In the spirit of the holiday season, Award-winning Americana/Roots 'n' Country recording artist Natasha James releases "Hotel Christmas" on WHP Christmas Songs Volume 5 (website: AirPlay Direct Link: www.AirPlayDirect.com/whpchristmassongsvol5). "Hotel Christmas," Natasha James' latest release, features the legendary Bobby Black on pedal steel, Steve Evans on bass, Rafael Padilla on percussion, and Woody Vermeire on violin among other stellar talents, and engineered by Ronnie Rivera at Prairie Sun Studios. "Hotel Christmas," which has been released to radio in the U.S. and abroad, was described as a "country classic" by Paul Loggins of STS and New Music Weekly.
James, who seamlessly blends Americana, Blues, Country and Rock into her music, just garnered "Producer's Choice: Country Songwriter of the Year" and received her plaque at the Los Angeles Music Awards' Main Event gala in November, at Paramount Studios on the storied Paramount Theater Lot in Hollywood, Calif. This marks the second consecutive year James has taken home a win at the longest-running independent music awards show of its kind. Last year she captured "Country Album of the Year" honors for her critically-acclaimed CD TEQUILA TIME (Highway One Records).
"Winning the LAMA Award for the second year in a row is such a wonderful reaffirmation that what I am doing matters," says James. "Winning 'Songwriter of the Year' makes me feel doubly glad, not just to make a difference as a performer, but that what I write is seen as worthwhile."
Natasha will be a judge, contribute a song, and perform on "FALL IN LOVE WITH AMERICA - AGAIN," a documentary-style web and mobile-based audio/video/multimedia series highlighting stories from across America. In addition to being made into a feature-length documentary film, the project includes live web cam updates, a touring exhibit, interactive websites, and social/networking sites. In her judging capacity, James "will be looking for the next great American song! and working with some of the selected new songwriters," says Executive Producer, Dennis Gelbaum. http://fallinlovewithamericaagain.blogspot.com/.
Dennis Gelbaum To Appear At Flag Still Stands For Freedom's 2010 Veteran's Day Virtual Telethon - Hosted by LauraKennedyLive & The Flag Still Stands For Freedom Campaign.
"I am very excited and honored to be part of the Flag Still Stands For Freedom's 2010 Veteran's Day Virtual Telethon. The funds raised during the telethon will help support numerous veteran's groups around the country. The telethon is scheduled for Saturday, November 6th. I will be appearing via webcam at 11:00AMEST to talk about the Fall In Love With America Again project!"
What began as a radio talk show 2 years ago is now blossoming into a full scale virtual telethon. This campaign not only shares the experiences and memories of Veterans and their families but highlights the success and triumphs that our Veterans have brought to this country, not just on the battlefield but back here on our home soil.
The goal of the “Support our Veterans” campaign is to remind each of us that our “Flag Still Stands For Freedom” and our Veterans need to know we are supporting them both here and abroad. Using the POWER of Social Media, we will again make our flag and its colors blatantly visible across the globe with a unified statement of support for our troops, both past and present.
In conjunction with this campaign, Laura Kennedy (and her broadcast partners) will once again air a 24 hour live talk show on LauraKennedyLive and simultaneously over several other broadcasting networks; a show dedicated to sharing memories and stories of our “fallen” soldiers; celebrations of the servicemen and women who are still serving this country; and showcasing the talents and successes of our returning Veterans.
Tell your friends, families, co-workers, and everybody you come in contact with to get involved with this campaign today! For more information about how you can contribute to this campaign, please visit www.FlagStillStandsForFreedom.com or contact Laura Kennedy, USN-RET, at 516-442-9126.
Dan Smee, (Veteran, Author, Motivational Speaker), Shoba Sreenivasan, (Forensic Psychologist, Author) and Vince Taschetti, (Writer, Photographer) have joined the 'Fall In Love With America Again!' Project.
'Fall In Love With America Again!' (created by Evie Evangelou, Amber Roniger and Dennis Gelbaum) is an innovative, timely and important new documentary style broadcast, web and mobile based interactive multimedia series highlighting stories from across America…our stories - about why we love America and why others need to Fall In Love With America Again!
