TERRI HENDRIX’S CRY ’TILL YOU LAUGH OUT JUNE 22 ON WILORY RECORDS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2010
Pioneering Texas songwriter’s 12th DIY release a confessional landmark
SAN MARCOS, Texas – Terri Hendrix handles curveballs gracefully. After all, Cry ’Till You Laugh, a vibrant musical travelogue due June 22 on the singer-songwriter’s own Wilory Records, was meant to be strictly a jazz album. The muse disagreed.
Enter Plan B: Hendrix gladly traced byways from Texas to Tennessee toward the Delta and beyond. She didn’t question direction. Embraced echoes. Listen: Bluesman Sonny Terry (“Hula Mary”), country troubadour Rodney Crowell (“Slow Down”) and folk icon Paul Simon (“The Berlin Wall”) all haunt this portrait that she calls “a yin and yang of life.” (Enjoy immediately discovering writer Dorothy Parker’s inimitable presence on your own.) It’s a joyful journey, equally humbled by possibilities past and present.
Hendrix’s original vision remains partly intact. “I put this together like a mix CD,” she explains. “I had ‘Sometimes’ and Michael Sumler’s ‘Automatic’ for the jazz record, so I snatched those ones for Cry ’Till You Laugh. I just started road testing songs live and figured out what worked. This record is (representative) of what I do live, which is sort of jump around to different genres.”
Lyrically, Hendrix displays equal elegance confronting personal adversity. “I’ve been dealing with epilepsy for 20 years,” she reveals frankly. “I use cheat sheets when I play, and nobody really knew why. Epilepsy has been something that I’ve lived and performed with, and I’ve been pretty quiet about it.” Until now: You’ll find Hendrix’s addressing the topic directly on the intimate “Einstein’s Brain.”
“It’s like trying to sail when I’m nowhere near the sea/Some things come so easily, but not for me,” she sings determinedly on the album’s centerpiece. “Hey, I’m not Mickey Mantle, but I’ve got his smile/I cry until I laugh, that’s what I do.” The song willfully personifies the San Antonio native’s motto to “own your own universe.” Broken down: Slow not for obstacles. Live fully. Improve.
Challenge yourself. Hendrix has broken barriers as effortlessly as others concede defeat. Most notably, she effectively sketched the blueprint for today’s do-it-yourself revolution 15 years ago. “I got three rejection letters for my first record, Two Dollar Shoes, and one pretty much said ‘No, and get a day job,’” Hendrix recalls. “So, I put it out on my own label. By the end of the summer, I had paid off the record and a student loan. After that, I got satisfaction out of just flat not quitting.”
They say blessings come disguised. Those rejections became hers: A dozen albums later – including high watermarks earthy (2004’s The Art of Removing Wallpaper) and ethereal (2007’s The Spiritual Kind) – enthusiasts hail Hendrix as Texas’ premier independent musician. (If you must judge by company kept, she earned her Grammy for co-writing with the Dixie Chicks.) As she sings on “Come Tomorrow, “(It’s) an uphill battle just to prove our worth/Move on, come tomorrow.” Persistence clearly pays.
Next month, Hendrix will enjoy tangible reflection of her passion: A brand-new star on Corpus Christi’s South Texas Walk of Fame. It’s a high honor, but she has sites set on deeper personal fulfillment. “This record is about being on the field of life,” she says. “It’s not about sitting in the bleachers and whining. We all have crosses to bear. I put a few of mine to music.” Not to mention on the page. Keep an eye peeled for Hendrix’s companion collection of essays (also called Cry ’Till You Laugh), later this summer.
For Terri Hendrix media info log on to wiloryrecords.com
Kris Kristofferson Publishing Demos Released
Summer/Fall 2010 Tour Dates Announced
May 10, 2010
Legendary songwriter Kris Kristofferson is celebrated once again with Please Don’t Tell Me How The Story Ends: The Publishing Demos 1968-72.
More than 5 years in the making, and with the attention to detail and elaborate packaging the label is known for, Light In The Attic is proud and honored to present the never-before-released 1968-1972 demos of the Texas-born Renaissance man and maverick songwriting pioneer.
Since penning these numbers (many of which were written during the mid-to-late 60s while working as a janitor for Columbia Records in Nashville), more than 500 artists including patron saint Johnny Cash, one-time lover Janis Joplin, and co-star Bob Dylan have covered Kristofferson's material. While we shouldn't forget his vast commercial accomplishments as an award-winning recording artist and actor in more than 100 films (working under master directors like Martin Scorsese and Sam Peckinpah), it's these soul-stirring demos that laid the groundwork for Kristofferson’s rough and tumble creative journey.
Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends: The Publishing Demos 1968-72 features comprehensive liner notes by Michael Simmons (MOJO, LA Weekly), including interviews with Kristofferson, the musicians, and other related folks from these landmark sessions. The packaging also includes testimonials from friends Dennis Hopper and Merle Haggard. Full lyrics are showcased in an extensive 60 page full color booklet featuring unseen photos and archival material, plus a gloriously mastered audio soundtrack (LP/CD/digital formats).
Kristofferson takes to the road again this summer and fall for his solo acoustic show, which features many of the hits from the publishing demos and songs from his more recent albums—the New West Records releases Closer To The Bone and This Old Road.
Kristofferson media page at ellis-creative.com/kristofferson.html
For more information on the publishing demos project log on to http://lightintheattic.net/artists/219-kris-kristofferson.
For New West Records information log on to http://newwestrecords.com/KrisKristofferson
Radney Foster's Revival Begins September 1
Album streets 10 years after critically acclaimed
See What You Want To See
Disc includes special appearances by country stars Dierks Bentley and Darius Rucker
"A Little Revival" first single to Texas radio June 29
Royalties from "Angel Flight" to benefit Texas Air National Guard
For Immediate Release
Radney Foster's Revival emerged when the Texas native plunged into the roiling waters of change—his father's death and the end of his twelve-year, 5,000-mile separation from his son—and came up with renewed conviction.
Arriving a full decade after the intensely personal See What You Want To See and recorded with the same trusted studio team (Darrell Brown and Niko Bolas), the twelve songs on Revival are a solid bookend to the watershed record.
The title track and first single for Texas radio is "A Little Revival." Most of the songs on the album are what Foster calls "close to the bone," so personal that he either wrote them on his own or with trusted friends, like Brown and Jay Clementi. "I Know You Can Hear Me," is a wrenching goodbye to Foster's father. "I Made Peace With God That Day" and "Until It's Gone"—both written with Brown—respectively capture the anguished fear of losing a child and vow to live with abandon (and crank up the volume) from here on out.
The position that Foster enjoys in the country music landscape is remarkable. Mainstream country music and independent Americana tend to occupy separate orbits. Yet for 24 years Foster has thrived in both as a songwriter, recording artist, live performer and producer. His songs—solo, with Foster and Lloyd and recorded by other artists—have topped the country, Texas, Americana, and AAA charts alike. At the same time, he's earned the respect of his peers and a devoted audience as intent on listening as they are eager to dance.
For the first time, Foster is releasing his music on his own Devil's River record label, which gives him the freedom to customize special events for his fans. The first 1000 fans to pre-order Revival from radneyfoster.com will receive a free 5 song EP. Fans also have the opportunity to purchase a concert and gourmet dinner for eight prepared by Foster; a private songwriting session; a personalized Revival plaque, and a VIP pass which contains a USB drive with 18 songs, the making of Revival documentary and access to pre-show meet and greets.
Foster has always had the ability to make the personal feel universal, and every song on this set brings the listener closer. There is a piercing honesty to songs like "Forgiveness" and "Life Is Hard (Love Is Easy)."
He also found a way to bridge seduction—something he's sung about plenty and playfully over the years—and spiritual confession. The stylish, shuffling R&B of "Trouble Tonight" runs seamlessly into the choir-backed gospel boogie of "Shed a Little Light." Foster calls it a "Saturday night/Sunday morning combo," the sort of thing his wife used to put on the opposite sides of mixtapes back when they were dating.
With so much at stake in getting the spirit of these songs across, Foster relied on his longtime road band, now appropriately dubbed the Confessions. Thanks to them—and to Foster's own contributions on electric guitar—the album has a big guitar sound and a raw energy. The band adds relentlessness to "Second Chances" which perfectly matches the lyrics, and a beautiful, stirring soundscape to "Suitcase."
Foster also enlisted the help of some friends. Dierks Bentley (who recorded Foster's "Sweet and Wild") came in to join the party on "Until It's Gone," and Darius Rucker lends his distinctive harmony on "Angel Flight," a moving tribute to the pilots who fly their fallen brethren home to their final resting places. Foster's co-writer, Darden Smith, started writing the song after talking to a pilot of the Texas Air National Guard who mentioned he flew the "angel flight." Smith asked Radney to finish the song with him, and the pair are donating proceeds from the song to a charity that provides assistance to military families beset by tragedy.
