Sunday, August 5, 2007

Jim Crockett Former Publisher of Guitar Player and Keyboard Magazine Targets the Music Industry


For 19 years, starting in 1970, while at the helm of GPI Publications Jim Crockett took the company from a $40,000/year business with one semi-monthly magazine titled Guitar Player to a $15 million business producing five monthlies, four quarterlies, books, newsletters and recordings. Now he is ready to help instrument manufactures increase media coverage for their products at Dameron Communications.

(Newport Beach, CA) (PRWEB) August 6, 2007 -- Music legend Jim Crockett, with decades of music industry writing experience behind him, launches new effort at Dameron Communications (http://www.DameronCommunications.com) to attract potential new public relations and advertising accounts with guitar, keyboard, drum, instrument accessory and other manufacturers.

"Jim virtually wrote the book on writing for musical instruments at Guitar Player Magazine. He knows the music industry and he knows the consumers! And he knows what we can do to help build successful businesses with our public relations, marketing and advertising experience," says Carl Dameron, president of Dameron Communications.

Crockett joined Dameron Communications two years ago and has worked with Dameron on a variety of PR efforts. The two decided to use Crockett's renowned prowess in the music industry after an inquiry from a music mastering company requesting Crockett to write articles about their process. Crockett and Dameron quickly realized there was a demand for Crockett's experience.

For 19 years, starting in 1970, while at the helm of GPI Publications Crockett took the company from a $40,000/year business with one semi-monthly magazine titled Guitar Player to a $15 million business producing five monthlies, four quarterlies, books, newsletters and recordings.

The former CEO of GPI has counted as his friends B.B. King, Andres Segovia, Mike Bloomfield, Howard Roberts, Les Paul, Chick Corea, Frank Zappa, Tal Farlow, Herbie Hancock, Chet Atkins, David Gilmour, Leo Fender, Barney Kessel, Jerry Garcia, Joe Pass, George Benson, Billy Gibbons, Tony Iommi and many others.

Crockett has worked with many public relations firms over the years including internationally respected BSMG. He has nearly 20 years experience in producing musical publications, heading such international magazines as Guitar Player, Keyboard, Frets, Drums & Drumming and Bass Player magazines.

He has had a half-dozen newsletters and more than a thousand articles, features and interviews published.

In the TV world Crockett has produced and hosted specials for MTV and has appeared on all major television networks and cable systems including NBC's "Today Show," CNN and the former Nashville Network.

The prior Media Relations Executive with the nationwide Financial Relations Board has hosted countless press conferences, media tours, interviews and seminars.

Crockett is also the author of five books: Putting A Band Together, Guitar Player Book, Fix Your Axe (instrument repair), Great White Shark and Why-to Of Scuba Diving.

A former communications professor at the University of Idaho and The International College of the Cayman Islands, Crockett's knowledge of education, music, broadcasting, publishing and business management is substantial.

Jim has kept a low profile the last few years enjoying his five-acre ranch in Los Angeles County and spending time with his family. But he has kept busy. He has a movie script in development, "Great While It Lasted," based on the world's first female jazz band, and is in the middle of another book, a biography of actor Spenser Tracy's son, co-founder of the John Tracy Clinic for deaf children in Los Angeles, while he continues to write stories for Dameron Communications' key clients.

"I love to write and I love to play music," says Crockett. "So I write about music, musicians and equipment. And I love what I do. I've been in music, in one form or another, all my adult life."

Dameron Communications has handled the advertising and public relations needs of California businesses since 1989. As founder and director Carl Dameron puts it, "While I am a good writer, Jim is a great writer. He is the best writer I have ever worked with."

Jim and Carl can be reached at Dameron Communications (949) 999-0881. The Web site is www.DameronCommunications.com.