Here's how it works - we are inviting everyone to have fun, be creative, entertaining and inspiring - tell us your story - told through short stories, letters, videos, photographs, original songs, illustrations, poetry, recipes and more. Post your work on the web, tell everyone you know (tell us too) where 'it' is, make sure they comment about your work and pass 'it' along to their friends who should pass 'it' along to their friends… Our panel of judges will select the top ten winners (based on the number of views/likes/votes you get and the quality of the work...from each category. (Yes, this is a competition - we are looking for the next great American song, video, photograph, illustration…) The 'winners' - the work, the author, the artist, the performer - will be recognized through our sites/media and invited to join us on tour as part of the Fall In Love With America Again! National Touring Show and Interactive Exhibit.
Check out our promotional video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1OGAVgiVD4&feature=player_embedded
DAN SMEE FALLS IN LOVE WITH AMERICA AGAIN! "Being involved with the 'Fall in Love with America - Again' project is right up my alley. I love the opportunity to meet other patriotic Americans who display their love for country through song, story or poem. It's this unwavering devotion to the principles that the Founding Fathers based this country - to allow for individual creativity, self-reliance, optimism, no limits to what you can be - that makes my heart pound with pride. American draws others to her because of the strong belief in the individual's right to liberty and pursuing happiness according to their talents. We truly are the luckiest people earth!"
Dennis Gelbaum adds, "Dan joins us as a participant, judge (short stories) and goodwill ambassador. Dan is an inspiration. His values of integrity, honor and personal courage have given him the motivation and drive to succeed and help others succeed…and we are sure his passion will motivate others to Fall In Love With America Again!"
Dan Smee was the first person in his family to join the military. He became a Medic and then a Paratrooper. He was discharged from the Army in 1987 and began a long civilian career with Federal Express. When 9-11 hit Dan knew he had to do something to defend our country and so he joined the Army National Guard. He was deployed to Iraq in March of 2004 and served as a combat medic in "Operation Iraqi Freedom" (O.I.F.). That one-year tour in Iraq was profound and life changing; war has a way of cutting to the chase what is important in life. Dan's core values define who he was, is, and will always be--to be disciplined, fulfill his obligations, and have integrity, honor, and personal courage His book, Totally American (http://www.holymolypress.com/home) reflects those core values and that of other returning veterans- i.e., to take advantage of the opportunities that this great country of our offers, and whose ideals they were willing to die for.
SHOBA SREENIVASAN FALLS IN LOVE WITH AMERICA AGAIN! “I am honored to be involved in the 'Fall in Love with America-Again" project. As a child of immigrants from India, I grew up with a keen awareness of how much I was given just by this choice of my parents to move here. As a scientist my father saw the enormous opportunities that America afforded to all. And I grew up with that awareness - that this was a unique place on earth where hard work is rewarded, where creativity is fostered. Just think of the Americans whose unique ideas and inventions changed how we live: Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, the Wright Brothers - just to name a few. I do love America, our fierce independence and individualism. And so, I look forward to reading about love of country!"
Dennis Gelbaum adds, "Shoba joins us as a participant, judge (short stories) and goodwill ambassador. Shoba holds an academic position at USC, publishes papers, and works at the V.A. and has been inspired by veterans - their valor, their pride, their optimism and their loud proclamations in support of our country. Her appreciation for America's work in progress with all its good steps, bad steps, and missteps and that we are a country of reflection, of change, of hope, and of assimilation of the world - will inspire others to Fall In Love With America Again!"
Shoba Sreenivasan was born in Columbus, Ohio, and moved to India at the age of three. Her father’s heart was captivated by the United States, and they returned a few years later. Shoba hated the question, “Where are you from?” because she wanted to say, “Right here, the U.S. of A., just like you.” When Roots, the TV series became a hit, and the hyphenation of American identity came into popularity, suddenly, “Where are you from?” was an acknowledgement that we were all from somewhere else; this is a country composed of a tapestry of people. Shoba obtained a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from UCLA and received post- doctoral training in forensic psychology from USC. It is her work with countless veterans that has touched her the most. She is awed by their valor, their pride, their optimism, and their loud proclamations in support of our country. She co- wrote Totally American. (http://www.holymolypress.com/home)
VINCENT TASCHETTI FALLS IN LOVE WITH AMERICA AGAIN! "Asking me to be a part of this important, powerful and timely project renews my strong sense of pride as an American. Growing up in New York and having been raised in a strong and dedicated family devoted to honor and respect for our country and each other gave me the courage and the privileged to travel across this amazing country. Our America is filled with beauty, history, creativity, and dreams, a land dedicated to freedom. We seem to have lost our way in America. Perhaps a project as exciting as this will bring us to unity and once again we’ll share a more positive view of this great land. Dennis Gelbaum is a longtime friend and visionary. I honor him. I look forward to giving my time and efforts to help others ‘Fall In Love With America Again!"
