Country Artist Scott Coner Releases 'Sweet Mary' Single

By Chuck Whiting

MCAU Editor

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. (November 2015) – Country/Southern Rock artist Scott Coner has released the new single "Sweet Mary", cover of the popular tune by the legendary Rhode Island rock band Wadsworth Mansion.

            The simple, catchy, hook-oriented tune is now available at iTunes and other online retailers. Coner, who has worked with legendary artists such as T. Graham Brown, Tanya Tucker and Charlie Daniels, was joined in the studio this time by Christopher Cross's background vocalist Marcia Ramirez.

            "I discovered 'Sweet Mary' in a stack of 45rpm records as a young kid in Nancy, Ky.," said Scott, who plans to release a new EP in early 2016. "My dad's little sister Janice had a small record player and a stack of music she had left behind after she got married. I spent a lot of time there as a kid, and 'Sweet Mary' kind of attached itself to me."

            To download Scott Coner's "Sweet Mary" single at iTunes, visit https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/sweet-mary-single/id1052955133?app=itunes. An accompanying "Sweet Mary music video can be viewed on You Tube at https://youtu.be/YTEesJ2amtA.

            For Wadsworth Mansion, the original version of "Sweet Mary" was a "one-hit wonder". It quickly climbed into the top-10 on various charts, then essentially disappeared. Various misfortunes, including flooded equipment, forced the popular Providence, Rhode Island, rock band to break up in 1972. The legendary group was largely forgotten until a local TV feature story aired in 2014. Steve Jablecki, who penned the song, died of unknown causes in 2005.

            "The song was written about a soldier in Vietnam that got a letter from his wife or girlfriend," Scott added. "She says in the letter that she 'has a stomach full of love' and he needs to get home to his family. I understand that Steve wrote it on a piano and pitched it around New York. I have been told that he actually hitchhiked from Rhode Island to New York to do the vocal cut."

            To get approval for his video and single covers, Coner had to track down members of the Jablecki family. Sons Matt and Marc quickly endorsed the project, with Matt saying, "It's something dad would have been just so excited by."

            For the recording and video, Coner wanted a laid-back, garage band kind of feel. Joining him at Nashville's Java Jive for the daylong session earlier this fall were Ramirez, guitarist/background vocalist Matt Morgeson, guitarist Jake Widenhofer, bass player John Davis, and drummer/percussionist Bryan Tewell. Studio engineer Logan Schlegel co-produced.

            Scott says he especially enjoyed singing the "doo-wops" with Ramirez, which took him back to childhood times. His wife, Cyndi, shot a music video during the session to create a playful, feel-good production for all ages. The video has been downloaded almost 150,000 times on his Facebook artist page at http://www.Facebook.com/ScottConerMusic.

            "I came into the studio with a beat I wanted to start the song with," Scott continued. "I didn't want too much B-3 on the song because I wanted a bar chord rhythm. The original bass line was cool, so I didn't want to deviate too far from that. I felt like the original cut kind of tipped its hat to The Kinks both musically, as well as vocally. I wanted to carry the song away from that direction just a little with a warmer bottom and vocally change the dynamic with myself and Marcia doing the whole song."

            The video opens with Scott reminiscing in his music room at home while listening to the original 45rpm Wadsworth Mansion single. It then fades into his upbeat studio performance.

            Scott says he hopes the single and video will give listeners the opportunity to experience a little of the joy and excitement he had when he discovered it on his grandparents' farm as a young boy.

            "I think the song was different from anything else I had been subjected to at that early stage of my life," he said. "I don't remember ever hearing it on the radio. I only heard it at the farm in Kentucky. Maybe that was the reason I loved it so much."

            A self-proclaimed family man, Scott Coner lives with his wife and two daughters on rural farmland near Franklin, Ind. He has recorded songs with a who's who of country legends including Tanya Tucker, T. Graham Brown, and Charlie Daniels. Scott's single "Maybe She Lied", a duet with Tucker on Reedy's Dream Records, hit number one on the United Kingdom's Hot Disk Top 40. Other songs, including "Sanibel" (a duet with Brown) and "Reedy's Dream" (with vocal and instrumental contributions from Daniels) have been heard on terrestrial and online radio stations around the world. Also an emerging author, Scott recently penned the book "Lynyrd Skynyrd: Ronnie Van Zant and Me" with Gene Odom, a survivor of the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash.

