September 8, 2010

While the weather outside isn’t exactly frightful…those recent cool pre-Fall nights are a sure sign that Summer is about to wave good-bye and the sights and sounds and chilly air of the 2010 Christmas Season will soon be swirling around us.

And if your Holiday heart is already yearning for the songs of the Season…maybe accented by the unplugged sounds of the acoustic guitar, and mellow solo and ensemble vocals that sing about our faith and joy of the time…unencumbered by the distractions of synthesizers, electric guitars and full-blown orchestral arrangements…then your pre-Christmas wish may already be coming true.

Pre-ordering now, “Acoustically Christmas” is a CD of genuinely acoustic, classic Christmas selections of faith, tastefully arranged and recorded to give you and yours, year after year of timeless Seasonal soundtracking.

A collection of faith-based Holiday music from award-winning singer-songwriter Ricky Fitzpatrick, “Acoustically Christmas” is a fresh take on the old-familiar. With preview samples already captivating fans around town and around the country, his relaxing guitar and mellow baritone are sure to warm you when the December temperatures begin to drop.

Fresh and uncluttered arrangements of songs like “Angels We Have Heard On High” are so catchy, they’re just begging to be sung-along with. A haunting acapella rendition of “O’ Come Emmanuel” is chilling in its cathedral-like majesty. And visions of James Taylor arise like an old friend, in selections like “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” and “Silent Night”.

Also, a lifetime in and around music and musicians has blessed Ricky with a vast wealth of musical friends. And many of those friends will be contributing “in one way or another” to the CD. Artists like Michael Card (songwriter, “El Shaddai”), Shawn Mullins (Grammy Award winning artist), Livingston Taylor (the brother of James Taylor), Peter Mulvey (award winning Boston-based singer/songwriter), Cosy Sheridan (70’s Folk Music icon). As well as a host of well-known local artists like Will Taylor Smith, Nathan Sheppard and the members of Bluebilly Grit.

He comments, “It’s been truly pleasing to be able to record these songs in the way that we’re doing it…sans all the fluff. And I hope people will hear music that they can share and play for friends and family around the Holidays…music that will make us smile, bring us together and most importantly, remind us of the true purpose for the Season and draw us to reflect on Christ and His gift.”

You can click on the banner at http://www.rickyfitzpatrick.com/ to listen to a preview of the CD’s first single, “What Child Is This”, which is making its way to Christian and Seasonal radio programs now. And learn how to order “Acoustically Christmas” now, with no payment until the CD ships (free) on November 5.

Ricky Fitzpatrick is a multi award-winning artist and songwriter. He also leads Praise & Worship at Corner-stone Baptist Church (Jefferson, GA), and lives, records and pursues the vision of Christ, in the tiny community of Apple Valley (unincorporated), GA with his wife, children and one remaining goldfish, Vince Gills.

For more on the music and ministry of Ricky Fitzpatrick, and on the “Acoustically Christmas” CD, please visit him at www.rickyfitzpatrick.com.

# # #

Ricky Fitzpatrick

ricky@rickyfitzpatrick.com

www.rickyfitzpatrick.com

706-372-0406

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***

What the world needs is yet another “acoustic” Christmas CD. Right?

But if your Holiday heart is yearning for the unplugged sounds of the acoustic guitar, plucked harmonics, lush fingerpicking, and mellow solo and ensemble vocals…unencumbered by the distractions of synthesizers, electric guitars and full-blown orchestral arrangements…then your wait may be over.

“Acoustically Christmas” is a genuinely acoustic collection of classic Christmas selections of faith, tastefully arranged and recorded to give you and yours, year after year of timeless Seasonal soundtracking.

A collection of music from award-winning, Folk & Country singer-songwriter Ricky Fitzpatrick, “Acoustically Christmas” marks the high point in his career, captivating fans around the world with his relaxing guitar and a mellow baritone that’s sure to warm you when the December temperatures begin to drop.

"It’s my prayer that God won't see me in these recordings. But that He'll look at me and my choices and my offering, through the blood of Christ, and find me worthy to stand and sing these songs, having Him and His purpose in mind", says Fitzpatrick. "And that my foolish shortcomings of the past year won’t hinder the awesome power of His great mercy and enduring love, as people hear me singing of Him in this music."

Fresh arrangements of songs like “Little Drummer Boy” will wow you as Fitzpatrick coaxes perfectly played drum & percussion sounds from nothing less than, his guitar. The haunting acapella “O’ Come Emmanuel” is chilling in its majesty as you hear layer upon layer of voice upon voice. And visions of James Taylor arise like an old friend, in renditions of “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” and “The First Noel”.

Please go to http://www.rickyfitzpatrick.com/music-67.html to listen to a sample of “What Child Is This”, and learn how to order “Acoustically Christmas” online today, with no payment until the official street date of November 5.

Hear for yourself and bring home “Acoustically Christmas” for you, or as a gift for someone special. And have a very Merry Christmas!

