[musictlk] New Album/Press Release

[Linda Mentink]

>Hi all,

I receive postings from Dennis Holston, which I 
pass on to this list.  Here's one, with another to follow.--Linda Mentink


>From: "Performing Arts Division" <perform at padnfb.org>
>
>
>Latino Band's New Release Honors Late Blind Poet & Activist
>Proceeds Support Performing Arts Scholarship
>Los Ciegos Del Barrio Tribute to Mary Anne Parks
>
>New York, NY (June 29, 2009): "¿Por Que? ¡Porque
!" the latest CD from
>NYC Latino band Los Ciegos Del Barrio was released Tuesday, June 23. It
>pays tribute to the late blind poet/educator/activist Mary Anne Parks.
>Through August 31, 25% of proceeds from the sales will help support a
>scholarship set up in her honor. Visit:
><http://losciegosdelbarrio.com/>http://losciegosdelbarrio.com/
>Click on "Buy" and the DigStation link.
>
>"We would like to thank the members of Los Ciegos Del Barrio for this
>generous and thoughtful gift," said Dennis Holston (31, Manhattan),
>president of the non-profit Performing Arts Division of the National
>Federation of the Blind (PAD, NFB), "This is a fitting tribute to Mary
>Anne, and I know she would be excited about this new collection."
>
>Though they never met, Mary Anne's work as Performing Arts Division
>secretary touched their lives. Los Ciegos Del Barrio is featured on
>PAD's "Sound in Sight" CD, a multi-genre compilation of 18 original
>tracks and covers all donated by blind recording artists. The CD,
>available at:
><http://www.padnfb.org>www.padnfb.org
>Or, from CDBaby at:
><http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/padotnfotb>www.cdbaby.com/cd/padotnfotb
>celebrates the talents of blind Americans and raises funds which support
>PAD's work. Mary Anne was instrumental in bringing the project to fruition.
>
>"Although I never had the pleasure of meeting Mary Anne personally,"
>says Los Ciegos Del Barrio group leader Alvin Suarez, "we know she had a
>significant hand in including us in "Sound in Sight." I never got a
>chance to thank her personally. We recognize how dear Mary Anne was to
>so many people and we understand how incredibly energetic and sweet she
>was and it was certainly devastating to us when we learned about her
>passing."
>
>According to Holston, a talent recruiter for the Manhattan-based
>Visionary Media Company who is in his second term as PAD's president,
>copies of the new Los Ciegos del Barrio CD will be sold at the NFB's
>upcoming national convention in Detroit (July 2-8); proceeds from these
>sales will also support  the Mary Anne Parks Performing Arts Scholarship.
>
>Parks was killed at age 31 when a car broadsided the Hands on Atlanta
>van in which she was riding. A master's candidate who held several
>leadership positions in the National Federation of the Blind, Mary Anne
>was on her way to do volunteer teaching at the time of her death.
>
>"Los Ciegos Del Barrio" is a multi genre Latin music group. They play
>Merengue, Bachata, Salsa, Cumbia, Reggaeton, and Rock music in both
>English and Spanish. "Los Ciegos Del Barrio" literally translates to
>"The Blind Boys from the Hood". The name was originally meant to be a
>joke, but they ended up keeping it as an ice breaker. Most of the band
>members, who have been playing together since 1997 and recording since
>2000, are legally blind.
>
>Members include: Alvin Suarez - Band director, lead guitar, drum kit,
>percussion and vocals. Derek Christopher Suarez - Bass, Congas,
>percussion and vocals. Jaime Diaz - Rhythm guitar, bass and vocals.
>Machete - Keyboards, harmonica, accordion, percussion and vocals. Jimmy
>Fontanez - Tambora, bongos and percussion. Angel Dueno - Guira and
>timbales. He's the only member who's actually not visually impaired.
>Angel and Jimmy both live in upstate New York.
>
>For further information about Los Ciegos del Barrio, call: (718)
>886-8686, or visit the group's MySpace page at:
><http://www.myspace.com/losciegosdelbarrio>http://www.myspace.com/losciegosdelbarrio
>
>###
>About the National Federation of the Blind: With more than 50,000
>members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most
>influential membership organization of blind people in the United
>States.   The NFB improves blind people’s lives through advocacy,
>education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence
>and self-confidence.
>It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of
>the nation's blind.  In January 2004 the NFB opened the National
>Federation of the
>Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the
>United States for the blind led by the blind.
>
>
>********
>Thank you for being a part of the Performing 
>Arts Division of the National Federation of the 
>Blind.  <http://www.padnfb.org>http://www.padnfb.org
>Please help the division by making a 
>donation.  Visit the donation page on our 
>website, <http://www.padnfb.org>http://www.padnfb.org
>The money helps us with our scholarship fund and other programs