Final: Richard "Daddy" Love

Richard "Daddy" Love, the head organizer of the Singer Song Writers of Norman, started developing his musical talents over 30 years ago when he decided talking to girls would be a lot easier with the company of a guitar. Still playing today, Love has inspired and educated many local musicians in Norman through his weekly open mic nights with SWAN. He enjoys the fulfillment of seeing new musicians learn and progress as they learn new techniques and become more comfortable in front of a live audience.

Christmas Music: Can it come too early?

Come December, most heads are filled with the idea of Christmas trees, twinkle lights, toy commercials, and more importantly Christmas Music…except for a few.

Meghan Macdonald, a Sociology junior at the University of Oklahoma reserves her stereo for her normal listening habits. Instead of Jingle Bells, it’s The Postal Service. Instead of Silent Night, it’s The Shins.

“I think Christmas songs become so overplayed throughout the month,” she said. “When I was a kid, Christmas shows and songs were reserved for at least two weeks before Christmas, but now they’re starting in mid November.”

Radio Station KMGL 104.1 in Oklahoma City begins playing an all Christmas music set list the Friday after Thanksgiving. Malls and departments stores begin their Christmas soundtrack before that, and stores like Wal-Mart, and Target begin setting out Christmas decorations and candy before that.

And that’s the way that Lyndon Parker likes it.

“I like to start the Christmas season off as soon as possible,” she said. “Christmas is only once a year so I want it to last as long as possible. I love it that you can listen in your car, and then listen in the mall, and then listen in the restaurant after the mall. I put my usual cds in storage for at least a couple months. That’s the way it should be.”

It seems that Christmas music is just a matter of preference. Some like it early and often and some like it short and sweet. Regardless of how much you enjoy it, there's no getting away from it. So you might as well just embrace it and be merry.

"Second Wind" for students

If you find yourself worn out after a day of work or studying, and you feel like you need a place you sit and relax with a cup of coffee, or even take in a little live music, then Second Wind Coffee Shop on Campus Corner has what you need.

Second Wind, a non-profit coffee shop that is affiliated with First Presbyterian Church next door, opened their doors for the first time last fall. Student volunteers work from noon to eleven daily to create an environment that can help ease their fellow student’s nerves.

Taylor Dees, who is in her third semester working at Second Wind, describes it as a place to come and relax.

“I like the community and I like the feeling,” she said. “I started coming to the bible study here first, and there was barista training not long after that and I decided to begin volunteering.”

The growing business is operated entirely by students from First Presbyterian Church. The Church owns the Second Wind building, and rents the site to the students for one dollar a month.

Because the business is non-profit, all of the drinks are sold on suggested donation. The consumer can choose to pay as much or as little as desired, which helps out those students who are on a limited budget.


Friday nights are reserved for local musical artists to showcase their talents. The shows are most often free, and deliver a variety of sounds, from folk, to indie, to country.

“We try to have an open mic night once a month, and then bands the rest of the time,” Dees said. “We have local artists and then we have a few artists that come form out of town. It’s really something for everyone.”

Because the shop is ran by students only, it will be closing it's doors this Thursday so the volunteers can take a break or return home from school. It will reopen at the beginning of the Spring semester.

"Second Life" Gives Music a New Life

The online virtual world simulation "Second Life" has been rapidly growing in members since it's creation in 2003, averaging about 88,000 members, but Richard Love has found a different use for the social world of Second Life.

"When I log into Second Life, I try to emulate with musical and computer equipment, what I would do during a live show and stream it to the internet," said Love. "It's a really interesting concept."



For about two and a half years, Love has been performing live on Second Life in between his real life performances. Using an avatar, or a three dimensional graphic representation, Love plays his music for a world wide audience. Though different in many ways to performing in front of an actual audience, Love believes that the basic concepts are still the same.

"You're still playing your instruments and entertaining like you would at a local club, but instead of just one audience, you have a bunch of audiences in different places listening at once," said love. "In some ways it's actually better because the interaction between performer and audience is more in depth. When I write a song it's like instant feedback."