Dennis Gelbaum adds, "We are very excited to welcome Vince as a participant (photography, illustration and short stories), judge (photography and illustration) and as a goodwill ambassador. He is not only brilliant and so very creative/talented, he is passionate about life, living and the pursuit of happiness. Vince's energy is sure to be contagious and help us attract more contributors and supporters and help others Fall In Love With America Again!"
Vince Taschetti is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in NY, majoring in advertising design, film and photography. He also attended the National Academy of Design in NY, studying painting and fresco and The School of Practical Philosophy. As a Creative Director at BBDO Worldwide, New York, Vince handled such accounts as GE, Gillette, Apple, Pierre Cardin, L’air du Temps, Firestone, Chrysler/Dodge, Navy, Avis, Caress, Pizza Hut, DuPont and many others. His work on GE and Gillette won him many creative awards and international recognition. Vince has co-written some of the most well known advertising campaign lines; Gillette . “The best a man can get”, Pizza Hut. “You’ll love the stuff we’re made of”, Apple. “The power to be your best”, “You’re drinking Diet Pepsi and it shows”. Vince carries his cameras with him everywhere and he has exhibited his work at the BBDO Gallery in NY and recently at the Marie Selbey Gardens in Sarasota, Florida, where OneDesignVST, his design and branding company is located. Vince is presently working on “The Art of the Taxi” as well as establishing the TaschettaGallery in Florida, NY and Italy.
Just had to share this with you all... WHY I LOVE AMERICA June 29, 2010: "I wrote this in 2007. A lot has changed in our country since then. But this "America" I love DOES still exist. I worry about "America". BobLee says we can still save "America". If you share these thoughts, maybe we can save it." Posted by permission from Susan http://www.sotheblondsays.com/Home/June-2010/Why-I-Love-America.aspx
I love the Bill of Rights - which defines the limits on government. Free speech means you can criticize the government and there is nothing they can do about it, absolute privacy and religious freedom were unique when the Constitution was written and remain rare in the world even today.
I love the rule of law - that it applies to us all, no matter our station in life. It may seem that the rich and powerful are treated better in the system, but in America the rich and powerful can and do go to jail from time to time while the least powerful and the poor have the right to confront their accusers, the right to an attorney, the right to remain silent, the right to refuse admission to government officials wanting to enter their home or office.
I love Wal-Mart and capitalism (the greatest economic ism of all.) Wal-Mart started as a one man rural, somewhat rinky-dink operation in Arkansas and grew to be the biggest retailer in the world because serving the customer served the business. That is how capitalism works. Socialism and communism claim to spread the wealth, but only spread the inefficiency and misery. You don't even have to shop at Wal-Mart to benefit. Their massive competitive presence in the retail world lowers prices for everyone.
I love baseball...it is the perfect democratic sport. ..... Anyone can play. Not in the big leagues but in the vacant lot down the street. You do not need to be big, strong, fast, smart, broad, tall, black, white, male, female, smart, rich to play. .....Anyone can play with minimal equipment.... Your individual excellence is just slightly more important then the group effort. Just like America...It is pure. Yes, ruined by money and fame and steroids. .... But at it's essence, it is pure and America.
I love that elections in America are contentious, messy, rancorous and maddening, but we vote without fear. And then a peaceful transfer of power takes place and nobody gets shot.
I love that America was one of the very first nations in the world to put an end to slavery. The story of slavery in America was no different than anywhere else except that we stopped a lot sooner. That needs to be mentioned whenever the topic comes up.
I love freedom of religion. I love my religion. I may not love yours or I may be indifferent to it. Doesn't matter. It is yours and you are free to practice it as long as it stays within the law regarding the rights of your fellow citizens. We don't really care for the sacrificing of virgins on a mountain top.
I love the upward mobility and self realization that is possible here. Poor men from towns with no traffic lights have grown up to become president. One day a woman will take the job and so will people of all ethnic backgrounds. Most millionaires did not start out wealthy. They make it on their own and they can do it because in America we have the opportunity to profit from our skills and effort.
I love how charitable Americans are. A recent report reconfirmed that Americans give more private money to charity than the citizens of any other country. We also give our time and expertise. When we give to disaster relief, as we did for Katrina, we know that some of it will be mismanaged, we give it anyway. A lot of it will help out, and that is what matters.
