Jasmine Lorraine “Wonky Tonk” Poole

 The Wonk .

With a closet full of boots, a heart full of wander and a soul full of songs, the charming and multi-talented Kentucky “Wonky Tonk” woman releases her debut album Stuff We Leave Behind in hopes of continuing her Wonky ways with a lighter heart in lieu of finding the Neverland in all of us.

Jasmine Lorraine “Wonky Tonk” Poole grew up in the hard scrabble portion of the American heartland. Kentucky, to be precise. Her world of loss and longing is familiar terrain for lovers of country, bluegrass and folk music but, just as Kentucky can be viewed as a bridge between north and south, Wonk’s music blends elements of Indie/Alternative rock with old school country. It’s hard to separate the wonk from the tonk. Nor should you try.

Wonk’s influences, John Prine, Guy Clark, Modest Mouse and Loretta Lynn among them (especially Loretta), are apparent but her music is not derivative. Loretta, Skeeter Davis, Iris Dement and Jenny Lewis come to mind but none of her comparables quite pin her down. Wonk is her own cowgirl.  “Cowgirls get up in the morning, decide what to do and do it”, she was told as a child. Fiercely independent but naturally shy Jasmine uses her alter ego and blue cowgirl boots to deal with the notion of impossibly cruel but equally exhilarating existence.

One byproduct of youthful innocence is a constant disappointing, bewildering surprise:

You used to call me baby
You used to call me darlin’
Now you don’t call me at all

Another is vulnerability and manipulability:

In the greasy ballroom
You whispered in my ear
Darlin’ life is a gamble, romance a drug
The whole world is dancin'
Won’t you give in and love


Her eleven song debut release Stuff We Leave Behind deals with the necessity of moving on at  critical points in your life. Stuff that once seemed important must be cast aside, ex-lovers relegated to the shadows. “Heartbreak makes the jukebox play”, she was once told. Her song titles reflect her wandering spirit and a fascination with time and place. “Cleveland." “Denmark." “Tennessee." “Montague Road." A veteran troubadour at such a tender age, Wonk has toured Europe with the same restless drive as her native Northern Kentucky.

Tom Robbins told us that even Cowgirls Get the Blues but all is not remorse and regret. Jangly sunshine pops through the clouds unexpectedly, such as in “Parkland Avenue” (arguably the best track). Though softly. Without the glare.

Wonk’s lyrics are worth a read even without the music. The album tracks her evolution as an artist and a person. The gravel, rutted road to an emerging wisdom.

Tennessee didn’t you hear
Money’s not real and neither is fear


Pay attention to Wonk. Not just because she is talented and beautiful. Pay attention because she has an important purpose. To help you remember. To help you forget. Or to help you remember why you chose to forget.

Wonky Tonk embarked on her musical journey in 2008 following her departure from high school into the collegiate world of mind expansion and broken hearts. Her "quirky naive sense of folk" quickly garnered regional attention. She played the Midpoint Music Festival, was nominated for the Cincinnati Music Awards and shared the stage with classy folk acts like Langhorne Slim and Guy Clark.

Then Buffalo Wabs, Denmark, Montana and real life happened. Wonky Tonk now is revving her songwriting engines following her 6 years in the making, debut full length "Stuff We Leave Behind," and is standing tall in blue cowgirl boots ready to again woo the world- and this time no time, space or thing called love can stop her.

In the time between then and now Wonky Tonk has sung hooks with Yonas, started a hip hop group called Business and Pleazure, and pumped up the bass with Royal Holland, Billy Wallace and The Stick Figures (Cincinnati's finest). She has toured Europe with Danish superstar Solveig Sandnes, played along side Tune-Yards at her debut and played honky tonk dives from Miami to Brooklyn, Santa Monica to Billings, Montana.

In short, "Pay attention to Wonk. Not just because she is talented and beautiful. Pay attention because she has an important purpose. To help you remember. To help you forget. Or to help you remember why you chose to forget."

Here's to letting go and beginning again.

...Now wonk it out.

Mikey Jahbree Wooley

(Edison, NJ – September 10, 2015) My Own Little World Records proudly announces the release of Extraordinarily Beautiful as the third single and video from Diaries of the Extraordinarily Beautiful, the latest album by Mikey Jahbree Wooley.

Extraordinarily Beautiful, a bittersweet message of encouragement for anyone battling depression, features Men of Rock (MOR) rhythm section members Joe Beninati and Jonathan Andrew on drums and bass.  Beautiful is the follow up to summer -fun single and video, Wild Flower .

Diaries of the Extraordinarily Beautiful, released earlier this year, is available for download and streaming at all digital outlets.  Physical CDs are also available at Cdbaby.com.

