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Veteran Featured Artist AVM
AVM is an outstanding Chicago based rock group and recording act headed by singer songwriter and music producer Robert Mackey. With international CD sales and reviews, the response to their heart felt and dynamic rock music has been very good causing many people to call the radio station and ask "who WAS that?"
Featured Story - Song "Bring Me Rain" For Dad in Iraq
Rachel Taylor sent a special gift to her Father James Scott Taylor (currently serving in Iraq) a song she wrote titled "Bring Me Rain" perforemed by her band "He Is We" (Rachel Taylor and Trevor Kelly) based in Tacoma, WA.
Our Troops and Veterans can download this song here on the MFT site. By registering for free on the site they can enjoy the thousands of songs donated to them by artists all over. The story can be viewed here at the link below.
http://www.king5.com/video/index.html?nvid=359533&shu=1
Featured Artist
Rachel Taylor
Rachel Taylor was born May 22, 1990 in Arizona to a family that moved so much that homeschooling was the only way to have a steady education. The number one method of homeschooling on the road was music. Things like cassette tapes and sing alongs allowed Rachel to learn the names of states and who Patsy Cline was. Memorizing these songs began the musical journey ahead.
By the time Rachel was 5, she was writing songs to help remember different chores and making up melodies. Through the years she began writing poetry and performing songs at vacation bible schools, christmas programs, and sporting events. When Rachel was ending 6th grade, her family moved to Orcas Island, WA. This is where Rachel's music really started to mature and she finally had her first concert. Rachel's father served overseas for about a year and this concert was to raise money for care packages that were later sent to the troops in Iraq. One show soon became many as Rachel developed a local fan base. Singing the national anthem for the Orcas Island Viking basketball games, she began to make a name for herself. By 2008, following her high school graduation, Rachel moved to Tacoma, WA. A location very different from the island she left, she found that music had much more to it than she had thought. She began working at Ted Brown Music in Tacoma and met her band mate Trevor Kelly. By August of 2008 she and Trevor decided to start playing music together, not knowing the explosion it would create in Tacoma. The band they formed together, He Is We, began recording and putting their music up on Myspace. After a couple months, the band averaged over 4,000 plays a day on Myspace and had a fanbase in Australia, the UK and the USA to name a few. Rachel is touring this summer with He Is We and several other bands along the west parts of the United States to promote their EP "A Mess It Grows" releasing in the end of May. With the short time she has been in Tacoma and all that has happened for her and He Is We, the future of her music is nothing but exciting to think about and there is much more to come.
Michael (the male vocalist in "Bring Me Rain") was born in Hampton, Iowa on January 8, 1990. My dad was the pastor of a church there. In 1992, my dad got called up on active duty and we moved to Fort Bragg, NC. We lived there for about 3 years and than moved to Germany. I was never really “in to” music. I guess it just found me one day. Haha. My dad got his BA in Music and was actually a band teacher for a year. So I grew up having the Beatles as a musical foundation. All the classics really. I still remember my dad putting “Johnny B. Goode” by Chuck Berry in the CD player when I was younger and dancing around with me playing air guitar and what not. So, I’ve had music in my life forever, but I never really wanted anything to do with it…until I hit 9th grade. My first year in high school. I remember I played alto saxophone for the school band. And I remember signing up for the classes and seeing guitar as a class. It interested me a great deal. Because I had seen my dad play his acoustic and it was so beautiful. Not only that but I was going into high school and I looked like a 10 year old boy, so I thought I needed something to woo the ladies. Haha. So, needless to say, I signed up for guitar class. It was amazing! I remember learning like three chords and going home and playing them constantly. My family was probably praying that I would learn some new ones soon. So, I did that, and that was really where it all started musically for me, as far as being interested in doing it as a career. As far as singing goes, it kind of just happened. My mom and dad sang in church my entire life so I just picked up on it. I listened to Relient K constantly also, so I just learned from that. I also want to say that Matt Thiessen is the biggest influence on me musically. Yep. Hmm..what else is there? I started a band during my junior year in high school with a couple of my best friends. We’re still playing music together and plan to do it for as long as God allows us to. I guess to sum everything up, music is kind of my life. When I’m singing or playing guitar or both it’s like I’m in a different world. Sounds cliché but it’s super true. It’s incredible. Anyways, that’s basically it. I probably missed some stuff, but it’s chill. You got the general ideas and all that good stuff.
Featured Artist
Jana Mashonee
With her new album, New Moon Born, poised to burst onto the mainstream music scene, it’s no wonder Jana Mashonee is all smiles these days. The album represents a significant departure from her previous endeavors, taking on a decidedly more upbeat rhythm and blues flavor. “The album is about rebirth and new beginnings; it reflects a phase in my life that has taken on a different shape and direction from anything I’ve done before,” she says. “This music conveys my personal truths and beliefs.” In addition to providing all the vocals and piano, Jana wrote and co-produced the album.
