"Crossroads moment" will be Jimi Jamison's first recording since the 2006 release "Reach" as lead singer of the band Survivor. The new record was recorded and written with ex-Survivor Jim Peterik.

The recording band includes: Ed Breckenfeld on drums, Klem Hayes and Bill Syniar on bass, Jim Peterik, Mike Aquino and Joel Hoekstra on guitar and Christian Cullen, Jeff Lanz and Jim Peterik on keyboards. Background vocals are handled by Thom Griffin (Trillion, Ambition) and Jim Peterik.

The last song on the album, “When Rock Was King” is a loving tribute to the rockin' 80's with guest such as Don Barnes of .38 Special, Dave Bickler Survivor's original lead singer, Joe Lynn Turner of Rainbow, Mickey Thomas of Starship, Mike Reno of Loverboy and Jim Peterik. A video is in the works and will be included on the CD.

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Broken Bow Records has announced the release date of the debut solo album, One On One, from the lead singer of the legendary group Alabama, Randy Owen, has moved up to November 4, 2008. In addition, HarperOne, publisher of Owen’s memoir “Born Country,” has moved the release of the book up to the same date.

“Randy has made a fantastic album, and radio and fans are really reacting to his ‘Like I Never Broke Her Heart’ single,” said Broken Bow General Manager Brad Howell. “Having the book and album hit stores the same day gives us great synergy between the products at many key retailers.”

The “Like I Never Broke Her Heart” single is featured in People Magazine’s special Country Music issue, which recently hit news stands, and the single also hit iTunes’ Top 100 in its first week of release.

Produced by John Rich, of Big & Rich fame, Randy wrote or co-wrote seven of the 11 cuts on One On One. In addition to the numerous music industry awards Randy received as a member of Alabama, he recently received The Paul G. Rogers Public Service Award for his work with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor. On June 9, he will accept the NAB Service to America Award on behalf of Country Cares for St. Jude Kids. Randy played a vital role in establishing the Country Cares radiothon program in 1989, and it has raised an astounding $340 million for the kids of St. Jude.

Randy wrote “Born Country” with Allen Rucker, who also co-authored books by country stars Gretchen Wilson and Big & Rich, among others. The book chronicles Owen’s life from his humble beginnings living in extreme poverty and hardship as the son of share coppers in Northeast Alabama to forming the band Wild Country with his cousin Teddy Gentry and Jeff Cook to signing with RCA Records and eventually being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Carolina Rain—including Baxter, lead vocalist/guitarist Rhean (pronounced “wren”) Boyer and low harmony singer/banjo player Marvin Evatt—is the culmination of three very different stories. Tennessean Baxter grew up part of a family gospel group, South Carolina’s Evatt was originally trained to be a Broadway performer, and Virginia-bred Boyer was a runaway teen who lived with a biker gang for a while.

The trio became acquainted in Nashville, discovered that its contrasting paths were all connected by the same music and began a journey in 1999 that led it down a challenging road. Carolina Rain netted a management contract within its first few days, and soon caught the attention of songwriter-producer Robert Ellis Orrall (noted for hits with Reba McEntire, Shenandoah and Clay Walker). But that quick reaction disguised the years it would take for their story to unfold. They flirted with success several times—a label showcase bombed when the sound system failed to work, they walked away from a potential record deal when they felt the terms were too stifling—before they finally found a home at the Equity Music Group.

Their debut album, Weather The Storm, introduced their tight vocal sound through three Top 25 singles from the CD. In the wake of their efforts, the band received its first nomination from the Academy of Country Music this year, a nod for Top New Duo or Vocal Group. The “new” part is ironic. Carolina Rain might be new to the general public, but their nine-year history and united perseverance are a big reason for the band’s seamless harmonies. Their friendship is a microcosm of the larger community, one that’s represented well in the Justin Niebank-produced “American Radio.” Their spirit is the same one that radio, in its best moments, embodies—one that brings people together through shared experience.

Discover their brand new song "American radio" on their myspace!

Regarding Melodiccrok.com, Escape Music are pleased to announce the forthcoming release of Shadowman's 3rd studio release Ghost in the Mirror on October 22.
Featuring the line-up of: Steve Overland (FM) – Lead Vocals; Steve Morris (Heartland) - Guitars / Keyboards; Chris Childs (Thunder) – Bass; Harry James (Thunder) – Drums; Steve Millington (Sad Cafe / 10 cc / Wax) Keyboards.

