LOUISA PORTER BRANSCOMB,Ph.D.
LOUISA BRANSCOMB
COMPOSER/MUSICIAN
“No one else quite sees lovers and others in all their complexity and in their full, flawed but glorious humanity as she does…a treasured American poet, indeed, a great natural resource.”
--David McGee, Engine 145
MUSIC AWARDS AND CHART ACTIVITY (selected)
Songwriter Showcase 2015: IBMA “No Goodbye Ain’t No Good Goodbye” co-writer Teresa Neal; Total 6 Selections.
Song of the Year, International Bluegrass Music Assn., 2014: Dear Sister: Co-written with and recorded by Claire Lynch
(2 Grammy cuts: Alison Krauss, John Denver; 2 Recorded IBMA Event participant; numerous songwriting awards and chart activity for decades: Selected honors below)
Nominee: Songwriter of the Year, International Bluegrass Music Assn. 2013
Nominee: Songwriter of the Year, 2o10, 2011, 2012: Society for Preservation of Bluegrass Music
Nomination, Song of the Year: “I’ll Take Love,” (Branscomb/Bradley) IBMA 2011.
First Place Winner, Chris Austin Songwriting Contest, Bluegrass, 2012 “Stormy Night”
“Will I Be Good Enough,” as recorded by Karen Lynne, Top 50 Australia Charts 4 weeks 2013-2014
“Dear Sister” CD by Claire Lynch, with title cut Lynch/Branscomb: #1 Hit on Bluegrass Roots Chart: 8 weeks #1, Bluegrass Roots Chart, 52 weeks on chart
“Dear Sister” by Claire Lynch: 2 times in TOP 50 AMERICAN CD’s
“Dear Sister” Charted 9 months - #22 to #3, 2014, International Bluegrass Survey
“Dear Sister” Charted 9 months on “Contemporary Bluegrass Chart, Roots Music Report (position 9 to 3)
“Dear Sister” peaked twice on Top 10 Billboard Bluegrass Charts, 2013-2014
“Dear Sister,” the CD, by Claire Lynch, nominated for Album of the year 2013
#32 for 2011, Bluegrass Unlimited Charts “I’ll Take Love”
#16 to #11 position on BU Charts, 2011, “I’ll Take Love”
Women’s Music Radio, Special Pick: “Out the Door,” (Branscomb/Kenney), as recorded by Kenney, 2012.
Folk Music DJ Award, “My Silvertone Guitar”, (Branscomb/Beaudette), 2012.
Candidate for Nomination, Gospel Song of the Year, “This Side of Heaven,” IBMA, 2011.
Candidate for Nomination, Song of the Year, International Bluegrass Awards, 2010: “Don’t Turn Your Back”
Songwriting Showcase Finalist, IBMA 2012, “Gone” (Branscomb/King)
Songwriting Showcase Finalist, IBMA 2008 (“Don’t Turn Your Back”)
Songwriting Showcase Finalist, IBMA 2007 “Fly Higher” (w/Irene Kelly)
Co-Founder/Chair: International Bluegrass Songwriting Association, 2005 - 2010, within International Bluegrass Music Association. Current: Songwriter Committee, Past Chair.
Committee Member, Youth Leadership in Bluegrass Project. Collaborative project between IBMA and hosted by Middle TN State Univ. Proposed Grant Project.
Atlanta Music Country Hall of Fame, Inducted 2006
Recorded Event of the Year, 2006, International Bluegrass Music Assoc.
“Back to the Well: Daughters of Bluegrass”
Recording Event of the Year, 2001 International Bluegrass Music Assn.
“Follow me Back to the Fold:” A tribute to Women in Bluegrass
Grammy: "Best Children's Music Album of the Year" John Denver, 1998. "All Aboard," containing "Steel Rails"
Parents National Seal of Excellence Award: "Songs of Whimplewood," 1996.
Grammy: "Best Bluegrass Album of the Year" "I've Got that Old Feeling," Allison Krauss., 1991, containing “Steel Rails”
1991 Song of the Year ("Steel Rails"), Bluegrass Music Awards (SPGMA).
# 1 bluegrass song, "Steel Rails," national charts, United States, 1991.
#1 Bluegrass song, “Steel Rails,” Australia, 1991.
Longest Running Number 1 Bluegrass Song “Steel Rails,” 18 months #1
2nd Place, Best Bluegrass Gospel Album of the Year, 1978, ("Fly Soul Away")(half original), Bluegrass Unlimited Magazine.
