Yes, one of our own here (who's even a message board member who entered the lyric awards on the site last year with the lyrics to a song on the nominated album) is nominated (not Pre-Nominated but the REAL thing) for Best Children's Album this Year!!!!

Zak Morgan, our 2000 Children's Album Winner, a nominee and 6th Place Finalist last year for Best Children's Song got the official nomination today for the Grammy's.

Zak called me and gave me the news. I am particularly excited because not only is he an amazingly talented guy, but he's a really nice, down to earth and all around Just Plain Folk! He's been a member since 1999 when I met him backstage at an Indigo Girls Concert, and since then he's played at JPF Roadtrip Shows, he's posted here on the message boards, he's entered the JPF awards.. basically he's as involved as anyone can be. We've had a lot of Grammy nominees and winners involved in the group in a variety of ways over the years (including Susan Gibson when her "Wide Open Spaces" got nominated), but this is truly an example of one of the friendly unknown masses rising to the top of his craft!

He called me when he got on the voting ballot (which quite a few JPF members did) and we discussed his plans to take it to the next level.. and they WORKED! That's a big part of this story. He wasn't satisfied with just being on the ballot.. he had a plan and he carried it out. We're working on a newsletter article about how he did it and also how he supports himself full time doing nothing other than Childrens Music. (We've even discussed putting out a Children's TV show with him as the star.. but that's another story...).

I am really happy for him and for our entire group. It's very rare for a grassroots artist to break through the mega marketing/hype blockade to get a nomination.. and this proves it CAN be done without a million dollar promotional budget or a NYC/LA PR agency working it for year round.

Big Congrats to Zak! He's on the road right now, but he'll likely stop in next week to say hi here as well. His site is www.zakmorgan.com.

Brian

What wonderful news! You must be proud of the impact JPF is beginning to have on the music world.

Congratulations to Zak. Children's music rarely gets the recognition it deserves, yet it's a very important part of childhood development.

All the Best,
Mike

I am glad to see all the good news in the children's songs category. (Kaley and Wyman got a 12 song contract, and now your nomination...)

Well done.

Cheers!

I had a silent chuckle at your "not pre-nominated" part... seems that I've seen a whole slew of press releases from artists who thing just because they submitted for the Grammy voting process they are 'nominated'.

Glad to hear someone reached the real deal.

Best of luck!

Yeah, that's a lame promo tactic that people make. It's insulting to those who know what's really going on and makes the artist look bad to anyone in the actual music industry. At best, it misleads some fans.. and who the heck really wants to do that?

Saying you're on the Pre-Grammy Nomination Ballot is like saying you're being considered for a label deal because you dropped a CD in the mail to them. Ack!

Yup... I can't tell you how many times I've seen an artist do that and think to myself "who in the industry do they think they're kiddin?". I mean, come on! It actually shows how little they know about how the business works, and like you said, it's totally misleading to the fans.

It really turns me off.

BUT... it is awesome news to hear that Zak has achieved this HUGE feat and as a fellow musician and JPFer I am very proud to see a member get nominated.

We're rootin for ya Zak!

Brian... stay safe... I heard you guys had a helluva storm up there... we had 7 inches down here!

It's gonna be a white christmas!

Nat

Did you send your Christmas album in? The final deadline for new stuff is Dec 15th.

It was a race to the finish line on this one, so we are doing on demand and have no product here.

It's all covers anyway. But we will for sure be sending 'Polyphony' in... but that will probably fall in the running for next year as we won't be finished till at least Spring.

It's been a bit crazy with me going back and forth cuz of my Mum being sick etc.

Nat

That is so neat!!!..and so very exciting..I went into your site..and read your lyrics and listened to some samples...

I especially enjoyed.
When Cordelia Played... a beautiful message.
Your site is wonderful also....

quote:

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Originally posted by Mike Dunbar:
Brian,

What wonderful news! You must be proud of the impact JPF is beginning to have on the music world.

