isn't there any more. Maybe Stacey jumped the gun with the news?

*** UPDATE: It's official - Phil Stacey has signed with Reunion Records, and it's a great fit for him. Terry Hemmings, Provident's President and CEO, saw Stacey perform at an event with Michael W. Smith and the rest is history. "Phil is a great vocalist with a friendly and approachable style," Hemmings says in the press release. "He owned the room when he performed and I thought he'd be a great fit with our label group." Stacey is working on a new album scheduled for a summer release. And now, back to my American Idol musing ... ***

Stacey's debut album released last April but didn't really do much of anything. No radio hits. No major sales. Just goes to show that even with the exposure of American Idol, artists aren't guaranteed instant success.

Let's have an indie Friday, with not only a free download of an indie music CD, but a guest blog post from indie artist Mariah Secrest.

One of the great things about the internet is that you get to connect with people you might not meet otherwise. I met Mariah when I stumbled upon her really great blog post on Wrecked For The Ordinary, about making money off of Jesus. Regular readers of this blog know that I'm constantly musing (ranting) about the commercialization of Christianity, so it was an instant connection.

Mariah Secrest is an indie artist with a new EP called Green Light. She recently finished her philosophy degree from the University of Arizona and, in her own words, now busies herself "as a recording artist, editor for Wrecked for the Ordinary magazine, and acute observer of life."

An indie artist has a unique perspective on the music industry, so I asked her to pen a guest blog post on any topic she wanted. So today, Mariah shares her thoughts on an often overlooked component of an artist's music: you, the listener.

ConversantLife.com has teamed up with C28 stores to offer a free sampler CD of Christian music from indie artists. A new sampler CD will be released quarterly.

Just head over to the Undiscovered website and download the current free music sampler, which includes music from Sleep for Strangers, Caleb and Sol, Scott Tyler, CJ Bergmen (pictured), Joel Hasemeyer, Soulshine, Deep, Aaron Hofman, and Andrew Steven.

And you know the best part?

Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist Billy Powell died this morning at his condo in Florida. News reports say that he had a history of heart problems and had missed an appointment with his cardiologist on Tuesday.

According to reports, Powell called 911 around 12:55 a.m. Wednesday saying he was having trouble breathing. When rescue crews arrived they performed CPR, but he was pronounced dead at 1:52 a.m.

Powell was seriously injured in the Oct. 20, 1977 plane crash that killed Lynyrd Skynyrd singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, his sister and backing vocalist Cassie Gaines, and assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick.

During the band's hiatus in the 80s, Powell briefly joined a Christian rock band named Vision and spoke during the concerts about his newly found faith in Jesus Christ.

The band reformed in 1987, and made their first public appearance at the Charlie Daniel's Volunteer Jam XIII. They performed more than 30 dates on a reunion tour, marking the tenth anniversary of the fatal plane crash. Lynyrd Skynyrd continued performing and recording, celebrating 30 years as a band in 2004. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

Guitarist Gary Rossington's wife, Dale, said in the Florida Times Union that the band members had long been worried about Powell's health, adding, "But he had such a big huge heart of gold, such a huge abiding faith in God and his savior Jesus."

Powell leaves behind his wife Ellen Vera Powell and their four children.

Singer Johnny Van Zant said the band was taking the news of Powell's death hard. "For me," said Van Zant in the Florida TImes Union story, "if anybody reading your article wants to do something, say a prayer for Billy and his family. That would be greatly appreciated."

For more about Lynyrd Skynyrd, visit the band's website.

Visit Beliefnet's Christian music blog, Gospel Soundcheck, daily for the latest news on your favorite Christian music artists as well as mainstream artists with ties to Christian music.