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Lisa Dames
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| Webpage: http://www.lisadames.com |
| Location: Greensboro, NC, USA |
| Description: If traditional country is your forte you will find a unique
voice in Lisa Dames. And for those who don't listen to country you may well enjoy Lisa's unique interpretations of the genre.--BestFemaleMusicians.com |
| Biography: The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again because
there is no effort without error and shortcomings, who knows the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who
at his best knows in the end the high achievement of triumph and who at worst, if he fails while daring greatly, knows his
place shall never be with those timid and cold souls who know neither victory nor defeat.Theodore Roosevelt
Lisa Dames is neither timid nor cold. She is a sassy, sexy wife and mother who is set to make her mark on country music.
On Dames’ new album, No One Like Me, she explores her songs from the inside out, investing each one with a sense of
urgency ripped from her own life. A life that could have been inconsequential in someone else’s hands.
The songs on Dames’ album No One Like Me represent a penetrating and sometimes humorous view of life from a woman’s
perspective. “There seems to be a prevailing thought that once a woman gets married and has kids, she stops being a
woman,” comments Dames. “I tend to believe the oppositethat a woman may get married and have kids, but first
and foremost she’s a woman.”
From the comforts and confidence of leading the single life (“Good Time Lookin’ and “Kinda Fun (Getting
Over You)” to the isolation of loneliness (“Way Down Here”) to the serious life struggles of “Just
Another Day,” the songs create a tapestry of a relationship moving through its various stages.
The first single, “Just Another Day,” penned by Trey Bruce and Kylie Maree Sackley, immediately struck a chord
with Dames. “When I first heard this song I thought, that is so right on,” Dames remembers. “When my dad
died I expected the whole world to grieve. Of course they didn’t, but it was surreal how one of the two people who had
known me my whole life was suddenly gone and no one noticed.”
Dames grew up in St. Louis, Houston and Cincinnati. It didn’t take long for her to become swept up by country music.
“When I was nine years old,” she says, “my best friend and I would play Dolly Parton’s ‘Here
You Come Again’ and sing along at the top of our lungs.” Unfortunately, Dames was not surrounded by encouraging
adults. “My father wanted me to get a business degree,” Dames recalls. “But I loved to sing and although
it was discouraging sometimes, I never let go of my dream.”
“During college Dames had a brief tenure working in sales at a country radio station in Cincinnatithe Beaver, 96.5.
Later, while doing summer stock theatre, her roommate introduced her to Pam Tillis’ ‘Maybe It Was Memphis’
and Suzy Bogguss’ ‘Aces.’” “Those two albums really showed me what country music could do”,
says Dames. “The voices and songs were both so compelling. I was hooked.” During this period, Dames met the
man she would soon marry. Once her husband was out of school, the young couple moved to his native Milwaukee. There, Dames
worked with several of the city’s professional theater companies. “After being told I wasn’t a singer,”
Dames says with quiet satisfaction, “I worked nonstop for six years.” She became known as one of the best voices
in Milwaukee.
It was in Milwaukee that Dames gave birth to her two daughters, her motivation for success. “I never want my children
to think that a dream is too big or beyond their grasp.”
In November of 1999, after giving birth to her second daughter, Dames got an unexpected phone call from an old college friend
who was working at a professional theatre in Greensboro, North Carolina. They were getting ready to do A Closer Walk with
Patsy Cline and they needed an actress to play Patsy Cline. “I told her I’d never done anything like that and
that I didn’t sound like Patsy Cline. She said, ‘I know, but I think you can do it.’ Between January 2001
and September of 2004, Dames performed in seven productions of both Patsy Cline showsAlways . . . Patsy Cline and A Closer
Walk With Patsy Clinetouring in several states.”
“It’s funny, but portraying Patsy Cline is what helped me to develop my own style,” says Dames. “While
most of the other actresses who were doing these shows were so focused on sounding just like Patsy, I was focused on the emotion
she put into her songs. And, that’s how I try to sing everything. Without the emotion, it’s just a bunch of
words. Patsy knew this. That’s why she’s timeless.”
No One Like Me is produced by Grammy nominated producer David Grow, best known for his studio work with pop piano icon Jim
Brickman. It features songs by such Music Row luminaries as Brett James, Troy Verges, Victoria Shaw and Hillary Lindsey.