            To learn more about Scott Coner or to download his songs and videos, visit www.ScottConer.com.

Chakra Bleu's Single 'All of Me' Hits Number One on Top 40 Indie Chart

By Chuck Whiting

MCAU Editor

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 2015) –Chakra Bleu's rock/pop tune "All of Me" has hit number one on New Music Weekly's Top 40 Indie Chart, while climbing into the top 10 on the NMW mainstream Top 40 and Hot 100 singles charts.

            "All of Me" has been steadily edging up the charts with thousands of spins since its release on April 18. Bleu co-produced the recording in Nashville with legendary musician John Billings, a former bass player for the late Donna Summer. An accompanying video was produced by Ray Boone of Music City Video.

            "It's wonderful to see 'All of Me' climb into the top 10 on various singles charts," said Bleu, who is already writing and recording songs for her next album. "I'm humbled by this stellar progress, as I know I'm a small fish in a big sea. I couldn't accomplish this without the wonderful team of professionals around me."

            "All of Me" is the title track and the second single from her current album. Its number one ranking on the NMW Top 40 Indie Chart for three consecutive weeks placed it above other songs recorded by artists such as Rhianna and Brandy Moss Scott. The song ranked just below Taylor Swift at number four on the Top 40 Main Chart (for three consecutive weeks) and number seven on the Hot 100 Chart.  

            "'All of Me', is a savory treat of pop-rock and R&B -- sweet and sultry with a shake of sass," said Bleu, who recently released a new video and electronic dance single called "When We Dance".

            The song, which was released by 1746 Records, is available for 99 cents. "All of Me" and other songs on multiple albums can be downloaded on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/all-of-me/id882273855?uo=4 and her website at www.ChakraBleu.com. The song is also available at other major online stores such as CD Baby, Amazon, iHeartRadio and Sony Music Unlimited. A free video download is available at https://youtu.be/OLvBUksVBKc .

            The artist describes "All of Me" as an "electrifying song" that is about moving forward freely and confidently in love. The video shows the artist tearing up a love letter and covering it with daffodils on the floor. She eventually speeds away on a motorbike, leaving her love-lost past behind. A high-energy stage performance with full band shows off her gritty vocals and elaborate finger work on electric guitar.   

            The single was recorded in Nashville at Funky Tymz Studio. It features Bleu on vocals and electric guitar with contributions from veteran session musicians John Billings on bass, Brice Foster on drums/percussion, Tom Britt on lead and slide guitar, Ronnie Godfrey on keyboards and organ, and Dana Robbins on saxophone. The single is being promoted to radio by music industry veteran Gary Lefkowith. Whiting Publicity and Promotions is handling publicity.

            "All of Me" rocks away the pain with soaring vocals, crying guitar, driving bass and soulful sax. "Nothing's binding me now... There's no baggage dragging me down," Bleu sings with emotion. "I'm open, light, and free as a breeze... It's just you and me." 

            According to Dave Carew, a writer for the blog Underground Nashville, Bleu is "hands down one of the most original and distinctive pop/rock/Americana artists ever to grace the underground Nashville music scene. Inspired by everything from the styling of bands like Heart and the Cowboy Junkies, to transcendent New Age thought, she has forged, over the past decade, some of the most uplifting, eclectic, thought-provoking, and empowering music ever created in Music City USA."

            Born and raised in Spokane, Wash., Bleu grew up with a passion for music and the outdoors. She started writing songs in middle school and performing with jazz choirs and grunge bands in high school and college. On weekends, she headed to the mountains for hiking and camping. After college, she lugged her guitar and synthesizer to Paris, only to lose her green card a year later. She spent the next two years back home in Washington working in secondary education. But a trip to Nashville changed her life. Successful performances at the Bluebird Cafe and other venues convinced her to move to Music City to pursue a professional career as a singer-songwriter. 

