Buskers

Frustrated by the indifference of the music industry and the stacks of homemade CDs gathering dust in their closets, brothers Heth and Jed Weinstein made the radical decision to bring their music directly to the masses. They began playing on street corners, in subway stations, and wherever else they could connect with a live audience. To their surprise, far from this being the terminal stop of a dead-end career, busking turned out to be just the beginning as crowds of stressed-out commuters gathered around, cheering them on, subscribing to their mailing lists, and actually buying some of those stockpiled CDs—40,000 and counting. In Buskers, Heth and Jed recount their turbulent, drug- and crime-filled adolescence in the nowhere-land of Livingston, New Jersey, their valiant attempts to achieve rock ’n’ roll success through traditional channels, and their unexpected path to circumventing the outmoded music industry. They divulge fascinating details about the technical and legal aspects of street performance, New York busking culture, and the lives of their fellow troubadours. A world of possibilities opens up when the brothers take it to the streets, proving the value of their music to themselves and anyone who’ll listen. Read their story, and your commute will never be the same.

The year is 1983, unemployment has reached record levels and two young men are getting bored living on the dole. Having heard stories of busking on the continent they take their instruments and head off in search of excitement. They can only afford one-way tickets, so decide to take a risk that they can raise enough money for the return fare on top of their subsistence costs. The trip runs no danger of being over-planned, but leaving everything to chance they meet some unusual characters and end up in some unexpected places.

Frustrated by the indifference of the music industry and the stacks of homemade CDs gathering dust in their closets, brothers Heth and Jed Weinstein made the radical decision to bring their music directly to the masses. They began playing on street corners, in subway stations, and wherever else they could connect with a live audience. To their surprise, far from this being the terminal stop of a dead-end career, busking turned out to be just the beginning as crowds of stressed-out commuters gathered around, cheering them on, subscribing to their mailing lists, and actually buying some of those stockpiled CDs—40,000 and counting. In Buskers, Heth and Jed recount their turbulent, drug- and crime-filled adolescence in the nowhere-land of Livingston, New Jersey, their valiant attempts to achieve rock ’n’ roll success through traditional channels, and their unexpected path to circumventing the outmoded music industry. They divulge fascinating details about the technical and legal aspects of street performance, New York busking culture, and the lives of their fellow troubadours. A world of possibilities opens up when the brothers take it to the streets, proving the value of their music to themselves and anyone who’ll listen. Read their story, and your commute will never be the same.

How many people in Japan know what “busking” means? In Britain, busking is “to earn money by singing or playing a musical instrument in public places,” and singers or players are called “buskers.” Busking has thrived in the London Underground for many years, and has become an established part of the music culture. It gives the travelling public a brief and transient moment to unwind and enjoy music; it is also a tourist attraction at the same time. However, with the modernisation of stations and the increasing number of passengers, busking caused some problems, such as noise, jeopardising passengers’ safety, disputes between buskers, etc. So in 2003 the London Underground Authority introduced a licensing system which requires that anyone wanting to be a busker must pass an audition. Luckily, I was the first Japanese to acquire an official busking licence. This book is a record of my busking between April and November 2005, but other occurrences and anecdotes that took place before those eight months are also included. I hope you will enjoy the book - just like you enjoy listening to your favourite music time and time again! The diary of laughter with the tear of Mr. Domon who was basking in the same time at London Underground as the author "James Bowen" of the books "street cat named a bob". Hideaki Domon

