Allen Surdez

I was a 12 year old boy living in Illinois. My older brother bought me a small guitar and a chord book and said here learn what you can. so I learnd some chords wrote some songs and thuought I was going to be a star.(the dream of every kid). so here I am 45 years later still trying.

Kevin Brown

Kevin Brown is an active member of the Spokane roots music community. For the last decade he has hosted the radio show “Front Porch Bluegrass” on Spokane Public Radio, served as the Music Director for the Blue Waters Bluegrass Festival, and played mandolin in the Rhythm & Bluegrass band Big Red Barn. In 2010 Kevin released his first solo album of original songs, “The County Primaries”, which NoDepression.com called “easily one of the best debut albums of 2010.”

http://www.brownknows.com
http://www.facebook.com/brownknows
http://kevinbrown.bandcamp.com
http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/KevinBrown3

Bill Kostelec

Bill Kostelec is a founding member of the songwriters organization and member of the board of directors. He is a prolific songwriter known for sometimes edgy lyrics and storytelling in the American roots music tradition. He performs with his wife Kathy as The Blue Ribbon Tea Company. They released their 5th cd in 2011.
www.theblueribbonteacompany.com
http://www.reverbnation.com/blueribbonteacompany
www.facebook.com/blueribbontea
www.myspace.com/theblueribbonteacompany

Laddie Ray Melvin

Laddie Ray Melvin has been a performing songwriter in the Pacific Northwest for many years and has participated in the Spokane Songwriter shows since the beginning in 2005. He has served as the regular host for the Brick & Mortar shows since 2008 and he is also on the board of directors for the organization.
www.laddieraymelvin.com
www.myspace.com/laddieraymelvin

Stan Hall

Stan Hall is a well known guitarist in the Inland Northwest Bluegrass scene. For the last few years he has fronted the band “Heartbreak Pass” which was invited to play Wintergrass during the first six months of the bands career, largely on the reputation they gained on their picking and songwriting skills. Stan’s songs were a huge part of that band, he is currently working towards a solo release of some more originals.

Dave McRae

“I’m finally holding the physical proof of “Maui Winds & other folkabilly fantasies” in my hands. It’s got a striking cover designed by Leanne Cooley, and a real nice newly mastered sound on the CD. I’m real pleased with it. There are 12 tracks, eleven written by me and one by my friend Jerry Holmes. Lots of my picking pals took part and a good deal of it is fairly complicated studio production. I’m still listening with a bit of amazement, although I well remember the year and a half it took to produce. What kind of music? I still call it folkabilly– with a lot of the beach and a bit of swamp and desert thrown in. Whatever that means– it’s pretty eclectic.” Dave

Dave McRae is a multitalented musician and songwriter who sings, plays Banjo, Guitar, Bass, Dobro and a host of bizarre rythmic attachments found in his custom tool belt you will see attached to his waist at all times. He plays with the bands Wide River and Sidetrack and has also entertained many as a solo performer at Brick & Mortar shows. He is also on the board of directors for the organization.

Cris Conerty

Here’s To Sorrow, to be released January 2012, is Cris Conerty’s debut album of twelve life-inspired original piano-driven country tunes featuring close harmonies, heart-and-soul lead vocals, and an array of traditional instruments that brings to life her story of love lost and the unexpected “happily ever after” she was lucky enough to get. The gutsy, gospel-tinged title cut, heavily featuring the dobro played by Spokane’s Kelly Bogan, pays tribute to the unsung hero of life’s journey: sorrow, and can be downloaded now for free until Dec. 17 at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/crisconerty2 

Cris also has a Kickstarter.com crowdfunding campaign and invites songwriter fans to check out her project at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1057285803/heres-to-sorrow-debut-cd

Learn more about Cris’ music, listen to song excerpts, read lyrics and learn the inspiration behind the album at www.crisconerty.com .

“Life set to music” describes the songs of Cris Conerty. Singing and songwriting has been a continual thread woven in Cris’ life, providing a passionate outlet for emotions. “Music has been my playmate, my lover, and my crying towel,” – a statement attributed to singer Buffy Sainte-Marie, with which Cris could not agree more. Since joining Nashville Songwriter’s Association International and traveling to Nashville, Tennessee for the first time in April 2009, Cris has devoted herself to professional songwriting, primarily in the country/folk genre. Cris composes primarily on the piano but has written numerous songs with guitar and often interchanges the two instruments.

Cristine Desiree’ Conerty (maiden name Sullens) was born in Bellevue, WA August 25, 1961, and is the daughter of long-time Spokane area residents and arts supporters Darrell and Karen Sullens. She grew up listening to the acoustic folk and country music of Bobbie Gentry, Joan Baez, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Charley Pride, Merle Haggard, Simon and Garfunkel, and Bob Dylan. Straying from her country/folk roots for a time, and due to her love for the piano, she was later drawn to the piano-based sounds of Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Carole King, ABBA, Billy Joel, and virtually any band or singer that featured the piano. Cris has always had a passion for intricate vocal harmonies and has always favored music across all genres that feature multiple voices and harmony. For eight years Cris was active in Sweet Adelines International, both as a chorus director and performer, singing and arranging complex vocal a cappella harmonies in the traditional grass roots barbershop style, and she remains a member of the international organization to this day. Ultimately Cris has come full circle to the folk and country music of her childhood, but appreciates and draws inspiration from virtually all genres of music.

Cris has a lifetime of original music spanning a wealth of subject matter and styles, including hymn and choir arrangements, and is currently tackling the huge job of transcribing them from her “head,” scribbles on music manuscript paper, and scores of lyric and lead sheets to a permanent collection of songs to record and leave as a legacy to her family and others. In addition, she works everyday creating new music, and honing her songwriting craft. She currently resides in eastern Washington State in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, youngest son, and golden retriever. www.crisconerty.com

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1057285803/heres-to-sorrow-debut-cd

Take a look – it is really fun, features a video my very own daughter
Alaina made for me to announce my project, and from there you can choose to
become one of my “backers” with a pledge of as little as $1.  For $10 the
rewards kick in and you will receive free copy of the CD when released
January 2012.  *You can also download the title cut, “Here’s To Sorrow” for
FREE during my Kickstarter campaign.*  Every dollar counts!  Then, if you
like what you hear, please click the Facebook “LIKE” button and then please
pass it on to your friends and family.  My website is also listed on the
Kickstarter sight and you can check that out to listen to more excerpts of
other songs and read about what inspired them.

Thank you Spokane Songwriters!
Cris Conerty
Spokane Songwriters Organization Member

Thanks Jill for writing the article!

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/oct/27/songwriters-meet-monthly-to-perform-songs-theyve/

Kevin Schibel of Union Street

Nick Straight and Kevin Schibel have been playing music together for more than a dozen years. As Union Street, they use music as a connection between people from all corners of life. Their lyrics are portraits of the journey we are all on. Twelve string guitar, 6 string guitar, harmonica and vocal harmonies are the tools Nick and Kevin use to paint those pictures. If you’ve lived, then you’ve felt their music.

Stan Hall

Stan Hall is a well known guitarist in the Inland Northwest Bluegrass scene. For the last few years he has fronted the band “Heartbreak Pass” which was invited to play Wintergrass during the first six months of the bands career, largely on the reputation they gained on their picking and songwriting skills. Stan’s songs were a huge part of that band, he is currently working towards a solo release of some more originals.