http://razorandtiemusicpublishing.com/nws/show/ en dfbills@dfbills.com Copyright 2008 2008-05-02T15:26:00-05:00 http://razorandtiemusicpublishing.com/nws/show/94 On April 23, 2008 the 39th annual GMA Awards were held in Nashville, TN with Razor and Tie Music Publishing well-represented. Natalie Grant received the Dove Award for Female Vocalist of the Year, an honor she has won for the third consecutive time. Natalie was nominated along with Amy Grant, Christy Nockels, Darlene Zschech, Krystal Meyers, Mandisa, and Sandi Patty. Her award in this category has complemented her critically acclaimed release of Relentless in February of 2008. Natalie is currently on a North American tour in promotion of the album. Congratulations to Natalie on all of her success! 2008-05-02T16:20:38-05:00 http://razorandtiemusicpublishing.com/nws/show/93 Razor and Tie Music Publishing/Maxx Music songwriter Phillip LaRue’s “Love is Here” from Provident Records break-out band 10th Avenue North makes its way to the #10 slot on the R&R Christian A/C Chart. 10th Avenue North is currently on tour in support of their highly anticipated album Over and Underneath, due for release on May 20th. Razor and Tie Music Publishing enjoys another success this week with Natalie Grant’s “I Will Not Be Moved” currently charting at #21 (rising from # 25) on the Christian AC Chart. “I Will Not Be Moved” is the second single from Natalie’s album, Relentless, released in February on Curb Records to critical acclaim. Natalie has been nominated for 5 Dove Awards in 2008, including Female Vocalist of the Year as well as Artist of the Year. 2008-04-17T21:20:19-05:00 http://razorandtiemusicpublishing.com/songwriters/show/92 Philip LaRue is a singer/songwriter who was one half of the hit contemporary Christian duo, LaRue. As a duo, LaRue has worked with some big name industry producers such as Monroe Jones (Third Day, Ginny Owens), Matt Bronleewe (Rebecca St. James) and Ken Mary. After recording two albums, watching two videos rocket up The Disney Channel video charts, and experiencing the explosion of teen pop in the marketplace, LaRue had established itself as not only a successful contemporary Christian act but also a relevant young modern rock/pop duo. Since becoming a solo artist Philip LaRue has signed a publishing deal with Razor and Tie and is writing material for his debut solo album. 2008-03-25T19:10:48-05:00 http://razorandtiemusicpublishing.com/nws/show/91 “Anything is possible”, according to Coal Valley, Illinois native Catt Gravitt. After writing songs that were recorded by the likes of country music superstars Kenny Rogers, Ronnie Milsap, Rascal Flatts, Trace Adkins, JoDee Messina, Craig Morgan and Emerson Drive, perhaps it is. Catt’s powerful songwriting ability garnered her success not only in the country music world, but also in Christian music.  She co-wrote the No. 1 single “In Better Hands”, for Natalie Grant, the reigning Dove Award “Female Vocalist of the Year”.  While living in Los Angeles early in her career, Catt toured and played in a band but something wasn’t right. She missed the country music she had been brought up on and moved to Nashville to work with producer Garth Fundis, whose past projects include Trisha Yearwood, Sugarland and Don Williams. In Nashville, songwriting took precedence over pursuing a career as an artist and Catt began focusing on writing for others. Before Catt knew it, she was writing for some of the biggest acts in country music. 2008-03-25T17:56:38-05:00 http://razorandtiemusicpublishing.com/songwriters/show/90 “Anything is possible”, according to Coal Valley, Illinois native Catt Gravitt. After writing songs that were recorded by the likes of country music superstars Kenny Rogers, Ronnie Milsap, Rascal Flatts, Trace Adkins, JoDee Messina, Craig Morgan and Emerson Drive, perhaps it is. Catt’s powerful songwriting ability garnered her success not only in the country music world, but also in Christian music.  She co-wrote the No. 1 single “In Better Hands”, for Natalie Grant, the reigning Dove Award “Female Vocalist of the Year”.  While living in Los Angeles early in her career, Catt toured and played in a band but something wasn’t right. She missed the country music she had been brought up on and moved to Nashville to work with producer Garth Fundis, whose past projects include Trisha Yearwood, Sugarland and Don Williams. In Nashville, songwriting took precedence over pursuing a career as an artist and Catt began focusing on writing for others. Before Catt knew it, she was writing for some of the biggest acts in country music. 