Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Celebrating Over 40 years in Music and Entertainment, GRAMMY®-Nominated and Multiple Award-Winning A Cappella Group SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK RELEASES NEW ALBUM #LoveInEvolution January 22nd, 2016

Group’s New Single, “IDK, But I’m LOL!” Available on iTunes and Amazon and New Lyric Video Available on YouTube

         
(Washington, DC – December 16, 2015) – Celebrating over 40 years in music and entertainment, GRAMMY®-nominated and multiple award-winning a cappella group, Sweet Honey In The Rock will release their 24th album, #LoveInEvolution on January 22, 2016 on SHE-ROCKS 5, Inc./Appleseed Recordings.

#LoveInEvolution features 14 songs and is produced by group member, Nitanju Bolade Casel. Staying true to the Sweet Honey In The Rock tradition of soul, jazz, blues, spirituals, gospel and African chants, the album is the group’s first studio release in nine years. #LoveInEvolution is an eclectic mix of new original songs and covers of a few popular classics.

The new single, “IDK, But I’m LOL” offers a jubilant message of encouragement to continue to live in the realm of possibility. The single is available on iTunes and Amazon. The lyric video for the single is also available (see all links below).

iTunes:
(https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/idk-but-im-lol! single/id1059873683?ls=1?&app=itunes).

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/IDK-But-Sweet-Honey Rock/dp/B0185J3WVQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1448030465&sr=8-2&keywords=IDK%2C+Sweet+Honey

“IDK, But I’m LOL” Lyric Video:
http://bit.ly/IDKBUTIMLOLLYRIC

Sweet Honey In The Rock will close out their 2015 performance season with a series of their traditional holiday concerts titled, SWEET HONEY IN THE ROCK: CELEBRATING THE HOLYDAYS at the University Congregational United Church of Christ in Seattle, WA (Saturday, December 5); Newmark Theater in Portland, OR (Sunday, December 6); Lied Center of Kansas in Lawrence, KS (Friday, December 11); Annenberg Center-Zellerbach Theatre in Philadelphia (Saturday, December 12); and Strathmore Hall in Bethesda, MD (Sunday, December 13).

Embarking on a new chapter in their musical journey, Sweet Honey In The Rock now includes four core vocalists—Louise Robinson, Carol Maillard (both founding members) Nitanju Bolade Casel, and Aisha Kahlil—plus Shirley Childress (an American Sign Language Interpreter who has been performing live with the group since 1981). For the year-end seasonal holiday concerts, bassist Romeir Mendez will be featured as a special guest musician.


www.AppleseedMusic.com
www.sweethoney.com

Monday, December 14, 2015

US ROCK LEGENDS RETURN TO THE UK

Tour to include the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

US rock legends Heart will be performing a series of gigs in the UK in June and July including a date at London’s Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Playing in the UK for the first time since 2004, Heart will also be playing Manchester, Glasgow and Birmingham.

The band will return to the UK for the long awaited tour and are excited about coming back to these shores. Despite having the 67-piece Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with them, the vocals of Ann and Nancy are more than powerful enough to compete. As the ladies say: “It’s been a long time coming. We are thrilled to return. It might get loud!”

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees Ann and Nancy Wilson stormed the charts in the 70’s with hits like “Crazy on You,” “Magic Man,” “Barracuda,” “Straight On,” and so many more. The Wilson sisters proved that women could lead a band, write the songs and play the instruments too, making them the first women in rock to do so.

Heart continued topping the charts through the 80’s and 90’s with huge hits like “These Dreams,” “Alone,” “What About Love,” “lf Looks Could Kill,” “Never,” and a string of other hits that showcased the sisters’ enormous talents as musicians, singers and songwriters. This new millennium showed them back in the charts again with top charting albums “Red Velvet Car” and “Fanatic’”
Along the way, Heart has sold more than 35 million albums, sold out arenas worldwide and became an important part of the soundtrack of American life through radio, motion pictures, television, and associations with branded sponsors.

Today, songs made famous by Heart are heard in every aspect of contemporary culture and performed live in front of hundreds of thousands of fans annually.

Dates as follows:
29TH JUNE  :  LONDON ROYAL ALBERT HALL : for this date Heart will be accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Tickets:  £40.00 - £67.50 (box seats £75.00)
30TH JUNE  :  MANCHESTER O2 APOLLO
Tickets:  £40.00 & £37.00
2ND JULY:  GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL
Tickets:   £40.00 & £35.00
3RD JULY:  BIRMINGHAM SYMPHONY HALL
Tickets:  £40.00 & £37.00

Tickets available from www.ticketline.co.uk
More information www.heart-music.com

Monday, November 9, 2015

Legendary Rock Band HEART Announces 2016 Tour of Canada

The ten-concert tour starts in Abbotsford, British Columbia on March 7 and ends in Montreal, Quebec on March 21.

Vancouver, B.C. – Heart, the Seattle-bred rock band fronted by Anne and Nancy Wilson and known for hits such as “Crazy on You”, “These Dreams”, and “Barracuda”, has announced their plans to tour across Canada in March of 2016. The tour encompasses ten concerts across six provinces, and will be promoted by Paul Mercs Concerts, or PMC. Tickets for all shows will be available starting Friday November 13 at 10AM local time.

The tour dates are:
3/7/16 – Abbotsford, BC – Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre
3/8/16 – Vancouver, BC – Orpheum Theatre
3/10/16 – Prince George, BC – CN Centre
3/13/16 – Edmonton, AB – Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
3/14/16 – Calgary, AB – Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
3/16/16 – Saskatoon, SK – SaskTel Centre
3/17/16 – Winnipeg, MB – MTS Centre
3/20/16 – Toronto, ON – Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
3/21/16 – Montreal, QC – Bell Centre

For more information visit: http://www.heart-music.com

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

EDM/POP VOCALIST C’NKY SIWELA RELEASES MUSIC VIDEO FOR SONG “MY NAME IN THE ECHO”

Electronic- pop singer, C’nky Siwela, showcases his second worldwide digital release, “My Name in the Echo,” available now!

This South African sensation won “Best Afro-Pop Artist” at the SACRA Awards following the release of his debut album, “Reminiscent of the Sounds.” Gearing up for his second full-length album, C’nky releases his second single which truly displays C’nky’s well-rounded music capabilities as a vocalist. 

