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Songwriter to share his secrets at library
Andrew Salgado will share his songwriting talents during a workshop at Indian Prairie Public LIbrary on Oct. 24 and 25. | ©2012 Jim Nonneman.
Songwriting workshop
WHERE: Indian Prairie Public Library, 401 Plainfield Road, Darien
WHEN: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 24 and 25
WHO: songwriters in grades 7-12
BRING: your songs and ideas
REGISTER: in person, at (630) 887-8760, ext. 264, or online at calendar.ippl.info.
Article Extras
Updated: December 17, 2012 1:57AM
DARIEN — There is no formula for the songs created in Andrew Salgado’s mind.
“They all happen differently,” the Darien singer and songwriter said. And because he never knows when a lyric or a melody will present itself, he is never without a paper and pencil.
“You have to be ready to capture it,” said Salgado, who will help other young writers turn their ideas into songs during a two-night songwriting workshop at Indian Prairie Public Library.
The workshop is part of the library’s annual Write-On! Teen Literary Festival. The event includes a writing competition that invites young people to submit stories but only once before has welcomed songs.
“That was the most well-attended writing workshop we ever had,” said Sarah Joynt of the library’s teen services department.
With a contest deadline of Oct. 29, Salgado’s workshop, set for Oct. 24 and 25, comes just in time.
Now a full-time songwriter and performer, Salgado wrote his own first song just four years ago. Before that he was making music and writing poems, but he had never put the two together.
“I had no idea that music would be my career,” said Salgado, who worked in a pharmacy and coached baseball before turning to music.
Today, he’s on his way to being a star, said musician Jim Peterik of Burr Ridge, who works with Salgado as co-producer and co-writer. Salgado refers to Peterik as his mentor, as well.
“He’s on the verge of some really big things,” said Peterik, best known as a member of the band Survivor and co-writer of “Eye of the Tiger.”
“He is the whole package,” Peterik said.
Recognized by several national and international songwriting competitions, Salgado can compose, sing and play guitar, but the thing that sets him apart is his ability to engage an audience, Peterik said.
“That’s the real magic.”
Whether it’s in a 30,000-seat stadium or for a group at Indian Prairie library, Salgado said he loves to perform.
“I’m at the surreal point of having people sing my songs back to me,” he said.
One day soon, Peterik expects Salgado to hear his songs on the radio, too. His next album, “It’s Love, It’s Fun, It’s True,” is due out next spring, and it contains a song that Peterik said could become the country anthem of Summer 2013.
In the meantime, he can be found performing his own songs, as well as favorite covers, at such local venues as Eddie Merlot’s in Burr Ridge and Q Sports Bar and Grill in Darien.
No matter how successful he becomes, Salgado said he has no intention of following the bright lights of stardom to Nashville or Hollywood.
“My family is here,” he said.
And so are his first and biggest fans.
