P l a y E r i e . c o m

New John Novello website now online.

John Novello - keyboardist extraordinaire, composer, author, music educator & producer is an Erie Alumni who is not shy about mentioning his Erie area roots.

John has just just introduced his new website featuring every detail of his professional life as well as the various projects that he is involved in. John's site was designed and is hosted by Art Of The Groove.

John also plays in Niacin with Billy Sheehan & Dennis Chambers. The trio have been in Novello's 2B3 studio recording the new Niacin release.

Additionally John will be the featured guest on the new hit Internet Radio Show - The "X" Zone - Friday night October 8th between 10PM and 11PM Pacific Coast Time which is (EST 1AM-2AM Oct 9). John will be discussing all aspects of his new critically acclaimed book The Song That Never Ended.

Pop on over to keysnovello.com to get all of the details.

Billboard awards McLaughlins more honors

You may remember when a Fairview couple, Tim and Kelly McLaughlin, recently won 3rd place in Billboard Magazine's International Song Contest. The song entitled, "The U.S. Jig Niagara" was written about Erie's own U.S. Brig Niagara.

Now Tim and Kelly have something to else to sing about. Billboard Magazine, the music industry's foremost authority, has given their prestigious "Honorable Mention" award to all four of their songs entered in the contest. According to Billboard: "Only the highest quality songs make it to the top. This honor demonstrates the talent and dedication it takes to write a Hit Song."

One of the award winning songs is "Whitehall Village" from the CD entitled, "The McLaughlins of Whitehall." Tim says "Whitehall Village is the Fairview subdivision we live in. The McLaughlins of Whitehall name sounded so English, so European. I recorded the song using an old turn-of-the-century mandolin from late Fairview farmer Mr.O'Keefe. His daughter Bernice Schehr gave it to me many years ago. She told me he used to play Irish jigs on it. He kept it in what they called his 'office.' It was actually the chicken coop. I thought it would be appropriate to use Mr. O'Keefe's old mandolin for the song about Fairview."

Another of the four award winning songs is entitled "Alloway Kirk." This song is about the old haunted church in Scotland called Alloway Church. A church is known as a "kirk" in Scotland. The famous writer Robert Burns wrote about it in "Tam O'Shanter." Tim's grandmother's name was Naomi Alloway, hence the interest in the church and the writing of the song.
The McLaughlin's song that won 3rd place, "The US Jig Niagara" also won Billboard's "Honorable Mention."

Last but not least, their song called "Nilkol Cam Sur" is dedicated to Tim's brother, the late Russ McLaughlin. He was a well known local historian, reenactor, and Erie Museum Program Supervisor. Russ was a big influence on TIm. If you read the title of the song backwards it says "Rus Macloklin." It's misspelled but Tim doesn't think Russ would mind.

Tim elaborates, "We usually don't play these songs with our 5 piece "McLaughlin Party Band" unless of course we're performing for a concert. Party-goers generally want to hear songs they know. So the best way to get to hear these songs is to get the CD. Entitled 'The McLaughlins of Whitehall' the CD is available by sending $12.00 (postage included) to Tim McLaughlin, 1659 Mulberry Lane, Fairview, Pa 16415.

Black Rose Diary launch new website

Black Rose Diary has just launched their new website featuring a diary for each member of the band, an enhanced photo/slideshow area, new show calendar, an online store for assorted BRD merchandise, several new music files for streaming or downloading, and much more.

BRD are currently out on their summer tour which will take them through several cities in PA and NY including two shows in New York City. The band is also finishing up their new CD, "Here's To Indifference" scheduled for release this fall.

Drop by www.blackrosediary.com and leave a message in the guestbook.

McLaughlins win Billboard songwriting contest

The 12th Billboard Magazine Song Contest winners have been announced and posted on their website. Erie's own Tim and Kelly McLaughlin won 3rd place in the World Category for their song "The U.S. Jig Niagara"

Tim & Kelly are members of the McLaughlin Party Band.

Click here for the list of Billboard winners.

Previous Artist News