“My Name in the Echo” drifts away from his first electro-pop release, “Distant Cry,” and dives into a breaking wave of tropical guitar riffs that are blended into a deep house track. C’nky’s soulful vocals express a sense of struggle and disorientation while patiently waiting for “the voice of reason” to guide him. The track relates back to when C’nky was initially trying to discover himself as an artist. He was continuously being discouraged from others around him and started to be surrounded by negative forces that led him to even worse experiences. However, C’nky regained his strength and found enlightenment that guided him out of his lull. This song is intended for anyone with disarrayed feelings and is meant to inspire listeners to always believe in the vast amount of possibilities.

Not only does the song motivate listeners to think positively, but it is the type of track to encourage everyone within listening distance to sway to the upbeat tune and release their inhibitions, fears, and doubts.  “If it’s possible for me, it is possible for everyone,” C’nky says. This peaceful, paradise get-away track can help ease and motivate the mind.

Music is my calling, hence the name of this song I present; titled ‘My Name in the Echo.’ This serves as an inspiration to whoever is trying to quit and to listen to the voice of reason. The song talks about my struggle before I discovered my real place to express myself as an emerging Electro Pop/ Jazz Artist,” says C’nky.

C’nky Siwela’s new full length album release is expected to drop in early 2016, further demonstrating his impeccable talent. With his capabilities of incorporating jazz instrumentals into electro-pop, C’nky is definitely an artist to keep an eye out for.

For more information please visit the C’nky Siwela official website: http://www.cnkysiwela.com/

Thursday, October 29, 2015

The Humble Grapes to Release New Single “Brooklyn Bridge” on October 30th Along With Upcoming Music Video November 4th

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (October 29, 2015) – The Humble Grapes are preparing for the release of their new single and music video, “Brooklyn Bridge.” The vibrant duo, which consists of vocalist, songwriter, producer Brie Capone and artist, songwriter, pianist, producer David Kaufman, have gained recognition in the indie circuit and are quickly rising to success.
“This band is a real breath of fresh air. Brie’s voice is amazing and blends perfectly with David’s masterful skills on the piano to create something truly unique.”Muzic Notez

The new single co-produced by The Humble Grapes and Ami Kozak paints a perfect picture of a rocky relationship with its alluring melody and Capone’s soulful vocals. The picturesque melody coming from Kaufman helps envision the tumultuous relationship. Capone’s captivating voice also helps emulate the emotion behind the relationship making this a raw, unforgettable follow up to “Young and Alive” in anticipation for their upcoming EP out January 2016.

“Brooklyn Bridge’ is a song about realizing that you can fall in love with some one and truly care for them, but you’re painfully aware that you’re on a different path than them,” states Capone.
“Brooklyn Bridge” will be available October 30th followed by the release of the music video on November 4th. Directed by the talented Benjamin Heller the video was beautifully shot under both The Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges in DUMBO, which also helped visualize the sentiment and tone behind the lyrics.
The Humble Grapes will be playing The Bitter End in NYC on Saturday, November 14th and have plans to tour the tri-state area throughout 2016 to support their forthcoming 2016 EP release.

Follow The Humble Grapes:
http://www.thehumblegrapes.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thehumblegrapesmusic
https://twitter.com/thehumblegrapes
https://instagram.com/thehumblegrapes/
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-humble-grapes

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

SOULEYE RELEASES NEW ALBUM, “SHAPESHIFTING”

FIRST SINGLE “THE VICTIM” AND ACCOMPANYING VIDEO OUT NOW

OCTOBER 27, 2015- Souleye has earned rave reviews and a rabid following for his rousing and powerful style that challenges paradigms and incorporates Hip-Hop, EDM, R&B, and Funk. Souleye has been touted as, “Hip hop’s medicine man,” “America’s new leading edge voice,” and “a modern day hip hop warrior.”

After releasing 201 2’s Iron Horse Running and touring the world playing sold-out arenas with Alanis Morissette, an inspired Souleye returned to the studio to begin work on his next full Iength album. With a wealth of new material, he is not set to release Shapeshifting in October. Shapeshifting effortlessly joins old-school hip hop with trip-hop…it’s a psychedelic, otherworldly exploration.

Souleye’s career began when he won a spot on Jam Cruise in 2005, a contest put on by Relix magazine, which included members of P-Funk, Les Claypool, Digable Planets, Michael Franti, Bela Fleck and Bassnectar.

Over the last ten years, Souleye has released four full-length albums as a solo artist and has been featured on the recordings of Bassnectar, MIMosa, STS9, The Glitch Mob and Michael Franti. He has performed at Coachella, Ultra Music Festival, Burning Man, Shambhala, and has toured extensively in the United States, Canada, Europe, and South America.

The Souleye experience is one of body and spirit. With stratospheric instrumental hooks and positive, conscious lyrics, Souleye’s audiences look to him for guidance, inspiration and profound entertainment. Souleye’s infectious energy and lyrical positivity rooted in human experience invites listeners to unleash their potential, and let loose their most primal instincts. “My music is geared towards inspiration and positivity.

I offer my lyrics as an opportunity for listeners to more deeply explore their relationship with their own human spirit. I want to help open the minds of listeners and support people along their journey.”

Just as the title of his latest release suggests, Souleye shapeshifts and explores a wide range of styles throughout the album. Souleye’s uplifting, positive and melodic brand of hip-hop pays homage to the genre’s past while blazing a trail into the future.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Soul Music Great Charles Wright Pens First In Series of Autobiographies “UP FROM WHERE WE’VE COME”

Inaugural Book Details 56 Chapters of Racism and Hardship The Wright Family Faced As Sharecroppers Near Clarksdale, Mississippi Circa The ’40s


Book Includes a Glowing and Empathetic Foreword by Little Richard

(Los Angeles, CA – October 26, 2015) While fans of Soul Music great Charles Wright are accustomed to hearing the singer/songwriter/guitarist shout “Express Yourself” on oldies radio, in movies and dozens of television commercials, the multi-talented messenger has taken up his pen to complete the first in a planned series of autobiographies that detail his profound life story as a southern Black man that miraculously brought himself from poverty to prosperity. The inaugural installment is “Up From Where We’ve Come,” an up-close and intimate telling of the Wright family’s profound struggles as sharecroppers near Clarksdale, Mississippi through the 1940s. Written in the raw dialects and rhythms of how Blacks and Whites communicated with each other in the era, it is a riveting insider’s glimpse into the realities of the times.
In the Preface to his book, Wright writes, “Some may consider these chapters a vital part of American history which has yet to be told in this particular fashion. “Truer words could not be spoken as the reader receives a series of history lessons from a firsthand account straight out of the memories of a most impressionable and observant youth. Through his hindsight insights as an older/wiser man, Charles Wright imparts knowledge, culture and context in each of the tome’s 56 chapters.
Through Wright’s eyes, the reader will meet his long put upon father, his wily but loving mother, his young brothers, sisters and cousins, and two different White land owners that overworked and underpaid them all with utmost disrespect to go around. While no one that studies history will find that surprising or enlightening, the personal portrait shared here makes it all the more poignant and real.

