CHRISTIAN ROCK BAND, PILLAR ANNOUNCES REUNION

Pillar’s Marquee Members Reunite for New Album to be Released in Summer of 2013!

One of the most successful Christian Rock bands of all time, Pillar, announced on their social media pages and in e-mail to their fans this weekend that they will be reforming their classic line up to record their first album in four years, and first for next level record label idefi Music.

“We’re going to be doing a record and are shooting for a summer 2013 release” says Pillar singer Rob Beckley. “It’s going to have that gritty sound but will come from a more mature place lyrically.”

Considered by many to be the band’s definitive line up, founding members Beckley, and Michael “Kalel” Wittig, were joined by virtuoso guitarist Noah Henson for the 2002 release “Fireproof.” The album immediately topped the charts and in the course of selling over 300,000 copies, won two Dove Awards and established the band at the vanguard of Christian Rock. During touring for the album Lester Estelle Jr., a much respected drummer joined the band cementing one of the most musically solid bands of the era. The effort spawned several hit singles including the title track and the band’s signature song “Fireproof.” 

In 2004, the band again topped the charts with the release of “Where Do We Go From Here”. The album immediately shot to number one and included the singles “Bring Me Down” and “Frontline.” 

“What was cool about ‘Fireproof’ and ‘Where Do We Go From Here’ was we were young and touring....those were pretty authentic records,” Beckley says. 

The band’s next full length “The Reckoning” not only furthered the band success but added a Grammy nod for “Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album.” Their follow-up “For Love of the Game” brought more Dove nominations and hit singles but would be the end of the band’s most successful line-up as Estelle and Wittig departed. 

Beckley says the band is very excited to be back together again.  He says that he’s very thankful for Pillar’s fan base. “We’re going to rally the troops so to speak...what made Pillar successful was not the music but the fans. The Underground Army has been in hiatus for a while and now it’s time to re-enlist,” he says. “One thing we know is that our fans were the driving force behind what we did. We’re really relying on them to support and get the word out about the new record.”

As to idefi, Beckley says he’s happy to be part of a groundbreaking business model. A thought echoed by idefi CEO Brady Deaton. “I am so proud to think that the idefi model gave them another option, one that included staying together and continuing to make great music while getting paid royalties on their music sales from day 1!”

Idefi Music LLC is a web based “all access” record label that allows performers of any age, level of experience or genre to upload music and create a profile for free. Idefi’s mission is to give artists freedom and control. They offer duplication, world-wide distribution, support for recording, help with music video creation and tour support as well as marketing based on a reward point system. Sign up for Pillar updates and get Rob's single "Value of My Heart" for free at www.pillartour.com. 

CHECK OUT PILLAR'S PROFILE NOW!

HEE HAW FAVORITE TO ORCHESTRATE COMEBACK

Jimmy Henley makes plans to work with orchestra in 2013!

Jimmy Henley is set to amaze audiences again in 2013 as the Oklahoma- based banjo virtuoso is set to release a genre defining solo work with Idefi Music.
“We’re going to do an album with a symphony orchestra” he says from his home in Broken Arrow.

“Some bluegrass, and some old standards as well as some songs that people haven’t heard in a while.... we want this to be
very unique and very unusual.”

Henley’s backstory is pretty much an amazing story in itself. Jimmy first played banjo at the tender age of 7. While watching his father play banjo one day, the young Jimmy asked the elder Henley (who just happened to also be a banjo teacher) to teach him to play an old tune called “Cripple Creek.” Within minutes, thirty to be exact, Jimmy was playing the song, and before long he was playing shows and touring the Bluegrass circuit through Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Shortly thereafter he won back-to-back Junior titles of the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship at the Grant's Bluegrass Festival in Hugo, Oklahoma, and at age ten won the World Bluegrass Banjo Championship in Memphis, Tennessee.

It was then that Jimmy caught the ear of world-renowned performer-- and star of the classic television show “Hee-Haw”--- Roy Clark. Jimmy was immediately booked for five planned appearances on Hee Haw, as well as a shot on the The Grand Ole Opry. The original five appearances led to a full- time gig with Roy Clark, taking Jimmy around the world, as well as appearances on most every major television show of the era, including: The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Austin City Limits, the Mike Douglas Show, and Merv Griffin.  Along the way Jimmy released four albums to his credit.

It was the relationship with Roy Clark that would eventually give Jimmy the idea to work with an orchestra. “When I worked with Roy Clark, we always played with orchestras, and I have arrangements for several banjo songs with an orchestra” he says. “I have access to some great writers and we’ll be doing a full orchestra chart.”

