Greyson Chance writes open letter to fans addressing his split from Interscope
Singer/songwriter/pianist Greyson Chance, 15, of Edmond released this week on Facebook an open letter to his fans reassuring them that he plans to continue to make music despite “legalities involved with parting ways with Interscope,” his record label.
Greyson also announced on Facebook today that he will be boarding the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus Friday afternoon as it ends its weeklong visit in Oklahoma City.
The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is a state-of-the-art mobile audio and HD video recording and production facility. The bus is designed to provide students, their schools and communities with performances, tours, studio sessions, recordings and other educational opportunities, according to a news release.
At 3 p.m. Friday, Greyson, Guns N’ Roses guitarist Richard Fortus and Flaming Lips multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd will participate in a live streaming event from the bus featuring video highlights from the bus’ week in OKC. People can tune into www.lennonbus.org/live.
Greyson is inviting fans to send in their questions using #lennonbus on Twitter or go to the Lennon Bus’ page and post their questions on their wall for a chance to hear an answer to your question live on air and win a Lennon Bus T-Shirt autographed by Greyson.
Here is Greyson’s open letter:
Hello everyone,
I’ve been reading your tweets & Facebook messages, heard some of the rumors, and have realized that I owe you some updates. I apologize for the delay, but I wanted to clear some things up with this letter. First off, to answer the biggest rumor, I am not taking a break or “giving up” on being an artist. When I read these rumors online, it makes me very sad to see people saying that I would give up. I want you all to know that I am devoted to my art and to you all to let you down like that. There are a lot of legalities involved with parting ways with Interscope, and my team has been working hard to get everything sorted out. As you can imagine, this process takes a very long time but just recently things have been getting finalized. While the legal situation has been taking place I have had time to mediate over my artistry and vision. The down time has given me the chance to get a new perspective of who I am as an artist, and has given me the time to write a lot of new music and grow a lot as an artist. Honestly, one part of me is glad that I gained an outlook over this time for I needed to clear some things within my head. I’m sorry if I let anyone down when Truth Be Told part 1 didn’t end up coming out in January as we had planned, but promise that I’ll make it up to you in the long run. For now, you can still enjoy it on Spotify and other streaming music services. I’m headed back into the studio very soon, and will shortly have some more official updates to share about what’s next for me and my career. I can honestly say that I am very excited about this new music and the people that I am working with coming up. I want you to know that I am not giving up for I love this art too much and I love you all too much. So I ask of you to please be patient, and don’t believe the rumors you may be hearing. Thank you so much for all of your continued love and support, and God bless.
With love,
-Greyson Chance
-BAM
Greyson Chance performing tonight on “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” on ABC
Edmond singer/songwriter/pianist Greyson Chance, 15, is part of the performance lineup of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013.”
Ryan Seacrest hosts the show, which will feature an all-star lineup performing 15 No. 1 hits. Along with Greyson, other performers for the West Coast party include Justin Bieber, Jason Aldean, Ellie Goulding and The Wanted.
In New York, Psy will join the recently announced 2012 American Music Awards winners, Taylor Swift and Carly Rae Jepsen, as well as Neon Trees, performing live in Times Square tonight on ABC.
Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas hosts the West Coast party, which includes previously announced performers Brandy, Flo Rida, Karmin, OneRepublic (which includes Tulsa native Ryan Tedder) and Pitbull.
The New Year’s festivities kick off at 8 p.m. ET with “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Celebrates Dick Clark,” a two-hour look at the amazing life of Dick Clark, hosted by Fergie and Jenny McCarthy. The special celebrates, through clips and reminiscences, the legendary television personality and producer who rang in the New Year for four decades and launched and nurtured the careers of countless artists. Ryan Seacrest also joins the hosts for a special appearance in honor of Dick Clark.
Beginning at 10 p.m. ET, Seacrest will host “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013” from New York, with Jenny McCarthy returning to interview the revelers in Times Square. Fergie returns to host the Los Angeles-based portions of the specials. The bi-coastal celebration will include more than 5 ½ hours of special performances and reports on New Year’s celebrations from around the globe, with Seacrest leading the traditional countdown to midnight from Times Square in New York City.
