New York
Calle 13 Sweeps 2009 Latin Grammys

Puerto Rican power duo Calle 13 walked away with trophies in all five of their nominated categories last night at the 2009 Latin Grammys, staged at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Reggaetón has emerged as a powerful global trend, garnering more nominations than any other genre, and Calle 13, comprising rapper Residente (René Pérez) and the producer Visitante (Eduardo Cabra), are at the forefront…
Theory of a Deadman’s Hard-Earned Scars and Souvenirs

“We always try to write music without any boundaries,” says Tyler Connolly, lead singer and guitarist for hard rockers Theory of a Deadman. “And that’s partly because we don’t really have a ‘core demographic.’ We’ve got 40- and 50-year-olds at our shows alongside the 14- and 15-year-olds. What’s great about Theory is that we try to let everything happen naturally.” That seems to include…
La Coka Nostra Builds a Brand You Can Trust

Since the rap group La Coka Nostra formed around 2006, it has become one of the most promising supergroups to emerge since the Wu Tang Clan. But even though they’re gaining the respect of critics and delivering knockout performances like those during the 2009 Rock the Bells tour, the whole group is something of an accident—right down to their name. “It started as inside joke,” says Slaine,…
Ryan Star is Rising, on His Own Terms

It was 2005 and singer/songwriter Ryan Star was an artist on the verge. Stage, the band he co-founded at age 14, was signed to Madonna’s Maverick Records and touring with major acts. But while Star’s career looked promising, an insistent inner voice haunted him. “I needed more from life and music,” the singer says. “I couldn't fight the reality that I feel most like myself when the…
Dan Goggin’s 25 Years of ‘Nunsense’

Twenty-five years ago, Dan Goggin never imagined that a little cabaret show he and some friends put together in Greenwich Village would wind up becoming a worldwide phenomenon. The idea was simple — a song-and-dance revue starring actors dressed as nuns — but it didn’t take long to catch on. “We were booked for four weekends, and we ended up running for 38,” Goggin recalls. “It was way…
‘We Will Rock You’ Is Most-Played Song at Pro Sports Games for ’08/’09 Season

BMI has determined that “We Will Rock You,” a favorite of sports fans and teams for three decades, ranks as the most-played song at games of the National Football League, National Hockey League and Major League Baseball last season. “We Will Rock You” was written by Brian May and included in a 1977 album titled News of the World by the British rock group Queen. While the song has been…
Indie Sounds Ignite BMI-CMJ Showcase

The 2009 BMI-sponsored CMJ Music Marathon Festival showcase, held October 21 at Crash Mansion, showcased seven-deep lineup featuring an explosive variety of sounds from pop/rap amalgamators Crush Club; valiant imports Die Die Die; southern wordsmith Rob Roy; jazz-funk scholars Space Capone; rock hounds Modern Skirts; musical brethren The Enemy…
Grammy-Winning Producer Jerry ‘Wonda’ Duplessis Talks Hits

Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis, a Haitian-born self-taught musician who plays bass, guitar, congas, and drums, participated in the BMI “Conversations” panel series, held at October 21 at Clinton Recording Studios. The intimate discussion, moderated by journalist and ParlourMagazine.com’s Hillary Crosely, focused on Jerry’s career achievements and the “who’s who” list of performers he’s worked with. Jerry, who is one of the most successful and musically adept producers to…
Pleasure P Fans, Meet Marcus Cooper

In his past life, Marcus Cooper was better known as Pleasure P, lead singer of Pretty Ricky. Natives of Florida, the hybrid rap/R&B group’s libido-drenched shows made the Chippendales dancers look like Eagle Scouts. When Pleasure P left Pretty Ricky in 2007, he wasn’t leaving because the group wasn’t successful; with the foursome, Pleasure P helped such songs as “Grind with Me” hit the…
Encompass Honors Maury Yeston

The Encompass New Opera Theatre honored esteemed BMI composer Maury Yeston at its 2009 Jazz Gala, held Sunday, October 4 in New York. Yeston is musical force behind the Tony Award-winning Nine and Titanic, both of which garnered Best Musical and Best Score honors, as well as the Tony-nominated Grand Hotel. The director of the prestigious BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop for two…
