TABLE OF CONTENTS
· Stuck in ASCAP Limbo
· The New Saltmine Studio
· On the Local Music Front - The Reign Kings Take Off!
· Joanne West Photography
· This Quarter’s Featured Artist - Mike G. Smith (Steel Guitar Player Extraordinaire).
· Update on Jimmy Nichols
· Steve’s new song for the Wildhorse Ranch Rescue.org
· On a Sad Note

Stuck in ASCAP Limbo

A few months back (7 to be exact) Steve decided to drop his ASCAP membership and pursue a new BMI membership along with his new publishing company “Hurry Road Publishing” but much to his dismay, he’ll have to wait until his membership with ASCAP expires in late December 2003 before he can move on. Needless to say, that meant pushing back the release date for Southbound Train. Hopefully all goes well by the end of the year. Keep your fingers crossed. In the meantime Steve has been working on several different projects that include a documentary of the “Legendary Session” with Marty Friedman and Dave Ellefson which chronicles the recording session of the Buddy Holly song “That Makes It Tough”. Keith Ritchie from Channel 12 here in Phoenix will be producing the spot in his Brand New Video Production Studio, so look out VH-1 here comes a new “BEHIND THE MUSIC” spotlight. On another note, Steve has written a new song for the Wildhorse Ranch Rescue in Gilbert Arizona and is in the process of pulling together the musicians for that recording. Should be an exciting time for all with the advent of the NEW SALTMINE RECORDING STUDIO opening it’s doors sometime next month. Speaking of the NEW Saltmine Studio, that brings us to our next article.

The New Saltmine Studio (Up-Date)

Well it’s finally a reality. Don Salter and John Gray have put the finishing
touches on the NEW Saltmine Studio here in the fine City of Mesa Arizona. Encompassing nearly a City block. Check out the article below which recently ran in one of the many local Mesa newspapers. 

Mesa Strikes Gold with Saltmine Studios

(Click on image)

Downtown Mesa’s Arts and Entertainment District strikes gold with the successful location of Saltmine Studios at 42 through 50 South Macdonald Street, just south of Main Street.

Saltmine is the self-described “coolest studio in the Arizona desert,” offering a creative atmosphere, a wealth of both vintage and modern equipment, and a talented staff. With two recording studios and a Feng Shui approach to comfortable surroundings, Saltmine Studios delivers a comfortable space with eclectic artwork, oriental carpets, lava lamps, semi-psychedelic paint schemes, a Sony Playstation 2 and Satellite television. So cool in fact, Cyndi Lauper stopped by in late July to record her new single before heading to Dodge Theater for her show on July 29th.

Wanting to find a location to call their own, Don Salter said, “I was attracted to the uniqueness of downtown Mesa and its fledgling Arts and Entertainment District, and I believe we are getting in on the ground floor of something great.” 

Salter joins 49 other arts and cultural-related businesses, attractions and performing groups that call downtown Mesa home. He purchased three buildings situated in a courtyard just off Macdonald and Main streets. In addition to the studio, Salter intends to turn one of the buildings, which has an outdoor stage for live performances, into a café restaurant with outdoor dining.

While remaining accessible and affordable to local talent, Saltmine Studios regularly attracts national recording acts. Recent clients include producer/engineer Mike Clink, (Guns ‘n Roses) and producer/guitarist Lanny Cordola. Celebrity producer Rick Rubin chose The Saltmine when working with Sheryl Crow on her Grammy-winning cover of “Sweet Child Of Mine” for the Adam Sandler hit “Big Daddy.” Additionally, Uncle Kracker and Michael Bradford recorded two songs for the feature films, “American Pie 2” and “Summer Catch.” 

Currently under construction, Saltmine Studios is expected to announce its grand opening later this year. To reach Saltmine Studios, contact Don Salter at (480) 892-6585 or visit them on the Web at www.thesaltmine.com.

Way to Go Don and John!

On the Local Music Front. The Reign Kings take Off..

We’ve talked about the Reign Kings before, but this time it’s to bring you the good news that they have finally begun to gain some well deserved recognition, opening for such greats as Big John Popper and Blues Traveler, Train and Michelle Branch just to name a few. Check out the band bio below and send them all the support you can. You’re sure to hear a lot more from this band in the very near future. Best of luck to you all !

The Reign Kings
The Reign Kings are an Arizona-based band whose precise genre defies categorization, but whose live shows appeal to a wide variety of audiences, from pop to alternative rock to jam band fans. The sound has evolved over time and continues to do so as the band grows and experiments with new elements. Not content to be just a studio band, the group painstakingly takes steps to ensure that the unique flavor produced in the studio makes its way to their live engagements.

