Royalty Free Music





Award Winning Music presents comprehensive Royalty Free Music CD's, suited for every musical need. Our Production Music library is available for every sound use: Multimedia, Industrial, Corporate, Commercial and Personal Videos, Production Music, Stock Music, Documentaries, Film, and Television, Flash, Video, Buyout Music, Background Music, DVD/CD-ROM Applications, Looping, Power Point Presentations, Trade Shows, Training and Photographic Presentations, Broadcast Radio, Cable Networks and Music On Hold . - all as royalty free music! The royalty free, and buyout music library available from Award Winning Music, has been produced by Shaun Harris, Gold and Platinum Award Winning producer and artist of music for film, television, recordings and commercials. Recipient of more than 100 Gold and Platinum Awards for his various musical projects, he has worked with artists of all genres of music.

History of 60s Music

The decade of the 1960's presented social and political changes that had never been seen before. In addition to this, 60s music changed the direction of popular music and Americana as a whole. This decade forever changed America, and it was the young generation, or Baby Boomers that made it happen. After World War II, there was a dramatic increase in the population. An entire generation of young men had returned to the United States and found that the entire country had been transformed from the economically depressed area they once had left, to an economic goliath. Many of them used their G.I Bills to get an education and the country was flush with new jobs. Couples were able to settle down and start a family and they did so in astonishing numbers. It was, supposedly, the perfect existence. The nuclear family lived in comfort. The patriarch had a good job to provide for his family and the loving wife stayed at home to raise the children. The children grew up in a world that was quickly shrinking. Radio and television were becoming permanent fixtures in every home. This technology introduced the Baby Boomers to the music of the 60s. Some of the big names in early 60s music all came out of one recording studio, the Sun Record Company, based out of Memphis, Tennessee. Artists like Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison all got their start at the Sun Record Company. Many of them followed the method introduced by Presley. His music was a mixture of gospel, blues and hillbilly music. B.B. King, who is perhaps the greatest blues musician of all time, knew of Presley long before he became famous. Presley combined blues, gospel, and hillbilly music to help create a new form of music ... Rock and Roll. His first recordings were in 1953, and he made one of his first big breakthroughs in 1956 with his appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. His style was so unique and attractive to the Baby Boomer generation that it helped to influence and direct cataclysmic changes in music genre. The Baby Boomers were the primary fans of 60s music, and their support was what drove other artists, like the Beatles, to develop a new style that would mark their generation as unique. Music is a cultural and social expression of the people, and that was never truer than in the case of 60s music. Baby Boomers' musical choices reflected the postmodern political and social upheavals of the time, including the assassination of a president, an unpopular war, the civil and women rights movements, and the Cold War. It was the music that remains as a lasting representation of their legacy.
About The Author
Darren Dunner - http://www.showcase.netins.net/web/dosdonts a live 50s and 60s music.

A Short History of the Electric Guitar

Electric guitars are strongly associated with famous musicians of the twentieth century—and may be the iconic musical instrument of our time. Here’s a brief history of their rise in popular music. During the Big Band Era in the 20’s and 30’s, performers experimented with attaching microphones to acoustic guitars in order to amplify the sound. Most electric guitars were hollow-bodied acoustics with electric pickups. But the hollow space within the guitar produced vibrations that made harsh feedback when interacting with electric pickups. Manufacturers experimented with solid-body guitars to get rid of the feedback. One of the earlier solid-body guitars was an aluminium instrument known as the “Frying Pan” or “Pancake Guitar.” In 1940, Les Paul attempted a solid-body instrument called the “log guitar,” so called because it was a simple post equipped with neck, strings, and pickups. The electric guitar did not hit commercial success until the 1950’s, when Fender released its first solid-body model: the Esquire. The Esquire was followed by the Telecaster and finally, in 1954, the Stratocaster. The aggressive sound of the electric guitar became characteristic of rock and roll in the 60’s and 70’s. It was a high-profile instrument during this time, appearing on stage with dozens of famous bands and musicians. This created demand for affordable electric guitars. In the 60’s and 70’s, electric guitars were too expensive for ordinary buyers. But it wasn’t until the 1980’s that Japanese manufacturers stepped forward with affordable electric guitars that sounded good. This put pressure on American companies such as Gibson and Fender to provide their own affordable lines. Today, the electric guitar is one of the most prolific instruments in popular music. You can find it in a wide variety of genres, from metal to New Age.
About The Author
Paul Smith is managing director of Rose Morris Musical Instruments based in Denmark Street, London – for a wide range of the latest electric guitars visit http://www.proaudiostore.co.uk/

