Michael Shorr
Michael is the Song Analyst. Every week he reaches into his Songwriter’s Toolbox and offers up some new insight on the craft of songwriting, and helps us understand how and why songs work.
After many years poring over obscure, 19th-century French chemical texts in the dungeons of graduate school libraries, Michael Shorr (MA, Johns Hopkins University) asked himself a simple question: ‘Why be gloomy doing ‘responsible’ work when I could be doing what I love?’ The answer became clear after a little soul searching, singing around campfires and devouring super fudge chunk ice cream.
His songwriting often reflects his search for meaning, caring and connection in a busy, sometimes overwhelming world. He often tackles the classic themes of life, including love, loss, and renewal. Underneath the struggle, he finds hope. Songs like the title cut from his debut CD, Into the Journey, reflect this optimism.
Earning a second bachelor’s degree from Berklee College of Music in Songwriting in 2002, Michael now lives in Taos NM. He is Creative Director for Chocolate Strawberry Studios, a boutique audio creative agency providing music and sound design to triple bottom line businesses, films, TV and non-profits. At Chocolate Strawberry, Michael recently scored “Pollen Nation”, a documentary about bees and industrial agriculture currently on the international film festival circuit. He has also been a professor of music theory and lyric writing at the University of New Mexico-Taos.
He may be contacted via his website.
Don Richmond
Don is a frequent contributor to the Creativity Corner segment of Art of the Song.
He is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumental performer who has been playing professionally for more than twenty years, mostly in the Colorado and New Mexico region. Don is currently performing solo and in ensembles, playing both his wide range of original songs and a large repertoire of other quality material in a variety of styles, primarily in the country, bluegrass and folk areas.
Don has released five solo recording projects as well as four with Tumbleweed and three with Hired Hands and one with The Rifters. Don also owns and runs Howlin’ Dog Recording and has recorded and often played on numerous recording projects (and live shows) by area artists such as Chipper Thompson, Burning Joan, and The Days. His instrumental compositions were featured in the public television documentary Roy Bedichek’s Vanishing Frontier that aired in the spring and summer of 2003.
Don has also been Artist in Residence and Aesthetic Institute Instructor with the Colorado Council on the Arts and has authored a book on the psychology of creativity and performance titled Getting Your Music Past the Fear, available through the Creativity Store on this website. Don’s CD’s are available at his website.
James Navé
Navé contributes his wisdom to the Creativity Corner from time to time.
James Navé is a poet, performer, educator, and a creative strategist. He is one of the co-founders of Poetry Alive! and has been active member of the spoken word movement since 1984. From 1995-2003, he co-produced and co-taught The Artist’s Way Creativity Camp with Julia Cameron author of The Artist’s Way. He is the founder and co-director of The Writing Salon. His work has appeared in numerous publications and journals. Navé holds an MFA in poetry from Vermont College.
He may be contacted through his website.
Darrell Scott
Darrell wrote “Alton Air,” the theme music for Art of the Song.
Darrell Scott is a hit songwriter, an in-demand instrumentalist and an acclaimed performer and recording artist – all achievements earned while burning his own path instead of playing by the accepted rules of the music industry. Darrell has long since proven that his songs deserve recognition.
As a songwriter, he’s contributed a string of hits that reads like a list of the best modern country music has to offer. There’s the Grammy Award winning “Long Time Gone” and “Heartbreak Town,” both top hits for the Dixie Chicks. “Great Day to be Alive” helped Travis Tritt complete his comeback; “Born to Fly” was a No. 1 hit for Sara Evans, while “Family Tree” was successful for Darryl Worley and “When No One’s Around” extended Garth Brooks’ run. “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” was cut in the same year by both Patty Loveless and Brad Paisley. In 2004, Scott had songs recorded by Tim McGraw, Keb Mo, Mountain Heart, Julie Roberts, Kathy Mattea, Andy Griggs and Faith Hill. In all, Scott has had more than 45 cuts by other artists. His success led to ASCAP naming him Songwriter of the Year in 2002. The National Songwriters Association International awarding him its Songwriter of the Year honor the previous year. Darrell’s Theatre of the Unheard just won the album of the year at the 4th annual independent music awards.
“I believe I’m entering the most prolific period of my life,” he says. “I’ve got an abundant amount of energy when it comes to making music and writing songs. I want to take advantage of it while the energy is there. I’m not in a quandary about what I should do with my life. I know exactly what I should do.” Visit Darrell’s website for more information.