The set closes with a bluegrass reprise of the title track. Radney, Tammy Rogers and Jon Randall gathered around a microphone and in one take captured the spirit of Revival—joy and hope in the midst of uncertainty.
True to its title, Revival is the boldest and most spiritual thing Foster has done to date. But it would be a mistake to pigeonhole it strictly as a gospel release; what Foster is preaching here is the gospel of truth, and having the guts to choose love over fear. And like any good revival, this one will have you dancing, crying, laughing and ready to testify. Like he sings in the opening and closing track, Amen to love.
Radney Foster Discography
1987 – Foster & Lloyd (with Bill Lloyd)
1989 – Faster & Llouder (with Bill Lloyd)
1990 – Version of the Truth (with Bill Lloyd)
1992 – Del Rio, Texas, 1959
1995 – Labor of Love
1999 – See What You Want To See
2001 – Are You Ready for the Big Show (live)
2002 – Another Way To Go
2005 – And Then There's Me (The Back Porch Sessions)
2006 – This World We Live In
2009 – Revival
For more information contact:
Tamara Saviano / Ellis Creative / Tamara@ellis-creative.com
615-298-2009
More information on Radney Foster
Saviano Media Changes Name and Direction
New firm, Ellis Creative, merges public relations services with project management, marketing, event production, book publishing and other creative ventures
Public Relations firm Saviano Media has changed its name to Ellis Creative and will merge the company’s publicity services with project management, marketing, event production, book publishing and other creative ventures.
Ellis Creative is named in honor of owner Tamara Saviano’s maternal grandfather, the late Ellis Leavitt. “My grandfather was my first mentor and teacher. He inspired and encouraged me to live my life and build a career on my own terms. Naming the company after him will be a daily reminder of his wisdom.”
Ellis Creative has two missions: 1) To assist artists in their continual development in an ever changing and evolving world; 2) To create new artistic assets for the greater good of society.
The company kicks off its new services with three new music project management assignments and the co-publishing of two children’s books.
Ellis Creative will act as project managers for Gretchen Peter’s beautiful new CD Burnt Toast & Offerings, Beth Nielsen Chapman’s anticipated Prism CD of world hymns, and Thirty Tigers’ release of Song of America, the compilation CD inspired by former Attorney General Janet Reno. The company will also co-publish Fly Baby and Monster Sandwich. The children’s books are authored by Saviano’s longtime friend, Dr. Michael Reilly, founder of the Holistic and Family Practice Medicine clinic based in the Chicago suburb of Lake Zurich.
Ellis Creative will continue to specialize in public relation and marketing services for the music industry, focusing on artists who are singers, songwriters and musicians and who serve an adult audience, primarily in the genres of Americana, folk, bluegrass, roots rock and alt-country. Current clients include Kris Kristofferson, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Gretchen Peters and Dan Colehour.
The staff at Ellis Creative includes Saviano, publicist Annie Mosher and audio-video engineer Paul Whitfield who will oversee event production. Ellis Creative will continue to partner with noted writer Alanna Nash and documentary filmmaker Lori Savitch for ghostwriting and life story films.
For more information about Ellis Creative contact:
Tamara Saviano / Ellis Creative / tamara@ellis-creative.com
The Pilgrim: A Celebration of Kris Kristofferson
Grammy-Winners, Legends, Friends & Fans Interpret the Poetry of an Icon/Outlaw
When Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster, America Roots Publishing's inaugural release, won the Best Traditional Folk Album Grammy, founder Tamara Saviano and VP Tom Frouge knew it would take something special to follow their launch project.
Thankfully, that inspiration was already in the family--Saviano's longtime client, friend and mentor Kris Kristofferson, whose songwriting--often overlooked in the fullness of his superstardom--defined the intersection of genuine poetry, human fragility and the quest for love, dignity and personal freedom.
With 18 songs spanning the breadth of Kristofferson's career - tendered by an expansive roster of artists across myriad genres (R&B's silken Brian McKnight caressing "Me & Bobby McGee," Latina songstress Marta Gomez embracing the humanistic protest of "The Circle" and Patti Griffin with Charanga Cakewalk on an austere "Sandinista," popfringe writers Lloyd Cole & Jill Sobule entangling "For The Good Times" and Oscar-winner Russell Crowe's heroistic turn on "Darby's Castle"), The Pilgrim offers testament to the truth, timelessness and timeliness of the former Rhodes Scholar, Country Music Hall of Famer and original Outlaw's work.
