Showing posts with label pbs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pbs. Show all posts

Friday, August 15, 2014

Notes of an Irish Tenor

Irish singer Michael Londra, the voice of Riverdance on Broadway, Emmy® nominee and PBS performer, has taken the stories of his life, the lyrics of his songs, thoughts on Ireland and his adopted land, the US. He has made observations on his fans, reflections on his long road to success, the hard falls and the dizzy heights, to create "Notes of an Irish Tenor"

The book is an account of the milestones, markers and mistakes that brought him to now. It's a memoir on what happened and why, how it started, where it began and with who. Most of all it is a celebration of the people who are part of it all now, his fans.

To make the book extra special, Michael felt that there should be a Super Fan Chapter, where devoted fans write, in 200 words or less, a story telling their Michael Londra story, whether it be a song that comes to mind, a message of support and love or just an every day thought on what Michael's singing means in the quiet of the day.

  A limited number of books are now available for pre-order now with a December 15 delivery date. All pre order books will be personally autographed by Michael

"For years now, fans have asked about my life. During concerts, you hear my stories, fleeting glances into my life, during introductions to songs and my endless ramblings in a show. You get to know characters, scenes, dilemmas, wins and losses on the journey I have made, in my chit chat on stage. All too fast and disrespectfully thrown away in their brevity with all the best bits locked away, so you don't find out too much about me. The way I like it. 

 I've decided to change that, to give the story the respect it deserves, to give you the respect you deserve. Over the past months, I have been writing for you, my thoughts, my feelings, my story. Now, I can't call myself a writer. I mean, I learned how to write but not how to write! But, for all my concerns, my fans don't seem to care. I may not have the correct syntax ( as my partner continually reminds me!) but I can tell a tale. It is what my people do. It comes with my nationality, along with a healthy dose of realism, a frequent sense of irony and an overused liver. In truth, I have many stories. So many stories. 

Now in writing a book there are many ways to go about it. Do I aim for the stars to write a tome of literary masterpiece? Do I find a ghostwriter to cover up the fact that I can barely finish the alphabet? Look, I know it won't hit the New York Times best seller list like the high end stylings from, say, The Real Housewives or Gordon Ramsey, said the Irish tenor, with raised eyebrows. 

So the only way to go is to just lay it out for you, in an honest, basic, crawling but lovingly written way. The grammar won't win me prizes. It won't earn me reviews. Well it will, but not the kind I can use. It won't make me a writer. It will just make me honest and I want to be as honest as I can for I haven't been up to now. 

I will tell you about my family, my closest friends, my thoughts on the business, on all things Irish. it's culture, it's myths and for sure it's music. I've even thrown in my thoughts on Celtic Thunder. (I was there when it all started, you know)


In truth, I have realized only lately, just how special my relationship is with fans. I am touched every day by that connection. After years of not understanding or, being frank, not realising I had a connection, getting older has cut through the nonsense and revealed just what is important. The reason for my music. The reason for my singing. I know that when you listen to my voice, you listen to my story and probably dwell on your own. So, I guess, I hope the book does the same."

Before this book goes on sale in stores, we want to make it special for fans. We want to make it just for you so we are making the book available for pre-order along with a special previously unreleased song for download or on cd.

                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------


 To pre-order the autographed book "Notes of an Irish Tenor" plus a download of a new song, click the link below

                                                
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To pre-order the autographed book "Notes of an Irish Tenor" plus an autographed cd of a new song, click the link below

                                                    

                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As explained earlier, Michael wants to include fans in the book. This will make the book a special memento for you. You get to put your words in print as part of the SUPERFAN chapters of the book. You get to explain what Michael's songs mean to you. We give you 200 words and the choice of placing a 2" x 2" black and white photo in the book. Our team will help you with the passage and Michael will call you personally to chat about it. The best part is that these SUPERFANS then get to decide the final image for the front cover of the book in a private Ustream video chat with Michael himself. The image you currently see is from the book photoshoot held in Tucson a few months ago. Michael will leave it to you fans to pick your favorite.


 To be part of the Überfan chapters in "Notes of an Irish Tenor", help decide on the cover shot, get an autographed copy of the book and autographed cd, help from the book team plus a personal call from Michael in the coming weeks, click the link below

                                                    


"The fans are the heart of it all, the reason i have this wonderful experience, the reason I keep walking the road, the reason I keep singing. I'd love them to make this book complete, a celebration of our special relationship."

Saturday, December 31, 2011

2011 - 2012

Hi Everyone

Well I have reached the end of 2011 and I am still standing. It was quite the year. HUGE!