The band consists of Scott Briggs on lead vocals, Jim Hornaday on lead guitar, Tim Ringgold on rhythm guitar, Scott Kusmirek on drums and Rhonda Wooder on bass.

Briggs is the founding member of the band, gathering the key players soon after his release, "Hope" in the fall of 2000. His experience has seen him open for the likes of Johnny Rivers, Jackson Browne and even Michelle Branch, the fellow-Arizonan currently in the national music spotlight. Briggs, who once did a stint as a "gopher" for Bonnie Raitt, has the dubious distinction of being affectionately nicknamed "Slave Boy" by the female blues great. Prior to forming The Reign Kings, Scott played with several Valley bands, most notably The Newmans.

Hornaday, who has owned and operated his own recording studio (Dream Catcher Recordings) since 1995, is an in-demand engineer on the local music scene. Before launching his own business, he studied recording engineering at UCLA, interned for modern jazz wizard Chick Corea (Mad Hatter Recording Studio) and was a sound engineer at the world-renowned Dallas Sound Lab. He has produced albums for many artists in the area including Shawn Johnson & The Foundation, OTO, Bit o Jane, James Douglas, Casper Loma Da-Wa, BLESSEDBETHYNAME, Corrupt Citizen and Dub Deuce Mafia.

Ringgold, formerly of BLESSEDBETHYNAME, is the newest member of the Reign Kings. Seemingly overnight he has become an integral part of the band and their sound. The infectious energy he brings to the group is already evident in their live performances, always leaving fans begging for more. His musical stylings are a perfect fit and a welcome addition to the group.

Kusmirek, respected drummer in the area, has strong musical roots in the Valley from his days with the immensely popular Tempe band, Bit O Jane. With Bit O Jane he achieved critical acclaim and intense media interest, the band amassing loyal fans from here to their original home state of Michigan. Bit O Jane was the recipient of the 1998 Arizona Music Award for Best Pop/Rock Band (unsigned) and under Kusmirek's guidance, the band was able to successfully market two albums. Before disbanding in 2000, the group opened for Alanis Morissette, Garbage, Shawn Colvin, Counting Crows, The Dave Matthews Band, The Wallflowers, Eric Johnson, Cowboy Mouth, The Steve Miller Band, Taj Mahal, The Connells, Modern English, Athenaeum, Gene Loves Jezebel and Seal. The Reign Kings was Kusmirek's first serious music project since leaving Bit O Jane. He currently primarily tours with the Gin Blossoms as the band's drummer. 

Wooder, third generation Arizona native, has an illustrious musical background, having studied at the Center For Performing Arts Music magnate program as a teenager. In addition to bass, she also excels at guitar, trumpet and the trombone.

The combined experience of the five musicians blends together in an eclectic mix of intense musical energy on stage. The band has already wowed audiences through their opening performances with Great Big Sea, Junior Brown, Dishwalla and Michelle Branch, all of which were sellout shows. Additionally, the band receives airplay on The Mighty 97.3 (Globe, AZ), top-ranked 101.5 The Zone, 103.9 The Edge and KnotRadio.

Check out The Reign Kings at www.thereignkings.com 

Joanne West Photography

Steve recently had the pleasure of meeting a very wonderful person, professional photographer Joanne West. Her world renown work is unparallel amongst her peers.. It is from Steve’s photo shoot with Joanne that one of her pictures will end up in the final graphics for the Southbound Train CD. It is also through Joanne that Steve’s newest song “Dance across the Moon”, will be donated as a fundraiser for The Wildhorse Ranch Rescue in Gilbert Arizona. An organization dedicated to rescuing unwanted and abused horses. Please check out Joanne’s Bio below.

Joanne West’s photographs are an extension of her soul. Her mission in life is, to explore the world around her, capture the essence of its beauty and share it with others. She's learned one key to accomplishing this, is simply being present whenever she finds herself. She believes, “patience and willingness to accept what is, as opposed to only seeing what I’ve set out expecting to find," has helped her to produce more meaningful photographs.

Joanne lives in an underground home in Gold Canyon, Arizona. She chose this location because the light dances off the nearby Superstition Mountains and the dark desert skies are perfect for photos of star and meteor showers. Her dome shaped home, which doubles as an art gallery and photo workshop space, is situated on almost 4 acres of desert. With 100 - year old saguaro cacti, and two courtyards laden with flowering desert shrubs, it is a big attraction for wildlife, such as hummingbirds, hawks, and coyote.