It has been four years since the debut album by Shadowman was released ("Land of the Living" ESM098). The album was warmly received by all who had a penchant for good old British melodic hard rock. As you would expect Shadowman had elements of both Heartland and FM deeply embedded in its grooves, yet it was highly original and was often touted as the best British melodic release of 2004.
Two years later in 2006 and we have an eagerly awaited follow up called "Different Angles" (ESM 127), an important album for this quartet that also includes both Harry James and Chris Childs of Thunder.
Shadowman is a band that is all about great rock music who will win you over with charm. Quality rock music is so hard to find these days and it is reassuring to know that it hasn't lost its way. It is always hard to follow on from a near perfect album like "Land of the Living", but these guys did it with "Different Angles" and here we are again, two years on with a perfect release in the shape of "Ghost in the Mirror". What this releases gives us is an extension of the band's already established sound, with some clever twists. Check out the opener "No Man's Land" with its warm vibe and effortless guitar work. There are no fillers on this CD, songs like "Road to Nowhere", Fire and Ice" and "Keeper of my Heart" are all winners from start to finish. Undoubtedly their finest release to date "Ghost in the Mirror" will be eagerly awaited until its release later this year. A Contender for best release of 2008!

Tom Freund, the critically hailed singer/songwriter who often accompanies himself on standup bass as well as guitar and piano, has completed his fourth, full album titled "Collapsible Plans", set for a September release on his own indie imprint Surf Road Records.

Produced by Ben Harper, the album also features guest appearances by Jackson Browne.

New York City native Freund now hangs his hat in Venice, California. When he first moved out to Southern California in the early ‘90s, he formed a duo with Ben Harper, which resulted in an album entitled 'Pleasure And Pain'. Freund spent the mid-‘90s touring with the indie rock cult faves The Silos. In 1998, he released his debut album 'North American Long Weekend' on Red Ant label. The record received an avalanche of critical accolades, most notably in The New York Times in which Ann Powers called it an “unexpected gem” and ranked it #3 in her year-end best-of poll.

2001’s 'Sympatico' drew even more raves. No Depression proclaimed that Freund’s lyrics “capture slices of Americana in a way that many attempt, yet very few actually master,“ while All Music Guide, called it “truly unique and absolutely brilliant.” Freund also is a favorite of NPR’s “Weekend Edition” and has been championed by Los Angeles’ powerful KCRW-FM, where he has performed live on “Morning Becomes Eclectic.”

The Washington Post, listening to the third CD 'Copper Moon', wrote: “Freund clearly delights in enigma. His vocals could go from laconic to impassioned without such obvious trickery as cranking up the volume. His lyrics are full of curveballs.”

Freund is highly respected by his fellow musicians as well. Folk chanteuse Victoria Williams calls Freund’s 2000 disc 'L.A. Fundamental Music' (a soundtrack-oriented EP) “a classic.”

Thanks to Peter Holmstedt - Hemifran

"With beautiful echoes of the great harmony groups like Poco, Eagles, even The Beach Boys; One Flew South are the new kids in town." — JD Souther

They're called One Flew South, but Royal Reed, Chris Roberts and Eddie Bush, whose debut album is aptly titled Last of the Good Guys, actually had to fly north to launch their career.

The Nashville-based trio's vocal sound fit in perfectly with the progressive thinkers at Decca/Universal Records, in whose New York offices they auditioned. The result was instant signing—both to a recording contract and song publishing deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing.

But One Flew South is no overnight success. Rather, the three vocalist-songwriters have been involved in show business for years prior to hitting upon a perfect combination--and actualizing a long-held notion of a band starring three superbly matched vocalists.

Chris Roberts was the first future member of the threesome to test the concept. The New Orleans native, who had moved to New York by way of Montana (he met Royal in New York where both had gravitated in pursuit of a music career), ended up in Nashville, where he was encouraged by legendary country music singer-songwriter Larry Gatlin--who had his own stellar career singing lead in a trio with his brothers.

"We started talking about doing a vocal trio," said Chris. "I hadn't heard anything like that since Crosby, Stills & Nash."

Hailing from El Paso, Royal Reed came from a musical family and played in a top circuit country/western band. After working as a studio and demo singer in Los Angeles, he wended his way to New York.

"We batted around the idea for a trio but never found a third person we liked," Royal recalls. So he returned to Los Angeles, and Chris to Nashville, But Royal eventually headed to the Music City, too, when a friend enlisted him to play bass in a rock band.