The complete lineup for tonight’s New Year’s Eve festivities on ABC:
8-10 p.m. ET — “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Celebrates Dick Clark”
10-11 p.m. ET — “Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013”
11:30 p.m.-1:08 a.m. ET — “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013, Part 1”
1:08-2:12 a.m. ET — “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013, Part 2”
“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013” is a presentation of dick clark productions, inc, with Ryan Seacrest, Allen Shapiro and Orly Adelson serving as executive producers. Larry Klein produces.
-BAM
Greyson Chance added to performance lineup for “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest”
Greyson Chance
Edmond singer/songwriter/pianist Greyson Chance, 15, has been added to the performance lineup of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013.”
Ryan Seacrest hosts the show, which will feature an all-star lineup performing 15 No. 1 hits. Along with Greyson, other newly announced additions to the West Coast party include Justin Bieber, Jason Aldean, Ellie Goulding and The Wanted.
In New York, Psy will join the recently announced 2012 American Music Awards winners, Taylor Swift and Carly Rae Jepsen, as well as Neon Trees, performing live in Times Square on Monday, Dec. 31 on ABC.
Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas hosts the West Coast party, which includes previously announced performers Brandy, Flo Rida, Karmin, OneRepublic (which includes Tulsa native Ryan Tedder) and Pitbull.
The New Year’s festivities kick off at 8 p.m. ET with “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Celebrates Dick Clark,” a two-hour look at the amazing life of Dick Clark, hosted by Fergie and Jenny McCarthy. The special celebrates, through clips and reminiscences, the legendary television personality and producer who rang in the New Year for four decades and launched and nurtured the careers of countless artists. Ryan Seacrest also joins the hosts for a special appearance in honor of Dick Clark.
Beginning at 10 p.m. ET, Seacrest will host “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013” from New York, with Jenny McCarthy returning to interview the revelers in Times Square. Fergie returns to host the Los Angeles-based portions of the specials. The bi-coastal celebration will include more than 5 ½ hours of special performances and reports on New Year’s celebrations from around the globe, with Seacrest leading the traditional countdown to midnight from Times Square in New York City.
The complete lineup Monday night, Dec. 31 on ABC:
8-10 p.m. ET — “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Celebrates Dick Clark”
10-11 p.m. ET — “Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013”
11:30 p.m.-1:08 a.m. ET — “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013, Part 1”
1:08-2:12 a.m. ET — “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013, Part 2”
“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2013” is a presentation of dick clark productions, inc, with Ryan Seacrest, Allen Shapiro and Orly Adelson serving as executive producers. Larry Klein produces.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: Greyson Chance “Sunshine & City Lights”
Singer/songwriter/pianist Greyson Chance, 15, of Edmond, recently released his highly anticipated music video for “Sunshine & City Lights.” “Sunshine & City Lights” is the first sample of new music from his upcoming EP “Truth Be Told Part 1,” which is set to be released sometime in early 2013.
“‘Sunshine & City Lights’ is all about falling in love with your youth and staying young. When I was writing the song, I was inspired by what I do with my friends back home and even being mischievous sometimes. The video is an extension of that. It’s about two Long Island kids sneaking out into the big city overnight – having fun and being teenagers,” said Chance in a news release.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: Greyson Chance “Sunshine and City Lights,” from new EP “Truth Be Told Part 1″
Singer/songwriter/musician Greyson Chance, 15, of Edmond, recently released the video for his new single “Sunshine and City Lights.”
The song is featured on Chance’s new five-track EP “Truth Be Told Part 1,” which is now available in Asia, where he is incredibly popular. According to his official Facebook, it will be released in early 2013 around the world.
Also check out the behind-the-scenes and track preview videos of the EP in this Video Spotlight:
-BAM
Interview: Edmond teen pop/alternative band At Long Last playing CD release party Saturday at The Conservatory
From Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Edmond teenagers finding success At Long Last
Column: The local pop/alternative band, who has opened for Greyson Chance and toured with Forever the Sickest Kids, is celebrating the release of its debut album Saturday night at The Conservatory.
