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WHITNEY WOLANIN TO PERFORM ON EWTN'S “LIFE ON THE ROCK” DECEMBER 13TH AND JANUARY 3RD Teen vocal powerhouse Whitney Wolanin (pronunciation WO-Lan-in) recently kicked-off her holiday season with an appearance on “Life On The Rock” on EWTN, where she was interviewed and performed songs from her Christmasology album. Whitney will continue her presence on the show with a total of six more appearances through mid-January. She will have performances on the December 13th and January 3rd broadcasts. “Life On The Rock” broadcasts to 123 million homes in 140 countries and territories on more than 4,800 cable and satellite systems. Christmasology is available on Apple iTunes, and over 300 other music and ringtone download sites around the world.
WHITNEY WOLANIN GETS INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT WITH TEEN GIFT SUGGESTIONS *** TEEN VOCAL POWERHOUSE SIGNS LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH MTV Christmas is just around the corner and rising teen vocal powerhouse Whitney Wolanin (pronunciation WO-Lan-in) is getting into the holiday spirit with some gift-giving tips for teens. Whitney has put together a list of suggested gifts for teen boys and girls, which she calls Toys for Teens™ that are sure to be a hit this holiday season. The suggested gifts would also make great donations to toy drives, such as Toys For Tots , which always have a significant need for items for teens who are often overlooked by gift givers as they donate toys for younger children. All suggested gifts cost $20 or less. Whitney recently licensed her multi-track EP Loud and Clear to MTV for use on the networks hit series, “Newport Harbor” and “The Hills”. Whitney co-wrote “Loud and Clear” with her sister, pianist and composer, Victoria Wolanin. Still riding high on the widespread dance floor success of her latest single, the anthemic “Loud and Clear,” the teen songwriter and vocalist is getting ready to release these two tracks, “Silver Bells” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” from her hit 2006 release Christmasology™ (the study of Christmas) to hundreds of radio stations across the country. Whitney's Suggested Gift List for Teen Boys Skateboard Basketball Football Soccer Ball Major League/NFL/NBA Team Hats Major League/NFL/NBA Team T-Shirts Remote Control Cars Trading Cards (yu-gi-oh) CD Player Portable MP3 player Art supplies Board games (Checkers, Chess, Scrabble, Backgammon, Mancala, Monopoly) Harry Potter Books (paperback) Whitney's Suggested Gift List for Teen Girls Skateboard Basketball (girls size) Soccer Ball Craft Kits to make jewelry Art supplies Board Games (Checkers, Chess, Scrabble, Backgammon, Mancala, Monopoly) CD player (portable) MP3 player Harry Potter Books (paperback)
WHITNEY WOLANIN TO APPEAR ON EWTN'S “LIFE ON THE ROCK” NOVEMBER 15TH Teen vocal powerhouse Whitney Wolanin's (pronunciation WO-Lan-in) holiday season is getting busier and busier. On November 15th , she will appear on “ Life On The Rock ” on EWTN at 7:30 p.m. Eastern . Whitney will be interviewed and will perform songs from her Christmasology album. On the same day, Whitney's rockin' version of “ Silver Bells ” will start being played before and after movies in 6,500 movie theatres in the top 20 U.S. radio markets. “Life On The Rock” broadcasts to 123 million homes in 140 countries and territories on more than 4,800 cable and satellite systems. Music from Christmasology has already been programmed for airplay on the Doug Stephens “ Good Day America ” show and the Sounds of Christmas Internet Radio Show .
WHITNEY WOLANIN: With Christmas just around the corner, teen vocal powerhouse Whitney Wolanin (pronunciation WO-Lan-in) is excited about releasing her funked-out versions of “Silver Bells” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” to radio stations nationwide that are going with all-holiday formats or just want a little holiday pizzazz, Whitney-style, mixed in with their regular playlists. She's also re-releasing fan favorite “Frosty The Snowman,” which was a huge hit last year, hitting #11 on the Radio & Records Christmas airplay chart. While Americans are grooving on Whitney over airwaves nationwide, her 2006 hit holiday album Christmasology will also play a prominent role in the excitement surrounding the annual Carmany's Christmas Display event in Columbia, Pennsylvania. Every year, local residents Richard and Kyra Carmany put up their eye-popping neighborhood display in an effort to draw attention to, and raise money for, an incredible list of charitable foundations. The charities they support are Milagro Home (which helps women and children in transition), Habitat For Humanity, The Salvation Army and many organizations that support our armed forces, including operationuplink.com, anysoldier.com, americasupportsyou.com, letssaythanks.com, packagesfromhome.org, operationdvd.us and operationdearabby.net. The Carmanys hooked up with Whitney last holiday season, after she sent them a letter congratulating them on their Christmas light display along with a copy of Christmasology signed as a gift. The Carmanys asked her if they could purchase some signed CDs to help them raise funds, and The Wolanins wrote back saying that they would donate 50 copies to help fundraising efforts. Whitney's songs, along with those from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, will play as musical accompaniment to the display, that this year will have about 50,000 lights (up from last year's total of 35,000), 400 blowmolds, everything from Santa and Mrs. Clause, a full nativity scene, a snowman family, Santa North Pole rail road, angels, many other Santa Clauses, choir singers, a church scene with another small nativity scene, toy soldiers, and nutcrackers, that will outline the entire perimeter of the property. The Carmanys—who are currently putting up the extensive display with Richard's stepdaughter Alyssa and very good friend John Betz--will also be adding a decorated Christmas tree decorated in white, red, and blue lights, topped with a gold star, and surrounded by American flags, with a lighted sign that says “Remember our troops.” They will also be putting up an FM transmitter, which will broadcast Christmas music on 105.9 FM to car radios as they drive by. In addition to Christmasology and music from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas CDs, the temporary station will play patriotic music in remembrance of those serving in the military. The Carmanys Christmas display goes up on November 23rd and runs through January 10th. Their home is located at 615 Sycamore Drive, Columbia, PA 17512. For more information on the Carmanys Christmas display and how you can help make the holidays brighter for those in need, please visit www.carmanyschristmas.piczo.com . After November 23rd, the new website (designed by Justin Showwalter with itfocus.biz) will be www.carmanyschristmas.com . For more information on Whitney Wolanin, please visit www.WhitneyWolanin.com and www.myspace.com/whitneywolanin.
TEEN VOCAL SENSATION WHITNEY WOLANIN TO PERFORM AT ROCKIN' CHRISTMAS 6 WITH HER ALL-STAR BAND DECEMBER 15TH IN FT. MYERS Rising pop star Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in) is getting in the holiday spirit with the release of her funky version of “ Silver Bells ” and preparing for her performance at Rockin' Christmas 6 , a Christmas spectacular, featuring Christmasology: A Rockin' Holiday Hits Show, December 15th at PrivateSky Aviation Services in Ft. Myers, FL .
