History of The Minnesota Songwriters Association
Founded in 1979 by John Bennett The Minnesota Songwriters Association was born. In the following year between 1980 and 1984 we conducted Songwriter Showcases every month at the Extempore Coffeehouse near the West Bank of the U of M campus on Cedar Ave in Minneapolis. These were well run Songwriter Showcases on a stage complete with a M.C. for the evening. Many of the songwriters got their first performing experience there and credit MSA for encouraging them to perform their original songs live onstage. We had taped each performance on an old reel to reel tape recorder. These tapes have recently been discovered and transferred to digital CDs which will be on loan to anyone who wants to listen to them [but not for distribution.] I have also discovered the “Lost Unreleased MSA Album” with some of our finest songwriters back then which was professionally recorded in various studios around the cities. If anyone should know where any of these people are I’d appreciate if you could let them know about this announcement. Contact: John Bennett at promotions@macsmn.org
Here is a list of the artists and the unreleased MSA album:
MSA 1984 “LOST” ALBUM:
Vic Campbell Stallions
Jim Hall The Hawk Descends upon the City
Thea Ennen Wind Come
Larry Havluck Marcelle Arms
Lorenzo Latanzi Powerlines Across the Prairie
Brett Gadbois The Last time I Danced in Bismark
Dave Larson Have I Stopped Changing
Alfred Sage Driven
Barbara Hubbard Jenna
SONGWRITERS SHOWCASES 1980-84 AT THE EXTEMPORE COFFEEHOUSE
Jon Vezner Grammy and CMA winner best song of year
Kathy Peterson
Brett Gadbois
Patrice Kersting
Scott Stroot & Roger Nelson
Dan Bedrock
Jim Sherbert
Jim Bohen
Jeff Knutson
Mike Wisniewck
Warren King
Even Marshall
Jill Holly
Jorham Simms
Dan Koopmans
Tom Elliot
Mary Keally
Phyliss Goldman & Wanda Brown
John Bennett
Steve Boyce
Lisa Briones
Pete Ames
Jim Ralston
Vic Campell
Thea Ennen
Mathew Lamphere
Linda Heyne
Fawn
