FMP's News

United Breaks Guitars Song 3 - "United We Stand" on the Right Side of Right

2010-03-08T19:53:00.000-03:00

Music co-produced by Dave Carroll and Scott Ferguson at Ferguson Music Productions.

United Breaks Guitars breaks My Career! Check out my solo abum "Perfect Blue" and whats next for Dave at www.davecarrollmusic.com Don't miss Gerry's Grant Rant Interview with Dave at http://tinyurl.com/yztq5o6

ECMA's 2010 Nominations are in!

2009-12-09T21:37:00.000-03:00

The 2010 East Coast Music Awards nominations are in! Here are the projects that FMP is involved with.

Scott Ferguson: Producer of the year nomination

Scott Ferguson: Engineer of the year

Ferguson Music Productions: Studio of the year

Kim Wempe: Female Recording and Rising Star

Dave Carroll: Entertainer of the year

United Breaks Guitars Song 2

2009-08-20T22:44:00.000-03:00

The saga continues

On Tuesday August 5 we reconvened at the field behind the Station 41 fire department in Waverley NS to shoot the second video in the trilogy, United Breaks Guitars: Song 2. Once again, everyone volunteered their time and talent to produce an outstanding video; however, Song 2 was a much bigger production than United Breaks Guitars. In addition to the main roles, we had nearly 100 extras in the cast and in order to say everything we wanted to say with the video, we required a broken guitar, an imitation broken guitar, a 40 foot high scissor lift, a limousine (complete with secret service agents), one genuine imitation space capsule, a space suit, a tuba, 3 suits of German Lederhosen, a canoe, one white panel van and a woman willing to wear tights and a big dollar sign.

United Breaks Guitars

2009-07-08T18:48:00.000-03:00

Congratulations to Dave Carroll (Sons of Maxwell) For getting the #1 music video in Canada on Youtube today. This projects was co-engineered by Dave Carrol, Scott Ferguson and Jamie Robinson, mixed and mastered at Ferguson Music Productions by Scott Ferguson who also performed the drums.

Watch on YouTube

Read Full Story

FMP on The Wall Street Journal

2009-02-05T21:34:00.000-03:00

EASHA ANAND

HALIFAX, Canada -- It is here, in a cluttered mathematician's office, under blackboards jammed with equations and functional analysis, that one of Western culture's greatest mysteries has finally been solved: Why has no one been able to replicate the first chord in The Beatles' pop hit "A Hard Day's Night"?
Not stopping there, this sleuth is using math in his quest to answer an even more-elusive question, about the contested authorship of the Fab Four's "In My Life."

View Interactive

All You Need Is Math

See how Mr. Brown used math to figure out The Beatles' formula for success, listen to the clips he analyzed, and watch him perform his own Beatles-esque song.