WHITNEY WOLANIN REAR-ENDED BY FANS
WHITNEY WOLANIN TO HELP INSPIRE TEEN GIRLS
On November 10th and 11th, rising teen pop singer Whitney Wolanin (pronunciation WO-Lan-in) will take part in inspiring teen girls to be a “more confident you” at the B.A.B.E. Event (Beautiful. Accepted. Blessed. Eternally Significant.) in Ft. Myers , FL . Hosted by author and BRIO Beauty Editor, Andrea Stephens , the event is designed for middle and high school girls in an effort to teach them to love themselves, their look and have more self-confidence. Whitney will perform songs including a special acoustic version of her new single “Loud and Clear”, with her NORD Stage piano. She will also sign autographs for all in attendance. In this popular one-day ‘chick-chat' with teens, Andrea draws on her personal experience as a former professional model to teach teen girls (and women) that true beauty comes from a heart that belongs to the Lord. Also taking place during the event will be a performance by TruEmotion, a fashion show hosted by Sarah Augusthy of WINK-TV and a pizza party. Attendees will also receive a copy of Andrea's “ Bible B.A.B.E. ” and will have a chance to win a $100 iTunes Gift Card. The B.A.B.E. Event will take place at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Ft. Myers, FL. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door and are available at www.itickets.com or by calling the church office at 239-334-9837. Andrea is presently the Director of The Beautifully Created Program , an inner and outer beauty course for teen girls. She also teaches Little Miss Manners and Young Gents etiquette classes for kids. Several years ago she developed The B.A.B.E. Event ™ She is also the Beauty Editor for BRIO Magazine (Focus On The Family's publication for teen girls). Whitney recently licensed her multi-track EP Loud and Clear to MTV for use on the networks hit series, “Newport Harbor” and “The Hills”. Whitney co-wrote “Loud and Clear” with her sister, pianist and composer, Victoria Wolanin. The “Loud and Clear” dance mix has climbed to the top 20 on various dance charts in recent weeks. For more information on the B.A.B.E. Event, please visit www.andreastephens.com . To learn more about Whitney and hear “Loud and Clear”, please visit www.WhitneyWolanin.com and www.myspace.com/whitneywolanin. Event Details: WHO: Rising teen pop singer Whitney Wolanin WHAT: A performance and autograph signing at the B.A.B.E. Event (Beautiful. Accepted. Blessed. Eternally Significant.) WHEN: November 10th (middle school girls) and 11th (high school girls) 4-9 p.m. WHERE: Covenant Presbyterian Church DETAILS: Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door and are available at www.itickets.com or by calling the church office at 239-334-9837. For more information on the B.A.B.E. Event, visit www.andreastephens.com .
CALLING ALL SORORITIES: WHITNEY WOLANIN WANTS TO HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR Calling all sororities: win a live performance by rising teen pop singer Whitney Wolanin (pronunciation WO-Lan-in), if she can hear you loud and clear ! Whitney invites sororities to make a video of them singing her new single “Loud and Clear” and upload it to YouTube, or other video hosting web sites, for her to see. The winning video will receive a live performance by Whitney in 2008. The top three videos will also be submitted to MTV, VH1 and other video networks. Videos should be uploaded no later than December 15, 2007 . Videos should be titled “Whitney Wolanin Loud and Clear – (sorority name) – (school name)” and the keywords should follow the same. Video links should be sent to LoudClearContest@wolanin.com , along with the sorority contact information. Winners will be notified by e-mail on or before January 31, 2008 . To request Whitney's Loud and Clear EP for video use, please contact Jen Onsum at jenonsum@luckmedia.com or James Levesque at james@luckmedia.com . Posters are also available to promote sorority video shoots. Whitney recently licensed her multi-track EP Loud and Clear to MTV for use on the networks hit series, “ Newport Harbor ” and “ The Hills ”. Whitney co-wrote “Loud and Clear” with her sister, pianist and composer, Victoria Wolanin. To learn more about Whitney and hear “Loud and Clear”, please visit www.WhitneyWolanin.com and www.myspace.com/whitneywolanin.
WHITNEY WOLANIN: THE TEEN VOCAL POWERHOUSE ROCKS THE HOLIDAY SEASON AGAIN WITH UPCOMING RADIO SINGLES “SILVER BELLS” AND “HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING” * * * Last Year, Wolanin's Funked Out Version Of “Frosty The Snowman”— From Her Popular ‘Christmasology' Album—Hit #11 On Radio & Records' Christmas Airplay Chart Christmas is just around the corner, and Whitney Wolanin (pronunciation WO-Lan-in) is coming to town once again, rocking harder than ever with her funky twists on the holiday favorites “Silver Bells” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. ” Still riding high on the widespread dance floor success of her latest single, the anthemic “Loud And Clear,” the teen vocal powerhouse is getting ready to release these two tracks from her hit 2006 release Christmasology to hundreds of radio stations across the country. Anticipating more airplay on stations with all-holiday formats or who simply add holiday songs into their regular rotations, she will also re-release fan favorite “Frosty The Snowman.” “Frosty” was a huge hit last Christmas, hitting #11 on the Radio & Records Christmas chart. “I chose ‘Frosty' as the first single last year because it's fun, upbeat and represents the whole spirit of the album, plus it was my favorite song to record,” says Wolanin. “The whole album is like a big Christmas party, with friends getting together with friends and having a good time. ‘Silver Bells' is a great song that doesn't get the attention it really deserves, and I think my version captures that same happy vibe. It's one of my favorite songs to dance to when I perform my holiday shows. We're releasing ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing' as a bonus track because many stations like to play more spiritual Christmas songs and this gives them that option. But it's still pretty rockin'!” Last season, Wolanin performed her Christmas music in numerous places throughout her home state of Florida, including a date singing with the Southwest Florida Symphony at the Barbara D. Mann Performing Arts Center in Ft. Myers; she also performed as the headliner with her band at a charity event for the Rockin' Christmas Fund (raising over $100,000 dollars for college scholarships) in her own community and did another show at Holiday Festival in Kissimmee. The singer will soon be announcing live dates schedule for the upcoming holiday season. Wolanin says that she's heard a lot of very “blah” Christmas albums in her life, and wanted to bring an uptempo rock vibe to Christmasology which would be a unique, contemporary expression of the fun way she views the season. “Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year,” she says, “and I thought it would be fun to redo a bunch of traditional songs to make them tunes you could party to. On the fast songs, I'd figure out my key and then have my drummer keep increasing the tempo to get me to the highest phrasing possible on each song. It was a challenge to sing over grooves that were so fast, but it was worth it. I love how it came out. It's as hot as we could get it!” Christmasology, which was mixed by famed engineer Joe Smith (Destiny's Child, Mariah Carey, Backstreet Boys, ‘N Sync), also includes several gentle, spiritual moments, including a beautiful A cappella approach to “O Come All Ye Faithful” and a gentle piano and drum brushes arrangement of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” All of this Christmas activity will cap another extraordinary year for the young singer/songwriter. In a unique promotional move, “Loud And Clear”—co-written by the 17-year-old Whitney with her 20-year-old sister Victoria—was released first to dance clubs in five different versions: a radio edit, a dance radio remix, an extended club remix (featuring a tribal vibe), a club dub instrumental remix and an extended club remix featuring her vocals only. The version called “Loud and Clear Remix” hit the Top 40 on both the U.S. and Canadian dance charts reaching #21 on Sept 5, 2007 ; the regular version received extensive national airplay at theatres everywhere this summer on Movie Tunes. “Now that I'm finally a senior in high school, I feel that I'm finally grown up and I realize how much I have matured as both a person and artist over the past few years,” she says. “I feel like I am in a good frame of mind to write a lot of great new material, and I'm look forward to getting out there and performing some of my new songs acoustically, with me singing and playing the piano!”