Along with the strife and struggles, however, are visions from a wide-eyed child of the natural world around him and the industrial changes happening on that very land. There’s the warmth and play of a family co-existing in a shabby home in spite of hard times. And then there’s a love story between a woman and a man that blossoms against all odds and challenges as they fight to understand each other, support each other and still find a way to romance each other.

“Up From Where We’ve Come” emerges as a triumphant and highly unique literary statement from a man whose music has already touched several generations of fans. So powerful are the stories that Wright has not one but four separate Forewords from supporters across the spectrum: California Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Rock ’n’ Roll Originator Little Richard, acclaimed Broadcast Journalist Roland Bynum and renowned Music Educator Reggie Andrews.

“I wanted to reveal just how thin the line between sharecropping and slavery really was. It’s important to me because I spent a significant part of my life under that regime. I started writing this book 40 years ago. It’s something – given the right circumstance – I wish I could have shared long ago…But now is the optimal time because discrimination never went away. Racism simply vaulted to a whole ’nother level. Honestly, in some cases, I’d take the way it used to be over what it is today. The process of systematic racial elimination is extremely ugly to me. I can see it so clearly. I need others to see it, too. So I’m expressing myself.”

Charles Wright is a world-renowned musician and songwriter best known as the leader of the ’60s-founded Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band and for recording the enduring 1971 classic “Express Yourself” (#3 R&B, #12 Pop – Billboard). The ensemble also recorded the classics “Loveland” (sung by drummer James Gadson who became an ace session musician in Los Angeles), “Do Your Thing” (featuring lead guitarist Al McKay who went on to become a star member of Earth Wind & Fire) and the racial equality anthem “Comment” (also recorded by jazz legend Les McCann, alternative rockers Wilco and others). The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band also worked closely with Bill Cosby in its infancy as his backup band for a music album (Silver Throat: Bill Cosby Sings – 1967) leading to The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band becoming the first R&B act to succeed on Warner Brothers Records with its self-titled debut LP the same year.
Wright still records Doo Wop, Blues, Soul, Pop and Funk music – now on his own label, A Million $ Worth of Memories Records. His latest CD is Let’s Make Love Tonight. He also has a forthcoming CD, tentatively titled Be Careful What You Wish For, featuring the already released first single, “Lookin’ For An Ugly Woman!” His company slogan: “True Soul Music Made By Human Beings, Not By Machines.” Also among his new recordings is a remix of “Express Yourself,” this time tied-in with a cell phone app. Charles Wright has come a long way.

Check out Charles’ new music video “Lookin’ For An Ugly Woman!” youtu.be/T4sJdTnTYo4

Here is a sample of the poignant reflections and biting insightful processing that Charles Wright’s “Up From Where We’ve Come” has to offer:

"As a victim of circumstance, my father developed a habit of sunup `til sundown drudgery. He forced us to work 40 acres of old man Miles’ fertile land practically free of charge. There was a time, though long forgotten, when my parents kept records – until they grew tired of wasting pencils and paper. Since, added to his propensity to manipulate the price of cotton, Mr. Miles had a habit of ignoring my parents’ count. His motto, which said,“A nigger is at his Best when Bent until Broken,” and which he referred to as, “The Triple B System.”

In two years’ time, my dad demanded a hundred pounds a day and not a pound less, something I could never come up with. Yet every time I failed, he whipped me viciously. I’d always start out giving it my best. But by mid-day I’d grow weary. I picked 88 pounds, 89 pounds, 92 pounds and often as much as 98 pounds. But none of these satisfied my father. It was as if he’d developed a revulsion for me and I’d actually became his sounding board – a tool to douse his own sense of defeat. Anytime he was having a bad day, my ass had to pay. It was that simple. He didn’t care what he whipped me with – either an ironing cord, a wet or a dry rope, a huge cotton stalk or an occasional wire hanger. You’d think I would have developed a tolerance for pain but I never did. Instead, I developed an equal distaste for my very own father.

Throughout the ensuing years, however, I learned of the huge tower of pressure hanging over his head, and realized how he was taking out on my behind the equivalence of what Mr. Miles was taking out on his mind – an unfair exchange yet somewhat of a logical conclusion. Whether my dad knew it or not, he’d settled for a diverse form of slavery.

UP FROM WHERE WE’VE COME WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE NOW: http://amzn.to/1GDeBd1

KEEP UP WITH CHARLES BY VISITING:
expressyourself.net
Facebook: facebook.com/Charleswright103
Twitter: twitter.com/Charles_Wright
Linkedin: linkedin.com/pub/charles-wright/33/625/667
Youtube: youtube.com/user/charleswrightz1
Reverbnation: reverbnation.com/Charlesexpressyourselfwright

Friday, October 16, 2015

ROBERT MILLER’S PROJECT GRAND SLAM RELEASES NEW FULL LENGTH ALBUM “MADE IN NEW YORK” TODAY

ALBUM FEATURES THE SONGS “NEW YORK CITY GROOVE” AND THEIR UNIQUE COVER OF JIMI HENDRIX’S “FIRE” AND INCLUDES TWO TRACKS RECORDED “LIVE” AT THE WORLD FAMOUS BLUE NOTE JAZZ CLUB IN NEW YORK CITY

“’Made In New York’ is fantastic!!“ – BVS Reviews

Robert Miller’s acclaimed fusion band, Project Grand Slam, today releases their new full length album, “Made In New York,” which includes the singles “New York City Groove” and “Fire”, five original Miller tunes, plus two tracks recorded “live” at the world famous Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City.  All of the songs capture the band’s unique jazz/rock/fusion /jam band sound.

”‘Fire’ is a truly fiery new cover of Jimi Hendrix’s song!“ – Lyndsey Parker,YahooMusic.com

PGS has recently released two videos for the songs “New York City Groove” and “Fire” that together have garnered over 120,000 views in just a few weeks. Both feature guest vocalist Kat Robichaud from NBC’s The Voice, who lends her rock n’ roll roots to the songs and the videos.