            Bleu's music accomplishments have been substantial since then. Her recent single, "The Shadow", quickly climbed various NMW charts, reaching number four on Top 40, number four on Hot 100 A/C, number five on Top 40 Internet, and number one on Indie Top 40 (where it remained for six consecutive weeks). Her sixth album, "Souvenir", generated five top-40 hit singles on various charts, with the song "Addicted to You" receiving "Spotlight" recognition in Cashbox Magazine. Other hit singles from previous albums include "When I Hold Your Hand" and "Hopelessly in Love". 

             "I want to be as inclusive as possible, providing music that is inspiring, empowering and joyful," added Bleu, who returns home to Spokane every summer for songwriting, while enjoying the outdoors of the Great Northwest. "My songs speak to individuals from every walk of life."

            Bleu said there is nothing better than playing live in front of enthusiastic audiences. She has performed at a wide range of Nashville venues, even taking the honors of being the showcase artist for BMI and Bluebird Cafe shows. She is the recipient of the prestigious "Arena Award", an honor bestowed to legendary artists such as Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, and Jo Dee Messina. 

            For more information about Chakra Bleu or to hear her music, visit www.ChakraBleu.com. To book the artist for an upcoming event, send an e-mail message to 1746Records@chakrableu.com.   

    

Chakra Bleu Releases Electronic Dance Single 'When We Dance'

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 2015) – Hit Americana/rock/pop artist Chakra Bleu is expanding into the electronic dance genre with "When We Dance", a new single featuring the keyboard wizardry of former Wynonna music director Harry Sharpe and engineering by former Donna Summer bassist John Billings.

            Released by Nashville-based 1746 Records, "When We Dance" is described as a "magnetic, pulsing recording that captures the timeless, passionate moment of a couple dancing closely together on the dance floor." The rhythmically entrancing recording was mixed by Billings, with keyboards by Sharpe and lead guitar by Paul Allen, a veteran musician who has toured with Big & Rich, Richard Marx and others. 

            To download "When We Dance", visit http://www.chakrableu.com/music/ or iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/when-we-dance-single/id1002229131 .

            Bleu's latest release follows a string of hit singles that have climbed into the top 10 on various charts. Her most recent single, "All of Me", recently hit number seven on the NMW Top 40 Main Chart and number 10 on the NMW Hot 100 Chart, with airplay on terrestrial and online radio stations around the world. Another recent single, "The Shadow", reached number four on the same chart, where it remained for six weeks.

            "I'm having the time of my life," said Bleu, who sings, plays guitar, and writes most of her own music. "How many artists get the opportunity to collaborate with some of the most successful musicians of all time? 'When We Dance' was written on my guitar, yet I knew it would need keyboard arrangements and an electronic dance beat to bring it into its full element. Harry Sharpe did an excellent job adding an infectious vibe to the recording."

            Bleu, also a visual artist, said she wrote the tune while reflecting on a dancing experience with an old flame. For the cover art, she painted herself twirling hand-to-hand with the bearded man on a glowing dance floor. 

            "Dancing closely together with someone can be intensively passionate," the pop artist added. "When two people become interested in each other, it seems that the desire to dance together is natural. Becoming lost in the music, engaging closely in each other's energy, can be a euphoric feeling in and of itself. That's what I wanted to bring out with 'When We Dance', and I believe we've succeeded."

            Bleu also expresses these sentiments in her lyric, which includes editing contributions from Mary L. Boyd. The artist uses her Pretenders and Bowie-esque vocals to draw the couple into a mesmerizing embrace. "I hear our bodies whisper in a language of their own... Pull me into you and take me home... Losing ground I slip into another world... I'm letting go so baby hold me close."

 

            The recording, which was mastered by Jim DeMain at Yes Master Studio, is available for digital download at a host of online retailers, including iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, Spotify, iHeartRadio and Sony Music Unlimited.

            According to Dave Carew, a writer for the blog Underground Nashville, Bleu is "hands down one of the most original and distinctive pop/rock/Americana artists ever to grace the underground Nashville music scene. Inspired by everything from the styling of bands like Heart and the Cowboy Junkies, to transcendent New Age thought, she has forged, over the past decade, some of the most uplifting, eclectic, thought-provoking, and empowering music ever created in Music City USA."