After hearing Dames’ demo, Grow was intrigued. “David called me right away,” says Dames. “and said
that there was ‘something distinctive but familiar about my voice’ and that he thought we could create ‘something
magical.’” In No One Like Me, they have. |
Press
Release:
Summer/Fall 2006--58 station/18 state radio tour to promote Just
Another Day to Music Row and R&R/Billboard stations;
Fall/Winter 2006--Just Another Day spends 12 weeks on the Music
Row Breakout chart, peaks at #56;
Dec 2006--Chosen as "One to Watch" for 2007 by CMT radio;
Dec 2006--Video for Just Another Day added to CMT.com and Promo
Only video reel;
Jan 2007--Video debuted on nat'l television on Positively GAC;
Jan 2007--Video distributed internationally, including military bases,
embassies and consulates through Get Reel;
Feb-April 2007--Featured Artist on Clear Channel NEW! Music website;
Jan 2007--Establish in-store events and retail relationship with nat'l
retailer Borders;
Jan 2007--Spokesperson for the Mason Lindley Foundation, Burlington,
NC;
Feb 2007--Second single, I'd Leave Me, goes to radio;
Feb/Mar 2007--Internet promotion with www.goldbucklenetwork.com;
Mar 2007Distribution to Wal*Mart distributed by Select-O-Hits;
April 2007Just Another Day added to Promo Only country music CD
for distribution to DJ’s and clubs;
www.lisadames.com averages 100,000+ page views per month. |
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Get this video and more at MySpace.com |
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Vekstar
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| Webpage: http://www.vekstar.com |
| Location: West Hollywood, CA, USA |
| Description: |
| Biography:
Mike Vecchio stared at the band in the studio from his chair behind the mixing board.
Since he was a college sophomore, he had been writing his own lyrics and melodies. He played his guitar until he found a melody
he liked then lyrics followed.
But his career was of a sound engineer, not a musician. He watched from the sidelines, longing to play.
While Mike longed to record and perform, Nichole Catalano-Miller sat at her piano every day playing songs that she hoped only
her husband and dog would ever hear. As a young girl, she curled up on the piano bench beside her father as he played. Soon,
she started playing from sound. She almost didn’t make it to LA because she didn’t want to move without her piano.
Mike started playing solo gigs around town. He wasn’t just going to watch others do it. He auditioned to play with Ben
Kweller and didn’t get the gig, but at least he was getting out there and performing.
Mike and Nichole met freshman year in college and when she arrived in LA, he heard her playing her piano and asked her to
perform with him.
She said no.
He persisted.
She resisted.
Finally the two performed on March 29, 2006.
The duo played around the scene, when Mike Rofe, a singer songwriter saw the two at the Rainbow Bar and Grill where he booked
bands every Wednesday. The first time, He saw Mike singing and playing by himself. By the time he saw Mike and Nichole, he
was hooked. While Rofe loved playing guitar and singing, he played drums for over a decade and thought he’d like to
be a part of Vekstar as a drummer.
After Vecchio won the American Idol Underground Big Push Rock Contest, he wanted his new band to record. He recorded before,
but this new band was different; Vekstar needed its own EP. After a month of recording, Vekstar released Monday Mourning.
The sound is ethereal with Nichole’s haunting backup vocals and the trio’s poignant lyrics of love and loss. Vecchio’s
mournful voice makes the laments and emotions feel real. Rofe’s experience as a performer helps give Vekstar a polished
sound.
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Press
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Niki Buzz Band
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| Webpage: http://www.nikibuzz.com |
| Location: Amsterdam, , The Netherlands |
| Description: Blues/Blues Rock with emotional guitar solos and soulful
vocals |
| Biography: Bio Niki Buzz Niki began his career at the tender age
of three years old while playing piano with his mother and father.
Seven years later (at the age of ten) he started
playing drums and by the age of thirteen he won a contest sponsored by the godfather of soul James Brown. After that he
performed as a support act with the Ike and Tina Turner review and other legendary bands such as Exile, Parliament Funkadelic
and The GuessWho.
By the time he was 20 years old he could play 13 instruments in which his favorite was guitar. Which to this day is his primary
instrument.