Congratulations to Zak. Children's music rarely gets the recognition it deserves, yet it's a very important part of childhood development.

All the Best,
Mike

---

WOW!!! Congratulations Zak. I don't know you or most of the people in this wonderful group, but way ta' go. And God Bless.

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John

How on Earth Did I Get Nominated for a Grammy? by JPF Member Zak Morgan

On December 4th, 2003, I listened to an unbelievable phone message from my good
friend and PR agent Betty Hofer in Nashville. “Congratulations Frogman, you're a Grammy nominee.” I wish everyone could have the feeling that I had at that moment. I have a new understanding of some of the ridiculous NFL end zone dances you see every Sunday. Luckily there were no witnesses for mine.

How can a person get so lucky, you ask? Betty Hofer says, “The harder you work, the
luckier you get.” And that pretty much sums it up. There is no easy or cut and dried
way to get a Grammy nomination, but you don't have to have a big record deal or a
giant marketing budget to get one, either. I'm going to tell you the steps I took to make it happen and I hope it will help and inspire you.

Four years ago, at 29, I quit my “real job” and decided I was going to make my living as
a children's musician. I received lots of unsolicited feedback and advice from my
friends and loved ones, and most of it was bad. Here's an example: “What, are you
nuts!?! You can't quit a good job to be an entertainer!” In hindsight, all of the bad
advice I got had something in common: the word “can't.” “Can't” is the worst advice in the world, and I forced myself to ignore it. I decided to seek advice from positive
thinkers who had already become successful entertainers. I watched what they did. I
asked them questions. And I listened. Sadly, many artists look on others who have
succeeded with scorn rather than respect. Instead of learning, they complain and have
elaborate discussions with other starving artists.

I have performed an average of 200 shows a year for the past three years in schools,
libraries, and theatres. Occasionally another artist will ask me, “How did you get so busy?” My response is always, “I sat on my rear end for eight hours a day and made
phone calls.” Most of them look at me like I gave them the wrong answer. But that's
what it boils down to: you have to work very, very hard to achieve your goals, especially if they are lofty. You don't have to be born lucky or a prodigy or a genius. You just have to decide what you want to accomplish and then refuse to stop until you accomplish your goal. If you do this, you will amaze yourself. Just look around you. Every day ordinary people are doing extraordinary things and they all use the same recipe.

While my booking process is very time consuming, it is also very simple. One of the first things I did was make an attractive, full color 8 1/2” by 11” flyer. I made sure that it was colorful and eye catching and included strong quotes from venues and review publications. I had the flyer designed and printed professionally. If you shop around, you can get 1,000 flyers printed on a press for around $200. That's 20 cents each. I'm amazed at how many artists ask an amateur friend to design their product to save
money and then have it color copied at Kinko's. When a presenter receives something that looks amateur in the mail, they are likely to pitch it. A layman can spot amateur work a mile away. You need to create the perception that you are professional and this is how you make your living. One thing you can ask yourself, both with your recording and your artwork, is whether a big record company would put their name on it. I try to make my material look and sound even better than what I see in record stores.

After I had the flyer, I came up with a basic phone script. Any professional telemarketer will tell you that you need to deliver a strong benefit statement in the first thirty seconds of the conversation. Here is mine: “Hi. My name is Zak Morgan and I am a children's performer from Cincinnati, Ohio. I offer a very interactive music and storytelling
program designed to exercise the imagination and encourage reading. Can I please
speak to the person in charge of programs?” Come up with a benefit statement that you
feel completely confident and comfortable saying. Once you get the right person on the line, repeat your benefit statement. Then tell them when you will be in their area and ask permission to send information. I send a flyer, a brief cover letter reiterating my benefit statement, and three recent reference letters from other venues I have played. I do not send a CD unless they ask. Seven to ten days later I follow up with another phone call and try to close the deal. This is the most critical step in the process, because they will not call you back even if they are interested. If you don't follow up, odds are you won't get the gig.