He says that there is a revitalized market for “old- time style” music. “It’s a connection with people’s pasts, so much of what they are doing today just appeals to a certain group of people; I want this to be for everybody.”  Jimmy also says he’s looking forward to getting back on the road and playing live again. He went off the road in 2003 and says that it was “nice to see spring, summer, fall and winter out your own back yard, and not out of a bus” but that he’s “starting to get the itch to play again.”

The connection with idefi began when Jimmy heard Idefi founder Brady Deaton on talk radio show.  “We’re very excited to be working with Brady as well as the symphony kick-off” he says.

“I was with one of the best entertainers in the business Roy Clark for 26 years. He always said you have to be an entertainer, and I think that is something that is missing from the music industry nowadays. I’d like to bring that back.

CHECK OUT JIMMY'S PROFILE!

O'MEGA RED HAS AN ANGEL BY HIS SIDE

New Single "Angel" Features Vocals By Donna Summer

Boston rapper O’Mega Red says he’s very exited not only about his new single but his relationship with idefi music. Taking matters up another notch is the small fact that the new single “Angel” features a collaboration with O’Mega’s aunt, the late great Donna Summer.  

“She did this record because it was a God sent message to her” O'Mega says. “She knew what was going on and God sent her a message through me."

He says that the song first came to him when an artist on his independent production label The Stay Grindin’ Music Group brought it to him in incomplete form. Another writer did some work on the song before giving it to O’Mega who ran with it, writing the lyrics and chorus.

“I said who can I get to sing on this, I’m gonna call my aunt” he says adding that he had done songs with Donna before but none had been for release.
“I sent it and about 15 minutes later she called back and said “you’ve got a smash.”

“Angel” turned out to be the final recording Summer made prior to her untimely passing in May of this year. A five time Grammy winner and cultural icon, Summer was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach number one on the United States Billboard chart, and to chart four number-one singles in the United States within a 13-month period.

An artist, producer, arranger and sometimes actor O’Mega Red has been racking up hits, awards, and critical acclaim for years with his own brand of reality rap, a trend that will continue with his forthcoming album “Red October.” In addition to “Angel”, “Red October” will also feature appearances with living legend KRS One and Ed O G. On the awards front “Angel” is already receiving accolades being nominated for Best Rap/Hip Hop Artist of the Hollywood Music Media Awards, a group that has previously awarded O’Mega twice in 2009.

O’Mega says that he’s also very excited about idefi.  “I like the look of the site and they way they represent themselves, they’re clean and classy. I like their vision for the future” he says.“I’m an indie advocate and I love their vision.”

He says that idefi CEO and founder Brady Deaton is not only a “great guy” but a “visionary.”

“It’s difficult for most people to understand because they don’t believe something until they see it. That makes it hard for visionary people because most people aren’t visionary and can’t see it....these guys believe in me.”

Mixes on the album are currently wrapping up and the effort will be available in the near future.

DOWNLOAD "ANGEL" NOW!

LEAVING THE LIGHT ON AND ROCKING ON FOR A GOOD CAUSE: The Fallen release their new single “Light On” with a twist!

Portion of all sales to benefit the Morgan Nick Foundation

St. Louis, MO based indie Christian rock band, the Fallen say they’re happy to announce that a portion of the proceeds for their latest single, “Light On” will be donated to the Morgan Nick Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting missing children.

“This is an organization that we are very happy to support” says Kyle Torrence lead singer of the Fallen and primary songwriter on “Light On”. The song, which is perfectly representative of the band’s driving, melodic bluesy rock is currently available on-line at idefi.com and other online outlets.

Torrence says that the words and music for the song came to him one night but he had put it aside for a couple of weeks until he saw a news report that spurred him into action.

“One night on TV, I saw a little girl from Louisiana Missouri that had went missing
and this song just popped up in my head, It was kind of a God thing” he says adding that three days later the girl was found about 5 minutes from his apartment in St Louis.  “In every situation there is hope and there is a great big God that is in control of it.”

“We’re very excited about the relationship with the Fallen” says Colleen Nick Executive Director of the Morgan Nick Foundation. The foundation was founded after Colleen’s daughter Morgan was abducted on June 9, 1995, from a Little League baseball game in their town of Alma Arkansas. Around 10:30 in the evening, Morgan had asked her mother if she could catch lightning bugs with her friends. When the friends returned later in the evening Morgan was not with them.
The children later reported that there was a "creepy" man talking to Morgan around the last time she was seen. She has not been seen or heard from since.

“We are ecstatic that the Fallen are helping us in our mission to provide a support network to parents and families of all missing children” Nick says.
Torrence says that he feels that all of the Fallen’s songs are filled with inspiration and encouragement in a world where people are constantly yearning to be enlightened and given a hope that will refuel them for a life lived to its fullest.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD "LIGHT ON" NOW!