I love hot dogs and hamburgers and pancakes and popcorn and hushpuppies. American food.
I love that jazz, the blues, rock and roll, gospel and country music are all American, even though I don't know a lot about jazz, but love to hear it, and very little about the blues. I do know that without them the rock and roll I love would not be what it is.
I love that America's voluntary military is voluntary and powerful. Most armies are neither.
I love that I can hop in my car and go where ever I want and no one cares.
I love all the memorials in DC. But the WWII has this big fountain in the center where groups of school kids laugh and play around the fountain - carefree and happy. ..... Sitting on the benches, around the fountain you can see older men with their veteran hats on watching the children. ..... The kids are so care free because those men fought for them. It made me weep on the spot. I love that.
I love the regional differences we have...north, south, east, west, Midwest. While those differences are diminishing with technology, there is still a difference that you can really only know if you live in a place for a while. But yet, even in our differences we are still Americans. Different in so many ways, connected - a family.
I love that we are so free that we have the time and energy to invent things like iPods and iPhones and Viagra.
I love the flag. It is so simply beautiful to me. It is cheerful and optimistic. It is just cloth but such a hopeful piece of fabric.
I love that my daughter has so many options open to her. The sky is the limit and the world is her oyster. Her only limitations are ones she puts on herself.
I love that America takes care of the world. While we get little or no credit or thanks, often we get only criticism, we still do it. We are always there to help with all of our resources.
I love our history. The old fashion kind we learned in school before political correctness. I love all of those dead white men, who with all of their own prejudices and flaws, built a nation that affords freedom to men and women of all colors and creeds to a greater degree than, even they might have imagined.
Darryl Tookes, singer, pianist, composer, arranger, poet, educator, and humanitarian has joined the 'Fall In Love With America Again!' project as a participant, judge (original song, music video and short story competition) and goodwill ambassador.
"I am honored to be an official participant, judge and goodwill ambassador in this great new project: Let's all FALL IN LOVE WITH AMERICA – AGAIN!" - Darryl Tookes, singer, pianist, composer, arranger, poet, educator, and humanitarian.
'Fall In Love With America Again!' (created by Evie Evangelou, Amber Roniger and Dennis Gelbaum) is an innovative, timely and important new documentary style web and mobile based interactive multimedia series highlighting stories from across America…our stories - about why we love America and why others need to Fall In Love With America Again!
Here's how it works - we are inviting everyone to have fun, be creative, entertaining and inspiring - tell us your story - told through short stories, letters, videos, photographs, original songs, illustrations, poetry, recipes and more. Post your work on the web, tell everyone you know (tell us too) where to view it, comment and pass it along to their friends. Our panel of judges will select the top ten winners (based on the number of views/likes/votes you get and the quality of the work...from each category. (Yes, this is a competition - we are looking for the next great American song, video, photograph, illustration…) The 'winners' - the work, the author, the artist - will be recognized through our sites/media and invited to join us on our National Touring Show and Exhibit.
For more information about the project, check out www.fallinlovewithamericaagain.com/ and our promotional video at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1OGAVgiVD4&feature=player_embedded
For more information about Darryl Tookes, please visit www.darryltookes.com and see/hear Darryl at www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2izGbrnzXA
'My American Family – Not a Hyphened Nation' by Darryl Tookes One of my young students once said that he has never written a song to, for, or about God. I thought about his statement for a minute, looked into the face of this gifted young man and replied, "I think every song you write is to and for God ... whether you realize it or not. Whether about a tree, a forest, a love lost, a love found." He paused, looking puzzled, pondered, and then smiled. Knowing.
People routinely recite and sing Irving Berlin’s "God Bless America, land that I love." We hear Kate Smith’s famous recording among many renditions during the 7th inning stretch. We see the bumper sticker. Do we think about this at all?
Yes, this is my home. My great-grandfather Tom Tookes was born in this land before the Great Emancipator freed the African slaves. He was born into slavery. I knew him, and remember him well. He was my pal. We went to basketball games together. Great-grandpa Tom talked, and I listened.
Like the folkloric genealogy found in many American families, my father’s racially mixed great-grandmother Martha Whitaker – Cherokee and European – helped to raise him in the pre-integrated south. The first high school graduate in his family, my father went on to success in college, graduate school, postgraduate and life.
