Last few days for registration for the Durango Songwriters Expo! It will be held in BROOMFIELD at the Omni Interlocken Hotel & Resort, 500 Interlocken Boulevard, October 2nd thru 4th. Get signed up now as there are only a few spots open. Limit is 200. Https://www.durango-songwriters-expo.com
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G Brown was unable to speak at our meeting this past Monday due to a family medical emergency. He sends his sincerest apologies, has rescheduled for Monday, October 20th, and promises to make his talk even better!!! Please put that date on your calendar now. (We spent the meeting getting to know our attendees, where their next shows are and the venues, and attendee Ms. Christen McFarland of the Grammys told us a little about the upcoming awards and that they are scheduled for Sunday, February 1st, 2026. https://www.recordingacademy.com/)
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Congratulations to Jessica Sanchez for Winning America’s Got Talent! She was on 20 years ago when she was just 9 and also came in second on American Idol in 2012 (after Phillip Phillips). She is expecting her first baby, a girl, any day now but she persevered and just blew everyone away with her fabulous voice and sweet, humble personality!
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Quick note: Chuck Morris let us know that John Ruby has passed. Mr. Ruby worked for years for Feyline and was a valuable staff member. We are saddened to hear this news. More under “Notable Musicians Deaths”
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Our Vice-President Dr. Annette Cannon reminded us that this is National Suicide Prevention Month. I had a couple of friends who committed suicide whose loss affected everyone who knew them for the rest of their lives. I still think of Jackie & Ted every day and wonder what heights they would have attained if they had lived. Please get help if you’re feeling that way. And check out the article written by Darren Hayes of Savage Garden detailing how he came close to committing suicide. You might see yourself in his words.
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This past week saw the loss of 2 very prominent songwriters in our lives: Sonny Curtis and Brett James Cornelius. While we have recordings of the songs they wrote, we will miss their writing skills. RIP, Sonny and Brett. More on their lives below.
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The Earth, Wind & Fire Concert at the Hollywood Bowl presented by CBS last Sunday reminded us of all the great music they created. EW&F formed when Maurice White (rest his soul), his brother Verdine White, and Phillip Bailey (from Denver’s East High School) got together with a bunch of others in Los Angeles and history was made. Joined by the L.A. Philharmonic, the TV special celebrated the music and cultural impact of the Grammy Award-winning band. The TV special also featured appearances from Stevie Wonder, Jonas Brothers, Jon Batiste and Janelle Monáe. Phillip was the standout performer of the special!
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COMBO is about the LOVE of Music and the musicians who create and play songs. We do our best to educate and offer an exchange of information, guidance and advice to help musicians advance their careers no matter what genre they play. Our articles and programs represent some phase of the music business that could affect musicians – all musicians, all genres – everywhere.
Our motto: Elevate Your Musical State! (Courtesy of Andy Ard!)
Please “Like” us on Facebook! Helps our “standing” in the web world!
http://www.Facebook.com/ColoradoMusicBusinessOrganization
CALENDAR
TALENT NEEDED:
Matthew Clark Launder is starting a Singer/Songwriter Round at the Wild Goose Saloon in Parker, CO. He asks that you send a video via “messenger” to if you’re interested in playing:
https://www.facebook.com/friends/?profile_id=523662710¬if_id=1758385068562559¬if_t=friend_confirmed&ref=notif
Thursday, November 20th – Deadline to enter the Howard Rosen Talent Contest
E-mail contests@howiewood.com for more info.