I have reached heights I never thought I would, as a singer and as a producer. I never imagined I would ever produce my own TV special that would air across the whole of the US. I feel like I finally made the mark on the world that I wanted to for many years.

Oddly enough it felt completely different than I thought. I essentially changed changed my path, how people perceive me, changed who I am. I really saw everything ahead and knew what it involved but I didn't realise how I would feel as I went through it.

This year involved opening myself to the public and I realised how uncomfortable I am with that. It certainly felt strange to have people want as much information that they could get on me. I have been totally weirded out in interviews and am finding myself being more guarded with everyone. I cannot imagine what it is like for really famous people. I am learning to live with it, I guess. I love to meet my fans and have them share their stories on how my singing affects them. It is astounding to hear those stories. Not so fond of meeting people who decide they own me or feel they have a right to grope me(YES...THERE WAS GROPING recently!) This is a ridiculous problem to have and indeed to complain about it makes me realise I am being ridiculous.

I am so amazed at how blessed I am in life. I have a wonderful family, friends who will do anything and indeed, this year did everything for me, opportunities to travel, opportunities to achieve my life's ambitions and self fulfillment.

Singing was brought me great joy, opportunity and dreams come true.

As for 2012 I have several plans, I am working on a new show that will be different, working on a new album to match the show, producing more and one more secret project to be unveiled mid year. I am mixing things up this year. I am bringing new people to my life, I am looking at new opportunities, I am walking away from old habits and most of all, I am not sweating the small stuff. I made myself sick this past month from it and won't let it do that again.

My mind is dynamic, fast, self sufficient and creative however it also takes too much on board so my resolution is to try to give it a break. Ambition is being asked to take a back seat and living life is taking over.

I have a few highlights of 2011

1. Singing the Anthem at AT&T Park for the Giants - Astros game.

2. Seeing my band and dancers watch the PBS special for the first time.

3. Making my agent Adrienne Crane Ross happy.

4. Getting a publishing deal(details to follow!)

5. Going to Haiti again

6. Making my parents proud.

7. Having Frankie Gavin and De Dannan in my TV special(major heros!)

8. Having my producer Steve Skinner be in the TV special too!

9. Seeing Daniel Furlong become part of Celtic Thunder when I remember noticing his talent at home in Wexford, many years before. I love that he calls me a mentor. I look at him and see.....me! #makesmeproud

A few lowlights of 2011

1. having to sell myself constantly

2. people actively telling others not to support me (from a certain fanbase aaaand you know who you are! :) )

3. Missing my family and everyone in Wexford as I was out on promo tour all through Autumn

4. trying to be a performer/manager/producer/promoter all at the same time!


I will say I am tired after this year. I need some time off and plan on taking a few weeks in January. First though I head to Nashville. I am not goin country people although it does have a certain appeal. I am merely heading for meetings there and in NYC.

I want to thank all the lovely fans who read my blog, send messages of support, lovely gifts in the mail(though how you found my address is astounding to me!). I am not sure it is my life's calling to be just a singer but you certainly make it worthwhile for me. I love that my songs offer comfort,joy or solace. I love that it brought me to you and I love when we meet to share that experience in concerts. Being honest I am not sure i will sing for the rest of my days so I cherish these times.

May 2012 bring you all you want in life. Much love!!!!

M

Monday, July 25, 2011

Its finally here!

Hey Everyone

Well it is all getting a little frenetic in Camp Beyond Celtic this week as we start to promo for Michael Londra Beyond Celtic on PBS. Pledges start next week nationwide and with that begins the journey to many of those local stations. My first stop is NYC to view the show with friends on WNET New York / New Jersey on Sunday August 7 at 4.30pm Planning a mini viewing party in a wine bar. I am not planning on watching it but will be meeting everyone there once they've watched it. I can't look at my own shows. Anyways, it will be fun to see my friends and watch their reactions to it.

I then fly to San Francisco to do my first pledges on August 11 and on to Baltimore on Aug 13 . There will be lots of exciting news that week including details of a contest for choirs to perform with me and the first tickets available for our December tour and the Beyond Celtic tour beginning in Feb 2012.

