Gabe Stillman, an accomplished and popular blues singer is one of the bright lights to have come out of the local music scene in recent years. An indication of Gabe’s talent and how well he is thought of by people in the music world and his fans was his recent nomination for two honors from the prestigious Central Pennsylvania Music Awards. He was nominated for Best Blues Band and Best Blues Album.
Gabe talked about what these honors meant to him and discussed his career and musical influences as well.
“I’m thrilled to have received nominations for several awards coming up this Spring. It’s an honor to be recognized at the state level and be nominated for two Central Pennsylvania Music Awards for Best Blues Band and Album of the Year for my debut record “Just Say The Word,” Gabe told Webb Weekly. “It’s also a great achievement that the record is recognized globally by The Blues Foundation and is nominated for a Blues Music Award for Best Emerging Artist Album. A nomination in these awards sends a message to fans and industry players that an artist is not only serious about being a professional musician but is able to capture other people and move them. That’s my goal in making music. I’m trying to evoke an emotion in the listener, both in the live setting and in the studio. I never expect recognition for my work, but it’s always encouraging when things like this happen. I’m beyond proud of my band and everyone who was involved with making the record, and I’m excited to be pursuing my passion of playing live as much as possible.”
Gabe’s nominated album has been described this way, “Just Say The Word” is packed with 13 originals plus two covers and further solidifies Stillman’s reputation as an accomplished guitarist and meaningful songwriter. Produced by Anson Funderburgh at Wire Recording in Austin, Texas, “Just Say the Word” is a compelling listen from beginning to end, with powerful contributions from the Texas Horns and special appearances by Funderburgh, Sue Foley, and Greg Izor.
Gabe spoke of his experience in recording the album. “I had the time of my life making this record. It was simultaneously the most professional studio experience I’ve ever had and the most fun I’ve ever had,” declared Gabe. “The studio can be a daunting task. Being forced to listen to your own music over and over, when you’re as self-critical as most musicians are, is not always a positive experience. What can help that, though, is being surrounded by the right people. I’m very fortunate to have had an amazing crew of musicians and studio staff who always gave their negative critique when it was necessary but also gave their positive feedback genuinely and sincerely. Anson Funderburgh is not only a wonderful musician and producer, but he’s a great guy, and he created an environment that made being in the studio feel as organic as being onstage. ”
Bonnie Tallman is Gabe’s manager and has looked after his career in a loving and motherly fashion. She took the time to tell us what Gabe is like and what it has meant to manage him.
“I first met Gabe Stillman when I was teaching a class at the Uptown Music Collective titled, Beyond the Music: You’re the CEO. The class was intended to create an entrepreneurial mindset for UMC students who were leaning towards considering music performance as a career, their livelihood,” Tallman said. “My class was designed to be the dose of reality – just being a great musician would not guarantee success.”
She continued, “We developed business plans, created budgets, talked about profit and loss. Gabe attended my class when he was a young teenager, maybe 14. For all of my students over several years of teaching this class, one student, Gabe, kept in touch with me and would often say, “can we get together and chat?” Knowing that I once owned my own artist management company and was heavily involved in the music business for over 25 years, he wanted to learn as much as possible about the business side of pursuing a career as a performing artist.”
“After he was selected as the recipient of the esteemed Gibson Guitar Award at the Memphis IBCs in 2019, we chatted again and agreed I would assist him on a more permanent managerial basis, which remains the case today. He knew this milestone achievement in 2019 could be just a moment in time, or it could be a major step forward on his journey. Perhaps an opportunity that should be taken seriously and one that had the potential to open new doors — which it did and further on with the success of his 2 EPs and his first full-length release “Just Say The Word,” which debuted on the Billboard Blues charts. He is now nominated for a Blues Music Award in the New Emerging Artist Album category. In order to reach this BMA nomination achievement, his release underwent serious evaluation and scrutiny by industry professionals selected by the Blues Foundation as nominators worldwide.”
She concluded, “The decision to choose being a professional musician as your livelihood is not one to be taken lightly. The sacrifices one makes are overwhelming, the patience needed, learning from the setbacks incurred, and the willingness to dive deep into the business side is rare among musicians. Gabe Stillman understands all of this and takes on every challenge he meets with gusto and determination. Watching Gabe grow as a well-rounded musician and as an astute businessman brings me great satisfaction and joy.”
Gabe spoke of the eclectic musical influences that have shaped his career. “This changes for me all the time. I go through “phases” in what my musical tastes are, and most other artists who I’ve talked with say the same thing,” stated Gabe. “The most important thing to me as an artist is not getting stuck on one thing and preventing my own growth. That’s why I’ll listen to B.B. King Live At The Regal and then listen to Mozart’s Don Giovanni and then listen to Nirvana’s Nevermind. All three of those examples are very different musically, but they all connect with me emotionally, and that’s more important than the kind of music that is being made. Inspiration comes from everywhere for me, and I hope it will always be that way.”
No matter what happens with the Central Pennsylvania Music Awards, it appears that Gabe Stillman has a bright musical future.
Kopper & Kash
“Kopper & Kash” The Pennycoff Sisters — Ava 15 & Mia 16. These two gingers have been singing with their recording artist father “Jeff Orrin,” since before they could walk. They went from using their dad’s guitar case as a stage to singing alongside him. Now the sisters are making some music of their own. Their music is filled with real-life experiences, like losing a loved one to a fun-filled break-up song.
Recently they visited Nashville to record at the Hilltop Studio with Buddy Hyatt. The girls have several new original songs being released on Spotify and most major streaming platforms. “That Jacket,” a heartfelt song about the loss of their brother Matt was released July 30, 2021, on his first birthday in Heaven.
“That Jacket” has also been nominated for a Central PA Music Award. It is nominated for Song of the Year.
You can preview their information, see their show schedule, and hear their music on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube @ “Kopper & Kash.” Their shows are a mix of original music, new and old country. The shows are also a mix of classic songs from across the decades.
Their original music touches people and addresses real-life situations, and brings awareness to the dangers of serious issues like drinking and driving. This is a cause that is near to the sisters’ hearts after losing a brother to an alcohol-related accident.
“True You,” an original, is a catchy and fun break-up song that will capture the audience and have them humming all day long. The sisters cover a wide array of songs, from The Beatles to Bon Jovi.
Kopper and Kash have had the opportunity to play different venues throughout central Pennsylvania. They are PA Fair association members and perform shows at venues such as the Clinton County Fair, The Center County Grange Fair, along with other festivals and restaurants.
Kopper and Kash are very involved in Uptown Music Collective, a music school. This is a reputable school in which they perform each semester in the course showcases. Ava plays and accompanies on the acoustic guitar, and Mia is very talented on the bass.
