Earthquakes and Hurricanes...
It's turning out to be one heck of a week here in Delaware. Tuesday afternoon Geri Smith and I were working on a new song in my studio when the house started shaking violently. It didn't take long for us to figure out we were in the middle of an earthquake! It was a first for me. Here on the east coast we assume that the only place in our country that experiences earthquakes is California. So much for that assumption! It was a day I'll never forget. Luckily there was no damage.
Then yesterday my daughter Amanda left for her first semester of college at Salisbury University (in Salisbury, Maryland). No sooner did she get her dorm room all set up that they decided to evacuate the school out of concern for hurricane Irene!
So here we are now waiting to get slammed with a hurricane in the same week we had an earthquake. I guess next week will be locusts! It reminds me of a plaque hanging on the wall of one of the places I perform (Sambo's Tavern) On the plaque is a handwritten quote... "Don't make me come down there!"...God
For those of you who have asked about the show I did last month in New York at the Bitter End with the New York Songwriters Circle: Here is some video : www.youtube.com/watch
If you like it, please "Share" it on Facebook.
All the Love, Sol
Reply
Just found out today that I am currently ranked 77 in the USA and 113 Globally for singer/songwriters on Reverbnation.com. Just to give you perspective....there are over 1.5 million artists around the globe that use Reverbnation. This is wonderful and humbling news. However, there is much more work to be done. Anyone who knows me knows that my goals are much higher than that.....including reaching top 10 status as soon as possible.
Sol's upcoming CD
Very soon the recording process will begin on a new CD. This project will bring with it great hope for the year to come. Included on this recording will be full studio versions of "Average Joe", "Sara's Hair", "Saddle Up and Ride" and several new compositions that are being born as we speak.
Great news from Nashville!
The company that represents my original music catalog in Nashville notified me last week that country star Rodney Atkins has been looking for a song strong enough to be released as a "single". After listening to thousands and thousands of demos and having to get his manager, producer and record company to agree on the song...they've narrowed the list down to 10 potential tunes....one of which is my song "Dancing with the Bottle"!. Please keep your fingers crossed. It could be a game changer for my career!
Thanks again for all your love and support,
Sol
Reply
Hi Everyone,
The past few days have been incredible to say the least. Saturday's show at the Delaware Bay Trading Company in Camden, DE with Paul Donovan and Elephant Sky was a blast. I want to thank everyone who was able to make it out and a big thanks goes to John Green for supporting local original music.
Monday evening was a transforming experience for me. Toni and I, along with our daughters Amanda and Morgan and Toni's sister "Peas" and her husband Brian made the drive up to New York City. I had the honor to perform with the New York Song Circle at the famous Bitter End in Greenwich Village (New York City). All the greats of our industry have performed on that stage...people like Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Neil Diamond, Jim Croce, Curtis Mayfield, Hall & Oates...the list goes on and on. Let me tell you...the talent on the stage Monday evening was awesome! If you haven't heard of these folks yet, you probably will: Suzie Brown, John Schmitt, Martin Rivas, Nickolas Metaxas and Mayday Radio. I didn't want the show to end. Can't wait to perform there again!
A big thank you goes out to everyone who has been listening to and rating all my songs at
http://www.songcirclemusic.com/#/profiles/ODkzNi0yOTUyOTg
Every time you listen, "like" the site and rate my songs it helps move my music higher on the charts.
Videos and pictures of Monday's show should be available at that link within a few days.
At my SolKnopf.com site I have just uploaded some new video from last Saturday's show at the Del Bay Trading Co. Coffee House. "Saddle Up and Ride" and "Average Joe" turned out really good! You can see them at this link:
http://www.solknopf.com/videos.cfm
If you like them, please make sure to "Share" them on Facebook. :-)
Enjoy!
All the Love,
Sol
Reply
Hi Everyone,
Acclaimed Singer/Songwriter Tina Shafer (whose songs have been recorded by Celine Dion, Sheena Easton, Donna Summer and many others), the host of the New York Songwriter's Circle, has invited me to perform at a showcase in New York City on Monday July 18th at the famous Bitter End Cafe. For 20 years the New York Songwriters Circle has been producing, developing and showcasing multi-platinum and Grammy award winning artists including Norah Jones, Gavin DeGraw, Vanessa Carlton, Lisa Loeb and many others. It's a tremendous honor for me to be included in such a showcase and I can't wait to participate!
