Atlanta, GA. (Top40 Charts/ Brash Records) - New Christmas music is being released today by the Camp Jam Allstars, a teen rock supergroup, consisting of six young musicians from cities across
America averaging just 15 years of age. Their yuletide rocker, "Money In A Card," is being released on iTunes today, with a portion of the proceeds from each sale going toward
Little Kids Rock, a program that provides free instruments and music instruction for public school students.
Recording "Money In A Card" this past July in Atlanta with acclaimed producer Rodney Mills, the members of Camp Jam Allstars pulled off what most bands twice their age would have a hard time doing. Never having played together as a group, these talented teens got together for the first time and in just a matter of days united as a band to learn, rehearse and record "Money In A Card." The result: rocking Christmas music destined to be an instant anthem among the teen set who, like it or not, would much rather get some cold hard cash than toys this holiday season.
All participants in Camp Jam, a nationwide rock 'n' roll summer camp program, each member was handpicked for the project by Camp Jam co-creator Jeff Carlisi, who's best known as a founding member and lead guitarist for 38 Special and co-writer of classic rock hits such as "Hold On Loosely." Having personally worked with each kid over the years, Carlisi saw an opportunity to bring them together in the studio to record a song that Carlisi wrote with his longtime friends, renowned rock drummer Liberty DeVitto (Billy Joel, Stevie Nicks) and singer/guitarist Derek St. Holmes (Ted Nugent).
As Carlisi explains, "I've had the chance to hear hundreds of young musicians perform at Camp Jam over the past four years, and I'm amazed at how proficient these kids are at such a young age. So it dawned on me that I could bring together a band of players from our various camps that would rival many bands consisting of much older musicians, not to mention the length of time that they knew each other. The only hard part was choosing just six band members because we have so many talented kids in our camps."
More than a chance for the six to become a band though, the recording of "Money In A Card" was an opportunity for the Camp Jam Allstars to help others their age who want to play music but don't have the same access to gear and instructors. When "Money In A Card" is released this November exclusively online, a portion of the proceeds from each download sale will go to Little Kids Rock, a program that provides free instruments and instruction for public school students.
"'Money in a Card' is more than just Christmas music, it is a fantastic song and I think people will be singing it and smiling for years to come. Little Kids Rock is honored to be benefiting from the sale of this yuletide tour-de-force," said David Wish, the executive director of Little Kids Rock.
"Little Kids Rock is a superb program that Liberty and I have worked with in the past and they share our belief that music is one of the best ways to build confidence and self-esteem. It was only natural that we'd figure out a way to benefit their program with this song," said Carlisi. 'Instruments and music instruction will help a whole lot of kids.'
While the recording project is a new experience for the members of the Camp Jam Allstars, in many ways it parallels what they and hundreds of other campers experience each and every week at Camp Jam. The innovative program held in cities across America brings together teenage musicians and singers who have never met and places them in bands on the first day of camp. After a week of practicing and rehearsing together as a group, the bands perform a full-fledge rock concert in front of a crowd.
"What the young rockers at Camp Jam can accomplish in just one week is a testament to their ability to work as a team in order to achieve a goal," shared Carlisi. "The Camp Jam Allstars is a perfect example of this in action."
Camp Jam Allstars are: Niki Frishberg (vocals, Houston, TX), Chandler Baldwin (vocals, Loganville, GA), Chris Iorio (guitar, Las Vegas), Matt Ernst (guitar, Auburn, AL), Reeth Dasgupta (bass, Atlanta, GA) and Rod Allred (drums, Atlanta, GA).
"Money In A Card," Christmas music with a back beat, is a joint venture release between Camp Jam (www.campjam.com) and Brash Music (www.brashmusic.com).
