Could you please print this as a letter to the editor. Thank you!

To: Chris Arnott, Vic Seffens, Kathline Cei, and all others involved in The Music Scene Think Tank that was published in The New Haven Advocate in November.

       Thank You so much for your article in the Advocate, which focused on New Haven's music scene. Hooray!! This is long over due. I missed the article when it came out because I was auditioning and preparing to be on The NBC show Clash Of The Choirs. I wish you had covered COTC more. It really was a great thing to have New Haven considered on a national stage. The New Haven Choir did all we could to represent New Haven in the best light. I know Choirs aren't hip but it was a great couple of days for New Haven. Thanks also to Brian LaRue for the kind words in The December 20 issue. To Brian: I studied classical voice, and have been involved with choirs and musical theater since I was a young child. I hope this information and the show itself answer your questions about how I fit in that context.

    I finally caught up with the November issue featuring Vic Steffens and the others on the panel. As you know I have a great love for our city and it's music history. I took a great interest in the article and I am making a great effort here to TRY and make my comments positive. Like you said in the article though criticism is healthy for the conversation and for the scene itself.

     I think The New Haven music scene is broken and in desperate need of repair. I rarely play gigs in New Haven anymore. There is not one venue that provides a place for me to play the Bluesandsoulandrockandroll that I play. If you compare The New Haven music scene to the scenes in the other cites that are whistle stops between New York and Boston You will see that we are woefully behind in what we offer as far a live entertainment is concerned.

     Bridgeport has created a live entertainment district. This area has always had live music, but the city has gotten involved in making music clubs part of it's urban renewal of the Black Rock Neighborhood. Now in one city mile you can see up to 8 totally diverse acts any Friday night. I play there often and find the audiences to be smart and open-minded. Many original acts are on display as well as many different kinds of cover bands. These bands are young old black white and Latin. Bridgeport is also very big on Reggae. Bridgeport remembers that its community is diverse. Many clubs from Black Rock to the East End are thriving.

     Hartford is by far and away the live entertainment capital of CT. They passed us out and took over in the 90's. New Haven never got its crown back. In Hartford they include bars in the surrounding towns as part of the total scene. It takes the DJ on Wccc a full 5 minutes to announce what the entertainment choices are for a Thursday night let alone a Friday or Saturday. Take the entertainment sections of your sister papers in Hartford and Bridgeport, then do the same for your own. Cut them out and compare.

      There are many great bands in CT. It's very hard to be an all-original band here and still make a living. Don't forget that most of us that have been doing this for a while expect to be paid! To have a healthy music scene you need to get good musicians PAID and encourage us to stay here instead of leaving for New York or Boston. Both original and cover bands are needed to satisfy the listening public. Most of us mix covers and originals together anyway. Please stop segregating bands by genre or haircut. Every band has something to say weather you like it or not. Let us speak! Then have your say.

        The problem with our scene is that it is not inclusive, and the different entities refuse to work together. I feel that this is an emergency situation. In order for this scene to thrive again we need to become zealots for what we believe in. Let's not just accept the scene for what it is. Could we have another summit and make it bigger? Live music is good for the community. Can we involve city govement? In your round table no club or restaurant owners were involved. Their finaicial success is so important to the revival of a live music scene here. If they make money they will be the fuel that makes the engine run. Could we have more musicians including, Classical, Jazz, Cover, Hip-Hop, music teachers and private lesson instructors involved? A representative of New Haven's Musicians union might not be a bad idea. How about radio Including WPLR, WYBC, and also a Spanish speaking representative. Good Clubs and restraunts advertise. Radio most definitely has a great financial Interest here. Could we include bars in West Haven Milford Branford Cheshire in our scene? Or is that not HIPPSTER?

      Being hipsters is what I feel has destroyed the New Haven Scene. It is a small demographic deciding for the masses what is hip. And as you can see by the lack of financially successful clubs here, the masses are going elsewhere.

Greg Sherrod

Chris Arnott I'm so psyched for your rebuttal. Please include how the New Haven Music scene has gotten better.

Hi Greg The Singer here, (wait a sec, should I change that now that there are so many singers that will read this? Hummmm let's see I'm still Greg. I still sing what the hell)

So one day while I'm recovering from a torn Achilles tendon injury. My friend Melisa Mulligan sends me this Email. NBC is auditioning people for a new reality show called Clash of The Choirs. Personally I don't watch this type of T.V. I'm not so sure I think that exploiting people's ambition is a good thing. So now I have to consider whether exploiting my ambition is a good idea. What I found out is that there is more than one kind of reality T.V.

