Blume - Six Steps to Songwriting Success

There are several individuals without whom this book could never have been written. Id like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my Executive Editor, Bob Nirkind, and my Editor, Meryl Greenblatt, whose talents and contributions made it possible for me to write the book I always wanted to write. Im deeply grateful to my literary agent, Rita Rosenkranz, for her expertise and belief in this project. I could never find sufficient words to thank Neil Rice for making everything behind the scenes work so smoothly and for his inestimable contribution to my work and my life.

Thank you to all of my teachers and to Keith Urban, Paige Levy, Janis Ian, Melissa Manchester, Brendan Okrent, Barbara Rothstein, Gloria Sklerov, Harlan Howard, Karen Taylor-Good, Carol Elliott, Buddy Mondlock, Sherrill Blackman, Barbara Cloyd, Greg Barnhill, Tom Luteran, Regie Hamm, Paul Rolnick, Steve Seskin, Alan Brewer, Steve Bloch, Herb Tassin, David Friedman, Wade Kirby, Roger Sovine, Mike Sistad, Wayne Perry, Justin Wilde, Craig Wiseman, Gary Baker, Mark Mason, Bryan Cumming, David Roth, Lee Groitzsch, Janice Cook, Virginia Rice, Jim Cooper, Phil Goldberg, Bart Herbison and staff at NSAI, Wayne Tester, Robert K. Oermann, Tommy LiPuma, Jeff Fenster, Judy Phelps, Allan Rich, Ira Greenfield, Thom Schuyler, Billy Steinberg, Aaron Meza, Franne Golde, Frank Liddell, Teri Muench and Steve Diamond, Marty Wheeler, Judy Stakee, Kathleen Carey, Debbie Zavitson, Jeff Carlton, Jeff Little at Borman Entertainment, Sandy Carothers and Phyllis Austin of Bulls Creek Music, John Van Meter, Steve Weaver, Rick Chudacoff, Steve Gibson, and all of the talented songwriters and music industry professionals who contributed so generously to this bookand especially to Jane Snyder.

I owe a special debt to Michael Hollandsworth, who believed in my talents and taught me how to be a songwriter, and to Britney Spears, Collin Raye, the Backstreet Boys, Leslie Mills, Chris Pelcer, Sherry Kondor, Jesse McCartney, Don and Gayle Goodman, Adam Sandler, Liz Rose, A.J. Masters, Lis Lewis, Stephanie Cox, John and Robin Berry, David Gray, Eric Beall, and all of the others whove contributed so much to my career.

Thank you: Gordon Pogoda (for the musical notation and the wonderful quote); Bryan Cumming for the chartsand for being such a wonderful, talented friend; Amy Smith Heinz for pitching my songs; Mark Mason, Deanna Bruton, Michelle Andrade-Wright, Gabrielle Hoffman, Julie Jarett, and the staff at BMI; Michael Laskow, Michael Lederer, Doug Minninck, and the staff at Taxi; and Penny Nichols at SummerSongs for giving me the opportunity to do the thing I love the mostteach developing songwriters.

Id also like to acknowledge Camilla Kleindienst of Banner/Planet Happy Publishing and Dave Olsen and Hope Chirino of Warner Bros. Publications for their patience and cooperation (beyond the call of duty) in helping me to secure permissions to reprint the lyrics contained in this book.

Thank you to Debbie Chessor for your valiant effort to make me look like Im nineteen in the photo. And a very special thank you to Claire Ulanoff; Wayne Moore; Ruth Rosen; Renee Lopez; Marvin Werlin; Andrea Horstman; Mark Werlin; Coreen Davis; Maris, Mark, Jamie, and Adam Goldberg; Alana Amadeo; Todd and Laura Serinsky; Leslie Brenner; Hal Holzer; Carol Elliott; Katy Garvey, for your continued love and supportand to my first collaborator and biggest supporter, Maureen Custer, who listened to my struggles and encouraged me more than shell ever know. And to Opie, Duncan, and Coin (the cats) who sat on my lap, my desk, and my computer, providing unsolicited editorial advice.

And a final heartfelt thank youto the source from which all creativity flows.