“’Fire’ is an unbelievable gem!” – Musicnotez.com

See the video for “Fire” here: http://smarturl.it/PGSFire

See the video for “New York City Groove” here:  https://youtu.be/ptGNf97tB8E

PGS was formed in 2007 by bassist/leader/composer Miller and has previously released two highly regarded albums, “Play” (2008) and “Spring Dance” (2012). In 2009 the band was featured in an episode of the hit NBC-TV show “Lipstick Jungle”, and has had several additional hit singles: “The Captain Of Her Heart” feat. Judie Tzuke, “Catch You Later,” and “Spring Dance.

http://www.projectgrandslam.com

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

NEW AGE HIP HOP ARTIST SOULEYE ANNOUNCES EXCLUSIVE DEBUT OF THE VIDEO FOR HIS NEW SINGLE “THE VICTIM,” THAT WENT LIVE ON YAHOO MUSIC ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 5th

Los Angeles, CA: New age hip hop artist artist SOULEYE is proud to announce the exclusive debut of his latest video, “The Victim,” set to go live on Yahoo Music at 7:30am PST on Monday, October 5.  The video is for the first single from his upcoming album, Shapeshifting, due out October 27.

“The Victim,” explores sonic tenacity in a new realm for SOULEYE. Sample lyric: “And as we wrestle temptations the temperature is rising/I’m purging my trauma no longer holding on to the drama.”

The music video brings in several Rize dancers, whose bold and energetic styles add another dimension to the song’s message. It feels as though they are dancing to remove themselves from this victim space, with high intensity, determination, and force.

“‘The Victim’ touches on the victim-consciousness, or the ‘poor-me’ mentality that I have learned to embrace, then burn through,” SOULEYE explains. “We hold onto old patterns born from our survival strategies and our traumas, and this song speaks to releasing and freeing ourselves from all things that hold us back and keep us in a victim state, disconnected from who we are.”

For more information, please check out:

www.souleye.net
Instagram: @souleyephotos
Twitter: @souleye
Facebook: www.facebook.com/souleye

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Soul Music Great Charles Wright Pens First In Series of Autobiographies “UP FROM WHERE WE’VE COME”



Inaugural Book Details 56 Chapters of Racism and Hardship The Wright Family Faced As Sharecroppers Near Clarksdale, Mississippi Circa The ’40s

Book Includes a Glowing and Empathetic Foreword by Little Richard


(Los Angeles, CA – September 23, 2015) While fans of Soul Music great Charles Wright are accustomed to hearing the singer/songwriter/guitarist shout “Express Yourself” on oldies radio, in movies and dozens of television commercials, the multi-talented messenger has taken up his pen to complete the first in a planned series of autobiographies that detail his profound life story as a southern Black man that miraculously brought himself from poverty to prosperity. The inaugural installment is “Up From Where We’ve Come,” an up-close and intimate telling of the Wright family’s profound struggles as sharecroppers near Clarksdale, Mississippi through the 1940s. Written in the raw dialects and rhythms of how Blacks and Whites communicated with each other in the era, it is a riveting insider’s glimpse into the realities of the times.

In the Preface to his book, Wright writes, “Some may consider these chapters a vital part of American history which has yet to be told in this particular fashion. “Truer words could not be spoken as the reader receives a series of history lessons from a firsthand account straight out of the memories of a most impressionable and observant youth. Through his hindsight insights as an older/wiser man, Charles Wright imparts knowledge, culture and context in each of the tome’s 56 chapters.

Through Wright’s eyes, the reader will meet his long put upon father, his wily but loving mother, his young brothers, sisters and cousins, and two different White land owners that overworked and underpaid them all with utmost disrespect to go around. While no one that studies history will find that surprising or enlightening, the personal portrait shared here makes it all the more poignant and real.

Along with the strife and struggles, however, are visions from a wide-eyed child of the natural world around him and the industrial changes happening on that very land. There’s the warmth and play of a family co-existing in a shabby home in spite of hard times. And then there’s a love story between a woman and a man that blossoms against all odds and challenges as they fight to understand each other, support each other and still find a way to romance each other.

“Up From Where We’ve Come” emerges as a triumphant and highly unique literary statement from a man whose music has already touched several generations of fans. So powerful are the stories that Wright has not one but four separate Forewords from supporters across the spectrum: California Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Rock ’n’ Roll Originator Little Richard, acclaimed Broadcast Journalist Roland Bynum and renowned Music Educator Reggie Andrews.

“I wanted to reveal just how thin the line between sharecropping and slavery really was. It’s important to me because I spent a significant part of my life under that regime. I started writing this book 40 years ago. It’s something – given the right circumstance – I wish I could have shared long ago...But now is the optimal time because discrimination never went away. Racism simply vaulted to a whole ’nother level. Honestly, in some cases, I’d take the way it used to be over what it is today. The process of systematic racial elimination is extremely ugly to me. I can see it so clearly. I need others to see it, too. So I’m expressing myself.”

Charles Wright is a world-renowned musician and songwriter best known as the leader of the ’60s-founded Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band and for recording the enduring 1971 classic “Express Yourself” (#3 R&B, #12 Pop – Billboard). The ensemble also recorded the classics “Loveland” (sung by drummer James Gadson who became an ace session musician in Los Angeles), “Do Your Thing” (featuring lead guitarist Al McKay who went on to become a star member of Earth Wind & Fire) and the racial equality anthem “Comment” (also recorded by jazz legend Les McCann, alternative rockers Wilco and others). The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band also worked closely with Bill Cosby in its infancy as his backup band for a music album (Silver Throat: Bill Cosby Sings – 1967) leading to
The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band becoming the first R&B act to succeed on Warner Brothers Records with its self-titled debut LP the same year.

Wright still records Doo Wop, Blues, Soul, Pop and Funk music – now on his own label, A Million $ Worth of Memories Records. His latest CD is Let’s Make Love Tonight. He also has a forthcoming CD, tentatively titled Be Careful What You Wish For, featuring the already released first single, “Lookin’ For An Ugly Woman!” His company slogan: “True Soul Music Made By Human Beings, Not By Machines.” Also among his new recordings is a remix of “Express Yourself,” this time tied-in with a cell phone app. Charles Wright has come a long way.