If any of you want to make the trip up to NYC to join me for this special night you can buy your tickets here:
http://www.fanfueled.com/Event/Details/467-songcircle-new-york-showcase-july-18th
If you can't make it to NYC but would like to see me performing an "all originals" show in the Delaware area you will have a great opportunity to do so on Saturday July 16th. I will be performing at the Delaware Bay Trading Company in Camden, DE from 6:30pm-8:30pm. It's a very intimate coffee house setting. I will be joined on guitar by my friend Paul Donovan. In addition, Erin Mackenzie Casey (Berklee school of Music student and Delaware resident) will be our special guest performing some of her awesome tunes after my first set. It's going to be a special night and I hope you can make it. To get more info on the DBTC show...call 302-698-3550.
All the Love, Sol
Reply
The list of exciting names of artists considering my original material is growing. In a brutally competitive market we are continuing to be in strong consideration on many fronts. Adding to the list this month of people considering my tunes for their next CD are two artists that I have much respect for...Ronnie Milsap and Josh Gracin. Ronnie's people liked "Average Joe", "Searching for You" and "Good Love Takes Time". Josh Gracin's people liked "Average Joe", "Good Love Takes Time", Midnight Ride", "Wrapped Around My Heart" and "Saddle Up and Ride". Josh Gracin is a former Marine and I can't think of anyone who would be a better fit for "Average Joe". In fact, guess what the name of his entertainment agency/record label is???? "Average Joe Entertainment". Wow..... keep your fingers crossed. :-)
Reply
Just wanted to let you know about some exciting names on the list of Country Recording Artists whose representatives are strongly considering recording my material and the specific songs they are interested in:
1) Daryl Worley (Sara's Hair, Dancing with the Bottle,Saddle Up and Ride)
2) LeAnn Rimes (Where Have You Been?)
3) Scotty McCreery (Good Love Takes Time, Wrapped Around My Heart, Sara's Hair)
4) Montgomery Gentry (Dancing with the Bottle, Saddle Up and Ride)
5) Thompson Square (Where Have You Been?, Wrapped Around My Heart)
6) Rodney Atkins (Dancing with the Bottle)
7) Clay Walker (Saddle Up and Ride, Sara's Hair)
8) Easton Corbin (Dancing with the Bottle, Saddle Up and Ride)
9) Tracy Lawrence (Dancing with the Bottle)
There are many others as well...
We're going to start pitching "Average Joe" this month and have very high hopes for it. I promise to keep you posted throughout the summer and hopefully we'll be fortunate enough to have some of these songs cut soon.
For those of you in the Delaware area, below is a list of my gigs for the next week and a half.
Have a safe, happy and healthy Memorial Day weekend!
All the Love,
Sol
Reply
I just found out today that I am the #2 Hot Country Artist on Reverbnation.com.
Too funny!
I haven't been called "Hot" for years! haha....I have been called #2 a few times. Ahem....I will NOT elaborate further. :-)
All the Love,
Sol
Reply
I have been trying to write "Average Joe" for many years. The idea always was to write about an average guy named Joe who becomes a hero in WW II. I had the melody, chords and structure start to finish and I knew what I wanted the song to be about, but I simply could not put meaningful words to the page.
A few months ago I met a very talented lady from Pennsylvania, named Geri Smith, who came down to Delaware to do some vocal demo work for me. We hit it off and decided when we had the time to get together and write we would.
Well, last Monday was that day. I drove up to PA and we started to knock ideas around to see if anything resonated. After a few minutes I told her about this idea I had for "Average Joe". She immediately picked up her notebook and started writing! We put our heads together and came up with several "goosebump" lines. For a writer....you live for those moments when you know you're a part of something special.
Geri had a serious point of reference for helping to write this song. Her father had been in World War II and he had told her many stories about how things were. In addition, her boyfriend Jimmy was a Navy man with encyclopedic knowledge of the military and wars. If I hadn't met Geri, I don't believe this song would have ever been written.
Within 3 hours we had this beautiful song done. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did writing it.
Lovingly dedicated to all those who serve or have served... and their wonderful families.
All the Love, Sol
Reply
It's another busy stretch with 10 shows out of the next 11 days. Very fortunate. Looking forward to seeing my local friends out.