WHAT IS BLACK & WHITE AND RED ALL OVER? WHY IT IS WHITNEY WOLANIN'S NEW NORD STAGE 88 PIANO Rising teen pop star, singer/songwriter and accomplished pianist Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in) has been on the fast track in recent months. Recent accomplishments include the coveted placement of Whitney and her new EP Loud and Clear on the Apple iTunes Pop Music homepage as well as beginning an artist relationship with Clavia Nord Sweden. Whitney has selected the Nord Stage 88 piano for use on stage during her upcoming tour of dance clubs later this summer. The Nord Stage 88 piano was awarded "Best Stage Piano" by the Musikmesse International Press for 2007 and is used on stage by such artists as Maroon 5 , Pink , No Doubt , Dixie Chicks , Sheryl Crow , Korn, and Sarah Maclachlan. "Miss Wolanin is a talented performer, and we look forward to following her career. We are glad that Whitney's youthful enthusiasm and pure talent will be augmented with our instruments." remarked Jason Stanfield, Product Manager for Nord USA. Known for it's bright red color, the Clavia Nord Stage 88 is pehaps the ultimate stage piano, with 88 fully weighted keys, aftertouch, pitch stick and mod wheel. The four-output Nord Stage 88 features three distinct sound sources, organ, piano, and synth, which can be split into separate key groups across the keyboard. The Clavia Nord Stage 88 also has comprehensive MIDI master keyboard features that make it a viable option as the main keyboard controller of your rig. At less than 40 lb. the Nord Stage 88 is light enough to travel, especially given the 88 hammer-action weighted keyboard. “The Nord Stage 88, to me the best weighted keyboard for professionals, has the coolest bright red paint job” says the 16-year-old pop star smiling after opening the 88 box. “I am looking forward to composing new material on the Stage 88 and playing live for my fans. I can move the 88 keyboard easily from the studio to the stage, which was not very easy with my Concert Grand Piano" For more on Whitney Wolanin, visit www.whitneywolanin.com and www.myspace.com/whitneywolanin . For more on Clavia Nord Sweden, visit www.clavia.se/main.asp
WHITNEY WOLANIN SENDS HER MESSAGE LOUD AND CLEAR WITH ITUNES Rising teen pop star Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in) has received many great compliments and honors during her career, and iTunes has just added to the list. The editors of iTunes have selected Whitney and her new EP Loud and Clear to receive one of just a few coveted placements on their Pop music home page starting Tuesday, May 15th . Joining her on the Pop music home page are John Mayer , R. Kelly , Lifehouse , Carrie Underwood , Kimberly Locke and Paris Bennett . The Loud and Clear EP includes 5 different versions of the song, including a hot club remix, extended dub and vocals-only remix. The “Loud and Clear” club remix is being serviced to dance clubs nation-wide. Whitney is planning a tour of dance clubs for later this summer. For more on Whitney Wolanin, visit www.whitneywolanin.com and www.myspace.com/whitneywolanin .
WHITNEY WOLANIN IS COMING ‘LOUD AND CLEAR' TO MOVIE THEATRES AND DANCE CLUBS NEAR YOU * * * Rising Teen Pop Star Is Gearing-Up For Release Of EP ‘Loud and Clear' Rising teen pop star Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in) is spreading her message loud and clear this summer with the release of her new multi-track, multi-mix single as an EP, Loud and Clear. To celebrate the release, “Loud and Clear” will be played before the greatly-anticipated releases of “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End” in the Top 20 U.S. markets with a total of 6,500 theatres. The song will be played over 1.7 million times during the theater run to an audience of 8 million listeners. The Loud and Clear EP will include 5 different versions of the song, including a hot club remix, extended dub and vocals-only remix. The “Loud and Clear” club remix is being serviced to dance clubs nation-wide. Whitney is planning a tour of dance clubs for later this summer. The Loud and Clear EP will be available for purchase on iTunes and 200 other download sites around the world. For more on Whitney Wolanin, visit www.whitneywolanin.com and www.myspace.com/whitneywolanin .
