The Wisconsin Center for Music Education held its 8^th annual Launchpad Competition for garage bands from across the state of Wisconsin.

The winning band of the 2012 final competition is The Daze from Madison West High School.

The Daze band members display their Les Paul Launchpad awards for outperforming some serious competition. The Daze is Tom Thurlow, Gabe Burdulis, Alex Blair and Christian Rasmussen.

The Daze will perform at Milwaukee’s Summerfest along with national bands such as Iron Maiden, Alice Cooper, Ziggy Marley, Steve Miller, to name a few of the 700 bands. The group also receives a $5,000 music package for their high school music program, 12 hours of recording time and a second Summerfest gig.

The Les Paul Foundation sponsored the competition again this year. As organizer Dennis Graham has said on several occasions, Les Paul had Wisconsin’s first garage band back in 1929.

Making It in the Music Biz

This year the Launchpad program stretched to offer a one day event titled “Making It in the Music Biz”. The new event was a response to seeing several young musicians make unfortunate business decisions.

The day’s events started with a high powered rendition by Phil X and Russ Miller.

A number of high power musicians and music industry professionals were brought in for the June 23^rd event. The program took place at a recording studio where participants learned the ins and outs of music business.

Guitarist Phil X and Russ Miller who is the drummer for American Idol, listen as event organizer Dennis Graham talks to participants.

Russ Miller, offered insights to being a drummer. Russ has recorded with Ray Charles, Tina Turner, Psychedelic Furs and Natalie Cole to name a few, and has been named one of the Top 5 Drummers in the World in six of the last 10 years including in 2010.

Phil X presented a guitar clinic. Phil has performed and recorded with Tommy Lee, Kelly Clarkson, Chris Cornell, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Stewart Copeland and many others.

Hanah Jon Taylor, conducted the third clinic, “Making the Song Your Own – The Artful Use of Improvisation”. Hanah, an accomplished sax and flute jazz performer, has performed with Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald and many others, and is an instructor at Madison Media Institute.

The day ended with an all-out jam session.

The Les Paul Foundation was at the Les Paul Launchpad final competition as well as the Making It in the Music Biz event.

Thank you to Rose Renick who photographed the Making It in the Music Biz event.