Catch Mikey’s upcoming live performances:

2015-09-22 -

Espresso Joe's

Keyport, NJ

http://www.espresso-joes.com/#!

2015-09-27 -

The Stone Poney

Asbury Park, NJ

http://www.stoneponyonline.com/

2015-11-13

Mesa Music Festival

Mesa, AZ

Label Contact:

John Van Ness, President

My Own Little World Records

myownlitleworldrecords.com

908-240-3929, molwr@verizon.net, facebook.com/molwr

(Edison, NJ - June 16, 2015) My Own Little World Records proudly announces the release of Diaries of the Extraordinarily Beautiful, the new album by Mikey Jahbree Wooley. The album is available worldwide through CDBaby, Itunes, Amazon and most other digital distribution outlets.  Diaries... is the follow up to 2013’s critically acclaimed EP release, We the People (Mikey Arto).

Mikey’s honest, heart-felt lyrics, a cross between poetry and conversation, are the main focus of Diaries’... 12 compositions.  Each song tells a personal story of highs and lows while displaying a deep love and respect for life.   The first single from Diaries… is Let’s Make a Change! - an uber-funky/folk call-to-action.  Diaries…was produced by John Van Ness also includes guest appearances by Joshua Van Ness (guitars, percussions and background vocals), Ralph Capasso (saxophone), Jonathan Andrew (bass) and Joe Beninati (drums).

Several live pefromances have been scheduled for this summer and fall.  Be sure to catch Mikey at one of the following shows:

2015-07-26	Espresso Joe's	Keyport, NJ	http://www.espresso-joes.com/#!
2015-08-07	OQ COFFEE	HIGHLAND PARK, NJ	http://www.oqcoffee.com/
2015-08-14	LEFTFIELD	New York, NY	http://www.leftfieldbar.com/#!
2015-08-22	DragonFly Cafe	Somerville, NJ	http://www.dragonflymusicandcoffee.com/
2015-11-13	Mesa Music Festival	Mesa, AZ

Label Contact:

John Van Ness, President

My Own Little World Records

myownlitleworldrecords.com

Debbie Hennessey

Award Winning Artist Debbie Hennessey Releases New CD No Longer Broken!

The long awaited third full-length cd No Longer Broken from Award Winning singer and songwriter Debbie Hennessey contains nine brand new songs of contemporary country, rock and blues all in Debbie’s distinctive and soulful voice and was produced and mixed by highly regarded guitarist Jeffery “Big Red” Marshall at Red Rover Productions.

It all starts with the songs and Hennessey co-wrote 8 of the nine songs with Marshall as co-writer on 6 of those, together they wrote Every Song Is You, Whiskey Charm, No Longer Broken, Sugar and Rain, You Can't Unpull A Triggerand Right For Right Now. Other co-writers include: Courtney Leigh Heins - Sugar and Rain, Every Song Is You; Lexie Hofer - No Longer Broken; Athena Marie - I'm Leaving the Fairytale Behind; and Tracee Perrin - Let Me Go; Lexie Hofer also wrote the one cover song on the cd a duet she sings with Debbie called Women. 

The cd features top-notch LA based musicians including: Jeffery Marshall – guitars & bass, Charlie Waymire - drums, Lao Tizer – piano & organ, Aubrey Richmond – violin & fiddle, Andrew Megna - drums, Kevin Chown - bass, Bryan Dobbs – dobro & banjo, Matt Gendal – drums & percussion, Clayton Severson – harmonica & backup vocals, Lexie Hofer – backup vocals, and Courtney Leigh Heins – backup vocals. Additional Mixing by Charlie Waymire at Ultimate Studios, Inc. Mastered by Paul Wickcliffe of Skyline Productions, Inc. Artwork by Orlando Rios and photos of Debbie by Joe Bonn.

No Longer Broken is available at iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, etc. Physical copies of the cd are available at CD Baby through their website or by 1-800-Buy-My-CD!

Debbie Hennessey was named AC40 Female Artist of the Year by New Music Weekly as well as charting a Top 20 Hit on NMW’s AC40 Charts. Her song Believe was used in an episode of The Moment, which aired on USA and UHD Networks and the music video for the song Good As Gone was featured on the broadcast TV shows Extra and The Next GAC Star. She is a multiple ASCAPlus Award recipient, was included on compilation CDs including CMT's New Music Collection, GoGirls MusicFest, Songsalive!, 

Beautiful-Women on the Move and more. She was named Best Vocalist of the Month by SingerUniverse, has received Honorable Mentions from the Billboard World Song Contest, Great American Song Contest and West Coast Songwriters Contest. Debbie is a writer for Studio 51 Music, Pacifica Music and others providing original songs for their film and tv music libraries. She is a voting member of the NARAS/GRAMMYS and a writer/publisher member of ASCAP. 