Been writing just about every day with several collaborations in the fold. Monday evening Geri Smith (www.GeriSmith.com) and I wrote a song called "Average Joe". Geri is one talented lady. She took an idea that I've been stuck on for years...and helped mold it into something special. Can't wait for you to hear it!
Also working with Greg Gantzer on a sweet song called "Southern Georgia Wind". And then...I'm excited to be collaborating with my brother Larry on "Nothing's Really Wrong (Until I hear that song)"...
Coming next week will be the monthly update on my original tunes being pitched in Nashville. Keep your fingers crossed...and toes too! The competition is fierce...but we are seriously in the game!
If you'd like to help me in a BIG way.....I hope you'll consider "Sharing" my music on Facebook/Twitter and/or MySpace. Just click "Share" in this email and a window will pop up walk you through it. Taking this simple action is a way you can play a big role in spreading the word.
All the Love,
Sol
Reply
I just recorded an acoustic version of "Sara's Hair" . This is a tune I wrote with Geoff Vernon and Doug James. Doug is best known for writing 1990 BMI song of the year "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" with Michael Bolton. His songs have been recorded by such legends as Dionne Warwick, Joe Cocker, Cher, Dan Hill and countless others.
I'd like to dedicate this recording to my dear friends Gary and Dawn Shaffer who live in Las Vegas, NV. Last year, while they were still living in Delaware, Gary surprised me with one of the most incredible gifts of my life. He gave me his father's 1945 Gibson J45 acoustic guitar! Gary's father (Ed Shaffer) bought this guitar just after he came home from World War II. Gary was only 2 at the time...but has wonderful memories of sitting under his mother's rocking chair and listening to his father play and sing.
I used this very guitar to record "Sara's Hair" (which happens to be Gary's favorite song of mine). Even the percussion part you'll hear is me tapping the body of this sweet guitar. I hope you enjoy it.
All the Love,
Sol
Reply
Sol Knopf / Blog
Earthquakes and Hurricanes...
Earthquakes and Hurricanes... It's turning out to be one heck of a week here in Delaware. Tuesday afternoon Geri Smith and I were working on a new song in my studio when the house started shaking violently. It didn't take long for us to figure out we were in the middle of an earthquake! It was a first for me. Here on the east coast we assume that the only place in our country that experiences earthquakes is California. So much for that assumption! It was a day I'll never forget. Luckily there was no damage.
Then yesterday my daughter Amanda left for her first semester of college at Salisbury University (in Salisbury, Maryland). No sooner did she get her dorm room all set up that they decided to evacuate the school out of concern for hurricane Irene!
So here we are now waiting to get slammed with a hurricane in the same week we had an earthquake. I guess next week will be locusts! It reminds me of a plaque hanging on the wall of one of the places I perform (Sambo's Tavern) On the plaque is a handwritten quote... "Don't make me come down there!"...God
For those of you who have asked about the show I did last month in New York at the Bitter End with the New York Songwriters Circle: Here is some video : www.youtube.com/watch
If you like it, please "Share" it on Facebook.
All the Love, Sol
Reply
Sol ranked 77 in the Nation
Just found out today that I am currently ranked 77 in the USA and 113 Globally for singer/songwriters on Reverbnation.com. Just to give you perspective....there are over 1.5 million artists around the globe that use Reverbnation. This is wonderful and humbling news. However, there is much more work to be done. Anyone who knows me knows that my goals are much higher than that.....including reaching top 10 status as soon as possible. Sol's upcoming CD Very soon the recording process will begin on a new CD. This project will bring with it great hope for the year to come. Included on this recording will be full studio versions of "Average Joe", "Sara's Hair", "Saddle Up and Ride" and several new compositions that are being born as we speak. Great news from Nashville! The company that represents my original music catalog in Nashville notified me last week that country star Rodney Atkins has been looking for a song strong enough to be released as a "single". After listening to thousands and thousands of demos and having to get his manager, producer and record company to agree on the song...they've narrowed the list down to 10 potential tunes....one of which is my song "Dancing with the Bottle"!. Please keep your fingers crossed. It could be a game changer for my career! Thanks again for all your love and support, Sol
Reply
The Bitter End show in NYC was incredible!
