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Billy Porter To Make Appearance Promoting 'Billy Porter: At The Corner Of Broadway + Soul' At Tower Records on September 28

By: Sep. 23, 2005
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Billy Porter will be performing and signing CDs at Tower Records, Lincoln Center, this coming Wednesday September 28th at 6pm, in support of his new CD release "Billy Porter - At the Corner of Broadway & Soul" on Sh-K-Boom Records.   

His second solo album is a collection of Broadway, Gospel and original R&B songs that were performed live last year at Joe's Pub. It is a soulful and empowering compilation of some of Billy's favorite songs and composers who inspired him from the time he was young to become the success he is today.  It teaches about taking chances and not taking "no" for an answer and more importantly lifts you up and helps you feel strong through his interpretation of the music. 

Porter throws himself into his songs, belting high notes, riffing like a jazz singer and raising the roof like a gospel choir.  At the Corner of Broadway + Soul is a powerhouse CD.  Some of the most accomplished composers today are represented on the CD, including the legendary Stephen Sondheim (with two songs, "Last Midnight" and "Sunday"), Adam Guettel ("Awaiting You"), Jeanine Tesori ("Let It Sing"), Ricky Ian Gordon (his setting of Langston Hughes' "Heaven") and Jason Robert Brown ("King of the World").  Other songs included on the CD are Porter originals and collaborations, with an introduction by George C. Wolfe, and Billy is joined on the CD's final track "Sunday," by Michael McElroy and the Broadway Inspirational Voices gospel choir. 

At the Corner of Broadway + Soul is produced by Buryl Red.  Porter is executive producer along with Sh-K Boom Records' Kurt Deutsch.  Musical Direction and arrangements provided by James Sampliner..

At the Corner of Broadway + Soul includes:
Heaven Ricky Ian Gordon/Langston Hughes
Why We Sing Kirk Franklin
Let It Sing Jeanine Tesori/Brian Crawley
Awaiting You Adam Guettel
King of the World Jason Robert Brown
And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going (1:54)  Henry Krieger/Tom Eyen
Last Midnight Stephen Sondheim
Feel it to Heal it Billy Porter/Gary Haase
Use Me Billy Porter/Brian Steckler
Tomorrow's Another Day Billy Porter/Gary Haase
Hell of High Water Billy Porter/ Rodney Lee
World's Gon Hav 2 Wait Billy Porter/James Sampliner/Chris Pierce
Time Billy Porter/Brian Steckler
Love is on the Way Peter Zizzo/Tina Shaffer/Denise Rich
I Need You Now Smokie Norful
Sunday Stephen Sondheim

Billy Porter is a native of Pittsburgh and is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University where he received a B.F.A. in Drama. Film and television: Noel with Susan Sarandon and Robin Williams, The Broken Hearts Club, The Intern, Twisted, "Shake, Rattle & Roll" (CBS mini-series), "Another World," "The Tonight Show," and multiple appearances on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show." Broadway: Miss Saigon, Five Guys Named Moe, Grease (all original cast), Smokey Joe's Café and Dreamgirls (20th Anniversary Broadway Concert and Los Angeles production). Off-Broadway and regional credits: Romance In Hard Times, The Merchant of Venice, House of Lear, Radiant Baby (all at The Public), Jason Robert Brown's Songs for a New World, Angels in America (Actors Theatre of Louisville), Going Native (Long Wharf), Topdog/Underdog (City Theatre), Jesus Christ Superstar, Antigone, A Chorus Line, Chicago. Concerts: opening act for Rosie O'Donnell and Aretha Franklin; John McDaniel and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra; The Buffalo Philharmonic; Peter Nero and The Philly Pops; The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall; and Alvin Ailey's Revelations. Among his recordings: Billy Porter: Untitled (A&M Records), Home for the Holidays, Jim Brickman's Destiny (Top-ten AC hit), and the forthcoming At The Corner of Broadway & Soul: Live From Joe's Pub (Sh-K-Boom Records).  His website is http://www.billyporter.com.      



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