Spokane Songwriters

Dear Songwriters

   A few years ago, I became interested in songwriting. Music is very powerful and can reach a lot of people. I have been married for 26 years and raised four children. I live in Spokane. Now that my children are raised, I decided to do the things I like. I entered a contest put on for songwriters at Nashville Song Service. Though I didn't win, I started sending some of my lyrics to the Company. This has led to contracts for 3 songs. My dream is to reach out across America on family value songs. As soon as I can come up with demo costs , more songs will be done. A song demo was done as a tribute to a family who lost their little girl named Leah, six weeks before her first birthday with a condition similar to Down Syndrome. Leah is buried at Fairmount Memorial Park Cemetery In Spokane, WA. Nashville Song Service gave me permission to post the song called: " Soon The Tears Will Fall" , and the story behind the song. The Vice President of Nashville Song Service told me that very few songs ever get recorded. I realize this truth in researching. In Nashville, there are listed over 33 thousand songwriters. On myspace, there are listed more than 60 thousand bands and artists who are trying to get noticed. Over a year ago for the American Idol finals, more than 100 thousand songwriters sent their songs in hoping to be heard. What a challenge for songwriters. Though my songs may never get National attention, at least in can reach out to those who are willing to listen. My son helped me set up a myspace site. Soon we will send out information on facebook. Maybe something for U Tube. If you would like to hear the song. Go to: www.myspace.com/nasvillesongservicewrittenbyphilipschwebs. Thank You

                                                          Sincerely

                                                          Philip Schwebs

Hello fellow songwriters:

My name is Marv Donovan and I've been writing song lyrics for years and about ten years ago I started guitar lessons and ended up teaching myself due to financial problems in the family.  Now that I am not working due to an accident and find I have plenty of time writing songs as I am on SSDI, I thought I would see if there are any venues for acoustic songwriters to perform at live and to be critiqued.  I understand this arena is maxed out with a lot of wannabees and that now includes me.  However, I do believe when you can come up with a certain hook you might be able to at least be heard and considered by the big boys who run the network and sign the checks, right?  When I first heard the news about the outpouring of writers and singers, I was a bit depressed and discouraged and thought about throwing in the towel.  But then I realized no one has really heard my songs or listened deeply to what I have to say.  So, I gave myself a big smile and started finding websites where you can upload your songs for voting and create new friends along the way.  So, my friends, I hope you will give me a listen and a critique and perhaps we can meet before microphones and an audience who will tell us what they think?  And the way I see it, if you don't try you'll never know if you could have made it as a songwriter.  I know there are a lot of ways to say the same thing concerning love and other personal issues within a song as I recall my younger years as a radio announcer and all the records that came in daily for consideration.  I was appointed the task of music director at one station here in Spokane and I spent many an hour listening to songs that just didn't quite make it.  Besides, at that time (and it holds true today, too) the business was concerned about hits and the money to be made, so the industry was controlled by lawyers and producers and most stations would play only what was in the top 40 and top 100 in Cashbox or Billboard with, now and then, a favorite by the music director thrown in to see if it would go(?).   Knowing this, I have decided that I am not going to shoot for the stars or the moon but just have a lot of fun and entertain people with songs I have written and some old favorites that I know. 

I am now living in Spokane, WA and hope to find venues where I can perform.  If you know of such places and where and what I need to do to help me get a gig, I would be most grateful.  I use one of my old DJ names for my stage name, Marv Donovan.  A name that I used at my last radio job: 96 Apple FM, KKPL.  I also worked at KGA 1510 Country and while in the army, I did some work for stations in Kansas and Oklahoma, and Berlin, Germany.  I also performed at coffee houses and bars and outdoor socials while in the service.  I have some trucking songs that I would like to eventually see a lot of airplay but you and everyone else have songs they would love to hear on the airwaves or some internet radio station. 

I hope to meet some of you and perhaps collaborate on a project or just jam and have some fun playing music.  You can reach me at my email address: marvdonovan@earthlink.net.

Thank you for checking me out,

Marv Donovan