1st Place, Alabama Student Composer Competition, 1960. Guest Performer on original composition with Birmingham Symphony, Age 11.
Chart Hit, Japan: "Blue Ridge Memories", 1978.
Semifinalist, Songwriting Showcase Competition, Int. Bluegr. Music Ass. 1997
Semifinalist, Georgia Musician’s Industry Association Annual Songwriting Competition, 2001: “Last Rose for Grandpa”
Finalist, Georgia Musician’s Industry Association Annual Songwriting Competition, 2001: “Stormy Night.”
Honorable Mention, Georgia Musician’s Industry Association Annual Songwriting Competition, 2003. “Three Hundred Years.”
Most Popular Songs of the Decade, Bluegrass Unlimited, 1990’s, Steel Rails, #11.
Invitational Songwriting Instructorships: Bear on the Square, Dahlonega, GA, International Bluegrass Music Association 1994 – 2000, and numerous.
CMT Video Award, Fans’ Choice Don’t Turn Your Back, Dale Ann Bradley
FIRST PLACE WINNER, AL Statewide Composition Contest, AGE 11
Performed FIRST PLACE Alabama Youth Composer Contest: Original Winning Composition with Birmingham Symphony, Age 11
Emerging Banjo Player of the Year 1977
PROBONO and PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY:
Int. Bluegrass Music Assn.
International Bluegrass Music Association: Attended annually since 2nd Year: Organized and Probono Volunteer Service.
Bluegrass Leadership Class of 2001:
Class Keynote Speaker: Using Bluegrass to Create Community
I.
Produced first large scale women in bluegrass IBMA Panel/Workshop, 1999 (Included Alison Brown, Dale Ann Bradley, Ramona Jones, Vicki Simmons, and others) (music, presentation, discussion)
II
Spearheaded founding of the IBMA Bluegrass Songwriter Association, later Bluegrass Songwriter Committee, 2005-2013
Chair, Bluegrass Songwriter Committee, 2005-2011:
Formed and carried out mission statement to:
A. Raise the Bar on Bluegrass Songwriting through Educational Opportunities
Formed Songwriter Mentorship Program
Increased educational events at IBMA
Increased partipatory events for beginning and mid level songwriters
B. Bring Songwriters “Out of the Shadows” – Networking and community building
1. Created programs for networking and participation of all levels;
2. added and organized additional songwriter events at WOB annually; held songwriter constituency meetings; assembled list of IBMA songwriters, gave many songwriters a role in IBMA with increased opportunities
3. Chaired Bluebird in the Bluegrass Subcommittee, organized, worked with Bluebird to present Bluegrass Songwriting Showcases for one year that exposed the community to approx 80 master bluegrass writers
C. Increase Recognition of Songwriters as Profession within IBMA and elsewhere
- acted as spokesperson via the board and/or IBMA liason to Board
- actively solicited songwriter membership opinions and input on all important topics
- increased number songwriter events at IBMA
- actively relayed information to A&C reps concerning songwriters
- Worked with Board on 2 proposals to advance recognition of songwriters
- Had initial vision for Songwriter of the Year Award in 2005; spearheaded efforts for 6 years - the award was implemented w/Branscomb main author, submitted in 2009, continued work until 2011: Songwriter of the Year Award
III
Ethics Task Force: Exploration of alternative dispute resolution program; participated in committee and in writing report with recommendations for Board
IV
Participated in Youth Leadership Project/Committee and proposal to Board to create opportunities for youth in all aspects of industry (with Stephanie Taylor and Mike Hall)
V
Chaired Bluebird in Bluegrass Subcommittee– presented approx 80 master writers to showcase at the world famous Bluebird Café
ADDITIONAL PRO-BONO ACTIVITY
Mission of the Woodsong Farm Writers Retreat and Key Signature Workshops:
To build a community of songwriters designed to advance excellence in songwriting and community of writers and co-writers
Not-for-profit. Offer scholarships (20% of attendees); mentor songwriters, present experiential workshops that go “beyond craft”
“Beyond Bones: The Soul of the Song”
Have mentored and/or hosted approx. 60 writers in the Woodsong Series, many of whom have gone on to perform and/or record excellent bluegrass compositions; and songs charting:
Example 1: Jim and Lynna Woolsey (touring successful new CD)
Example 2: Tamara LeBak (song mentored by Branscomb has become anthem for gay marriage, been featured on NPR and in various regional forums
Served as founder and organizer of the Woodsong Writers Retreat Program 1990-2014
Bringing Bluegrass into the Schools: “Kidswrite” Have reached 470 children so far and involved in songwriting.
