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Anna Nicole Smith Assistant Gives TV Interview

Solana Productions, Inc., recorded the exclusive interview for "Entertainment Tonight" with correspondent Jann Carl at a secret location in Southern California.

Palm Springs, CA (PRWeb) February 25, 2007 -- Kim Walther, former personal assistant to the late Anna Nicole Smith, had come forward to talk about her experience working for the former model and Playboy playmate.

Solana Productions, Inc., recorded the exclusive interview for "Entertainment Tonight" with correspondent Jann Carl at a secret location in Southern California.

The two-camera shoot involved a five-member crew from Solana Productions, which provides videotape production for broadcast, cable and corporate clients throughout Southern California. In addition to "ET," Solana regularly shoots for "The Insider," "Dr. Phil," "The Rachael Ray Show," and other programs.

The interview aired Friday on "Entertainment Tonight."

Walther worked for Smith for about five years and appeared with her in the E! reality series, "The Anna Nicole Smith" show, sporting purple hair and a tattoo of Anna Nicole on her shoulder.

Walther witnessed Smith signing her will, which she said took place at Smith's Los Angeles home in 2000. She said the former model, Playboy playmate and actress was "of sound mind and body" during the process.

The will named Smith's personal attorney and confidante, Howard K. Stern, as executor, and left Smith's fortune to her son, Daniel, who died last September.

Walther also says Smith at first told her she was not sure who was the father of her now 5-month-old daughter, Dannielynn, but later said Stern was the father.

Walther says she hopes to meet with Dannielynn one day and tell her "the good things" about her mother.

According to Walther, someone has created a website using her name that criticizes Stern. She says she called Stern to let him know she had nothing to do with the fake blog.

Smith died in Hollywood, Fla., after collapsing in her hotel room on Feb. 8. The final autopsy report is awaiting the results of toxicology tests.

posted by: lightning at 23:06 | link | comments |
entertainment, tv

Guitar Warehouse Enhances Website with Thousands of Electric Guitars, Musical Instruments and Useful Features

Guitar Warehouse has redesigned its Website to give visitors access to even more products and benefits. The online retailer has added 25,000 new electric guitars, music instruments, accessories and related items to its list of available products. The revamped Website also features a new forum, blog and other resources to benefit musicians at all skill levels

Lemon Grove, CA (PRWeb) February 26, 2007 -- Guitar Warehouse has completely revamped its Website to provide music enthusiasts with even greater product selection and functionality. The recent overhaul includes the addition of more than 25,000 new products, a handy product search box and other helpful enhancements.



"Visitors to our site can now find more of the guitar-related products they are looking for, including electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, amplifiers, live sound equipment, percussion and drum supplies, keyboards, recording equipment and a complete line of guitar accessories," says owner Bill McRea.
   
The major expansion of products furthers Guitar Warehouse's goal to offer the broadest selection of musical instruments and accessories available. Although it specializes in electric guitars, the online retailer is a full-scale supplier of musical instruments and music-related products. Its extensive roster of products is shipped nationwide via authorized dealers according to strict standards of quality and service.

In fact, customer service is a major focus of Guitar Warehouse. The company offers a best-price guarantee and free shipping on the majority of its products. In addition, most items come with a 45-day, no-questions-asked return policy. If customers aren't completely satisfied with any product, they can return it for a full refund of the product purchase price, full credit, or exchange of their choice.

"We appreciate our customers and are deeply committed to ensuring they are happy with the prices, products and service we deliver," McRea says.

Since its inception five years ago, Guitar Warehouse has established itself as a prime place to get brand name instruments, state-of-the-art recording equipment and music accessories. The site is also a valuable information source for musicians at all skill levels. For example, it features online lessons for new guitar players needing basics tips and veteran players seeking advanced techniques. Guitar Warehouse also offers free ebooks, a guitar playing forum and blog, an illustrated guitar glossary and instructions on how to care for guitar equipment.

"Guitar Warehouse offers much more than just guitars," McRea explains. "We strive to serve as a valuable, one-stop resource for anyone needing an electric guitars, musical instruments, accessories or information."

For more information about the company and its new products, visit our web site at www.guitarwarehouse.com.