Since the 2006 release of her GRAMMY-nominated concept album, American Indian Story, the Lumbee Indian singer-songwriter has not had a moment’s rest. Amidst her demanding touring schedule which has taken her to 48 states as well as Europe and Canada, she found time in 2007 to shoot a video for American Indian Story’s first single, “The Enlightened Time.” Met with critical acclaim and enthusiastic fan response, the video has won numerous film festival awards, as well as a NAMMY for Best Short Form Music Video, Jana’s seventh Native American Music Award.
Jana also recorded American Indian Christmas, a unique album of ten traditional Christmas carols, each sung in a different Native American tongue. “I thought it would be special to do this album since many people have never heard, let alone heard sung, a Native language,” she says. Recorded with a full orchestra and traditional Native American instruments, this holiday album continues to receive rave reviews from press and fans alike.
At the start of the new millennium, Jana found success with chart-topping club hits like “More Than Life” and her cover of Led Zeppelin’s epic, “Stairway to Heaven,” earning her the honor of being the first Native American female to land on the Billboard dance charts. Her powerful voice, uplifting message, and exotic beauty and style garnered widespread press attention.
Despite her fast-paced career, Jana has still found time to give back by establishing her non-profit organization, Jana’s Kids, in 2002. Through the foundation, she helps Native American youth achieve their dreams. Starting in 2007, Jana’s Kids began awarding the David L. Boyle Family Scholarship to Native students. “I hope to raise more money so that I can fund a full two to four years of schooling for each person receiving a scholarship. That’s my current goal.”
This is indeed an exciting time for Jana with New Moon Born set to take her career to new heights. Despite this, she is decidedly peaceful. “Find the inspiration within yourself first and then you can help others,” she says. “I believe everyone has the responsibility in their lives to influence other people positively.” Jana Mashonee is truly the embodiment of the ancient Lumbee proverb: “She walks in beauty in two worlds.”
Jana has sent 100 copies of her CD to our Troops through Music For Troops.
Thank you Jana for your support!!!!!
J. K. Coltrain
J. K. Coltrain
J. K. Coltrain was born in Columbus, Ohio. He spent his early childhood days between there and West Virginia where his parents operated a small Mom & Pop grocery store. His Dad also was an excellent auto mechanic and in fact owned a number of repair shops over the years and was a weekend stock car racer. One reason why J. K. is a Nascar fanatic to this day
J.K. grew up surrounded by music & musicians. His cousin, Buddy Starcher was a professional recording artist on Columbia Records and was one of the founders of the Starday recording label and performed on the then popular Midwestern & Louisiana Hayrides. He also introduced the late Keith Whitley who first appeared on Buddys weekly radio show in Charleston, West Virginia when he was just 8 years old.
His Uncle & Grandpa performed together at churches throughout the South. That's where J. K. made his first appearance singing in church at the ripe old age of 11. His first professional job was at age 14 when he began singing with The Pleasant Hill Quartet. A well-known gospel group at the time.
Of course in his teens he had to try his hand in high school dance bands like Fire n' Ice and The Four Aces but by age 20 he had returned to his first love country music. At that time J. K. helped form a 7 piece country rock group called 'The Southern Express'. They garnered a great deal of regional success and opened for many popular groups at that time such as The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Poco & The Marshall Tucker Band.
In 1983 he left The Southern Express to pursue a solo career as his heart was with more traditional country music. He appeared to be taking the music business by storm as he was often the featured artist on Ernest Tubbs Midnite Jamboree and many popular Nashville nightclubs. He signed a recording contract with Monument Records and had label mates such as Dolly Parton, Larry Gatlin, Ray Stevens & Willie Nelson and was dubbed as The Star of Tomorrow. Much to his dismay Monument filed for bankrupcy in 1984 without ever releasing a single song and JK again found himself without a label.
He first cracked the country music charts in 1987 with a self-penned song, West Virginia You're Still My Home. Since then he has made many appearances on numerous radio & TV shows including The Nashville Showcase, The Midnight Jamboree & Stars of Tomorrow. J. K. has toured throughout the US & Canada and worked with some of the greatest names in country music. Jerry Reed, Loretta Lynn, The Bellamy Brothers, Waylon Jennings, Conway Twitty, Buck Owens, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Willie Nelson & Jerry Lee Lewis to name just a few.
J. K's future plans are to continue touring with his group 'The Nashvillains' in support of his new CD on his Colt Records label and making new friends. Ya'all come out and see us when you can.
"MillionSongiPod"
Help Music For Troops off to a great start in 2009
with the launch of the "MillionSongiPod" for our Troops.
New features: searchable catalog of songs, monthly compilations, shared playlists and an enhanced interface for Troops & Artists
Please help with this project by making a small donation.
Click the PayPal button below to make a tax deductible donation (no account necessary)
Newest Songs
- Yung Ro - Donk Dat Remix ft Chingy & City Spud
- Dale Everett - "What's Johnny Gonna Find?"
- Michael Krozer - Wings of Freedom
- Robert F Stewart - My Country
- Jimma James - In The Name Of God
- Jerry Mccoy & The Hammers - THE FLAG OF FREEDOM
- Jerry Mccoy & The Hammers - When You Wake
- Jimmy Joe Lee - America the Beautiful
- KING LOVERR - ISLAND GIRL
- CASS - Stay