The other thing I do is showcase whenever possible. A showcase is essentially an
opportunity to perform a ten-minute live commercial in front of a group of presenters.

If they like you, they book you. It's a great way to get work. Call your state arts council and ask them about showcase opportunities in your region. You can also look on the Internet. Try to get on every arts roster possible, as it will both lend you credibility and get you work. Some arts councils will even help the venue pay your fee.

I have made two CD's in four years and both times I took the same approach: make the
best CD possible, from the writing to the recording to the packaging. I spent $20,000
on my first recording and $30,000 on my second recording out of my own pocket.
You're probably thinking, “Well, I don't have $20,000 or 30,000 to spend on a CD
project. I just can't afford it.” Well, neither could I. That's why I decided to work hard. I set goals for myself. I wanted to do 200 shows a year and gross six figures. I wasn't satisfied until I achieved those goals. When I did achieve them, the satisfaction was enormous. I poured every dollar I earned into my CD's and my business. Each of my records took well over two years to make and required a lot of hard work and personal
sacrifice. The hard work is paying off. My first CD has grossed more than $50,000 in
four years and my second CD has grossed more than $15,000 in six months and is
nominated for a Grammy. I have two records that I am extremely proud of, both
artistically and from a work-ethic perspective. The way I look at it, I can't afford not to make high quality products.

My first step in making a CD was to find a producer with a great track record and a
similar vision. His name is Ric Hordinski (Phil Keaggy, David Wilcox) and he is not only a great producer but also an exceptional guitarist and songwriter. We both agreed that children are smart and they are not to be patronized. I told him that I wanted to approach my records with the same seriousness that one would approach a record for adults. I wanted to write sophisticated and fun lyrics in the vein of Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss and I wanted the record to be as interesting for adults as it is for kids. I wanted to achieve this both musically and lyrically.

I hired the best musicians I could find. Bringing amateur friends into the recording
studio is a terrible mistake. It's the same as asking an amateur friend to design your
flyer or CD artwork. I give this advice to many people and usually they don't listen.
Most of them are still struggling to put out their first good product.

Next, I decided I would ask C.F. Payne to illustrate the CD cover. His illustrations grace the cover of TIME magazine several times each year. He has also illustrated numerous children's books, including John Lithgow's The Remarkable Farkle McBride. “You can't ask Payne to illustrate your CD. What are you nuts? You're a nobody!” I called him up (his number was in the phone book) and persuaded him to come to the studio to hear a couple of songs. Payne has illustrated both of my CD's, Bloom and When Bullfrogs Croak, and both CD's include a full color 32-page illustrated booklet. “You can't do a 32-page illustrated booklet, you dufas! It'll cost a fortune and it probably won't even fit in the jewel case!” Payne's involvement and the elaborate CD booklets gave me credibility and helped earn a completely unknown independent artist very good reviews in national publications like Publishers Weekly and KLIATT. C.F. Payne and I plan to write a children's book together next year.

With my new CD, When Bullfrogs Croak, I decided to ask some of my favorite musicians to participate. First on my list was a brilliant, ornery songwriter and performer named Robbie Fulks. “Give me a break. He's recorded with Lucinda Williams and played The Grand ‘Ole Opry. Don't waste your time.” I sent him a copy of Bloom and asked if he was game. “Sure I'll sing on your CD. I'm flattered that you asked, in fact.” Those were his exact words. I'm still amazed at how generous many successful artists are. We recorded his tracks in a Hampton Inn in Chicago on an M-Box. It was a great experience that I'll never forget and it came about because I ignored bad advice and was proactive. Then I asked Victoria Williams and David Wilcox. They both contributed incredible performances as well. Then Ric, my producer and guitarist, arranged for Richard Dodd (George Harrison, Johnny Cash, Tom Petty) to master the CD in Nashville. Ric and I have the same opinion of the word “can't,” needless to say. The involvement of Richard Dodd, C.F. Payne, Robbie Fulks, Victoria Williams, and David Wilcox helped separate my CD from other children's recordings and helped create a buzz about my record. And it all came about from simply believing it could be done and then figuring out how to
make it happen.