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SUMMER CONCERTS ARE WINDING DOWN: We won’t list all of their shows here but here are their websites if you want to go before they end:
Denver Arts Complex events: https://www.artscomplex.com
First Friday Jazz Hop in Five Points: https://www.milehighfestivals.com
Red Rocks: https://www.redrocksonline.com
Sofar Sounds (“house” / small venue concerts): https://www.sofarsounds.com
The Tank’s Calendar (Rangely, Colorado): https://www.tanksounds.org
Events That Repeat Each Month:
First Friday Jazz Hops: Honor the roots and enjoy the fruits! Our partners at the Five Points Business Improvement District are hosting First Friday Jazz Hops! Enjoy a night of live jazz featuring local musicians and artists performing at venues along Welton Street in Denver’s historic jazz district. Check out their schedule at https://www.milehighfestivals.com
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Denver’s NSAI Chapter: 2nd Monday of the month. Contact Lauren Brombert for details on the next meeting! Some are held “live” and others are held via Zoom. If you’d like to present a song to the group for feedback, please click on the link to the Denver NSAI submission page below, and follow the instructions BEFORE the meeting:
https://www.nashvillesongwriters.com/form/song-submission-consent-denver-co
Please make sure to upload both the mp3 and the lyric sheet!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/denvernsai/
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Black Rose Arts Society sponsors an Open Mic on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month in CO Springs. Check it out at https://www.blackroseacoustic.org/openmic!
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The TBRAS (The Black Rose Arts Society) offers twice-monthly shows on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month at the Black Forest Community Center, 12530 Black Forest Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80908. Doors at 6:15; All ages. Tickets at https://www.tbras.org |
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Front Range Songwriters – Colorado Springs: 1st Wednesday of the month. 7:00 p.m. John Nelson, contact. Location: Covenant Church, 4965 Barnes Road. This is at the SW corner of Barnes Rd. and Iron Horse Trail – one block East of Barnes Rd and Oro Blanco.
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Southern Colorado NSAI – Castle Rock: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Meeting via Zoom | Call
Wayne Hanson to be added to the Zoom call and for more info: 720-989-5185
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Western Colorado Songwriter Alliance Facebook Group – Grand Junction area: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1122384432992979/
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September 2025
Sept. 12th thru Oct. 19th – Buddy Holly Story at Town Hall Arts Center Theater | Tickets and more info at https://townhallartscenter.org/
We-Su, 24th to 28th – Southwest Regional Folk Alliance Conference in Austin | Folk, Blues, Americana & Country genres| For more info: https://swfolkalliance.org/register-for-the-2025-conference
Th, 25th – 5:00 p.m. – Laurie D. at Chautauqua Park Boulder, CO | Enjoy a historical walk with Naturalist/Certified Hiking Guide, Suzanne Michot, through Chautauqua and a short hike, too!
Th, 25th – 6:00 to 9:30 p.m. – Tails, Tunes & Tastes: Fundraiser for Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Colorado Springs | More information in the article below | Adult 21+ only (no children or infants)
Th-Sa, 25th to 27th – Colorado Elvis Festival at the Embassy Suites by Hilton, Denver Tech Center – more details TBA | We’ll be celebrating the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll in style!
Th, 25th – 7:00 p.m. – Jedidah Blackstone, Traveling Poet & Storyteller at the Emancipation Theater, 3801 Martin Luther King Blvd. Denver, CO 80205 – through October 5th (See Events for more info)
Fr, 26th – 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. – Laurie & Lorrie at Snowy Peaks Winery, 292Moraine Ave Estes Park, CO 80517 |We’ll be sharing originals and covers from almost every genre!
https://www.facebook.com/share/1FwUvbeSdL/
Fr, 26th – 5:00-9:00 p.m. – Grayson Erhard at Gaylord of the Rockies | Free, all ages! | I’ll play any original you want to hear (between the covers)! | https://graysonerhard.com
Fr, 26th – 7:00 p.m. – Love & Resistance Dance Party with live musicians including Lisa Selle at The End Lafayette (inside Dog House Music Studios) located at 525 Courtney Way, Lafayette, CO
Fr, 26th – 8:00 p.m. – Cass Clayton Band at the Little Bear, 28075 CO Hwy 74, Evergreen, CO
https://www.cassclayton.com | Buy tickets here: https://www.littlebearlive.com/
Sa, 27th – 9:00 a.m. ‘til Noon – Laurie & Lorrie at Denver City Park Market, 2551 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO 80206 (just east of Colfax & York) Wonderful Farmer’s Market!