Since 1985 Joanne has freelanced for a variety of publications, while balancing a 21 year commercial photography career at General Motors Corp. with educational goals. Her photographs have been published on greeting cards, calendars, and magazine covers, as well as Arizona’s newspapers. Clients for assignment work include: Horizon Greetings, Oregon Dept of Education, US Dept of Energy, TRW, Inca Adventures, KETT Engineering, the cities of Tempe, Chandler, and Sun City AZ and Rio Salado Marketing. Joanne West’s fine art photography, is part of the permanent collection of Western International University, Scottsdale AZ, General Motors Desert Proving Ground, AZ, Chandler Municipal Airport, and Chandler City Government Offices.

Her work has been exhibited at Mesa Southwest Museum, Vision Gallery, AZ, and Tempe Arts Festival. She has had solo exhibitions at Boyce Thompson Arboretum and a 39 piece, Photography From the Heart exhibition at Chandler Center for the Arts. She is currently represented by Quantum Art Inc.

A strong supporter of animal concern organizations and groups associated with preserving the beauty of our earth, Joanne often uses her photography skills to aid their missions. Her work has enhanced the brochures and websites of Superstition Area Land Trust, the Alliance of Land Conservation, Friends for Life Animal Shelter, and World Wildlife Federation. As a certified Arizona Community College instructor, Joanne enjoys teaching inspirational photography workshops, especially to children. Often combining music with images her presentations are packed with emotion and common sense photo tips for aspiring photography students. Photography excursions for small groups and full day trips to Joanne’s favorite shooting locations are in the planning process. Check the Upcoming Events link for future scheduling.

Also check out Joanne’s website at http://www.jwestphotography.com

This Quarter’s Featured Artist 

Mike G. Smith Steel Guitar Player Extraordinaire.

It’s been Steve’s great pleasure to have been able to work with Mike G. on both “That Makes It Tough” and “Take Me To the Rain” for his upcoming Southbound Train Release. Mike is one of the truly gifted people of the world. His career spans the generations and anyone who has had the pleasure of knowing Mike will tell you he’s a true gentleman of his trade.. Check out the short bio from his web page and then give him a visit at http://www.gatlinbros.com 

A long-time Nashville resident, Mike now bases in Phoenix, Arizona. His primary instruments are pedal steel guitar and keyboards. He toured and recorded for many years full-time with Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers Band (still does occasional dates) and also worked with Charlie Rich, Jerry Reed, The Judds and others. He and his musical partner/wife, Teriney, perform for corporate, public and private shows (under the name "Mike & T") and Mike is also a member of Phoenix bands "Young Country" and "The Jeff Dayton Band". Young Country does modern and classic country and a mix of modern rock (Matchbox 20, Blink 182, Eve 6, Fuel, Staind and many more) and classic rock. Mike is also a part-time member of "North" (entirely modern rock).

His musical education includes 9 years private piano training as well as arranging and theory from Belmont College and Berklee School of Music and a wealth of education from learning hands-on while working with some of the most gifted musicians on Earth.

Update on Jimmy Nichols

According to the Mecca website, Jimmy Nichols and Mecca are in the studio working on their second recording titled Planet Mecca. Some exciting news about this recording, is the fact that Guitar Great Steve Lukather has joined his former Toto band mate David Hungate and the rest of the guys for their sophomore release. We all look forward to hearing the new release from Mecca. Check out their website at http://www.planetmecca.com/index.cfm 

Good Luck Jimmy, we’ll be sure to let everyone know about the new CD..

Here’s a couple of shots of Mike G. Smith, Steve, Jimmy Nichols, and Mike Andrews during the recording session for “Take me to the Rain” and “That makes it Tough”.

New song for the Wildhorse Ranch Rescue.org

One of the more recent developments that Steve has been working on is a song that he wrote for the Wildhorse Ranch Rescue.org in Gilbert Arizona. The song titled “Dance Across the Moon” will be donated to raise funds to help offset the cost of feeding and caring for abandoned and abused horses. He’s looking to gather some great local musicians for the recording, which will indeed take place at THE SALTMINE STUDIO in downtown Mesa sometime in the very near future. Anyone interested in helping out this worthy cause can visit the donation link below: 

http://members.aol.com/mudpony/donation.htm 

Well folks, that’s about it for this Quarter. Thanks to one and all for taking the time to read our Newsletter.. We’ll be looking forward to publishing next quarter’s Newsletter as new developments take place.. Steve is in the process of putting together his band, and with the ASCAP issues behind him, it should be smooth sailing for the “Southbound Train” CD release in the very near future. 