All of Debbie's cds and singles are available through several music outlets including iTunes, CDBaby, and Amazon, or by calling 1-800-BUY-MY-CD. For more info visit www.debbiehennessey.com.

Contact: Rustic Heart Records, debbie_hennessey@hotmail.com.

L.SingNa'ture

L.SingNa’ture was born in Miami, Florida on November 11th, 1988.   At a very young age he experienced a few challenges in his childhood. Art and Music became his escape from the harsh reality of an absent father and a single working mother. Throughout his life he remained positive and began using his unique, youthful and melodious voice to begin creating fans. At the age of 17 L.SingNa’ture was invited to Church where he was really allowed to let his vocal abilities to shine. At this point he began using music more as his outlet.
His uncle best friend A.D Lav began to really take notice of his talent and decided to manage his career and take it global. Fearing that Lonnie was too plain of a stage name, A.D Lav came up with the name L. SingNa’ture. At this stage in L.SingNa’ture’s life he had successfully completed community college.  With a book full of songs L.SingNa’ture and A.D Lav began to heavily pursue his music career. He performed wherever there was a listening audience and worked odd jobs to pay for the producing and recording of his songs. As a song writer L.SingNa’ture transforms the genre of music from Pop/R&B/Dubstep/Rock and Alternative Rock to his unique sound.

Anita Ekberg

Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg (29 September 1931 – 11 January 2015) was a Swedish-Italian actress, model, and sex symbol. She is best known for her role as Sylvia in the Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita (1960).  Ekberg worked primarily in Italy, of which she became a permanent resident in 1964.

Early life

Ekberg was born on 29 September 1931, in Malmö, Skåne, the eldest girl and the sixth of eight children. In her teens, she worked as a fashion model. In 1950, Ekberg entered the Miss Malmö competition at her mother's urging, leading to the Miss Sweden contest which she won. She consequently went to the United States to compete for the Miss Universe 1951 title (an unofficial pageant at that time, the pageant became official in 1952) despite speaking little English.

Early career

Although Ekberg did not win the Miss Universe pageant, as one of six finalists she did earn a starlet's contract with Universal Studios, as was the practice at the time.

As a starlet at Universal, she received lessons in drama, elocution, dancing, horseriding and fencing. She appeared briefly in the 1953 Universal films, Abbott and Costello Go to Mars and The Golden Blade. Ekberg skipped many of her drama lessons, restricting herself to riding horses in the Hollywood Hills. Ekberg later admitted she was spoiled by the studio system and played instead of pursuing bigger film roles.

Mainstream career

Ekberg in War and Peace (1956)

The combination of Ekberg's physique and colourful private life (such as her well-publicized romances with Hollywood's leading men, such as Frank Sinatra, Tyrone Power, Yul Brynner, Rod Taylor and Errol Flynn) appealed to gossip magazines, such as Confidential, and she soon became a major 1950s pin-up, appearing in magazines like Playboy. Additionally, Ekberg participated in publicity stunts. She once admitted that an incided wherein her dress burst open in the lobby of London's Berkeley Hotel was prearranged with a photographer.

By the mid-1950s, after several modelling jobs, Ekberg finally broke into the film industry. She guest-starred in the short-lived TV series Casablanca (1955) and Private Secretary. She had a small part in the film Blood Alley (1955) starring John Wayne and Lauren Bacall. She appeared alongside the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis comedy act in Artists and Models (1955) and Hollywood or Bust (1956), both for Paramount Pictures. For a time she was publicized as "Paramount's Marilyn Monroe".

Ekberg in Hollywood or Bust (1956)

Ekberg featured in five films released during 1956. Paramount cast her in War and Peace (1956) which was shot in Rome, alongside Mel Ferrer and Audrey Hepburn. Meanwhile, RKO Pictures gave the actress her first leading role in Back from Eternity (also 1956). The last two were Man in the Vault and Zarak, both minor productions that had a limited impact on her career.

Ekberg starred in the British drama Interpol with Victor Mature and in Valerie (both 1957) with Sterling Hayden.[8] She then co-starred with Bob Hope in Paris Holiday, and with Philip Carey and Gypsy Rose Lee in Screaming Mimi (both 1958). A European film, Sheba and the Gladiator (1959), followed.

Federico Fellini gave Ekberg her best known role in La Dolce Vita (1960), performing as, Sylvia Rank, the unattainable "dream woman" of the character played by Marcello Mastroianni. The film features a scene of her cavorting in Rome's Trevi Fountain alongside Mastroianni, which has been called "one of cinema's most iconic scenes".

