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12/01/13 Local and Industry News
"Taking Charge: The Pauly Cohen Story" was screened at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival last month, with Pauly Cohen in attendance. The film, shot last year in south Florida, documents the life of trumpeter Pauly Cohen. Cohen, a retired South Florida Musicians Association member, has performed with or socialized with many jazz and pop cultural icons, including Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Jackie Gleason, Charlie Parker, and Artie Shaw. Cohen, who is now 91, still leads a big band in Margate every week.09/01/07 Profile: Candido Camero
Candido Camero, a member of South Florida Musicians Association since 1960, has been named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and will receive the award in New York City in October.
The Cuban-American percussionist pioneered the use of more than one conga drum, using up to three congas and bongos to play melodies in addition to providing rhythmic and harmonic accompaniment. Candido has performed on the Jackie Gleason Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, and on many specials, and has played with Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Celia Cruz, Tony Bennett, Tito Puente, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, and many other greats. He was also a member of the Billy Taylor Quartet.
01/01/06 Profile: Peter Graves
Peter Graves, considered one of the best and most nationally known bandleaders in south Florida, started his professional career playing on the Jackie Gleason TV series from 1967-1969. He then moved on to lead his own orchestra at Joe Namath's Bachelor III in Ft. Lauderdale for a five year engagement with Mel Torme and others. In 1976, the Peter Graves Orchestra moved to the Sunrise Musical Theatre for an unlimited run with such notable performers as Frank Sinatra, with whom they worked for 20 years, including at 3 SuperBowl appearances.
01/01/16 Last Month at the Local
Last month we assisted a member with making contributions to the AFM-EP pension fund. Did you know that you can make contributions to the fund on your own behalf using the LS-1 AFM contract? The AFM-EPF secures your retirement with fixed payments for life. If you'd like more information about our Pension fund, or the LS-1 contract form, please let us know.05/01/13 SFMA History: 1960's
South Florida had quite a few famous visitors in the 1960's.09/28/03 Members Top the Charts
Peter Graves’ Jaco Pastorius Big Band album titled “Word of Mouth Revisited” on the HeadsUp label (a division of Telarc International), released nationally on August 26, has made waves on the charts. Tthe album has been #1 on the Jazz Week chart (airplay), #12 on Billboard (sales), and is Record of the Month in France. Reviewers from the LA Times to the Washington Post have praised the album.
Bandleader Peter Graves, a Local 655 member since 1966, has also served as President of South Florida Musicians Association since 1998. He started his professional career playing on the Jackie Gleason TV series from 1967-1969 and has toured and recorded with the Bee Gees, receiving 6 platinum albums and numerous platinum and gold singles.
Guest bass soloists on “Word of Mouth Revisited” were Victor Wooten, Gerald Veasley, Victor Bailey, Richard Bona, Christian McBride, Jimmy Haslip, and Felix Pastorius. Local 655 musicians on the album were: trumpets-Jeff Kievit, Ken Faulk and Jason Carder; trombones-Dana Teboe, John Kricker and Craig Gosnell; Saxes-Billy Ross, Ed Calle, Mike Scaglione, Gary Keller and Mike Brignola; keys-Mike Levine; guitar-Randy Bernsen; drums-Mark Griffith; arranger-Larry Warrilow.
02/01/16 Last Month at the Local
Are you listed in our referral program? Last month we referred pianists, drummers, bass players, and sax players for gigs. We also met with one of our members to discuss contract protection and pension benefits. For recording work, those contracts are also used to make sure you receive royalty payments. Last month we assisted the various royalty funds in tracking down documentation for albums by several artists including Pitbull, Don Omar, JD Natasha, Paulina Rubio, and even for the Gleason Show from the 1960's and 1970's.04/01/00 MPTF Scholarships and Music Business Seminar
Music Business Seminar at FAU
At the invitation of faculty member Dan Salmasian, President Graves recently gave a lecture on how the AFM has helped him in his own personal career. He talked about his days on the Jackie Gleason show, and how he without lifting a finger he would get checks for an additional 75% when the show went into reruns in the summer. He also mentioned that he is still getting paid for the BeeGees song "Staying Alive" that he did in the 1970’s! Peter talked about the various aspects of the business of music, including production and management, as well as the AFM’s contract administration, Pension Fund, and recording services.
