Summer Jazz Festival at Mills Pond House
June 9, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) The Smithtown Township Arts Council presents its third annual Summer Jazz Festival Saturday, July 12 from 5-10 pm. The concert will take place in the festival tent on the grounds of the Mills Pond House. Admission $15 ($10 by Advance Reservation) and $5 for students with ID. For more information, call 631-862-6575, or visit our Web site at www.stacarts.org
Headliners:
Legendary Bill Crow
Bill Crow has gained an international reputation as one of the finest double bassists of the genre. During his nearly six-decade career he is best known as a bassist but is also an accomplished trumpeter, saxophonist, trombonist and drummer. The list of musicians that Bill has worked for reads like a virtual who’s who in the history of the art form: Gerry Mulligan, Benny Goodman, Marion McPartland, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Duke Ellington, Stan Getz and many others. Bill is also an accomplished writer and has authored two widely read books Jazz Anecdotes and from Birdland to Broadway. Bill will be performing selections that reflect some of the important musical relationships of his vast career, interspersed with his recollections and humorous anecdotes in what promises to be a delightful musical experience. He will be performing with an all-star quintet for this event which includes; percussionist Nick Scheuble, Trumpeter Randy Sandke, Baritone and Alto saxophonist Carl Maraghi, and guitarist James Chrillo.
Hendrik Meurkens Samba Jazz Quartet
Hendrik Meurkens, a virtuoso on both the chromatic harmonica and the vibraphone, is considered the most important jazz harmonica player since Toots Thielemans. Marcela Breton of Jazz Times refers to Meurkens as “…one of the world’s leading exponents of the jazz harmonica.” German-born but now based in New York, Meurkens’ recordings and performances garner worldwide acclaim. Hendrik Meurkens’ profound involvement in both jazz and Brazilian music resulted in a very personal and instantly recognizable version of Samba jazz.
Latin Jazz Master Chico Mendoza
Grammy-nominated musician Chico Mendoza is a composer, arranger, vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and host of the famed Manhattan Latin Jazz club “The Village Gate” as well as a D.J. on WBGO “Jazz 88″. Mendoza has perfomed at such venues as Club Birdland, Madison Square Garden, The Village Gate and was elected to the N.J. Music Hall of Fame in 2004. Chico will lead a celebration of the musicians and bandleaders of the “golden age” of Latin Jazz including Mongo Santamaria, Tito Puente and Cal Tjader. Under the musical direction of percussionist, Nick Scheuble, this “fiery” small group also includes Tito Puente’s former bassist, Mike Vinas. So get your dancing shoes on because as Chico points out, “Here comes the rice and beans!”.
Smithtown Township Arts Council is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization.
Sponsored in part by Suffolk County under the auspices of the Office of Cultural Affairs,
Steve levy, County Executive and Town of Smithtown
–
Smithtown Township Arts Council
Mills Pond House Gallery
660 Route 25A
St. James, NY 11780
www.stacarts.org - website
phone- 631-862-6575
Photo: Bill Crow and Nick Scheuble courtesy of Smithtown Township Arts Council
GEICO Skytypers to be Featured Performers at 2008 Jones Beach Air Show
May 19, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) The GEICO Skytypers, the only existing World War II civilian squadron flying today, will be featured performers at the 2008 Bethpage Federal Credit Union New York Air Show at Jones Beach. The GEICO Skytypers will perform an aerial show for spectators “sky-typing” computerized dot matrix messages 10,000 feet up in the air. The Skytypers will also fly a low level, precision flying demonstration that has thrilled spectators all over the United States.
Skytyping utilizes five airplanes that fly abreast, 250-feet apart and “type” up to 25-30 character messages in a dot-matrix-like pattern. Skytyping is 17 times faster than skywriting, laying out a letter every 4 seconds. During skytyping aerial exhibitions, the pilots fly their aircraft in a line-abreast formation while a computer in the lead plane sends radio signals to the smoke systems in each plane in the formation, thus creating a customized message in a dot-matrix pattern of environmentally safe puffs of smoke.