My maternal side were northerners. Descendants of Freedmen, and literate. This was my mother and father. Before the word was born of sacrifice and pride, they were truly African Americans. Before the hyphenation. An American family – My American family, not a hyphened nation.
My father and my brother were soldiers. The elder achieved the rank of sergeant in a segregated US Army platoon; the younger, a pilot with the rank of lieutenant in the US Navy – less than 30 years later.
This is my heritage – OUR heritage. Our America. To paraphrase Samuel Francis Smith’s “My Country, ‘Tis Of Thee,” America is the land where my parents died, the land where my children were born – in this wonderful place called freedom, justice, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
I am an American, and I love my country. I am honored to be an official participant, judge and goodwill ambassador in this great new project: Let's all FALL IN LOVE WITH AMERICA – AGAIN!
"I am honored to be an official participant, judge and goodwill ambassador in this great new project: Let's all FALL IN LOVE WITH AMERICA – AGAIN!" - Darryl Tookes, singer, pianist, composer, arranger, poet, educator, and humanitarian.
'Fall In Love With America Again!' is an innovative, timely and important new documentary style web and mobile based interactive multimedia series highlighting stories from across America…our stories - about why we love America and why others need to Fall In Love With America Again!
Here's how it works - we are inviting everyone to have fun, be creative, entertaining and inspiring - tell us your story - told through short stories, letters, videos, photographs, original songs, illustrations, poetry, recipes and more. Post your work on the web, tell everyone you know (tell us too) where to view it, comment and pass it along to their friends. Our panel of judges will select the top ten winners (based on the number of views you get and the quality of the work...from each category. (Yes, this is a competition - we are looking for the next great American song, video, photograph, illustration…) The 'winners' - the work, the author, the artist - will be recognized through our sites/media and invited to join us on our National Touring Show and Exhibit.
When you post your work use this title format: Fall In Love With America Again - (type of content ie Music Video) By (your name)
"Darryl is truly an inspiration and having him join us on our journey will make the experience even more special. Darryl will be one of the judges in the original music, music video and short story competitions." Dennis Gelbaum, co-executive producer, adds.
Darryl has recorded and performed with George Benson, Diana Ross, Sting, Leonard Bernstein, Paul Simon, Burt Bacharach, Quincy Jones, Carly Simon, Laurie Anderson, Dave Grusin, Gerry Mulligan, Patti Austin, Rod Stewart, Elton John, Steve Tyrell, and many others. In spite of these collaborations, Tookes’ style is completely original. He has what has been described as an “angelic” voice (NY Newsday), which along with his message of love, are at the core of who Darryl Tookes is an artist.
Studying physics in college gave Tookes a perspective on harmony that informs his music in surprising ways. From his first hit single, Lifeguard, Darryl Tookes has been seen and heard as a prophetic messenger of love and spirituality, essential elements in all of his songs. He has never wavered from this path.
Tookes’ voice has been featured on commercials for Coca-Cola, AT&T, American Airlines, and the US Army, among others, and on the television show, Sesame Street. His other television appearances include Late Night with David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Saturday Night Live, The Morning Show with Regis Philbin, Great Performances, Everyday with Joan Lunden, The Joan Rivers Show, and NBC’s Today Show. He has performed at the White House, and received a standing ovation at Carnegie Hall for his duet with Roberta Flack.
An educator, Tookes is Adjunct Professor at the Tisch School of the Performing Arts at NYU. He also mentors a growing number of private students at the Lagond Music School in Westchester County, NY. Further, Tookes is a clinician, having taught master classes at several universities and secondary schools. He has arranged for student a cappella groups, and has been awarded numerous commissions for composing and arranging choral works. In the realm of sacred music, Darryl Tookes is artist-in-residence at First Presbyterian Church of Stamford, CT, and is frequently an invited guest soloist at interdenominational services. He also performed Duke Ellington’s Mass with Jessye Norman at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
Darryl Tookes has participated in many charitable activities – concerts and recordings – including Arts for Healing, Best Buddies, A Better Chance, UNICEF, Hands Across America, Songs of Love, Comic Relief, The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS/HIV Foundation, Daniel Pearl Foundation, Rainforest Foundation, 9/11 Memorial, Fall In Love With America – Again, and Fun In Learning Tutorial, and Creative Learning @ FPC. He is in partnership with the global humanitarian organization, AmeriCares, serving as a goodwill ambassador, traveling the world to provide aid and crisis relief to victims of natural and manmade disasters.
