WANT TO HAVE a GREAT MIDLIFE CRISIS?...LAUNCH a SECOND CAREER AS a SONGWRITER.

Forty-six year old James F. Curley hasnt quit his day-job yet, but hes getting lots of encouragement to do so based on the release of 'Toms Café, his self-published debut CD of original songs. Released in February 2003 as a CD and as digital content on various internet sites, the songs from 'Toms Café have generated great early response including an award from the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

Chicago, IL - August, 2003 - Forty-six year old James F. Curley hasnt quit his day-job yet, but hes getting lots of encouragement to do so based on the release of 'Toms Café, his self-published debut CD of original songs. Released in February 2003 as a CD and as digital content on various internet sites, the songs from 'Toms Café have generated great early response including an award from the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, placement on a specialty record label, interest from a booking agent for live performances, radio airplay in the USA and as far away as Ireland and Australia, and tens of thousands of 'listens on several music internet sites. And all this has happened without the benefit of a major record label.

I was pleased, but also very surprised by the reception some of the songs got", says Curley, whose regular gig is as a self-employed executive in the packaged foods industry. The song Flies was a total surprise", he said; I couldnt believe it finished in the John Lennon Songwriting finals the first time I ever entered the contest." Curley describes 'Flies as a cross-species gastronomy rag" and in addition to the Lennon honors, it was immediately picked up by Genius Records of San Diego for inclusion in a compilation of childrens music. I didnt write it as a childrens song, but its highly entertaining and its certainly kid-appropriate", says Curley; it also has placed regularly in the top ten lists on Broadjam.com and has received thousands of hits on MP3.com as well as some radio airplay."

In addition to 'Flies, several other songs have attracted attention. The title track, 'Toms Café -- a nostalgic ballad about a tavern in Curleys native South Philadelphia -- has received significant airplay on some Folk/Roots/Americana radio stations in the U.S. (but not in Chicago or Philadelphia) as well as in Ireland, Australia, Germany and the US Virgin Islands. I attended a conference in Nashville called The International Folk Alliance; played the CD for some DJs who enjoy singer-songwriter music and wound up getting played right away in some pretty surprising places," says Curley. I probably wouldnt have known except the DJs publish their playlists on several online sites and I was able to track the airplay", he said. Other songs from the CD that have received airplay are 'Western Avenue, 'Time I Broke Your Heart and 'I Jumped Bail.

Not being attached to a regular record label, Mr. Curley has used the internet for promotion and distribution, finding it highly efficient and very effective. Ive done 90% of the promotion via the web", says Curley; including entering songwriting contests by uploading MP3 files, attracting the interest of listeners and radio people, and directing fans to CD Baby.com to purchase the CD. Its really an amazing time to be recording and distributing music as an independent artist because of the digital revolution."

Due to this computer-age exposure, Mr. Curley is now negotiating with a booking agent who heard the music and is interested in assisting him in the development of the live performance segment of his new career. While he doesnt anticipate playing the Kennedy Center anytime soon, more frequent performance could boost his visibility and make internet promotion even more effective.

And what about income from this second career? Between online CD sales and those at live performances, Ive already broken even, including the recording costs", says Curley; and the momentum is just beginning to build, so Im hopeful I can turn the corner, so to speak, and begin to generate real income. I wouldnt mind 'retiring into a career as a full time songwriter by age 50 or so. Im planning on recording a second CD later this year to continue the process and increase awareness of my songs. So all in all, its been a pretty rewarding midlife crisis so far." Indeed.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND A COMPLIMENTARY MEDIA COPY OF THE CD:

James F. Curley
Sidewalking Crab Records/Bicameral Music
773-205-1914 phone
773-205-1916 fax
www.jamescurley.net