SHE'S COMING THROUGH“LOUD AND CLEAR”: ANTICIPATION OF A MULTI-TRACK EP LATER THIS YEAR * * * Over the past two years, as the first two singles from her mega-popular independent debut 'Funkology XIII' were scaling the charts, powerhouse teen vocalist Whitney Wolanin (pronunciation WO-Lan-in) traveled the country, singing for thousands of fans and inspiring her peers to live healthier lives by seeking their own individuality. This summer, the funk and inspiration extends to dance floors everywhere as she gets ready to perform at clubs in support of her explosive new teen empowerment anthem “Loud and Clear.” In an extraordinary promotional move, the track—co-written by the 16-year-old Wolanin and her 20-year-old sister Victoria—will be released first to dance clubs in five versions: a radio edit, a dance radio remix, an extended club remix (featuring a tribal vibe), a club dub instrumental remix and an A cappella track featuring her vocals only. The instrumental and vocal only mixes will give club DJs and remixers the opportunity to create their own musical collages of the song. A nationwide contest for the best “video blog version” that includes the radio edit or any of the remixes off the extended single is in the works. The dance promotion of “Loud And Clear” will be handled by the industry's top promoter Brad Le Beau's Pro Motion, which has over the years successfully achieved global prominence for dance mixes of hits by superstars Anastacia, Cher, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Enrique Iglesias, Janet Jackson, Jennifer (J-Lo) Lopez, Madonna and Shakira. The dance promotion, slated for late spring, is geared towards building momentum before the radio edit and dance radio remix of “Loud And Clear” are promoted to mainstream pop radio stations in early summer. Wolanin has been a familiar sight on the AC charts since the release of 'Funkology XIII' in the summer of 2005. “It Takes Two,” her duet with Survivor lead singer Jimi Jamison from 'Funkology XIII' , hit #9 on FMQB's AC40 Chart, was a #1 most added, and spent 20 weeks on the chart. Wolanin's teen empowerment anthem “Good” stayed on the same chart for 47 weeks, hitting #7—all incredible figures for a debut artist. This past holiday season, a fiery cover of “Frosty The Snowman” from her Christmasology™ release hit #11 on Radio & Records AC chart. While her previous recordings showcased Wolanin as a strong interpreter of outside material, “Loud And Clear”—and the other songs she is working on for a multi-track EP release later this year—represents a songbook of her astounding strengths as a songwriter. “Victoria and I have always been outspoken and outgoing about the things we believe,” she says, “and one of the things we are most passionate about is being individuals and encouraging others to stand out, be themselves and assert their own individuality. This song was inspired by that idea. It's really about who I am and who she is, a song totally about ourselves. She's sung background for me many times, and as a songwriter, she's a bit older and wiser and adds experience to my music about things that I haven't been through.” A natural born storyteller, Wolanin won numerous awards for her writing when she was younger, and sees her growth as a songwriter as a natural, musical extension of that talent. In writing some of the songs for the upcoming EP, she drew upon an archive of lyrics she composed over time and began setting them to music. The tunes she wrote with Victoria began with the two sitting on Whitney's bed, riffing on lyrics and bouncing ideas off each other until they agreed that they were on the right track. They're very honest with each other; if a song is completed and they don't feel it has immediate hit potential, they discard it. “Our philosophy is to write hit songs and not filler,” she says. “Because I'm not under the demands of a major label, I can take my time to ensure that every song is great.” After the success of 'Funkology XIII' , Wolanin was approached by numerous well- known songwriters with material they hoped she might cut. After listening intently, she decided she'd rather sing her own songs, and, in line with her whole “individuality” campaign, let her own voice as a composer be heard for the first time. “I think both ‘Loud and Clear' and the other material I am working on shows a lot about myself,” she says. “In the past, I recorded songs (with the exception of GOOD and Christmas (the Warmest Time of the Year) that I had no part in writing, but there were times when I added and rewrote the lyrics, so I've been developing for a long time. I just think writing my own material is a way to let my fans get to know the real me. It's also great to be self-reliant, which makes the process of recording an album much more efficient. If I write a song that's about an experience that my friends or I have had, maybe that can connect with listeners and influence their lives in a positive way. I like writing stories to music that can affect people like this. “The songs we are working on all deal with teen related issues that we go through every day,” she adds. “I love to inspire teen girls, but I know guys will be able to relate as well. They're about important things like dealing with peer pressure, heartache and life's ups and downs. It's also amazing writing with my sister and having my dad (Vincent) co-produce my recordings. I think bonds between people are important, and nothing is more important to me than my family. This is another aspect of who I am that I am eager to express. With everything I do, I want to put my own life into it, and they're obviously a huge part of my life.” While she's looking forward to performing live in dance clubs this summer, Wolanin is also scheduled to make appearances at various major league ballparks, including Fenway Park in Boston, singing the national anthem for a Red Sox game. Her popular MySpace page has earned her legions of fans throughout the world, and many of her fans from as far away as Japan, Australia, Finland and Iceland are urging her to come do concerts in their countries. “It's all just very exciting for me right now,” she says. “I've enjoyed connecting with fans singing other people's material, and I'm really looking forward to getting out there and performing my own material live for the first time.”
TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME It's Spring Training time for Major League Baseball teams across the country and all-American girl and honor student Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in) is ready to take part in the action in Florida singing the National Anthem twice in March. Whitney will sing the National Anthem just before Japanese-born player Daisuke Matsuzaka and the Boston Red Sox take on Derek Jeter and the N.Y. Yankees on March 12 th at City of Palms Park in Ft. Myers . This will mark the third time Whitney has sung for the Boston Red Sox since she started singing for them when she was only 13-years-old. On March 15 th , Whitney will sing the National Anthem just before Joe Mauer and the Minnesota Twins take on Miguel Tejada and the Baltimore Orioles at Bill Hammond Stadium in Ft. Myers . Whitney, now 16, is currently recording a multi-song Pop/Rock EP titled “Loud and Clear” for TopNotch® Records , expected for release later this year. For more on Whitney, visit www.whitneywolanin.com and www.myspace.com/whitneywolanin .
WHITNEY WOLANIN IS SINGING IT “LOUD AND CLEAR”: TEEN VOCAL POWERHOUSE AND NATIONAL ROLE MODEL CONTINUES TO INSPIRE HER PEERS TO DISCOVER AND DEVELOP THEIR OWN INDIVIDUALITY Whether she's in the studio recording her next big hit, performing live for thousands of people at venues nationwide or speaking out to inspire teens to live healthier, happier lives, 16-year-old vocal powerhouse Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in)
strives to make an impact. This coming November, she will be a guest singer and panelist at The B.A.B.E. event in Fort Myers, Florida, Geared towards teaching teen girls that they are Beautiful, Accepted, Blessed and Eternally Significant, B.A.B.E.—whose motto is “Making a life changing investment into the lives of teen girls--is an outreach of renowned inspirational writer and speaker Andrea Stephens.
RISING TEEN POP STAR WHITNEY WOLANIN TO APPEAR ON THE AUSTIN HARRIS SHOW Rising pop star Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in) will chat with syndicated radio show host, Austin Harris , on The Beacon Syndicated Radio Network (www.beaconradio.org). The interview will be broken into various segments and topics and will air on several dates and times. The program will broadcast on over 60 stations across the country, as well as to over 170 foreign countries reaching U.S. land stationed troops, as well as to U.S. Navy Ships at sea. The Beacon is a family program, aiming to open the hearts of listeners with programming that is encouraging, entertaining and inspiring. Whitney has also received an honorable invitation recognizing her academic achievements. The Thomas Alva Edison Chapter of the National Honor Society has selected Whitney to be a member of their elite group. Whitney will be inducted on Tuesday, February 13 th . With maintaining a 4.52 GPA in the International Baccalaureate World School Program while piloting a budding music career, it's no wonder the group selected Whitney. Whitney, now 16, is currently recording a multi-song Pop/Rock EP for TopNotch® Records , expected for release later this year.
MTV COMPARES RISING TEEN POP STAR WHITNEY WOLANIN TO JOSS STONE Rising pop star Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in) has received some flattering comparisons over the years and now she has received one from a source that certainly knows music. MTV.com has included Whitney in their “related artists” list for adult alternative pop/rock star, Joss Stone . Other prominent singers included on the list are Mary J. Blige, Erykah Badu, Macy Gray and Nelly Furtado. Just like Joss did when she emerged in her teen years, Whitney has a sound wise beyond her years and even had the studio musicians and engineers thinking she was 20-years-old when she was just 13.