When my new CD was released I rented a popular 350-seat theater in Cincinnati on a
Sunday afternoon. I think the owner, who is a very nice guy, felt sorry for me. “You
can’t expect a big turnout on a Sunday afternoon. I'll be amazed if you sell 100 seats.” He rented me the theater for $500. We persuaded the local press to write articles about the CD and the people involved. The show sold out at $5 a head. It was a good omen.

I did all of these things in an effort to make the best album possible. I wanted to make a record that deserved Grammy consideration. The final step in the process was pretty simple. I sent my CD to a voting member of the Recording Academy and asked him to consider submitting it for inclusion on the Grammy ballot if he deemed it worthy. He submitted the CD and it passed the initial screening process and made it onto the ballot. I then joined a chapter of the Recording Academy and played in their annual golf outing (I stink, but apparently that doesn't matter). I met some voting members and gave anyone who seemed interested a copy of my CD. I gave extra copies to the small handful of the Grammy voters I know and asked them to share them with other voters. Friends told friends and word got around. When I sent CD's though the mail, I tried to do it in a creative, memorable way. My packages included a suction pop-up toy frog.

I am also new to JPF, and wish the best of
luck to you, and all.

Brian how do you do it!
Or at least find enough time
to do the great job you have.

A Gleason fan out there? Awesome! My hero
since I was a tyke.

Cal

Congrats on the nomination.

I first saw your article in JP Notes. It is the most inspirational thing I have read in a long, long time! It is so rich in information, I had to read it through several times just to try to absorb it all.

Thanks for sharing all those juicy details. I really appreciate that. You have a lot to teach many of us.

Here's my question. I want to share your article with many people who need to see it. Can I get your permission to reprint the article in my songwriters ezine and web site?

Of course, I'll credit you and include whatever bio info you require. We have close to 2,000 subscribers to the ezine and 500+ registered on the message board, plus thousands who surf in every month and don't register.

www.songwriterstipjar.com/index.php

Also, do I need to get permission from Just Plain Folks?

Thanks again for your inspiring story and good luck.

Dan

Congratulations !!!
Wonderful news...way to go...!

Loved the article...
Very inspiring-

Congrats man! I wish you all the best! Way to go!!!!!!!

russ

I'm bumbing this up because:

1- The Grammy's are coming.

2- Positive vibes to Zak- doing an impressive thing- A Grammy nomination for an independent.

And...
3- I wanted to stir up controversy with such a provocative subject- that is, someone working their tail off with an understanding of the realities of this business.

It ain't Janet's boob, It ain't the ASCAP, BMI fandangle, it aint Country Rap (known better by its conjunction- CRAP), It's just good ol' fashion work, work, work.

No wonder we're not fascinated by it.

ande

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Ande Rasmussen
AndeRasmussen@aol.com
http://www.AndeRasmussen.com
http://songramp.com/ande
http://www.soundclick.com/anders
http://www.MySpace.com/anders

Congratulations!!

It was a really great idea when Brian started this site and an eye opener for those budding songwriters or even the seasoned ones who have never really attained great success in their work.

Hard work, determination and dedication will always pay. Definetely God has to be on your side for you to win a Grammy..but many have won it and it is possible for another Jp member to be nominated and even win! It is a great deal of encouragement to the rest!

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frankie

FYI, this post was from the last Grammy cycle. In the current Grammy nominations, this year's Children's Song winner and Album Runner Up Beethoven's Wig was nominated for a Grammy. Also, David Holt, this year's winner for Best Traditional Folk album along with Doc Watson was nominated for a Grammy for Best Spoken Word album.

Congrats to those folks!