"Whether they realize it or not, the best songwriters have always relied on mathematics," says Jason Brown, a mathematician who is tackling such puzzlers in between chairing the math department at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and playing his own Beatles-esque songs.
Since the 1960s, Beatles aficionados have pored over the group's recordings and memorabilia in search of answers to questions about both their music and their lives. An as-yet-unpublished Beatles track Paul McCartney recently mentioned made headlines internationally. Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn, who is working on a trilogy about the British rock group, examined church records to find the precise day that John Lennon met Mr. McCartney.
Now Mr. Brown, 47 years old, is revisiting these questions from another angle. His approach is sparking controversy among fans who believe the band's mystique defies calculation. An article by Mr. Brown on his research published in Guitar Player magazine three years ago spawned heated discussions in both the math and music blogospheres.
"Some people thought what he was doing was sacrilegious," says Matt Blackett, an associate editor at Guitar Player. "As a fellow Beatles fanatic, I just thought it was awesome."
A spokesman for Mr. McCartney said he was unavailable and other former group members didn't respond to request for comment. Generally, the group has been evasive when faced with fans' efforts to dissect their work.
Growing up in the Toronto suburbs, Mr. Brown learned piano, but gave it up at age 12 for guitar, after hearing the Beatles' "Red Album," and becoming obsessed with the group. Like many Beatles fans, Mr. Brown was fascinated with the opening chord of "A Hard Day's Night." The chord has at least four sheet music variants, but nobody has ever quite replicated it, and the Beatles haven't revealed how they produced the complex sound. Mr. Brown said he spent hours experimenting before it occurred to him: "Music is basically just math."
It isn't surprising that Mr. Brown turned to mathematics. He talks about the lyrics of 1960s songwriter Randy Newman in terms of metamathematics. When he sees broccoli, he thinks of fractals, a concept in chaos theory. Piles of graph-theory tomes litter his office, and Greek letters and Roman numerals cover his chalkboard.
Mr. Brown realized he could use a discrete Fourier transform, a mathematical technique for breaking up complicated signals into simpler functions and known as DFT. He used digital equipment to show the chord as a series of numbers, tens of thousands per second, and then applied a DFT to convert the chord into dozens of simpler functions, each representing a single sound frequency.
Mr. Brown knew there is no such thing as a pure tone: Each instrument emits one sound for the note played and then sounds that are multiples of that note's frequency, as the string vibrates back on itself. Of his dozens of frequencies, some were background noise and some--the ones he wanted to ferret out--were the notes the Beatles struck.
The professor started making deductions. The loudest notes were likely Mr. McCartney's bass. The lowest had to be the original note played, since a string can generate waves along half or a third of its length, but not twice its length. But no matter how he divvied up the notes, something didn't fit.
It is well-documented that Mr. Harrison played a 12-string guitar for the recording of "A Hard Day's Night." For every guitar note played, there had to be another one octave higher, since his guitar strings were pressed down in pairs.
But three frequencies for an F note were left, none of which were an octave apart. Even if Mr. Brown assumed Mr. Lennon played one F note on his six-string guitar, Mr. Brown still had two unexplained frequencies.
After weeks of staring at six-decimal-place amplitude values, Mr. Brown suddenly remembered how, as a child, he used to stick his head inside his parents' grand piano to see how it worked. He ran to a nearby music shop, and poked his head inside the Yamahas there.
Sure enough, there were three strings under the F key, corresponding to the three sets of harmonics he had seen. Buried under the iconic guitar chord was a piano note.
Other problems have since yielded to Mr. Brown's mathematics. Fans have always marveled at Mr. Harrison's guitar solo in "A Hard Day's Night," a rapid-fire sequence of 1/16th notes, accompanied on piano, that seemed to require superhuman dexterity.

Christina Jeng/The Wall Street Journal

Jason Brown, chair of the math department at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Beatles fan.

Mr. Brown noticed that a piano is strung differently in its lower octaves, with two strings, rather than three, under each hammer. He saw only two frequencies for each piano note in the guitar solo, suggesting that the solo had been played one octave lower than the recorded version sounded. It had also been played at half-speed, he concluded, then sped up on tape to make the released version sound as if had been played faster and at a higher octave.
Mr. Brown's latest project is figuring out which Beatle wrote "In My Life." Both Messrs. Lennon and McCartney claim to have written the majority of the tune.
To settle the dispute, Mr. Brown is feeding hundreds of Beatles songs with known authorship into a computer program. In academia, his specialty is graph theory, which examines networks of points--called "nodes"--and arrows connecting them--known as "edges." In this problem, each chord in the Beatles canon is a node, and edges connect chords played in succession.
With a few dozen songs entered, the graphs are taking shape: Mr. Lennon's looks like a demented flower, with loops everywhere, representing his trademark repeated chords, while Mr. McCartney's is more freeform. When Mr. Brown is finished, he'll plug "In My Life" into his program and see which graph fits it better.
Meanwhile, Mr. Brown is applying his mathematical analysis to write his own Beatles-esque music. At the studio of sound engineer and drummer Scott Ferguson, Mr. Brown tunes up with bassist Alex Vaughan and vocalist Hal Bruce. Messrs. Ferguson and Bruce are professional Beatles "celebrators" (they prefer the term to "impersonator"), and the four are united by their love of the British band. Sketches of Mr. Lennon adorn the studio, and the musicians refer to the Fab Four as if they are old friends. "Paul was just so melodic," sighs Mr. Bruce.