2008-03-25T16:27:07-05:00 http://razorandtiemusicpublishing.com/nws/show/89 Since 1994, Anders has been working as a professional songwriter in New Orleans. His song, “Watch the Wind Blow By,” was recorded by country music star Tim McGraw and released to overwhelming success. The song reached #1 on the Country Music Charts and McGraw’s album sold over 3 million copies. McGraw isn’t the only artists who’s recorded Osborne’s songs. Artists like Keb’ Mo’, Tab Benoit, Double Trouble, Dr John, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux have all recorded songs by Osborne and some have even garnered Grammy nods for songwriting and production. As a solo artist, Osborne has released 7 albums. His most recent output, “Coming Down”, was highly received with high praise. Paste Magazine described Osborne as having “cooked up an altogether tasty gumbo of soulful blues, hard-won wisdom, and that impossibly great voice, magically conjured across the space of 35 years.” (Paste Magazine) 2008-03-25T17:56:18-05:00 http://razorandtiemusicpublishing.com/songwriters/show/88 Producer/songwriter Russ Titelman has worked with some of rock ‘n roll’s biggest names over the last three decades, including Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, George Harrison, the Bee Gees, Meatloaf, Paul Simon, Brian Wilson, the Allman Brothers Band, James Taylor, Rickie Lee Jones, Chaka Khan, Randy Newman and many more. He earned two Grammys in 1992 for his work on Eric Clapton’s “Unplugged” album featuring the unforgettable single “Tears in Heaven.” He also earned a producer Grammy for the 1986 Steve Winwood mega-hit, “Higher Love.” An accomplished musician, Titelman got his start in the 60s as a guitarist and backing vocalist under the tutelage of producer Phil Spector. He also wrote songs for the legendary Don Kirshner, working with master songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin.  2008-03-14T15:23:49-05:00 http://razorandtiemusicpublishing.com/songwriters/show/87 Blake Robin’s great grandfather was the music director of the Russian army. Now, using the fake name Baron von Luxxury, he continues the family traditionin a slightly less violent fashion: sending disco troops to battle on the dancefloor. Baron von Luxxury wears many hats. Like fellow multiplatform multitaskers James Murphy (DFA/LCD Soundsystem) and, hell, Timbaland, he’s a songwriter, performer, and producer, not to mention a DJ and label owner. As singer/producer/songwriter for San Francisco’s electropop/indie darlings Luxxury, he concocts shiny, sexy sonic cocktails combining the modern electro sounds of MSTRKRFT and Daft Punk with the classic, quirky dance/pop/rock sounds of New Order, ELO and Devo.  2008-03-14T15:51:31-05:00 http://razorandtiemusicpublishing.com/songwriters/show/86 Michele Lewis, the daughter of two successful musicians, was born to write and perform. As a child she sang on many jingles including work for Coca-Cola and Oreo leading her to a role on Sesame Street. After her Childhood success Lewis attended Columbia University only to drop out and ultimately join a female R&B vocal group, Shades of Soul, which was born out of her college gospel choir. After forming Shades of Soul, Lewis began writing seriously and started to gain notoriety. After self-releasing a record in 2001, she lay low until she met like-minded East Coast exiles in Southern California including Tracy Bonham, Nina Gordon (Veruca Salt), and Kay Hanley (Letters to Cleo). All with major label experiences and all fiercely independent, they just couldn’t resist and eventually formed a super-group. Hanley and Lewis have since become the main members of The Dilettantes, with a development deal on Columbia Records and a monthly gig at Hollywood’s Hotel Café. Though she sometimes feels as if she needs to make a choice between her two worlds, Michelle Lewis – toiling songwriter by day, funky songstress by night – is a vision of balance, sharing with the world her talent, one imagistic lyric at a time.  2008-03-14T15:22:07-05:00 http://razorandtiemusicpublishing.com/songwriters/show/85 Marissa Pontecorvo, a Julliard trained pianist and outstanding vocalist, takes inspirational lyrics and combines them with piano driven pop rock to create a niche in Contemporary Christian music. Marissa’s appeal and success, however, have not been limited exclusively to contemporary Christian music. She has been invited to open for Jessie McCartney, performed with Grammy winners Gordon Chambers and Jessie Harris and 5-time Grammy nominee Vanessa Carlton. She’s also shared the stage with the Jonas Brothers, Aly and AJ, Everlife and Teddy Geiger. In addition to writing and performing her music, Marissa has been featured in several top Teen magazines, and has appeared and used her voice in numerous national commercial spots. She has recently started college in Nashville, TN and is working on her second album “All Around Me”.  2008-03-14T15:21:05-05:00