About Guitar Warehouse:
Formerly known as 24hourguitar.com, Guitar Warehouse has been in business since 2002. Guitar Warehouse focuses on providing musicians with the largest selection of electric guitars possible and premium customer service. It is owned and operated by McRea Site Development, which is based in Lemon Grove, Calif.

For more information, contact:
Bill McRea, Owner
(619) 241-1132
bill-at-guitarwarehouse.com
http://www.guitarwarehouse.com/

posted by: lightning at 23:05 | link | comments |
music, websites

Jason Ebs' (from Peter Criss) New Rock Band "ECOTONIC" adds Drummer Chris Slade from AC/DC to Lineup for their Debut Show March 3, 2007 at the San Diego Indie Music Fest III

Jason Ebs, the former singer for Peter Criss on the 'Bad Boys of KISS" Tours, adds AC/DC's famed drummer Chris Slade to the live show lineup. Along with Janea Chadwick Ebs, Daniel Schiffer, and Emmett Brown, they will play their debut show to support their upcoming CD "Electrified" Saturday, March 3rd, 2007 at the San Diego Indie Music Fest III on the 29th St Indie Coffee Garden Stage @ from 6:30pm-7:30pm

Los Angeles, CA (PRWeb) February 27, 2007 -- What do you get when you take members from AC/DC & Peter Criss' CRISS and put them together with a girl that's shared the stage with Sheryl Crow, Kenny Loggins, & Joe Cocker? "ECOTONIC"!

ECOTONIC will debut in San Diego on March 3, 2007 at the San Diego Indie Music Fest III. The outside all-day event will boast 70 independent bands on 7 stages and is produced by Champ Records and Say It Again Records. www.SDIndieMusicFest.com.

"Ecotonic" is performing at 6:30pm-7:30m on the 29th Street Indie Garden Stage. They chose to debut at this event in hopes of attracting record industry types who can help launch the band and perhaps Upstream to a Major Record Deal, Management, or Publishing Deal.

"We're really excited," says Ebs, "to come out of the box with such a killer line-up. I feel so fortunate to have been able to play with such drumming legends as Peter Criss and Chris Slade and to have Slade involved in our original band is simply awesome!"

Janea Chadwick Ebs and Jason Ebs have spent the last 1 1/2 years writing and recording the "Electrified" cd. After laying down all the tracks with a studio rhythm section, it was time to find the right live group to bring the songs to the next level.

"I saw Slade down at the NAMM Show in Anaheim again this year," says Ebs, "so I gave him a cd and mentioned to him that we were looking for a great drummer; we spoke a week later and solidified it!"

"Ecotone" by definition is "a place where two or more biological systems collide." To the band, Ecotonic is a description of the place "where two or more musical styles collide." Having elements of Rock, Folk, Blues, and Funk, Ecotonic delivers anything from a wall of sound to the delicate simplicity of a guitar & vocal.

Additionally, a 'Tonic' is defined as a "medicine or other agent that restores or stimulates physical, mental, or emotional vigor." Therefore, 'Ecotonic' also represents a musical elixir for any ailments caused by the collision of biological systems.

With both an acoustic and an electric side, it enables them to cover many sides of musicality. They get musical diversity by using alternate open tunings and plush vocal harmonies. It's all about the Song, Delivery, and Presentation and musicality of the moment.

Recently featured at Music Connection Magazine's "Best Kept Secrets" Showcase at the Gig in Hollywood, they've been dubbed a 'Fleetwood Mac meets Audioslave'.

Jason Ebs (Jason Conrad Ebsworth) comes from a rock & roll background, having toured with Peter Criss (Kiss) as lead singer/guitarist for "Criss" during the 'Bad Boys of Kiss' tours of 1995-1996 (a double-billing with Ace Frehley's band). Originally from New Jersey & Philadelphia area, he relocated to Los Angeles to attend GIT in the 90's following a few years at Penn State University and in The United States Army Reserves. He's also played with Terri Nunn's Berlin and has a solo rock & roll record released on Kinky Organ Music/MusicRocks Records called Twisted Roots". It's currently available on iTunes, Musicmatch, and www.cdbaby.com/JasonEbs.