Conduct regular songwriter events for GA Medicaid Foster Children with songwriting used as means of therapeutic expression and learning to write
FILMS With Music, Composed, Produced by Louisa
"The Can Childhood Cancer: Leukemia." 1975. Co-authored, directed, produced.
"Riding High," 1974; and "In This River," 1971. Wrote & produced, including music.
ORIGINAL MUSIC RECORDED AND PRODUCED
Discography (Albums/CD’s)
Wrote 50% to 100% of all songs performed by bands led:
Production (arrangements, recording, layout) and performance (vocals, and instrumentation including: banjo, mandolin, guitar) on:
"Steel Rails" (Boot Hill, 1974) (6 original compositions)
"Blue Ridge Memories" (Boot Hill, 1976) (6 original compositions)
"Fly, Soul, Away" (Boot Hill, 1978) (5 original compositions)
"Gypsy Heart" (Gypsy Heart, 1992) (10 original compositions)
"Monomyth: Songs of the Human Journey" (Louisa Branscomb, 1986) (8 original songs plus original poetry)
"Songs of the Whimplewood" (Louisa Branscomb, 1994) (10 original compositions; children's songs)
Louisa Branscomb: "It's Time to Write a Song" ( Solo CD, 1993) (12 original compositions)
Louisa Branscomb: “Fool’s Gold” (Solo CD, 2001) (11 Original compositions)
Fontanna Sunset: “Last Rose for Grandpa” (Band CD featuring 5 original songs by Louisa Branscomb, including title song) 2003.
Fontanna Sunset: Gospel Bluegrass Album, “When I See My Savior’s Face,”
------
Participating musician: “Follow Me Back to the Fold, A Tribute to Women in Bluegrass,” Mark Newton 2006
Participating Musician: “Back to the Well, Daughters of Bluegrass” 2005
Original songs recorded by:
Approximately 300 artists
NuBlue
Karen Lynne (Australia)
Richard Cifersky (Slovak Republik)
Claire Lynch
Janet McGarry (4 songs)
John Denver
Alison Krauss
Dale Ann Bradley (5 songs)
The McPeak Brothers
Daughters of Bluegrass
Lorraine Jordan and Carolina Road
The New Coon Creek Girls, with Dale Ann Bradley
Fontanna Sunset (9 songs)
Cyndi Craven
Chordwood
Honeygrass
Ladies’ Choice
Nancy Pate
Broad River
Sony Collection of Railroad Songs
New Pinnacle Mountain Boys
Lonesome Meadow
Nancy Beaudette
Louisa Branscomb (10 CD’s)
Plus I’ll Take Love: frequent rotations on songs sung by:
Dave Peterson, Claire Lynch, Steve Gulley, Becky Schlegel, Josh Williams, John Cowan
PLUS Estimated 150 Bands Recorded Steel Rails
Based on their report and You-Tube Videos
VIDEOGRAPHY
Alison Krauss: Steel Rails
Dale Ann Bradley: Don’t Turn Your Back
See approximately 250 You-Tube Versions of Steel Rails (appendix)
LOUISA’S OWN DISCOGRAPHY
1974 Boot Hill: Steel Rails (6 originals)
1976 Boot Hill: Blue Ridge Memories (6 originals)
1978 Boot Hill: Fly, Soul, Away (6 originals)
1986 Gypsy Heart: Gypsy Heart (10 originals)
1988 Born Gypsy: Born Gypsy (5 originals)
1992 Louisa Branscomb: Time to Write a Song (12 originals)
2000 Louisa Branscomb: Fool’s Gold (12 originals)
2003 Fontanna Sunset: Last Rose for Grandpa (5 originals)
2011: Louisa Branscomb: I’ll Take Love (13 originals)
2012: Jesus Was Born Without a Home (Single) Recorded
by Branscomb and Jeanette Williams
1974 and 1975 Featured on guitar on Annual Union Grove Album
COMMISSIONED WORKS: ART and MUSIC
Chinki-Po Publications, IMC. "Songs of the Whimple Wood." Composition, arrangement, and production of 15 songs for release as a cassette to accompany children book's series. Spring 1995.