Along with better communication from fans, the financial benefits are also sometimes larger in the online music community. While at a recent open mic night, Love streamed his live performance on Second Life and made three times more money in tips than from his real life audience. The idea of streaming during a live performance came about because it gives Love's music a wider audience.

"For every one person you get in your audience, there's four other people that would have liked to have been there, but for some reason they just can't," said Love. "Well with Second Life, people can stay home and take care of their sick kid, and still listen to your show."

Although traditional live music events may not be going anywhere for awhile, Love feels that online creative outlets like Second Life could possibly be the future of music.

"You never know. In ten or twenty years, the technology will be a lot better. Along with Second life, Face Book is coming out with a new live music application soon so it seems to really be catching on, and the blend of live and streaming music is really exciting."

Sixty Minutes with a cameraman

"60 Minutes" cameraman Ray Bribiesca Introduces himself to journalism students at Gaylord Hall.  Photo by: Zachary Herring

Seating was sparse Tuesday in the Hall of Fame Room of Gaylord Hall as Emmy and Peabody Award winning photojournalist Ray Bribiesca sat down with Gaylord journalism students to discuss topics ranging from his assignments in war torn countries, to some tips and advice on camera usage.  

Bribiesca, who has been involved in television news production for more than four decades, started his career as a combat cameraman in Viet Nam at the age of 17. Since then, he has covered everything from presidential elections to the current war in Iraq.

On November 2nd, not long after returning from yet another assignment in dangerous war territory, Bribiesca was sent out on his last assignment for CBS to document the violent underside of the country of Yemen. Although he acknowledges the risk involved in filming in these areas, sometimes under enemy fire, Bribiesca believes it's all about getting the shot.

Bribiesca discusses his experiences as a photojournalist during war time. Photo by: Zachary Herring

"You don't think, you just react," said Bribiesca. "If anything bad happens to you, heaven forbid, that just goes with the territory."

 Bribiesca also explained the line you walk as a journalist during war time.

"When you're in a situation like we are, you're literally taking the position of soldiers in the field," said Bribiesca. " When you're taking a soldiers place, you have to help. We're all trained, and CBS sends us to a 3 week first aid course where you're literally taught to save a life."

Bribiesca finished up the discussion by offering a few tips on working with a camera and the business of news photography. Along with technical aspects such as composition and lighting techniques, he also commented on the importance of being perceptive.

"You have to look at everything," suggested Bribiesca. " Everyone has a story to tell."

Hugh Scott on Photojouralism

Hugh Scott has been in the business of photos for quite a while. From an early age he knew that his true calling in life was photography, so when a photojournalism job came open at The Daily Oklahoman, he knew it was meant to be.

"My cousin told me about the job," said Scott. "It's funny because I actually came in second for the job. Someone from Dallas was chosen ahead of me, but he didn't work out, so about a week later I got a call asking if I could start tomorrow? "

He's been working at The Oklahoman ever since.

Between his photo assignments for the paper, Scott finds time to explore the creative side of photography while earning a little extra income. On weekends, you can usually find him taking family portraits and head shots, or on those occasional rainy nights, hunting down lightning strikes to photograph.

But Scott recognizes the tough economic times that are affecting news media, and specifically the photojournalism area.

"We've had to lay off two or three photographers in the last six months," Scott said. "I know that personally I've lost my assistant which has really affected my work load."

Though he acknowledges the difficulty that students are having finding jobs out of college because of the layoffs, Scott says that it's not impossible, you just have to do the right things.
 
"You have to be constantly taking photos," says Scott. " You have to keep your work diversified to build your portfolio for your job interview. It's also important to keep up on your writing skills and your knowledge of photo editing programs. The most important thing is to just be persistent in your photography. You have to always be learning."

Slide Show Example

The SWAN song of Norman

The Song Writers Association of Norman's mission statement reads, "The Song Writers Association is a non profit group organized under the Norman Arts Council and is designed to promote and support the creation of original music in the greater Norman community."