Check out Charles’ new music video “Lookin’ For An Ugly Woman!” youtu.be/T4sJdTnTYo4


Here is a sample of the poignant reflections and biting insightful processing that Charles Wright’s “Up From Where We’ve Come” has to offer:

As a victim of circumstance, my father developed a habit of sunup `til sundown drudgery. He forced us to work 40 acres of old man Miles’ fertile land practically free of charge. There was a time, though long forgotten, when my parents kept records – until they grew tired of wasting pencils and paper. Since, added to his propensity to manipulate the price of cotton, Mr. Miles had a habit of ignoring my parents’ count. His motto, which said,
“A nigger is at his Best when Bent until Broken,” and which he referred to as, “The Triple B System.

In two years’ time, my dad demanded a hundred pounds a day and not a pound less, something I could never come up with. Yet every time I failed, he whipped me viciously. I’d always start out giving it my best. But by mid-day I’d grow weary. I picked 88 pounds, 89 pounds, 92 pounds and often as much as 98 pounds. But none of these satisfied my father. It was as if he’d developed a revulsion for me and I’d actually became his sounding board – a tool to douse his own sense of defeat. Anytime he was having a bad day, my ass had to pay. It was that simple. He didn’t care what he whipped me with – either an ironing cord, a wet or a dry rope, a huge cotton stalk or an occasional wire hanger. You’d think I would have developed a tolerance for pain but I never did. Instead, I developed an equal distaste for my very own father.

Throughout the ensuing years, however, I learned of the huge tower of pressure hanging over his head, and realized how he was taking out on my behind the equivalence of what Mr. Miles was taking out on his mind – an unfair exchange yet somewhat of a logical conclusion. Whether my dad knew it or not, he’d settled for a diverse form of slavery.


UP FROM WHERE WE’VE COME WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE AND IN BOOKSTORES ON OCTOBER 26TH


KEEP UP WITH CHARLES BY VISITING:

expressyourself.net

Facebook: facebook.com/Charleswright103

Twitter: twitter.com/Charles_Wright

Linkedin: linkedin.com/pub/charles-wright/33/625/667

Youtube: youtube.com/user/charleswrightz1

Reverbnation: reverbnation.com/Charlesexpressyourselfwright


Monday, September 21, 2015

Bluegrass Iconoclasts Shotgun Holler Are Fired Up For Loaded, Their Dry Lightning Records Debut, With First National Television Appearance

‘Out in the Parkin’ Lot’ now in heavy rotation on SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction

BOONEVILLE, Ky. — The guys in Shotgun Holler aren’t given to sporting retro-rustic looks featuring suspenders, vests or bowler derbies. They feel no need to dress a part; that’s for actors. As soon as these five players start plucking their instruments and merging their voices in close harmony, they provide all the evidence necessary to establish their bluegrass bona-fides.

Besides, as they make clear on their debut album, Loaded, they like to go where tradition meets authenticity — and jump right over that intersection to head in their own direction. Released Sept. 18 on Lonesome Day Records’ new Dry Lightning imprint (with Sony RED distribution), the album is already earning serious attention. SiriusXM’s Bluegrass Junction has been spinning Shotgun Holler’s version of the Guy Clark/Darrell Scott tune “Out in the Parkin’ Lot,” an ode to what goes on outside those honky-tonks, in heavy rotation since June. Since the beginning of September, the band has joined program director/host Kyle Cantrell in the studio for a “track by track” discussion, which will air several times a week starting September 25th.

“Shotgun Holler is bringing bluegrass a freshness I haven’t heard in a long time,” says Cantrell. ”This is the sound that will help take the music to the next level.”

In July, they appeared on CMT’s Josh Wolf Show, where they delivered a masterful rendition of the “guilty pleasure” song: Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball.” The fact that their version of the pop hit brought a totally new dynamic to the original speaks to the depth of this band’s talent — not to mention their propensity for tweaking conventional notions of bluegrass while having a little fun.

As for those “bona-fides,” this band’s got too many to list. Mandolinist Shawn Brock, born and raised in the Appalachian hills of Harlan County, Ky., has performed with some of the top names in country and bluegrass. He’s also a jazz player. His Shotgun Holler co-founder, guitarist/lead vocalist Matt Jones, is an Indiana native who grew up hanging out with, and learning from, many bluegrass greats. They’re supported by bassist/harmony vocalist Rod Lunger (another Kentuckian), banjo player Nathan Treadway (an Indiana farm boy) and fiddler/harmony vocalist Alex Benefiel (an Indiana state fiddling champion).

With producer Jim Van Cleve, they’ve crafted a knockout inaugural that is indeed loaded. On three Jones-penned originals (“I’ve Got Ramblin’ On My Mind,” “Miners Grave” and “One Lone Tree”) and eight other carefully chosen snapshots of life, they enter rich emotional territory, bringing to life an array of all-too-real characters: truckers, coal diggers, dirt farmers, men facing assembly-line futures … some of whom go off to serve their country — or serve time. The band gets poignant in the waltz-tempo “This Side of the Grass,” a heart-tugging tale of a mourning husband and father, and “One Lone Tree,” reflects on a life that didn’t end up as glamorous as it once looked from a simple Kentucky home.

In songs such as Son Volt’s “Methamphetamine,” Jason Isbell’s “Relatively Easy,” “Clovis Johnson’s Old Red GMC” and the ever-evolving classic, “My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It,” they sing of addicts, suicides, moonshine-making reprobates and lonely, hooker-loving men with regrets. Oh, and romancing one moonshine-maker’s daughter. You’ve gotta have a love song, after all even if the title does reference a truck.

With the release of Loaded, Shotgun Holler is ready to fire away.

Loaded track list
“Out In The Parkin’ Lot”
“I Hope Heaven Has a Holler”
“My Bucket’s Got A Hole In It”
“Methamphetamine”
“Clovis Johnson’s Old Red GMC”
“Relatively Easy”
“I’ve Got Ramblin On My Mind”
“This Side Of The Grass”
“Miners Grave”
“One Lone Tree”
“I Should Have Started Yesterday”


Shotgun Holler on tour
October 17 – Proud Mary Honky Tonk BBQ, Lexington, KY
October 31 – VFW Post 1108, Richmond, IN
November 27 – Roberts Park, Connersville, IN


shotgunholler.com
facebook.com/shotgunholler
twitter.com/shotgunholler
instagram.com/shotgunholler


About Dry Lightning Records
Dry Lightning Records was established to give a broader range of Lonesome Day Records artists their own home while allowing the original label to continue building on its 12-year history in the bluegrass market Founder Randall Deaton now puts as much passion and energy into Dry Lightning Records as he still devotes to the label he founded in 2002. In partnership with Sony/RED Distribution, the label also includes the critically acclaimed acts Girls Guns and Glory and Sarah Borges. Both Dry Lightning and Lonesome Day, incidentally, take their names from the titles of Bruce Springsteen songs.