For more than three decades, Tookes has been an active member of ASCAP, AFTRA, SAG, NARAS, and AF of M. He served two terms as Chairman of the New York Singers Collective, and three terms on the board of directors for the Society of Singers. Tookes was founding musical director for Black to Broadway. He is also musical director, pianist and arranger for Lesley Gore.
For more information about Darryl Tookes, please visit www.darryltookes.com
In addition to being a prolific author and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Elie Wiesel is a professor in the Division of Religion and Theological Studies at Boston University.
Why do you love America? Here's one reason why I (and Elie Wiesel) love America: "America stands as a living symbol of all that is charitable and decent...a country in which every person is entitled to dream of happiness, peace and liberty; where those who have are taught to give back. America has always been about hope..." Why do you love ...America?
The 'Fall In Love With America Again!' project is all about you and why you love America! Share your stories, videos, songs, photos, illustrations, poetry, recipes - it's all about what we think America is, who American's are, how we see ourselves, and how we welcome the world to our home.
Check out this article by Elie Wiesel/The HyperTexts: http://thehypertexts.com/Essays%20Articles%20Reviews%20Prose/Elie_Wiesel_The_America_I_Love.htm
Photo from an article which appeared in SF Gate, home of the San Francisco Chronicle. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nwzchik/detail?entry_id=13385
(June 10, 2010 - Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images North America)
Share Your Reasons Why You Love America! Here's One - "I Love America because I got to see Kid Rock perform his new song, 'Born Free' on the CMA Music Festival last night on ABC! And "...the title track from the Detroit rocker’s upcoming album, has been enlisted by TBS as the official marketing theme for the network’s Major League Baseball postseason coverage." You gotta love it!
Check out this article from the Detroit Free Press, written by Brian McCollum at: http://www.freep.com/article/20100901/ENT04/9010333/Kid-Rock-s-Born-Free-to-be-MLB-play-offs-theme
Dennis Gelbaum, Co-Executive Producer of the 'Fall In Love With America Again' project, (created by Evie Evangelou, Amber Roniger and Dennis Gelbaum) will be participating in the 2010 Veteran's Day Virtual Telethon - "Every American has a story to tell - doesn’t matter who they are - where they come from, where they live, what they do. Showcasing the talents and successes of our returning Veterans, sharing memories and stories of our fallen soldiers, celebrating the servicemen and women who are still serving this Country - is all part of our 'Fall In Love With America Again' project. I look forward to participating in the 2010 Veteran's Day Virtual Telethon and sharing some great stories about America." Dennis Gelbaum
“Joining forces with the “Falling in Love With America – Again” project was an easy decision since both of our campaigns are about remembering why we love our Country, our Flag, and our Freedom. As a 21 year Navy Veteran and 9/11 survivor, there is nothing that makes me prouder than seeing our friends and neighbors showing their love and respect for this country by flying our country’s flag and sharing their stories about why they love America!" Laura Kennedy, USN-Ret
As a consultant, Laura Kennedy works one-on-one with both employers and employees to increase their productivity, work place attitudes, and teamwork, as well as the all important bottom lines! Laura’s real passion revolves around helping others. Laura spends countless hours volunteering with the homeless & mentoring with Veterans.
Michelle Obama adds (in a letter to Evie Evangelou about our Fall In Love With America Again Project): "We are at a critical moment in our Nation's history, and we need an allhands-on-deck approach to solve the problems that we face. Thank you for daring to innovate, for dreaming big, and for finding ways to create a better tomorrow. America needs your hands, your hearts, and your hard work now more than ever."
'Fall In Love With America - Again' - (created by Evie Evangelou, Amber Roniger and Dennis Gelbaum) is an innovative, timely and important new documentary style web and mobile based multimedia series highlighting stories from across America - stories from small towns, communities, neighborhoods, streets, homes, rooms… It's all about what we think America is, who American's are, how we see ourselves, and how we welcome the world to our home.
"Fall in Love with America Again is an expression of freedom, of creativity, inspiration and love of country. It is a declaration of the Best of America by the people and for the people. I am certain that this campaign with its positive message and novel point of view, will create a halo effect around everyone involved." Evie Evangelou, Executive Producer, Fall In Love With America Again.
The project includes live webcam updates, producing a feature length documentary film, broadcast series and special, live events, touring exhibit, multimedia content produced by us and submitted by folks all across America, interactive websites and social networking sites/communities, etc.
