David Phelps coming to St.John’s!!

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Hi Everyone…and a very Happy New Year!

I am very excited that I can pass along that David Phelps is coming back to our province in May.

I have always been fond of his amazing god given talent. There are some wonderful voices out there but he is “The Voice”. I first presented this enormous talent to Father Mark Janes of St. Matthew’s Parish in Bay Roberts , Newfoundland back in 2006. At that time it was an educational opportunity for everyone ,it paid dividends to those who took the chance to come and see him. I was touched, humbled but not surprised as I have been a fan of his since he became a member of the Gaither Vocal Band. He did leave the group for a few years but has now rejoined the group recently . We are lucky enough that he is honoring his solo performances and we my friends are in for a treat. Below is more information on this event , you can also visit my website at www.playtimeconcerts.com .

Press Release

P.O Box 1325 Bay Roberts, NL AOA 1GO – Telephone 683-5324
Email ron@playtimeentertainmentgroup.com

News Release

“David Phelps, to perform at Holy Heart Auditorium, St. John’s May 9  2009”

The Voice

For immediate release - Bay Roberts, NL, January8, 2009  – Holy Heart Auditorium, St. John’s will be the venue for the return of Grammy Award winner and  member of the world renowned Gaither Gospel Group David Phelps.

This will be the second visit to the province for one of the greatest voices in the world. In the spring of 2007 he delighted concert goes with an amazing performance of gospel standards as well as an impressive collection of his own works.

“Having the opportunity to present David Phelps at Holy Heart Auditorium in St. John’s is very exciting for our company .The people of Bay Roberts and area witnessed this gifted singer in 2007 giving him repeated standing ovations, now with a  larger venue more people will hear this amazing talent”

Over the last ten eventful years, David’s artistry has echoed off the walls of Carnegie Hall, and vibrated the chandeliers in the White House. His masterful melodies have been burned into six award-winning Gaither Vocal Band CDs, five critically-acclaimed solo offerings, and well over 40 certified Gold and Platinum Gaither “Homecoming” collections. He has performed live as part of the Gaither Vocal Band at six Billy Graham Mission crusades. A few of his awards have included: GMA Dove Award for the album “Still the Greatest Story Ever Told,” GRAMMY Award for the album “Kennedy Center Homecoming,” GMA Dove Award for the album “God Is Good,” 2 time winner of the Southern Gospel News Music Award, “Male Vocalist of the Year,” and GRAMMY Award for “A Billy Graham Music Homecoming.”

Ticket Prices: $ 35.00
Tickets are available at: Holy Heart Auditorium or by calling 683-5324
Doors Open – 7pm                                                                                                                            Performance Starts – 8pm
For further information contact:

Ron Delaney
709 683 5324
ron@playtimeentertainmentgroup.com

Or visit
www.playtimeentertainmentgroup.com
www.davidphelps.com

Gene Simmons why!! Take Care BRITNEY!!

OK, I would like to go back to comments, and even a rant on some issues of the day.

This blog is called “Why Gene Simmons” and Take care Brittney”!!!! Yes, this is a major departure from the warm fuzzy feeling of the Christmas season, and well it was the reason I wished this “blog” to be constructed.

Say it isn’t so Gene baby

I watched in utter dismay a few nights ago when Donald Trump fired Gene, at first I was thinking this couldn’t be happening as he was so overpowering, confident a true business person and for the show so marketable, he made the show!!!! But after thinking it through, I do see that in my opinion, he wanted to leave, Trump was not in his class, and well the ties had to be cut. Trumps daughter was glum and tried to be as self righteous as her father, but had a face on her like a smacked arse (pretty but too intense), it seems as though they were surprised in Genes comments!! They knew full well what he was going to bring to the table, and was one of the reasons for the amazing ratings…. I really think he grew tired of the show and wanted to bail, it had to be the reason. Anyway in my eyes Gene is king, he did link with a Newfoundland lady. COME ON GENE BRING YOUR REALITY SHOW TO THE ROCK!!!! I will bring you around and we might even make money!! Just image!!! A Gene Simmons park in “DILDO!!!” I get shivers thinking about it everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!

