Fort Worth Songwriters Association: Home
Fort Worth Songwriters Association Incorporated is a non-profit organization, formed exclusively for charitable, literary and educational purposes as defined in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The purposes of the Association include providing, educating, and promoting public awareness and interest in songwriting and the creation of music as an art form.
FWSA Jukebox is Now Playing!
At the top of our home page, we now have the FWSA Jukebox. This player will automatically load a selection of the music submitted by our members, replacing the "Music Clips" page. You can forward and reverse through the songs using the arrow buttons on the player, and the playlist will be rotated periodically. Any FWSA members who have not already sent in their cuts can have their music added by emailing them (maximum of 5, MP3 format only) to jukebox@fortworthsongwriters.com.
Monday Open Mic Nights Every Week At
6550 Camp Bowie Blvd in Fort Worth
MONTHLY MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Welcome to our new feature - one FWSA member will be chosen each month to share their background, their musical influences, and a sample of their work. We hope you enjoy this deeper glimpse of the fascinating life stories of our fellow singer/songwriters!
Featured Member of the Month for August 2010 - Michael Pollard
FWSA is blessed with many talented songwriters and musicians, as well as some who possess music engineering and production skills. This months’ featured member, Michael Pollard, works as a professional in all these domains. He is sought after as a session guitarist and as a support player for touring artists. Michael has added his recording and musical accompaniment talent to other FWSA members’ projects over the past few years as he pursued and completed his Masters degree in Christian Education at Southwestern Baptist Seminary.
Michael was raised near Ovilla, TX.. He grew up listening to diverse music from Mozart and Debussy to Amy Grant, Chicago, the Statler Brothers, the Eagles and the Music Ministry of First Baptist Red Oak, TX. Michael showed early musical promise when his father would put records on and his young son would then proceed to play the couch arm in time to the music. Michael's dad eventually bought him a drum set at age 7, and he received drum lessons from Tom Van Schaik, the original drummer and road manager for the Dixie Chicks. Michael transitioned to guitar at 14 when he found that there were more performance opportunities available for that instrument. He began writing songs and recording them on an old Fostex four track, playing guitar, bass, and drums. Some of Michael's early songwriting idols was Wayne Kirkpatrick (Eric Clapton, Amy Grant, Garth Brooks),Joel Hanson (Lead Singer of PFR), and Steven Curtis Chapman.
After a few formative years recording his own material and writing around 30 songs, teenaged Michael developed what he terms a “case of writer’s block” and shifted his energies into mastering guitar, memorizing solos by hit session players such as Dann Huff, Brent Mason, and Jerry McPherson, a habit he continues to maintain to this day. He found that the players that he most admired had a knack for not only playing great solos, but playing other parts on songs that sounded like they were written into the songs as deeply as the words themselves - a role he began to relish as a kind of virtual co-writing effort.
After high school, he attended Belmont University in Nashville, TN, studying commercial guitar performance. He eventually completed his education both at Cedar Valley College, earning an Associate of Arts in Sound Recording Technology, and at Dallas Baptist University, from which he received a Bachelor's Degree in Music with a Classical Guitar Emphasis. In the interim years, he has accumulated an impressive resume as a professional guitarist/producer/engineer. Some of the names are easily recognizable: recording artists Peabo Bryson, Gabbie Nolen, Adrienne Lau; professional musicians Milo Deering, Kyp Green, Dwight Watkins, Art Greenhaw; comedian Tim Hawkins; and session players Warren Dewey and Randy Wills.
Michael continues his good work with musicians both from our group and others in the area, He is pursuing his dream of working full-time in music ministry, but believes he will always have a hand in secular music as well. He feels grateful that his youthful writer’s block has, in his words, transformed into a “God given career as a guitarist and producer, and that writers continue to depend on his demos to help them sound their best”. He can be contacted at studiostrat@hotmail.com to assist on any recording projects.
5 Questions with Michael Pollard
1. What attracted you to music?
My parents introduced me to music, but, I think you could properly say I drew myself' further into it. When I was three, my Dad put on a Statler Brothers record and I used to beat the couch arm in time to the music like it was a set of drums.
2. What is your all-time favorite song?
“Made Me Glad" by Miriam Webster, recorded by Hillsongs with Darlene Zschech singing lead. Every time I hear that song I am invited into the presence of God and overcome with wonder in His presence.
3.What has been the biggest event of your musical career?
February 13,2010, I got to play guitar and contract the musicians for a Peabo Bryson concert at McFarlin Auditorium at SMU. At one point, we were doing,"If Ever You're in My Arms Again"and the last part of the chorus says,"This time, we'll never end." Man, I didn't want it to!
4. Name four musicians that you would invite to a fantasy jam session:
Dann Huff(Guitar),Paul Leim(Drums),John Jarvis(Piano),Mike Brignardello(Bass).I'd want to cut a Collin Raye ballad, a barn burner(country instrumental),and a jazz standard, and a rocker, trading guitar solos with Dann on one of the tunes.
5. What is your most treasured piece of musical equipment or memorabilia?
When I was in Nashville going to Belmont University, I got to meet Jerry McPherson(Amy Grant, Reba, Toby Keith, Barry Manilow, Session Ace) at the Chili's on Broadway. We talked shop for two hours at least, he was a great human being. I had him sign my Big Muff Pi (Fuzz Pedal)case, which is made out of wood
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Established in 1992, the Fort Worth Songwriters Association is a permanent organization in Fort Worth, Texas, seeking to enrich the local community through activities promoting songwriting and original music, providing opportunities for the members of the community to network and recognize their talents in songwriting, and serving as a resource for songwriters as they undertake activities to assist in the establishment, promotion, and/or presentation of songwriting. With positive feedback and support from the community, the FWSA's origin was in the National Historic "Stockyards" District in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1992.
FWSA recognizes KFWR- 95.9FM "The Ranch" for programming and promotions that support songwriters. FWSA President, John Terry (left) presents KFWR Program Director, Rick Lovett (center) with a plaque from the Association as Treasurer, Rick Tate (back row, left), KFWR Morning Co-Host Heywood (back row, center), and FWSA Charter Member, Bob Bryan (right) look on.
FWSA Newsletters Now Online
Click on "Monthly Newsletter" link in the navigation bar. Current month and previous months back to June 2010 are available.
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