About the GEICO Skytypers:
The GEICO Skytypers, based out of Farmingdale, NY are the world’s only precision formation fleet squadron of rare WWII SNJ-2’s and the only sky fleet of its kind to type dot matrix messages that are visible over a 30-mile radius. www.geicoskytypers.com
About GEICO - Government Employees Insurance Company
GEICO has taken a special interest in serving the U.S. Military since the company’s founding in 1936. GEICO provides discount programs and service options that can best serve U.S. troops at home and overseas during wartime as well as peacetime. www.geico.com/about/
About the Bethpage Federal Credit Union New York Air Show:
The Bethpage Federal Credit Union New York Air Show is sponsored by BFCU, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and presented by Newsday. This year’s lineup will feature the US Navy Blue Angels Jet team as well as some of the best civilian and military aerobatic performers performing today. This years Air show will be on May 24 & 25, 2008 and commences at 10:00 a.m. and concludes at 3:00 p.m. www.jonesbeachairshow.com
Tips for the show:
Arrive early Dress in beach attire Bring some warm clothes in case of a temperature change, Glasses, Sunscreen, Beach towels and chairs. Check the website regularly for last minute news items and updates: www.jonesbeachairshow.com
SPECIAL EDITORIAL NOTE: The GEICO Skytypers will skytype messages over NY metro area on Saturday and Sunday.
###
Queens Kids Work to Save Historic Home of Jazz Legend
May 16, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) On Friday, May 23rd the second graders at the Holliswood School in Jamaica Estates will be honoring a jazz legend. The second graders in Ms. Passarella’s class have been learning about different genres of music for the past two years, but have been most impressed with the work of saxophonist John Coltrane. There will be many activities that children will be organizing to raise the profile of the legend.
All of this stands on a foundation of teaching children the joy of philanthropy. The program is a kick off fundraiser to help in the effort to save the home of John Coltrane. The home is a landmark in Dix Hills, Long Island waiting to be transformed into a historic home, but funds are sorely needed to continue this effort! “Our task is to restore the home to the way it was when the Coltrane family lived there and open it to the public as a historic home to educate children and all people about John and Alice Coltrane and their life’s mission to be a force for good through their music,” said Steve Fulgoni the Director of the nonprofit The Friends of the Coltrane Home. For further information on saving the home of John Coltrane go to www.dixhills.com.
The press is welcome on May 23rd at 1:00pm in the Holliswood School auditorium, located at 189-10 Radnor Road, Jamaica Estates, Queens. The children will be singing original lyrics that they wrote to the sounds of jazz musician Louis Vignapiano, who will be present playing guitar. The children have been working with his music since first grade in a multiple intelligences learning environment. The class has been together for two years in a looped classroom and now will apply all of their learning in this wonderful project.
They also choreographed dances for the event. First working with ballroom dance teacher Michael Pagan, the students then interpreted what they learned to create their own dances in honor of John Coltrane. You can see Dancing with the Second Graders come to life! After the show there will be a reception called “The Cotton Candy Club.” The children will be transforming their classroom into the magical world of the original Cotton Club in New York City. It will be a time to celebrate education and creativity.
During the months of May and June there will be raffles, bake sales and a book fair to raise money for this effort. Some of the top prizes will be Eastwood’s Joey Leone Signature Guitar and an autographed book by Bill Clinton. Clinton’s office called Ms. Passarella to grant the children’s request for an item from President Clinton because he is a big Coltrane fan. The son of John Coltrane, saxophonist Ravi Coltrane has autographed CD’s which will also be raffled off. Jazz at Lincoln Center is also on board because they are so impressed with the children.
If you would like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Christine Passarella, please call Christine Passarella at 516-319-4211 or email illuminata4@aol.com
Special Long Island Performances of Professional New York City-Wide Tour
May 13, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) Through Friday June 6, 2008, Inside Broadway is presenting the delightful musical comedy You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown for over 30 New York City schools and 20,000 children. The production ran Off-Broadway five seasons ago at the Lucile Lortel Theater, and had a sold-out run. This years tour began on Monday April 7.