Janea Chadwick Ebs (Janea Chadwick Ebsworth) comes from more of an Acoustic Folk and R&B background whose main influences were Joni Mitchell, Fleetwood Mac, Crosby Stills & Nash, and Stevie Wonder. Hailing from Santa Barbara, she's written songs and worked with producer Jay Graydon, and has worked with Kenny Loggins, Joe Cocker, Sheryl Crow, and many others. "Jason & I were eating at the Beverly Glen Diner when Joni Mitchell came in; it was so wonderful, we spoke for hours and treated her to dinner!" Janea has a hauntingly beautiful voice with the right mix of delicacy, balls, and sass. She brings the folk.

Chris Slade, aka "Slade", has an amazing career thus far, having played with greats such as AC/DC, The Firm, ASIA, King Crimson, Manfred Mann's Earth Band, and now Ecotonic. His amazing energy and phenomenal drum beats are the backbone their sound.

Bassist Daniel Schiffer adds low end umph, and is extremely excited to be part of Ecotonic. "I'm really honored to be playing with Chris Slade and Ecotonic," he states saying that, "I''ve been looking for something cool for a long time that has both the musicality that I enjoy and the message that I wish to convey."

Newcomer Emmett Brown brings his lead & rhythm guitar chops to Ecotonic, adding solos and matching production factors contained on the upcoming CD release.

Their show will include an acoustical breakdown for a few songs in the middle of the set.

The music is delicately heavy with elements of Heart, Lenny Kravitz, Cheryl Crow, Audioslave, Evanescense, and Alice in Chains.

'Ecotonic' is currently in the studio recording their 2nd full length CD targeting a Summer 2007 release. Ebs is recording and producing the Acoustic-based CD to be called "Out of the Ashes" at their Los Angeles based studio Kinky Organ Music. The CD will be released under their new record label "World of Wishes Records (WOW).

In response to the soon to be released cd "Electrified", Ebs states, "I'm really excited about this record. I feel like it's my best work to date, as the songs capture such a male/female dynamic of such a variety of issues prevalent in society today." Additionally, he adds "I'm so excited for songs like 'Unfold Me', 'Except Time', and 'The Wave' to reach the public.

"The hardest thing about this record is to deciding which songs will make the cut," says Ebs. "There are so many songs pouring out of us that we've just been tracking song-after-song to get them down so we don't forget them; they each just keep feeling better and better.

Advanced promo copies of the CD "Electrified" will be avialable at the show, as well as limited-edition Ecotoinic T-shirts, Stickers, and other Swag.

Downoads are avialable for both "Electrified" and "Out of the Ashes" at iTunes.com, Musicmatch.com, and cdbaby.com. Google the word 'Ecotonic' and you'll find more.

"We'd really like to thank Tony De La Rosa at Greg Bennett Guitars for the amazing instruments that he's provided to us. Also, we'd like to thank Gibson Strings, Seymour/Duncan Pick-ups, and Groove Tubes.

"We'd also like to extend a special thanks to Mark Ludmer@ Event/Rhodes Microphones for the awesome support and Alicia Champion & company from SDIMF for putting together such a great show!"

Industry People may contact James Edwards or Jason Ebs @ at Kinky Organ Music (310)-710-1716 for additional info and a package.

Ecotonic is seeking a Record Deal (or Distribution Deal), Publishing Deal, and Music Management to help them get to the next level.

www.myspace.com/ecotonic
www.EcotonicMusic.com
www.myspace.com/JasonEbsMusic

posted by: lightning at 23:04 | link | comments |
music, rocknroll

La Frontera Publishing Announces September Release for "Ride the Trail of Death," New Western Novel Set in 1870s Deadwood

La Frontera Publishing announces that in September it will release "Ride the Trail of Death," a Western novel written by Kenneth L. Kieser, which will be made available through the University of New Mexico Press in its Fall 2007 catalog.

Cheyenne, WY (PRWeb) February 26, 2007 -- La Frontera Publishing announced today that in September it will release "Ride the Trail of Death," a Western novel written by Kenneth L. Kieser, which will be made available through the University of New Mexico Press in its Fall 2007 catalog.

Set in Deadwood during the Black Hills Gold Rush period of the late 1870s, the historically-accurate novel includes many real-life characters from that time, including Deadwood Sheriff Seth Bullock and saloon owner Al Swearingen.