National Forest Service: Brasstown Bald (closed-loop educational video). Performance of background music. 1992.
National Forest Service: "Mountain Trails, Mountain Tails," (promotional/educational audio tapes). Performance and arrangement of background music. 1992.
Birmingham Museum of Art: Southern Folk Art Tour (closed-loop video). Composition and performance of background music. 1985.
Groundhog Mountain Corporation: "Riding High," (promotional film). Composition, performance, and production of background music. 1974.
Randolph-Macon College: "In This River," (educational film). Composition, performance, and production of background music. 1971.
Musical interpretation and performance for Jean Houston workshops on transformation. Cohutta, GA, 1983, 1984.
PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE
Performing consistently regionally and nationally for 44 years – 1971 – 2014: Banjo, mandolin, guitar, vocals, songwriter, production of original CD’s; additional production of other songwriter recordings
Touring Selected Dates with Jeanette Williams Band 2010-2014
Vocals, banjo, mandolin, guitar, songwriter as below:
Banjo, Cherokee Rose, professional bluegrass group. 1981.
Co-founder, manager, writer, banjoist of Boot Hill. Performed nationally with average 250 performances year. Designed, produced, and distributed three albums. 1975-1980.
Bluefield – Founder, Banjo, Guitar 1973-1974)
Born Gypsy – Founder, guitar, mandolin,
Founder and leader: Gypsy Heart, 1984-1991. (Writer, banjo, mandolin, guitar).
Founder and leader: Louisa Branscomb and Born Gypsy, 1991-1997(Writer, banjo, mandolin, guitar).
Fontanna Sunset: 2001- 2003. Guitar, vocals, songwriting.
INVITATIONAL WORKSHOPS AND JUDGING
IBMA Bluegrass Songwriter Showcase: 2010 to present.
Songwriting And the Creative Process Mentor Panel, International Bluegrass Music Association, 1998, 1999 (unable to attend), 2000
Songwriting Workshop: Fanfest, International Bluegrass Music Assn., 1993
Songwriting Workshop: Bear on the Square, 4/ 2000.
Southeastern Bluegrass Association, 9/2000
Judge, Georgia Musician’s Industry Association Country Songwriting Competition, 2003.
Invited Keynote Speaker Regional Conference on Women’s Empowerment, Ferrum College
2013: Bad Girls and Banjos: Breaking the Wrong Rules the Right Way
PUBLICATIONS AUTHORED IN MUSIC
Branscomb, 2013 (Sept) “What’s the Kitchen Got To Do with It?” The Remarkable Roots of Legendary Alice Gerrard.
Branscomb, 2013: Alice Gerrard: Bittersweet. Bluegrass Today. July.
Branscomb, L. 1996. Reflections on playing at the international Olympics: rites of passage." Bluegrass Unlimited (Winter 1996
Pickers and Green Pastures: Reflections on our Changing Bluegrass Family. "Bluegrass Unlimited, Jan. 1999.
Rites of Passage: Playing at the 1998 International Olympics." Bluegrass Unlimited, Nov. 1998.
Feature Writer, Editorial Staff, Bluegrass Now, 1999 - 2002
Staff music reviewer: Acoustic Musician 1996-1997
Southeastern Bluegrass Association Newsletter 1996 - 1997
Bluegrass Now, 1999- 2002
Mark Newton: Living a Lesson Learned (1999 Bluegrass Now:)
Liner Notes: Follow Me Back to the Fold, IBMA Recorded Event
Alison Brown: Balancing Business and Music (7/2000) Bluegrass Now
If You See Mother Maybelle... Birth of a Song (10/00) Bluegrass Now (Published in two consecutive issues)
Steve Huber -- Casting the Die: The Making of a Luthier. Bluegrass Unlimited, 2001.
“The Unstoppable Vicki Simmons” Bluegrass Now, 2001.