So this weekend we had the best time in Ohio. I was invited by the Lancaster Festival to come perform with the Symphony. Naturally I brought a great band including Bodhran player Jackie Moran, the brilliant Kathleen Keane on fiddle and whistle plus the boys of An Dochas and a group of dancers lead by Riverdance lead, Joe Moriarty. The symphony was stunning and I felt like I was cradled in the arms of angels while performing with such a huge orchestra, not forgetting my 4000 or so backing singers in the audience. Althoguh I am completely wrecked after an exhausting weekend's work I have to say that it a magical night. Livin the dream! Photos from the Performance

So I have recently partnered with the Visit Wexford campaign to be rolled out over the coming year. Historically Wexford, an amazing part of Ireland seen as THE vacation destination for the Irish has been overlooked by international tourists. There is so much to offer visitors to Wexford from its beaches to it's viking origins, from it's Opera Festival to Dunbrody Famine Ship, from the Irish National Heritage Park to Johnstown Castle. It's a happening part of Ireland with a huge focus on the arts. In every blog from now on I will highlight a wonderful event,locale or festival from my area that I know will intrigue people worldwide.

Sorry we havent given you details of the 2012 Beyond Celtic tour yet but are we adding dates so fast. Soon...I promise. I can say we added The Grove in Anaheim and Symphony Hall in Baltimore.

Right...here are some airings nationally for you. It is nowhere near the final list so don't complain if your city isn't on there.As I get more details I will add airings accordingly. Please spread the word for me.

New York/New Jersey
WNET 8/7/11 4:30 PM

New York / Long Island
WLIW 8/27/11 4:30 PM

San Francisco
KQED 8/11/11 7:30 PM LIVE
KQED
8/11/11 7:30 PM
8/12/11 1:30 AM
8/14/11 5:30 PM
8/15/11 10:30 PM
8/16/11 4:30 AM
8/16/11 1:00 PM
8/18/11 10:30 PM
8/19/11 4:30 AM
8/8/11 7:00 PM
8/11/11 7:30 PM
8/12/11 1:30 AM
8/14/11 5:30 PM
8/15/11 10:30 PM
8/16/11 4:30 AM
8/18/11 10:30 PM
8/19/11 4:30 AM
8/11/11 7:30 PM
8/12/11 1:30 AM
8/14/11 5:30 PM
8/15/11 10:30 PM
8/16/11 4:30 AM
8/16/11 1:00 PM
8/18/11 10:30 PM
8/19/11 4:30 AM
8/11/11 7:30 PM
8/12/11 1:30 AM
8/14/11 5:30 PM
8/15/11 10:30 PM
8/16/11 4:30 AM
8/18/11 10:30 PM
8/19/11 4:30 AM

Maryland
MPT 8/13/11 LIVE

South Carolina
SCETV 8/24/11 Live

Gainsville North Central Florida
WUFT 8/19/11 8:00 PM

Detroit
WTVSDT 6/16/11 9:30 PM

Washington State and British Columbia
KCTS 9/12/11 TBD

Spokane

KSPS 9/13, 7 PM
WSPS 9/15/11 8:30 PM

Pittsburgh
WQED 8/11/11 7:30 PM
WQED 8/12/11 1:30 AM
WQED 8/14/11 5:30 PM
WQED 8/15/11 10:30 PM
WQED 8/16/11 4:30 AM
WQED 8/16/11 1:00 PM
WCETDT 8/7/11 10:00 PM