Friday, September 18, 2015

PROJECT GRAND SLAM’S UNIQUE TAKE ON JIMI HENDRIX’S FIRE (SONG AND VIDEO) OUT NOW!

THE BAND’S NEW FULL LENGH ALBUM TO BE RELEASED ON OCTOBER 16th

PLAYING NYC’S CUTTING ROOM ON SEPTEMBER 9th JOIN THE #GROOVEMOVEMENT


DONATING PROCEEDS FROM “NYC GROOVE” TO CHARITIES


Robert Miller’s Project Grand Slam is gearing up for a busy fall with the September 18th release of their next single featuring their unique take on Jimi Hendrix’s Fire. The song showcases Guest Vocalist Kat Robichaud from NBC’s The Voice, who lends her rock n’ roll and glam roots to the song and the related video.  This cover of Fire is unlike any other.  It’s a sexy, smoldering version that captures the full emotion of the Hendrix classic.


On October 16th PGS will release their new full length album that includes the singles New York City Groove and Fire as well as two tracks recorded “live” at the world famous Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City.  All of the songs on the album (except for Fire) were composed by Robert and reflect the band’s distinctive trademark sound and feel.


The band’s most recent single, released on July 10th, is Robert’s catchy, snazzy New York City Groove, also featuring Kat Robichaud on vocals.  The song is “a love letter to my NYC home,” says Robert, leader/bassist/composer for PGS.  In the month since its release, the Groove video has been viewed over 85,000 times on YouTube, and the instrumental version of the song is moving up the charts on jazz radio.


The Groove video (http://smarturl.it/NYCGroove) contains Kat and others doing their own “Groove move”, which in turn has spawned a “Groove Movement” of people dancing their own “move” to the song.  PGS is inviting everyone to join the “Groove Movement” by creating their own individual “Groove Move” video and uploading the video to any of their social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.) using the hashtag #GrooveMovement.


On September 9th PGS performed at The Cutting Room in NYC.  This comes on the heels of their highly regarded performance on August 5th at The Iridium in NYC.


The band has decided to donate 10% of the sales from New York City Groove to three New York City based art and culture non-profit organizations that benefit underprivileged and inner-city children. “I thought it was appropriate for us to align the success of New York City Groove with our support for several NYC-based arts non-profits that provide great programs and services for children in need,” said Robert, adding: “It’s our way of ‘playing it forward’.”


http://www.projectgrandslam.com

Thursday, September 17, 2015

THE HUMBLE GRAPES GEAR UP FOR THE RELEASE OF THEIR NEXT SINGLE “YOUNG AND ALIVE” OUT SEPTEMBER 18th OFF OF THEIR FORTHCOMING EP DUE OUT JANUARY 2016

(Los Angeles, CA) September 17, 2015 – The dynamic duo making waves in the NYC indie circuit are The Humble Grapes consisting of producer David Kaufman and vocalist Brie Capone. Set to release their brand new highly anticipated single “Young and Alive” September 18th, the talented musicians will also be prepping for the rollout of their forthcoming EP out January 2016

“We wanted to create a fun and upbeat song. Nothing too heavy lyrically, but we love arranging rich and funky bass lines, drum parts and vocal lines. The lyrics speak to a youthful urge to just be, and have fun, something both Dave and I can relate to. The song is about wanting to get out and enjoy life while you can even if you’re young and broke as a window,” states lead vocalist Brie Capone.

“Young and Alive” is an honest depiction of the band’s unique style and music. The duo bring a fresh breath of modernity. Capone’s incredibly rich, throaty voice that interplays over David Kaufman’s brilliance on the piano into a rock infused, luscious romp through their many original compositions and songs are a joy to listen to and watch.

“Indie rock has melded a lot of genres and styles and Humble Grapes may not be the first to mash up cabaret music and rock but the band adds dashes or blues and classic soul and does it well.” –The Morning Call

The music video for “Young and Alive” was released on the band’s YouTube page September 15th and was directed by Mikhail Torich. Catch The Humble Grapes at The Bitter End in October and November. They will continue playing in the NYC area and have plans to expand touring throughout the tri-state area throughout 2016.
Watch The Humble Grapes “Young And Alive” on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbM0MY8hP0s

Upcoming Tour Dates:
Oct. 7 – The Bitter End – New York, NY
Nov. 14 – The Bitter End – New York, NY
 
For more information on The Humble Grapes:
http://www.thehumblegrapes.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thehumblegrapesmusic
https://twitter.com/thehumblegrapes
https://instagram.com/thehumblegrapes/
https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/the-humble-grapes

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

‘Sasha’s Bloc’ Performs Live at the KJazz Fall Benefit Concert @ Wallis Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, September 18, 2015 Featuring Guest Vocalist Alvin Chea of Take 6 

You’re cordially invited to attend this special benefit concert.

Very limited VIP comped tickets ($200 value) are still available.

Please RSVP by September 17th to Chip Schutzman: chip@mileshighproductions.com

For additional information on the show please visit: http://jazzandblues.org/features/2015/07/fallBenefitConcert/

To purchase tickets please go to: http://ticketsr.com/benefit

Monday, September 14, 2015

ANN WILSON NEW EP WILL BE RELEASED DIGITALLY ON SEPTEMBER 18 AND IN STORES OCTOBER 9 BY ROUNDER

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“THE ANN WILSON THING” ADDITIIONAL TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

LOS ANGELES, CA—September 10, 2015—Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Ann Wilson is set to release her first solo EP, The Ann Wilson Thing, on Rounder Records. Featured tracks on the EP include “Fool No More,” which was written by Wilson and described by her as “a heavy blues song about bad love and the fleeting of time” and “For What It’s Worth,” described by Wilson as “a melding of some timeless lyrics with meat, hair and teeth.”  The Ann Wilson Thing will be released digitally on September 18 and in stores October 9.

Wilson previously announced her first solo mini tour kicking off September 21 in Solana Beach, CA. Additional dates include The Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center on October 6 and a second show at City Winery in New York on October 7. Alison Krauss and Emmylou Harris with be sitting in with Wilson at her Nashville City Winery date on October 15 and Jon Batiste, the band leader of the Colbert show, will join Ann for a song at the New York City Winery show.

In addition, Wilson’s Hartford, CT show at the Kate Hepburn Theater will be filmed by Connecticut PBS as part of their new “Kate Hepburn Series” and will air on PBS in February.