CD Reviewer: Bluegrass Now 3 years
PUBLICATIONS ABOUT DR. BRANSCOMB:
Boot Hill – many news and feature articles: Called “one of America’s most popular young bands,” featured Louisa as first woman to front a band, play banjo, and write most of the band’s material; first prominent modern female bluegrass songwriter (Publications 1970-1990 available on request)
Selected Recent Publications:
Chris Jones (Bluegrass Now)
David Morris (Bluegrass Today)
Ted Lehman (Lehmann Blog)
David McGhee (Engine 145)
Marie Nesmith (Cartersville News)
Derek Halsey: Bluegrass Unlimited May 2012
APPENDIX
I. DISCOGRAPHY
Louisa Branscomb
CATALOG OF RECORDED ORIGINALS
(Lyrics and Music by Louisa Branscomb unless otherwise noted)
Song/writer / publisher and affiliation either BMI or ASCAP and for the co-writes there are two publishers but we can fit them into one square not have a separate column/Artist/Name of Album/ Album Label and Number if known/Date/Bar code y or n
Column for co-writer after Song column if there is one))))
Dear Sister (Compass Records 2013)
My Silvertone Guitar (Silvertone Guitar)
Nancy Beaudette
“Fa la la”
Moonlit Pond Records 2012 (November)
Wildflowers on the Hill
Janet McGarry
“Just Passing Thru”
Coal Dust Angel ( Diamond Productions)
In Tall Timber
Chordwood
“In Tall Timber”
Chordwood Productions 1996
“Woodsong”
Louisa Branscomb and Jane Baxter
Bluegrass Bands, Helping Hands Vol. Two: Through the Eyes of a Child 2010
(has bar code)
Bluegrass Bands and Helping Hands Vol 1: Heaven Knows 2008 or 2009
(should have bar code)
Lonesome Mountain Bird
Lonesome Redwing
Fly, Fly, Fly
Lonesome Redwing Productions 2009
Fools Gold
Daughters of Bluegrass “Back to the Well”
Blue Circle Records ? 200?
Steel Rails
Publisher: (Universal/One Note)
The Abeels “Snowflakes and Diamonds”
(they said they went through Harry Fox. They had the wrong publisher on the CD)
The following are all on
Louisa Branscomb: “Fools Gold”
Woodsong Farm Productions 2000
Fools Gold
Matters of the Heart
Old Virginia Waltz
Wearin’ the Blues
Just My Heart in my Hand
One Lonely Night
Beaver Valley Flood
Three Hundred Years
Long Black Train
Angels in the Snow
Woodsong
Crash and Burn
Love is a Hands on Thing
When I Cry
Stormy Night
No bar code
Beaver Valley Flood
Honeygrass: “Take One”
Honeygrass Productions 2002
Crescent City Flood
Honeygrass
“She’s Running Wild”
Need label and date
Lonely Blows Under Your Door (2006)
Louisa Branscomb/Karen Pendley-Kuykendall (Wynwood Music Co, Inc)
Janet McGarry: “Love and Learn”
Diamond Productions PEI date?
Steel Rails
John Denver: “All Aboard”
Quote to put in endorsements on website: “In looking for these songs I found a part of the history of our great country, along with the aching sense of loss that comes when a part of who and what we are begins to disappear, perhaps forever.”
Sony 63412 (Need year) has bar code
The following are on Louisa Branscomb: Time to Write a Song
Lodestar 1993 #005
Old Familiar Song
Stormy Night
This Too Shall Pass
Train That’s Passed Me By
Turn It Around
Feels So Good
Summertime Waltz
Steel Rails (Universal/one note pub)
Hold Me Gently in Your Dreams
When I See My Savior’s Face
Blue Cowgirl Song
Who’s Gonna Carry it On (publishing was originally with Mel so it’s now Universal?)
It’s Time to Write a Song
Old Familiar Song
Nancy Longenecker
“Going Home”
no label 1/24/01
I have the Harry Fox contract that says they did 500 copies and registered w/HF
The following are from Dale Ann Bradley “Don’t Turn Your Back” Compass Records
Can get the date and number from their website
Don’t Turn Your Back
Will I Be Good Enough
Music City Queen (cowritten w/Dale Ann Bradley – but Millwheel has the publishing
Ghostbound Train (Cowritten w Dale Ann Bradley – pub is Millwheel Music)
Has Bar code
Long Black Train
Jim Hurst “Intrepid”
NN Guido Music 2012
Has bar code
Cold December Wind
Fontanna Sunset: “I DIdn’t See it Coming”
Need label and date
Out the Door
(cowriter, Dawn Kenney. Heart Roots Music (ASCAP)/Millwheel Music (BMI)
Dawn Kenney: Sing Me Home
Heartroots Music 2012
Has Bar code
The Following Songs are from:
Songs of the Whimple Wood Volume 1: Songs Capturing the Magic of Childhood