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Z1vTwRjaG/
Sa, 27th – 10:00 a.m. til 3:00 p.m. – Commerce City Historical Society’s Annual Open House at the Dottie Bakke Mansion, 6140 Holly Street, Commerce City, CO | Rudy Grant & the Buffalo Riders Band and the Ladies of Country will provide entertainment | Food, soft drinks, and more!
Sa, 27th – 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Blues on the Mesa, CO Springs, CO |https://www.bluesonthemesa.com
Sa, 27th – 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. – Rocky Mountain Brassworks Concert at Jefferson Academy, 11251 Reed Way, Broomfield, CO 80020 | We fundraise with Zeffy to ensure 100% of your purchase goes to our mission! Tickets at
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/rocky-mountain-brassworks-presents-fanfare-and-flourish |
Tu, 30th – 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. – Performance High Offering a Music Theory Workshop – Denver studio or Online | https://performancehigh.opus1.io/w/classes?temporaryAccess=RRuCExjF-PLl-sN6GfvRNCUffWZsZttKA18jFHJXLT0
October 2025
Sept. 25th thru Oct. 5th – 2:00 matinees or 7:00 p.m. – Jedidah Blackstone, Traveling Poet & Storyteller at the Emancipation Theater, 3801 Martin Luther King Blvd. Denver, CO 80205 (See Events for more info)
Thru Oct. 19th – Buddy Holly Story at Town Hall Arts Center Theater | Tickets and more info at https://townhallartscenter.org/
Th-Sa, 2nd thru 4th – Durango Songwriters Expo at the Omni Interlocken Hotel & Resort, Broomfield, CO | https://www.durango-songwriters-expo.com | Look for COMBO!
Sa, 4th – All day! Lafayette Music Festival | https://www.lafayettemusicfest.com/
Sa, 4th – 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Celebration of Bassist Andy Pfeiffer’s Life at the Wild Goose Saloon, 11160 South Pike Peak Drive, Parker, CO 80138 | 720-766-8449
Sa, 4th – 7:00 p.m. – Nevan Castaneda as Elvis at LaHabra Depot Theatre, 311 South Euclid Street, LaHabra, CA | Tickets and more info available soon
Sa, 4th – 8:00 to midnight – Revenant at In The Zone, 15600 West 44th Avenue, Golden (West of I-70)
Sa, 11th – 5:00 p.m. – Rock Against Violence at The Federal Theatre, 3830 Federal Blvd Denver, CO | PROCEEDS go directly to JeffCO Schools FOundation and Evergreen High School!
See Events | Tickets at https://thefederaltheatre.holdmyticket.com/tickets/453254 See less
We, 15th – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Nevan Castaneda as Elvis at Waldo’s Chicken, 24153 East Prospect Ave., Aurora
Fr, 17th – 6:00 p.m. – Shadow Animal’s (Christopher Ryan) Dreams We Build album relase at the Roxy on Broadway, Denver, CO | FREE ADMISSION! More info at: https://broadwayroxy.com/
Su, 19th – New TV Show Contest “The Road” with Blake Shelton & Keith Urban starts on CBS
Mo, 20th – 7:00 p.m. – Via ZOOM! COMBO’s Town Hall Meeting – Guest speaker G. Brown – Postponed from September – Calendar NOW!
Su, 26th – 2:00 p.m. – Colorado Blues Society’s “One and Done” for the IBC in Memphis at Nissi’s in Lafayette | Go to https://www.coblues.org for more information
November 2025
We, 12th – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Nevan Castaneda as Elvis at Waldo’s Chicken, 24153 East Prospect Ave., Aurora
Sa, 15th – (no time listed) Nevan Castañeda as Elvis at Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 South Allison Parkway, Lakewood, CO 80226 (in the middle of a shopping center)
Sa, 15th – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – COMBO’s Songwriters Showcase featuring the winners of our recent Songwriting Contest at Dub’s Pub, South Broadway, Littleton!
Mo, 24th – “Speed Dating for Bands” at Dog House Studios in Lafayette – More details later