So You Say You Want A Recording Contract?

   Fat chance. First of all, recording companies don't open their mail. Why?  Because they could be sued when one of their artists is charged with plagiarism by a composer who sent the company his similar song some years earlier. Litigation is terribly expensive for both Plaintiff and Defendant. All mail is returned to sender unopened. That's homespun liability insurance.

     In the early sixties I had an idea for a percussion ensemble of six drummers playing a variety of instruments....namely xylophone, marimba, bells, vibes, tom-toms, drum kit, triangle, etc. I hired drummers who had played with the Radio City Music Hall and Roxy Theater orchestras.  We would record a demo. They could all sight read and play well. Bob Swan was an excellent musician on timpani and he had perfect pitch. Bob was also a good friend and managed the 55 member orchestra at Radio City.

     I tried delivering copies of the demo to record companies by messenger. They were all returned unopened and, obviously, unplayed. Very frustrating. I needed another game plan to bypass the resistance from record companies, and I came up with a bold plan: The First Percussion Sextet would go on an imaginary tour performing college concerts.

     Every week, I mailed a press release to each of a dozen record companies in New York City:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  "The drummers played several dozen instruments and delighted the overflow audience with their versatility and exciting new sounds of music......." 

     My mailings went on for six weeks and then BINGO!  RCA VICTOR Records wanted to hear the ensemble. George Avakian, Artists Director, called me and would send over a messenger for a copy of the demo ASAP. I played the messenger role (yes, I have a uniform for that purpose). I gain entrance to the company office and insure delivery of the coveted disk.

     Several days later Avakian called and said he was thrilled with the sounds of music from the array of percussion instruments. Could he send a recording crew to our next concert scheduled for the University of West Virginia in ten days?  I assured him we could arrange that, hardly containing my excitement.  He would messenger a contract to me and guarantee a $5,000 advance against royalties.

     After a quick trip to the bathroom, I called all our musicians to stand by for a trip and concert at Morgantown, West Virginia, with a dress rehearsal several days prior in New York City. Then, fingers crossed, I called the band director at the University and explained a free concert to be recorded by RCA VICTOR. He was delighted to arrange for the auditorium and would obtain local media coverage.

     Our entourage for the trip was two cars and a panel truck with instruments. The turnout was great, as were the reviews, and the RCA engineer with Cal the producer, captured enough musical material for two LP albums. Former Glenn Miller arranger Norm Leyden had created a spirited version of "St. Louis Blues" and Norman Beatty, talented composer-arranger and lead trumpet player at Radio City, accomplished the same excitement with "Where Or When" and several other popular tunes.

     Our first album sold well and resulted in our being booked on television for "Today," "I've Got A Secret" and "The Ed Sullivan Show." So you say you want a recording contract? Let me know. I might be able (no pun intended) to help.  BTW, this is the first disclosure about the fake tour and glowing reviews.

      My dictum is, if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. With giant steps of course.