CHRISTMAS IS THE MERRIEST TIME OF YEAR Rising pop star Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in) is having a Merry Christmas this year. She recently performed her hit holiday single, a rockin' version of “Frosty The Snowman” , and her other songs from her recently-released holiday album Christmasology at Rockin' Christmas 5 , a Christmas spectacular held at the Germain Arena in Estero, FL . “Frosty The Snowman” peaked this week at #11 on the R&R Billboard Media Base Chart , just one spot ahead of Clay Aiken and surrounded by Sarah McLachlan, Josh Groban , and Enya. “Frosty The Snowman” has also been receiving airplay on over 800 radio stations across the U.S., Canada and New Zealand, as well as in over 1,300 movie theaters across the country. This past weekend, Whitney performed two sold-out shows at the Southwest Florida Symphony as a part of their “A Very Merry Pops” at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Center in Ft. Myers . When Whitney released her own set of online safety tips last spring, the Youth Crime Watch of America invited her to be the organization's worldwide celebrity spokesperson. Whitney helped YCWA celebrate over two decades of making the lives of youth better at the Youth Crime Watch of America's 20th Anniversary Celebration & Reunion. Whitney's tips are featured and available for viewing on the Youth Crime Watch of America web site at www.ycwa.org. Christmasology is available for sale on iTunes and www.whitneywolanin.com .
Photo Caption: TopNotch® Records Artist Whitney Wolanin singing a song from her recently-released holiday album Christmasology , to 11-year-old Katie Singleton at Rockin' 5, a Christmas spectacular, December 16 th at the Germain Arena in Estero, FL.
CHRISTMAS IS THE MERRIEST TIME OF YEAR Rising pop star Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in) is having a Merry Christmas this year. She is in good company on the charts this week with her rockin' version of “Frosty The Snowman” from her new holiday album, Christmasology . Whitney is #28 on the FMQB Top 40 AC Chart surrounded by Jim Brickman, Bette Midler, Snow Patrol, The Goo Goo Dolls and The Fray . “Frosty The Snowman” has also been receiving airplay on the John Tesh Radio Show , which is syndicated on 325 radio stations across the U.S. , Canada and New Zealand . Whitney has contributed her self-empowerment hit single “ Good ”, from her debut album “ Funkology XIII ”, to raise money for popular former University of Memphis Coach Larry Finch who suffered a stroke. The album, " Eye of a Tiger, A Tribute to Larry Finch ", will be released on Tuesday, December 19 th , and will include 16 previously released songs from Al Green, the Bo-Keys, Susan Marshall and Rusty Lemon , as well as new and unreleased songs by legendary former Survivor vocalist Jimi Jamison (a redux of " Eye of Tiger "), rapper Al Kapone (" For My True Fans "), folk-soul singer Jimmy Davis (a cover of " Folsom Prison Blues ”), and a rendition of " Further Along " by former Tigers basketball player-turned-musician John Kilzer . The U of M marching band contributes its version of " Eye of the Tiger " and the school's fight song as bonus tracks. " Eye of a Tiger, A Tribute to Larry Finch ", will be available at Wal-Mart, Best Buy, FYE, Cat's, Poplar Tunes, Spin Street , Border's Books, David-Kidd Booksellers, Tennessee Sports Zone, and the official Tiger booth at the FedExForum in Memphis . Whitney will perform at the Southwest Florida Symphony's “A Very Merry Pops” on December 22 nd & 23 rd at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Center in Ft. Myers .
Teen Vocal Sensation WHITNEY WOLANIN To Perform at Rockin' V with Her All-Star Band December 16th in Estero, FL, at Germain Arena Rising pop star Whitney Wolanin's (pronounced WO-Lan-in) holiday schedule is a busy one! A ter a successful performance this past weekend at the Kissimmee Holiday Extravaganza, Whitney will perform with her All-Star Band at Rockin' V , a Christmas spectacular December 16 th at the Germain Arena in Estero , FL. Whitney will perform spirited versions of holiday songs, such as “Frosty the Snowman,” currently #28 on the Top 40 AC radio charts, plus others from her holiday album, Christmasology , which also includes several spiritual moments, including a beautiful a cappella approach to “O Come All Ye Faithful” and a gentle soulful piano arrangement of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” One Whitney fan will have the chance to win a free, two-year lease on a four-door Chrysler Jeep Wrangler included in the price of the ticket. Rockin' 5 is Southwest Florida's biggest and best holiday fundraiser, benefiting the Rockin' Christmas Fund, which over the years has raised over $750,000 for various charities. The fund also includes a permanent college scholarship endowment, which every year awards students financial assistance with their college needs. WHO: Teen vocal sensation Whitney Wolanin WHEN: December 16 th DETAILS: Limited Tickets still available at the Germain Arena the day of the event or by calling (239) 418-1500.
IT'S BEGINNING TO SOUND A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS Rising pop star Whitney Wolanin 's (pronounced WO-Lan-in) rockin' single “Frosty The Snowman” , from her new album Christmasology , has been a #1 Most Added Christmas song twice in the past 3 weeks on the FMQB AC Chart and now it's about to get some even more major airplay. The Doug Stephans Good Day show will play “Frosty The Snowman” at 7:30 a.m. Eastern on Tuesday, December 5th . This nationwide radio talk show is aired on over 325 stations in over 400 markets .
SPIRITUAL AND FUN! TEEN VOCALIST REACHES YOUTH AND ADULTS WITH ‘CHRISTMASOLOGY'
Christmasology is available for sale on iTunes and www.whitneywolanin.com .
IT'S BEGINNING TO SOUND A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS Rising pop star Whitney Wolanin's (pronounced WO-Lan-in) holiday season is off to a great start! Her rockin' single “Frosty The Snowman”, from her new album Christmasology, was the #1 Most Added Christmas song on the FMQB AC Chart the week of November 5, 2006. “Frosty The Snowman” will be played in over 1,300 AMC, Regal and Cinemark movie theaters and in over 200 AMC and Loews theater lobbies in December. Whitney will have people decking the halls and dancing in the aisles when she is heard by over 1.34 million moviegoers. Christmasology is available for sale on iTunes and www.whitneywolanin.com .
IT'S BEGINNING TO SOUND A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS * * * Teen Vocal Sensation Whitney Wolanin to Perform Throughout Florida This Holiday Season Rising pop star Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in) is getting ready to deck the halls and put on her dancing shoes for a holiday season filled with performances sure to put everyone in the holiday spirit. On December 9th, Whitney will headline the Kissimmee Holiday Extravaganza with her dancers at the Kissimmee Lakefront in Kissimmee, FL. Also featured will be The Sophisticates classical pops orchestra, a hand bell choir, Fireside Carolers and the Judy James Dance Studio with a classic holiday performance. On December 16th, Whitney will perform with her All-Star Band at Rockin' 5, a Christmas spectacular at the Germain Arena in Estero, FL. Rockin' 5 is Southwest Florida's biggest and best holiday fundraiser, benefiting the Rockin' Christmas Fund which over the years has raised over $750,000 for various charities. Also performing will be the Fort Myers H.S. London New Years Day Band and the SW Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra and Choir. On December 22nd & 23rd, backed by the full symphony of orchestra, Whitney will perform at the Southwest Florida Symphony's “A Very Merry Pops” at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Center in Ft. Myers, FL . Also performing are the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Chorus, Children's Chorus, and other special guests from the community, including Woodworks. At each performance Whitney will perform songs from her forthcoming holiday album, Christmasology , which includes several spiritual moments, including a beautiful a cappella approach to “O Come All Ye Faithful” and a gentle soulful piano arrangement of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” Whitney is gearing up for the release of Christmasology, featuring 15 of the world's favorite sacred and secular classics, and is expected to be "choc" full of Holiday treats. The first single “Frosty The Snowman” will be released to radio on November 7th.
