Songwriting:
Mike Vale will talk
about "Digging for Gold: How to Turn the Material of Your Life into
Musical Treasure." Like novelists, poets, and most other artists,
songwriters take the raw material of everyday of life, both the joyful and the
painful, and transform them into art. Mike Vale will describe how experiences
from his life, guided by imagination, found their way into his music. In the
workshop, you’ll use your own life experience to begin
writing a song of your own. A guitarist will join Mike Vale so you can set your
words to melody. You may bring your own instruments and recording devices or
smartphones to document your work.
Songwriting:
Mike Vale served as bass
player, vocalist, and song- writer for Tommy James and the Shondells from 1966
through 1970, selling more 100 million records worldwide, with 23 gold singles
and nine gold and platinum records. He helped write many Top Forty hit singles,
including “She,”
“Ball of Fire,” “Loved
One,” and the smash hit “Crystal Blue Persuasion,” which hit No. 2 on the Billboard charts.
His songs have been recorded by artists such as Tom Jones, Della Reese, and The
Clique. After leaving the Shondells, Mike joined the influential country-rock
band Hog Heaven, releasing two albums in the early ’70s. He has written 150 songs that have
been a part of more than 25 albums. In 2012, Mike released “It’s
a Pittsburgh Thing.” He followed that up
in 2014 with “In My Dreams,” a 10-song collection of new material
that is among his finest work yet.
