CSA Speakers

CSA has provided at least one program every month, without interruption, since 1979. At times, there have been programs every week. Hundreds of music industry professionals have been guest speakers at CSA meetings, and CSA has presented hundreds of Songwriter Showcases and major concert events. Some of our featured guest speakers over the years include:

Pete Seeger	One of the legendary figures in American folk music
Dar Williams	One of today's top contemporary Indie folk artists
Gene Pitney	Recording artist and songwriting legend with many top 10 hits including : ( "Only Love Can Break a Heart", "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence" , many more...)
Rupert Holmes	Hit songwriter ("The Pina Colada Song" ) and Tony-Award winning Broadway writer ( " The Mystery of Edwin Drood" )
George David Weiss	Hit songwriter for Elvis Presley & Louis Armstrong; Writer of "What a Wonderful World"; President of the NY-based Songwriters Guild of America
Julie Gold	Grammy Award winning writer of "From A Distance"
Alex Forbes	Co-writer of national #2 hit, "Don't Rush Me " recorded by Taylor Dayne
Sheila Davis	Hit songwriter ("Who Will Answer" ), teacher, author of "The Craft of Lyric Writing."
John Braheny	Founder and Director, L.A. Songwriters Showcase; Author "The Craft and Business of Songwriting"
Bobby Weinstein	Hit songwriter (Goin Out of My Head ) and Vice President of BMI
Gary Burr	Hit songwriter for Juice Newton and Kenny Rogers, and named "Nashville Songwriter of the Year".
Paul Leka	Publisher and Producer of Harry Chapin's "Cats In The Cradle ", and many hits
Bob Leone	Director of Special Projects, National Academy of Popular Music and Songwriters Hall of Fame
Jen Chapin	Independent artist, daughter of Harry Chapin, Chairperson WHY.
Steve Chapin	Grammy-winning arranger, composer, and member of Harry Chapin's original band
Ann Ruckert	Vice-President NARAS, producer of the Grammy Award show, and Coordinator of Pitch-A-Pro Sessions
Steve Katz	Songwriter and member of Blood Sweat and Tears, and The Blues Project
Jack Hardy	New York City folk legend and mentor to such stars as Suzanne Vega, Svaughn Colvin, and David Massengill
Dick Gabriel	Special Assistant to the President of AFM; Member of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, performed with Elvis, the Beach Boys, and Chuck Berry.
Alan Roy Scott	Multi-Hit songwriter (The Spinners), official Taxi Screener, and Founder of Music Bridges and the international Unisong Songwriting Competition.
Jeff Franzell	Composer of the music for Taylor Dayne's #2 hit, "Don't Rush Me "
Fred Koller	Hit Songwriter (Going Gone ) and author of How to Pitch and Promote Your Songs
David Darling	Noted Cellist and member of Paul Winter Consort
Stephen Citron	Noted Broadway writer, author and teacher
Herb Gart	Successful producer and promoter who discovered Bill Cosby and Bette Midler
A.J.Gundell	4 time Emmy Award winner for songs and scores of TV shows like "The Guiding Light"
Karen Reynolds	Founder of Writers Block Radio, Nashville Songwriting Mentor
Alan Siegel	NYC Music Attorney and author of "Breaking In To the Music Business".
Scott Zito	Hit writer for Grace Slick of Jefferson Starship
Al Anderson	Writer and performer with NRBQ
Buddy Cage	Steel guitarist for New Riders of the Purple Sage
Mike Laskow	Head of TAXI
David Roth	Nationally known indie singer-songwriter
Pat Pattison	Noted Author, and Professor of Songwriting at Boston's Berklee School of Music
Richard Dieguez	New York based music attorney and originator of "The Circle" pro sessions
Michael Hopkins	Grammy-Award Winning producer from Nashville who worked with Sheryl Crow
Noel Ramos	Publisher of InterMixx Magazine, and Founder, national Indie Music Conference
Gilli Moon	From L.A., Founder of the international SongsAlive organization
Amy Gallatin	National country/bluegrass recording artist with Stillwaters
Steve Gillette	Hit songwriter and songwriting coach
Marci Geller	Nationally known mainstream-turned-Indie artist with several film and TV placements, appeared on "Live with Regis"
Paul Cullen	Bassist for "Bad Company"
Skye MacBroom	CEO of Skye Communications, a major PR firm
John Battaglia	NYC Image Consultant and agent for Beyonce and Usher
Deb Russell	Founder of Leading Edge, and Artist Career Development Coach
Vicki Blankenship	President of Indiegrrl and founder of the Indiegrrl Conference
Karen Reynolds	Nashville writer, producer, and host of nationally heard Writers Block Radio
Bill Pere	Grammy-winner, Songwriting Coach and Author of "Songcrafters' Coloring Book: The Essential Guide to Effective and Successful Songwriting"
Dr. Lou DeLise	Producer, Publisher, hit writer, Philadelphia
Jordan Tishler	Producer, Digital Bear Music, Boston
Janey Street	nationally known writer and protege of legendary producer Clive Davis
Representatives from ASCAP, BMI SESAC, & Sound Exchange	The major Performing Rights Organizations
	PLUS many of Connecticut's own Successful Singer-Songwriters
Les Julian	Grammy-winner, Nine national awards for his children's CD's; New Haven's #1 Folk Artist
Bill Pere	Grammy-winner, National Indie Artist of the Year ,03; Internationally published author of songwriting articles, Award-winning recording artist and songwriter with 14 CD's released; Founder of LUNCH; An Official Connecticut State Troubadour.
Nancy Tucker	National Indie Artist of the Year '04; #3 hit song on Dr Demento, "Everything Reminds Me of My Therapist"; Accomplished comedienne, performer, inventor.
Don Donegan	Founder CSA; Numerous songpitching trips to Nashville
Tom Callinan	An Official Connecticut State Troubadour; Noted soloist and member of The Morgans; Considered "a state treasure"
Lucinda	Cyberstation's #1 Indie artist of 2002
Sally Rogers	An Official Connecticut State Troubadour and well known raconteur
Randy Anagnostis	Internet marketing pioneer, and internationally distributed composer
	AND MORE NEW GUEST SPEAKERS BEING ADDED ALL THE TIME !