And Finally

ON A SAD NOTE

Gary Buck, Steve’s Nashville Producer, Mentor and Very Good Friend passed away October 14th from the affects of Cancer. Our hearts go out to his family in Didsbury Canada. He will truly be missed by us all…

(Click on Image)

Read more about Gary below..

CANADIAN COUNTRY PIONEER GARY BUCK PASSES ON
“Country Recording Artist, Producer, and founder of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame”.

GARY BUCK, 63, one of Canadian country music’s most renowned and versatile personalities, died, October 14th, 2003, in hospital in Didsbury, Alberta, following a battle with cancer. Gary Buck enjoyed a lengthy career in country music, and was involved in most every aspect of the music industry, both in Canada and the U.S.

Born March 21, 1940 in Thessalon, Ontario, Gary Buck was raised in Sault Ste. Marie, and later made his home in Kitchener, Ontario. In recent years he had resided in Didsbury, Alberta; and maintained working offices in both Calgary and in Nashville.

In his teen years Gary Buck honed his performing talents on radio and stages in hometown Sault Ste. Marie, and by his early twenties embarked on a recording career which paid immediate dividends when he scored a #1 hit on the U.S. Cashbox Country charts with his hit single, Happy To Be Unhappy. He became only the third Canadian to earn a spot on the prestigious Billboard Country Hit Charts in the U.S., following in the steps of the immortal Hank Snow and Country Hall of Fame, Myrna Lorrie.

Gary Buck’s recording career eventually spanned some five decades on the hit charts, with dozens of hit singles and numerous albums released in Canada and the U.S. on various record labels including Petal, Sparton, RCA, Capitol, Quality and his own Broadland Records label which was also home for many of Canada’s top country recording artists. Gary Buck’s most notable Canadian chart hits included The Weatherman, Break The News To Lisa, Mr. Brown, Wayward Woman Of the World, etc. all of which reached #1 on the RPM charts in Canada during the late 1960’s – early 70’s. His recording successes also led to his own TV show which aired for five seasons out of CKCO-TV studios in Kitchener.

As a record producer Gary Buck’s credits are unparalleled in Canadian country music. From the late 1960’s through the new millennium, Gary Buck produced albums for many of Canada’s award-winning acts including Dick Damron, The Mercey Brothers., Family Brown, Tommy Hunter, Al Cherny, Orval Prophet, Dallas Harms, Wayne Rostad, and dozens more. His production talents also reached into Nashville studios where he helmed albums for such notable Nashville stars as George Hamilton IV, Billie Jo Spears, Johnny Duncan, and Gene Watson.

In the music publishing area, Gary Buck was also instrumental in seeing many of Canada’s top songs gain prominence. As head of Beechwood Music, the publishing arm of Capitol Records in Canada, Gary Buck spearheaded initial interest in such songs as Anne Murray’s Snowbird, Dick Damron’s Countryfied (recorded by George Hamilton IV) and the Dallas Harms composition Paper Rosie, recorded by Gene Watson.
As a songwriter Gary Buck wrote his own early career hit Stepping Out Of The Picture, and the title track from his 2002 country / gospel album, Don’t Be Standin’ On The Outside. His compositions have also been recorded by Tommy Hunter, The Mercey Brothers, Joyce Smith, Orval Prophet, Gordie Tapp, Bobby Curtola, Mike Graham, and many more.

As a music industry builder, again Gary Buck’s contributions go unmatched. During the 1970’s he held several terms as an International Director in Nashville’s Country Music Association (CMA); and later was among the founding Directors of the Academy Of Country Music (ACME) which later evolved into the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA). Perhaps the achievement Gary Buck was most proud of was the founding and establishment of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame which was launched in Kitchener, Ontario in 1989; and has since found a permanent home site at the Stampede Grounds in Calgary. It was a fitting recognition that Gary Buck himself was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001 by the Canadian Country Music Association.

A true ‘pioneer’ in country music, Gary Buck was still a recording force some five decades after his 1963 chart debut. In 1998 he released the album Western Swing ‘n Country, and a fitting close to his recording legacy came with a country gospel CD collection entitled Don’t Be Standing On The Outside, released in 2002.

Gary Buck is survived by his wife Deb and son Matthew of Didsbury, Alberta; son Raymond from Kitchener and daughters Trudy, Kailie and Christine, all of Ontario.

