[FM] McCawley Burke and The Visionaries

[Tony Lombrdi]

Hi all - wanted to share a recent article on Singer Songwriter McCawley Burke
and his newest projects with the visionaries. many of you have submitted
music for consideraiton and we want to thank you for this - Some artists
music will be included in segments which have been recently been produced
and there are more on the way - If you are interested in having your music
added for consideration please email McCawley at The Visionaries at:
bardbrain@yahoo.com.
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thanks for your interest and the opportunity to post here -
Tone Lombardi
Reasonable Management Group
lombardi@tiac.net
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McCawley Burke's 'Vision'
Singer-songwriter provides the music for 'positive television'
By BILL O'NEILL
LIFESTYLE EDITOR
CAPE COD TIMES 1,27,2000

    Three years ago, McCawley Burke's main stage was one corner of the
Prodigal Son coffeehouse in Hyannis, where, as host of a weekly open-mike
show, he'd perform a couple songs for a few dozen people.
 Today, he's got a new "stage," and it's one that could bring him before
millions of people.
 Burke is host of a new television series called "The Visionaries Journal,"
a magazine-style show that will be cablecast around the country starting in
February. An offshoot of the public-television documentary series "The
Visionaries," "Journal" will also be available for download on the Internet.
 The creators of the two programs say their mission is to focus on "the
positive contributions of people all over the world who are dedicated to
service to humanity." Since 1995, executive producer Bill Mosher of Pocasset
and his crew have made 49 half-hour "Visionaries" episodes, each one telling
the tale of a nonprofit organization, shedding light on ordinary people
doing extraordinary things.
 Among the groups covered in last season's episodes were Christian
Solidarity International, which buys the freedom of slaves in the Sudan; the
Student Conservation Association, the largest provider of community service
opportunities in conservation; and Boys Hope, Girls Hope, a group that aids
abused, neglected and impoverished children. "Journal" will offer shorter
looks at similar groups, three per half-hour episode.
 "It's positive television," says Burke.


Emotion-packed songs In addition to hosting "Journal," Burke serves as music
director for the two shows. He was recruited after a "Visionaries" producer
caught one of his performances about a year ago. The position allows the
Onset resident a chance to share the spotlight with some of the
singer-songwriters he once played with on the coffeehouse circuit.
 Past episodes of "Visionaries" have used songs by the Indigo Girls, Jewel
and Tracy Chapman, but Burke is now building a library of music by
independent performers.
 "We're looking for songs with emotion-packed imagery," says Burke. "We're
looking for both instrumental pieces and singer-songwriter type songs. I'm
soliciting artists through the Net and mailing lists, any way we can find
them."
 In the pilot episode of "Journal," Burke plays the theme music on his
guitar and provides verbal and musical bridges between segments. Future
episodes will feature the music of up-and-coming performers from New England
and around the country.
 "The music is an essential part of the show," says Burke. "It provides a
lift to each segment."
 "Visionaries" and "Journal" could also provide a boost to Burke's career -
not that he wasn't already making a mark in the music industry. The Boston
folk station WUMB-FM named his "Poor Man's Kingdom" one of the best debut
CDs of 1997. Burke was a finalist in 1997 and 1999 in the prestigious
"Newfolk" competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas; past
finalists include Nanci Griffith, Lyle Lovett, Lucinda Williams and Steve
Earle.
 "I'm writing songs for many episodes," he says. "It's definitely a new
platform. I think it'll bring my exposure level way up. They're very
supportive of my music career. I'll continue to go out and do concerts.
We'll be scratching each other's backs."
 Music used in the shows will be recorded on a compilation CD that will be
sold internationally through the nonprofits that the Visionaries team works
with - groups that have mailing lists totaling 300 million names. The groups
can use the CDs as a fund-raiser, and the international distribution of the
CDs will provide up-and-coming musicians the opportunity to greatly broaden
their name recognition.


A unifying tool The seventh season of "Visionaries" shows is now in
production for airing on PBS stations in April. Actor Sam Waterston, star of
"I'll Fly Away" and "Law & Order," hosts the series.
 "Journal" episodes will include abbreviated versions of past "Visionaries"
documentaries, along with some original segments. In addition to placing the
show on a Web site (www.visionaries.org), the show will be used as a tool to
unite local-access cable stations around the country.
 Mosher plans to distribute episodes of "Journal" to the stations for
cablecasting at the same time. Each station can replace one segment of an
episode with a locally produced segment about an organization in the
station's area. The local segments can then be submitted for consideration
for national use.
 "Many people want to use television as an instrument of local service, but
their opportunity for growth is limited," says Mosher. "The Visionaries
Community Access Network is the embodiment of thinking globally and acting
locally."
 Musicians who would like to submit songs for "The Visionaries" should send
two copies (on CD or DAT) with a lyric sheet and phone number to The
Visionaries, c/o McCawley Burke, 141 Wood Road, Braintree, MA 02184.

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