Organ music and hockey just go together.
James Witherite — jazz organist, play-by-play commentator for the University of Delaware hockey teams, sometimes on-ice official, sometimes AHL anthem singer, sometimes PA announcer, and yes, sometimes hockey organist — here.
If you're a hockey fan, you know you know that organ music is the perfect soundtrack to the game.
If you've played, coached or officiated the game, you know first hand that there's something about a live organist that gets you just that more amped up for the next shift.
Don't believe me? Have a listen below.
As you can probably guess, live organists at sporting events aren't exactly commonplace anymore. But, in the past two years, I've had the good fortune to bring the classic vibe to countless Philadelphia Jr. Flyers (EHL) games, the 2019 College Hockey Mid-America tournament, and the 2020 Atlantic Youth Hockey League and Collegiate Hockey Federation playoffs. Through this project, once complete, I can help bring that same "game day experience" to your club, school or college — or even beer league team — from the opening strains of the American and Canadian national anthems all the way to the final horn.
Expected Costs
While I will arrange, perform, engineer and produce the entirety of this record — and thus not have to pay for studio time or an engineer — there's still considerable cost involved in a product of this scope. Most of that cost can be attributed to two elements:
• Mechanical licensing. For every song that does not exist in the public domain ("Lady of Spain," anyone?), I must pay the owners of that song 9.1¢ per unit produced for the right to record their song. And, let's face it: people want to hear popular music a heckuva lot more than original bebop and Latin jazz at sporting events.
So, if I print 500 copies of this record, that's $45.50 per song right there. Needless to say, it adds up.
• Replication. Pressing CDs and USB drives costs money, too, from production of glass masters to printing sleeves and liners.
What You (and your team!) Will Get
Not only am I no stranger to the hockey rink, but I'm no stranger to the studio and the radio airwaves, either. I've recorded three albums of original music in the last decade, one with a 17-piece big band and two with my Pittsburgh-based organ trio. This record will be a massive departure from those before it, though, as it is geared specifically toward sports teams and arena DJs to bolster their game-day playlists.
Once the project is complete, you will have a high-quality record (in CD or USB drive form) featuring stirring renditions of both the American and Canadian national anthems, a number of traditional "crowd chants," and a wide variety of popular songs — from classic rock to R&B and beyond — reimagined in the hockey organ vein. The playlist will offer something for every situation (yes, net-front dustups, too!) and every generation, and will be sure to evoke the "classic hockey feel" for players and spectators alike.
Why Not Just Put It All On iTunes?
American copyright law as it pertains to recorded music is still pretty archaic, to be honest. For an independent artist like myself, who doesn't have the aid of record label staff to dot every i and cross every t, mechanical licensing for digital downloads is ... well, eep. Suffice it to say that it's downright cumbersome. As such, for a project so driven by non-original music, keeping it to CD and USB drive forms will do a lot to simplify the production and bookkeeping processes.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you can't contribute — or don't have any direct ties to any hockey teams, that's OK! Here's how you can still help:
Share this campaign with friends who play (or have kids who play) hockey
Follow my social media networks: Facebook | Twitter
Thank you so much for your support!
