The Origins of 'Successful Songwriting'
The first edition of 'Successful Songwriting & Marketing' was published in 1989 and was recieved very enthusiastically by both music institutions, colleges, teachers and musicians alike.The book was accredited by the Queensland Education Department supplement course material in government schools. It was the first book produced in Australia that detailed the craft of songwriting. The book took the mystery out of songwriting and brought it to within the reach of anyone who had a story to tell. Although many songwriters can identify the fact that there is a 'Formula' to writing songs at the time no-one had actually identified what the characteristics of that formula.
The authors were in an ideal position to take on this confronting task, David with his successful lyric writing experience and Glenn with his background in musicological studies and research as well as his compositional skills. The authors spent many years writing the book and and many hours analyzing thousands of songs to identify the characteristics of successful popular songs. The result of these endeavours was this now definitive book on songwriting, Successful Songwriting &b Marketing.
With this site SuccessfulSongs.com intends not only to provide songwriters with a comprehensive text detailing the craft of songwriting but to also to make available to songwriters at no charge regular in depth analyses of the popular songs. With this resource, songwriters will be able to accumulate a repertoire of skills that will give them a very solid foundation to build upon as they develop their songwriting talents.
The Authors
Glenn Ray Dip. A.I. (Qld. Con), BA Psych (Hons), ACCP (Qld), Trainer (Cert IV)
Glenn first became interested in popular music at an early age through his father, who was a guitarist in a dance band. As a teenager in Hobart, he began his professional career as a bass player and guitarist with The John Fox Group; playing jazz rock fusion and writing his own compositions. His main interest however, remained playing finger style guitar and the analysis of musical composition, both popular and serious.
He later moved to Queensland and graduated from the Conservatorium of Music in composition and guitar. His talents were not overlooked by visiting American composer and lecturer, Gary Buchanan. He assisted in the music research and the writing of the book Wave Front - the technique and analysis of 20th Century composition. He is also the co-author of a further book titled Elementary Guitar .
During his period at the Conservatorium he analysed the syntax of Anton Webern's string quartets and Alexander Sriabin's piano preludes, documenting the theoretical principals underpinning of their music. Glenn has since become a registered psychologist and has expanded his interests to include the psychological influence of music on various states of the mind.
Today, Glenn operates a Psychological Consultancy and runs his own Music Academy on Queensland's Gold Coast, where he directs classes in songwriting and composition.
David Leary
David is a published songwriter who gained an interest in music after his father bought him a guitar at the age of ten. After learning to play it, his attention immediately turned to songwriting. At the age of fifteen he was invited to join a Brisbane band, The Feelgoods . The group entered a Battle of the Sounds competition, sponsored by a local radio station, and won. RCA stepped in with a five year exclusive contract, and the group began recording David's collaborated songs.
He later became interested in the analysis of song lyrics and music and studied for several years with the co-author Glenn Ray. He remains an active songwriter and is a member of both The American Guild of Authors and Composers and The Nashville Songwriters Association.