TAKE CARE, One and All……….
Contact Information:

Steve Richards
C\O Hurry Road Records and Publishing
P.O. Box 21928
Mesa, Arizona 85207

Phone: (480) 373-0038
Website: www.steverichards.net
Email: steve@steverichards.net

TABLE OF CONTENTS
· Stuck in ASCAP Limbo
· The New Saltmine Studio
· On the Local Music Front - The Reign Kings Take Off!
· Joanne West Photography
· This Quarter’s Featured Artist - Mike G. Smith (Steel Guitar Player Extraordinaire).
· Update on Jimmy Nichols
· Steve’s new song for the Wildhorse Ranch Rescue.org
· On a Sad Note

Stuck in ASCAP Limbo

A few months back (7 to be exact) Steve decided to drop his ASCAP membership and pursue a new BMI membership along with his new publishing company “Hurry Road Publishing” but much to his dismay, he’ll have to wait until his membership with ASCAP expires in late December 2003 before he can move on. Needless to say, that meant pushing back the release date for Southbound Train. Hopefully all goes well by the end of the year. Keep your fingers crossed. In the meantime Steve has been working on several different projects that include a documentary of the “Legendary Session” with Marty Friedman and Dave Ellefson which chronicles the recording session of the Buddy Holly song “That Makes It Tough”. Keith Ritchie from Channel 12 here in Phoenix will be producing the spot in his Brand New Video Production Studio, so look out VH-1 here comes a new “BEHIND THE MUSIC” spotlight. On another note, Steve has written a new song for the Wildhorse Ranch Rescue in Gilbert Arizona and is in the process of pulling together the musicians for that recording. Should be an exciting time for all with the advent of the NEW SALTMINE RECORDING STUDIO opening it’s doors sometime next month. Speaking of the NEW Saltmine Studio, that brings us to our next article.

The New Saltmine Studio (Up-Date)

Well it’s finally a reality. Don Salter and John Gray have put the finishing
touches on the NEW Saltmine Studio here in the fine City of Mesa Arizona. Encompassing nearly a City block. Check out the article below which recently ran in one of the many local Mesa newspapers. 

Mesa Strikes Gold with Saltmine Studios

(Click on image)

Downtown Mesa’s Arts and Entertainment District strikes gold with the successful location of Saltmine Studios at 42 through 50 South Macdonald Street, just south of Main Street.

Saltmine is the self-described “coolest studio in the Arizona desert,” offering a creative atmosphere, a wealth of both vintage and modern equipment, and a talented staff. With two recording studios and a Feng Shui approach to comfortable surroundings, Saltmine Studios delivers a comfortable space with eclectic artwork, oriental carpets, lava lamps, semi-psychedelic paint schemes, a Sony Playstation 2 and Satellite television. So cool in fact, Cyndi Lauper stopped by in late July to record her new single before heading to Dodge Theater for her show on July 29th.

Wanting to find a location to call their own, Don Salter said, “I was attracted to the uniqueness of downtown Mesa and its fledgling Arts and Entertainment District, and I believe we are getting in on the ground floor of something great.” 

Salter joins 49 other arts and cultural-related businesses, attractions and performing groups that call downtown Mesa home. He purchased three buildings situated in a courtyard just off Macdonald and Main streets. In addition to the studio, Salter intends to turn one of the buildings, which has an outdoor stage for live performances, into a café restaurant with outdoor dining.

While remaining accessible and affordable to local talent, Saltmine Studios regularly attracts national recording acts. Recent clients include producer/engineer Mike Clink, (Guns ‘n Roses) and producer/guitarist Lanny Cordola. Celebrity producer Rick Rubin chose The Saltmine when working with Sheryl Crow on her Grammy-winning cover of “Sweet Child Of Mine” for the Adam Sandler hit “Big Daddy.” Additionally, Uncle Kracker and Michael Bradford recorded two songs for the feature films, “American Pie 2” and “Summer Catch.” 

Currently under construction, Saltmine Studios is expected to announce its grand opening later this year. To reach Saltmine Studios, contact Don Salter at (480) 892-6585 or visit them on the Web at www.thesaltmine.com.

Way to Go Don and John!

On the Local Music Front. The Reign Kings take Off..

We’ve talked about the Reign Kings before, but this time it’s to bring you the good news that they have finally begun to gain some well deserved recognition, opening for such greats as Big John Popper and Blues Traveler, Train and Michelle Branch just to name a few. Check out the band bio below and send them all the support you can. You’re sure to hear a lot more from this band in the very near future. Best of luck to you all !

The Reign Kings
The Reign Kings are an Arizona-based band whose precise genre defies categorization, but whose live shows appeal to a wide variety of audiences, from pop to alternative rock to jam band fans. The sound has evolved over time and continues to do so as the band grows and experiments with new elements. Not content to be just a studio band, the group painstakingly takes steps to ensure that the unique flavor produced in the studio makes its way to their live engagements.