On Tuesday, May 13, 9:45 AM (second performance at 11:30 AM) A special Long Island performance of the City-wide tour will be presented by Inside Broadway with funding from New York State Senator John J. Flanagan at Centereach High School, 14-43 Street, Centereach, Long Island. click for MAP
The Tony and Drama Desk-winning musical brings Charles M. Schulz famous characters to life, as Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang learn important life lessons. There will also be guest appearances at the shows by prominent New York City officials who have supported the company over the years.
Inside Broadway will also present its annual free “Creating the Magic” event with the cast and company of Broadway’s “Hairspray,” at the Neil Simon Theatre in Manhattan on May 29 at 10:30 AM. The unique performance, open to the public, will demonstrate the elements of creating a Broadway show.
The multi-cultural all-Equity cast of the You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, directed by Robert Jay Cronin, is: Larry Hamilton, the Charlie Brown at the Lucile Lortel Theatre, returning in the role; Jennifer Mintzer (Sally), Jaime Cepero (Snoopy), Michael Armstrong Barr (Linus), Sadrina Johnson (Lucy) and Michael Lazar (Schroeder). The Musical Director is John Bowen, with scenic design by Carl Tallent, costume design by Karl Ruckdeschel and Scott Earley is Production Stage Manager. The Associate Producer is Nick Sala, and the Producer is Michael Presser.
Inside Broadway presents unique, edited 50-minute professional productions of musical theatre classics, directed especially for children. Other productions of Inside Broadway have included Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (2007 school tour),Bye Bye Birdie, On the Town, The Pirates of Penzance, Kiss Me, Kate, Smokey Joe’s Café and Sophisticated Ladies. All shows provide student study guides, teacher lesson plans. Other Inside Broadway programs include “Build A Musical,” where teaching artists work with children to create their own musical theatre; and the current “The Magic of Broadway” at senior centers throughout New York, where members are working with professional teaching artists to create their own mini-musicals (part of the new New York City SM(ART)S – Seniors Meet the Arts, sponsored by the Dept. for the Aging, the Dept. of Cultural Affairs and the New York City Council).
Inside Broadway receives substantial and ongoing funding from several government agencies including the New York City Department of Education; New York State Office of Children and Family Services; New York City Department of Cultural Affairs; New York City Department For the Aging: New York City Department of Youth and Community Development; New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and New York State Department of Education; New York City Council: Christine Quinn, Speaker, Domenic Recchia, Chair Cultural Affairs Committee and Council Members Joseph Addabbo, Jr., Tony Avella, Erik Martin Dilan, Lew Fidler, Dan Garodnick, Eric Gioia, Vincent Gentile, Sara Gonzalez, Vincent Ignizio, Melinda Katz, Darlene Mealy, Michael McMahon, Annabel Palma, Joel Rivera, Larry Seabrook, Helen Sears, James Vacca and Thomas White, Jr. New York State Assembly Members Peter Abbate, Michael Benedetto, Adriano Espaillat, Michael Gianaris, Richard Gottfried, Brian Kavanagh, Linda Rosenthal, Michele Titus, Mark Weprin and Ellen Young; New York State Senators Andrew Lanza, John Flanagan, George Onorato, Tom Duane and Martin Golden.
###
About Inside Broadway:
Inside Broadway is a professional New York City based children’s theatre company committed to producing Broadway’s classic musicals in a contemporary light for young audiences. Our aim is to pass down the rich legacy of America’s musical theater to future generations so that the magic, music, and universal themes of the genre are not lost, but rediscovered and made relevant for today’s youth.