Learn Guitar - Online Review

Not all guitar lessons are the same. In the same way as all school teachers not being the same. So which to choose private guitar lessons or internet downloads. Which is the best way to learn? There are a variety of ways to learn to play guitar - the real challenge is to find out the most effective way for you. Firstly what learning goals do you have, what you do aim to achieve, and how long do you expect it to take? Do you want to be professional, semi-pro or strictly an amateur guitarist? Also have you thought about what style of playing will best serve you best? Realistically what do you hope to achieve in the next year? Jam with other guitarists and musicians? Play for friends and family? To learn to play your favourite songs? Guitar lessons are a strong discipline like any learning experience. Once you decide to learn this instrument, you have to persevere and stay focused. Here is a quick 'learn guitar review'. Online Internet lessons Before you choose to take lessons from any internet tutorial, it is best to seek out some reviews of the options available. Otherwise it is dead easy to spendout on a system that doesn't suit you at all. How strongly do you value your spare time? It's dead easy to waste 10 hours or so a week, mindlessly surfing the web looking out for guitar tips. Whereas if you know what you are doing and have located a strong training system you can spend that time playing guitar and learning the things you really wanted to play. Internet lessons are definitely cheaper than private lessons, they are more convenient, at your own time and leisure. They are also in the comfort of your own home with no need to travel anywhere. One major drawback is that if you make mistakes (without realising it), there is nobody to tell you about them! Also nobody there to ask about something you are not clear about. Private guitar lessons This is the most effective ways to learn, but it costs! You'll get one on one tuition, and any bad habits will be nipped in the bud. The instructor is usually well qualified and you can swap and change styles as you see fit. It is always best to use a teacher who specialises in the style you predominantly wantb to learn. There's no point in taking a classically trained teacher to show you how to play blues guitar! The world is full of classically trained guitar teachers who have not the slightest clue about modern music. It may also be useful to do some research on the teacher, such as famous students. Drawbacks include being tied down to a fixed time and place, and of course the excessive cost. The bottom line There is no substitute for hard work no matter what you choose. If you haven't got the will to practice over and over, it's probably best to save your cash!
About The Author
Dave Bennett is an experienced guitar teacher, and a big fan of internet online courses. He is part of the team that carry out regular reviews of the best guitar learning sites on the internet. Check out http://www.learn-guitar-review.com