TEEN VOCAL SENSATION WHITNEY WOLANIN CONTINUES TO BE "GOOD" Rising pop star Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in) continues to prove how good she is on Songcast.net . The site, which allows fans to discover new artists by listening to free streams of artists on their network, recently featured Whitney as an “ Editor's Pick ”.
Teen Vocal Sensation Whitney Wolanin To Perform At Youth Crime Watch of America's 20th Anniversary Celebration & Reunion October 20th in Miami Beach, FL When role model and rising pop star Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in) released her own set of online safety tips last spring, the Youth Crime Watch of America invited her to be the organization's spokesperson. Now the vocal sensation is gearing up to help them celebrate over two decades of making the lives of youth better! Whitney will perform at the Youth Crime Watch of America's 20th Anniversary Celebration & Reunion on October 20th at Parrot Jungle Island in Miami, FL .
IT'S BEGINNING TO SOUND A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS Rising pop star Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in) with her multi octave soulful voice is getting ready to deck the halls and put on her dancing shoes for her headlining gig at the Kissimmee Holiday Extravaganza December 9th at the Kissimmee Lakefront .
CHRISTMAS IS THE BUSIEST TIME OF YEAR * * * Teen Vocal Sensation Whitney Wolanin to Perform at Rockin' 5 with Her All-Star Band December 16th at Germain Arena Rising pop star Whitney Wolanin 's (pronounced WO-Lan-in) holiday schedule is getting busier and busier! Whitney will once again perform with her All-Star Band at Rockin' 5 , a Christmas spectacular December 16th at the Germain Arena in Estero , FL. Whitney will perform songs from her forthcoming holiday album, Christmasology , which includes several spiritual moments, including a beautiful a cappella approach to “O Come All Ye Faithful” and a gentle soulful piano arrangement of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” Rockin' 5 is Southwest Florida's biggest and best holiday fundraiser, benefiting the Rockin' Christmas Fund which over the years has raised over $750,000 for various charities. The fund also includes a permanent college scholarship endowment, which every year awards students financial assistance with their college needs. This year, in addition to the scholarship fund, the event will benefit Fort Myers High School 's Marching Band trip to London England , Southwest Florida Symphony and various other youth groups. Also performing are the Fort Myers High School (London New Years 2007) Marching Band, the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra Organization , including the Chorus, Children's Chorus and other surprise celebrity special guests. Whitney recently wrapped-up recording in the studio for Christmasology , featuring 15 of the world's favorite sacred and secular classics, and is expected to be "choc" full of Holiday treats.
IT'S BEGINNING TO SOUND A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS * * * Teen Vocal Sensation Whitney Wolanin to Take Part in “A Very Merry Pops” With The Southwest Florida Symphony December 22nd & 23rd Rising pop star Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in) is getting ready to deck the halls and put on her dancing shoes for the Southwest Florida Symphony's “A Very Merry Pops” on December 22 nd & 23 rd at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Center in Ft. Myers . Backed by the full symphony of orchestra, Whitney will perform songs from her forthcoming holiday album, Christmasology , which includes several spiritual moments, including a beautiful a cappella approach to “O Come All Ye Faithful” and a gentle soulful piano arrangement of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” Also performing are the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Chorus, Children's Chorus, and other special guests from the community, including Woodworks. Whitney recently wrapped-up recording in the studio for Christmasology , featuring 15 of the world's favorite sacred and secular classics, and is expected to be "choc" full of Holiday treats.
IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHOCOLATE: * * * TEEN VOCAL SENSATION WHITNEY WOLANIN'S ROCKIN' HOLIDAY ALBUM CHRISTMASOLOGY SET TO HIT DEPARTMENT STORES AND SPECIALTY FOOD SHOPS AS PART OF PACKAGE OF CUSTOM HANDCRAFTED CHOCOLATES BY FAMED BELGIAN CHOCOLATIER INGO WULLAERT * * * The Powerhouse Singer Will Perform Songs >From High Energy Collection of Sacred and Secular Classics—Which Was Mixed By Engineer Joe Smith (Destiny's Child, Mariah Carey, Backstreet Boys)—With Southwest Florida Symphony And Her Own Band At Various Florida Venues Throughout December * * * Highly Anticipated Album Caps An Incredible Year For Wolanin, Whose Debut ‘ Funkology XIII ' Spawned The Hit Singles “It Takes Two” (#9, 20 Weeks On FMQB's AC40 Chart) And The Teen Empowerment Anthem “Good” (#7, 45 Weeks on FMQB) Whitney Wolanin is coming to town, so start decking those halls, and don't forget to put on your dancing shoes! This holiday season, everyone from Santa on down will be “Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree” with the teen vocal sensation, who brings an edgy, grooving new energy to 15 of the world's favorite sacred and secular classics on her latest album Christmasology . Mixed by famed engineer Joe Smith (Destiny's Child, Mariah Carey, Backstreet Boys, ‘N Sync), the collection, which is due to drop worldwide in late October, caps an amazing year for the young singer, whose popular debut Funkology XIII spawned two powerful hit singles since its early 2006 release. “It Takes Two,” her duet with Survivor lead singer Jimi Jamison, hit #9 on FMQB's AC40 Chart, was a #1 most added, and spent 20 weeks on the chart. Wolanin's teen empowerment anthem “Good” stayed on the same chart for 47 weeks, hitting #7—all incredible figures for a debut artist. Also this year, Youth Crime Watch of America picked her as a featured spokesperson for helping young people avoid problems on the internet. She is featured on YCWA websites throughout the world, and the page views in June 2006 alone total over 200,000 hits. In addition to a wide release at brick and mortar stores, availability on her own website ( www.WhitneyWolanin.com ) and literally every online website and download website in the world, Christmasology is going to be sold at department stores, specialty food stores and candy shops as part of a unique package with custom hand crafted chocolates by Belgian born Chocolatier Ingo Wullaert . The chocolate manufacturer, who is based in both Belgium and Naples, Florida and counts himself as a big fan of Wolanin's, is including a copy of the album with a special box of chocolates shaped to look like Christmas ornaments. The package will also include a whimsical “Story of the Belgian Chocolates Music Company,” written by the singer, which explains the joyful connection between holiday music and chocolate: “Gourmet Handcrafted Belgian Chocolates, made with only the finest ingredients, paired with spirited music that would make everyone once again believe in the true meaning of Christmas.” Wolanin will also be celebrating the season with a series of live performances throughout December in her home state of Florida . Working around her school schedule, she will be performing “Christmasology” with her own band and dancers at dates in Estero and Sanibel Island , and will be singing backed by the Southwest Florida Symphony at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Center in Ft. Myers . She is also currently filming a High Definition TV pilot of music from Christmasology for rebroadcast, which will be divided into various videos to air during the holiday season. Wolanin says that she's heard a lot of very “blah” Christmas albums in her life, and wanted to bring an up-tempo rock vibe to Christmasology which would be a unique, contemporary expression of the fun way she views the season. “Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year, and I thought it would be fun to redo a bunch of traditional songs to make them tunes you could party to. On the fast songs, I'd figure out my key and then have my drummer keep increasing the tempo to get me to the fastest groove possible on each song. It was a challenge to sing and accomplish the phrasing over grooves that were so fast, but it was worth it. I love how it came out. It's as hot as we could get it!” Christmasology also includes several gentle, spiritual moments, including a beautiful a capella approach to “O Come All Ye Faithful” and a gentle soulful piano arrangement of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” Wolanin is currently working on original material for her next album writing by herself and co-writing with her Piano Playing Sister Victoria Wolanin, with the new songs scheduled for release in 2007.