The band consists of Scott Briggs on lead vocals, Jim Hornaday on lead guitar, Tim Ringgold on rhythm guitar, Scott Kusmirek on drums and Rhonda Wooder on bass.

Briggs is the founding member of the band, gathering the key players soon after his release, "Hope" in the fall of 2000. His experience has seen him open for the likes of Johnny Rivers, Jackson Browne and even Michelle Branch, the fellow-Arizonan currently in the national music spotlight. Briggs, who once did a stint as a "gopher" for Bonnie Raitt, has the dubious distinction of being affectionately nicknamed "Slave Boy" by the female blues great. Prior to forming The Reign Kings, Scott played with several Valley bands, most notably The Newmans.

Hornaday, who has owned and operated his own recording studio (Dream Catcher Recordings) since 1995, is an in-demand engineer on the local music scene. Before launching his own business, he studied recording engineering at UCLA, interned for modern jazz wizard Chick Corea (Mad Hatter Recording Studio) and was a sound engineer at the world-renowned Dallas Sound Lab. He has produced albums for many artists in the area including Shawn Johnson & The Foundation, OTO, Bit o Jane, James Douglas, Casper Loma Da-Wa, BLESSEDBETHYNAME, Corrupt Citizen and Dub Deuce Mafia.

Ringgold, formerly of BLESSEDBETHYNAME, is the newest member of the Reign Kings. Seemingly overnight he has become an integral part of the band and their sound. The infectious energy he brings to the group is already evident in their live performances, always leaving fans begging for more. His musical stylings are a perfect fit and a welcome addition to the group.

Kusmirek, respected drummer in the area, has strong musical roots in the Valley from his days with the immensely popular Tempe band, Bit O Jane. With Bit O Jane he achieved critical acclaim and intense media interest, the band amassing loyal fans from here to their original home state of Michigan. Bit O Jane was the recipient of the 1998 Arizona Music Award for Best Pop/Rock Band (unsigned) and under Kusmirek's guidance, the band was able to successfully market two albums. Before disbanding in 2000, the group opened for Alanis Morissette, Garbage, Shawn Colvin, Counting Crows, The Dave Matthews Band, The Wallflowers, Eric Johnson, Cowboy Mouth, The Steve Miller Band, Taj Mahal, The Connells, Modern English, Athenaeum, Gene Loves Jezebel and Seal. The Reign Kings was Kusmirek's first serious music project since leaving Bit O Jane. He currently primarily tours with the Gin Blossoms as the band's drummer. 

Wooder, third generation Arizona native, has an illustrious musical background, having studied at the Center For Performing Arts Music magnate program as a teenager. In addition to bass, she also excels at guitar, trumpet and the trombone.

The combined experience of the five musicians blends together in an eclectic mix of intense musical energy on stage. The band has already wowed audiences through their opening performances with Great Big Sea, Junior Brown, Dishwalla and Michelle Branch, all of which were sellout shows. Additionally, the band receives airplay on The Mighty 97.3 (Globe, AZ), top-ranked 101.5 The Zone, 103.9 The Edge and KnotRadio.

Check out The Reign Kings at www.thereignkings.com 

Joanne West Photography

Steve recently had the pleasure of meeting a very wonderful person, professional photographer Joanne West. Her world renown work is unparallel amongst her peers.. It is from Steve’s photo shoot with Joanne that one of her pictures will end up in the final graphics for the Southbound Train CD. It is also through Joanne that Steve’s newest song “Dance across the Moon”, will be donated as a fundraiser for The Wildhorse Ranch Rescue in Gilbert Arizona. An organization dedicated to rescuing unwanted and abused horses. Please check out Joanne’s Bio below.

Joanne West’s photographs are an extension of her soul. Her mission in life is, to explore the world around her, capture the essence of its beauty and share it with others. She's learned one key to accomplishing this, is simply being present whenever she finds herself. She believes, “patience and willingness to accept what is, as opposed to only seeing what I’ve set out expecting to find," has helped her to produce more meaningful photographs.

Joanne lives in an underground home in Gold Canyon, Arizona. She chose this location because the light dances off the nearby Superstition Mountains and the dark desert skies are perfect for photos of star and meteor showers. Her dome shaped home, which doubles as an art gallery and photo workshop space, is situated on almost 4 acres of desert. With 100 - year old saguaro cacti, and two courtyards laden with flowering desert shrubs, it is a big attraction for wildlife, such as hummingbirds, hawks, and coyote.