###

If you’re a fan of area musicians like John Berry, T. Graham Brown, Nathan Sheppard, Wayne Baird, Ricky Fitzpatrick, Tom Ryan, Lee Davis, Bluebilly Grit, (whew)…then you’re going to love all of them together on the brand-new Official Song of the Hurricane Shoals Park, Down By the Water’s Edge!

All the musicians involved with the creation of Down By the Water’s Edge have freely donated their time and talents and presented the completed recording as a gift to the park. So every penny from every sale of the song goes directly back into keeping Hurricane Shoals a beautiful, safe and fun place for the entire family!

Please help support the work of the Tumbling Waters Society and Hurricane Shoals Park by purchasing a download of the song today (only digital downloads are currently available).

After your purchase, your MP3 download will be emailed to you when all the studio work is complete (probably by early Oct). PLUS, all pre-orders will also receive:

• A free download of “What Child Is This” from the upcoming Christmas CD by Ricky Fitzpatrick.


• A free download of “Enough Love” from Nathan Sheppard.


• A free download of "Millgrinder's Blues” from Bluebilly Grit.


• Exclusive “behind the scenes” photos and stories from the DBTWE project.


• Ongoing updates and information as DBTWE sales impact Hurricane Shoals Park.

All music downloads are only 99 cents! 

or go directly to

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=TLYYWGB7ECY2U

Thank you!!!

And don't forget...for all the latest updates, news, pictures and clips, be sure to "like" our Facebook Page for Down By the Water's Edge at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Down-By-the-Waters-Edge/139021779472951?v=wall

My hope is that these will be great additions to families' Holiday activities, either around the house, at church, in the car or wherever you have Christmas stuff happening.

"What Child Is This", one of the cuts is already up on the music page (http://www.rickyfitzpatrick.com/music-67.html). I hope everyone is able to go check it out and give me a pre-release report. :)

I'll be recording the CD in The Junk Room studio at our home in Apple Valley and stretching my legs as I wade a little deeper into the mastering process. For the most part, it will continue to be me on all the vocals and instrumentation. But there will be a few special guests here and there (that's all I have to say about that).

And we'll be releasing it around mid to late October. Digitally, it will be in all the big spots...CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon, Napster, eMusic, Rhapsody and so on. Physical CD sales, which are becoming more and more overshadowed by MP3s, will be handled directly through me. More on that, coming up though.

Not much else to report yet, but stay tuned and I'll be sure to pass along all new developments as they happen.

Thanks!

Ricky

Not much has been said recently about the Soulfood Music CD that I’ve been so privileged to have songs on. But I just saw that "Guitar Meditations Vol. 3" is in the TOP TEN on Echoes…a nationally syndicated radio program! Now THAT is awesome!

For a list of one of the 130 stations, nationwide, that play Echoes in your area, go to http://www.echoes.org/stattime.html.

And check out GM3 if you haven’t yet at http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/guitar-meditations-vol-3/id370454599 (I’m tracks 4 and 10).

Thanks!- RF

For Immediate Release - August 2010

North Georgia singer-songwriter Ricky Fitzpatrick’s latest song, “Chevrolet”, is becoming an international Country Music phenomenon.

The nostalgic song is “sung” by an aging 1957 Chevrolet, remembering the glory days of dual exhaust, quarter-miles and candy-apple red. And it has the ground rumbling among Country Music, racing and classic car lovers.

Just two short months ago, Fitzpatrick, an “unsigned” Country and Christian singer and songwriter, began a small, one-man campaign to get his song playing on local radio. Almost immediately, it began to grow beyond anything he could have expected.

“I decided to let a few area car clubs know about the song and see if the club officers would tell their members”, he said. “Just to try and build some momentum for it. The response was so overwhelming, I just kept going. And about a week and a half later, I’d contacted about 250 clubs and they had spread the word to over 20,000 members!”

Comments from club members began to flood in, calling the song “Inspired”, “The perfect cruising song”, and one of the nation’s most prominent classic car organizations, The Dallas Area Classic Chevy Club, said “It belongs in every serious Chevy lover’s music collection”.

Reaching out to even more car clubs, NASCAR and racing fans, Chevrolet dealerships, and fans of artists like Alan Jackson, James Taylor and Shawn Mullins, the numbers continued to climb. And yes, first small then larger radio stations across the U.S, Canada, Australia and the UK started to play “Chevrolet”.

Now excitement about the song has grown so much that to-date, it has reached over two million fans…and growing. Sales through online sites like Amazon, Napster and iTunes are surpassing all of Fitzpatrick’s other releases, combined. Even GM’s own Chevrolet division weighed in by emailing:

“It warms our heart to know that you’ve written this song for Chevrolet. Thank you for your incredible talent!”

So what waits down the road (no pun intended) now for “Chevrolet”?

“In light of everything,” says Fitzpatrick, “I’d like to see someone like Alan Jackson record it and really see where else it could go. But beyond that, I’m still just in awe of what has already happened.”