Poor ole Britany

I will not spend a great deal of time on this BUT…. wow, this is getting crazy!!! If I had people chasing Me I am sure I could call some one and say, emmm hey, I am being stalked…. but for some reason it is cool to stalk Britany, I cringe when I see the papapoopie chase the lady down, this week one of which got arrested for following her. It is about time…I know they look for attention, and it fuels the industry, but do anyone care about human life, about her children? Our society is imploding, with the advent of groups taking out their anger with our southern friends and our Canadian troops giving their lives for the greater cause…and then we have to turn on the TV and watch the saga of a lady pushed to the brink? People, it is time to lay off, we are not on this earth long enough to allow this to happen, those children who have done nothing wrong, need to be given a break. I am not writing this to point fingers or take sides, but when I see the paper and people almost risking their lives for a pic? There is something wrong, someone needs to speak out. I guess I am trying to but I get 100 visits a day, so…I guess this will go unheard and we will have to watch what goes on the boob tube or do we…? How about the next time we see a story on her we turn off the TV, or not buy the tabloid, maybe that is what it is going to take to get these people to back off.

Gene, I look forward to watching and following your career, don’t forget to bring Shannon back to NL with your kids dude!!!!!!!! Brit….chicka, come to the rock, we will put you up at Woody Island Resort or the Klondyke Hotel so you can chill….although I am not sure you would like it….I would hope so….for your kids.

I would also like to wish my big bro Ken a happy Birthday!!!

Take Care,

 Ron

Mentors and Heroes

Over the past few weeks the world has lost some of the greatest voices in the world, as we know it. I was saddened to hear that during the last week of August the godfather for traditional Celtic music Tommy Makem lost his battle with lung cancer. This month, the world lost arguably, the greatest voice this generation has ever heard. Pavarotti lost his fight with pancreatic cancer 5 am September 6^th. These gentlemen have left a lasting impression with me for over 24 years, both were my hero and in one form or another my mentors.

Tommy Makem

I remember driving home from Sunday morning mass listing to the “potluck show’ on our local radio station during the early eighties. The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem were a main stay in rural Newfoundland, certainly captivating to a young boy who got lost in the lyrics of the songs of Ireland.

During the late nineties my brother and I teamed up with a talented base player – Ian Chipman of Spaniard’s Bay NL, who was the founding member of our group Erin’s Call and long time musician and song writer Paul Martin (brother of Larry Martin, founding member of the Juno Award winning Irish Descendants) of Winterton NL. During our musical career Tommy’s influence was prevalent in many shanties and ballads we sang.

In 1998, we had our first opportunity to actually meet Tommy during a show in Bay Roberts , it was a humbling experience for us, as he was our idol , a mentor, and soon to be our friend. There were many groups on the roster that evening , including friends from Ireland, Evans and Doherty, who now reside in Nova Scotia. Another person person present that day, who I respected and who passed on during 2007, was Dermot O’Reilly, member of Ryan’s Fancy , Dermot called Newfoundland and Labrador home for years along with Fergus O’Byrne who still continues the legacy of Irish Folk music. Last, but certainly not least, was Gregory Donaghey, former lead singer of the world renowned Carlton Show Band. The evening was amazing; as it was an opportunity for us the merge artistically with some of the greatest Celtic groups of our generation.

Tommy was a gentle soul, one who certainly shared his passion for song and story, he empowered us to continue to write and in time produce our recording Erin’s Call.

My brother and I stopped by the local coffee shop after the show, and to our surprise Tommy was there relaxing before his trip back to his hotel. Long time friend, Leo Puddister, asked us to sit and talk. We were so taken back by his sense of calmness and willingness to share his ideals of folk music, we will never forget it, and certainly we will never forget him.

Luciano Pavarotti

Pavarotti certainly had the most impact on my life musically. I first listened to classical musical during the 70’s and early 80’s, usually during school choir performances. Being involved with choirs, and subsequently all male choirs, was certainly not a popular move for an adolescent. However, during this time, I took great enjoyment and freedom from expressing myself in something that I was apparently good at.

I enjoyed being a part of the St. Francis Boys’ Choir. We had the opportunity to perform for many prestigious people including the Prince and Princess of Wales, Charles and Diana, in 1983, and Pope John Paul II in 1984.

These experiences were life altering, leaving a lasting impact on me to this day. All of which came from the legacy of Pavarotti. He broke down the barriers of male vocal classical performance. He showed that music and training was a ongoing, progressive process, and was accepted; singing classically was something not to be ashamed of .

Although for me, the days of singing publicly are mostly over, I will always have this undying need to feel free and release the emotions singing allows all to unleash. Pavarotti inspired me and many other young men to perform in choirs and sing classical music with spirit and joy. I will miss the person who I always respected, the person who changed the world of music, and who gave me the confidence to dream.

His voice will live on in his recordings and we can take comfort that we will hear it again, some day when the Lord sees fit to allow it.

I consider both these men my mentors and of course my heroes.

Ron Delaney