In January, the pop/alternative quartet opened its second show for major-label singer/songwriter/guitarist Greyson Chance, who also hails from Edmond. Over the summer, the band embarked on its first tour. In between, At Long Last released its debut album, made its first music video and had two songs featured in a movie.
And the foursome — singer/primary songwriter/guitarist Jordan Lindley, 16; lead guitarist Caden Castelli, 17; drummer Carson Hawkins, 17; and bassist Cole Verble, 16 — started their junior year at Deer Creek High School.
“This past year has just been crazy,” said Jordan in an after-school interview alongside Caden and Carson, who mercilessly raided the Oklahoma Publishing Co. vending machines. “The summer was just a huge thing because we opened (in Oklahoma City) for Allstar Weekend and then the big one was we toured. … That was the first we’d ever played out of the state.”
Saturday night, At Long Last finally will have the time to really celebrate their debut LP, “Let’s Get to the Point,” at an album release party at The Conservatory. The album came out in August just days before they headed for the New York City, Boston, Toronto and other points east to open 12 dates for Dallas-based pop-punk band Forever the Sickest Kids, who handpicked them for their tour along with Ashland High, Paradise Fears and Plug In Stereo.
“What really boosted our confidence at the beginning is the fact that Forever the Sickest Kids had listened to us and they were the reason we were on it,” Jordan said. “We just kind of went into it like ‘This is awesome but we don’t want to be taken as the kid band. We want to be serious about this.’ Yeah, we’re all younger and stuff, but they all didn’t treat us like that. They treated us like we were equals.”
They may be teenagers, but At Long Last has been around about five years, since Jordan and Carson teamed up as fifth-graders for a grade-school talent show. At the end of the sixth grade, they added Caden to the mix, and about a year later, Cole joined the lineup. Denise Castelli, Caden’s mom, took on the job as the band’s manager the first time she heard Jordan play one his original songs.
“It just kind of happened. It just kind of went together as we’re friends to like play music after school. But then it just kind of became a band really,” Jordan said. “Whenever Caden came in, we just decided, ‘Hey, we’re actually doing stuff now, and let’s keep doing it and let’s be dedicated to it.’ And that’s whenever we started like having practices and working to get shows, fans, that kind of stuff. … It wasn’t just some after-school shindig anymore.”
The frontman wrote or co-wrote with his bandmates all 10 tracks on their self-released debut. Oklahoma City writer/director Lance McDaniel used their ballads “San Francisco Dreams” and “Time Goes On” in his Chris Kattan comedy “Just Crazy Enough,” and the band partnered with up-and-coming local filmmaker Bunee Tomlinson to shoot their first music video for “San Francisco Dreams.”
The quartet deliberately worked with three different sets of producers to make the album — Jarod Evans and Chad Copelin at Blackwatch Studios in Norman; Ted Curtis and Mike Turner at Upstairs Productions in Oklahoma City; and Kevin Gates at Engaged Audio in Springfield, Mo. — which gave the quartet a chance to experiment with its sound.
“We decided that if we wanted to do a full-length, we didn’t want to stick with one producer because we wanted to explore our boundaries,” Jordan said. “We wanted to kind of see what we could do … and you can tell on the album, they put a different vibe to the songs.”
Since they are so young, the band members are eager to learn as much as they can about the craft as well as the realities of making music.
“Touring was not as luxurious as people make it out to be,” Jordan said. “Like we blew out two tires within the first four shows and we lost part of our trailer. The majority of it is trying to get comfortable in the van so you can sleep.”
“Which is impossible,” Caden added with a laugh. “(There’s) a lot of like adapting; each show there could have been something different go wrong, like you have to adapt to a sound system or something. Like there was one night we couldn’t use any of our backtracking … and that was like New York City and one of our biggest shows.”
Despite the hardships, they are now hooked on touring and more determined than ever to make At Long Last last.