            Born and raised in Spokane, Wash., Bleu grew up with a passion for music and the outdoors. She started writing songs in middle school and performing with jazz choirs and grunge bands in high school and college. On weekends, she headed to the mountains for hiking and camping. After college, she lugged her guitar and synthesizer to Paris, only to lose her green card a year later. She spent the next two years back home in Washington working in secondary education. But a trip to Nashville changed her life. Successful performances at the Bluebird Cafe and other venues convinced her to move to Music City to pursue a professional career as a singer-songwriter. 

            Bleu's music accomplishments have been substantial since then. One of her recent singles, "The Shadow", quickly climbed various NMW charts, reaching number four on Top 40, number four on Hot 100 A/C, number five on Top 40 Internet, and number one on Indie Top 40 (where it remained for six consecutive weeks). Her sixth album, "Souvenir", generated five top-40 hit singles on various charts, with the song "Addicted to You" receiving "Spotlight" recognition in Cashbox Magazine. Other hit singles from previous albums include "When I Hold Your Hand" and "Hopelessly in Love". 

             "I want to be as inclusive as possible, providing music that is inspiring, empowering and joyful," added Bleu, who returns home to Spokane every summer for songwriting, while enjoying the outdoors of the Great Northwest. "My songs speak to individuals from every walk of life."

            Bleu said there is nothing better than playing live in front of enthusiastic audiences. She has performed at a wide range of Nashville venues, even taking the honors of being the showcase artist for BMI and Bluebird Cafe shows. She is the recipient of the prestigious "Arena Award", an honor bestowed to legendary artists such as Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, and Jo Dee Messina. 

            Selections from her latest album, including the hit singles "All of Me" and "The Shadow", can be downloaded at iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/all-of-me/id882273855?uo=4 or her website at www.ChakraBleu.com . Her latest video single. "Love Me Like My Guitar" can be viewed online at https://youtu.be/Pvs05GYuARc .

            Music industry veteran Gary Lefkowith is overseeing radio promotion. Whiting Publicity and Promotions is handling publicity.  

         

            For more information about Chakra Bleu or to hear her music, visit www.ChakraBleu.com. To book the artist for an upcoming event, send an e-mail message to 1746Records@chakrableu.com .

           

###

Hit Rock/Pop/Americana Artist Chakra Bleu Releases New Single 'All Of Me'

By Chuck Whiting

MCAU Editor

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 2015) – Chakra Bleu is building on her success as a chart-topping rock/pop/Americana artist by releasing "All of Me", the title track and second single from her most recent album.

            The "All of Me" single was distributed to radio on April 18. The Nashville, Tenn., artist co-produced the recording with legendary musician John Billings, a former bass player for the late Donna Summer. An accompanying video was produced by Ray Boone of Music City Video.

            "'All of Me', is a savory treat of pop-rock and R&B -- sweet and sultry with a shake of sass," said Bleu. "The album's first single, 'The Shadow', has done extremely well. I can't wait to see what happens."

            "The Shadow" recently hit number four on New Music Weekly's mainstream Top-40 chart. It reached number one on the NMW Indie Top-40 chart, where it remained for six consecutive weeks.

            The artist describes "All of Me" as an "electrifying song" that is about moving forward freely and confidently in love. The video shows the artist tearing up a love letter and covering it with daffodils on the floor. She eventually speeds away on a motorbike, leaving her love-lost past behind. A high-energy stage performance with full band shows off her gritty vocals and elaborate finger work on electric guitar.

            "All of Me", which is being released by 1746 Records, is available for 99 cents. The new single, as well as other songs on multiple albums, are available on her website at www.ChakraBleu.com, iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/all-of-me/id882273855?uo=4, and all major online stores, including CD Baby, Amazon, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Sony Music Unlimited. A free video download is available at https://youtu.be/OLvBUksVBKc.

            "All of Me" was recorded in Nashville at Funky Tymz Studio. It features Bleu on vocals and electric guitar with contributions from veteran session musicians John Billings on bass, Brice Foster on drums/percussion, Tom Britt on lead and slide guitar, Ronnie Godfrey on keyboards and organ, and Dana Robbins on saxophone. The single is being promoted to radio by music industry veteran Gary Lefkowith. Whiting Publicity and Promotions is handling publicity.