TEEN VOCAL SENSATION WHITNEY WOLANIN IS GOOD * * * Wolanin Claims Songcast.net Number One Spot Rising pop star Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in) is proving once again she is good ! The teen role-model's anthem of empowerment “Good”, from her debut album Funkology XIII , has claimed the number one spot on the SongCast.net Pop Chart for the week of July 15 th . The chart is determined by the number of plays songs receive. SongCast.net allows fans to discover new artists by listening to free streams of artists on their network. Whitney recently wrapped-up recording in the studio for Christmasology, featuring 15 of the world's favorite sacred and secular classics, and is expected to be "choc" full of treats.
TEEN POP SINGER & ROLE MODEL PROMOTES ONLINE SAFETY * * * Whitney Wolanin Teams with Youth Crime Watch of America to Promote Online Safety Online safety has become a serious issue for teens in this “cyber age” and is a hot topic in the news media. Role model and rising pop star Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in) has teamed with Youth Crime Watch of America after the organization took notice of Whitney's national campaign to keep teens safe while online. Out of a concern for the safety of fellow teens and prompted by recent media coverage of MySpace, as well as the need to set guidelines for teens and users of online communities, the 15-year-old rising pop star offered tips on the safe use of these popular websites and protecting the family computer. Whitney's online safety tips include refraining from meeting people met online, never sharing personal information or pictures, and having fun in a safe online environment. Whitney has witnessed "cyber-bullying" and "cyber-stalking" first hand and has created a simple list of tips for teens to remain safe and to protect their personal identity. The blonde haired, green eyed high school sophomore first offered her tips to her fans, friends and relatives after her own family and classmates were affected by users who abuse online communities such as MySpace. Whitney's tips are featured and available for viewing on the Youth Crime Watch of America web site at www.ycwa.org/tips/netrulzww.htm . YCW will also post the tips on the international language sites with translations in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, German, Polish, and Romanian. Youth Crime Watch of America (YCWA) brings youth of all backgrounds together to identify and correct problems unique to their schools and communities. The YCW program empowers youth to take an active role in addressing the problems around them. Youth take ownership of their own YCW program for their school, neighborhood, public housing site, recreational center or park. YCWA has programs across the country and around the world, demonstrating that young people can make a difference keeping their schools and communities safe from crime, drugs and violence. While spending most of the day chasing academic perfection in school, Whitney's new single, “It Takes Two” with famed Survivor lead singer Jimi Jamison, is quickly climbing the charts reaching the #9 spot on the FMQB AC TOP 40 Radio Chart (April 19th). Whitney is presently in the studio recording a Christmas release of Holiday classics in her own distinctive musical style. For more infromation on Youth Crime Watch of America , please visit: www.ycwa.org .
TEEN POP SINGER & ROLE MODEL OFFERS TIPS FOR ONLINE SAFETY * * * Whitney Wolanin Has Witnessed "Cyber-Stalking" & "Cyber-Bullying" First Hand * * * Whitney's Single "It Takes Two" Charts At #9 On FMQB AC TOP 40 Radio Chart Role model and rising pop star Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in) enjoys spending time on the internet just as much as any other teen, despite her busy schedule of academics and her recent success on the radio charts. The recent media coverage on MySpace and the need to set guidelines for teens and users of online communities has prompted the 15-year-old rising pop star to offer tips on the safe use of these popular websites and protecting the family computer. Whitney has witnessed "cyber-bullying" and "cyber-stalking" first hand and has created a simple list of tips for teens to remain safe and to protect their personal identity. The blonde haired, green eyed high school sophomore first offered her tips to her fans, friends and relatives after her own family and classmates were effected by users who abuse online communities such as MySpace. Here are Whitney's tips for online safety in her own words: 9. R-E-S-P-E-C-T – Respect yourself and others. Don't say or do things online that you wouldn't say in person, especially things that could embarrass you, your friends, or your family. While spending most of the day chasing academic perfection in school, Whitney's new single, “It Takes Two” with famed Survivor lead singer Jimi Jamison, is quickly climbing the charts reaching the #9 spot on the FMQB AC TOP 40 Radio Chart (April 19th). Whitney is now back in the studio preparing arrangements for a top secret Christmas release that is expected to be "choc" full of Holiday musical treats.
“IT TAKES TWO” TAKES TOP TEN ON FMQB AC40 * * * 15-Year-Old Whitney Wolanin's Motown Duet “It Takes Two” with Jimi Jamison (Survivor) Breaks Into The Top Ten On The FMQB AC40 Radio Chart Alongside James Blunt, Kelly Clarkson & Bon Jovi * * * Whitney Back In The Studio Preparing A Christmas Album That Will Include A “Sweet” Collection Of Holiday Favorites Whitney Wolanin 's (pronounced WO-Lan-in) new single, “ It Takes Two ” (originally performed by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston) with famed Survivor lead singer Jimi Jamison has taken the #10 spot on the FMQB AC TOP 40 Radio Chart (April 12, 2006). Not bad for the Ft. Myers, Florida high schooler who spends most of the day chasing academic perfection as opposed to radio chart positions. The blonde haired, green eyed 15-year-old recorded the track at the age of 13 and now sits in the Top 10 along such music industry luminaries as James Blunt , Kelly Clarkson and Bon Jovi . "It Takes Two" is the latest single off Funkology XIII , the singer's debut project whose title reflects the set's lively old school-meets-modern pop/rock grooves and the age Wolanin was when she recorded it. Produced by Motown “Funk Brother” Bob Babbitt with the singer's father, 35 year music industry veteran Vincent Wolanin , the collection is a fun-filled gathering of soul classics, some very familiar (“This Old Heart Of Mine,” “What Becomes of The Brokenhearted,” “Young And In Love”) and others magical but a bit more obscure (Martha and The Vandellas' “Quicksand,” Smokey Robinson's “Head To Toe”). When other teenagers are preparing for spring break, going to the beach and kissing winter goodbye, Whitney is back in the studio preparing arrangements for a top secret Christmas release that is expected to be "choc" full of Holiday musical treats.