For more information please visit http://www.insidebroadway.org
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet Now in Production at RWStageArt
May 8, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) RWStageArt, a North Fork-based theater company focused on bringing the works of William Shakespeare to the stage with passion and energy, is going into production of their latest offering, Hamlet: Prince of Denmark. The company has signed on East End Shakespeare’s A.D. Newcomer as director, Joan Chambers as costume designer, Alan Stewart as Fight Director, and Kevin Twigg as the composer of an original score written especially for this production. Ms. Chambers has designed costumes for Shakespeare productions for many years, both on the North Fork and in New York City and her painstaking attention to detail, her incredible sense of color and texture, and sumptuous fabrics will be an invaluable asset to the production. Mr. Twigg is a percussionist and composer working all over the country as a performer, frequently with David Amram, and also teaches percussion at the East End Community School of the Arts. He has been involved in scoring many theater productions, mostly in New York City, and given his crazy schedule, we are very lucky he has agreed to work with us. Ms. Newcomer is a new director who has worked on several local Shakespeare productions with both Northeast Stage and RWStageArt as stage manager, assistant director and Shakespearean dramaturg and has also trained at Shakespeare & Company.
The role of Hamlet will be played by RWStageArt co-founder Robert L.S. Wilson and other members of the cast include RWStageArt co-founder Rebekah White as Ophelia, Mel Mendelssohn as Polonius, Philip Reichert as Claudius, Susan Cincotta as Gertrude, Tom Rosanti as Laertes, Jere Jacob as the Gravedigger and Player Lucianus, Kevin Monsell as Marcellus, the Priest and the Player King, Allyson Bunch as the Player Queen, Ed Weiss as Barnardo and the English Ambassador , and Alan Stewart as The Ghost.
While we have edited the script down to a shorter performance time of 2 ¾ hrs, the language remains otherwise unaltered and every effort has been made to keep the rhythmic flow of the verse and the dramatic structure of the full text. We are working to infuse a timeless script with our own creative energy, bringing a fresh but true interpretation to one of the best-known and loved plays of all time. We hope to create a production that reaches modern audiences artistically, energetically, and powerfully and reveals for them the beauty and music of Shakespeare’s verse, as well as the rich complexity of Shakespeare’s characters. Part of our mission is to work collaboratively with actors, directors, musicians, visual artists and Shakespeare in a creatively nurturing environment that allows for the continued exploration of all the aspects of the art and craft of performing Shakespeare with vision and clarity.
We rehearse in Southold and performances will take place at the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall on August 1st, 2nd, 7th, 8th and 9th at 7pm, with Sunday Matinees on August 3rd and 10th at 2pm.
Tickets will be $15/$10 for students and seniors.
We still have a few roles available and interested actors can contact the director for audition info before May 23rd. Members of the creative team are available for interviews upon request. Photos and other materials also available. Contact A.D. Newcomer at 631-208-6933 or by email at anewcome@suffolk.lib.ny.us.
###
Vail Leavitt Music Hall
Map of 18 Peconic Ave, Riverhead, NY 11901
http://www.vail-leavitt.org/
A.D. Newcomer
Director, RWStageArt’s HAMLET
631-208-6933
Old Westbury Gardens Announces The Orchard Hill Designer Showhouse
May 6, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) The Orchard Hill Designer Showhouse at Old Westbury Gardens opens this spring in Old Westbury, NY. The Showhouse opens with a gala preview party on Friday, May 2nd, and runs for 6 weeks through Sunday, June 15. Proceeds benefit Old Westbury Gardens.
The Orchard Hill Designer Showhouse at Old Westbury Gardens is a showcase for America’s premiere design talent. Approximately 20 top interior designers and decorative artists will transform Orchard Hill into a decorating masterpiece in the gracious traditional manner of the house itself.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Old Westbury Gardens is the former country estate of John S. (Jay) Phipps. Westbury House, a magnificent, Charles II-style mansion, is surrounded by 200 acres of tree-lined walks, lakes, statuary, grand allées, and indescribably beautiful gardens. Jay’s daughter, Peggie Phipps Boegner, who grew up in Westbury House and was the founder of Old Westbury Gardens, lived in the Orchard Hill home from 1930 until her passing in 2006.