Hi Everyone,
The past few days have been incredible to say the least. Saturday's show at the Delaware Bay Trading Company in Camden, DE with Paul Donovan and Elephant Sky was a blast. I want to thank everyone who was able to make it out and a big thanks goes to John Green for supporting local original music.
Monday evening was a transforming experience for me. Toni and I, along with our daughters Amanda and Morgan and Toni's sister "Peas" and her husband Brian made the drive up to New York City. I had the honor to perform with the New York Song Circle at the famous Bitter End in Greenwich Village (New York City). All the greats of our industry have performed on that stage...people like Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Neil Diamond, Jim Croce, Curtis Mayfield, Hall & Oates...the list goes on and on. Let me tell you...the talent on the stage Monday evening was awesome! If you haven't heard of these folks yet, you probably will: Suzie Brown, John Schmitt, Martin Rivas, Nickolas Metaxas and Mayday Radio. I didn't want the show to end. Can't wait to perform there again!
A big thank you goes out to everyone who has been listening to and rating all my songs at http://www.songcirclemusic.com/#/profiles/ODkzNi0yOTUyOTg
Every time you listen, "like" the site and rate my songs it helps move my music higher on the charts. Videos and pictures of Monday's show should be available at that link within a few days.
At my SolKnopf.com site I have just uploaded some new video from last Saturday's show at the Del Bay Trading Co. Coffee House. "Saddle Up and Ride" and "Average Joe" turned out really good! You can see them at this link:
http://www.solknopf.com/videos.cfm If you like them, please make sure to "Share" them on Facebook. :-)
Enjoy!
All the Love, Sol
Reply
Sol performing at the famous Bitter End Cafe in NYC
Hi Everyone,
Acclaimed Singer/Songwriter Tina Shafer (whose songs have been recorded by Celine Dion, Sheena Easton, Donna Summer and many others), the host of the New York Songwriter's Circle, has invited me to perform at a showcase in New York City on Monday July 18th at the famous Bitter End Cafe. For 20 years the New York Songwriters Circle has been producing, developing and showcasing multi-platinum and Grammy award winning artists including Norah Jones, Gavin DeGraw, Vanessa Carlton, Lisa Loeb and many others. It's a tremendous honor for me to be included in such a showcase and I can't wait to participate!
If any of you want to make the trip up to NYC to join me for this special night you can buy your tickets here:
http://www.fanfueled.com/Event/Details/467-songcircle-new-york-showcase-july-18th
If you can't make it to NYC but would like to see me performing an "all originals" show in the Delaware area you will have a great opportunity to do so on Saturday July 16th. I will be performing at the Delaware Bay Trading Company in Camden, DE from 6:30pm-8:30pm. It's a very intimate coffee house setting. I will be joined on guitar by my friend Paul Donovan. In addition, Erin Mackenzie Casey (Berklee school of Music student and Delaware resident) will be our special guest performing some of her awesome tunes after my first set. It's going to be a special night and I hope you can make it. To get more info on the DBTC show...call 302-698-3550. All the Love, Sol
Reply
Ronnie Milsap and Josh Gracin considering "Average Joe" and other tunes....
The list of exciting names of artists considering my original material is growing. In a brutally competitive market we are continuing to be in strong consideration on many fronts. Adding to the list this month of people considering my tunes for their next CD are two artists that I have much respect for...Ronnie Milsap and Josh Gracin. Ronnie's people liked "Average Joe", "Searching for You" and "Good Love Takes Time". Josh Gracin's people liked "Average Joe", "Good Love Takes Time", Midnight Ride", "Wrapped Around My Heart" and "Saddle Up and Ride". Josh Gracin is a former Marine and I can't think of anyone who would be a better fit for "Average Joe". In fact, guess what the name of his entertainment agency/record label is???? "Average Joe Entertainment". Wow..... keep your fingers crossed. :-)
Reply
Nashville Update for May 2011
Just wanted to let you know about some exciting names on the list of Country Recording Artists whose representatives are strongly considering recording my material and the specific songs they are interested in:
1) Daryl Worley (Sara's Hair, Dancing with the Bottle,Saddle Up and Ride) 2) LeAnn Rimes (Where Have You Been?) 3) Scotty McCreery (Good Love Takes Time, Wrapped Around My Heart, Sara's Hair) 4) Montgomery Gentry (Dancing with the Bottle, Saddle Up and Ride) 5) Thompson Square (Where Have You Been?, Wrapped Around My Heart) 6) Rodney Atkins (Dancing with the Bottle) 7) Clay Walker (Saddle Up and Ride, Sara's Hair) 8) Easton Corbin (Dancing with the Bottle, Saddle Up and Ride) 9) Tracy Lawrence (Dancing with the Bottle)
There are many others as well...
