Mel Bay Publications will exhibit at the following conventions:

GFA	Montreal, Canada	TBD
Great American Guitar Show	Pittsburgh, PA	TBD

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The St. Joseph-born classical guitarist, composer and author, Anthony GLISE, has just been cited as recipient of the 2006 Individual Artist of the Year Award by the Missouri Arts Council.

The state's highest honor in the arts, this the first time a classical guitarist has
been honored with this prestigious state-wide award and the first time anyone from
the St. Joseph area has been cited for the Individual Artist Award.
The award ceremony will take place February 8, 2006 at a formal ceremony
in Missouri’s State Capital Rotunda in Jefferson City and the award will be presented
by governor, The Honorable Roy Blunt and First Lady, Melanie Blunt.

Teresa Fankhauser, Executive Director of the Allied Arts Council of St. Joseph
said, “The Council is delighted the Missouri Arts Council chose to honor Anthony as
the 2006 outstanding Missouri artist. He is a gifted instrumentalist and composer
who shares his love of music with students and art patrons alike. His devotion to the
cultural exchange of music has brought St. Joseph national and international
attention. Through his connections, St. Joseph has welcomed world-class artists to
our community. We are truly blessed to have Anthony as one of St. Joseph's
citizens.”

Fankhauser’s sentiments were echoed by Glise. “Naturally I’m thrilled with
this award but it goes much further than just the award: this will help us gain
regional and national attention for Missouri Western, all of Northwest Missouri and
the tremendous guitar and arts communities in our state."

"There are unbelievably large artistic centers throughout Missouri," said Glise
"and I hope that this award is just the first step toward a well-earned international
recognition for all of us working in Missouri.”

The selection board, made up of music and arts activists throughout the state,
cited many reasons for Glise’s selection, including his work in developing the guitar
department at Missouri Western State University into one of the largest guitar
programs in the US, his founding and directorship of the St. Joseph International
Guitar Festival and several other festivals in Europe as well as numerous other
professional, commercial and volunteer arts activities.

They also cited Glise’s ongoing work in directing international exchanges
between musical ensembles and soloists in Northwest Missouri with his various
colleagues throughout Europe where Glise maintains a second home in Northern
France.

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Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert, "For Hope and Togetherness" in Beverly, MA this Friday

North Shore musicians -- representing a variety of styles -- have banded together to raise money for Hurricane Relief in concert this Friday, 10/7, 7:30 PM at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church, 225 Cabot St. in Beverly, MA.

Denise Koelsch, vocalist, and Dominic Priolo, guitarist (both of Beverly) will be playing their song "Angel". Mark Retallack (of Beverly) and Mitch Clark-Goldfeld (of Hamilton) will be performing fine jazz piano works. Angelique Bolduc, pianist of Wakefield, will give the premiere of Swampscott composer Diane Anderson's "Elegy"; Jeffry Steele, guitarist of Gloucester, will commemorate the Gulf Coast with "Golliwogg's Cakewalk" (Debussy) and "Song of the Fisherman" (de Falla). Also performing are Marc Silverberg, vocalist from Long Island, NY; Bonnie Barish, pianist of Gloucester; Nancy Williams, vocalist of Rockport; and Daniel J. Kennedy, pianist of Beverly.

There is a $10 suggested donation. 50% of the net proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross, and 50% the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Crisis Fund. Please contact Daniel J. Kennedy danieljkennedy@verizon.net for further information.

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JEFFRY HAMILTON STEELE guitarist & composer
http://www.jeffrysteele.com
Performance Offerings, CDs, MP3s, Sheet Music, Articles

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Phil Leadbetter's recording of "California Cotton Fields" by Earl Montgomery and Dallas Frazier has been chosen as the #1 song on the Bluegrass Unlimited National Bluegrass Survey of the Top 30 Bluegrass Songs. The tune is included on Phil's latest CD Slide Effects on the Pinecastle label.


See: http://www.bluegrassmusic.com/index.php?issue=29389&page=survey

LATEST NEWS

Phil Leadbetter Takes Home IBMA Instrumental Album of the Year and Dobro Player of the Year!

Nashville, TN-After performing his hit single, "California Cotton Fields" with Marty Raybon, Stuart Duncan, Scott Vestal, and members of Wildfire at the International Bluegrass Music Awards show, Phil Leadbetter went on to receive the award for Instrumental Album of the Year for 2005's Slide Effects. Leadbetter was later called back to the stage to receive the award for Dobro Player of the Year and in doing so, became only the 3rd Dobro player in 16 years to earn this honor.

This year's IBMA awards show was broadcast live in front of a sold out audience at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on XM Satellite Radio and was recorded for later broadcast on over 315 radio stations.

We are also pleased to announce that Slide Effects' "California Cotton Fields" has remained at the top position on November's Bluegrass Unlimited chart for the second month in a row. Although heavy on instrumentals, the album also includes some well-chosen songs sung by Shenandoah's Marty Raybon on "California Cotton Fields", Mountain Heart's Steve Gulley with "There's More Pretty Girls Than One", Steve Wariner's "Tattoos of Life" sung by Ronnie Bowman, and Alice Vestal's interpretation of Sting's hit "Fields of Gold."

Phil and the Pinecastle Staff would like to thank everyone for their continued support!

Phil's band, Wildfire, is on the road in support of their new album, Rattle of the Chains. The band will soon be appearing on Woodsongs and WDVX's BluePlate Special. For a complete tour schedule visit www.wildfireband.com, www.unclephilonline.com, or www.myspace.com/wildfirebluegrass. Phil also writes a monthly column for Mel Bay's www.guitarsessions.com.

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Songs from Ian Whitcomb's Ukulele Heaven Used in Vanguard Film

Stanley's Gig, a 2000 feature film directed by Marc Lazard and starring Faye Dunaway, will be released nationwide on DVD by Vanguard on September 20.
As the plot involves a uke-wielding middle-aged musician who lands a gig at a nursing home as an activities director, Ian Whitcomb was a shoe-in for writing and recording the film score. All of Ian's songs for this film are included in his Mel Bay book, Ukulele Heaven: Songs from the Golden Age of the Ukulele (98270BCD).

Ian will appear at several uke festivals in the coming months, including an important event held on Catalina Island.