The band launches in on "A Million Whys,'' a song Mr. Brown mathematically designed to sound like a Beatles tune. Mr. Brown croons into a studio mic, black Reeboks tapping.
Afterward, the group dissects the track. "I'm clashing with something or other," says Mr. Ferguson. Though Mr. Brown wrote the song based on formula, the musicians refine it based on their musical instinct.
Jim Vallance, who has written songs for Tina Turner and Aerosmith, says that's proof that some facets of music defy equations. "Scientists have discovered everything about Stradivarius' violins: the wood density, the varnish, the glue," he says. "But no one has been able to replicate the 'sound.' Same with the Beatles. You can't measure heart and soul."
Other Beatles fans describe Mr. Brown's research as a fancy way of packaging what they already know. Walt Everett, author of "The Beatles as Musicians," dismisses Mr. Brown's findings about the piano notes in the opening chord of "A Hard Day's Night,'' saying he had already noticed the piano presence.
Mr. Brown stands by his approach. "Everyone thinks they've analyzed a chord, but they don't agree," he says. "You can't argue with the math."

Write to

Easha Anand at

easha.anand@wsj.com

ECMA's 09

2009-01-13T22:03:00.000-03:00

We have 2 nominees this year best of luck!

Maria Alley (NS)
- Children’s Recording of the Year (Nature’s Lullaby)

Ryan Cook (NS)
- Country Recording of the Year (Hot Times)

ECMA nominations are starting to come in.

2007-12-19T10:38:00.000-03:00

Great news! Ian Sherwood CD has been nominated for 2 ECMAs - CBC Galaxie Rising Star Recording Of The Year
and Pop Rock Recording of the Year.

The Rodeo Idol and Song Search 2007!!

2007-10-04T20:28:00.000-03:00

The Rodeo Idol and Song Search 2007!!
Starting Sept 19
A 10 week singing contest and an eight week songwriter’s competition  (One individual may enter both facets of the contest)
A two part contest
One Huge Grand Prize!! A Music Industry Ready Package
A Professional media make over A Media Specialty Photo Shoot  Mentoring Music Industry meetings One year Artist Memberships with ECMA and Music NS Electronic Press Kit
A Professional Produced Radio Single with the possiblility of National Distribution to over 200 Canadian Country Music radio stations
 A GRAND PRIZE Valued at over $4800.00 and growing…
There will also be an eight song compilation CD professionally produced of the top 5 singers and top 3 songwriters.
Each week the name(s) of the contestant that will not be continuing in the contesting will be removed from the artists listed below.

To All Rodeo Idol & Song Search 2007
We at The Rodeo want all participants to know how much your energy, efforts, talents and gifts are appreciated!!
Thank you for being an integral part of this contest. For however long you are with us in the contest, it is our hopes that you enjoy yourselves, feel at home, have fun with old friends and some new ones, and make memories and beautiful music!!
 
Singers

Carrie Turner
Gerry McDougal
Song Writers

Joe Dorion
Dawn Miller
Ed Grant
Matt Irving
Nick Taylor
Jeannie Read
Craig Peacock
Singer Songwriters

Melinda Crowe

Mandy Atkinson

Mike Bruce

Rose Mary Boute

Mandy Lyons

Paul Mills

Tony McDow

Darlene MacNeil

Danny Holloway

Troy Bernard

Ryan Cook

Jolene Keats

Sharlene Loveless

Grand Prize Sponsors

Music and Industry Nominations NSMW 2007 Music Awards Nominations

2007-10-04T20:22:00.000-03:00

Country Artist/Recording of the Year Rylee Madison – Me & Cinderella Jesse Beck – Back from Nowhere Emma Lee – The Reason Ryan Cook – Sunny Acres 

Audra Raulyns – All That

Inspirational Artist/Recording of the Year Chelsea Nisbett – New Beginnings Southwind – Last Chance 

Elizabeth Deveau – Living Waters

 Emma Lee – The Reason Through His Grace – On That Day

Elizabeth Deveau wins 2 Maja Awards

2007-08-30T20:35:00.000-03:00

Winner of 2 Canadian Gospel Music Maja Awards!