We're going to start pitching "Average Joe" this month and have very high hopes for it. I promise to keep you posted throughout the summer and hopefully we'll be fortunate enough to have some of these songs cut soon.
For those of you in the Delaware area, below is a list of my gigs for the next week and a half.
Have a safe, happy and healthy Memorial Day weekend!
All the Love,
Sol
Reply
Sol Knopf #2 Hot Country Artist on Reverbnation.com
I just found out today that I am the #2 Hot Country Artist on Reverbnation.com.
Too funny!
I haven't been called "Hot" for years! haha....I have been called #2 a few times. Ahem....I will NOT elaborate further. :-)
All the Love,
Sol
Reply
"Average Joe" dedicated to our Military Families
I have been trying to write "Average Joe" for many years. The idea always was to write about an average guy named Joe who becomes a hero in WW II. I had the melody, chords and structure start to finish and I knew what I wanted the song to be about, but I simply could not put meaningful words to the page.
A few months ago I met a very talented lady from Pennsylvania, named Geri Smith, who came down to Delaware to do some vocal demo work for me. We hit it off and decided when we had the time to get together and write we would.
Well, last Monday was that day. I drove up to PA and we started to knock ideas around to see if anything resonated. After a few minutes I told her about this idea I had for "Average Joe". She immediately picked up her notebook and started writing! We put our heads together and came up with several "goosebump" lines. For a writer....you live for those moments when you know you're a part of something special. Geri had a serious point of reference for helping to write this song. Her father had been in World War II and he had told her many stories about how things were. In addition, her boyfriend Jimmy was a Navy man with encyclopedic knowledge of the military and wars. If I hadn't met Geri, I don't believe this song would have ever been written.
Within 3 hours we had this beautiful song done. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did writing it.
Lovingly dedicated to all those who serve or have served... and their wonderful families.
All the Love, Sol
Reply
10 Shows in 11 days....
It's another busy stretch with 10 shows out of the next 11 days. Very fortunate. Looking forward to seeing my local friends out.
Been writing just about every day with several collaborations in the fold. Monday evening Geri Smith (www.GeriSmith.com) and I wrote a song called "Average Joe". Geri is one talented lady. She took an idea that I've been stuck on for years...and helped mold it into something special. Can't wait for you to hear it!
Also working with Greg Gantzer on a sweet song called "Southern Georgia Wind". And then...I'm excited to be collaborating with my brother Larry on "Nothing's Really Wrong (Until I hear that song)"...
Coming next week will be the monthly update on my original tunes being pitched in Nashville. Keep your fingers crossed...and toes too! The competition is fierce...but we are seriously in the game! If you'd like to help me in a BIG way.....I hope you'll consider "Sharing" my music on Facebook/Twitter and/or MySpace. Just click "Share" in this email and a window will pop up walk you through it. Taking this simple action is a way you can play a big role in spreading the word.
All the Love, Sol
Reply
"Sara's Hair"
I just recorded an acoustic version of "Sara's Hair" . This is a tune I wrote with Geoff Vernon and Doug James. Doug is best known for writing 1990 BMI song of the year "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You" with Michael Bolton. His songs have been recorded by such legends as Dionne Warwick, Joe Cocker, Cher, Dan Hill and countless others.
I'd like to dedicate this recording to my dear friends Gary and Dawn Shaffer who live in Las Vegas, NV. Last year, while they were still living in Delaware, Gary surprised me with one of the most incredible gifts of my life. He gave me his father's 1945 Gibson J45 acoustic guitar! Gary's father (Ed Shaffer) bought this guitar just after he came home from World War II. Gary was only 2 at the time...but has wonderful memories of sitting under his mother's rocking chair and listening to his father play and sing.
I used this very guitar to record "Sara's Hair" (which happens to be Gary's favorite song of mine). Even the percussion part you'll hear is me tapping the body of this sweet guitar. I hope you enjoy it.
All the Love,
Sol
Reply