“Nothing can match up to the music of a group of people who can just sync up as friends. Like that sound is greater than a group of musicians that are just put together because of their musical talent,” Carson said.
“Amen, brother,” Caden added.
IN CONCERT
At Long Last album release party
With: Tiger Lily, Wake Up Call, The Fossil Youth and Sydney Adams.
When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Where: The Conservatory, 8911 N Western.
Information: www.conservatoryokc.com.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: Greyson Chance covers Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep”
Teenage singer-songwriter Greyson Chance, who hails from Edmond, recently posted on YouTube this casual but sterling cover of Adele’s smash “Rolling in the Deep,” which he calls one of his favorite songs.
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Video: Greyson Chance covers “Pumped Up Kicks” in Indonesia, launches “Takeover” on Awesomeness TV
Check out Edmond teen music sensation Greyson Chance performing his version of Foster the People’s smash “Pumped Up Kicks” while on tour in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The newly launched Awesomeness TV is to premiere Greyson’s new series, “Greyson Chance Takeover,” Sunday. Check out the trailer below and subscribe to Awesomeness TV’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/AwesomenessTV, to catch Greyson’s show, which uses #GCTAKEOVER.
-BAM
UPDATED: Oh, say, who will sing the National Anthem before the Oklahoma City Thunder’s NBA Finals games?
Tulsa trio Hanson sings the national anthem before Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA playoffs at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Thursday, May 31, 2012. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
A version of this story appears in Monday’s The Oklahoman. This story was co-written with my excellent colleague Carla Hinton.
UPDATED: The Oklahoman’s Thunder beat writer Darnell Mayberry reported this afternoon on Twitter (@darnellmayberry) that “American Idol” finalist Jessica Sanchez will perform the National Anthem prior to Game 1 of the NBA Finals Tuesday night in Oklahoma City. Sanchez has recently performed the Anthem at two high-profile events: PBS’ Memorial Day concert and the Bradley-Pacquiao Fight.
Oh, say, who will sing before the Thunder’s NBA Finals games?
The Thunder’s front office won’t reveal what entertainers will sing the National Anthem before the upcoming home games, but belters who have performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” for OKC’s NBA team call the opportunity a big honor.
Isaac Hanson clearly recalls the precise moment when his love for the Oklahoma City Thunder hit its most fervent point.
“We were able to sing the (National) Anthem in the Western Conference Finals last year, and it literally just consumed me at that moment,” said the Tulsa singer/musician who is one third of the sibling trio Hanson.
“It took me back to my youth in the early to mid ‘90s when I was collecting Upper Deck and Fleer Ultra basketball cards. I had some Shaq rookie cards and … Alonzo Mourning, Larry Johnson, back in the day.”
He and brothers Zac and Taylor got the chance to give their harmonious rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” again May 31 during Game 3 of this year’s Western Conference Finals. So, they kicked off the festivities when the Thunder turned it all around against the San Antonio Spurs, embarking on a four-game winning streak that earned Oklahoma City a berth in its first NBA Finals.
“For us, the Anthem has always been extraordinarily important and a reverent experience and one that we’ve always taken really seriously,” Hanson said. “Singing it for the Thunder crowd in Oklahoma, having the team that is doing so well and such a young and vibrant team and then to have a crowd like the Oklahoma crowd, which I really think is extraordinarily unique … it was a lot of fun both times, particularly this time.”
As much as he enjoyed his band’s opportunities to sing the Anthem, Hanson hopes to say he can see some bigger names belting the country’s song when the Thunder’s NBA Finals series against the Miami Heat tips off at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
“I think it’s pretty great that we’ve had the opportunity to get so many folks involved,” Hanson said. “But I’m kind of waiting for Miss (Carrie) Underwood and Mr. Vince Gill and maybe a little Reba and Garth while they’re at it because we need some country superstardom in there as well.”
Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth sings the national anthem before an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Dallas Mavericks at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman
A surprise
John Leach, the Thunder’s director of events and entertainment, declined to reveal what performers will get star-spangled during the Oklahoma City games of the NBA Finals.
