Monday, December 21, 2009

Recording Studio News: Slang Records and Mixes New CD To Honor Military at Christmastime

Proceeds to Benefit Wounded Warrior Project
online at www.SoldiersChristmasProject.com

For Immediate Release

Slang Music Group is proud to have been the chosen studios for the production of the recently released “Soldiers Christmas Project,” (SCP) an 11-cut collection that honors our military through readings of poems, traditional songs and original instrumentals. SCP is a proud supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project. The video supporting the reading of "The Night Before Christmas" is being released today in concert with the CD and is posted on the CD's Web site,www.SoldiersChristmasProject.com.

"I think that the project is a noble effort performed by two individuals who are truly giving,” said Slang founder Vince Lawrence. “SCP Producer Joe Cantafio's continued dedication, along with Executive Producer Paul Brian's, to this cause is inspiring to all of us here at Slang Music Group."

While, Vince and the team a destination for electronic music makers of every genre, but lately, holiday music has been no stranger to the Slang studios as they originated and produced the main theme for “A Christmas at the White House”, Oprah Winfrey’s holiday special. The Harpo Studios broadcast recieved some of the highest ratings this decade. .

“I think that when we stepped up to become a part of the Soldier’s Christmas Project, we showed yet another facet of our broad capabilities,” continued Lawrence. “I encourage all of the fans of our group to check out this new CD. It’s not only great for the holidays, but it benefits military that have been wounded in battle. Nothing could be more honorable—and nothing could be better than to help them out. That’s why Slang got involved. It’s just great to give to others in need.

With Christmas immediately around the corner, the work of Chicago-based Paul Brian and Joe Cantafio and their Soldiers Christmas Project CD, will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), a non-profit organization offering programs and services to assist injured veterans during their recovery and rehabilitation.

Chicago radio and voice acting legend Paul Brian envisioned the project while hospitalized with the flu in early November. Taking on the role of Executive Producer, Brian has moved forward at breakneck speed to the point where it can now be either downloaded on the Internet atwww.SoldiersChristmasProject.com or ordered online at the same Web site. Cost is $9.99 for the entire album of 11 selections or $1.29 for each individual cut. The collection is also available on eBay as an album only.

“Anyone else would have thought us crazy to pursue a project like this, but most of us have a military background, so doing the impossible on a crazy timetable isn’t an unfamiliar concept,” said Brian. “If it wasn’t for the quick cooperation and professionalism of Vince Lawrence and the Slang Music Group we would have never been able to pull this off. That the CD was going to help benefit the Wounded Warrior Project made it extra special for us—and for everyone at Slang. They were awesome.”

Cantafio, leader of the 101st Rock Division Band that has entertained troops from Iraq to northern Africa and “anywhere else they’ll have us” brought his amazing guitar talents to the mix and the rest, as they say, was magic.

“Paul’s readings of poems that many of us have read on the Internet took on a very special meaning to me as I played guitar,” said Cantafio. “We knew that supporting the Wounded Warrior Project would be a wonderful way to honor America ’s bravest and those who have sacrificed so much.”

Brian serves on the Board of Directors for Operation Homefront Illinois and also the Grassroots Civilian Advisory Board for the Chicago Battalion of the United States Army Recruiting Command (USAREC). Cantafio is a Gold Star family member, is constantly active in military and veteran affairs and is the Executive Director of the National Veterans Museum .

-end-

Friday, December 18, 2009

Letters: Holiday letter from JQ


Happy Holidays! To Vince Lawrence and Slang Music Group.

A year and a half ago, I was an artist sitting at home typing out my rhymes on my laptop. Now I'm proud to say I've had a single play on major radio stations across the country, a mixtape (The Official Burbetto Mixtape) hosted by DJ Khaled and DJ Drama with over 10,000 web pages on Google Search, and 10 other records I feel could propel my career to the next level. None of this would have happened without Slang Music Group!

The time and effort Slang Music Group puts forth to its clients and their music is respectable. Each record is treated as its own life and expected to live up to its fullest potential once in the Slang system.

I have been to many other studios, including some of Slang's biggest competitors in the Chicagoland area, and not seen the care for clients or the expertise that I see present in Slang's staff - most specifically top engineer Brian Gaynor. Vince Lawrence has 25 years of mixing experience and IT SHOWS. I feel blessed to work with such an accomplished and talented team. I hope I get the opportunity to do more work with them as we bring in the new year!

Vince, thank you for serving not only as a mentor to me for building timeless music, but for taking me under your wing in the industry. I really appreciate you going out of your way to introduce me to some of your contacts and being a constant supporter of my music career.

>>See No Limits. Hear No Limits.<<

-JQ

Thursday, December 10, 2009

In The Studio: Local Artist Ruby Yo! Teams Up with Veteran Chicago Music Producer

Hailing from Chicago’s southside, Marilyn Camacho p.k.a Ruby Yo! , is no stranger to entertainment. Influential in her music is her theatrical background, as she is one of the founding members of Urban Theater Company, a Chicago based multi-cultural theater group rooted in the Latino community, currently receiving rave reviews for they’re show, “Cuba and His Teddy Bear” directed by Ms. Camacho herself. The show is the company’s 6th production and astoundingly Ruby’s highly impressive official directorial debut, given the fact that the show is currently Jefferson Award’s recommended. In addition, she has been on stage in numerous theatrical productions, featured in multiple national commercials, and voice-over work. Aside from theater, Ruby has been a veteran of the Chicago hip-hop scene for many years and has been seen performing at various venues across the city.

Ruby Yo! and Vince Lawrence, founder of Slang Music Group, have combined theatrics, Vince’s eclectic production, and Ruby’s seasoned rapping style and singing to form a cultural revolution of Chicago style hip-hop. This single release with a video along with a future album release will clearly move Ruby Yo! to the forefront of Chicago entertainment as she forges her way to become a triple threat. Be on the lookout for this Puerto Rican dame, she will be invading the radio airwaves sooner than later.

Hear and Add Ruby Yo! at www.myspace.com/therubyyo

Tweet her at www.twitter.com/therubyyo

Friend her at www.facebook.com/rubyyo

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Music Licensing: Slang track main theme song for Oprahs upcoming primetime special, “A Christmas at the White House”

Slang Music group was recently selected by Harpo Productions to create themes for Oprah's Holiday Special As regular musical contributors for the daytime show, Slang was initially asked to submit original music for a "tenative holiday Oprah special" months ago. Our team submitted several pieces of music presumably along with countless other submissions from competing music venders.

On Friday December 4th we received word from Harpo that our track had been singled out, and would be used as the main theme song for Oprahs upcoming primetime special, “A Christmas at the White House” which will air at 9pm central time on ABC on Sunday December 13th.

After an extremely productive weekend, we have provided the Oprah team with twenty six different interpretations of the main theme that will be used through out the program. Our staff worked all day and all night to provide the quick, high quality customized music, at the direction of Oprah's Music Director. The interpretations are varied and include classical film scoring styles with full orchestra, solo acoustic & classical guitar, operatic/choral performance, patriotic, R&B and dance.

the Oprah Team was very pleased with the end result, stating that we will most definitely be more involved than ever with Harpo. He also said, “Nobody can say Slang MusicGroup is only about dance music after this! You guys did an incredible job, and this makes you look really, really good.”

We are so excited, honored, and proud to have such a major role with this historic broadcast. This is Oprahs first interview with our nations first African American President since his election in November of 2008.

We hope you’ll join us this Sunday night, along with millions of other viewers undoubtly, on ABC at 9pm.