| |
press
release
The Parkinsong Story
If
the release of ParkinSong:
38 Songs of Hope, Volume One (Ryko
Distribution) shows anything, it's that with enough courage, a single
person can inspire the whole world.
Consider Selma Litowitz, a
retired high school English teacher from Lawrence, NJ. When she was
struck with Parkinson's Disease in 1991, she refused to let it rule her
life. An ultimately terminal affliction that attacks the nervous system
and slowly robs the sufferer of all motor skills, this condition could
easily have forced her to give up. But Selma was strong; she remained
resolute in the face of this foe, maintaining her composure, her humor
and her dignity.
Over 10 years, Selma's children -- Rob,
Debra, and Carol -- watched her continually triumph over
increasingly longer odds. And they were inspired. In 2001, they
approached Lawrence High School, where Selma had taught for over 20
years, with the idea of a benefit concert that would raise money for
Parkinson's research Called ParkinSong,
the event was the Litowitz children’s 50th anniversary gift
to their parents.
“It
was important,” says Debra, “to recognize both
of our parents’ struggles with the disease.”
ParkinSong
featured the kind of music that historically has always uplifted the
spirit and inspired others. Master singer-songwriters Ana
Egge and Terri Hendrix
were chosen, as was adult alternative buzz band Grey
Eye Glances. And there was a special surprise: Jon
Stewart, the quick-witted host of Comedy Central's The Daily Show,
had been one of Selma's favorite students before he graduated in 1980.
He readily agreed to return to his alma mater, noting at the time,
"She was one of my favorites. It's not easy to teach teenagers. And
she did it with great joy and aplomb, and that's a rare thing."
The show sold out almost immediately and the Litowitz kids were inspired
to present another concert a year later. This one was hosted by
legendary Philadelphia DJ Pierre
Robert, and featured the major label singer-songwriter Catie
Curtis, in addition to Grey Eye Glances and Egge. It, too, was a
rousing success and the ParkinSong
Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Princeton, NJ, was
born.
For Rob Litowitz, however, this was still not enough. Faced with his
mother's enduring bravery and grace, he felt he had to do even more. And
so, he took ParkinSong to the world. Using connections he's made through
the two concerts, as well as his work as an attorney, Rob began
assembling an album that would not only bring in more research money but
would also give the struggle against Parkinson's Disease the high
profile it truly deserved.
And so,
ParkinSong: 38 Songs of
Hope, Volume One was born. According to Rob, the
project was surprisingly easy to put together. "Very few of the
artists we contacted declined to participate," he notes. "And
those who did, did so only because it was impractical for them. Nobody
failed to respond. Even those who turned us down were supportive and
encouraging."
The resulting double album is a stunning achievement, featuring a roster
of artists that not only reflects the richness of today's
singer-songwriters, but also the broad resonance of this cause. From
superstars like Bonnie Raitt,
David Crosby and Graham Nash
to emerging talents like Utah
Carol and Florence Dore,
from rockers like Dave Alvin
to lush neo folkies like Dar
Williams, and from classic roots rockers like
Steve Forbert to rising innovators like eastmountainsouth,
ParkinSong:
Songs of Hope, Volume One covers an admirably broad
range of styles and voices.
And so, in the true spirit of Selma Litowitz, there's something here to
inspire just about everyone.
The Artists
Terri Hendrix --
Alt-country singer-songwriter from San Antonio, TX who's acclaimed for
her earthy sensuality. www.terrihendrix.com
Greg Brown -- Gentle
singer-songwriter who's best known for his work with Garrison Keillor on
the Prairie Home Companion radio program. www.gregbrown.org
Caitlin Cary -- A founding
member of the seminal alt-country band Whiskeytown, this singer/fiddler
beautifully extends that group's haunting neo-traditionalism. www.caitlincary.com
Chuck Prophet -- A member of
LA's legendary Green On Red, this singer and virtuoso guitarist has
since developed a highly distinctive take on American roots music. www.chuckprophet.com
Hot Club of Cowtown --
Originally from San Diego but now based in Austin, TX, this trio are
acknowledged masters of the challenging Western swing style. www.hotclubofcowtown.com
Pete Sears -- Renowned Bay
Area singer/keyboardist who's best known for his work with Hot Tuna and
Jefferson Starship. www.petesears.com
Neko Case -- A member of the
indie rock supergroup, The New Pornographers, this singer explores the
moodier shadows of the alt-country sound. www.nekocase.com
Jen Chapin -- The daughter
of folk rock legend Harry Chapin, this New York singer-songwriter blends
jazz, pop and R&B into a compelling, intimate statement. www.jenchapin.com