I wanted to provide everyone with an update, and let you know that I had the extreme honour of receiving two Canadian Gospel Music Maja Awards, held in Toronto on Saturday evening, August 25

. Awards received were for categories of Southern Gospel Performer as well as the most prestigious award of the evening…the “People’s Choice Artiste of the Year”.

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who have been so supportive of my music and ministry and took the time to cast their votes. I was told that I received thousands of votes from all over the world, including New Zealand,Australia, UK, Europe & United States. It is humbling and I am still very much in awe, of receiving such an outpouring of affirmation. It is truly a blessing!

For those who have been asking, the Maja Awards are apparently scheduled to be televised on Prime Time VISION Television on September 16

Again…thanks so very much to each and everyone for their support!

In His Service…

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Deveau

Deveau Christian Music Ministries

902-470-7670

902-835-8782

e-mail:

elizabeth.deveau@nshealth.ca

deveauministries@eastlink.ca

The Rain CD soon to be released

2007-08-21T21:17:00.000-03:00

Scott Ferguson - co-engineered , co-mixed and mastered
Drums

Elizabeth Deveau in the 2007 MAJA AWARDS GOSPEL STAR FINALISTS AND RECORDING NOMINEES:

2007-08-21T21:13:00.000-03:00

Elizabeth Deveau - 4 national maja award nominations.

007 MAJA AWARDS GOSPEL STAR FINALISTS AND RECORDING NOMINEES:

[1] GOSPEL STARS
[2] JUNIOR GOSPEL STARS

Kenisha Martin
Crystal Jacquet
Chosen Vessels
Inhabitants of Praise
Enrique Guerra
Peter Valle
Angelica Sagastume
Lexi-Ann Figaro
Shawn Lee-Spencer
Trecia Pryce
Wayne Walrond
L.Y.N.C. (Living Your Name Christ)
Visionero and Adriel

Kayla McLean
Denique Rose
The Bowen's Quartet (Philip, Krystyne, Shenika, Othniel)
Kenisha Johnson-Brown
Janelle Adriana Oscar

[3] NOMINATIONS IN THE RECORDING CATEGORY

MALE ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

 Jim Drakopoulos Rob Berg  Rohan " Cowboy" Grant Andrew Martin Junior Smith Carl Merenick

FEMALE ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

 Nana McLean Marlene O'Neill Lauren Dally Lisa Adrianne Paulis Sanchez Elizabeth Deveau

DUO GROUP OF THE YEAR

 Church Boyz Brian Clark 'n' Friends Trinity Drive 

SOUTHERN GOSPEL PERFORMER OF THE YEAR

 Marlene O'Neill Rohan "Cowboy" Grant Lauren Dally Andrew Martin Elizabeth Deveau Junior Smith

YOUNG PERFORMER OF THE YEAR

 Laura Higgs  Church Boyz Trinity Drive Lisa Adrianne

CULTRAL PERFORMER OF THE YEAR

 Ronny Juarez Henry Sanchez Alon Morales Sean Spicer

BEST INSPIRATIONAL/PRAISE & WORSHIP RECORDING

 "The Beautiful Piano" - Artiste: Debbie Fortnum "New Every Morning" - Artiste: Jim Drakopoulos "Cary On" - Lisa Adrianne "Sweet Anointing" - Katina Balascas "Generations" - Marlene O'Neill

BEST REGGAE OR SOCA PERFORMER

 Aileen Bennett Fitz Aran Sevia Nana McLean Brian Clarke 'n' Friends

LATIN PERFORMER OF THE YEAR

 Henry Sanchez Alon Morales Paulis Sanchez Sean Spicer Ronny Juarez

NEW ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

 Lauren Dally Andrew Martin Paulis Sanchez Trinity Drive Lisa Adrianne Robert Chambers

BEST URBAN GOSPEL PERFORMER

 Robert Chambers Church Boyz Aileen Bennett

ALTERNATIVE/ROCK RECORDING OF THE YEAR

 Title: "Quiero Marte" by Alan Morales Title: "New Every Morning" by Jim Drakopoulos Title: "Images of Evergreen" by Trinity Drive Title: "Reflections of You" by Sean Spicer

FAVOURITE MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

 Title: "What would you do/ B.boy Stance" by Malichi Title:"POSING" - ALBUM: Life On Purpose by Rob Berg

