Senator John McCain met with hit songwriter/artist/producers Denny Randell and Biddy Schippers in Downtown Scottsdale, AZ, this last Saturday, April 10, 2010, during a welcome home event for one of their GI Jams(TM) musical groups. Randell & Schippers are the founders and co-directors of GI Jams(TM), the new and fast growing company and project they founded to showcase and support the musical talents of U.S. military artists, and were in Scottsdale to welcome home the three members of the GIJams.com musical group, Joe Speed Band, from active duty in Iraq.
During the event, Senator McCain visited with Randell & Schippers and members of their party including two of GI Jams' top supporters and contributors, the three members of the band - Jeremiah Eaton, Nathan Harvey and Dusty Scott - and their families. The celebration included a live performance by Joe Speed Band as well as a joint performance with Randell & Schippers.
"As with our great appreciation for and the indebtedness to all those that have and do serve us in the military, we have always greatly admired and appreciated the incredible bravery, strength and loyalty Senator McCain has displayed in his service to our country. And, as a Senator and one of our county's great leaders, we so greatly appreciate his acknowledgement, support and well wishes for GI Jams(TM) and the help that will give in informing the public about us," said Randell & Schippers.
Randell is a legendary songwriter whose songs have contributed to the sales of more than 200 million records. He has written some of the most recorded and performed songs in the world. One of his classics, "Working My Way Back To You," recently exceeded 6 million performances in the U.S. alone - an honor shared by only a handful of copyrights. Three of Randell's songs are currently featured in the Tony award winning Broadway show Jersey Boys and its Grammy winning cast album.
Randell & Schippers' most recent dance hit "Alice In Wonderland," reached the Top 10 on the Yahoo Video Charts and their song and production of "Let's Dance The Night Away" is currently on the national dance charts. The pair recently appeared on the
Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.
Randell and Schippers have long been supporters of those who serve in the military and had wanted to find their own way to give back. Given their background, the pair decided to do it through music. The result of their hard work was the debut of the GI Jams(TM) project in November 2009.
The multi-media entertainment project and its web site GIJams.com are dedicated to featuring and promoting the musical talents of the men and women of the U.S. armed forces. The Joe Speed Band members, part of the Wyoming National Guard and then stationed in Iraq, were among the many military artists who signed up to the site and posted their music.
They recorded their song "Cowboy Soldiers (Please Send Me A Beer)" on Christmas Eve in their tent on the Iraqi Desert so they could join GI Jams(TM) and have a song to post on the site. It immediately caught not only Randell & Schippers' collective ear, but also captured the hearts of many other GI Jams(TM) members, artists and supporters, who together made it the site's most popular song.
Randell & Schippers learned the soldiers would be returning home in April so, with the help of two of GI Jams' top supporters, Bob Smith, President and CEO of Alliance Beverage Distributing Company and a veteran of the Vietnam War, and Deanna Clarkson, writer, artist, promoter, magazine entrepreneur and President of Clarkson Communications, the Joe Speed Band Homecoming Celebration was made possible.
"We are so pleased to be able to introduce and showcase these three military heroes and musical artists and we look forward to doing so for as many of our GI Jams(TM) artists as possible. So many wonderful and talented artists are joining and posting their music and we can't wait to share their music with the public," said Randell & Schippers.
Other songs and videos (including "Cowboy Soldiers") can be seen on GIJams.com, as well as writings from the artists and photos, including those taken at the recent Scottsdale event.
Those who wish to join GIJams.com as supporters of these military artists will be able to create their own profile page, become fans of their favorite artists, and communicate with them.
Upcoming GI Jams(TM) multi-media plans include the release of additional recordings on GI Jams Records(TM), including a series of compilation albums featuring the songs and talents of many of the GIJams.com military artists and performers.
To join GI Jams(TM) and for more information go to
www.GIJams.com
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