Reggie Watts, known for his improvised musical sets created using only his voice, a keyboard, and a looping machine, refers to himself as a “disinformationist” who aims to disorient his audience in a comedic fashion. Continue reading
Many musicians don’t know enough about “new media” and musicians’ income. In the video below, learn all about it from Kim Roberts Hedgpeth, the executive director of the Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund.
Click here for the full-length podcast (44:24), or view the highlights video (4:05) here.
The musical experience of multi-disciplinary artist William Roper ranges from the symphony stage to free-improvisation groups. He has toured Europe, North and South America, and Japan as a soloist and with ensembles. His musicianship is represented on over 60 recordings, including 12 as leader and co-leader. He has played or recorded with numerous artists and ensembles including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Elton John, Leon Russell, Yusef Lateef, Michiyo Yagi, James Newton, Bobby Bradford, Francis Wong, Horace Tapscott, Anthony Braxton, Douglas Ewart, Daisuke Fuwa, Michael Vlatkovich, Vinny Golia, Wadada Leo Smith, Tim McGraw, Glenn Horiuchi and many others. In addition, he has played on several major motion picture soundtracks. Continue reading
AFM Local 47 musicians once played a featured role in Hollywood’s biggest night at the 95th Annual Academy Awards. Rehearsals and pre-records were held at Evergreen Studios in Burbank in preparation for the Oscars awards ceremony that took place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on March 12, 2023.
Many thanks to harpist Gayle Levant for sharing these exclusive behind-the-scenes photos from the rehearsals and live event!
View the musicians roster here: 95th Annual Academy Awards Orchestra
Gayle Levant (harp)
After a two-year hiatus, the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor was able to host the 2023 Annual MLK Breakfast live and in person, with all of the movement’s greats in one place, at the Intercontinental Hotel in downtown Los Angeles on January 14. Continue reading
Singer, record producer and songwriter Raphael Saadiq has produced tracks for a number of R&B heavyweights, such as Mary J. Blige and John Legend, as well as releasing a number of critically-acclaimed records, both as a member of Tony! Toni! Toné! and as a solo artist.
Listen to our #AFM47 Raphael Saadiq Playlist on Spotify Continue reading
Congratulations to everyone whose work can be heard on these GRAMMY-nominated tracks and albums, recorded under AFM union contracts filed with AFM Local 47! (2/7/2023: List updated w/ winners)
Violinist and bandleader Babe Egan was a vaudeville superstar. In 1929, she was one of the highest paid women in vaudeville, earning $50,000 that year (equivalent to $880,000 today). She performed for tens of millions of theatergoers in the U.S., coast-to-coast, in Canada, and in Europe, and her band was regularly featured on radio. Continue reading
Red Hot Chili Peppers Heat Up the Charts With Two #1 Records in the Same Year
Beloved SoCal rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers were on fire in 2022! Helmed by frontman Anthony Kiedis, AFM Local 47 members Michael “Flea” Balzary (bass), Chad Smith (drums) and John Frusciante (guitar) released 12th album “Unlimited Love,” which notably marked the return of Frusciante, who left the band in 2009 and rejoined in 2019. The first single, “Black Summer,” became the Peppers’ 14th number-one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart, and the album debuted at number one in 16 countries, including the United States. Continue reading
On Dec. 14, 2022, striking UAW academic workers at UCLA saw an impressive display of support at a morning rally, where LA County Federation of Labor President Yvonne Wheeler delivered words of encouragement, and union activist Tom Morello performed his signature protest songs. Continue reading