          Clash Of The Choirs was good T.V. We all talked a lot about giving good T.V. and what it means. First of all as far as my choir is concerned, We had a very interesting group experience. Some of the more religious members might say an epiphany. We had the most amazing musical director. Shelton Becton has to be one of the most interesting textured human beings I have ever met. As one of our basses Jim has said many times "Shelton walks the walk and talks the talk" Musically it's obvious, Shelton Becton is on of the most excellent musicians I have ever had the pleasure to meet. Beyond that Shelton has a charisma that goes far beyond music. Shelton took a group of people that would never under any other circumstances have been in the same room and welded us into a family. Believe me there were times when I was just pissed off and ready to bolt on the contract and say sue me. Shelton's kind words focus and discipline kept me focused on the task at hand. Shelton protected us as much as he could from one of the most brutal production schedules in T.V. history. Although I have always kept my religious beliefs private, I will always say an extra prayer because of and for Shelton Becton. If Michael Bolton was the face of our choir, Shelton Becton was the heart, though you never saw him on T.V.. Shelton made sure we gave good T.V. and not exposing T.V. Thanks Shel.

            There were a group of people that were responsible for handling us. I believe you call them casting producers. Scott was the boss along with Christina Kelly and others. My favorite was Caitlin. Caitlin reminded me of someone I would have met in a bar in New Haven. She started out being our task master and ended up also being welded into our very diverse family. I know it's her job to get along with us, and to get us to stay in line with the over all production but, Caitlin went above and beyond her duties many times and really added to our performances by fighting to get us the daily things we needed just to maintain a 14 hour work day. Caitlin If you ever find yourself in the New England again, first drinks on me. Some of the best times I had on Clash were spent with the awesome people behind the scenes. Arthur the stage manager, Rose Riggins on stage, Stev in wardrobe, and too many others to mention. I even got to meet "Blue Lou" Marini of Blues Bothers fame. He was playing in the orchestra. A lot of love went into producing this show thanks to all.

            My favorite part of Clash of The Choirs was meeting all of the great singers from all overThe country. Talk about putting your ego in your pocket. Man some of these guys could blow!!!!! To single any of them out would be a disservice to all of the others. All 100 singer regardless of background race religion military service or politics really reached out to each other. We all bonded to the point where the competition although the focus for us being there was secondary to the experience of being there. This is an open invitation to any of the 100 singers involved with Clash of The Choirs. If your ever in New Haven I'll afford you any hospitality that is within my power. Also If my band is playing anywhere, you are cordially invited to sit in and enjoy making music with us.

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The Greg Sherrod Band

Greg's Birthday Open Jam

C.J. Sparrows S.Main St Cheshire CT.

Friday Jan 11 9pm

Come on down, bring your axe and play. Let's enjoy the night together

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The Greg Sherrod Band

Session 73, 73rd and 1st NYC.

Thursday 1/17/08

Nice to be back in the big city. Should be a crazy good time. Worth the trip.

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Peace, Love and Good T.V. for everyone

Greg Sherrod

P.S. Holla Back let me know your alive

          This blog entry was going to be called my Big Bloated Overstuffed Ego. I started out beliving... no knowing that I would be picked as a soloist for Michael Boltons Choir. There were three solo spots and three male tenors. At the first rehersal my name was called by Mike and my mellon started swellin'. Oh this is gonna be great coast to coast face time. Finally gonna get my due. All those empty rooms and long drives were finally going to pay off.

         We got invited to Michaels house to sing solos. I thought I killed (music speak for did really well). Well...... The final list for solos came out tonight............ O.k. I'm disapointed but A lesson is a gift.

           I haven't sung in a choir for years. We have so many great voices. To hear that glorious sound is really amazing. To start off with a little tiny part and here the chords formed diction straightened out, and bones turning into flesh is really awe inspiring. The people that I sing with are turning from perfect strangers into teammates and friends. We have all kinds of singers. Ryan and I are gig singers. Chioma and Christina are Classical divas. David an actor, Janet barber shop, and who could forget the Queen Callan's pure thick rich warm gospel. Lindsey my town mate from Cheshire is a little bit country, Zach acapella groups, Tara a flat out soul R+B singer. Believe me we got all bases covered and it's a blast to here all these different voices become one voice.