In 1975 Niki was very much on the scene in New York City when the legendary CBGB's was at the forefront of the punk music
scene. Performing with artists as the Ramone's, Patti Smith, the Talking Heads, The Shirts and Mink Deville, he is one of
the few artists that can boast that he was on the first "Live at CBGB'S" album as the lead singer for the group Sun featuring
Bill Laswell on bass.
After working with the legendary Giorgio Gomelsky, the owner of the Craw Daddy club (who discovered the Rolling Stones), he
decided to start the band Vendetta. With that band he landed a record contract in 1982. The debut album "Vendetta" was the
end result.
For the next two years Vendetta toured with Billy Squier, Humble Pie, Joan Jett and numerous other rock acts.
In 1984 he started the legendary band M-80 (RoadRunner Label) with bass player Don Costa from The Ozzy Osborne Band.
After touring the United States and Europe for two years Niki embarked on a studio career where he met Curtis Knight (discoverer
of Jimi Hendrix). He was the resident guitarist and drum computer programmer at Planet Studios in NYC for Anita Baker,
Whitney Houston Chaka Kahn and Kid Creole and the Coconuts and The Village People.
Finishing four years of touring with Curtis Knight, The Niki Buzz Band and Pat Mears, he started the brand-new studio Helping
Hands (March 1998) of which he is the sole owner, proprietor and engineer.
The studio already has numerous CD's to its credit: Tengeh Ascension 2021 (with reggae artists Max Edwards and Ione Oslinger),
Siembras ( featuring Marco A. Carrera) and Jerome Lee's mini-CD Basically yours not to mention The Blues and Jazola (2006-2007)
the two latest CD's from Niki himself. Niki is considered one of the top producers in The Netherlands.
Along with being a masterful musician, Niki is also considered one of the top midi experts in the world. He has been working
with midi for the last 20 years.
He is a beta tester for Scope Creamware and
Native Instruments and was very instrumental in the beta testing for Guitar Rig.
In the fall of 1998 Niki traveled to New York where he was asked to perform on the soundtrack for the "The Personals" a documentary
produced by Cinemax about the sex lives of the elderly in New York City. In March of 1999 that same film won an Oscar for
Best Documentary Short Subject.
Having added an Oscar award winning film to his credits Niki is setting his sites for future film work.
Having moved to The Netherlands he has started his own record label BlackDust Records and a production company entitled Sleez
Midgits Productions.
In December 2004 Niki won "Best International Animation award" for the "New York Independent Film Festival" for an animation
that he composed and wrote the screen play for entitled "Whiplash" which can be viewed at www.sleezmidgits.com
2005.
Along with playing guitar for new and up coming artist on Def Jam and Universal Music Group
Niki will be touring with Courtney Williams (drummer for Marianne Faithful) playing all the major jazz festivals of Europe,
America,Canada and The Carribean.
Also in Europe Niki will be touring with The Niki Buzz Band. |
Press
Release:
The new CD from Niki Buzz entitled "The Blues" is now available in the itunes store! |
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Heidi Jantz
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| Webpage: http://www.heidijantz.com |
| Location: Spokane, WA, USA |
| Description: I am a singer/songwriter from Spokane, WA. I write and
sing songs about my daily experiences of living that invite the listener to participate. I gravitate towards acoustic sounds,
mainly using the guitar, violin and piano... |
| Biography: Singer/Songwriter, Heidi Jantz, recently released her debut
album, Entries on an Unlined Page. Heidi has been singing since she was a young girl, often singing in church and in school
choirs. Heidi began playing guitar and writing songs a few years ago, finding fulfillment in the intersection of writing and
singing. |
Press
Release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Heidi Jantz 509-879-7440 anything@heidijantz.com www.heidijantz.com Heidi Jantz releases "Entries
on an Unlined Page" Spokane, WA - March 28, 2005 Heidi Jantz is a singer/songwriter from Spokane, WA. Heidi recently released
her debut album, Entries on an Unlined Page. Heidi wrote all eleven of the songs on the album with the final song paying tribute
to the gospel classic, Jesus Paid It All. The album is acoustic-folk, with guitar, violin, cello and Heidis striking vocals.