BEST INSTRUMENTAL RECORDING

 Title: " The Beautiful Piano" by Debbie Fortnum Title: " Inside of Me" by Carl Merenike Title: " Joyful Sound" by Pape Ave Brass Title: " Reflections of You" by Sean Spicer Title: " Interpretations" by Robert Chambers

CONTEMPORARY GOSPEL RECORDING OF THE YEAR

 Title: "Take Away the Stone" by Elizabeth Deveau Title: "Sweet Remembering" by Laura Higgs  Title: "Life on Purpose" by Rob Berg

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR

 Revivaltime Tabernacle - ("Caribbean Concert Series with Papa San, Chevelle Franklyn, and Keron Ennis")  House of Levi - ("Donnie McClurkin and CeCe Winans live at the Hershey Centre")  Emmanuel Promotions/Karian Christian Supplies - ("Tye Tribbett Live")  Silver-lining Promotions - ("Judy Mowatt Live at Praise Cathedral")

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

 Carmon Barry and Oswald Burke - (Album: "Generations" by Marlene O'Neill)  Chris Janz and Rob Berg - (Album: "Life on Purpose" by Rob Berg)  Nana McLean - (Album: "Breakthrough" by Nana McLean)  Rawle Alcide - (Album: "New Every Morning" by Jim Drakopoulos)  Roger A Ryan, Maurice J Rogers, Terry "Mad Scientist" Thomas, Maurice M O Henderson, Sean Simmonds, and Kelvin Wooten - (Album: Seguro Enti by Paulis Sanchez)

SONG OF THE YEAR

 Title: "Captivated" by Lisa Adrianne Title: "Released" by Lauren Dally Title: "Take Away the Stone" by Elizabeth Deveau Title: "I Have A Dream" by Nana McLean

ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

 Nana McLean Jim Drakopoulos Rob Berg Paulis Sanchez Brian Clarke 'n' Friends

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

 Title: "Life on Purpose" by Rob Berg Title: "Seguro Enti" by Paulis Sanchez Title: "New Every Morning" by Jim Drakopoulos  Title: "Highest Praise" by Brian Clarke 'n' Friends Title: "Breakthrough" by Nana McLean

INTERNATIONAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

 Roger Samuels (UK) Papa San (Jamaica/USA) Tye Tribbett (USA) Martha Munizzi (USA) Trinitee 5:7 (USA) Sean Daniels (Trinidad and Tobago)

Ian Shearwood newest CD: The Art of Conversation

2007-08-21T21:09:00.000-03:00

Scott Ferguson: Co-produced, Recorded, Mixed and Mastered, Drums, percussion
-assisted by Adam Smith

Ian Sherwood get international recognition.

2007-06-05T19:26:00.000-03:00

Quoted from Ian's website.

Hi folks Well, big news. I've just been named the grand prize winner of the California-based

West Coast Songwriters' International Song Contest

(it's a mouthful, but what an honour!). "

Foolin' You

" took the prize in the singer/songwriter category along with the blue ribbon for the whole contest, while "

Dixieland Dirt Bovine

" made me proud as well by winning first in it's category (miscellaneous) and bringing me home the seventh place prize. It's a pretty great day. I'm into the scotch. Unfortunately, I can't hit it too hard tonight because I'm back in the studio tomorrow doing the final mix of the next album "Art Of Conversation". We're releasing that this summer so keep an eye out for us!

Tony MacDonald

2007-06-05T19:24:00.000-03:00

"Lucy Gordon" is the first single off the "Still in the Harbour" CD is in commemortaion of our fallen soliders on D-Day

Brite-Vu at FMP

2007-03-26T17:47:00.000-03:00

Robb Medwid Lead vocals,Guitar
Jamie Bowlan Drums,percussion
Mark Sandberg Vocals,Guitar
Sean d'Apollonia Bass

About Brite-VU
Well it looks like we will have a 9 song album out of all this. We felt that with this project that the music was leaning towards more radio friendly songs which is a good accomplishment for us. So looks like the single "Side of the road" will be the first release.. With others to follow.Most of all the tracking is complete which means another day in studio and mastering time and then we will be on our way to completion. Like to thank everyone for there support through one of the greatest times of recording and finally proving who we really are... Mar 11/07

FMP on MySpace

2007-03-26T17:39:00.000-03:00

Come visit Ferguson Music Productions on MySpace. You can see FMP's friends and listen to some of our latest music. Hope to see you there. and add us to your friend list.

