Live Cast Album of Banjo Boy Released: Musical about Meredith Willson
Announcement of release of the Live Album CD of the bio-musical-with-a-twist about the youth of Meredith Willson.
Dobbs Ferry, NY, July 16, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Randy Hobler, composer, lyricist and book writer of the bio-musical Banjo Boy—about the youthful adventures of Meredith Willson—has announced the release of the Live Cast Album CD. Recorded in August, 2008 at the world premiere run of the musical at the Stephen Sondheim Performing Arts Center in Fairfield, Iowa, the album contains 20 original songs, written in the spirit of Meredith Willson’s The Music Man.
Reviewer Patrick Bosold of The Fairfield Weekly Reader wrote, “The show’s tunes are outstanding.” Radio Indy’s review said, “Clever arrangements and solid performances give this album an enjoyable musical experience. This is a wonderful album to hear especially if you like energetic show tunes with memorable originality.” And reviewer Catherine Surowiec of What’sOnStage.com said, “This big-hearted musical boasts a score that is itself a celebration of America’s musical and social diversity, paying tribute to a variety of styles reflected in Willson’s own work – barbershop harmony, ragtime, and marches. The Music Man is especially well served: “Sears, Dear Sears” echoes “The Wells Fargo Wagon”, “Different” has the same complicated rhythms as “Trouble”, and the “Stuck” opening refrain of “Outta Here” reminds one of the train number “Rock Island”. The showstopping “Thanks Be to Music”, a gospel-flavoured, clapping, tapping number, rocks the house.”
The album was mixed by Cynthia Daniels, who, among many other projects, mixed The Producers and the revivals of The Music Man and Flower Drum Song. Justin Hill was the musical director of the show which was highly praised in the local press.
In the show, an elderly Meredith Willson travels back in time from heaven to invisibly influence his teenage self to avoid the three main life mistakes he regrets having made the first time around. The primary one concerns fixing things up with his father. Along the way, he meets a twenty-something Louis Armstrong, who sings the musical’s showstopper, “Thanks Be To Music.” He travels to San Francisco where he falls in love with a Chinese girl and has a memorable meeting with his musical hero John Philip Sousa. He forms a banjo band, “The Banjo Boys” that helps Mason City, Iowa (Meredith Willson’s hometown, the original “River City”) win the Iowa High School Band Contest.
The album includes homages to The Music Man, including a catchy barbershop quartet (“The Clip-Clop Life”) and a mock love song to the Sears, Roebuck Catalog (“Sears, Dear Sears”) that echoes “Wells Fargo Wagon”.
Two of the show’s numbers are viewable on video on You Tube (www.youtube.com): “Sears, Dear Sears” and “Thanks Be to Music” (must include quotation marks in the search box.) Randal West directed, Adam Cates choreographed.
The Banjo Boy CD is available for sale online at http://cdbaby.com, where one can listen to samples of all the songs. For other purchasing options, one can visit www.banjoboy.net.
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Reviewer Patrick Bosold of The Fairfield Weekly Reader wrote, “The show’s tunes are outstanding.” Radio Indy’s review said, “Clever arrangements and solid performances give this album an enjoyable musical experience. This is a wonderful album to hear especially if you like energetic show tunes with memorable originality.” And reviewer Catherine Surowiec of What’sOnStage.com said, “This big-hearted musical boasts a score that is itself a celebration of America’s musical and social diversity, paying tribute to a variety of styles reflected in Willson’s own work – barbershop harmony, ragtime, and marches. The Music Man is especially well served: “Sears, Dear Sears” echoes “The Wells Fargo Wagon”, “Different” has the same complicated rhythms as “Trouble”, and the “Stuck” opening refrain of “Outta Here” reminds one of the train number “Rock Island”. The showstopping “Thanks Be to Music”, a gospel-flavoured, clapping, tapping number, rocks the house.”
The album was mixed by Cynthia Daniels, who, among many other projects, mixed The Producers and the revivals of The Music Man and Flower Drum Song. Justin Hill was the musical director of the show which was highly praised in the local press.
In the show, an elderly Meredith Willson travels back in time from heaven to invisibly influence his teenage self to avoid the three main life mistakes he regrets having made the first time around. The primary one concerns fixing things up with his father. Along the way, he meets a twenty-something Louis Armstrong, who sings the musical’s showstopper, “Thanks Be To Music.” He travels to San Francisco where he falls in love with a Chinese girl and has a memorable meeting with his musical hero John Philip Sousa. He forms a banjo band, “The Banjo Boys” that helps Mason City, Iowa (Meredith Willson’s hometown, the original “River City”) win the Iowa High School Band Contest.
The album includes homages to The Music Man, including a catchy barbershop quartet (“The Clip-Clop Life”) and a mock love song to the Sears, Roebuck Catalog (“Sears, Dear Sears”) that echoes “Wells Fargo Wagon”.
Two of the show’s numbers are viewable on video on You Tube (www.youtube.com): “Sears, Dear Sears” and “Thanks Be to Music” (must include quotation marks in the search box.) Randal West directed, Adam Cates choreographed.
The Banjo Boy CD is available for sale online at http://cdbaby.com, where one can listen to samples of all the songs. For other purchasing options, one can visit www.banjoboy.net.
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Contact
Banjo Boy Entertainment
Randy Hobler
914-693-5938
www.banjoboy.net
Randy Hobler
914-693-5938
www.banjoboy.net
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