Heidi returns songwriting to its roots, authentic storytelling of everyday living, told through her unique brand of poetic
songwriting. The music has something rare, an honest tune that colors each piece. Jantz doesn't worry much about shelter.
Her lyrics are pure/clean/naked. The strongest part is the voice, which sounds warm and clear. Sometimes it opens to an essential
dialogue. (Gert-Ove Fridlund, Hallandsposten, Sweden, January 26, 2005) Each song is a reservoir, allowing the listener to
define its shape. Overall, the album leaves the listener relaxed, understood and braver than before they listened. Entries
on an Unlined Page can be purchased at www.cdbaby.com. ###
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Doug Spears
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| Webpage: http://www.dougspearsmusic.com |
| Location: Orlando, Florida, USA |
| Description: A troubadour poet, a seamless blend of storyteller and
performing songwriter, Doug Spears is fresh and new, yet at the same time hauntingly familiar - pure acoustic music with a
true folk / folk rock sound and vocals often compared to John Denver. |
Biography: Doug Spears
Performing Songwriter
Bald Cypress Music
36 Interlaken Road
Orlando, FL 32804
407-257-4242
dcsnole@yahoo.com
www.dougspearsmusic.com
www.MySpace.com/dougspears
www.SonicBids.com/dougspears
http://cdbaby.com/all/dougspears
Winner of the AMERICAN SONGWRITER MAGAZINE Lyrics Contest, "Break Some Stones" and published in July / August 2007 issue.
Finalist, Tenth Annual (2007) Avalon Music and Arts Festival Rising Star Songwriters Contest
Winner Will McLean Award 1997
"Banks of the Old St. John's"
Finalist South Florida Folk Festival
Songwriter Competition 1998, 2000
Finalist Suwannee Springfest
Songwriter Competition 2000
Unisong International 10th Annual
Songwriting Contest 2005-06 - A Mother's
Tears top 20 finalist in AAA / Americana - Teppintine, Honorable Mention
Songwriter Universe Magazine - Top 5 songs of the month January 2006 This Old House
Billboard World Song Competition 2006 - Honorable Mention Top 500 Songs Submitted This Old House, It Must Be You, Annie’s
Chairs
Drawing on elements of contemporary folk, Americana, bluegrass, country and folk rock, Doug Spears produces a sound that is
fresh and new, yet immediately familiar causing one reviewer to call it "retro contemporary, yet neo-traditional." Painting
vivid, lyrical images set to memorable melodies, delivered with a warm, unique guitar style and powered by rich vocals reminiscent
of John Denver, Doug is a favorite on the festival and listening room circuit throughout the eastern US and beyond touring
wherever the music takes him.
A seasoned performer, Spears has invested more than 30 years honing his craft to perfection and with each song bite, the rich
flavors penetrate the listening palate. " . . . definitely a complete artist--voice, guitar, writing, and stage presence
all blend seamlessly and comfortably" says Rocco Colello, Colello Promotions, Tampa, Fl. Often drawing comparisons to some
of the best known and well established artists of the genre ( ". . . a rich earthiness to his playing that recalls that of
Gordon Lightfoot and a gruffer James Taylor", Creative Loafing Tampa 6/6/07) Doug has carved a special niche for himself in
the folk music world from his native Florida. He is a regular on the stages of the Will McLean Music Festival, The South
Florida Folk Festival, The Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, The Florida Folk Festival and other similar gatherings. In 1997 he
garnered the Will McLean award for his song "Banks of the Old St. John's." He has had the privilege to perform alongside
some of the highest regarded nationally touring folk artists, including Pierce Pettis, Ellis Paul, Andrew Calhoun, Michael
Smith and Jack Williams. "Lightfoot meets Taylor w/ the smooth vocal delivery of Gene Watson, bravo!" LeAnna Mosely, Music
Moonk Music, Virginia.
Doug was born in Leesburg, Florida, a rare fourth generation Floridan, and his best childhood memories tie back to the farm
house his grandfather built just west of Leesburg in the 1920's. He took up the guitar at age 12, learning on an old Gibson
J-45 loaned to him by a family friend, and soon began writing his own songs heavily influenced by the wealth of songwriter
poets of the time. Doug's songcraft has matured into the skillful painting of lyric portraits of interesting characters,
places and events and dealing with the often joyous though sometimes difficult aspects of our lives.