            "All of Me" rocks away the pain with soaring vocals, crying guitar, driving bass and soulful sax. "Nothing's binding me now... There's no baggage dragging me down," Bleu sings with emotion. "I'm open, light, and free as a breeze... It's just you and me."

            According to Dave Carew, a writer for the blog Underground Nashville, Bleu is "hands down one of the most original and distinctive pop/rock/Americana artists ever to grace the underground Nashville music scene. Inspired by everything from the styling of bands like Heart and the Cowboy Junkies, to transcendent New Age thought, she has forged, over the past decade, some of the most uplifting, eclectic, thought-provoking, and empowering music ever created in Music City USA."

            Born and raised in Spokane, Wash., Bleu grew up with a passion for music and the outdoors. She started writing songs in middle school and performing with jazz choirs and grunge bands in high school and college. On weekends, she headed to the mountains for hiking and camping. After college, she lugged her guitar and synthesizer to Paris, only to lose her green card a year later. She spent the next two years back home in Washington working in secondary education. But a trip to Nashville changed her life. Successful performances at the Bluebird Cafe and other venues convinced her to move to Music City to pursue a professional career as a singer-songwriter.

            Bleu's music accomplishments have been substantial since then. Her recent single, "The Shadow", quickly climbed various NMW charts, reaching number four on Top 40, number four on Hot 100 A/C, number five on Top 40 Internet, and number one on Indie Top 40 (where it remained for six consecutive weeks). Her sixth album, "Souvenir", generated five top-40 hit singles on various charts, with the song "Addicted to You" receiving "Spotlight" recognition in Cashbox Magazine. Other hit singles from previous albums include "When I Hold Your Hand" and "Hopelessly in Love".

             "I want to be as inclusive as possible, providing music that is inspiring, empowering and joyful," added Bleu, who returns home to Spokane every summer for songwriting, while enjoying the outdoors of the Great Northwest. "My songs speak to individuals from every walk of life."

            Bleu said there is nothing better than playing live in front of enthusiastic audiences. She has performed at a wide range of Nashville venues, even taking the honors of being the showcase artist for BMI and Bluebird Cafe shows. She is the recipient of the prestigious "Arena Award", an honor bestowed to legendary artists such as Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, and Jo Dee Messina. She hopes the recognition will eventually lead her to international stardom and a worldwide tour.

            For more information about Chakra Bleu or to hear her music, visit www.ChakraBleu.com. To book the artist for an upcoming event, send an e-mail message to 1746Records@chakrableu.com.

           

Folk-Americana Artist Mary Beth Cross Releases Techno-Pop-Dance Version of 'Babes in the Wood'

            DENVER (December 2014) – Award-winning folk-Americana artist Mary Beth Cross is exploring new musical territory by releasing a techno-pop-dance version of the late Irish songwriter Noel Brazil's classic song, "Babes in the Wood".

             Cross's new single features re-mixed vocals from an existing recording with the electronic wizardry of Nashville producer/arranger/keyboardist Matt Stanfield. Her smooth soprano vocals are energized with vocal echoes, drifting synthesizers, electronic pulses, and heavy percussion. The atmospheric, rhythmic recording is a sharp contrast to the popular folk version she recorded for her last album, "Beyond Good and Evil". She describes the newer dance version as darker and more moody, creating an atmosphere of mystery and evoking the imagination of the listener -- a full departure that reaches a new audience.

            "You might call my techno-pop recording of 'Babes in the Wood' a creative endeavor," said Cross, who recently received the "2014 Folk-Country CD of the Year Award" from the National Traditional Country Music Association. "There are times when we need to step out of our comfort zone. In this case, I wanted to help listeners experience the deeper subconscious meaning of the battle between Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. The latest version of the song is both beautiful and haunting."

            In the lyric, Brazil paints a striking picture of the battle between good and evil. For Cross, his message is both troubling and reassuring. Predatory wolves are lurking about to sabotage one's dreams. Families fall apart, criminals do harm, and the innocent become prey.