As a songwriter and lyricist, Ann Wilson has created a truly impressive body of work (“Crazy on You,” “Barracuda,” “Magic Man,” “Dog & Butterfly,” “Straight On”, “Even it Up,” “Mistral Wind,” and many, many more).  However, her greatest gift, and first “calling” is singing and with this intimate tour, she prepares to blow away her fans with up, close and personal, raw performances of blues and rock songs. The Ann Wilson Thing won’t replace Heart but it will be a new experience for existing Heart fans, as well as for new fans who will love these songs.




The Ann Wilson Thing Tour Dates:

Sept 21 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up
Oct 6 – Hartford, CT – The Katherine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center
Oct 7 – New York, NY – City Winery (two shows)
Oct 9 – Annapolis, MD – Rams Head on Stage
Oct 10 – Annapolis, MD – Rams Head on Stage
Oct 12 – Vienna, VA – The Barns at Wolf Trap
Oct 13 – Vienna, VA – The Barns at Wolf Trap
Oct 15 – Nashville, TN – City Winery
Nov 23 – Oakland, CA – Yoshi’s
Nov 24 – Oakland, CA – Yoshi’s (two shows)

For more information about Ann Wilson, please visit http://www.heart-music.com, follow @AnnHeartMusic on Twitter, @AnnHeartMusic on Instagram and like "Ann Wilson" on Facebook.

Click here to preview “Fool No More” written by Ann Wilson.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Singer-Songwriter-Pianist Shauna Burns Releases New Single “From Flying”

(Los Angeles, CA) Shauna Burns’ new single “From Flying” is inspired by taking risks and following dreams. The lyrics are paired with elegant piano solos for a minimal, dramatic song that highlights Burns’ recognizable vocals and inspirational lyrics.

“From Flying seems like it covers a lot of space and time to me.  The piano feels like it’s flying from planet to planet, past the stars.  From Flying is about jumping off the cliff of possibility even when it seems like it’s impossible.  Going for your dreams against the odds.  Sometimes we need a little push, sometimes we can’t help but want to fly.”

“From Flying” gradually builds with harmonies and echoes of the phrase “can you stop me from flying.” Burns’ lyrics and piano solos have been built on her reputation in the Celtic music world. “It’s heartwarming to receive messages from people who discover and connect with my music and it’s gratifying to know that what I created in solitude has the ability to touch people emotionally,” she says.

Shauna Burns is a Las Vegas based singer-songwriter who recently celebrated the 10 Year Anniversary of Every Thought, her debut album.  While still continuing with the theme of female independence, strength, and freedom from her 2013 album Violet, Burns uses continues to weave these themes throughout all her songs.

Follow Shauna Burns:
http://shaunaburns.com
https://www.facebook.com/shaunaburnsmusic
https://twitter.com/shaunaburns
https://www.youtube.com/user/shaunaburns

Monday, August 31, 2015

‘Sasha’s Bloc’ Performs Live at the KJazz Fall Benefit Concert Wallis Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, September 18, 2015 Featuring Guest Vocalists Jane Monheit and Alvin Chea




Los Angeles, California — Jazz collective Sasha’s Bloc will join special guests for KKJZ’s (KJAZZ) first annual fall benefit concert featuring Grammy nominated vocalist Jane Monheit and Take 6’s Alvin Chea. The jazz collective take influence from the Big Band Jazz sound of the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s, and to a performance style that evokes such seminal acts as Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, Count Basie, Scott Joplin, Ella Fitzgerald and more.

The benefit concert will take place at 8pm in Beverly Hills at the Wallis Center for the Performing Arts with tickets ranging from $50-$150. Showcasing their electrifying live show for this special night, Sasha’s Bloc will bring their 15 piece band comprised of Brandon Fields, saxophone; Alex Budman, saxophone, clarinet; Kye Palmer, trumpet; Bob McChesney, trombone; Kevin Winnard, drums; James Lum, guitar, banjo; Andy Langham, piano. Guest artists on the upcoming album include: Jane Monheit, vocal; Alvin Chea, vocal; Jesse Palter, vocal; Tony Galla, vocal; Princess Fortier, vocal; Glynis Leflore, vocal; Akua Willis, vocal, Jason Fabus, accordion; Marc T. Bolin, tuba.

Gershman plays upright bass and electric bass.

An amalgam of varied artists, nationalities and experiences, Sasha’s Bloc is fueled by bassist and songwriter Alex Gershman that all together delivers a sound that is consistently big, boisterous, full of spirit and rich.

The group has built a name for itself in recent years via multiple sold out concerts at the key Jazz Clubs in Los Angeles, including Catalina Bar and Grill, Vibrato, Backed Potato and Vitello’s.

For additional information on the show please go to:
http://jazzandblues.org/features/2015/07/fallBenefitConcert/

Tickets: $50-$150 and can be purchased in advance 8:00PM PST

To purchase tickets please go to: www.ticketsr.com/benefit

Monday, August 10, 2015

Singer-Songwriter-Pianist Shauna Burns Releases New Single “Gray Moon” – OUT NOW!


(Los Angeles, CA) — Shauna Burns’ new single, “Gray Moon” is a soothing song where she sings of change and the goodness that comes with it. The lyrics are paired with beautifully orchestrated piano solos bringing it all together for a minimal, dramatic song that highlights Burns’ recognizable vocals and inspirational lyrics.

“Gray Moon is about change.  Changing your mind, changing your point of view and changing what could be.  Sometimes people change and you do not recognize them anymore.  They move from the light of the sun to the gray shadow of the moon.  We drift up changing direction, circling the universe.  We may have our moments of darkness but the light is always just on the other side, waiting for us.”

Burns’ profound lyrics and sweeping piano solos have been built on her reputation in the Celtic music world. “It’s heartwarming to receive messages from people who discover and connect with my music and it’s gratifying to know that what I created in solitude has the ability to touch people emotionally,” she says.

Shauna Burns is a Las Vegas based singer-songwriter who recently celebrated the 10 Year Anniversary of Every Thought, her debut album. While still continuing with the theme of female independence, strength, and freedom from her 2013 album Violet, Burns uses continues to weave these themes throughout all her songs.

Monday, August 3, 2015

Innovative Bluegrass Band Shotgun Holler Release "Loaded" Via Dry Lightning Records. Available NOW!


