My CDs are being picked up by a record label.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 20 Mar 2010 5:57 pm

I just received a phone call from the owner of a small record company called Laurel Records. The man loves my CDs and wants to release all 3 of them on his label.

This is a company that specializes in classical music and caters specifically to that audience. I have said many times that while you guys are my friends, and of course I want my music to appeal to you, my real goal is to introduce the steel to the Mozart crowd. To be on this particular label is a real step forward on achieving that goal.

The first thing will be that the company will distribute the existing copies of the CDs, and as they sell out, he will then reissue them on his label.

Needless to say, I'm very pleased.

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 20 Mar 2010 6:00 pm

Congratulations, Mike. As they say in the old tune, "This Could Be the Start of Something Big."

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 20 Mar 2010 6:00 pm

Congratulations!! That's quite an accomplishment.

Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 20 Mar 2010 6:00 pm

Good on you Mike. Spread the word.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 20 Mar 2010 6:07 pm

Wow, great news, Mike! Congratulations! I know it's been a long time a'comin'!

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 20 Mar 2010 6:10 pm

Way to go Mike. Great news. Jody.

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 20 Mar 2010 6:15 pm

Wonderful news Mike!

Very happy for you...........

Steve Raulston · Post by **Steve Raulston** » 20 Mar 2010 6:31 pm

Congratulations Michael for your continued success. Steel and "Long Hair" music is quite a feat. I knew you read music but on that level is awe inspiring. You have taken Pedal Steel to new heights.

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 20 Mar 2010 6:32 pm

Hey..hey...hey

Congrats

Ron

Don Walters · Post by **Don Walters** » 20 Mar 2010 8:49 pm

Congratulations, Mike! I hope the "long hairs", as my generation used to call classical musicians, are starting to realize how excellent your music is, on your instrument of choice!

Brad Issendorf · Post by **Brad Issendorf** » 20 Mar 2010 8:54 pm

Congratulations from me also, Mike. Although we don't play the same music, my hat goes off to you for advancing our instrument "beyond the stereotype". I am indeed happy for you and much more success to come.
Brad

Jim Robbins · Post by **Jim Robbins** » 20 Mar 2010 10:41 pm

Excellent news, and well deserved. Congratulations, Mike.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 20 Mar 2010 11:21 pm

Mike,You already KNOW I have been a fan since [FIREBIRD SUITE].Nuff said. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 21 Mar 2010 12:07 am

Thanks guys. I want to say that a great deal of the music I play with my trio is not very hard. It’s just different. If you can play A Way To Survive, you can play 90% of the stuff I play. It’s not a matter of virtuosity, (and Lord knows, I’m not a virtuoso player, despite what some people think.) It’s simply a matter of looking in a different direction and knowing how to decipher written music and figure out how to adapt what’s on the paper to the steel. I can NOT look at a piece of sheet music and instantly play it. I have to figure it out. Sometimes this only take a minute or two, sometimes it takes a lot longer.

There's an MP3 file of my trio playing a medley of 2 16th century dances on Charles Tilly's excellent site. Now this particular piece is mostly played on the bass strings of my U-12 tuning, and it can only be played on a guitar with my tuning, but most of the stuff we play can easily be played on a standard 10 string E9 by any competent player.

There is a whole universe of music available to us, in all genres, if only we open our ears to it. I chose to get into classical music, but that’s only one genre that’s relatively unexplored by steel players. I’d like to see some of you guys explore the world of Motown. Or make an album of Brian Wilson or Burt Bachrach’s music. Or the music from Broadway shows like The Sound of Music and My Fair Lady, or even West Side Story. (Just because I already did it doesn’t mean nobody else can.) There are endless possibilities.

The big thing is, in order to learn a lot of these kinds of things, you have to learn how to read music.

I must admit, I don’t understand why so many musicians (not just steel players) feel that learning to read music will somehow hurt their paying or make them forget how to play by ear. On the contrary, I believe the 2 skills compliment each other. I believe that being able to read helps me play by ear better, and being able to play by ear makes me a better reader. I firmly believe that it is in every musician’s best interest to learn how to read, even if they never have to actually do it on a gig.

I want to remind everybody that I’ve written a little article on how to read music on the E9 neck, which I’ll e-mail to anybody who wants it.

Anders Eriksson · Post by **Anders Eriksson** » 21 Mar 2010 2:47 am

First I would like to congratulate you for getting your excellent albums on a record label!

I hope that they will be a hit at the Classical Community!

Then could you please put up a link to Charles Tilly's web site! There seems to be an author that has that name...

Best Wishes

// Anders

Pit Lenz · Post by **Pit Lenz** » 21 Mar 2010 3:39 am

Congratulations, Mike!
Your music is always great to listen to and very inspiring!
Like your style a lot, crossing borders, being a beacon in the classical sea of steel darkness...
It was about time that a label would take care of you.
So what´you´re gonna do with all that money?
Buy more steels in funky colors?

...and yes, would you please send the article on how to transfer written music to E9th.
...and please post a link to the 16th century dances.
Thanks and good luck for your deal.

pit

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 21 Mar 2010 4:04 am

Mike I am very happy for you. Congratulations! At the same time I want to recognize the fact that you are one of the pioneers in that you have brought the pedal steel guitar out of the country cubbyhole. That is a big thing and may you be amply rewarded for it.

Anders Eriksson · Post by **Anders Eriksson** » 21 Mar 2010 4:43 am

Just remembered a thing, don't know if I should write it here, but someone else might be interested.

As most of us know Mike has written a book "Music Theory in the Real World - A Practical Guide for Today's Musicians"

I have trouble to get the book! Mel Bay doesn't sell it from their web site outside of the US. The Swedish representative has not replied to my emails.

I have tried Scottys Music but they have not been able to get the book since November 2009...

So I wonder if Mike or someone else has the book to sell?

// Anders

Bob Simons · Post by **Bob Simons** » 21 Mar 2010 4:51 am

Congratulations! Please let us know when and where they will be available for purchase. Sounds like an important part to add to my steel guitar collection!

Bob Hickish · Post by **Bob Hickish** » 21 Mar 2010 5:03 am

Now you gone and done it Mike !!!

I still haven’t heard you do Revel’s Bolaro .

Willis Vanderberg · Post by **Willis Vanderberg** » 21 Mar 2010 5:24 am

Wow !
Mike, I am very happy for you. I have always appreciated your approach to the music on the pedal steel. The down side is, the next time we have lunch, you are buying. LOL

Old Bud

Marc Friedland · Post by **Marc Friedland** » 21 Mar 2010 8:43 am

That’s terrific Mike, congratulations!!

My CD - Steel My Guitar Gently Weeps focuses entirely on 60’s music -- Motown, Psychedelic, English Rock, etc.

Marc

http://www.PedalSteelGuitarMusic.com

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 21 Mar 2010 9:20 am

Congratulations, Mike. My CDs are being picked up next week as well... by the Salvation Army truck.

Steve Alcott · Post by **Steve Alcott** » 21 Mar 2010 9:30 am

good for you, Mike!

Brian McGaughey · Post by **Brian McGaughey** » 21 Mar 2010 10:53 am

Herb Steiner wrote:Congratulations, Mike. My CDs are being picked up next week as well... by the Salvation Army truck.

Remember: Run a modest first pressing, keep the master and you can always run off more!

Congrats on getting steel in front of more of your target demographic, Mike.

The Steel Guitar Forum

My CDs are being picked up by a record label.

My CDs are being picked up by a record label.

Persistance is the basic of success

... at least they're not going to the landfill.

Re: ... at least they're not going to the landfill.