Since 1985 Joanne has freelanced for a variety of publications, while balancing a 21 year commercial photography career at General Motors Corp. with educational goals. Her photographs have been published on greeting cards, calendars, and magazine covers, as well as Arizona’s newspapers. Clients for assignment work include: Horizon Greetings, Oregon Dept of Education, US Dept of Energy, TRW, Inca Adventures, KETT Engineering, the cities of Tempe, Chandler, and Sun City AZ and Rio Salado Marketing. Joanne West’s fine art photography, is part of the permanent collection of Western International University, Scottsdale AZ, General Motors Desert Proving Ground, AZ, Chandler Municipal Airport, and Chandler City Government Offices.

Her work has been exhibited at Mesa Southwest Museum, Vision Gallery, AZ, and Tempe Arts Festival. She has had solo exhibitions at Boyce Thompson Arboretum and a 39 piece, Photography From the Heart exhibition at Chandler Center for the Arts. She is currently represented by Quantum Art Inc.

A strong supporter of animal concern organizations and groups associated with preserving the beauty of our earth, Joanne often uses her photography skills to aid their missions. Her work has enhanced the brochures and websites of Superstition Area Land Trust, the Alliance of Land Conservation, Friends for Life Animal Shelter, and World Wildlife Federation. As a certified Arizona Community College instructor, Joanne enjoys teaching inspirational photography workshops, especially to children. Often combining music with images her presentations are packed with emotion and common sense photo tips for aspiring photography students. Photography excursions for small groups and full day trips to Joanne’s favorite shooting locations are in the planning process. Check the Upcoming Events link for future scheduling.

Also check out Joanne’s website at http://www.jwestphotography.com

This Quarter’s Featured Artist 

Mike G. Smith Steel Guitar Player Extraordinaire.

It’s been Steve’s great pleasure to have been able to work with Mike G. on both “That Makes It Tough” and “Take Me To the Rain” for his upcoming Southbound Train Release. Mike is one of the truly gifted people of the world. His career spans the generations and anyone who has had the pleasure of knowing Mike will tell you he’s a true gentleman of his trade.. Check out the short bio from his web page and then give him a visit at http://www.gatlinbros.com 

A long-time Nashville resident, Mike now bases in Phoenix, Arizona. His primary instruments are pedal steel guitar and keyboards. He toured and recorded for many years full-time with Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers Band (still does occasional dates) and also worked with Charlie Rich, Jerry Reed, The Judds and others. He and his musical partner/wife, Teriney, perform for corporate, public and private shows (under the name "Mike & T") and Mike is also a member of Phoenix bands "Young Country" and "The Jeff Dayton Band". Young Country does modern and classic country and a mix of modern rock (Matchbox 20, Blink 182, Eve 6, Fuel, Staind and many more) and classic rock. Mike is also a part-time member of "North" (entirely modern rock).

His musical education includes 9 years private piano training as well as arranging and theory from Belmont College and Berklee School of Music and a wealth of education from learning hands-on while working with some of the most gifted musicians on Earth.

Update on Jimmy Nichols

According to the Mecca website, Jimmy Nichols and Mecca are in the studio working on their second recording titled Planet Mecca. Some exciting news about this recording, is the fact that Guitar Great Steve Lukather has joined his former Toto band mate David Hungate and the rest of the guys for their sophomore release. We all look forward to hearing the new release from Mecca. Check out their website at http://www.planetmecca.com/index.cfm 

Good Luck Jimmy, we’ll be sure to let everyone know about the new CD..

Here’s a couple of shots of Mike G. Smith, Steve, Jimmy Nichols, and Mike Andrews during the recording session for “Take me to the Rain” and “That makes it Tough”.

New song for the Wildhorse Ranch Rescue.org

One of the more recent developments that Steve has been working on is a song that he wrote for the Wildhorse Ranch Rescue.org in Gilbert Arizona. The song titled “Dance Across the Moon” will be donated to raise funds to help offset the cost of feeding and caring for abandoned and abused horses. He’s looking to gather some great local musicians for the recording, which will indeed take place at THE SALTMINE STUDIO in downtown Mesa sometime in the very near future. Anyone interested in helping out this worthy cause can visit the donation link below: 

http://members.aol.com/mudpony/donation.htm 

Well folks, that’s about it for this Quarter. Thanks to one and all for taking the time to read our Newsletter.. We’ll be looking forward to publishing next quarter’s Newsletter as new developments take place.. Steve is in the process of putting together his band, and with the ASCAP issues behind him, it should be smooth sailing for the “Southbound Train” CD release in the very near future. 