Cincinnatti
WPTODT5 8/6/11 6:30 PM
WPTODT 8/6/11 6:30 PM

Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota

WUSF
8/17/11 3:00 PM
8/7/11 3:00 PM
8/9/11 2:00 AM
8/10/11 2:00 AM
8/6/11 11:30 AM
8/18/11 10:30 AM

Philadelphia

WHYY 8/7/11 10.30pm

Mississippi / Alabama

WMABDT 8/20/11 11:00 PM

Washington DC
WFPT 8/13/11 6:00 PM
WFPT 8/14/11 1:00 PM

Boston

WGBH
8/14/11 1:30 AM
8/19/11 1:00 AM

Chicago
Lakeshore 8/27/11 12:30 AM

AUGUSTA
WEBA 8/25/11 8:00 PM

Arizona
EIGHT ARIZONA PBS
8/8/11 8.30pm
8/8/11 11.30pm

Nashville

WNPT
8/7/11 5:30 PM
8/9/11 10:00 PM
8/14/11 1:30 PM

Myrtle Beach

WHMC 8/25/11 8:00 PM

Charlotte
WITVDT 8/25/11 8:00 PM
WITVDT 8/28/11 1:00 PM
WITVDT2 8/27/11 10:00 AM
WITVDT2 8/28/11 10:00 AM


New Orleans
WYESDT 8/14/11 2:00 PM
WYESDT 8/14/11 11:00 PM


Gainsville
WUFTDT 8/15/11 10:00 PM
8/19/11 8:00 PM

West Palm Beach
WXEL 8/13/11 7pm

Jacksonville
WJCT 8/14/11 2pm

Fort Myers

WGCU 8/14/11 5pm

Fresno
Valley Public TV 8/20/11 6pm

Chattanooga
WTCI 8/14/11 4.30pm

Quad Cities

WQPT
8/7/11 9.30pm
8/8/11 4.30pm

Monterey / Salinas / Santa Cruz

KQET
8/11/11 7:30 PM
8/12/11 1:30 AM
8/14/11 5:30 PM

Amarillo
KENW 8/10/11 7pm

Rhode Island

WSBE TBD

WETPDT
8/6/11 10:00 PM
8/12/11 8:30 PM


Knoxville

WKOPDT 8/6/11 10:00PM

New Mexico
KNME 8/14/11 7:00PM


Tennessee Valley

WTCIDT 8/14/11 4:30 PM


South Bend/ Michigan/Indiana

WNIT 8/7/11 4:00 PM

Richmond
WCVE 8/11/11 8pm

Salisbury
WDPB 8/7/11 10.30pm

Duluth/Superior
WDSEDT 8/14/11 8:30 PM
WRPTDT 8/14/11 8:30 PM

Columbia, MO
KMOSDT 8/11/11 12:00 AM


West Texas / New Mexico

KRWGDT 8/14/11 3:00 PM
KRWGDT2 8/14/11 3:00 PM

Dakotas
KFMEDT 8/11/11 9:00 PM
KFMEDT 8/13/11 3:00 AM

Cleveland/Akron/Canton, Ohio

Western Reserve Public Media 8/15/11 9.30pm

Dakotas
KJREDT 8/11/11 9:00 PM
KJREDT 8/13/11 3:00 AM

Dakotas
KCGEDT 8/11/11 9:00 PM
KCGEDT 8/13/11 3:00 AM
KCGEDT2 8/11/11 9:00 PM
KCGEDT2 8/13/11 3:00 AM
KFMEDT2 8/11/11 9:00 PM
KFMEDT2 8/13/11 3:00 AM
KJREDT2 8/11/11 9:00 PM
KJREDT2 8/13/11 3:00 AM
KMDEDT 8/11/11 9:00 PM
KMDEDT 8/13/11 3:00 AM
KMDEDT2 8/11/11 9:00 PM
KMDEDT2 8/13/11 3:00 AM
KMOSDT 8/11/11 12:00 AM
KBMEDT 8/11/11 9:00 PM
KBMEDT 8/13/11 3:00 AM
KDSEDT 8/11/11 9:00 PM
KDSEDT 8/13/11 3:00 AM
KSREDT 8/11/11 9:00 PM
KSREDT 8/13/11 3:00 AM
KWSEDT 8/11/11 9:00 PM
KWSEDT 8/13/11 3:00 AM
KBMEDT2 8/11/11 9:00 PM
KBMEDT2 8/13/11 3:00 AM


Kansas State

KDSEDT2 8/11/11 9:00 PM
KDSEDT2 8/13/11 3:00 AM
KSREDT2 8/11/11 9:00 PM
KSREDT2 8/13/11 3:00 AM
KWSEDT2 8/11/11 9:00 PM
KWSEDT2 8/13/11 3:00 AM


West Tenessee

WLJTDT3 8/9/11 7:00 PM

Jackson
WLJTDT3 8/9/11 7:00 PM
WLJTDT3 8/14/11 5:00 PM

Sunday, June 19, 2011

not your average week

Hi Everyone


Today is a good day. It's lunchtime on Sunday June 19.

I was out last night on the Southside of Chicago at the Beverly Arts Center. My friends were performing down there so I went along and had the best time. Hung out with Jimmy Keane(best accordian on the planet) Sean Cleland, Jackie Moran(who will join me in Lancaster to play bodhran at performance on July 23. Met Brian Cunningham who presented his new show Atlantic Steps. He is a sean nos dancer with enthusiasm out the wazoo. I had a great time indeed ending with a few pints. Lovely.

So I went Detroit on Thursday to film the pledge breaks to air nationally thru August. It was overwhelming, fun and scary. I arrived after a short flight to find my super agent Adrienne Crane Ross, Maya Fiallos from International Media and the team from my new record company Razor and Tie

Everyone worked on making the taping go well. The lovely team at Detroit Public TV made me feel very welcome and the taping went well....i think.