Meanwhile, Chris hooked up with Marcus Hummon, a Nashville-based songwriter whose catalog contained six No. 1 hits from the likes of The Dixie Chicks, Tim McGraw and Rascal Flatts' Grammy-winning "Bless the Broken Road."

"We started to write together," Chris continues. "We realized that we had a fairly strong musical connection. He embraced the trio idea and agreed with Larry that it was something that was missing from today's music scene. We went through three or four different guys before finding Eddie."

Eddie Bush was a certified guitar hero back in his home state of South Carolina and throughout the Southeast.

After his hero and fellow guitar ace Eric Johnson took him under his wing, he began performing solo acoustic sets throughout the club circuit, and later opened theater shows for the likes of Ted Nugent, Cheap Trick, Sammy Hagar, Jefferson Starship, REO Speedwagon, Eddie Money and .38 Special. "I was making a country record in Nashville, so I started showcasing—and that's how I met Marcus Hummon," said Eddie. Marcus had attended one of Eddie's Nashville showcases, and brought him to Chris. Royal, of course, was already in town.

The resulting demos quickly led to the Decca signing through a production deal with New York management company DSW Entertainment. The trio then proceeded to record their debut, Last of the Good Guys, with the help of top songwriters--most notably J.D. Souther, who co-wrote such Eagles' classics as "Best of My Love" and "Heartache Tonight."

Also enlisted were session musicians to provide an instrumental sound as classic as the three-part vocal blend. The key players were drummer John Gardner, bassist Mark Prentice, banjo player Wanda Vick, and of course Eddie on guitars--with added coloring from Bruce Hornsby & The Range guitarist George Marinelli and Marcus Hummon on acoustic guitar and mandolin and piano.

One Flew South, Royal, Chris and Eddie agree that through their meeting they've been given a chance to follow a shared passion. Their music unites them, their songs inspire them and together their talents, their desire and their artistry give them all the personal nourishment that they need. No studio magic, no bells or whistle; they all sing lead, simultaneously as one, indivisibly and beautifully.

Tonight (september 2, 2008) at Midnight (french hour), the french radiostation RTL will broadcast en exclusive interview and a acoustic gig of Michael McDonald recorded live at RTL studios in Paris in June during Michael McDonald tour in Europe and especially for his concert in Paris (Casino de Paris). You can listen to this live and exclusive moment in the program called Les Nocturnes hosted by the famous Westcoast Music lover and radio deejay Georges Lang via the web and RTL live audio streaming. Enjoy!

David Roberts came back this year with a brand new album 'Better late than never" and soon, Vivid Sounds Japan will also release on September 24th, 2008, "The Missing years", a collection of songs never released on cd.

Peter Friestedt recently did an interview for the Steve Price show on ARfm radio. Enjoy!

He is an artiste who has graced many stages, a hybrid redolent of soul, pop, rock, blues and R&B influenced by luminaries such as Queen, Prince and Sam Cooke and a man who has proved, across the years that he can deliver all these genres well.
For many years JSS has been known to all and sundry as 'Jeff Scott Soto'. In a career spanning more than twenty years, beginning as the vocalist for guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen, leading to frontman for many bands including; 'Talisman', the legendary 'Journey', 'Soul Sirkus' and soon 'Trans Siberian Orchestra'. In 2002 he set out on the long, arduous road of a solo career with the acclaimed 'Prism' and has released two solo albums since then, 'Lost In The Translation' and now 'Beautiful Mess'. He came to the notice of many in the industry when he provided the lead vocals for the main character/singer of 'Steel Dragon' in the Mark Wahlberg motion picture 'Rock Star. With an audience that comes from Europe, Asia, South America and North America, his appeal is about to be widened further with this new release.

“Beautiful Mess”
In 'Beautiful Mess' JSS blends the influences he grew up loving into one ‘beautiful mess’ indeed; from the rocking soul of "21st Century" to the sultry "Gin & Tonic Sky" to the greasy funk of "Bring It Home" to the Beatle-esque “Kick It”, JSS leaves no stone unturned in this release, pleasing fans old & new alike. 'Beautiful Mess', which is co-written & produced by the acclaimed Swedish artist/producer/writer Paulo Mendonça, is a turning point for JSS who recently dubbed by many as the ‘hardest working man in show business’ and this new album will find him touring the globe once again through 2009.

If you like the bite of Lenny Kravitz, the sultriness of Seal, the smoothness of Sam Cooke & the rawness of the nostalgic 70’s rock ‘n soul, all mixed with a contemporary touch of today’s hit music, this is one not to be missed!!