After this, she accepted a role in The Dam on the Yellow River in 1960. She then appeared in Boccaccio '70 (1962), a film that also featured Sophia Loren and Romy Schneider. Soon thereafter, Ekberg was being considered to play the first Bond girl, Honey Ryder in Dr. No, but the role went to the then-unknown Ursula Andress.

Ekberg co-starred with Andress, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin in the western-comedy 4 for Texas (1963). Fellini would call her back for two more films: The Clowns (1972) and Intervista (1987), wherein she played herself in a reunion scene with Mastroianni.

John Dartnell

John Dartnell delivers up and embraces a surprising number of musical styles, ranging from country, rock, folk, and yes, even Americana, not to mention plenty of 'oooh la la' to burn in some very romantic love ballads. (Pretty intriguing stuff for us women folk, considering the deeply romantic songwriting finesse coming from a muscle bound, tattooed, bearded Brit.)

The songwriting put forth and exhibited by John Dartnell are unmistakably and unforgettably 'classic' of his very distinct trademark style; and no doubt, longtime fans of John Dartnell, ("The Beard", as he is affectionately known by his fans), will agree. To quote just a few of the rave reviews given by radio personalities and personnel around the globe...

One radio station said about the song "Nothing Changes" from John Dartnell's album "Dreams And Schemes". "Nothing Changes" is nothing short of musical beauty. John seems to have the perfect balance of heart felt lyrics matched with acoustic accompaniment makes this single a delight to the ears." (Review by Vanessa Chaplin). Another radio station review raves: "Man I love this guy; what a sound! I'll be playing him for sure." (Review by Andy of www.airradio.net ). "Logic, Grape Juice, And A Beard' is the best album I have heard this year".

'Logic, Grape Juice And A Beard' is John's 9th album release and I have inside information he is already working on number 10.

John Dartnell is not a newcomer to the music industry. John earned a Top 10 hit position on the New Music Weekly Indie Charts in America for fifteen weeks with his song 'If It Ain't Country' off of his "Miles From Anywhere" album which peaked at the #9 position.

For an independent artist not signed to a major record label, (yet that is), gaining significant airplay and rotation in countries and regions ranging as far and wide as from all across the UK, the United States, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, and beyond, (just to name a few), is indeed impressive.

As easily heard from the quality of his songwriting, music is a major passion for John Dartnell, but music is certainly not John's ONLY talent. John has also enjoyed a rather long and successful career as an actor for a number of years; having performed in countless TV shows in the UK, as well as commercials. John performed in a video for the band 'Busted' with a song called, "Year 3,000", which reached to number one in the charts in the UK. Many recognize John Dartnell from his performance as a wizard in the second Harry Potter movie, ("Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"), as well.

And it may be a bit hard to imagine after listening to the 'depth' of John's lyrical content but I can personally attest to the fact that John Dartnell is an amazingly, brilliantly and hysterically funny individual; (And it's safe to say he is a pretty smart bet for anyone that chooses to back him as well.)

John is currently unsigned to any label but is open to offers, publishing for his songs is also available.

10 Signs Christianity Is on the Rise

https://www.spreaker.com/user/sdcmedianet

10 Signs Christianity Is on the Rise
By Tom Hoopes, Aleteia.org

It May Look Different in the Future, but That's a Good Thing

Christianity is a dying relic of an ancient past. The Internet is killing it. Science is killing it. Western sophistication is killing it. Right?

Wrong.

In many ways, Christianity is on the rise as never before—worldwide, and in America. Here are the ways we can tell:

1. Christianity is growing by leaps and bounds worldwide.

The research shows Christian numbers rising, not falling worldwide. "Christianity should enjoy a worldwide boom in the coming decades, but the vast majority of believers will be neither white nor European, nor Euro-American," writes Philip Jenkins of Baylor University, author of "The Next Christendom."

In America, this will mean that as white descendants of Europeans fall off a demographic cliff, they will be replaced by the growing Southern Christian and Catholic populations.

2. Nominal Christianity is dead — and that’s a good thing.

Meanwhile, in America, research showing that Christian numbers are tanking is a little misleading. What it really shows is a fall in the number of people who call themselves Christians but have never darkened the door of a Church. We no longer feel we have to dishonestly mark the "Christian" box, and we now feel it's OK to be honest and mark the "atheist" box—but this shows health rather than weakness.

It is an interesting dynamic: In the West, the nominal Christianity that was inherited unthinkingly is disappearing and in the East and South, real Christianity is a rapidly growing grassroots movement. Books like God's Century by Monica Duffy Toft of Public Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government and God Is Back by John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge of The Economist are trying to figure out what that will mean.