Our adventure will take off September 2010 (with the launch of our websites, social networks, blog, video and audio channels) and the project will continue through the summer of 2011. We will be having a series of multimedia contests - looking for the next great American song, video, photograph, illustration, short story, poem, chef, fashion designer, teacher, business leader, volunteer, local heroes and more.
"This project is about connecting and re-connecting, using all media to tell stories that will have everyone fall in love with America, again!" Dennis Gelbaum, Executive Producer, Fall In Love With America Again.
“From the time I was a child in the foothills of Missouri, I knew that America was a special place. I was raised in a home where a Korean War Veteran happened to reside and I was privileged enough to call him my father. I went on to serve in the U.S. Army as well as my son who is currently serving as a Combat Medic. I know personally the sacrifices that have been paid to ensure that this beautiful land of ours remains free. The “Fall In Love With America – Again” project has touched my heart in a way I cannot explain; let it touch yours. I am extremely proud to be associated with this project and let us never forget that Our Freedom is Not Free: Won’t You “Fall in Love With America – Again?” Jim Lederle, American Veterans Radio
As of July 25, 2010 – American Veterans Radio is ranked number 25 of 600 tracked military websites which places AVR in the top 4% of the best military websites worldwide! More than 150,000 listeners, from all fifty states and the District of Colombia, six of the seven continents, sixty-seven countries!
"From day one, the purpose of American Veterans Radio has been to bring a small piece of home to our military veterans - wherever they may be, to recognize our 1st Responders for being available 24/7, spotlighting the wonderful talents of the Indie Artist and last but surely not least, bringing great music to our listeners worldwide!
In the spring of 2009, while working on a CD collection project to send CD’s to our troops in the sandbox (AKA Iraq), the concept of broadcasting live to our troops and launching a free internet radio station, began to take shape.
After lengthy discussions with my wife and with the passion and compassion I had (and have) for our veterans (my father served in Korea, I served from 1980 – 1988, and my son is currently serving our country), American Veterans Radio was created.
After turning on the switch, as I like to call it, on August 31, 2009 we began thinking about all of our dedicated 1st Responders and the sacrifices they also have to make on a day to day basis (My wife is a Nurse and my brother is a Police Officer). So it was decided we were going to do all we could to give them the respect and dignity they deserved.
And lastly while listening to some excellent tunes a friend of mine had self recorded, I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why this individual didn’t have a contract with a record label; they were that good! So I told them that I would showcase their music on my daily show. As is well known now within the Indie Artist World, American Veterans Radio dedicates a full week, every week, to highlight and spotlight an individual Independent Artist.
It has been hard work with literally 1,000’s of hours dedicated to the radio station but one thing is sure: it has been well worth it.
While doing my live show “The Mixin’ It Up Show” if I receive a request from a Veteran serving in Afghanistan, Iraq, Korea, Japan etc. then I feel that all is right with the world.
American Veterans Radio was just a part of allowing our brave men and women to be back home if only for a moment – what better place to be." Jim Lederle, American Veterans Radio
"It is not often you get asked to participate in a project that immediately strikes you as exciting, valuable, timely and interesting. In short, one that has all the elements that can bring wide interest and reception, the elements that ring that doorbell called, SUCCESS. In addition, it is even more rare, to be able to contribute and participate in all the very areas that are the most exciting to you. In my capacity as Judge, and writer, and performer, among other areas I am involved in with this project, I look forward to being able to uncover some gems of songs and work with the songwriters to be able to bring them to the spotlight. Dennis Gelbaum, one of the show's Executive Producers, (and co-creator) has brought such a project to me: FALL IN LOVE WITH AMERICA - AGAIN. This is the story of all of us, for all of us, by all of us." Natasha James
Meet Natasha James - the consummate singer-songwriter and the kind of unique artist who can craft visuals merely through her songwriting. Natasha pens works that cross many musical genres and pull at the heartstrings all music lovers... especially country music enthusiasts. (Natasha was nominated for the 20th Annual Los Angeles Music Awards for "Country Artist of the Year," - awards to be given out November 18th, 2010!) Check out Natasha's website at: http://www.natashajames.com
Natasha says, "Anytime I pick up my guitar or sit in front of a piano, I have the ability to write a song. I never intentionally try to pen a tricky hook or intricate melody. I write for myself based on stories that come from my life experiences."
