The Tatters: Tatter Chatter (News)

Tatter Chatter

May 7, 2002

Time for The Tatters to pick and grin again. Just a little update since our last notice. We are learning some new tunes and having a great time with our new Tatter, Mary Kay. She is a fine addition to the group. Definitely made a good choice.

In mid-April made a trek up to San Jose to play for Fiddling Cricket productions at the Espresso Garden. Thanks to a lot of DJs who played our CD, we played to a full house and made some new friends and supporters. We had beautiful weather for the trip with a clear coast through the Big Sur.

The next morning we came back down to Watsonville (near Santa Cruz) to play on KPIG's Sunday morning show "Please Stand By". It was web cast and we got calls and emails from Texas, Nashville, and Montana amongst others. These are the same fine folks who are on the airwaves at Strawberry Music Festival on HOG Radio. KPIG went silent last week for one day in protest of what is going on with the potential future of internet radio. To understand the situation you can go to http://www.saveinternetradio.org/ (note: URL no longer exists) where you can get a picture of what may happen on May 20 if we do not speak up. The internet radio is a wonderful venue for independent musicians (not signed to a big label) to have their music listened to and potentially bought from the listening audience.

Our friend Harvey Reid recently sent out a message that is quoted..."I recommend that individuals, small labels, and organizations that represent them (such as IBMA and Folk Alliance) look into this seriously, perhaps take a leadership role in this matter, and even communicate with other established groups to build an even more united front. We can join as a common voice to offer our recorded works to web casters be played on the internet without them fearing they will be sued or charged outrageous fees. I am sure that the music industry has no idea how many independent artists and labels are out there, and how much interesting music might be available to broadcasters and to the listeners if the major labels refuse access to their catalogs. It would be an exciting and healthy thing actually if all of a sudden you HAD to play real independent music on the web."

Please come out to see us soon and pass the word along to your acoustic music lovin' buddies.

HOPE TO SEE YOU REAL SOON!

October 19, 2001
Changes coming!

The Tatters have changes on the horizon. Jennie Snyder has accepted a job as an artist in Joseph, Oregon. This is an artist community that she has long wanted to reside in. We will miss our songbird... she has been a wonderful contributor to The Tatters. We hope to play some shows with her in the future but we will see what the future will bring. Jennie's plan for departure is at the end of November. Please come to our shows over the next month to wish her well.

Tattered but not Torn we are forging ahead. We are already starting to rehearse without Jennie so we don't lose a step. We are entertaining the possibility of adding another member but we are certainly not in a hurry to do so. If you know of a female vocalist who loves harmonies, favors roots music, and wants to perform, have her call (805) 649-6866. Our goal is not to play 5 nights a week but instead be able to play in concert settings and festivals.

Saturday, October 20 is ArtWalk. Jennie will have a booth on California Street with her art. If you have not seen Jennie's art you must check it out. Never a better time to purchase her wares than before she slips out of town. You can catch Mary Z playing at the Book Mall on the corner of Oak and Santa Clara from 11:00 - 1:00. It is under new ownership and there are a lot of cool changes inside.

GRAMMYS!!!

The Tatters CD has been submitted to the Grammys for possible nomination! Nominees are the final five in a category at the time of the ceremonies. It is interesting learning the working of such organization and kinda fun being involved in the process. If you know of anyone in this organization, please pass on a good word for us. If anyone you know desires a press kit, we can send them one. Most of the info in the press kit can also be found on our website at http://www.thetatters.com. Thanks for helping us spread the word!

Cheers from The Tatters!

GRAMMY NOMINATION SUBMISSIONS

Composing #79 Best Instrumental Accompanying Vocals
"On Bended Knees" by Mary Z. Wilson & Jennie Snyder

Folk #64 Best Contemporary Folk Album: "The Tatters"

Country #36 Best Collaboration on Vocals: "I Don't Think So", The Tatters

Production #84 Best Engineering/ Non Classical: "The Tatters", Paul du Gré

Production #85 Producer of The Year: "The Tatters", Mark Insley, Producer
Co-Produced by Randall Richman and The Tatters

7/24/01
Howdy Y'all from The Tatters!

After losing all our email addresses, we were a bit out of touch for awhile. Now we are back to pester you about our goings on. Tell your friends to email us to get back on our list so we can get them off the couch to fill their ears and hearts with music. Once the dust has settled I may email some of you for our missing lambs from the fold.

The Tatters have been playing some fine venues this season. We have also been enjoying some wonderful press on a local, national, and international level. We will give you a reviews update soon once we get our French and Dutch reviews translated.

After playing the breakfast show at Live Oak Music Festival, we were very excited to play at the Olivas Adobe Music Under the Stars series this year to a full house. Not sure what the attendance was but probably somewhere between 400-500. The dance floor was full for most of the night, including a floor full of haole hula dancers on "Tattered and Torn" which was a kick in the pants. a big thanks to Bill Locey's review of the concert in The Star and to Mary Katherine Alden and John & Deanne Davis for playing our CD on KPFK and mentioning the event. Also a big thanks to Phil Taggart and Brian Fortune for their efforts in recording The Tatters at Adelphia and showing our mugs on TV prior to the event. Be sure to support upcoming concerts, including The Rincon Ramblers on August 4 and Mary Murphy & Paul Keim on August 11.