(BOONEVILLE, KY) – It’s not often that a bluegrass band comes around sporting tattoos and singing about things that some radio stations of that genre might find a bit too left of center. But that’s exactly what Randall Deaton liked about Shotgun Holler, the new five-piece bluegrass band with an edge, when he signed them to his Dry Lightning Records.
Shotgun Holler was founded by mandolinist Shawn Brock and vocalist/guitarist Matt Jones out of a desire to create substantive music in the genre they love. The duo then brought on bassist Rod Lunger, banjo player Nathan Treadway, and fiddle player Evan McGregor who all hail from various cities around the Midwest. On the new record, Loaded, Jones penned three of the album’s 11 tracks: “I’ve Got Ramblin On My Mind,” “Miners Grave,” and “One Lone Tree.” The rest of the record showcases the band’s modern take on bluegrass songs, as well as their unique renditions of the alt-country song, “Methamphetamine” by Son Volt, and “Relatively Easy” by singer/songwriter Jason Isbell, who is a former member of alt-country band Drive-By Truckers
Of the Son Volt and Isbell covers, Deaton says, “I think these drug-abuse-related songs are good examples of the band doing non-traditional bluegrass themed material and are some of the most interesting cuts on this record.”
“We don’t really fit the typical bluegrass mold of today. Instrumentally we are pretty recognizable as bluegrass. We’re using the traditional bluegrass instruments – banjo, guitar, upright bass, mandolin, and fiddle. Where we tend to cross into other areas is the content that we choose to sing about, which can be very non-traditional. Lyrically, all of the songs aren’t necessarily wholesome,” Brock said.
         Loaded was produced by Mountain Heart founding member Jim Van Cleve at Lonesome Day Studios in Booneville, Kentucky and is set to be released and distributed by Dry Lightning Records and Sony Red on June 30. Van Cleve has produced award winning projects spanning a variety of genres for acts such as Mountain Heart, Newfound Road, Del Shields, Celebration of Life II (Musicians Against Childhood Cancer), Annabelle Road, his own Grammy Nominated solo project, and the IBMA Awards Show Theme, among others. Van Cleve engineered the album with Greg Lawrence. Van Cleve, Brock, and Jones mixed the project.
Available now via Airplay Direct, Loaded is ranked #9 for the month with “My Bucket’s Got A Hole In It,” in the Top 50.
album cover: Loaded
album cover: Loaded
Loaded Track Listing
  1. “Out In The Parkin’ Lot”
  2. “I Hope Heaven Has a Holler”
  3. “My Bucket’s Got A Hole In It”
  4. “Methamphetamine”
  5. “Clovis Johnson’s Old Red GMC”
  6. “Relatively Easy”
  7. “I’ve Got Ramblin On My Mind”
  8. “This Side Of The Grass”
  9. “Miners Grave”
  10. “One Lone Tree”
  11. “I Should Have Started Yesterday”

Shotgun Holler on tour:
May 29, Wick’s Pizza, Louisville Kentucky
May 31, Kentucky Railway Museum, New haven Kentucky
June 4, Miami University concert series, Oxford Ohio
June 11, Parlay Social, Lexington Kentucky
June 13, State Theater, Point Pleasant West Virginia
May 14, private event, Brookville Indiana
June 18, Columbus Convention Ctr., Columbus, OH
June 27, venue TBA CD release party, Cincinnati Ohio
July 4, Fountain Square, Cincinnati Ohio
July 4, Gypsies, Covington Kentucky
About Dry Lightning Records

Dry Lightning Records was established with the goal of giving a broader range of artists from Lonesome Day Records their own home while allowing the Lonesome Day brand to continue to emerge in the bluegrass market where it has already made a mark over the last 12 years.  Randall Deaton has put as much passion and energy into Dry Lightning Records as he has Lonesome Day Records since its origin in 2002.  Like Lonesome Day Records the inspiration for the name Dry Lightning Records comes from the title of a Bruce Springsteen song. In partnership with Sony/RED Distribution, the label also includes the critically acclaimed acts Girls Guns and Glory and Sarah Borges.

Friday, July 17, 2015

Kwame Binea Shakedown’s self-titled debut EP OUT NOW!




New York, NY - ...Harlem-based roots rock songwriter/singer Kwame Binea, who fronts the Kwame Binea Shakedown, has announced the worldwide digital release of the group's debut and self-titled EP on Tuesday, July 17, 2015 via CDbaby.com and all their major digital distribution partners including  iTunes and Amazon.com.

"Kwame Binea Shakedown" features four tracks including the group's first single
 "Let Go" (released in early April), their most recent single, "Hang On" (released in mid-June) and  "Little Lady" and "Waiting," which have never been released. Musically, the EP showcases Binea's "roots rock" lineage, which is a fusion of rhythmic rock n' roll, ample dosages of infectious funk, silky soul, screaming blues and just a smidgeon of reggae and funk.

All the songs were written and produced by Binea and guitarist Justin Wilcox for Binea's indie imprint, Pelopos Entertainment Group. The EP was co-produced by Jerry Ramos and the Shakedown Band. The Shakedown band comprises; Binea on lead vocals, guitarist's Justin Wilcox and Art Vanterpool, drummer Medley Shabazz, bassist Phil Bass, Daron Wright on keyboards, Kengo Yamada and Michael Quigley on saxophone, Brian Varneke on trumpet and guest background vocalist's Dietrice Bolden and Jindai Joseph. The EP was recorded at SST Studios, Kaleidscope Studios and Mercury Studios, all located in New Jersey.

Binea and Wilcox have been intermittingly writing, recording and performing the songs over the past several years. "We've always viewed ourselves primarily as a live band" explained Kwame. "As writers, we're fueled by how our fans and audiences react to our songs. We take that energy and feedback  back into the studio and do our best to channel it into the songs we decide to record. This EP means a lot to us because it's driven by all the love and positivity our fans keep  giving us. It's our way of expressing  our appreciation and thanks for all their inspiration and support," he added.

Binea, grew up splitting time in West London (his birth place) and in his native origins, Ghana. He later moved to Cherry Hill, NJ as a teenager where he started to unearth his artistic aspirations as a burgeoning songwriter/singer/guitarist. While in college he teamed up with  guitarist/vocalist Justin Wilcox as a  duo, which became the nucleus that spawned the rock/funk  collective Kwame Shakedown in Harlem, NY (2011). Over the past several years they have built a legion of loyal fans performing at most of the city's most noted music venues including Joe's Pub, Arlene Grocery, Rockwood Music Hall and Brooklyn Bowl, to name just a few.


For more information go to: www.kwamebineashakedown.com