Mrs. Thomas M. Bancroft, Jr. is the Showhouse Chairman. Mario Buatta is the Honorary Showhouse Chairman and Mrs. Howard Phipps is the Honorary Preview Party Chairman. The Showhouse is sponsored by No. 9 Thompson, Electrolux and Daniel Gale. The Showhouse is produced by Hampton Designer Showhouse Foundation, Inc.
The Orchard Hill Designer Showhouse at Old Westbury Gardens opens with a gala preview party on Friday, May 2 and runs for 6 weeks. The Showhouse is open seven days a week, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. (Last admission is at 4:00 PM). Children under six, infants, strollers and pets are not allowed in the Showhouse. Admission to the Showhouse is $30 and includes the Showhouse Journal as well as admission to Old Westbury Gardens on that day.
For more information, please call 516-333-0908 or 212-980-1711.
About Orchard Hill
The name Hicks is very much entwined with the history of Nassau County. Valentine Hicks, the man for whom Hicksville, NY was named, was the second president of the Long Island Railroad. From 1812 to 1850 he lived in a house that is now home to the Maine Maid Inn. Another family member, Isaac Hicks, founded Hicks Nursery in 1853.
Built in 1859 by John D. Hicks and his wife Caroline Haviland, Orchard Hill is the former home of John S. Phipps’ daughter, Peggie Phipps Boegner, who grew up in Westbury House. Originally constructed in the Italianate style, the house featured an arcaded porch, round-headed windows, and a bay window on its front façade. In 1900, a wing was added to the house that now includes the living room and master bedroom suite. In the early 20th century, Mr. John S. Phipps purchased the Hicks’ house, moving it to its present location and re-named it Orchard Hill. Upon her marriage, Peggie Phipps Boegner moved into the house which became her home until her death in 2006. Mrs. Peggie Phipps Boegner was the founder of Old Westbury Gardens. Orchard Hill, now part of Old Westbury Gardens, will be used to promote environmental activities for its visitors.
About Old Westbury Gardens
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Old Westbury Gardens in Nassau County, NY, is the former country estate of John S. (Jay) Phipps and his wife Margarita. Mr. Phipps was the son of Henry Phipps, a partner in the Carnegie Steel Company. Westbury House, a magnificent, Charles II-style mansion, was the family home until 1958 when it became an incorporated-non-profit institution open to the public. The house and gardens were planned by London designer George Abraham Crawley and he was assisted in the construction of Westbury House by American architect Grosvenor Atterbury.
Preserving the charm and beauty of the property in the tradition established by the Phipps family, Old Westbury Gardens features 200 acres of tree-lined walks, lakes, statuary, grand allées, and some of the most beautiful formal gardens in America.
###
Photo: Westbury House (Front View) - Old Westbury Gardens
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Mitchell Manning Associates
155 East 55th Street, Suite 205
New York, NY 10022
Three Long Island Singer-Songwriters Share Stage in Patchogue, N.Y.
April 18, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) Rorie Kelly, John-Flor and Jay Scott will perform alone and together, each celebrating the release of a new album in a special Monday night edition of the Patchogue Theatre’s Live in the Lobby concert series on May 12th.
Rorie Kelly writes songs, breaks strings, screams, sings pretty, and then screams some more. She will, in short, rock your socks, which is what she did the past two times she performed in the Lobby. Ms. Kelly has performed primarily as a solo artist and gained a following for her passionate vocal style, heartfelt songs and percussive acoustic guitar style. In addition to a busy performance schedule in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island she has organized a Women Who Will Rock Your Socks concert series, Participated in the Musicians for Peace Project by organizing musical consciousness raising events and performed at the Acoustic Long Island Winter concert to benefit Long Island Cares. She returns to Patchogue and celebrates the imminent the release of her first album, Wish Upon a Bottlecap. This will be her first local performance with her new band featuring Joe Rende on drums, Andrew Jimenez on bass guitar, Chaka Knice on keyboards and Angela Quiles on backing vocals.