She says, "I don't like a lot of rules. I even hate sidewalks. 'The Restless Kind' reflects the stage in my life where I realized I had been blessed and attained many of the things I had desired including a great home in a nice neighborhood and kids that I love. I had consciously put my music aside to achieve many of these things. But as I moved forward in my life, I missed connecting with people through my music and was becoming...restless. That album brought me back to my music and my desire to connect with people through my recordings and live performances."
Natasha has in fact actually been the "restless kind" from a very young age. Born in San Francisco, and raised in Southern California, Switzerland, Italy and England, at 14 Natasha started playing and singing in local Los Angeles jazz and blues clubs. Two years later, she moved to San Francisco and worked the 'folksy' clubs: Coffee Gallery and the Boarding House, among others.
After two years, she resumed modeling and acting in Los Angeles, studying at Lee Strassberg's while landing small roles as a character actress. Moving to Europe again at 18, she continued singing and playing folk-blues along with her own music while studying for a degree in languages and literature. Quitting school, she moved to London, and then teamed up with a reggae band playing regularly upstairs at Ronnie Scott's and touring northern England. While in London, she ended up writing lyrics to a song composed by Jeff Hunter, which resulted in a move back to L.A. to continue recording, songwriting/arranging and performing with a number of different known and unknown artists.
By this time, Natasha James was modeling on a regular basis, working in films on both coasts, performing her own music in New York and Los Angeles and recording with other artists. She settled in New York City, playing local clubs with her band, Good 'N Dusty', and was being heard on WFMU as well as Channel J for Videophile.
Of late, Natasha James has been a Bay Area staple, performing and recording in different line-ups with material covering Country, Rock, Bluegrass, Blues, Jazz, Americana and Funk. Her favorite tracks on the album include "Just Enough" -- for its compositional value.
She adds, "I love the process of writing and developing a song and especially collaborating with other songwriters. It MAKES you stretch when you work with somebody else and I enjoy that part of the exercise."
On performing live, Natasha's all about the crowd. She says, "I love the feedback and interaction of a live setting. I'm not a person that wants to perform in a vacuum. I once heard a very famous artist say to a live crowd, " I'm not here to entertain you." That's not me. I absolutely am. I'll change a set list or do whatever I need to roll with the feel of the crowd or take us on a journey together." Natasha concludes, "I feel so fortunate to do something I love as an artist."
'Tequila Time', the latest release from Highway One Records recording artist, Natasha James, is a triple shot of Triple AAA/Americana already making waves at radio with roots rock hits from country rock, to Tex-Mex, to swampy country blues. From the Stonesy vibe of "Straight to Hell," to the Latin vibe of the title track, "Tequila Time," to the Allman Bros. like slide on "Get Out Of My Way," Natasha James delivers. Her vocals have been compared to Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin, Stevie Nicks, Joan Baez; her music to Van Morrison, Los Lobos, Allman Bros, Neil Young, Johnny Cash…see for yourself…you might just wanna join her "south of the border, livin' on Tequila Time." From the opener, "Takes Alotta Love," to the last track, "Modern Life," you'll find yourself tapping and humming to high-energy, upbeat songs of broken hearts, desert sunsets, south-of-the-border bars, NYC east village dawns, and that endless highway always behind and always ahead.
The production is superb, with Ronnie Rivera engineering (Lisa Marie Presley) and 6x GRAMMY winner, Gavin Lurssen, mastering (Allison Krauss/Robert Plant, "Raising Sand"; Oh Brother, Where Art Thou), and a rare musical maturity in the songwriting we also saw on her last record, Bad Judgements (the single, The Restless Kind, went to #10 on the FMQB charts staying in the top 100 for 10 months, and her Billboard article received more than 144,538 hits!).
With Tequila Time, an impeccable collection of songs with soulful driving vocals, Natasha shows us that she's here to stay. The musicianship is excellent with her own band consisting of Steve Evans (Charlie Musselwhite, Roy Rogers, Etta James) on bass, Ian Lamson (Elvin Bishop) on guitar, Herman Eberitzsch (Jules Broussard, Jorge Santana, Malo) on keys, and friends and fellow contributors Rafael Padilla on percussion (Chris Isaak, Shakira, Sara Bareilles), Bobby Black on pedal steel (Commander Cody, Asleep at the Wheel), just to mention a few.
When asked about this latest record, Natasha says, "At first, we were going to call it Modern Life, which is one of my favorite songs -- we also have a video coming out of that one - but Tequila Time is bouncier, and really, don't we all wanna be south of the border, livin' on Tequila Time?"
