In an inspirational piece of cross promotion, leading female progressive rock artist Lisa La Rue (1) has tied up with The John Payne Fancast (www.johnpaynefancast.net) (2) – a podcast dedicated to the work of John Payne (3) to make available an MP3 player featuring tracks from her latest recording project 2k9 entitled ‘World Class’(4) to one lucky competition winner.
Entries must be made at Lisa’s website (www.lisalaruemusic.com) using the codeword announced by podcaster, Jeri Unselt, on the fancast. So listen carefully!
Entries must be received by 1st October 2009, and the winner to be drawn on that date. The lucky winner will be notified privately by email, and announced on a future edition of the John Payne Fancast. The prize will be delivered between November 1 and December 1, 2009, in advance of the album’s full official release.
Notes for broadcasters:
1. Lisa La Rue (www.lisalaruemusic.com) began playing keyboards as a small child. Not only a fan of progressive music such as Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Yes, Genesis, and others, the hometown boys Kansas also played a big part in her influential years. Before setting out for a record contract, she collaborated with Gilli Smyth of "Gong" on a self-released 'tape' titled "Dreamscapes" released by the U.S. arm of Voiceprint.
Her latest release (November 2008) entitled "Transformation 2012," features several guest artists, including long-time Asia frontman, John Payne, rising progressive-rock violinist James Sudakow, and former Blue Oyster Cult keyboardist, Tommy Zvoncheck.
Lisa La Rue grew up in Topeka, Kansas, but now resides in her native Oklahoma. She is a tribal member of the federally-recognized United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. She is the 2008 Oklahoma Music Awards' "Native American Artist of the Year," and a 2008 nominee for the Hollywood Music Awards' "Instrumental" category.
She is currently working with 'Esquire' on new tracks, as well as several other projects for later in 2009.
2. The JohnPayneFancast is run by podcaster & upcoming authoress Jeri Unselt, who also publishes her online ‘Adventures of a Walker Dependent Music Fan’ at www.walkerdependentmusicfan.com. Jeri has been producing the John Payne fancast since February 2008, driven by a determination to promote Payne’s 14 year legacy with rock supergroup ASIA and his ongoing solo and project work and his bands, Asia Featuring John Payne and GPS. To date there have been 17 episodes, last year with over 3000 downloads; And 600 so far this year.
Jeri is currently writing her first novel, Inner Demons, which she is podcasting at www.innerdemonsnovel.com which follows the investigations of a group of psychic investigators into the mysterious death of musician Jeff Holland, his family and members of his band Quicksilver just on the eve of a comeback.
3. Lisa LaRue's Project 2K9 is titled "World Class" for two reasons. First, all the musicians and guest artists are world class, in our humble opinion – the lineup features Steve Adams – guitar; Chris Brown – bass; Jo De Boeck – vocals; Lisa LaRue – keyboards; John Payne – Vocals; Svetlan Raket – drums. With SPECIAL GUESTS Geert Fieuw, Merrill Hale, David Mark Pearce, Gerry Verstreken, and Claire Vezina. Second, the group hails from all around the world, proving that music IS the universal language, and maybe even the bringer of peace.
Planned as a virtual album, you get to hear it on Lisa’s website (www.lisalaruemusic.com) as it is completed, song by song.... not just when the complete CD is finished. There, you can hear previews, and purchase 'digital singles'. But that doesn't mean just one song…
Remember those great 45's that had the radio song as Side A, and then the B-side was always some other great song off the same album? That's what your digital single will consist of.... Side A and Side B. Yes, TWO tracks per Digital Single release.
Each Digital Single will have its own page as a sub-page with gives all the credits, and any other tasty tidbits relating to the song, including a record label and jacket ready for download on the page, in addition to a sound preview and an ordering cart.
And for those who prefer a real CD, this is scheduled for release in time for Christmas 2009. Orders will begin early enough for Christmas delivery.
Sign up for the mailing list at www.lisalaruemusic.com to be notified when each Digital Single is released or follow the Project on Lisa’s dedicate myspace site: www.myspace.com/lisalarueproject2k9
4. John Payne became the frontman of the supergroup ASIA in 1992 at the invitation of original keyboardist Geoff Downes, replacing vocalist/bassist John Wetton. Together, they extensively toured ASIA all around the world for the next 14 years performing new classics and old favorites.
With John Payne fronting the band, ASIA released 8 stunning studio albums and several live recordings. In 2006, Geoff Downes left the band to reform the 1982 line up for their 25th anniversary. On the 9th of May 2006, John Payne, Geoff Downes, John Wetton, Carl Palmer and Steve Howe contractually agreed that John Payne would continue his 14 year legacy with ASIA as ”ASIA Featuring John Payne”.
John Payne is currently touring ASIA Featuring John Payne with a lineup featuring Jay Schellen (drums), Erik Norlander (keys) and Mitch Perry (guitar). An EP, Military Man, is due to hit the streets shortly and a new studio album, ‘Architects of Time, is planned for release in late 2009. For upcoming dates see www.theasiaband.com
Previous to ASIA, John sang with Roger Daltrey, CCCP, ELO Part 2 and more recently GPS plus being chosen as the Parson in Jeff Wayne’s The War Of The Worlds stadium tour. His recent guest appearances include songs with the Swedish group “Lunatica,” Roswell Six, and Lisa LaRue’s CD, “Transformation 2012.”