And Finally

ON A SAD NOTE

Gary Buck, Steve’s Nashville Producer, Mentor and Very Good Friend passed away October 14th from the affects of Cancer. Our hearts go out to his family in Didsbury Canada. He will truly be missed by us all…

(Click on Image)

Read more about Gary below..

CANADIAN COUNTRY PIONEER GARY BUCK PASSES ON
“Country Recording Artist, Producer, and founder of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame”.

GARY BUCK, 63, one of Canadian country music’s most renowned and versatile personalities, died, October 14th, 2003, in hospital in Didsbury, Alberta, following a battle with cancer. Gary Buck enjoyed a lengthy career in country music, and was involved in most every aspect of the music industry, both in Canada and the U.S.

Born March 21, 1940 in Thessalon, Ontario, Gary Buck was raised in Sault Ste. Marie, and later made his home in Kitchener, Ontario. In recent years he had resided in Didsbury, Alberta; and maintained working offices in both Calgary and in Nashville.

In his teen years Gary Buck honed his performing talents on radio and stages in hometown Sault Ste. Marie, and by his early twenties embarked on a recording career which paid immediate dividends when he scored a #1 hit on the U.S. Cashbox Country charts with his hit single, Happy To Be Unhappy. He became only the third Canadian to earn a spot on the prestigious Billboard Country Hit Charts in the U.S., following in the steps of the immortal Hank Snow and Country Hall of Fame, Myrna Lorrie.

Gary Buck’s recording career eventually spanned some five decades on the hit charts, with dozens of hit singles and numerous albums released in Canada and the U.S. on various record labels including Petal, Sparton, RCA, Capitol, Quality and his own Broadland Records label which was also home for many of Canada’s top country recording artists. Gary Buck’s most notable Canadian chart hits included The Weatherman, Break The News To Lisa, Mr. Brown, Wayward Woman Of the World, etc. all of which reached #1 on the RPM charts in Canada during the late 1960’s – early 70’s. His recording successes also led to his own TV show which aired for five seasons out of CKCO-TV studios in Kitchener.

As a record producer Gary Buck’s credits are unparalleled in Canadian country music. From the late 1960’s through the new millennium, Gary Buck produced albums for many of Canada’s award-winning acts including Dick Damron, The Mercey Brothers., Family Brown, Tommy Hunter, Al Cherny, Orval Prophet, Dallas Harms, Wayne Rostad, and dozens more. His production talents also reached into Nashville studios where he helmed albums for such notable Nashville stars as George Hamilton IV, Billie Jo Spears, Johnny Duncan, and Gene Watson.

In the music publishing area, Gary Buck was also instrumental in seeing many of Canada’s top songs gain prominence. As head of Beechwood Music, the publishing arm of Capitol Records in Canada, Gary Buck spearheaded initial interest in such songs as Anne Murray’s Snowbird, Dick Damron’s Countryfied (recorded by George Hamilton IV) and the Dallas Harms composition Paper Rosie, recorded by Gene Watson.
As a songwriter Gary Buck wrote his own early career hit Stepping Out Of The Picture, and the title track from his 2002 country / gospel album, Don’t Be Standin’ On The Outside. His compositions have also been recorded by Tommy Hunter, The Mercey Brothers, Joyce Smith, Orval Prophet, Gordie Tapp, Bobby Curtola, Mike Graham, and many more.

As a music industry builder, again Gary Buck’s contributions go unmatched. During the 1970’s he held several terms as an International Director in Nashville’s Country Music Association (CMA); and later was among the founding Directors of the Academy Of Country Music (ACME) which later evolved into the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA). Perhaps the achievement Gary Buck was most proud of was the founding and establishment of the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame which was launched in Kitchener, Ontario in 1989; and has since found a permanent home site at the Stampede Grounds in Calgary. It was a fitting recognition that Gary Buck himself was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001 by the Canadian Country Music Association.

A true ‘pioneer’ in country music, Gary Buck was still a recording force some five decades after his 1963 chart debut. In 1998 he released the album Western Swing ‘n Country, and a fitting close to his recording legacy came with a country gospel CD collection entitled Don’t Be Standing On The Outside, released in 2002.

Gary Buck is survived by his wife Deb and son Matthew of Didsbury, Alberta; son Raymond from Kitchener and daughters Trudy, Kailie and Christine, all of Ontario.

TAKE CARE, One and All……….
Contact Information:

Steve Richards
C\O Hurry Road Records and Publishing
P.O. Box 21928
Mesa, Arizona 85207

Phone: (480) 373-0038
Website: www.steverichards.net
Email: steve@steverichards.net