But after visiting one of the weekly meetings and song circles, you realize that this organization is more than just a group designed for promotion of music. It is a family, of friends and strangers, that comes together every week to share and encourage those around them.

Along with the valuable feedback and encouragement the musicians gain from the group, the Song Writers Association of Norman, or SWAN, provides help with copywriting original material, tips for song writing, and musical showcases at various local venues around Norman.

SWAN was started a little more than a year ago, but the foundation of the organization was born long before.

Contacts and relationships made through open mics and song circles led Richard "Daddy" Love to realize that the Norman music scene was lacking something. The musicians of the city needed a steady place to feature their talents and get feedback to their original songs.

Love decided to reach out to one of the local musicians he had met at a music event.

Michael Bendure, who is the publicity officer of the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, listened to Love's idea and decided to pitch it to Rick Fry, head of the Norman Arts Council. After some discussion of what the goals and aspirations of the organization would be, SWAN was officially formed.



The organization has quickly gained momentum with more than 25 members eager to share their musical talents and learn about the “ins and outs” of the business.

At the beginning of every month, before the music starts, there is an informational presentation.

"It's a different thing every month," said Love. "We usually try to do the nuts and bolts of song writing. We've had presentations on how to set up a PA, how to use social media to promote your music, home recording, and even workshops on how to write lyrics."

SWAN is always looking for new artists to join and share their talents. The fees are very affordable at just $30 for a basic membership and $20 for students, educators, and seniors.

The growth of the organization doesn’t seem to be slowing any time soon. The members of the group have just recently released a compilation CD of their original works, and are adding a new element to the meetings. In addition to the song circles and open mics, there will now be an occasional “jam session”, where the musicians will play their instruments together instead of one after the other.

Love is inspired by the progress that SWAN has made in the musical community, and how it has helped the local musicians of Norman get there names out there.

"I'm proud of what we've done. The best music in the world is what you've just stumbled onto; what you weren't expecting to hear. There's a whole lot about the songs that people write themselves thats amusing, or interesting or intriguing, and thats what we do here."

Michelangelo's Masterpiece of Local Music

If big concert halls, huge audiences, and expensive ticket prices aren’t your idea of a fun night, then you might want to stop by Michelangelo’s Coffee Shop and Wine Bar in downtown Norman.    

The first thing you notice when walking through the doors is the intimate feel of the small venue. Decorated with rows and rows of local art and bright red-orange paint, the walls are accented by the modern deco track lighting and colorful pennant’s that hang from the ceiling. The whole quirkiness of the atmosphere is topped of with a white grand piano that looks like it should be out of place, but just isn’t.

The musical atmosphere of Michelangelo’s is generally laid back with an intermingling of genres. You never know what you might get when you walk into one of the weekly open mic nights.

Small intimate venues like Michelangelo’s are committed to the promotion and growth of Norman’s local artists. Along with a commission free space for painters to present their work, and a venue for poets and musicians to test the performing waters, they also host a biweekly song circle or open mic sponsored by the Song Writer Association of Norman.

“I think places like this are essential to local music,” said Liz Reynolds, longtime barista for Michelangelo’s. “They give people that couldn’t draw a big crowd, or people that wouldn’t want to play in front of a large audience a chance to get their music out there.”

From the artwork on the walls to the types of music acts, the atmosphere of Michelangelo’s is constantly changing, and this might be one of the biggest appeals of the venue.

“I like walking in here and not knowing what to expect,” said Meghan Macdonald, a regular customer at Michelangelo’s. “It’s just a really nice place to come get some coffee and listen to some good music.”

So the next time that you’re out strolling the streets of downtown Norman and a craving for good local music hits you, stop by Michelangelo’s for a quick acoustic set with a side of quirkiness.

The Sooner Theatre: A Norman Classic

At first glance, the Sooner Theatre in downtown Norman doesn’t look like much. The dirty yellow brick is accented with faded green paint, worn oak doors, and a sign with more than one burned out bulb. It’s not until you step inside that the true grandeur is seen.
   