"Ride the Trail of Death" is a story of a family torn apart by the brutality of the West as it tries to relocate between Custer and Deadwood. The main character is Birch Rose, an 18-year-old boy who seeks revenge for his murdered parents and two younger brothers lost in the woods, presumably killed by Indians or animals.

Faced with being alone, Birch deals with sorrow, despair, anger, and a consuming desire for revenge. He becomes a Deadwood deputy sheriff and one of the fastest gunmen in the Dakota Territory. In the end, Birch confronts his family's killers, but finds his lust for vengeance is hollow. Reunited with his younger brothers, Birch comes to terms with life and reaches his own personal redemption.

"While this is his first novel, Kenneth L. Kieser is a veteran journalist and writer," said Mike Harris, publisher of La Frontera Publishing. "Kieser's name is known to many readers of outdoors publications, and his outdoors column appears in several newspapers and magazines. The Kansas City-area writer's feature articles also can be found on several outdoors Web sites. We are pleased to help him bring out his first historical fiction novel."

About La Frontera Publishing

Cheyenne, Wyoming-based La Frontera Publishing publishes historic fiction and non-fiction books about the American West. Its Web site can be found at www.lafronterapublishing.com and reached at (307) 778-4752.

posted by: lightning at 23:03 | link | comments |
books

Stewart Copeland to Receive Maverick Spirit Award at Cinequest Film Festival

Cinequest Film Festival is proud to announce that legendary drummer for The Police, and film composer, Stewart Copeland, will be honored with the festival's highest honor, The Maverick Spirit Award. Copeland will receive the award live at the California Theatre during a moderated conversation on stage following a screening of his film Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out. The Copeland event is part of Cinequest's the Day of Sight & Sound and takes place at 5:00 p.m. at the splendid California Theatre on Saturday, March 3, 2007 in downtown San Jose.

San Jose, CA (PRWeb) February 26, 2007 -- Cinequest Film Festival is proud to announce that legendary drummer for The Police, and film composer, Stewart Copeland, will be honored with the festival's highest honor, The Maverick Spirit Award. Copeland will receive the award live at the California Theatre during a moderated conversation on stage following a screening of his film Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out. The Copeland event is part of Cinequest's the Day of Sight & Sound and takes place at 5:00 p.m. at the splendid California Theatre on Saturday, March 3, 2007 in downtown San Jose.

Aside from his legendary work with The Police, Copeland included film scoring to his resume when he worked with Francis Ford Coppola on the cult classic Rumble Fish. That strikingly original soundtrack earned Copeland a Golden Globe®nomination. Thereafter, Copeland enjoyed successful collaborations with dozens of Hollywood's most talented directors in film and television including Oliver Stone.

His score for Showtime's Dead Like Me earned him a 2005 Emmy™ nomination. Copeland has also composed King Lear for the San Francisco Ballet, Holy Blood and Crescent Moon for the Cleveland Opera, and Noah's Ark Solcheeka for the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.
In 2003 Copeland was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and currently is a five-time GRAMMY® Award Winner.

Most recently Copeland turned the Super 8 movies that he produced, composed, directed, edited and narrated during his odyssey with The Police, into a compelling feature length documentary, Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out. After screening Everyone Stares: The Police Inside Out, Copeland will be interviewed on stage, discussing the role sound has in the world of film.

This event will be moderated by Robert G. Phelps, Santa Clara County deputy public defender, and screenwriter. Phelps has written for ScreenTalk magazine.

Tickets
Tickets for the Stewart Copeland Maverick Spirit Event are $15 and may be purchased by calling (408) 295-FEST, or by logging onto the Cinequest Web site at www.cinequest.org.

posted by: lightning at 23:01 | link | comments |
movies, entertainment

UK Major Jazz and Funk Artists Pay Tribute to Paul 'Tubbs' Williams

With the sad passing of Paul 'Tubbs' Williams on the 10th January 2007, His friends Jean Paul 'Bluey' Maunick (Incognito), Kenny Wellington, Breeze Mckrieth, David Baptiste (Light of the World/Beggar and Co) and Camelle Hinds (Central Line/The Style Council), set up a benefit.

