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			OFF THE CHARTS: The Song-Poem Story

Tell us what you think about OFF THE CHARTS: The Song-Poem Story.

Selected submissions will be posted here, so check back regularly and join the discussion.

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05/29/2008
Gary Forney
La Porte City, Iowa

This is Gary Forney of the former Iowa Mountain Tour! As you may or may not know, last year my career was largely destroyed by a gay stalker. I am desperately trying to recover from his damage. I have formed a new band PUNKN and am looking for places to perform, etc. If you could, please go to WWW.PUNKN.ORG
Thanks
~Gary~

09/26/2007
William J. Felchner
Staunton, Illinois USA

Regarding your comment on songwriter Chaw Mank. His real name was Charles Mank Jr. He acquired his nickname because his little sister Gloria couldn't pronounce Charles, hence it came out "Chaw-Chaw," or "Chaw."

Chaw Mank (1902-1985) was more than a songwriter. He could also legitimately claim the following titles: book author, newspaper columnist, sheet music publisher, record label owner, radio personality, silent movie theater organist, music teacher, Hollywood fan club pioneer, inveterate collector and pen pal. It wasn't unusual for Chaw to receive more than 10,000 letters annually.

My feature "Chaw Mank and the World of Entertainment" -- published in now-defunct Illinois Magazine -- profiled the Staunton, Illinois, native. I purchased the remainder of Chaw's estate in the 1990s and it was loaded with memorabilia spanning an array of celebrities from the world of motion pictures, radio, television and music.

Chaw was heavily involved in the song-poet business, but he also penned or co-penned
songs recorded by such country music artists as Lloyd "Cowboy" Copas and The Country Gentlemen. Chaw was definitely one-of-a-kind!

12/31/2004
gary war

Los Angeles, CA

Its sweet dudes that like Gary Forney and David Fox that keep me blasting away on my 8-track. **** Irony and kitch, listen closely to the brilliant hoser (as i call it in reference to logical chord progressions) efficiency in "The Thing" or the circular riffing in "three eyed-boy" to see what I mean.

Gary Forney
CropCircleProductions@hotmail.com
LaPorte City, Iowa

I am proud to have taken part in Jamie Meltzer's film. I do live in the shadow world of the songpeom industry! But, think "Off The Charts" will shed some light into that world. SongPoems have existed for over 100 years. I surprised that no one other than Jamie Meltzer thought to explore the people and "songs". Well worth watching!

John K. Fitzpatrick
jfitz@teleport.com
Grand Rapids, MI

I am psyched for the upcoming Song-Poem special ! On my website and companion CDr "The Oddball Auditorium" are featured some song-poems not heard elsewhere, from my own collection. Enjoy. - John http://home.teleport.com/~jfitz/music/oddball.html

Sheryl Clapton
sherylclapton@MSN.com

Very glad to see original people on the TV screen, as a past back up singer for Gary, I have expierenced his music as informative, insightfull and refreshing. He speaks for Love and Free Will, Peace, Sheryl www.sherylclapton.net

katrina polaney
kpol361@aol.com
los angeles, california

i got a copy of this film pre-broadcast and it is literally the most amazing thing i have ever seen. i have heard a little bit about the whole song poem phenomenon, but this is the first time i have ever been exposed to its inner workings. i laughed my ass off, i cried a little bit, and i will watch it again when it appears on pbs. thank you so much, mister meltzer, whoever you are, and itvs for making this contribution to popular culture. is there a soundtrack available by any chance? i would pay hard cash for some of those songs.

Gary Forney
Cropcircleproductions@hotmail.com
LaPorte City, Iowa

How very nice of Sheryl Clapton to say she is former backup singer. Sheryl is very talented. A sound track album would be cool. I think that it might take a dozen CD's though as there is a ton of this music. I, also, have heard that several people were all thinking of "companion" CD's..etc. I have rights to my own songs and am thinking of just a little CD of my own stuff. Anyone interested can Email me. ( I am only in this songpoem stuff for the fame,money,women, etc. He said before rolling on floor laughing ) But, hey! It is cool that Songpoems are moving into the light. Who knows. Jamie told me he didn't think his film would change the world... He might be wrong!

Robb Bledsoe
Robb518@msn.com
Cahokia, IL

Gary Forney told me about this film. I can't wait to see it. Having worked with Gary on a few projects, and being a singer for a "song shark" company, I am waiting with baited breath to see how the industry is promoted.

Sir Caglar Juan Singletary
captbike@yahoo.com
Elmira, New York

I am signaturing this website and praise ELOHIM to all my fans and ELOHIM troopers equally loving Jehovah,bikes,ladies.Praise to Angeloria and karate I fly my sky-bike higher to find JESUS THE JUSTONE. CJS

ann wunderlich

berkeley

i'm a documentary fanatic and this is one of the best i've seen. the director did an amazing job of portraying all the characters. i can't stop singing "angelaria" and "caravan"!

anonymous coward

queens, ny

God bless these song-poets and this film! These compositions are a wonderful testament to the naÔve splendor of the American heart. To my mind, the only thing that could have improved this broadcast was if Angela Basset had performed an impromptu song-poem instead of delivering a stale reading of her cue card.

Terry Woodburn
twoodburn@imagina.com
Portland, Oregon

I was floored by this show. It made me smile, it made me cringe, yet as a songwriter, I felt empathy for every well intentioned stab at stardom, modest as it was, on the part of every person in the film. It is a brilliant and intimate look at a cultural slice that has (in some cases, fortunately) flown under the radar of modern culture. I would love to buy a copy of this film when it becomes available. Nice work.

Todd Robinson
trobinson@playgroundfilms.com
Portland OR

I turned on PBS about twenty minutes into the film, so I missed the initial set-up, but I couldn't take my eyes off the screen for the rest of it. I am a filmmaker, and I especially love documentaries, particularly those that focus on an obscure subject rich with character. I was laughing so hard during a couple of scenes, that my girlfriend came down to see what was going on, and watched the rest of the film with me. We both are excited about seeing it from the beginning at its next airing. Great film, Jamie!

H Clark

SF, CA

I was frustrated and chagrinned to find out that someone else had already had the idea of writing a song about 'Ginseng Digger'. I had that idea too and was composing a song of my own. It was very similar to the one presented in the film. My next song will be about about my favorite cereal, 'Crispy Hexagrains'. Peace to Caglar

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