Stepping past the vintage style ticket booth, and into the small lobby is like walking back into the 1920s. Plush reds and dark wooden beams decorate the interior. The classic style chandeliers hanging from the ceiling illuminate the original tiles attached to the wooden beams.

Branching to the left of the lobby leads you to the concession stand. The Sweet Shop, in it’s classic fashion, again adds a vintage feel to the theater.

The idea of the Sooner Theatre was created for one goal. To be the first theater in the region to show talking pictures. This goal was accomplished in 1929 when Harold Gimeno opened the doors to the general public.

The audiences were amazed when they witnessed their first taste of cinema accompanied by sound, and the theater thrived for almost 45 years.

It was in 1975 that the Sooner Theatre was reluctantly forced to shut it’s doors. After years of entertaining audiences, the small single screened theatre just couldn’t compete with the new era of multiplexes that was sweeping the nation.

Reluctant to see the building that had become somewhat of a trademark to downtown Norman torn down, a small group of citizens banded together and pressed the City to intervene. The requests were granted and in 1977, the theatre was purchased by the City of Norman from the original owner, and was later added to the National Register of Historic Places.

 In 1982 the theater was leased by the city to The Sooner Theatre, Inc. for a term of 99 years, at an annual price of one dollar. The yearly fee has not changed, even in today’s tight economic times.

“The city kind of has an obligation to support businesses like this,” said Jennifer Baker, executive director of the Sooner Theatre. “Without the various parks, and art exhibits, and theaters, the city isn’t left with much of anything. It loses it’s culture.”

Today, the Sooner Theatre is thriving. Along with a line up a musical productions, the theater also hosts a “Main Event” concert series that consists of three touring bands.

“We have a major concert series every season,” said production manager Brandon Adams. “The type of music is kind of a mixture of genres. Like our first concert was a kind of blues country, and the last one will be sort of a big band type of style. But knowing our demographic, being in Oklahoma, we usually try to incorporate a traditional country band into the series.”

From the brink of destruction, the Sooner Theatre has worked it’s way back as a frontrunner for entertainment in downtown Norman. And with crowds lined up around the corner on a Saturday night, it doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere for a long time.

Mona Eltahawy is Blogging for Social Change

Mona Eltahawy captivated the audience during her presentation Wednesday in the Regents Room of the University of Oklahoma student union. Eltahawy’s presentation on Blogging for Social Change detailed the various reasons and events that led to the beginning of her blogging career, and the importance of blogging to change the world.

Eltahawy’s blogging career began in 2005 when an Egyptian man was arrested for running an internet forum with an anti-government tone. She believes that the internet could be used for more than just socializing. If used correctly, the internet can become a tool for social change.

 “People say that blogs can’t make a difference, but if the blogs aren’t changing anything, why do the Presidents and Kings try to stop them?” she said.

Another major event that lead to the transformation of Eltahawy’s journalistic style was the terrorist attacks on September 11.

“The change for me was to stop being objective because I was sick and tired of objectivity. I wanted to tell everybody how I felt,” said Eltahawy, who was angered and saddened that the attacks were carried out in the name of her religion. “The point of blogging is to get online and you share with the world, how you feel. And so I started writing opinion pieces because I didn’t want to pretend anymore that I was gonna present this side, and I'm gonna present that side.”

So what can you do to create your own change? Eltahawy suggests using Myspace and Facebook to get your message out, instead of for flirting and party announcements.

“Social media has connected protesters and amplified their voice,” she said. “You’re filling up an empty room by following people on Twitter and Facebook. You must get involved with the conversation.”

To become involved with social change, you can log onto www.peace.ou.edu for more information, and to post your opinions.

Hello, my name is Zachary Herring, and this blog will be taking an I depth look at the musical venues in your local Norman. The posts will document the colorful history of these places and the unique events they put on. This blog is for anyone with a love and interest in local music, and music in general.