London, United Kingdom (PRWeb) February 25, 2007 -- With the sad passing of Paul 'Tubbs' Williams on the 10th January 2007, his friends Jean Paul 'Bluey' Maunick (Incognito), Kenny Wellington, Breeze Mckrieth, David Baptiste (Light of the World/Beggar and Co) and Camelle Hinds (Central Line/The Style Council), set up a benefit, not only to help Paul's family, but also Paul's dream, which is known as Liquid Spillers in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

There will be a Benefit Concert on April 9th 2007 at Dingwalls, London to remember Paul's contribution to music as well as bringing together of some of the most influential artists in UK Jazz Funk and Soul. Paul was founding member of Light of the World and Incognito.

The Evening will comprise of the following artists:
Incognito, Light of the World (The Original Founding members) Beggar and Co, Central Line, Noel Mckoy (JTQ/McKoy) Courtney Pine, Orphy Robinson, Andy Gangandeen, Leee Johns (Imagination) Junior Giscombe, The JazzCotech Dancers, Marc Mac(4Hero) Chris Hill, Dez Parkes and many more artists showing an interest in joining the Benefit.

Tickets are priced at £20 in advance. Tickets can be purchased from
www.Seetickets.com

All proceeds will be dontated to Joja Jules Williams and Liquid Spillers so as to keep Paul's dream alive of bringing music and education together under one roof.

The Williams family will be in attendance at the Benefit Concert.

For media requests, please contact Sharmin Hall Jones on 07809886490 or or Marcus Skinner on 07870133765.

Management: Funk Management UK Ltd
www.Funkmanagementuk.com

posted by: lightning at 22:51 | link | comments |
music, entertainment, rocknroll

Only In America

This video montage of real 9-1-1 calls in the U.S. was just too funny not to share.

Turn up your sound and click here to download.

posted by: lightning at 14:00 | link | comments |
humor, comedy

U2 Tribute Band Vertigo USA "Hustles Up The Hancock" with American Lung Association

The OfficeMax Hustle Up The Hancock, Feb 25, is one of the most popular stair climbs in the United States. Registration for the sold-out 2007 event opened and closed within 31 minutes in November. Hustle will raise more than $1,000,000 to support research and education programs of the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago. U2 Tribute band, Vertigo USA performs at the post climb expo for the second straight year.

Chicago, IL (PRWeb) February 23, 2007 -- Over 4,000 firefighters, lung cancer survivors, former smokers, lung-transplant patients, people with asthma and weekend athletes will climb the 94-floors of the John Hancock Center on Sunday, February 25 in a fundraiser to benefit research programs of the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago.

The 10th annual OfficeMax Hustle Up the Hancock, Chicago's most popular stair climb, will also include 237 firefighters running in memory of those lost in the World Trade Center disaster.

Steve Ferkau, a double-lung transplant recipient, who received the lungs of Kari Westberg, a 17-year old volleyball star, will be leading a team of 90 including friends and relatives of Kari. The heartwarming story is depicted at www.climbingforkari.org.

Terry Purcell, an Australian living in Springfield, Illinois, has been the fastest climber five years running. In 2006 he set a blistering pace by bounding the 1,632 steps to the 94th floor Hancock Observatory in a record 9 minutes, 39 seconds, taking less than 6.2 seconds per floor.

Climbers will enjoy a post-climb party at the nearby Hilton Suites Chicago, live music from the U2 tribute band Vertigo USA, goody bags and entry into The Hancock Observatory. This is the second straight year Vertigo USA provides the post climb entertainment.

Vertigo USA is a Chicago based, Internationally touring U2 Tribute show.
Vertigo USA was selected 15 times by OTX, U2's tour operator for the '06/'07 U2 world tour, to perform at VIP events including the tour finale in Hawaii December 2006.

A group of 36 'elite' climbers will kick off the Hancock assault and volunteers will be on hand to dispense 3,500 bananas and 393 gallons of water. Almost $4 million has been raised for lung research and educational programs since the climb's inception.