            "There's a Big Bad Wolf lurking inside all of us," the artist continued. "The song brings to light the process of our childhood innocence maturing into adulthood and the choice of becoming the predator or prey, and finding a balance of the two within ourselves. By bringing this to one's consciousness, we can make the choice to allow others to co-exist without a ruthless battle, living in peace and harmony. I believe that the hope for the planet lies in the balance of progress and thoughtful living."

            "Babes in the Wood" is available for download at CD Baby and iTunes. To download the song at iTunes, visit https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/babes-in-the-wood-single/id943666599 .

            Cross is already hard at work on a new "Babes in the Wood" song video. The elaborate production is set for release in February 2015.

            "I plan to release the video just before heading to 'Folk Alliance International'," said Cross, who also is staying busy with live performances. "It will be a visual story of the wolf in nature at Yellowstone and mankind's living in harmony with the Earth, nature, one another and ourselves."

            Cross received national exposure in 2013 with the release of her fourth CD, "Beyond Good and Evil". The project, which was produced by Dave Bechtel, landed a top-five ranking on Airplay Direct. Critics around the world praised the album, with Country Music News International calling it worthy of "Americana CD of the Year". In 2014, she received the "Folk-Country CD of the Year Award" at the Old-Time Music Festival and Convention.

            The CD gives voice to the pioneer spirit of the American frontier with original songs and cover tunes. Cross spent more than a year penning songs reflecting the grit and determination of the adventurers who blazed a trail from the East to the West in search of what they treasured most: beauty, adventure, land, new opportunities for work, and freedom from oppression. Although she didn't write it, her folk-Americana rendition of "Babes in the Wood" remains a favorite.

            The artist has also performed extensively across the U.S. and Canada. Highlights include Folk Alliance International in Kansas City and Toronto; the Black Rose Acoustic Society in Colorado Springs and Black Forest, Colo.; radio station KRFC-FM’s “Live @ Lunch” show at Colorado State University; the “Colorado Performing Arts Jamboree” in Golden, Colo.; Swallow Hill Music in Denver; Metropolitan State College in Denver; the Delta Chelsea Hotel in Toronto; the Denver Coliseum; the Colorado Association of School Nurses in Breckenridge, Colo.; the Fall Out Urban Arts Center in Minneapolis; the "Summer Concert Series" in Arvada, Colo.; and the Musicians United to Protect Bristol Bay Concert in Raleigh, N.C. In 2015, She will visit Paris for a performance at the "European Independent Film Festival".

            When she isn't on the road performing, Cross is busy writing songs for her fifth album. The project, which is set for release in 2015, will reflect on what it feels like to be home. Like her other albums, including "Beyond Good and Evil", her songs will offer "thoughtful, soothing music for thoughtful living".

            “I’ve discovered that people are yearning to find acceptance and solace in a dizzying world of pressure-filled expectations,” Cross added. “People long for an authentic, non-formula approach.

            An accomplished vocalist and tunesmith, Cross moved to Denver in the 1980s to pursue a nursing career. Her music is influenced by the rural farmland and forests of her Wisconsin upbringing and the Rocky Mountains where she currently resides. She carefully chooses acoustic instrumentation to bring her story-driven songs to life. Her music represents a few of the cultures that have contributed to what has become American music today, including the banjos of African immigrants; the pipes, whistles and percussion of Celtic music makers in the British Isles; and the horns, accordions and fiddles of French cafes. Cross's recordings spotlight her soaring, pure-tone soprano vocals.

            "Through the sweet purity of her voice, Mary Beth has captured the underlying haunting story in 'Babes in the Wood'," said artist Dierdre Keohane, partner of the late Irish songwriter Noel Brazil. "I know Noel would be proud of this version."

            Matt Stanfield is known around the world for his beautiful, strange, evolving and hauntingly addictive arrangements featuring forward-thinking piano. He has worked with artists such as Norah Jones, Kelly Clarkson, Natalie Grant, Jonas Brothers, Newsboys, and Chris Thomlin.

            To learn more about Mary Beth Cross or her music, call (303) 842-1587, send an email message to MaryBeth@MaryBethCross.com, or visit www.MaryBethCross.com or www.reverbnation.com/marybethcross.