Don’t Believe A Word I Say with Bob Segarini

The Weekend Roundup

If you read this column regularly, you know that we did a piece on the great party Gary Muth threw for Dave Charles last Tuesday to celebrate Dave’s return to Canada after 15 or so years in Australia. In the article, among other things I said in describing the people present at the gathering was the paragraph, ”The stunningly lovely women who were either wives or industry types that graced the afternoon with wit and charm.” which I thought was rather sweet of me, and meant in the most complimentary light you can imagine.

A short time after the column was posted, (should I be calling this thing a blog?), I got an email, (which you can read in the ‘Comments’ section at the bottom of last Wednesday’s column/blog/thingy), that I had to read twice because I didn’t understand the gist of the note. It was from a friend of almost 30 years who had taken umbrage to the statement quoted above and in her short, well written comment, tore a strip off of me and ended it by calling me a “Chauvinistic Sausage”, which I sort of am, (in a GOOD way, mind you), and amused Pie no end, who now uses the term to describe me when she’s all pouty about something. Let’s face it, ‘Chauvinistic Sausage’ would make a damn fine Facebook nic, porn star name, or male stripper moniker.

Anyway, I thought about it for a bit and posted a response to the email, but even after I did, I kept going back to the words, rolling them over in my mind until it dawned on me what was being addressed.

We continued our discussion via email and, once the point of the post was clear to me, I had one of those great little epiphanies usually reserved for action heroes in a tight spot, like McGyver, or whoever was in the centre square on Hollywood Squares.

She was bemoaning the sparseness and low profile of women in the entertainment industries.

We continued our conversation on the phone and in private emails, (some of which will be in the next Monday Morning Mailbag), and agreed on a number of things, among them, why are there not more women in higher positions, Lord knows there are many who are qualified, and is there a ‘glass ceiling’ perpetrated by what could be called a “Men’s Club”, that makes it difficult for the brightest players to rise as high as they could and should?

I’ve been in this business for damn near 50 years, and I have worked with and for women that were not only outstanding in their professions, but great fun to be around, and always, always, professional and ballsy without being annoying or trying to hard.

Exactly the same as the great men I’ve worked with in the same amount of time.

In other words, gender, like race, colour, or creed, is a ridiculous element to play to in ANY business. It is not important, yet continues to be an irritation to those who are sensitive to the subtle spin it puts on otherwise equal relationships and positions, and can really get under your skin after a while.

At any rate, we agreed that there are some great people working in our related industries that a large number of folks both in and out of the business should know more about. So to that end, please enjoy the first in a series of FaqFiles profiling some of our finest, starting with the woman that got me thinking about all of this, Linda Dawe.

FYIMusic FaqFiles 1

Queens of the Industries

The Women of Media, Talk, Rock, and Records

20 Questions

Name: Linda Dawe

Birthplace: Belleville Ontario

Current Business: Music Solutions

1. 01. What got you started: My love of music

1. 02. Mentors/Influences: Andy Nagy, former VP at RCA (who has passed away) and Lou Lofredo from NYC, producer, publisher and international business man…Lou has been my mentor for 38 years….

1. 03. Best decision(s) you ever made: 1) To get into the music business. 2) To leave the major label corps and become an Indie/Entrepreneur. I did this in 1979

1. 04. Worst decision(s) you ever made: Believing that I could work globally based out of Toronto

1. 05. Best working experience(s): Doing exactly what I want, which is what I still do every day.

1. 06. Worst working experience(s): Spending 2 months living in a Casino in Vegas while making a reality TV show with Mark Burnett…horrid, horrid experience

1. 07. Biggest accomplishment(s): With my UK partner and friend of many years (he is also the godfather of my son) Willi Morrison, we got two artists (Matt Dusk & RyanDan) signed to international (worldwide) deals with Universal/Decca in London, England. The first deal was done in 2003 (Matt Dusk) and the second deal was done (RyanDan) in 2006.  At the time of those deals I managed both of those acts… I have worked with artists over the years who have cumulatively sold over 50,000,000 million records/CD’s…

1. 08. When the going gets tough: I cuts a few more deals.