ON the subject of Razor and Tie, I couldn't be happier to be working with this company. I've admired their business model for many years and always wanted to work with them'It is amazing to be on a roster with people like Joan Baez, Vanessa Carlton, Dave Stewart aaaaand wait for it...Kidzbop! They have exciting plans for the album and dvd. REtail release is not announced yet and the Beyond Celtic cd and dvd will be available exclusively on PBS for the next few months.

We are planning the national pbs station visits for August. I will see a lot of the US in August. So far we have San Bernardino, Seattle, San Fran, Maryland, Atlanta, and South Carolina, as well as most likely Lehigh Valley and Pittsburg. We have many more and will get details out to you asap.

It's early days so far but as for airings, here are a few stations locked in.

Seattle www.kcts9.org
Maryland www.mpt.org/
South Dakota: www.sdpb.org
Milwaukee www.mptv.org
San Francisco www.kqed.org
Atlanta www.pba.org
Baltimore www.mpt.org
San Bernardino www.kvcr.org

Plenty more to follow.............

Most exciting news of the year so far is I am heading to Ireland tomorrow. Lots going on but the best thing is that it is my mom's 70th birthday on Tuesday. I arrive at home on Tuesday morning so it will be a fun day.

On Thursday I head to a posh event in Dublin to celebrate the launch of the Wexford Ambassadors strategy to develop interest in all things Wexford. Hosted by my long time friend Brendan Howlin, the Minister of Public Expenditure, the event will celebrate all things Wexford and honor the first of Wexford's ambassadors Colm Toibin, Kevin Doyle, Gordon Darcy and my friend Eoin Colfer. I am looking forward to spending time with old friends and a posh night out in Dublin.

On Friday I have 2 events:

1. I am a guest for Gossip Girls I am a bit afraid to be surrounded by women armed with questions about my opinions on everything and lots of cocktails. A few of those women know my darkest secrets so I am afraid....very afraid.

2. Once the talk show is done we head across town to attend the event of the year...my mother's 70th Birthday party. I cannot wait to see all the family together and lots of moms friends from over the years.

We are building the tour for late 2011 and on into 2012. We have about 50 dates so far which is astounding. Details on the tour dates, lots of which will be available for sale on PBS over the coming months. We will post those dates asap.

Big love to everyone

M

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

May News

Hi Everyone


Hello from deepest Missouri!

I am planning the next month and thought I would let you know where we are and what is happening as I have had a few emails.

So....the past 4 weeks have been quite a wild ride. We have been looking at what we filmed in San Bernardino and to be honest I am simply blown away by how good the show is. Sephira and De Dannan are simply brilliant. The choir and orchestra sound fantastic, the audience are gorgeous lookin and I am ....well....a little over-emotional as you will see once it is released. The team at Mindfox have been doing a great job editing to remove all of my stupid mistakes and making it all look pristine. Steve Skinner has been mixing it and it will be coming at you in surround sound which really makes a huge difference.

To get picked up for distribution by PBS National is something we really hadn't expected and indeed it happens to VERY FEW specials filmed for public TV. The next step is to announce our launch station which will happen in the coming week. I head to the PBS conference in Orlando next month to meet all the stations from around the country with our PBS guru Gustavo Sagastume from International Media. I will then start planning those station visits around the country during summer/fall pledges.
Now everyone is asking about the tour. We will start announcing plans for a large spring 2012 tour soon. I am VERY excited about the details of that and cant wait to announce who we are working with.So, I ask your patience. Putting together a big tour involves so many moving parts and I guess the whole thing is growing faster than we realised so we are playing catch up.

Our first big PBS related tour dates however happen at Christmas. I am heading to San Francisco for a residency at the Marine's Memorial Theater for 18 dates starting Dec 13. Tickets will be available very soon. The team connected to the theater are AMAZING. The artists coming up there include Linda Eder and Glee's Darren Criss There are very exciting events happening attached to that including a spot singing at the Giants game in August. I spent a month in San Fran 10 years ago with Riverdance and it was a very special time in my life with my visiting family and friends. To get to go back to the same town with my own show in a renowned San Francisco theater is just thrilling and makes me grateful beyond belief. It will be a very big Christmas show with a BIG cast. How lucky I am!

So recording news....the cd and dvd of Beyond Celtic does not have a release date quite yet but as soon as we are allowed, I will announce our record company. I have wanted to work with this company for years. I spoke to several labels and noone excited me like these guys.

For now, I head home to Chicago to start planning...then it's Ireland for my mam's 70th birthday and some well deserved pints of Guinness.