Listeners and fans have voted singer/songwriter Johnny Rodgers' song "Midday Moon" as the #1 Jazz Song on OurStage.com for the month of May. Nearly 14, 000 fans listened and even more judged the over 290 song entries throughout the month to declare Midday Moon as the winner.
Earlier this year, Johnny Rodgers was recognized by Billboard Magazine, winning their 15th Annual World Song Contest with Home To Mendocino in the Americana/Folk category. With this recognition in the American/Folk and Jazz genres, the Johnny Rodgers Band has firmly established themselves at the forefront of Americana Pop music rooted in the styles of music made popular in America and reflecting today's vibrancy of sound. Show Business Weekly says Rodgers performs his own songs as a "combination of Elton John, Billy Joel and James Taylor all rolled into one."
Both award-winning songs are included on the critically acclaimed debut album Box of Photographs which featured Grammy Award winner Randy Brecker as guest artist. The recording was produced by Richard Barone of The Bongos and is available at record stores and online at amazon.com and iTunes.
Johnny Rodgers, currently on a European tour with the legendary Liza Minnelli said, "While receiving an award from music industry insiders like Billboard is terrific, it's the recognition from everyday fans and music lovers that is really gratifying and exciting. It's great to have the OurStage exposure that is generating new Johnny Rodgers Band fans from around the world." Johnny goes on to say that "Our new music release planned for this summer is generating some great interest - and now we have even more fans to help build that excitement".
Johnny Rodgers Band is fresh and unique, taking you on a guided tour of Americana Pop, exhibiting the driving energy of rock and roll, blended with jazz sophistication. Each member of the band brings a distinctive voice and a versatile musical background: Brian Glassman on double bass, Danny Mallon on drums, Joe Ravo on guitar, and Johnny on piano with powerful vocals. The band's chemistry and Johnny's personable stage presence completes the formula that creates their dynamic performances. Visit them at JohnnyRodgersBand and myspace.com/JohnnyRodgersBand.
OurStage is where the world's music fans come to discover, enjoy and reward the best emerging artists - and where the world's artists come to find their fans, get amazing gigs and help launch their careers. Check it out at OurStage.com. Let the Fans decide!
05 / 30 / 2008
Very exciting!
Johnny Rodgers Band song "MIDDAY MOON" is now in the Top 10 - Semi Finals in a fan judged song contest on a website called OUR STAGE. Today by midnight the 2 finalists will be determined in the Jazz category. As I type this message the song is in 2 nd place, but that can quickly change.
If you have time TODAY before midnight , please go to www.ourstage.com and sign up to become a judge of the JAZZ channel (genre) where you will find MIDDAY MOON. When judging, you will first make sure you are in the JAZZ channel . Then you will be be given 2 random songs from the top remaining 10 entries and asked to pick your favorite of the two. Continue doing this a couple of times and you will see MIDDAY MOON come up to judge. Go to the site and check it out now. Hint: You can listen to each song for 15 seconds and vote.
How the song contest works:
The top ten (10) entries in each Channel (a channel is a genre) have already been determined based on Judging so far during the month of MAY using proprietary ranking algorithms. MIDDAY MOON made the cut out of 294 JAZZ entries. Again, you have until today Friday midnight, May 30 to vote on the semifinals... then final voting is tomorrow, Saturday only... until the fans have picked their favorite by midnight Saturday night.
What inspired Johnny to write MIDDAY MOON?
When Johnny had moved to New York about six years ago, he frequented Central Park. One afternoon while sitting on some rocks in the park, Johnny looked up over the trees and the New York City skyline. Above that he saw the moon. And he wrote this song.
Where are Johnny, Brian, Danny and Joe now? Are they touring?
Well, Johnny is in the UK on tour with Liza Minnelli. Brian, Danny and Joe are about the USA doing their musical thing preparing for band rehearsals and recording when Johnny is back. Johnny and I were talking via Skype video yesterday and I mentioned Midday Moon was in the Top Ten. He was very quiet, in the usually Johnny fashion. I looked up and saw him on the LIVE video feed from London giving me the "we're #1 sign".
Let's show Johnny. Brian, Joe and Danny how much we love MIDDAY MOON. Oh yes, enjoy the wonderful guest appearance of
Grammy-winner Randy Brecker on trumpet.
Thanks for listening! Yes, forward to friends if you like asking them to help take Johnny Rodgers Band and MIDDAY MOON to #1!!!
Listen to the Johnny Rodgers Interview from the March 7, 2008 broadcast of
Ed Bell's "South Florida Arts Beat" - WLRN - 91.3FM, Miami, FL
Johnny Rodgers selected as winner of the 15th Annual Billboard World Song Contest.
The music industry judges announced their winning songs today for the 15th Annual Billboard World Song Contest.
Johnny Rodgers' song Home to Mendocino was declared a winner for the contest's Americana/Folk song category.
Home to Mendocino was selected from literally thousands of songs submitted from around the world.
Contest judges
consisted of industry professionals familiar with A&R, Booking, Management, Touring,
Marketing, etc. and have a thorough
working knowledge of the songwriting process as well as what it
takes to succeed in today's music and entertainment scene
on both a national and local levels.
"It is great to have this type of industry validation of my passion for song writing and performance"
said Johnny during a break from a Johnny Rodgers Band recording session in New York.
"Home to Mendocino is a fan favorite too - and a song that we often end our show with".
Fresh and unique, the Johnny Rodgers Band is brilliant jumping from one style to another with
the ease of an expert trapezist: pop, rock, jazz.