What Is Soca Music

What is soca music? This material is geared primarily towards folks who are new to this genre of music called soca. As an artist who has been recording soca songs for the last eight years, and who has won Caribbean wide soca competitions, I shall humbly attempt to present a comprehensive introduction to soca music. Soca music originated in the Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago. It is widely accepted to have been created by Lord Shorty (born Garfield Blackman). He noticed that Calypso music was threatened by the more popular reggae music and dying out and attempted to create a new hybrid that was more appealing to the masses. He fused Indian music with calypso music and this resulted in a more energetic hybrid called solka, which later became known as soca. Lord Shorty introduced soca to the world in 1973 with his hit song, Indrani. Naturally, soca music of the seventies is very different to what exists today. Today, there are two main types, namely Power Soca and Groovy Soca. What is the major difference between the two? Power soca music is very fast, with tempos of around 160 beats per minute. The music is largely instructional in nature. Soca artists thrive on motivating audiences to respond to their dancing instructions. Power soca music is largely music to jump, wave and "wine" to. ("Wine" is derived from the word "wind" and is a type of dance that consists of hip movements). Crowd reaction is key. Trinidadian soca artist, Superblue has been credited with starting the "jump and wave" craze. His success with this style of soca was so incredible that since then most soca songs are written with crowd response in mind. Today, the challenge for power soca songwriters is to write songs that can move audiences but not be a regurgitation of the jump and wave theme. This is not the easiest of tasks because of the very nature of the festival that soca music is centered around. Soca music is largely carnival music. Since carnival is all about jumping and waving, the music that drives it must be able to engender such activity. Increasingly, artists are succeeding at writing songs which are not necessarily based on "jump and wave" or waving rags and flags. In an attempt to stay clear of monotony, themes like love, peace and togetherness have been very common. Groovy soca music is arguably, a better means of propelling soca music forward internationally. It is much slower, around 115 beats per minute. This newer kind of soca allows for a wider range of topics to be addressed. Unlike the total frenzy that power soca gives rise to, groovy soca is music to sway and dance slowly to. Artists like Kevin Lyttle and Rupee have demonstrated that this type of music is very palatable to mainstream music markets, with international hits like "Turn Me On" and "Tempted To Touch" respectively. Another artist who has gain international recognition with groovy/crossover soca is Barbadian based artist, Alison Hinds. I believe that fast and groovy soca music should continue to co-exist. I readily accept all variations of soca and put none against the other. Music is dynamic. Throughout history no genre has ever stayed the same and hybrids are constantly created. In addition to power and groovy soca, other types of soca music include ragga soca and chutney soca. Ragga soca is a fusion of dancehall and soca music. Ragga soca performers include Trinidians, Bunji Garlin and Maximus Dan. Chutney soca is a blend of East Indian chutney music and soca. Chutney Soca is an up-tempo, rhythmic type of song, accompanied by traditional Indian musical instruments such as the dholak, tassa, the harmonium and the dhantal. The line between different kinds of soca music is becoming less and less clearly defined. It can sometimes be very difficult and controversial to pin-point what is groovy, power, or ragga soca. There is so much fusion taking place that it is often difficult to tell whether a song is really a soca song. For instance some have argued that Alison Hinds' hit song, "Roll It Gal" is not really a soca song but an R&B song with a West Indian influence. While I do not hold that view, it goes to show that there are no clear distinctions and definitions. Soca music, like other forms of music is an art and cannot be restricted to a specific or exclusive mold. Soca music is largely competitive. Every year artists try to outdo each other at carnival competitions such as Soca Monarch and Road March. At a soca monarch competition soca artists perform before large audiences and are ranked by a panel of judges. A road march song is the song which is played the most during a carnival street parade. Each Caribbean island holds its own competitions. Prizes can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars for each winner, particlurly in Trinidad and Tobago. Some of the biggest soca artists in the industry have bowed out of competition. These include big names such as Machel Montano, Bunji Garlin and KMC. The commonly held view is that "music is a mission, not a competition". Personally, I have found such competitions to be a very negative force, causing undesirable friction between artists. As an artist, I have had my own battles. However, winning is so much fun that it can be hard to quit. The fans can be relentless in urging an artist to compete against their own will. The way these competitions are set up, it is easy to go unnoticed if one is not taking part, except if you are already strongly established in the market. Popular soca performers include Machel Montano, Destra, Alison Hinds, Atlantik, KMC, Shurwayne Winchester, Denise Belfon, Bomani, Bunji Garlin, Iwer George, Bomani, Kevin Lyttle, Tizzy, Maximus Dan, Mr Killa, Mantius, Fireman Hooper, Jamesy P, Tallpree, Claudette Peters, Burning Flames, Nicole David, Ricky T, Qpid and Krosfyah. Some of soca's biggest worldwide hits include "Turn Me On" by Kevin Lyttle, "Tempted to Touch" by Rupee, "Who Let the Dogs Out" by Baha Men (originally sang by Anslem Douglas), "Sweet Soca Music" by Sugar Daddy, "Nookie" by Jamesy P, "Hot Hot Hot" by Buster Poindexter (originally sang by Arrow), and "Follow the leader" by Soca Boys (originally sang by Nigel and Marvin Lewis). Brass instruments such as trumpets and trombones have been very typical of soca music. Sometimes, the saxophone forms part of brass sections. While these instruments are still used in live performances, synthesizers and samplers are increasingly replacing them, particularly in studio recordings and at smaller concerts. Soca is very percussion and drum driven and these are often very loud in a soca mix. The bass is also very important. Other instruments used include guitars, and keyboards. Leading soca-producing Caribbean islands include Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, Grenada, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda.
About The Author
St Lucian soca artist, Mantius Cazaubon is a successful author and publisher of SocaFreak.com. A resource for comprehensive information on soca music. Soca artists, charts, lyrics, news, songs, videos and lots more. Includes a regularly updated soca blog