Spears’ critically acclaimed 2005 debut CD, Truths & Lies, received well-deserved praise for it’s songcraft and
musicianship. "... an impressive combination of economical wordplay and simple, evocative melodies." Jim Abbott, The Orlando
Sentinel. "Doug Spears . . . [is] an accomplished songwriter , and his new disc, Truths & Lies, is burnished like an old
hardwood floor. . . . With a voice reminiscent of John Denver and a full acoustic backup band, Spears has put out a folk/Americana
disc that's as enjoyable for the local storytelling as it is for the musicianship." Bob Whitby - Orlando Weekly.
His 2007 sophomore album, Break Some Stones, is a “live in the studio” solo recording of 14 songs covering a wide
array of subject matter. Filled with strength, vulnerability and character, Break Some Stones wonders at the world’s
beauty and flaws, it’s heroes and villains, it’s love and loss . Poised to rise to new levels within the folk
music scene with this album, Spears continues to deliver songs with aching depth and enticing aspirations. ". . . it just
doesn't get any better than Doug Spears. He is a poet!" Greg Abate, Who’s Next?: A Music Review e-zine, Los Angeles,
CA. |
Press
Release:
NEW CD RELEASE BY DOUG SPEARS COMES OUT OF THE BLOCKS FAST WITH AMERICAN SONGWRITER MAGAZINE AWARD
Doug Spears' new 2007 release, "Break Some Stones", is coming out of the blocks fast. Just before its release
in July 2007 its title track, "Break Some Stones", won the coveted American Songwriter Magazine Lyrics Contest
and is published in the July / August issue of that leading publication. "Break Some Stones" is a "live in the studio"
solo recording which features a straight on rendition of 14 great original songs.
Doug Spears is an Orlando, Fl. based performing songwriter whose acoustic music draws on elements of contemporary folk,
Americana, bluegrass, country and folk rock. The result is a sound that is fresh and new, yet immediately familiar causing
one reviewer to call it "retro contemporary, yet neo-traditional." His work combines vivid, lyrical images set to memorable
melodies, delivered with a unique guitar style and powered by rich vocals often compared to John Denver.
Spears is no stranger to winning awards for his songwriting. In 2005 Doug released "Truths & Lies", a collection of 12
songs ranging from regional, historical pieces about Florida's past (including "Teppintine", "Steam Train" and "Banks of the
Old St. John's") to insightful, personal pieces like "This Old House", "Mournful Eyes" and "It Must Be You." Very well received,
"Truths & Lies" earned excellent reviews and songs included on that album earned numerous awards. “Banks of the Old
St. Johns” won Florida’s Will McLean Award in 1997. “This Old House,” “Annie’s Chairs”
and “Swimmin’ Against the Tide” earned Doug finalist slots in the 1998 and 2000 South Florida Folk Festival
Songwriters’ Competition and the 2000 Suwannee Springfest Songwriters’ Competition. More recently, “A Mother’s
Tears” earned top 20 finalist status in the AAA / Americana category of Unisong International’s 10th Annual Songwriting
Contest for 2005-06, while another track, “Teppintine,” earned an Honorable Mention. Songwriter Universe Magazine
selected “This Old House” for its “Top 5 songs of the Month” in January 2006.
In a land of transplants and transients, Doug Spears is a rare fourth generation Florida native. Born in Leesburg, Florida,
his best childhood memories tie back to the farm house his grandfather built just west of Leesburg in the 1920's. He took
up the guitar at age 12, learning on an old Gibson J-45 loaned to him by a family friend, and soon began writing his own songs
heavily influenced by the wealth of songwriter poets of the time. Doug's songcraft has matured into the skillful painting
of lyric portraits of complex characters, places and events, in both difficult and joyous circumstances, delivered with a
deft and subtle touch.
Doug Spears will be touring throughout the eastern U.S. in 2007 and 2008 to promote ”Break Some Stones”,
starting with a three week tour in July and August 2007 that includes shows in Georgia, Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West
Virginia and North Carolina. His current schedule, links to purchase his CDs and booking contact information can be seen
on his website at www.dougspearsmusic.com and on his MySpace site at www.myspace.com/dougspears.
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Check
out this video: Doug Spears Live at Octagon Arts - Clearwater
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