Starting with "family," Frouge and Saviano went to those closest: Rosanne Cash ("Lovin' Him Was Easier"), Willie Nelson ("The Legend"), Jessi Colter ("The Captive") and Shooter Jennings ("The Silver Tongued Devil & I") - and then expanded out to include old friends like Marshall Chapman ("Jesus Was A Capricorn"), Emmylou Harris ("The Pilgrim: Chapter 33"), Texans in Rodney Crowell ("Come Sundown") and Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis ("Help Me Make It Through The Night") and Music Row rebels and refugees, worn for the wear but true believers in song Todd Snider ("Maybe You Heard"), Shawn Camp ("Why Me") and Gretchen Wilson ("Sunday Morning Coming Down").
Produced by Grammy-winner Randy Scruggs (Will The Circle Be Unbroken, Vol. 2), who contributes the breathtaking instrumental "Smile at Me Again," and featuring a 1970 demo from Kristofferson of "Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends," along with brilliantly written extensive liner notes by The Tennessean music writer Peter Cooper, The Pilgrim is a legacy of love.
Begun as a way to maintain the artistic standards and integrity of a burgeoning organization built on principles, not profit, their sophomore release quickly blossomed into something far more personal.
Music journalists have always remarked on how Kris writes a lot about freedom, but what he's really writing about is love and life," Saviano says. "There are many people who don't know Kris as a songwriter--and to us, that's the most important part of his storied career. Hopefully with this record, it'll be obvious how much Kris changed the way we all live, love and feel about our place in the world. Like Stephen Foster before him, I believe Kris's songs are classics and generations after us will celebrate him as one of America's greatest songwriters."
"It's been so humbling to work on this project," says Frouge. "Kris Kristofferson is one of my all-time favorite songwriters but beyond that he is a person I greatly admire--a man who has always stood fast for human rights and justice, for the displaced, here and abroad, and has never flinched. Our goal for this tribute is to reflect both of these aspects. If Kris had only written 'Sunday Morning Coming Down' and 'Me & Bobby McGee' he would be canonized as one of our greatest songwriters--but his catalogue and it's varied subject matter is as expansive as his influence and his unselfish motivation to create awareness on issues with global, philosophical and emotional significance. Kristofferson is a national treasure and while he has been celebrated for his achievements, this tribute--and the artists involved-- focuses on the breadth and scope of a career and a life of honesty and integrity lived without compromise."
Gretchen Wilson sings "Sunday Morning Coming Down" for The Pilgrim: A Celebration of Kris Kristofferson
Country music star Gretchen Wilson took time out of her busy schedule to sing "Sunday Morning Coming Down" for the upcoming tribute album The Pilgrim: A Celebration of Kris Kristofferson. The album will be released by American Roots Publishing on June 27 in honor of Kristofferson's 70th birthday. The Pilgrim is a follow up to the Grammy-winning Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster. The compilation producer is Randy Scruggs.
"Sunday Morning Coming Down" was recorded in Buddy Miller's studio. Steve Fishell and Wilson produced the track, which includes Jon Randall on guitar and harmony vocals, Larry Atamanuik on drums, Byron House on stand up bass and Phil Madeira on keyboard. Miller engineered the session.
In addtion to Wilson, other artists included on The Pilgrim: A Celebration of Kris Kristofferson include: Willie Nelson, Rosanne Cash, Jessi Colter, Shooter Jennings, Emmylou Harris & Friends (Jon Randall, Sam Bush, Byron House, Randy Scruggs), Rodney Crowell, Russell Crowe & The Ordinary Fear of God, Patty Griffin & Charanga Cakewalk, Todd Snider, Shawn Camp, Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis, Marshall Chapman, Lloyd Cole & Jill Sobule, Marta Gomez, Brian McKnight, and Randy Scruggs.
For more information contact:
Tamara Saviano / Ellis Creative / tamara@ellis-creative.com
Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster Wins Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album
Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album on Sunday February 13, 2005at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards Pre-Telecast. Congratulations to producers Steve Fishell, David Macias and Tamara Saviano along with contributing artists Raul Malo, Alison Krass, Yo Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Mark O'Connor, BR5 49, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Judith Edelman, The Duhks, John Prine, Henry Kaiser, Beth Nielsen Chapman, David Ball, Michelle Shocked, Pete Anderson, Grey DeLisle, Mavis Staples, Ollabelle, Roger McGuinn, Suzy Bogguss, Will Barrow and Ron Sexsmith. We'd also like to congratulate our engineer, the mighty Dave Sinko for the TLC he put into this recording. Thanks also to all the musicians, track producers, promotional team and the small army of people it took to get this record made. We couldn't have done it without your time and talent.