We are trying to get "out of Dodge" a little more. If you have suggestions of venues we should check out, let us know. We would appreciate if you would let anyone know about our upcoming gigs in Wrightwood and Burbank.

6/27/01
Some more fun news for The Tatters!

Thanks to Bill Locey, we got a whoppin' big picture in the Star in an article which was promoting the Olivas Adobe and Heritage Square Series.

We just did a show for Adelphia Cable TV for Phil Taggart. It will be shown prior to our Olivas Adobe gig and later on down the line we will be shown to all of Adelphia in Southern Cal. We'll let you know more about that as it brews.

Today we got an email from RootsTown Music Magazine in Belgium who reviewed our CD as "a marvelous record". I asked if we could get a copy of the mag.

In May we were reviewed in 3rd Coast Music Magazine who gave us 4 stars and said "There are many excellent songs on the is album, notably Tattered and Torn and Angel of Death. but the singing simply knocks me out."

The June issue of Country Standard Time said "The Tatters imbue their songs with enough down-home character to give the honest, rarified air of heartfelt nostalgia."

4/11/01
Last week we made a couple of credible Americana charts that we are excited about.

The Worldwide Mainstream Most Played Artists Chart is a chart that is compiled from several recognized playboards that are primarily but not exclusively international DJs, and represented a 2-week period. Out of 2392 artists and 7912 songs aired we landed on #128, one step behind Steve Earle, 2 spots in front of Loretta Lynn, and 4 spots ahead of Tammy Wynette.

We also made Far Chart for March. FAR is Freeform American Roots. FAR charts are compiled from reports sent in by DJs from public, college and community station in the US and around the world. " Each DJ lists the four albums they took most pleasure in playing". We were #23 on that chart and tied in that postion with Dolly Parton and Charles Sawtelle. What a blast!

We just got picked up for distribution by Hepcat which is a small, credible, roots oriented company. It's not exclusive so we are still looking for other distribution avenues.

A week ago we recorded a couple of 78s. KC Staple, who owns the Record Outlet in Ventura and Thousand Oaks, has vintage equipment to cut the records. He was approached by Howard Owens at The Ventura County Star who wanted to do a story about where music has come from and is going to. He wanted an ole-timey sounding band to do the project and KC (thank you) said I know just who you want to use. It's raw and scratchy just like the old Carter Family days. You can read the story here.

Happy New Year from The Tatters!

What a whirlwind last year was! We are incredibly thankful to everyone who made our new CD's release successful. Randall Richman, our Executive Producer, believed in us enough to make the whole project happen. Mark Insley, our producer, helped to solidify our financeer, linked us up with Paul du Gré (an absolute genius of an engineer), turned us on to Michael Wilson's photography, and put up with our shenanigans. Our friends and family were tolerant and cheering from the ringside. We had incredible press coverage thanks to: Bill Locey at the LA Times, Chris Jay and Solomon Bass at the VC Reporter, Elena Jarvis at The Star, Jeffrey San Marchi at The Voice, and Walt Rego at the Santa Barbara Independent. We had some great work/help in the computer graphics and research area from Michele Wakeman, Bill Yates, Jeanne Marie White, Roy Jones, Sharon Brockus, and Paula Castillo. The Livery Theatre graciously allowed us to use their site for our release party. A whole slew of buddies helped us set up, work the door and CD sales. No doubt someone is left off this list... accept our apologies if you are.

Now we are making it onto the radio. John Davis from Heartfelt Music at KPFK has played several songs on different days. Erika Hurwitz has played us on KUSB. We have had requests to send our CD to New Zealand, Belgium, Germany, and Sweden. We have also had requests from Texas, Maine, Connecticut, South Carolina, Minnesota, Kentucky, Montana, Kansas, Utah, New York, Oregon, and Michigan. We can use your help here. If you have any radio contacts or lists that we can approach, any help is appreciated.

The Tatters CD made the Top 10 on a Belgium radio Station!

Made #9 in the Top 20 of a folk,country, & bluegrass list on WEFT radio (Champaign, Illinois and webcast)!

We are being played in several states and countries and getting a kick out of the response that we are getting from supportive DJs.

The CD will be reviewed soon in several publications and webzines, including Performing Songwriter. We will post the reviews on our website once they are out.

We just recorded a theme song for an Adult Education senior fitness show that will air on Channel 6. We'll let you know when it's going to be on.

--Mary, Erika, and Jenny

P. S.: Look for the March/April issue of Performing Songwriter magazine at Borders or Barnes and Noble. The Tatters CD was chosen in the top 12 for a DIY review (Do It Yourself). Thanks to the help of Jeanne Marie White, graphic designer, we also have an ad in the magazine.