In 2004, John-Flor Sisante released his first album The Music of Things, and Rafer Guzman of Newsday called it “a collection of 10 terrific tracks…throughout the disc, he puts his stamp on each song in surprising, delightful ways.” On The Music of Things, the young troubadour reflects on the common universal themes of love and attraction, envy and resignation, the loss of innocence, and the spiritual malaise experienced by all human beings, regardless of where they come from. The album, arranged and produced by John-Flor with much input from his drummer, Casey Tuck, and his engineer, Rob Ignazio, showcases a tremendous stylistic range, from folk to indie rock to Latin. John-Flor’s second album will be released this summer and he has been offering samples on his MySpace page in recent months. In October 2007, Guzman said “Sisante recently posted three new tracks to his MySpace page, and they’re terrific. This time around, Sisante is really stretching his creative boundaries”. His fans are anxiously awaiting his next album, and he will perform several songs from it on May 12.
Singer-Songwriter Jay Scott’s “rich voice of gritty satin makes his music instantly compelling. Although born and raised on Long Island, his deep, raspy tone is pure Delta blues in origin, and is as intoxicating as southern whiskey.” (Jennett Meriden Russell, The Press of Manorville & The Moriches). Scott’s sound has been called “Americana”, “bluesy soul” and “alt country” and is easily recognizable because of his disincentive, slightly gravely vocal style that has drawn comparisons to Bob Seeger, Bruce Springsteen and Joe Cocker. Since 2000, He has been writing and polishing his songs through regular live performances in Long Island, New York City and California. Scott returned to his home town of Patchogue in 2004, got married, bought a house, had a baby, and recorded his first Album, Homegrown which will be released this month and which he will celebrate with this special acoustic performance, joined by Jason Tebaldi on five string fretless acoustic bass guitar.
The evening opens with the Songwriter Spotlight with Corey Balsamo, Aaron Palmadessa, Seamus Sullivan and more!!
Live in the Lobby is a series of concerts for small audiences held in the lobby of the historic Patchogue Theatre. These concerts, which are organized and operated by volunteers, feature artists from the Long Island area playing a wide variety of mostly original music in an intimate and comfortable setting.
All ages are welcome. Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts, 71 E. Main Street, Patchogue. Tickets $10.00 at the box office and by phone (631)207-1313. www.PatchogueTheatre.com
Bar Brawl Drives R&B John Legend and Entourage to Flee Moomia Lounge in SOHO New York City
April 17, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) American songwriter and R&B Recording Artist John Legend who is a regular at Moomia Lounge in Soho at 157 Lafayette Street pulled up to the glamorous famous nightspot with his entourage in a champagne tinted Cadillac Escalade on the evening of Saturday, April 12th. Before leaving abruptly Legend and clubbers witnessed a severe bar brawl.
One source revealed that the incident involved a gay promoter aggressively kissing one of the female clubbers on the mouth resulting in her jealous boyfriend creating a fist fight inside the club. Patrons witnessed in horror the brutal brawl resulting in some to back off and run out of the establishment. The brawl became so uncontrollable that it took as many as 10 people to separate the two fist fighters.
Legend who is famous for his platinum selling “Get Lifted” panicked, likely for getting bad press, was trying to keep a low profile and decided to leave the scene with his entourage. His bodyguards surrounded him in safety and escorted him out before the situation intensified. Legend has had a clean record and would like to keep it that way. Legend has won five Grammy Awards. Prior to the release of his debut album, Legend’s career gained momentum through a series of successful collaborations with multiple established artists including Kanye West Jay-Z and Alicia Keys. He is also a contributing philanthropist and launched the Show me Campaign, through which his fans are encouraged to donate funds toward improving the living situations and prospects of victims of extreme poverty in Mbola, Tanzania. Legend, in early 2008, began touring with Prof. Jeff Sachs Columbia University’s Earth Institute to promote sustainable development as an achievable goal. Legend is currently also rallying for Senator Barack Obama and his career is having a successful resurgence so he is not looking for trouble.