The DJ is more important than you think

You're engaged, congratulations! Now what? If you're like most brides you're probably overwhelmed with all the planning that goes into creating a fairy-tale reception. Did you know that finding the perfect DJ is one of the biggest responsibilities you have? THAT'S RIGHT! "One of the biggest responsibilities". Let me prove it to you. Ask yourself what would you love to hear as your guests are leaving? Could it be...? "WOW that was the most fun I've ever had at a wedding, your reception was absolutely beautiful, every detail was perfect!" If that's what you want to hear, then finding the best DJ is the most important job you'll have when planning your reception. This is because the DJ has one of the biggest roles in creating your perfect day. You need to place a lot of TRUST and CONFIDENCE in this person. Why, you ask? Well consider this; you're probably going to spend thousands of dollars on a reception site, catering, flowers and a photographer to name a few expenses. While all these components are important, what do you think most people remember about your reception? Here are the most common top 3 answers: 1. the Fun 2. the Food 3. the Location Keeping this in mind, let me ask you this; if the location is breath-taking and the food is "to die for", could a bad performance by your DJ sour the whole day? Conversely, if the location poses logistic problems and the food is just o.k. could a spectacular, fun-filled, jammed packed dance floor make up for those problems? If you answered yes to both questions you now understand how important the DJ is. The reality is, you spend so much time and money to create the perfect reception it seems ashamed to ruin it by choosing the wrong DJ. So what's a nervous bride to do? Get the best DJ now! I know that if you're reading this your in the process of gathering information. Booking your entertainment should be a top priority. Doesn't it make sense that the best DJs book early? (as early as 12-18 months in advance) This means you need to find someone now. The less time you have, the more you need my help. I'm a retired DJ of 25 years and my goal is to help you understand the DJs role by revealing a DJ secret that most people in the business don't want you to know. DJ Secret #1: The majority of brides' think the DJ's role is to make a couple of announcements and play good music. This is because that's all they see. While these are very important to the success of your reception they only represent one-third of the DJs responsibilities. The other two-thirds of the DJs role happens behind the scenes. Helping you plan and managing the flow of the day's events is just as important as playing the right music. Consider this; the function manager's role is to make sure the food is hot and on time. That's their job. When the food service is finished they're gone. But the DJ is there from the beginning to the end. The timing of the food is only one of a number of factors the DJ needs to consider. A keen awareness of every aspect of your reception is the key to maintaining a flow that results in a packed dance floor the rest of the night. You might be asking yourself "how does a DJ prepare for all these factors?" The best DJs begin their preparations far in advance. Over the course of several conversations with the couple, the DJ should have a good feel for what they are looking for. The final details will be carefully choreographed at the planning meeting with bride a week or so before the reception. Here is where the bride discusses her vision of the perfect reception (order of events, music, announcements, etc...) It is the DJs responsibility to work with the bride in developing a time-line for all the special moments. Together the bride and the DJ should have a clear understanding of exactly when these moments will take place. If the DJ did his job correctly the bride should leave this meeting 100% confident that the DJ will make her vision a reality. Carrying out your vision the day of your reception takes a team effort. The best DJs contact the bride's wedding vendors before the reception to go over the agenda. This is where any conflict with food service or photography issues should be discussed. By doing this the DJ can avoid any obstacles that could cause the reception to get off schedule. You can bet a wedding team that understands and agrees on the bride's vision will work more smoothly behind the scenes to make it happen. What does this mean to you? You should be looking for a DJ who can reassure you they represent your needs behind the scenes; that they are working for you. I can tell you this; there will always be wrinkles at the reception that the vendors must work out. But a wedding team (led by the DJ) that is on the same page will handle it without you ever finding out.
About The Author
Michael McCarthy, a top Wedding DJ for 25 years, has just retired. The preferred DJ for the Kennedy family and many four star hotels including the Four seasons and the Ritz Carlton, Mike has been the #1 choice for over 2000 brides. In retirement, his new focus is using his insider information to help brides find and hire the best DJ at the best price. For more info: http://www.djsecretsforthebride.com