3. The Church is promoting the sacraments.

But the nominal Catholic rate still causes problems. We know various polls place Mass attendance at various small percentages. What we don’t know is the extent to which they merely show that nominal Catholics still mark "Catholic" on polls.

Another thing we also know is that the Church is promoting the first necessary step to increased Mass attendance: confession. The Vatican’s 24 hours for the Lord March 13-14 is doing this church-wide, seeing promotions pay off in Great Britain, while events such as Chicago’s Festival of Forgiveness and Philadelphia's confession push are doing the same in America.

4. Eucharistic Adoration is on the rise.

A good measure of whether Catholics are more than nominal is Eucharistic adoration. To spend time with Jesus Christ is the very definition of a Christian, after all. Adoration is offered at 7,094 U.S. parishes as listed by RealPresence.com. In 2005, that website’s president, Mike Mortimer, estimated that there were 715 perpetual adoration chapels in America. The Vatican now estimates that there are 1,100 perpetual adoration chapels in America.

The worldwide church is led by a man who prays a daily Eucharistic hour and the Church in America is actively promoting Eucharistic adoration through events like the Eucharistic Adoration Novena.

5. Catholic youth movements have never been stronger.

A movement’s future is only as strong as its next generation, and so for Catholicism to have a future it has to have a youth movement. Catholicism does. Our most recent World Youth Day attracted 3.7 million — one of the 30-year event’s largest gatherings ever.

At home, we see a pro-life force largely led by young American Catholics, which dwarfs almost every other activist movement. Tens of thousands of Catholic young people descend on Washington each January for the March for Life, and you can add to that the young people at the 115 smaller marches for life throughout the United States and the nationwide life chain events in October.

6. … and the Catholic youth movements are linked to higher education.

When I went to college, people referred to "the hardcore four" or "thriving five" Catholic colleges faithful to the magisterium. Now I work at a college and we continually hear new stories of schools trying to reclaim their Catholic identity in order to compete. Today, the National Catholic Register’s latest Catholic Identity Guide lists more than 30 schools that are promoting the strength of their Catholic identity.

At the same time, new Catholic centers at state schools are trying to make inroads in hostile environments that dismantle students’ faith: The Seek 2015 conference of FOCUS (The Fellowship of Catholic University Students) attracted nearly 10,000 college students this year.

7. New, young vocations.

Another phenomenon you can’t help but notice in Catholic circles is hidden from official numbers: the new young vocations. We see them at Benedictine College all the time — in our classrooms, in our Abbey, and among our alumni. But because of the huge numbers of elderly priests and nuns, the total numbers of priests and nuns keeps dropping in America.

Research does show that millennials are "even more likely" to consider vocations than the generation before them, and anecdotal evidence shows that there was a Benedict Effect before there was any Francis Effect in vocations, and that priests under 35 represent a sign of hope in the Church.

8. Strong, engaged Bishops.

Complaining about bishops is a pastime as old as the Church itself. It can be done in a helpful way (see the letters of St. Paul in your New Testament) and in an unhelpful way (as in the joke about the part of the bishop-making ceremony where the candidate’s spine is removed).

But the 21st century has seen a huge change in the way American bishops engage the world. It first became noticeable with the candidacy of John Kerry, a radically pro-abortion politician whose nominal Catholicism forced bishops to take a stand. Then came the rise of Obama and the HHS mandate — which every U.S. bishop denounced. Finally, new strong bishops are emerging from what Thomas Peters calls the "Benedict Bishop Bump."

9. A new interest in Scripture.

Many people predicted when "The Da Vinci Code" was popular that the long-term effect of the novel’s crazy anti-Scriptural premise would be to increase interest in Scripture. That paradoxical prediction has proven true. In the wake of "The Da Vinci Code," a new interest in Scripture can be seen in popular books, television miniseries, and major Hollywood movies.

10. The witness of the martyrs.

Last but not least by a long shot is the witness of the martyrs. The beautiful way Christians are showing their deep faith and love for Jesus Christ, as I've said before, will grow the Church just as it did in the former atheist communist bloc, and indeed as it did in the early Church.

The bottom line is that if Christianity is true, then we can expect it will continue to rise and not die. If it's not true, then it will certainly die — and the sooner, the better. But since Jesus Christ really did die and rise and leave us the sacraments, don’t expect it to go away any time soon.

Crownsofcreation.com
joeyandjeanie.com
https://www.spreaker.com/user/sdcmedianet


Tom Hoopes is writer in residence at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas.
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