At the time of the brawl around midnight talk show host Cognac Wellerlane was interviewing for her TV Show Cognac’s Corner at Moomia Lounge. Ms. Wellerlane does a weekly gig at the club promoting talent and celebrities on her show. Moomia Lounge complete with Egyptian hieroglyphics murals and an Egyptian tomb is famous as a celebrity fashionista hangout for models, actors, filmmakers, soap opera stars, hip-hop moguls and other recording artists. The exclusive nightspot is so trendy and in fashion that there is no sign out front simply because anyone who is significant will know by word of mouth.
Both John Legend’s rep and well as Wellerlane’s rep were not unavailable for comment.
Photo: Before leaving the scene abruptly R&B Singer John Legend posed for a photo-op with photographer Diane Ducharme
Native Long Islander In American Idol Songwriter Finals
April 16, 2008
(Long Island, N.Y.) Scott Sheets, who grew up in Garden City, Long Island, is one of 20 finalists in the American Idol Songwriters Competition with his song “Fly Me Away”. If it gets the most online votes it could be performed live on American Idol’s Finale. Voting ends April 23rd.
Sheets is not new to the music business. As a guitarist for Long Island’s own Pat Benatar in the 1980s, he penned and performed such hits as “Fire and Ice” and “Prisoner of Love”.
A resident of Brooklyn, Sheets stays true to his roots by owning and operating a computer graphics and large format printing company in Brentwood.
“Fly Me Away” was written at a pivotal point in Scott’s life and it is reflected in the lyrics. “I wrote it when I needed strength to guide me through a tough emotional time in my life,” he says.
A personal friend and music colleague of Sheets’ - John Ondrasik, of the band Five For Fighting - sang on the track.
When Scott’s not working in Brentwood, he can sometimes be found at clubs around New York City performing with his re-formed 1970s band, The Brats.
Voters in the competition are asked to rate the songs based on their musical structure and the skill of the songwriter, not on the song’s performance or recording quality.
Music fans can vote for the new American Idol Songwriter by visiting the contest’s homepage at http://songwriter.americanidol.com
For more information please contact Sheets’ publicist at:
(301) 606-8848
Long Island Band on MTV’s ‘The Hills’ Benefit Concert at Farmingdale High School
April 11, 2008
(Farmingdale, N.Y.) Paging Grace, Farmingdale’s hometown heroes, will be celebrating placing songs on this season of MTV’s “The Hills” and helping local college bound students with a benefit concert on Friday May 9th at 7pm at Farmingdale High School in Farmingdale NY.
The release of “All You’re Made Of”, their first EP, has made them one of the most popular and well known bands in the area in just two short years; and with their debut single “Leave” which impacted at radio on January 7th of 2008 in the “Hot Adult Contemporary Genre” the band has already received an excellent response on both mainstream & syndicated radio, including being awarded “Hot AC Most Added New Artist” for the week of their debut & reaching #1 on the “Independent Music Network” syndicated radio show within 3 weeks of being added to the program.
With their loyal fan base in place and their sing along radio friendly anthems, there has been quick success for the band. Get in on the ground floor of something special in the works; get to know the next big thing!
The single “Leave” will be featured on Sunday April 21st at 10pm on The Hills. Watch the show, then check them out online at www.paginggrace.com
If you are in the area, come down to the benefit performance as well. If not, watch for them at a venue near you soon.
Friday May 9th
PAGING GRACE @ Farmingdale High School
doors open at 6:00
located at 150 Lincoln Street, Farmingdale NY 11735
ALL AGES ARE ADMITTED | TICKETS ARE $7
Available at FHS Box Office or at www.paginggrace.com
Sponsored by the Farmingdale PTA for the PTA Scholarship Fund. All money made goes to the fund.
For more information on Paging Grace, please check out their website at http://www.paginggrace.com
#
PR/ Rick Eberle
PopCore Entertainment