Music Downloading Legality

There are websites out there that are 100% legal for you to download music at. When cell phones first came out all you could do is dial a number and make the call, but now you can access the Internet, take pictures, and download music and video. After you have downloaded the music from a music download site, you can listen to the songs on your computer, burn a music CD or put the songs on an MP3 player or iPod. While the code does take a while to master (so you may need to practice before you actually make an original piece of music), the feature has encouraged many Motorola users and aficionados to create available music sheets for quick download. That basically means that you should only use your own cd’s or a licensed ZUNE site to download music to your Zune Player. With download speeds of up to 8 megabytes per second from Comcast, you’ll be able to enjoy online video, digital music downloads, and digital photographs all with an ease that’s impossible with slower Internet connections. Although the Internet is filled with free music download-offering websites, it is important to separate the good websites from the rest in order to obtain the best results. You may choose to download music from these sites but do at your peril. (Printed sheet music is produced as single sheets, folded sheets, pamphlets, paperback or hardback volumes) It is becoming more popular to download sheet music after purchase. Sony W810i supports AAC and mp3 music file formats, which make it easy to download your favorite numbers. And remember, PSP Blender gives you all the software needed and detailed instructions showing exactly how to download music to PSP with ease. And, you can even find a good selection of free legal music download programs that give you 100% free legal music. The industry of downloading music illegally is now noticing that in order to get better quality with less guilt then legal download is the best way to go. To download music to Zune is pretty similar to the iPod.
About The Author
Soli Katir http://www.solikatir.com/Free-MP3-Download.html Click on these websites to get unlimited download access from wide ranges of music network, absolutely free!

Music Web Sites

Let us examine these requirements for a successful music download. You can also download music tracks of your choice and save on your phone. Apple also brands iPod in conjunction with iTunes, its music web site where iPod users can purchase and download songs for less than $1 a piece. But where do we stand in the eyes of the law, if we decide to download music. You could download your favorite videos and music tracks from the internet and play them on your phone. Most latest models have features beyond sending text messages and making voice calls—including Internet browsing, music (MP3) playback, personal organizers, e-mail, built-in cameras and camcorders, ringtones, games, radio, Push-to-Talk (PTT), infrared and Bluetooth connectivity, call registers, ability to watch streaming video or download video for later viewing, and serving as a wireless modem for a PC. Any artist can have an online presence, promote their music to an audience of millions, and let consumers download their music to their hearts content. These music download sites include, believe it or not, Napster, with over 500,000 digital music downloads, eMusic, where you can get 50 free music downloads just for starters, Musicmatch, who has a great membership package, Realrhapsody, which offers a very nice two-week free trial, and one of my favorites and their “Always Low Prices” is the Wal-Mart music download. With microSD support of up to 2GB, users can download more music tracks, video clips and images. You could listen to your favorite music tracks; you could also download the songs of your choice to your handset and drive away your blues. Download your favorite soundtracks and enjoy listening music tracks wherever you go. Moreover, you can download music, photos and Java games to make the maximum use of your leisure time. Well here is a quick guide for beginners, on how to convert your current music files into PSP format audio files: Step One --- Download The Software First of all, you need to download software onto your PSP that allows you to convert MP3 files into PSP MP4 format.
About The Author
Soli Katir http://www.solikatir.com/Free-MP3-Download.html Click on these websites to get unlimited download access from wide ranges of music network, absolutely free!