The OfficeMax Hustle Up Hancock, Feb 25, is one of the most popular stair climbs in the United States. Registration for the sold-out 2007 event opened and closed within 31 minutes in November. Hustle will raise more than $1,000,000 to support research and education programs of the American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago. For more information or to sponsor a climber, visit www.lungchicago.org or dial (312) 243-2000.

posted by: lightning at 15:48 | link | comments |
charity, rocknroll

Alpha Rev Releases CD "The Greatest Thing I've Ever Learned"

Alpha Rev releases CD at Antones - Austin, TX

Austin, TX (PRWeb) February 23, 2007 -- Austin-based band Alpha Rev, with acclaimed front man Casey McPherson are set to release their new CD "The Greatest Thing I've Ever Learned" with a CD release party at Antone's on Thursday March 1st at 11:00pm following the ME Television Emerging Artists Series showcase which starts at 7pm - http://www.metelevision.com/.

Casey McPherson is a multi-talented musician with a stellar history of fronting rock bands to writing symphonies. The Austin-based singer/songwriter musician is a classically trained pianist hailing from the banks of the Brazos River in Jones Creek, TX.

Alpha Rev features an all-star cast of musicians drawing from a vast array of musical styles. The sound has been called an "intellectual conversation between Beethoven and Buckley with equal doses of Brit sensibility and American Rock. Alpha Rev consists of bassist Alex Dunlap, and Brian Batch violinist and cellist Dave Wiley. The band also features virtuoso drummer Dorian Colbert and the classically trained vocals of Candy Sanders.

Alpha Rev has enjoyed sold-out shows in Austin, TX and New York City and the long-awaited CD "The Greatest Thing I've Ever Learned" featuring single, "Phoenix Burn" is set to take the world by storm. For the CD, McPherson had the opportunity to work with musicians and writers from Midlake, JEM, Kelly Clarkson and Caedmon's Call.

"There are experiences I've written about on this album that I've never been able to put to music until now, and I hope this CD gives people strength, hope and inspiration through all the difficult paths we seem to suffer through at one time or another," says McPherson.

Alpha Rev was most recently #1 Indie Texas band on MySpace charts and ranked #16 Indie nationwide. The band's MySpace page features MP3s of Phoenix Burn, Star of Wonder, China Sunrise and Big Blow.

"Casey is my favorite left-handed producer of rock tears and goose bumps." - Jason Mraz

The band will be on Austin-based Fox7 on Wednesday Feb. 28th, and ESPN, MTV and other tele-channels are already playing Alpha Rev. The band's "Lower Me Down" will be featured in a new movie called, "Pineapple."

Alpha Rev's MySpace page can be found at: http://www.myspace.com/alpharev .

Singer/songwriter Bob Schneider said of Alpha Rev, "Casey's melodies are awesome - this new record makes my thighs tingle."

Tickets for the CD release are sure to go fast and are available now at www.antones.net or at this link - http://snipurl.com/1aq9c .

posted by: lightning at 15:10 | link | comments |
music, entertainment, rocknroll

At a Queen's Grammy Party it was Reigning Kings

Home run king Barry Bonds chillin' with the Margarita King at Grammy's hottest party: Queen Latifah's.

Hollywood, CA (PRWeb) February 23, 2007 -- Ask anybody who's anybody. Ludacris, Kanye West, Quentin Tarantino, etc. It was The Mother of Grammy After-Parties.

A Queen was there. Queen Latifah. So was a King. GiovanniI The Margarita King.

In fact, there were two kings. The other being Barry Bonds, the single-season (and soon-to-be all-time) home run king.

It was a packed house. So packed, Ludacris' mom got locked out. It was a hot ticket. So hot, celebrities like Regina King and Nick Lachey had to wait in line to get in.

It was Queen Latifah and Ludacris' Post-Grammy Party at the Social Hollywood Club. And part of the reason it was so hot and so packed had to do with what The King of Cocktails, Giovanni The Margarita King was serving in the VIP Green Room: his delicious three-time-Gold-Medal-winning margarita. (Legally, we can't say it's an aphrodisiac. But it was one heck of a sexy party!)

Not only was it SRO, they were all squeezed as close to Giovanni The Maqrgarita King as humanly possible: Barry Bonds, Kanye West, Quentin Tarantino, Terrence Howard, Big Boi, Michelle Williams, Kelly Rowland, Macy Gray, Ryan Phillippe, Busta Rhymes, etc.