Stone Coyotes -- Reflective
adult alternative trio that's best known for a series of readings and
concerts with crime novelist Elmore Leonard. www.stonecoyotes.com
Lucy Kaplansky -- A harmony
singer with Nanci Griffith and a longtime duo partner of Shawn Colvin,
this New York singer-songwriter creates an unusually literate variety of
alternative folk. www.lucykaplansky.com
David Crosby & Graham Nash
-- One half of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and two of the key
architects of the whole folk rock genre. www.crosbycpr.com
Dave Alvin -- A co-founder
of LA's seminal punkabilly band the Blasters, this singer-songwriter now
defines a particularly tough and literate edge of Americana. www.blastersnewsletter.com
Florence Dore -- Nasville-based
country rocker with a pleasantly strong punk influence. www.missrubyrecords.com
Alejandro Escovedo -- A
founding member of the legendary cow punk outfit Rank and File, this
Austin, TX singer-songwriter has explored all facets of roots rock over
a career that's almost three decades along. www.alejandroescovedo.com
eastmountainsouth -- Protégés
of Robbie Robertson, this duo is one of the leading younger acts on the
alt-folk scene. www.eastmountainsouth.com
Steve Forbert -- Best known
for late 70s hits like "Romeo's Tune" and "Going Down to
Laurel," this folk rocker continues to produce exquisitely detailed
portraits of American life. www.steveforbert.com
Tom Freund -- Former duo
partner of Ben Harper and a member of renowned roots rockers the Silos,
this singer-songwriter gives his material a cool, jazzy spin. www.tomfreund.com
Catie Curtis -- Boston-based
singer-songwriter whose urban folk sound deconstructs modern life with
humor and insight. www.catiecurtis.com
Sara Hickman -- Country folk
singer who's best known for her 1994 hit "I Couldn't Help
Myself" as well as her frequent benefit performances for numerous
charities. www.sarahickman.com
Bonnie Raitt -- The
bestselling, Grammy-winning artist who's sung everything from straight
blues to rock to lush ballads with her trademark passion and finesse. www.bonnieraitt.com
Eliza Gilkyson --
Singer-songwriter from Austin, TX who's written material for Roseanne
Cash and recorded with punk rock hero John Doe. www.elizagilkyson.com
Grey Eye Glances -- New
Jersey folk rockers whose atmospheric, literate songs have become
favorites on Triple A radio. www.greyeyeglances.com
Richard X. Heyman -- Revered
power pop artist whose rare early ‘90s albums are now considered
classics by critics and collectors alike. www.richardxheyman.com
Last Train Home -- Country
rock band from Washington, DC whose front man, Eric Brace, is also a
journalist for The Washington Post. www.lasttrainhome.com
Amy Farris --
Songwriter/violinist who's worked with, among many others, Sara Hickman
and Alejandro Escovedo. www.amyfarris.com
Cindy Kalmenson --
Nashville-based singer-songwriter whose country flavored work has won
numerous songwriting awards. www.cindykalmenson.com
Alice Peacock --
Chicago-based singer-songwriter whose deeply personal material finds a
fresh common ground between folk, rock and country. www.alicepeacock.com
Michelle Malone -- A
longtime associate of the Indigo Girls, this Atlanta, GA folk rocker
balances a bluesy aggression with a deeply melodic tenderness. www.michellemalone.com
Kim Richey --
Nashville-based singer-songwriter whose progressive country sound has
drawn frequent comparisons to John Hiatt and Shawn Colvin. www.kimrichey.com
Ana Egge -- Austin, TX
singer-songwriter whose work has won numerous industry awards. www.anaegge.com
Amy Rigby -- With roots in
the New York punk scene of the 1980s, this Nashville-based
singer-songwriter mixes pop, country and folk with sly lyrics and plenty
of attitude. www.amyrigby.com
Jonatha Brooke -- One of the
core artists of Triple A radio, this singer-songwriter was recently
heard on the soundtrack to Disney's Return To Never Land. www.jonathbrooke.com
Tom Russell -- A longtime
Texas resident, this country-tinged singer-songwriter has had material
recorded by Johnny Cash and k. d. lang, among many others. www.tomrussell.com
Dar Williams -- Acerbic,
insightful and thoroughly modern, this New England singer-songwriter is
widely credited with giving folk a truly alternative sensibility. www.darwilliams.com
Utah Carol -- A
Chicago-based husband and wife duo that crafts a dreamy variety of adult
alternative pop. www.utahcarol.com
Little Pink -- Alt-country
outfit from Washington, DC fronted by Mary Battiata, another journalist
for The Washington Post. www.littlepinktheband.com
Kelly Willis -- One of the
brightest lights in the New Traditionalist movement of country music,
this singer-songwriter matches insightful material with truly riveting
performances. www.kellywillis.com
Lowen and Navarro -- Authors
of Pat Benatar's Top 5 track "We Belong," this songwriting duo
puts an adult contemporary spin on their unusually well-crafted
material. www.lownav.com
|