To learn more about “Chevrolet” or the music of Ricky Fitzpatrick, please go to www.rickyfitzpatrick.com.

# # #

May 15, 2010

Georgia Supergroup of Country, Bluegrass and Christian Artists to Record Hurricane Shoals Song

Jefferson, GA – Hurricane Shoals Park is a North Georgia landmark for the people in and around Jackson, Banks and Madison Counties and beyond. For decades, parents and children alike have trekked to the unique spot where the cold waters of the North Oconee River run fast and shallow over vast expanses of exposed granite.

The park is also home to the historic Heritage Village, a working grist mill, one of the few remaining covered bridges in the state, the annual Art in the Park festival, an outdoor amphitheatre and a variety of picnic and play areas available for play, relaxation and special events like weddings, parties and family reunions.

It’s no secret to the music loving public and industry, that North Georgia has always been a hotbed of musical talent. Countless award-winning artists have emerged from the foothills of the North GA mountains area, dozens continuing on the become staples and even legends in popular music.

It is that well-known and respected, collective pool of musical talent that is responsible for the Down By the Waters Edge fund raising project, aimed at raising funds for the park’s never-ending laundry list of additions, upkeep, maintenance, repairs and day to day activities.

In true small-town, Southern fashion, a veritable Supergroup of successful musicians from the Country, Bluegrass and Christian genres, and all who hail from the North Georgia area, are joining artistic forces this Summer, to record a song that they will donate to the Hurricane Shoals Park.

“Down By the Water’s Edge”, a song written specifically for the project by Christian Folk artist and songwriter Ricky Fitzpatrick, will be recorded this Spring and made available for sale to the public, this Fall.

The song will feature guest vocals and instrumental work from an All-Star artist roster that is slated to include Fitzpatrick, Mark Garrison & the members of Bluebilly Grit, Wayne Baird, Dustin Wilkes, T. Graham Brown and John Berry. And according to Fitzpatrick, who is also organizing the entire project, “We have other artists on the list who just haven’t thrown-in yet, so I expect a couple more surprise additions before it’s all said and done.”

The recording expertise and studio time is also being donated by producer and studio owner Lee Davis at Lee Davis Studios in Maysville, GA. Davis who has produced more than 50 independent albums and worked with everyone from Corey Smith and John Berry to Joe Diffie and Billy Dean, will be recording and producing the project.

The song will be debuted September 17 at the annual Art in the Park festival, held in the Hurricane Shoals Park. At that time, Fitzpatrick will officially present the members of the Tumbling Waters Society (the non-profit fund raising arm for the park) with the song, and with 100% of its publishing rights, so they may collect royalties on its sale and use “in perpetuity”, he says. “We want every penny of the money raised by this song to go directly to the park and its activities.”

“Down By the Water’s Edge” will be available September 10, 2010 as a digital download via iTunes, Amazon.com and other reputable digital retailers. Information on the song or on other means of purchasing the song, can be found on the Down By the Water’s Edge Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Down-By-the-Waters-Edge-A-Song-for-Hurricane-Shoals/120342641310994.

# # #

We’re shifting gears into the exciting world of free music distribution…something that I’ve wanted to do for a very, very long time. And there are two reasons why:

ONE: Simply, the music business is changing and the days of selling music “stuff” is just becoming old-hat. This is the direction the industry MUST go in. Which brings me to the second and much more important reason…

TWO: I believe music is a gift that God has freely given to me (and any artist). And I think it's wrong for me to charge my friends and fans a mandatory amount for the chance to be moved by the fruits of that gift. To me, that’s like charging people to go to church.

Sorry, but I don’t think music (or God) is a commodity that you buy and sell. There are plenty of other ways for musicians to generate income and still share their gifts with the world, freely.

So beginning immediately, all Ricky Fitzpatrick music downloads will be free, along with the chance for you to make a VOLUNTARY contribution, of any amount you wish or have the ability to make. I think that’s how it should be.

Physical CDs that cost me to produce, will still carry a charge, of course. But CD sales at concerts, will fall to the “pay what you can” philosophy. Curious? Come to a show and I’ll explain.

For now (and for downloads), go to either the MUSIC or the INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC pages and click on the SONG NAME to see the download links and the Paypal voluntary contribution buttons.

And thank you for your support! Peace, love and great music!!! Ricky

FYI, IntoMusic was responsible for landing me my first Number One download in the UK with an earlier instrumental, “Emma’s Song” (you may remember). And now with this new music page, one of the newest songs, “Mud Puddles” is already heading to what looks like even greater success!

The new instrumental page is at www.intomusic.co.uk/rickyfitzpatrick.

I hope you can go check it out and browse through some of the tracks. Just click Load Preview to listen. And no, you don’t have to be in the UK to use the site!

It’s so exciting…“Mud Puddles” is on its way to becoming a new Number One…and you can help make it a reality by playing it, downloading it (Click FREE DOWNLOAD!) and passing the word on to all your friends. I know you will…so thank you!!!

Ricky