1. 09. Best advice I ever got: Pay attention and to keep my head down when under fire and the bullets start to fly.

1. 10. Best advice I ever gave: Never believe your own press & you are only as good as your last hit.

1. 11. Funniest story(s): There are so many they are difficult to count and to remember…I have had the best time of my life in this business and still do to this day.

In 1972 when I got my first label job at CBS records (I left Beetle Magazine to go to CBS) with Gary Muth and John Williams in the A&R department. I went to my first gig and it was the release of a Leonard Cohen CD at The Royal York Hotel.  I was 24.  I had always been a huge Leonard Cohen fan since my early teen years.  At this fete Cohen and I were speaking briefly and he pressed his hotel room key into my hand. After giving the situation/opportunity a great deal of thought when I was leaving the gig I dropped off the key at the front desk of the hotel & went home. About 15 years later I was one of those many award show…(could have been the Junos or SOCAN awards) and I ended up standing with Leonard again and I reminded him of that time many years ago.  He looked at me and sincerely questioned “Did we sleep together”.  I assured him we had not and if we had that I absolutely would have remembered…the two of us had a fine laugh about that…

1. 12. Worst story(s): Every once in a while I miss a beat, don’t vet an artist thoroughly and end up with a “crazy”…it averages out to about once every couple of years but that is enough to keep me in “blood hound” mode when that occurs.

Every once in a while I have to fire myself from a project when the client is paying me for advise but won’t listen.  It is such a waste of time.

1. 13. I quit because: I never quit.

1. 14. I never quit because: It’s not in my DNA.
2. 15. The most important thing to keep in mind is: There are only two things for sure in life. Death…and Taxes.

1. 16. Best boss(s): Andy Nagy at RCA in the 70’s

1. 17. Best employee(s): Everyone that has worked for me…I always loved my people & empowered them…I am a believer in sharing the power & the accolades & the money…

1. 18. If I could change my industry: I’d find a way to monetize music so our biz could be healthy again & our artists would get their due for their creative property.

1. 19. Words of wisdom: Sam Sniderman told me once…”You never know where the next hit song is coming from”

1. 20. Current project/whereabouts: Working with multi-platinum selling B.C. based band “Lillix” on their new forthcoming CD and their current single “Dance Alone”, Launching Virgin99 winner “Tigerbomb” and their latest single “ Nothing To Prove” to great support and success nationally. Launching incredible Country singer/songwriter Shelly Rastin and her new CD “Hard To Say No” and her debut single from that CD “Be True To You” & taking young Award winning singer/songwriter Angie Nussey out to country radio for the first time with her debut single “Warm Hands”.

Right now I manage a 17 year tenor by the name of Christopher      Dallo and have him signed to Jeff Burn’s imprint label Blue Sapphire  Records.  We are working on a major label deal for Christopher at this time…..
That’s all I’ve got.
Know your limit, rock within it.

You can learn more about Linda and her company here:

http://www.musicsolutions.com/

This Weeks Headlines:

• Deaf Dunb and Blind Man Plays Pinball Badly
• Angry Office Worker Folds, Spindles, Mutilates, Boss
• Penguin Disappears At Catholic Nun Conference
• Report: Sonny Bono’s Last Words “TREEEE!”
• Boston Pizza Moves, Now Known as Tonawanda Pizza
• Sara Palin Gives Birth to Third Daughter Names Her ‘WalMart’
• Image of Oprah Winfrey Appears in Jar of Pig’s Feet
• Remains of Jimmy Hoffa Found in Sand Trap at Pebble Beach
• Kenny G Blows
• Seinfeld Cast to Reunite on ‘According to Jim’
• Man Arrested for Spanking Monkey at San Diego Zoo
• Cap’n Crunch, Frankenberry, Count Chokula Found Dead: Cereal Killer
• Hot Dog Says ‘Bite Me’ to Brooklyn Man on Acid
• Report: You Can Tune A Piano, but You Can’t Go Through a Revolving Door on a Pair of Skis
• Laugh, and the World Laughs with You. Cry and the World Laughs at You
• Farmer Plows Sally’s Field
• Ted Nugent Shot, Wounded by Dick Cheney
• Car Gets Infinite Miles to the Gallon: No Wheels
• Man Bites Dog, Gets Mustard on New Tie

…and them’s the headlines.