Eileen Joyce 2007 ECMA Nominee

2007-01-25T17:26:00.000-03:00

Mark Cameron CD Release Party

2007-01-25T17:21:00.000-03:00

Mark Cameron, Scott Ferguson and their wives enjoying them selves at Marks CD releases party.

Mark Cameron
Album: Get Er Done

Produced by: Scott Ferguson
Recorded, Mixed, Mastered by: Scott Ferguson at Ferguson Music Productions
Assisted by: Adam Smith

Audra Raulyns review on Counrty Music News

2007-01-18T20:09:00.000-03:00

Mark Cameron CD "Get Er Done is out!

2006-12-24T18:34:00.000-03:00

Well the day is finally here, from the moment I decided to enter my first singing contest until now....writing , producing and completing a full length, original CD. I couldn't begin to tell you what an experience it has been. Thanks to everyone involved for your ongoing support and encouragement.

The CD - "Get Er Done" was released on December 1, 2006, almost one full year after winning the title of " The Best of the Best" @ The Rodeo Lounge. All I can say is ," Its been quite a ride." When I think that 2 songs, out of the 10 on this project, have already been charted in the top 20 in Nova Scotia I am both honored and humbled. Things like this just don't happen without great people and great support.

ECMA's Nominees are in!!!

2006-12-12T18:55:00.000-03:00

The East Coast Music Association give FMP's Artist some nominations.

ECMA Industry Nominee Technician / Engineer of the Year
Scott Ferguson

Blues Recording of the Year /
Bluesman (Eileen Joyce)
Eileen Joyce CD Cover
Eileen Joyce
Album: Bluesman

Recorded, Mixed, Mastered By: Scott Ferguson at Ferguson Music Productions
Engineered By: Scott Ferguson

Bluegrass Recording of the Year /
Petals From The Roses (Birchmountain Band)
Birch Mountain Cd Cover
Birch Mountain
Album: Petals from the Roses
Produced By: John Gracie & Larry P. Boutilier

Recording Engineer: Scott Ferguson, Assistant Engineer: Adam Smith
Mixed By: Scott Ferguson, John Gracie, Larry P. Boutilier
Mastered By: Scott Ferguson
Drums and Percussion: Scott Ferguson

Another FMP's artist award winner!

2006-11-19T11:36:00.000-03:00

Nova Scotia Music Award Winners
Country/Bluegrass Recording - JD Clarke (All That Matters)

Album: All That Matters

'All That Matters' is an album made up of great up-beat driving tunes
as well as some heartfelt ballads. The sound is very mainstream country with some possible
cross-over potential. The album in it’s entirety is very accessible to everyone of every genre
and has a little bit of everything in it, but all is from the heart. From the very earthy sound of
Backyard Swing to the driving back beat of The Only One, the cd flows with a vein that runs
through each and every song that defines JD’s sound and style as a singer/songwriter. Loaded with
melodies and spin tingling harmonies each song has a life of it’s own.

Nova Scotia Music Award Winners
Country/Bluegrass Recording - JD Clarke (All That Matters)

FMP's Clients nominated for Mians awards

2006-09-28T22:22:00.000-03:00

Music Nova Scotia is pleased to announce the 2006 Music Award Nominees

Entertainer Of The Year
Charlie A'Court

Country/Bluegrass Recording Of The Year
JD Clarke - All That Matters

Pop/Rock Recording Of The Year
Ian Sherwood - S/T

Audra Raylns CD Release Party

2006-09-28T22:12:00.000-03:00

Audra Raulyns is one of our October feature Clients. Her CD Release party and concert will be taking place at The Rodeo Lounge 121 Ilsley Ave. Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Oct 5/06 8:00.
The cover is suggested at $5 and donated towards the Nova Scotia Silent Witness program.
Just Wear Your Jeans!!!