“That’s gonna be a surprise,” he said. “We have a few big names that we’re working out right now.”
Once Oklahoma City clinched its NBA Finals berth, he said Thunder and league officials began working to secure Anthem performers.
“We try to showcase Oklahoma talent because we really do feel like there’s a lot of talent here,” Leach said. “There are some that we have pursued for many, many years to no avail. I won’t mention any names. But a lot of the big names that you think of when you think of Oklahoma — Toby Keith, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, all those people — they’re singers but they don’t necessarily have the desire to sing the Anthem because it’s a very difficult song … and they don’t want to be put in the position to execute that song at the expectation that people have.”
He said scheduling conflicts and routing issues often keep top-shelf stars from committing to what amounts to a high-pressure 90-second performance, even for their home team. The team worked for a long time to book Tony and Emmy winner Kristin Chenoweth, a Thunder super fan who was finally able to belt the Anthem at the Dec. 29 home game vs. the Dallas Mavericks.
“We hope to have her back here again real soon. So we’re getting big names; I mean, she’s a superstar,” Leach said.
“Blake Shelton, he’s told us flat-out ‘it’d be an honor but I don’t want to.’ … Look what happened to Christina Aguilera, she’s got one of the strongest voices out there. She had a little mental break and screwed up the words a little bit and she’ll never live it down.”
Winning records
Booking a performer who can deliver a high-quality Anthem is more important than securing a superstar name, Leach said. Plus, it doesn’t hurt if the team wins when you perform.
Krystal Keith
Oklahoma country singer Krystal Keith, daughter of superstar Toby Keith, sang the Anthem for the Thunder before Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals May 14, when Oklahoma City beat the Los Angeles Lakers by 29 points.
“Being a hometown girl, I was pumped … because we’re such huge fans, and the Thunder’s been so good for Oklahoma,” said Keith, adding she has sung the National Anthem at many sporting events as well as on her dad’s tour.
“I love doing it and a lot of people know that I love doing it. You have to have a broad range … it’s not easy. Not everybody can do it. But I’ve sung it for years, and that’s one of the songs that helped me learn how to sing. I started learning to control my voice by learning that song.”
A few days after her anthemic performance, her famous father, who is co-producing her debut album, said she might have been a bit of a good luck charm for the Thunder.
“She didn’t sing at the second game and it was closer,” Keith said with a grin. “She did a good job.”
For her part, Krystal Keith laughingly said, “Definitely the team earned it. I don’t think I had anything to do with it. But if they want to give me credit on it, I’ll take it.”
Although she was honored to be asked, Oklahoma native and gospel recording artist Sandi
Sandi Patty
Patty approached singing the Anthem before Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals with trepidation.
After all, when she lived in Indiana, Patty performed the Anthem several times for the Indianapolis Colts. But when the NFL team was on a winning streak, she declined to sing the “Banner” because they had lost a few previous games where she had belted the song.
“I’d say ‘I am such a fan that I won’t sing because every time I sing, the Colts have lost and we can’t afford a loss right now,’” Patty said.
This time, she relaxed when Thunder announcer Brian Davis told her that she had a 4-0 record: She had sung at four previous Thunder games and each time, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the crew had emerged victorious.
“I didn’t realize that,” she said, laughing. “I would never want to do anything to jeopardize them. If my win/loss record was not good, I would not sing.”
Of course, the Grammy winner is now 5-0 with the Thunder becoming Western Conference Champions last week. She said she took the song up a key before Game 6 because she knew the Thunder needed to play at a higher energy level.
“I have worn my Thunder playoff shirt three days in a row now around town. I am so proud of them,” Patty said Friday. “They are great young men on and off the court.”
After the break, see the list of who has sung the National Anthems before the Thunder playoff games to date.
Wednesday Video Spotlight: Greyson Chance pays tribute to Frank Sinatra
Edmond singer/songwriter/pianist Greyson Chance, 14, covers Frank Sinatra’s classic standard “My Way” (from “Sinatra: Best of the Best”) in this Wednesday Video Spotlight.
-BAM