No wonder, throughout the night, as The Margarita King did his award-winning thing--shaking and pouring the world's best margarita--Hollywood's elite were singing: "King me, baby!"A great after-party -- an even greater margarita.

About The Margarita King: It's the first Gold Medal-winning margarita in a bottle. An award-winning blend of premium double-distilled blue agave tequila, orange liqueur, lemon and lime juices and sugar cane. Giovanni The Margarita King, its dynamic creator, has co-hosted both the Oscars and the Golden Globes on the E! Network.

How fashionable is The Margarita King? It's on the tips of such famous tongues as ... Jamie Foxx, Colin Farrell, Usher, Beyonce Knowles, Sting, Gwen Stefani, Pink, Terrence Howard, Nelly, Chris Rock, Lil'Kim, Lil'Jon, Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, The Donnas. Jessica Simpson, Nick Lachey, Paris Hilton, Nicole Ritchie, Andy Dick, Outkast, Black Eyed Peas, Jessica Alba, Paula Abdul, Forrest Whittaker, Cedric the Entertainer, Babyface, Tyra Banks, Rene Russo, Queer Eye Fab 5, Cold Play, Christina Aguilara, Britney Spears, Ellen de Generes, Audrey Heaven, Adam Sandler, Jenna Jameson, Carmen Electra, Pamela Anderson, Quentin Tarantino, Terry Hatcher, Eva Longoria. William Shatner, Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorcese, Enrique Iglesias, Charlize Theron, Keanu Reeves, Stevie Wonder, 50 Cent, Linkin Park, Edwin Heaven, Run DMC, Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding, Jimmy Fallon, Maroon 5, Green Day, Randy Jackson, Annette Bening, Glenn Close, etc.

For more information, go to: www.TheMargaritaKing.com

posted by: lightning at 14:51 | link | comments |
entertainment

Bob Schneider Spring Tour Rocking Hard

Austin-based musician Bob Schneider touring 16 states to rock fans and venues.

Austin, TX (PRWEB) February 23, 2007 -- Austin-based musician and eclectic singer/songwriter Bob Schneider is rocking his way on tour through April with dates in Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Canada, Nevada, Kansas, Nebraska Minnesota, Illinois, Massachusetts, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Georgia, and Alabama.

Schneider is exploring new music territory in trio form and bringing a dynamic multi-media live stage show to some of the most rocking venues in the nation.

"This tour is going to be different because I'm playing as a trio with Bruce Hughes and Jeff Plankenhorn. I've never played this configuration before. It's going to be a combination of the acoustic show and a full band show. I'll be playing keyboards and guitar and we'll be using drum machines and showing video where the venue will allow us to do so. It'll be more of an event, instead of the usual bar band affair," says Schneider.

Long known for his unique and diverse live shows, Schneider's latest tour is already garnering fantastic buzz for its delivery of stellar new material as well as fan favorites.

"…the only certainty about his music is that he will travel wherever he wants to with it." - PASTE

Bruce Hughes most recent release was "Bluebird" and played with Bob in both The Ugly Americans and Bob's Lonelyland as well. Bruce also plays with the Resentments.

Jeff Plankenhorn has jammed with folks including Ray Wylie Hubbard, Eliza Gilkinson, Bruce Robison, Slaid Cleaves and others. Jeff is a talented dobro player, guitarist and vocalist. His most recent album was "Plank."

"I really feel great about touring this time around because I'm really psyched about doing something different in terms of what people are used to seeing. We always put on unique shows, they are never the same, even from night to night, but I think the regulars will be pleasantly surprised with how much new material they are going to hear. We'll definitely be going places musically and visually that we have not gone to before," Schneider said.

Schneider's latest album is The Californian, a studio album from Austin, TX singer-and the latest addition to his prolific catalog of over a thousand songs. THE CALIFORNIAN is the follow-up to his 2004 Shockorama/Vanguard release I'M GOOD NOW (52,000 SoundScan).

Bob Schneider's web site can be found at : http://www.bobschneidermusic.com .