            No solo? oh well. I think this is Ryan O'niels time. Michael gave him all of the solos for tenors. Ryan is a truly gifted outstanding singer. I hope he gets a record deal or a movie or something big out of this. He is a wonderful teammate and friend.

              As for the man with his ego now firmly in check and a lot more humble than he was when he woke up this morning, I am thankfull. I am thankfull just to be in the same room with all these excellent singers and wonderful people.

Hi Ya'll

Does this thing have spell check? Oh well I'm a dyslexic so bear with me

         O.K. I'm on this long strange trip called Clash of The Choirs. I've gone on the wagon and my  whole body although a little jittery has been conpletely pure ( well there is that demond caffine) for 8 days. Finally getting back in the groove of working everyday, although my leg swells up pretty good by the time I get home. My life has basicly been, Therapy for my leg at 7, work 8 to 5, rehersal 6 to 10 in New Haven, Sleep, reset. Sorry if I have been ignoring anyone I'm maxed out.

       We reherse at Educational Center For The Arts on Audobon St in New Haven. It's such a cool part of town, with all of the music and art education centers. From what I understand it's pretty pricey, so the average kid from New Haven most likely misses out. ECA is part of the state education system so I'm sure some high school kids get some opportunity. I wanted to go to ECA when I was a kid but I don't think my school participated and if they did they wouldn't have sent a problem child like me. So 26 years later I finally get my ECA experience. My fellow choir members are really cool although I think I may frighten or offend or both some of the other tenors in my section. I seem to have made a connection with a guy named Ryan O'neil (yes his real nane). He's a great singer and a club guy like me, so we have something in common. My memory isn't what it used to be...SHOCKER!!! so Ryan has been going out of his way to help me skull my parts. Thanks R.

            Our musical Director is a man by the name of Shelton Becton. Shelton is the musical director for The Color Purple on Broadway. This is my first exposure to such a heavyweight cat. Shelton is an interesting fellow. He walks his own walk and talks his own talk. Most definately an origanal creative being. He so far has been very kind to the choir. I love his slogan "Excellence without excuses". I decided early on That if Shelton is making a Jim Jones punch I'll be slurping it out of the bowl.

        Shelton gave us this incredable speach about song delivery. Man did this speach hit home with me. It's as if someone gave me the final piece of the puzzle that I've been looking everywhere for. I heard the lock tumblers go "CLICK" and I know I will never ever sing the same way again. This is the best education I've gotten since I studied with Georgia Lewis who fixed my technique.

              So, some wise ass in the class says so give us a demonstation Shelton. So this guy who could have just told this pissant to screw, induges us. He Sits at the piano and infuses the room with the most excellent music I have ever heard in my life. The delivery was other worldly. As I sat there I became overwhelmed with emotion (I'm sure withdrawl played a part in it). I couldn't help but think about how much music ment to me and, how long I have been involved with singing. How since I was a little kid growing up in a very difficult situation that music is the only thing that ever made sence to me. Music allowed me a way to recieve and trasmit information without negitivity. To use a cliche it "soothed the savage beast in me". I've always said If it wasn't for music I would most likely be dead or serving a life sentence for violent murder. As a teen that's where my life seemed to be taking me. When I came out of my head and back into the room where Shelton had absolutly tranfixed everyone. I realized that I was crying like a baby. Tears were just streeming down my face. I was one step away from sobbing uncontrolably.

            Sheton came to me after he had finished and asked me if I was o.k. I asked him, "Mr Becton how much do I owe you?" He replied just keep singing well. It dawned on me AAAAHHHHHHH This is the guy (with Michael Bolton of course) who selected me to sing in this choir. I started smiling knowing that any insecurity I ever had about singing had just died in that room. Don't get me wrong I'll always be an ardent student of voice and music, but now I am a true beliver in myself as a singer. I know if I contine to work hard that I have no limits.

             Thank you Shelton Becton, and thank you to everyone who has ever listened to my music, paid a ticket price, a cover charge, or bought a drink in any bar I ever played in. This journey isn't just all about me. It's about my continued conversation with you. 

For those of you frustrated by my always under construction web site, I have found a new way to communicate, do business and pleasure. I have a myspace music page that has songs from my upcoming(someday) CD Blues for Carrie, as well as A great live track from 41 North in Mystic CT. Please go to myspace.com/gregsherrod and check it out. I've found many of my musician friends in Myspace world. Please check out their music and as always get up off your ass and support live music or it will go away!