Their music, as demonstrated on the debut album BOX OF PHOTOGRAPHS, literally takes you on a guided tour of Americana pop exhibiting
the driving energy
of rock and roll, blended with jazz sophistication. The band's chemistry and Johnny's personable stage
presence completes the formula that creates the band's dynamic performances.
-
WSRS 96.1 Boston, MA. Promo from Oct 29 thru Nov 4. -
Giving away CD's and tickets to the Nov. 8 show at Ryles Jazz Club -
212 Hampshire Street Cambridge, MA 02139
Music Festival Two Stars That Deserve Five DANIEL FERNANDEZ The New Herald - October 4, 2007
Continuing the series of spectaculars that as always promises to be so successful, the Miami Festival of the Frost Music School of the University of Miami presented on Sunday, September 30, "An Afternoon of Broadway, Pop & a Little Swinging Jazz," with two brilliant stars, each one in their own genre and with their own brightness, Debbie Gravitte, Broadway artist that has won two Tony Awards, and Johnny Rodgers, who, born and educated in Miami, is now living in New York, where he has his own band.
Rodgers and his group are the true epitome of what is usually called "jazz fusion" that is the result of the mixture of many things. A composer and spectacular pianist, this singer is a true dynamo on stage, who jumps from one style to another with the security of an expert trapezist: jazz, pop, rock. His versatility is uncommon and very authentic. He knows how to savor a ballad like the most veteran of crooners -- he sang like Ray Charles and he confessed that he was an admirer of Mel Tormé, in whose style he sang "Give Me the Simple Life" -- and also to put flavor to the most rhythmic creations. "She," an original song of his own inspiration, was very well received by the public, and no less satisfactory his interpretation of "Take Another Chance on Love."
His group is excellent, and I would not know where to start. Perhaps by the trumpet player, but the name of the wonderful musician does not appear in the program and I did not think about writing down it when they announced it from the stage. It is worth mentioning and may the talented young man pardon me. Others on the program who were mentioned were Brian Glassman on the contrabass, Joe Ravo on the guitar, and Danny Mallon on drums.
Although of recent formation, this band is already playing frequently and has its own CD, in addition to a tight agenda of performances on stages across the entire world.
The second part of the afternoon was dedicated to the wonderful Debbie Gravitte, accompanied on the piano by her magnificent arranger and companion Russ Kassoff. Gravitte counts on a solid career established on Broadway stages and international tours. She has shone in works like Mame, Chicago , and Wicked, from which she interpreted-- with her exquisite and melodious mezzo -- the most distinguished songs. As well as a magnificent stylist, she is no less effective an entertainer, interjecting anecdotes of her personal and professional life. Little by little, she won the public, who at the end of her truly One Woman Show, gave her a standing ovation.
Her repertoire ranges from the most well known songs of the American musical comedy to some of the most sophisticated, like the Kurt Weill classic "Lady in the Dark." Also, she sang a composition specially written for her by the great Jerry Herman. Very stirring was her delivery of the well-known "Memory," from Cats, by Andrew Lloyd Weber.
The culmination of the afternoon was two duet encores of Gravitte and Rodgers singing together. Unforgettable!
Television Feature
This Monday, May 21 at 7:30 pm
Johnny Rodgers: A Musical Journey
Miami Public Television - Channel 17 WLRN-TV ArtStreet
Monday, May 21@ 7:30 pm
Tuesday, May 22 @ 1:30 am
Saturday, May 26 @ 7:30 pm
Sunday, May 27 @ 1:00 am
Segment features
-Johnny's early years through today
- Southwood Middle School with teacher Rick Adams
- New World School of the Arts with teacher/Broadway actress Paula Wayne
- Writing sessions and tour with his Johnny Rodgers Band
- World tour with Liza Minnelli as featured guest artist
Johnny Rodgers Band on YouTube
The band just added these videos to YouTube. Enjoy your favorite Box of Photographs songs,
including our arrangement of 'You Can Leave Your Hat On'.
Check out the 'Barry Z Show' video. It was a lot of fun to film.
Do you think it is hilarious? I do!
Visit
ArtsPass.com
to view ARTSPASS
IN SESSION - THE JOHNNY RODGERS BAND (45:00)
- Concert Event
- View
The Johnny Rodgers Band,
featuring drummer Danny Mallon, bass player
Brian Glassman,
guitarist Joe Ravo, and Johnny Rodgers on
piano and singing vocals,
treat ArtsPass In Session viewers to a concert
performance of
Rodgers’ original pop and jazz tunes.
Visit
ArtsPass.com
to
View an Exclusive Video
Interview and Performance
by
JOHNNY RODGERS
Johnny tells the behind-the-scenes story of
his rising career and
treats viewers to three songs at the piano.
The
new CD will feature duets with a host of vocalists
and songwriters
from the worlds of theatre and cabaret. Among the
artists joining
singer-producer Lessack are Michael
Feinstein, Ann
Hampton Callaway, Amanda
McBroom, Maureen
McGovern, Ken Page, Susan
Egan, Johnny Rodgers
and Wicked composer Stephen
Schwartz. The CD will be released on the LML
label in
Spring of 2005, coinciding with the tenth anniversary
of LML
Music.
Johnny's
recording of Danglin' from
The
Maury Yeston Songbook
is
available for download on
Johnny Rodgers Band Merchandise Available Now!! - Click Here - | JRB Ringtones Available Now!! -Page 1-Page 2-