The Buskers Songbook is packed with no fewer than 60 acoustic classics, presented with Guitar chords, vocal melody line in standard notation and full lyrics. Whether you're an experienced busker looking to inject some inspiration into your set, or simply looking to expand your repertoire, this songbook is for you. Including a number of pop crowd-pleasers, folk favourites and some unexpected choices, you will never fail to draw a crowd. Song List: - Ain't No Sunshine [Bill Withers] - All Along The Watchtower [Bob Dylan] - American Pie [Don Mclean] - Big Yellow Taxi [Joni Mitchell] - Blackbird [The Beatles] - Blowin' In The Wind [Bob Dylan] - The Boxer [Simon & Garfunkel] - Brown Eyed Girl [Van Morrison] - California Dreamin' [The Mamas & Papas] - Catch The Wind [Donovan] - Chasing Cars [Snow Patrol] - Crazy [Patsy Cline] - Crazy Little Thing Called Love [Queen] - Creep [Radiohead] - Day Tripper [The Beatles] - Every Rose Has Its Thorn [Poison] - Fairytale Of New York [The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl] - Fast Car [Tracy Chapman] - Father And Son [Cat Stevens] - Folsom Prison Blues [Johnny Cash] - Free Fallin' [Tom Petty] - Get Lucky [Daft Punk feat. Pharrell] - Hallelujah [Jeff Buckley] - Hey Jude [The Beatles] - The House Of The Rising Sun - I'm Yours [Jason Mraz] - Isn't She Lovely? [Stevie Wonder] - Johnny B. Goode [Chuck Berry] - Jolene [Dolly Parton] - Killing Me Softly With His Song [Roberta Flack] - Knockin' On Heaven's Door [Bob Dylan] - Layla [Derek & The Dominos] - Let Her Go [Passenger] - Let It Be [The Beatles] - Lola [The Kinks] - Man In The Mirror [Michael Jackson] - More Than Words [Extreme] - Mrs. Robinson [Simon & Garfunkel] - Mull Of Kintyre [Wings] - The Passenger [Iggy Pop] - Rolling In The Deep [Adele] - Roxanne [The Police] - Stand By Me [Ben E. King] - Streets Of London [Ralph Mctell] - Stuck In The Middle With You [Stealer’s Wheel] - Suzanne [Leonard Cohen] - Sweet Jane [The Velvet Underground] - Take Me Home, Country Roads [John Denver] - Teenage Kicks [The Undertones] - Thinking Out Loud [Ed Sheeran] - Trumpets [Jason Derulo] - Wagon Wheel [Old Crow Medicine Show] - Walking On Sunshine [Katrina & The Waves] - Waterloo Sunset [The Kinks] - Weather With You [Crowded House] - Wichita Lineman [Glen Campbell] - Wonderwall [Oasis] - Yellow [Coldplay] - Yesterday [The Beatles] - You've Got A Friend [James Taylor]

In 2005, Nisha travelled to France to be with what she hoped was the love of her life. Instead, she stayed three years, playing her violin and finding a new sense of passion for music and her own independence. A different kind of love story, Coleman allows the reader a rare glimpse into the world of a street violinist in Paris. Her journey features a mosaic of gypsies, homeless people, other buskers and random strangers -- a tale that transforms from initial hardship to ultimate triumph. This is the moving story of a young woman who went to Paris for love and found her life.

101 Hits for Buskers is a superb resource for all buskers and street musicians that contains some of the greatest hits of all time. Every song is arranged with melody line, complete lyrics and chords, guaranteed to make your pub set, busking or party performance a hit with all. It includes: - All My Loving [The Beatles] - (Is This The Way To) Amarillo [Neil Sedaka] - Blowin’ In The Wind [Bob Dylan] - Bring Me Sunshine [Morecombe and Wise] - Can’t help Falling In love [Elvis Presley] - Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend [Marilyn Monroe] - Everybody’s Talkin’ [Harry Nilsson] - Fly Me To the Moon (In Other Words) [Julie London] - Killing Me Softly [Roberta Flack] - Morning Has Broken [Cat Stevens] - My Way [Frank Sinatra] - Please Mr. Postman [The Marvelettes] - Streets Of London [The Pogues] - Tie A Yellow Ribbon ‘Round The Ole Oak tree [Trad.] - Walk On By [Dione Warwick] - A Whiter Shade Of Pale [Procol harum] - Wichita Lineman [Glen Campbell] - Yellow Submarine [The Beatles] And many more.

Like a busker juggling, we go through life balancing values as balls in the air...If one falls, the good busker picks it quickly up, resumes the performance and the audience applauds the skill in maintaining balance and harmony. Busker and the Trees is affirmation and encouragement for those on a path seeking true wellness in life. Adel Bishai’s story begins in middle-class Egypt steeped in cosmopolitan culture and ancient history then tracks the author on a journey spanning eight decades, to nearly fifty countries and five continents, through heated politics and fascinating occupational opportunities, to love and family and the success of being happy and a millionaire to boot. Knowledge and understanding are achieved through learning, observation, experience, reasoning, and demonstration. The author offers his understanding and perception through the life and worldview of an immigrant, providing an interesting and insightful prospective. Readers will be informed and entertained on topics of history, diverse cultures, anecdotes and works of fine art. Adel’s story is a case study in the boundless maze of wellbeing following a model of values-based wellness thus considering and explaining his motivations. Adel is one immigrant to Canada who made good through embracing the values that contribute to happiness and provide a prototype of an immigrant from the Middle East to North America. Busker and the Trees outlines the values that guided Adel throughout his life and what has influenced his eight decades residing in Egypt, England and Canada illuminating how to make wise choices with the balls in the air the reader may be dealt.