"This CD (The Californian) was recorded in four days at Jack Rock's studio in Austin, Texas. Billy was leaving the band and I really wanted to capture what the band sounded like live before he left. We just set up and blasted through these and about 14 other songs. We might have stopped in the middle of a couple of the songs and started over, but for the most part, this is what the songs sounded like on the first take. We did some minimal overdubs over the next couple of days. Added the background vocals and some additional guitars, but that's about it…" - BOB SCHNEIDER

Schneider will also play in the prestigious and much-rocking SXSW in March of this year in Austin, TX. Nettie Hartsock may be contacted for possible Bob Schneider interviews and CD copies - at email protected from spam bots or 512-396-1067.

Check Amazon for The Californian

posted by: lightning at 14:50 | link | comments |
entertainment, rocknroll

'Lost Sounds' From Archeophone Records Wins 2007 Grammy For Best Historical Album

Earliest recordings ever honored by the Recording Academy; First to recognize African Americans who recorded at dawn of record industry; Causing historians to reexamine the roots of 20th-century American popular music.

Champaign, IL (PRWEB) February 22, 2007 -- "Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry, 1891–1922" has received this year’s Grammy award for Best Historical Album. Tim Brooks, David Giovannoni, Meagan Hennessey, and Richard Martin are the producers and authors of this critically-acclaimed CD from Archeophone Records (www.archeophone.com). All four winners attended the February 11th ceremonies in Los Angeles.

Based on Tim Brooks’ award-winning book of the same name (University of Illinois Press, 2004), 'Lost Sounds' traces the contributions of African-American performers and public figures during a remarkably fervent yet relatively unexamined and often misunderstood period in American history. Brooks’ book introduced modern readers to forgotten entertainment pioneers such as George W. Johnson--a former slave who was the first black to make commercial records. Archeophone’s CD introduces us to their actual performances.

Brooks remarked upon receiving the award: “The birth of the recording industry coincided with a period of intense racial oppression in the U.S. The contributions of the pioneering African Americans who recorded in these early years are of interest to scholars, historians, and a public that craves knowledge of this complex American story. We are immensely satisfied that our efforts to transport these 'lost sounds' into the 21st century are appreciated by the members of the Recording Academy.”

David Giovannoni added: “We stand on the shoulders of giants--the artists who created these works, scholars like Tim who rediscover them, and record labels like Archeophone that make them available to modern audiences.” With Brooks, Giovannoni contributed to "Lost Sounds'" 60-page booklet, and both provided source transfers of some of the world’s rarest recordings from their personal collections.

Indeed, at least a dozen of "Lost Sounds'" 54 tracks are from the only copies of these recordings known to survive. In one instance, a wax cylinder recording from 1891 did not survive--but is heard here thanks to the heroic efforts of “Cylinder Doctor” Michael Khanchalian, who reassembled the physical cylinder from its broken shards, and producer and Archeophone co-owner Richard Martin, who transformed the 15-minute transfer of skips, repeats, and pops into a seamless track of less than three minutes. “Restoration is both a labor of love and a matter of great urgency,” said Martin. “Not only are we privileged to work on such rare specimens of American history, we are obliged to do so immediately. The ravages of time and neglect never cease, and important recordings like this are irretrievably lost each passing year.”

"'Lost Sounds' takes us on an amazing 30-year journey through American music that many assumed was never recorded--a whole history hitherto unheard by modern audiences,” said co-owner and producer Meagan Hennessey. “These performances presage American music for the entire century to follow; the rhythms and harmonies of proto-jazz, R&B, and even rock jump from grooves cut in the 1890s. Our understanding of music, of performance, of the character and impact of black artistic contributions is forever enriched. Some experts are now suggesting that our history books need to be rewritten.”

Learn more about "Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry, 1891–1922" at www.archeophone.com (ARCH 1005, retail price $29.99).

To view a photo of the winners, visit http://www.archeophone.com/news/grammy.php

About Archeophone Records: Based in Champaign, Illinois, Archeophone was founded in 1998 with the aim of preserving and raising awareness of the recordings of the acoustic era--the years between roughly 1890 and 1925 when artists made records without electricity, by performing into a horn. Archeophone has released 36 CDs to date, including three volumes covering the complete recordings by early African-American vaudeville star Bert Williams. All of Archeophone's releases include extensive scholarly annotation and handsome packaging; the quality booklets have become the company's trademark.

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