If you are interested in donating an original song, please read this to understand how it will work:

• We can consider only songs where the rights to use it will be no issue. It has to be your song entirely, and you must agree to donate our use of it entirely to this cause. If your song is accepted, you will have to sign a release and be legally bound by it.

• Lyrically, we would prefer a song written specifically about the oil spill in the gulf – your thoughts and feelings about it. We’re all outraged and concerned. Put it in the song.

• If you’re serious, record your song and send me an mp3 at: bob@bobmargolin.com. Musicians learn the hard way never to deliver anything but your very best. Send your final mix, please. If your song is chosen to be used, we will ask you for a version to be sent in your best available resolution quality.

• We originally intended that this website would be up and running at least a month ago and now it’s too late to produce and manufacture a CD by the time of the September 26 jams. So for now, there is no deadline for accepting songs to consider. But for everyone’s benefit, receiving your song sooner than later would be helpful.

• We are open to consider all musical styles, though we’d prefer songs with a connection to Blues and this specific oil leak disaster. The “Blues” can be in the subject matter, if not your style of playing. A wide variety of musical styles will be an asset as well as for promoting this cause to lovers of all kinds of music.

• Probably, many more of you will want to contribute songs than we can put on one CD. As producer, I will be in the horrible position of having to choose between sincere, moving songs. I look forward to your music, I don’t look forward to evaluating and choosing. It is a dirty job, but I will do it. I will choose based on lyrical relevance to the BluesForTheGulf cause expressed with great singing and backing music. Of course a soulful instrumental that is not cute and fluffy would also be considered. Honestly, as in everything you do as a professional musician, “Marquee Value” will be relevant here too. If you are really so well-known that your name can help sell this CD for this cause, that will will help your song be selected for the CD. On the other hand, if your are a schoolkid with a sincere song and can record on your cell phone the most moving song ever about the oil spill, we’ll bump a star for you. Eat your heart out, Bob Dylan.

• If we produce a CD from some of the submissions, when the songs are chosen and if I survive the death threats of disgruntled geniuses, I will have to master the songs in a way that the songs of different artists with different styles and recorded separately can be listened to comfortably on the same CD. You’ll have to trust me not to compromise the sound of your song. But I have to keep the sound of the whole project as a primary concern.

• This isn’t “We Are The World” and probably none of you reading this are the super-stars that contributed to that. But that legendary “leave your ego at the door” sign applies here too. Anyone who wants to push me, pull me, snow me, bully me, or overdo any aspect of contributing a soulful song to a worthy cause, will be invited to my house to discuss your issues. And then be eaten by my hungry dogs and cats.

So, whatcha got?

Bob Margolin

mailto:Bob@BobMargolin.com

Please remember that Mr. Margolin is a musician, producer, and writer, and as such is a very busy man. Anyone submitting a song, please be patient. Bob will eventually hear it. And now, I hope you will all join us in sending our deep condolences on the loss of his friend. Here’s Bob: 

Calvin “Fuzz” Jones passed away early this morning at Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto in Southaven, Mississippi. His family is making funeral arrangements for Saturday in Mississippi. No more information on that yet, update soon.

Calvin “Fuzz” Jones is best known for the 10 years he played bass in Muddy Waters’ band, about 1970-’80. Previously, he had worked with Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter, and Elmore James. He was appreciated for his strong electric bass playing, rocking stage presence, deep Blues singing, and the friendly laugh and smile he had for all. 

Calvin had been living in Senatobia, MS for the last few years after decades in the Chicago area. Some of you receiving this e-mail were very kind to help him financially to stay in his apartment when he faced eviction in January. He appreciated that so deeply, understanding fully that the Blues music we all love had brought him your timely help. He had beat lung cancer, and in the late 1990’s he had a large tumor successfully removed from the back of his neck. Apparently the cancer came back in one lung and he developed pneumonia in the other and couldn’t breathe and was rushed to the hospital. He suffered a heart attack there, and though he was stabilized, his heart was weakened and gave out on him for the last time this morning. 

I visited him last Friday afternoon, and he was deeply sedated. I’m glad to have seen him one more time, but he didn’t know I was there. I think he was beyond medical recovery, and that his illness overtook his strength. He was 84 years old, and was enjoying his life as much as possible until very recently. He had a sincere good word for everyone, and his reaction to any kind of health, musical, or financial challenge was his hearty trademark laugh. I asked him how he could laugh so easily when life hurt him, and he said “When you laugh the world laughs with you, when you cry, you cry alone.” He brought us deep Chicago and Mississippi Blues on the bandstand and on recordings, and his Blues and love for his friends, family, and all of us are his legacy.

Sadly, Bob Margolin