04/01/03 Recording Rap
February and March have been extremely busy. Our President, Peter Graves, is producing the Jaco Pastorius Big Band album titled “Word of Mouth Revisited” at the Gallery Recording Studio owned by ex-UM Bass player, Rick Howell. The record company is Telarc on the HeadsUp label. Guest bass soloists are Victor Wooten, Gerald Veasley, Victor Bailey, Richard Bona, Christian McBride, Jimmy Haslip and Felix Pastorius. Local 655 musicians are: trumpets-Jeff Kievit, Ken Faulk and Jason Carder; trombones-Dana Teboe, John Kricker and Craig Gosnell; Saxes-Billy Ross, Ed Calle, Mike Scaglione, Gary Keller and Mike Brignola; keys-Mike Levine; guitar-Randy Bernsen; drums-Mark Griffith; arranger-Larry Warrilow; and conducted by Peter Graves. I’m looking forward to the release date.
10/01/99 President's Report
...Thanks to all that attended the September 23rd meeting; your concern for the progress of Local 655 is what makes it all worth it. By your many encouraging comments, I believe we're on the right track and making substantial progress. That's not to say we haven't had criticism, but we will try to make necessary adjustments to improve the service you're getting…My personal thanks for re-electing me as President. I am pleased to be able to follow through on the numerous projects we've begun, and to see the fruits of our labor. I want to thank Stuart MacDonald for his service and at the same time welcome Tim Barnes as our newest Executive Board member…
02/01/98 Officer Profiles
PRESIDENT
Peter Graves, considered one of the best and most nationally known bandleaders in south Florida, started his professional career playing on the Jackie Gleason TV series from 1967-1969. He then moved on to lead his own orchestra at Joe Namath’s Bachelor III in Ft. Lauderdale for a five year engagement with Mel Torme and others. In 1976, the Peter Graves Orchestra moved to the Sunrise Musical Theatre for an unlimited run with such notable performers as Frank Sinatra, with whom they worked for 20 years, including at 3 SuperBowl appearances.
06/01/00 Recording Rap
During the month of April, HBO filmed the made-for-cable movie "Havana Nocturne," Arturo Sandoval’s life story. Andy Garcia, as the lead, portrays Arturo’s story of frustration in Cuba and his defection in 1990 with his wife and youngest son. This was a Union project which provided sidelining work for many of our musicians, including Ed Calle, Richard Bravo, and Will Edwards. I’m sure you’ll notice a few of them in the movie. If any members are interested in this type of film work please call me, and I’ll provide you with the agents to contact.
11/01/06 Industry News
Local/Club Date
An increased hotel bed tax will pay for a new performing arts center in Orlando. The center will cost $389 million and will be home to the Orlando Philharmonic, Orlando Ballet, and Orlando Opera. The tax increase will also fund a new arena for the Orlando Magic and renovations to the Citrus Bowl.
06/01/04 Official Business
Help TEMPO help Musicians fight for…
- Right to join a union
- Health insurance
- Guaranteed retirement plans
- Copyright protection
- Ability to bring instruments on airlines
06/01/05 Industry News
Local/Club Date
The Broward Center has placed third in Pollstar’s World Top 50 Theaters chart, behind the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace and the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Office Depot Center placed ninth in the U.S. and 14th in the World Top 50 Arenas chart. Rankings are based in ticket sales.
09/01/06 Profile: Mike Lewis
Mike Lewis' biography reads like a timeline of South Florida music history. An impressive list of famous names have benefited from his talents, including Jackie Gleason, Rod Stewart, KC and the Sunshine Band, The Bee Gees, Jose Feliciano, Dr. Hook, Lionel Hampton, Betty Wright, Julio Iglesias, Willie Nelson, Diddy, Black Sabbath, Inner Circle, and countless others. Mike has worked in virtually every imaginable media and musical style; listing all of his credits would require many pages.
Mike's musical beginnings were somewhat tentative. "I started piano lessons when I was 6, but wasn't too thrilled. After I began playing the trumpet at age 12, I sort of got hooked on music. All the local high school band directors had a dance band, and at age 15 they put me on 1st trumpet." AFM membership has been an important part of his life for 53 years, having first joined a small local in Hamlet, North Carolina. "We played all over North and South Carolina. I wasn't even old enough to drive. Somebody had to give me a ride to the gigs!" Mike later transferred his membership to Local 802 (New York) and finally, in 1964, to Local 655.
