Awesome news, and I owe it to all of you who’ve kept voting for my song for the last six months+! The Independent Music Network is holding their first annual IMN Awards.  I’ve been nominated for the Mainstream Crossover Artist/Band of the Year, mostly on the basis of my song, “We Surround Them”, staying in the Top-30 for over six months now.  Thanks so much for the continued support.

Honestly, I thought this song was done when it dropped briefly off the Independent Music Network Top-30 Country Chart (http://www.independentmusicnetwork.com/ccharts.php) a few weeks back, but it has roared back with a vengeance.  It’s now at number 9 this week, a scant 22 points behind the number 1 song.

The award winners will be determined over the course of the next couple of weeks by a mix of continued fan votes, the IMN radio poll (they’re playing the song on their syndicated radio program), and IMN Editor Picks.  So I’m asking for an all-out get-out-the-vote effort by my friends.  Please go to the following website

http://www.independentmusicnetwork.com/vote.php?genre=C

Scroll down to “Rich Owen-We Surround Them” and click on it once a week (per IP address) for the next couple of weeks.  Then, if you’re willing, please send this on as an email to those you feel wouldn’t mind receiving it, to ask for their votes as well.

Listen to the song at www.myspace.com/richowen61, or watch the video of my live performance in ....Denver.., ..CO...., at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3mgY7IrbJg

Again, thanks so much, and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I was at work, at an Air Force base here in ....Colorado.....  I'd officially retired from the Air Force just ten days earlier, and was now working as a defense contractor.  I walked into the ..Operations.. ..Center.. when an officer I knew said, "Hey, a plane just crashed into the ....World.. ..Trade.. ..Center....!"  We finished checking data, just as we always did, and then hurried back to our office to check the news via the Internet.  All the way back, we talked about how such a terrible "accident" could have happened, never dreaming as we walked under a clear-blue sky in the quiet of the early morning.

We got back just in time to see the replay of the second plane crashing into the other tower.  About that time, the Internet slowed to a crawl as we and the rest of the Nation realized our people were under attack and sought information and re-assurance.  Several hours later, all non-mission essential personnel were ordered to leave the base and go home until further notice.  We sit very close to the approach path of a major airport, and I remember the eerie silence as we walked back to our cars.  The only aircraft flying that day, way up were we could barely see them, were two National Guard F-16s, flying combat air patrol for the first time in recent memory.  ....Colorado Springs.... is home to numerous critical national defense facilities, and these CAP flights continued for over a week.

“We Surround Them” moves back up to No. 6 on Country Chart

Hey, everyone! Thanks to your support the song, “We Surround Them” remains in the top ten of the Independent Music Network’s Top-30 Country Chart for the fourth week in a row (6 weeks total in the Top-30). This week it moved back up to number 6, and was just 20 points behind the number 1 song. I want to thank you all for voting week after week, and am asking once again for a maximum “get out the vote” effort. Please help this song get to number 1 this week by voting for it at

http://www.independentmusicnetwork.com/vote.php?genre=C

Scroll down and click on "Rich Owen-We Surround Them" to register your vote. You can vote once per week (voting goes from Tuesday through Monday) from each IP address (work, home, mobile device are all separate IP addresses). Next, please consider passing this along to family, friends, and repost to other forums you’re a part of.

And remember, "We Surround Them", is available for download for FREE for the entire month of July! Just go to the following website to download “We Surround Them”…

http://www.jamwave.com/richowenmusic

Hi, ya’ll!  In honor of July 4^th, I’m making my single, "We Surround Them", available for download for FREE for the entire month of July!  This song is now Number 3 on the Independent Music Network's Top-30 Country chart!!!  Just go to the following website to download “We Surround Them”…

http://www.jamwave.com/richowenmusic

I’m asking a couple small favors from everyone who downloads the song.  FIRST, please help this song get to number 1 this week by voting for it at

http://www.independentmusicnetwork.com/vote.php?genre=C

Scroll down and click on "Rich Owen-We Surround Them" to register your vote. You can vote once per week (voting goes from Tuesday through Monday) from each IP address (work, home, mobile device are all separate IP addresses).  SECOND, pass this along to family, friends, and repost to other forums you’re a part of.  Thanks so much, and have a great 4^th of July!

Sincerely,

Rich Owen