A&R Online Volume 22

As always, you can hear these tracks by going to www.radiothatdoesntsuck.com/myWimpy.html and click on ‘A & R Online Volume 22

Google the artists for more info.

Enjoy…’.

1. Chasing Jones-Anniversary

This is another act that has the modern edge, but embraces melody and harmony and some solid hooks to take this into ‘yay’ territory. If I could, I’d program this into Warner Brother’s ‘Smallville’ the next time Clark and Chloe have a falling out.

2. Five For Fighting-Chances Are

I first saw these guys at an outdoor fest several years ago and was impressed with their polish and by the fact that they are a piano driven group, with nary a guitar solo to interrupt the proceedings. Good tune, this, with a confident delivery and enough individuality as to not sound like their chasing early Elton or Ben Folds.

3. One More Girl-When It Ain’t Rainin’

Country Pop again, and a fine example of the burgeoning sub-genre. Like rock, good, melodic, pop seems to be migrating to country, where a record is appreciated for the song as well as the production.

4. Alan Jackson-I Still Like Bologna

Along with Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson is my favourite country gentleman these days. Always a fine read, always a great lyric, and this song is so cool with its absolute respect for classic country, Bob Wills, and the hillbilly music roots it’s built on. Even a subtle ‘Yee-haa’ about halfway through the song brings a grin and the fun the band is having right to the listener. And the song itself? Wonderful sentiment, and best described as hitching a Prius to a donkey to take a ride through the countryside.

5. Lynyrd Skynyrd-Still Unbroken

New Classic Rock for classic rock fans. Again, was Southern Rock a ‘70’s euphemism for ‘country rock’, because the labels didn’t think people would adapt? Got me. This is classic Skynyrd with a great slide guitar player and the sound to match.

6. Ryan Guillet –Slow You Down

Yep. Lotta ‘country’ this week. Why? There’s a bunch of good ‘country’ records this week. That’s why.

7. Deadmau5 & Kaskade –I Remember

I love this. Not so much a song as it is an atmosphere. The aural equivalent of watching a fire in the fireplace. Not a whole lot happening, but what there is, is comforting, modestly hypnotic, and to me anyway, very subtly erotic. There is no hurry, urgency, or edginess to this track. What there is, is a fine, warm, dimly lit landscape for your mind to wander in while it plays out. Sweet.

8. Eddie Bullen and Joaquin Nunez Hidalgo-Havana Nights

More proof that the music is everywhere in this city. Walking through the throngs on Queen Street Saturday night during the Beaches Jazz Festival on my way to catch Steve Stongman, I heard the sound of Latin rhythms, mellow chords and runs from a keyboard being played by a pro, and it just fit the perfect electric blue glow of the recently clearing skies and the joy and jubilation of the crowd. When I asked if they had a CD, I was handed the album this track is on, which is why I am so happy there are musicians out there that want you to hear their music because that’s why they make it.

Put your jazz shoes on and bring your smoothest moves. Here’s the title cut.

Win of the Week

Fail of the Week

If you’re gonna fuck up, do it with some style. This is worthy of the Bush Family. “Jeb!, Are you okay?”

Parting Shot

Never, under ANY circumstances, tell a Led Zeppelin fan his favourite band sucks.

You might as well put your dick in a wood chipper.

That’s enough for now. Email me at segarini@fyimusic.ca with your comments, complaints, and thoughts…and remember…don’t believe a word I say.

Bob “The Iceman” Segarini was in the bands The Family Tree, Roxy, The Wackers, The Dudes, and The Segarini Band and nominated for a Juno for production in 1978. He also hosted “Late Great Movies” on CITY TV, was a producer of Much Music, and an on-air personality on CHUM FM, Q107, SIRIUS Sat/Rad’s Iceberg 95, (now 85), and now provides content for radiothatdoesntsuck.com with RadioZombie, The Iceage, and PsychShack. Along with the love of his life, Jade (Pie) Dunlop, (who hosts and writes “I’ve Heard That Song Before” on RTDS), continues to write, make music, and record.