September 22, 2024

Not the Only One: A Tribute to a Lyrical Ninja Taken From Us Far Too Soon-RIP Ed Legal

In memory of my best friend and incredible lyricist Ed Legal who passed away August 23, 2024, I’m honored to share “Not the Only One,” a song we wrote together back in 2017. In many ways, this song encapsulates the struggles we all face, reminding us that we’re never alone in our battles.

I’ll try and share more as I dig through the 20+ songs we wrote & 100’s of hours of videos we recorded. I miss him, his witt & amazing ability to string together words; lyrical ninja, dark poet & and veracious factotum (doer of all things)… RIP in my brother!

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February 24, 2019

Score for Meth-Community Under Siege 5min Promo Complete

You know that good fuzzy feeling you get when you finish something worthwhile. Ya, I’m basking in that warm glow, all the while feeling the heaviness of the  meth crisis & pain it is causing for so many.

Will share the final promo vid as soon as I can, hoping next week, but seriously can’t wait for you to see & hear the initial story featuring the “Bear Clan Patrol‘ for the ground breaking documentary Meth- Community Under Siege.

It’s a story that needs to be told!!!

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January 10, 2019

Writing Music for Winnipeg Meth Documentary

I am honored that my music will be a part of shedding light on this horrific crisis. Although based in Winnipeg, the universal crisis of addiction is felt from East Van to Halifax, and everywhere in between. There isn’t a person I know that ‘addiction’ has not impacted their lives personally or affected someone they know or love. I’m all in and will invest 100’s of hours to ensure this documentaries music matches the emotion and heaviness that addictions inflict…period!!!

Please help make this documentary a reality!!!  Yes YOU

  • If you can’t spare the cash totally understand, but you can step up and show your love and support by sharing this campaign on your FaceBook, Twitter, email or by word of mouth. Just click over to IndieGoGo and use the easy share buttons 🙂

Stay tuned for updates… and hugs for sharing & caring!

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December 29, 2016

Back Up Singers & Goodbye to 2016

Over the holidays I watched a documentary that fundamentally has impacted how I feel about music, and even more so about some of the famous songs of the 60’s, 70’s & beyond. In a good way!!!

If you love music, I highly recommend you watch ‘20 Feet from Stardom‘. I never knew the name Merry Clayton (Stones-Gimme Shelter) or Lisa Fischer (Sting-Hounds of Winter) until I watched this doc. I know them now, forever burnt into my musical psyche, and will be listening too and writing music differently from this day forward.

BACK UP SINGERS ROCK!!!!!

That’s all I have to say about that…

Oh and goodbye 2016 🙂

PS. Few new Raito & The Leed tunes coming your way early 2017.

 

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April 24, 2016

I had a dream about music revenue

Maybe I had the dream because I am currently selling gear to save up for a specific travel guitar, so I can write more tunes on the road! After all, If my music business was profitable…. which it’s NOT yet, then it wouldn’t be an issue right!

OK, so I’m sure I’m not much different than many other PT musicians out there, in that streaming revenue from my songs barely covers the cost of hosting a website, let alone buying new gear, repairs, video, etc. Ya, I have a full time job, but dang this music thing is an expensive sideline gig, that keeps so many of us in the RED!

How do I make it profitable?

So, I had a dream last night that I delved into the world of video review of gear. I awoke thinking could I help other people decide what gear to buy, and augment my musical revenue through affiliate commissions if people buy the gear I review.

Then I thought… what else is out there for PT musicians to augment their artist cash flow beyond streaming revenue…

What about merchandise? What about referrals to apps? What about online radio? Song reviews? Industry seminars?  What about online teaching? What else is out there???? Licensing instrumentals?

Time to find OUT!

My mind is spinning! Not sure where I go with this…. If you are a fellow musician would love to hear what you are doing to produce multiple streams of income from your music.

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March 12, 2016

Shots

Writing a few tunes today. Decided to spare you my vocals, and give you a little Saturday afternoon guitar riff… decided to call it SHOTS 🙂

Hope you are having an AMAZING weekend!!! Wherever you are on this planet… whatever your are going through, we only have one SHOT at this thing we call LIFE, so hope you are LIVING IT to the FULLEST!!!

Raito OUT!

Shots Guitar Riff – 03-12-2016

Writing a few tunes today. Decided to spare you my vocals, and give you a little Saturday afternoon guitar riff… decided to call it SHOTS :)Hope you are having an AMAZING weekend!!! Wherever you are on this planet… whatever your are going through, we only have one SHOT at this thing we call LIFE, so hope you are LIVING IT to the FULLEST!!!Raito OUT 🙂

Posted by Raito on Saturday, March 12, 2016

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February 20, 2016

The Game of Love-Keys To The Junos 2016

Happy Weekend To ALL!!!!!!!

Yamaha is having a songwriting contest to win tickets to the Junos 2016, access to the Juno Songwriting Circle, and some other wicked musical prize packages (for the top 3). Having said that, there is nothing I’m asking of anyone. No clicking. No voting. Just have a listen and comment or share if you choose. Yamaha Canada Music has judges who are going to be picking their top 3.
Either way, I have already WON!!! I have been working on this song for almost 20 years, and this contest gave me the inspiration to finish it! To me …that’s a prize all unto itself!!!

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January 24, 2016

Need Help w/ Lyrics- Catching Fire Incomplete Song

Reaching out to my ‘artistic’ friends. I have been stumped on this song WAY WAY too long and could use some lyrical assistance. If you contribute, and the song goes anywhere… you will be #socan #copyright credited with dual writing status… #indie #rock # songwriting !!!!

https://youtu.be/FJfagfmw6WU

 

Need Some Lyrics ~ Catching Fire

Reaching out to my 'artistic' friends. I have been stumped on this song WAY WAY too long and could use some lyrical assistance. If you contribute, and the song goes anywhere… you will be #SOCAN #copyright credited with dual writing status… #indie #rock #songwriting!!!!

Posted by Raito on Sunday, January 24, 2016

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January 2, 2016

Happy New Year of Songs, Dreams & Dr Pepper

Happy New Year to all you crazy people still chasing your dreams, making a difference, and or living life to the fullest. I’m not going to get into a big review of 2015, as new beginnings tend to make us spend too much time looking in the rearview mirror.Having said that, this is my artistic outlet. As a songwriter, there are songs I have been working on for 16+ years. The past is where we came from, the past has brought us to today, and although it doesn’t define us… we can use ‘snippets of our experiences’ to complete the puzzle pieces of our present and future songs, relationships, and dream chasing! As long as we (you & I) don’t use the past as a crutch or excuse… sky is the freaking limit!!!!

So today, I leave you with an uncompleted song that I have been working on for 16+ years called Dr. Pepper. I thinking it’s a fitting reminder that our lives are a journey, not a destination. I started writing this song in a hospital room while waiting for my daughters heart surgery (FYI 100% successful). My wife crying while drinking Dr. Pepper, someone accidentaly stepping on a Ladybug, & a tea kettle crashing to the floor, are lyrics that lack context unless you were a fly on the wall.

https://youtu.be/jsWFymHfH5k

May 2016 be a Year of New Songs for you & yours!

Cheers,

Lee

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September 7, 2015

Dark Matter Over Mind- Song In Progress

The long weekend has been productive. Ed Legal & I worked out a little more creative magic. I think it’s got legs! Hope you enjoy.

http://youtu.be/IJmW6dxAg2E

 

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