15 Year Old Whitney Wolanin's “It Takes Two” Featuring Jimi Jamison (Survivor) #1 Most Added on FMQB AC TOP 40 Radio Chart Alongside Superstars Madonna and Bon Jovi * * * Wolanin, Whose Anthemic Original “Good” Hit #7 on FMQB's AC40 Chart And Remained in the Top 100 for 36 weeks i s Headlining with The Commodores and Funk Brothers At The Naples Music Festival March 26 Whitney Wolanin's (pronounced WO-Lan-in) new single, “It Takes Two” (originally done by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston) with famed Survivor lead singer Jimi Jamison is the Most Added on FMQB AC TOP 40 Radio Chart (February 15th, 2006). Her last single, an original self-empowerment anthem appropriately and simply titled "Good,” has spent an amazing 36 weeks on FMQB's AC40 Chart (peaking at #7 last November), and Wolanin's lighthearted holiday gem “Christmas (The Warmest Time Of The Year)” was the most added song at radio four weeks in a row. Both songs appeared in the Top 100 Airplay Chart at the same time. "It Takes Two" is the latest single off Funkology XIII, the singer's debut project whose title reflects the set's lively old school-meets-modern pop/rock grooves and the age Wolanin was when she recorded it. Produced by Motown “Funk Brother” Bob Babbitt with the singer's father, 35 year music industry veteran Vincent Wolanin, the collection is a fun-filled gathering of soul classics, some very familiar (“This Old Heart Of Mine,” “What Becomes of The Brokenhearted,” “Young And In Love”) and others magical but a bit more obscure (Martha and The Vandellas' “Quicksand,” Smokey Robinson's “Head To Toe”).
15-YEAR OLD SINGING SENSATION Working With Motown ‘Funk Brother' And Bass Legend Wolanin, Whose Anthemic Original “Good” Hit #7 on FMQB's AC40 Chart, Has Appeared on the Homepage of iTunes, Sung The National Anthem For Major League and NFL Games, And Is Headlining With The Commodores
The musical electricity in the Nashville studio was crackling the day in 2004 when 13-year-old Whitney Wolanin (pronounced WO-Lan-in) made her recording debut with a powerful and spirited rendition of the Martha and The Vandellas classic “Heat Wave”—which she nailed brilliantly in one take. Legendary bassist and Motown “Funk Brother” Bob Babbitt, who gathered some of the industry's top session musicians to play with the young singer, turned to his cohorts and asked what they thought. “Amazing for a 20 year old,” they agreed. Then Wolanin spoke up and reminded them, “Guys, I'm only 13!” Reflecting later on her first session at the House of Bob studio in the vintage Victorian house—whose vibe was very much like Grand Avenue in Detroit, where the early Motown classics were cut—she says, “I went in there wanting to just be myself, and I was nervous at first working with all these great players. But the energy was high and the setting really inspired me. We cut four songs that first day!” Those tracks quickly evolved the into the core of Funkology XIII , the singer's debut project whose title reflects the set's lively old school-meets-modern pop/rock grooves and the age Wolanin was when she recorded it. Produced by Babbitt with the singer's father, 35 year music industry veteran Vincent Wolanin, the collection is a fun-filled gathering of soul classics, some very familiar (“This Old Heart Of Mine,” “What Becomes of The Brokenhearted,” “Young And In Love”) and others magical but a bit more obscure (Martha and The Vandellas' “Quicksand,” Smokey Robinson's “Head To Toe”). On “Quicksand,” the singer pulls off the amazing feat of literally “swinging” with her voice, along with the band. Wolanin fashions another Robinson chestnut, “Mickey's Monkey,” into her own thing with a whimsical reworking called “Whitney's Monkey,” and she recorded Funkology XIII 's new single (scheduled for a February release to radio) “It Takes Two” (originally done by Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston) with famed Survivor lead singer Jimi Jamison. The lone original number, a self-empowerment anthem appropriately and simply titled “Good,” has spent over 30 weeks on FMQB's AC40 Chart (peaking at #7 last November), and Wolanin's lighthearted holiday gem “Christmas (The Warmest Time Of The Year)” was the most added song at radio four weeks in a row. Both songs appeared in the Top 100 Airplay Chart at the same time. “We picked the songs based on what I thought was best for my range and which allowed me to vocally be my best,” says Wolanin. “I've always been told my voice had soul in it, so I thought it would be fun to focus on R&B to establish myself. The best part of the whole experience was finally being able to record songs I love and get some music out there. From the time I started singing when I was two years old, I've wanted to sing for as many people as possible. It's not just about trying to be famous, but about my love and passion for the music. “Still, I'm not limiting myself to old school R&B,” she adds. “I love all kinds of music, and some of the new original material I'm working on now is more modern, with a next generation Destiny's Child flavor. I'm also eager to do more pop/rock material.” At the tender age of 15, the charismatic singer with the four and a half octave range is developing into more than simply a star, but an artist of substance and an inspiration to young girls with dreams everywhere. On March 26, Wolanin, backed by Babbitt and many of the other “Funk Brothers,” is scheduled to be one of the headliners—along with The Commodores--at the Naples Music Festival. In 2005, she appeared on the front page of the Apple iTunes website twice. Wolanin also sang the national anthem before hundreds of thousands of people at Fenway Park , Shea Stadium and other major league parks, plus at a series of games for the Yankees, Red Sox, Twins, Phillies, Reds, etc. and also at Pro Player Stadium before a Miami Dolphins game. She has five baseball games scheduled already for the 2006 season. At the National Girls Basketball Championship in Texas , there were 2,500 young girls on one side of the court and 2,500 parents on the other. By the time Wolanin—who was at the event making a promotional appearance--performed her second song, hundreds from both sides were on the floor dancing. Her popularity on the teen basketball circuit—which extends to being a starter on her own high school basketball team as well—earned her an article in the national magazine Women's Basketball. The University of Tennessee, which has one of the top women's basketball teams in the country, sponsored a nine game special event where they gave away 288 copies of “Good” at each game and put Wolanin's bright smile on the scoreboard. Each year, the Wolanin Family puts on a Rockin' Christmas Party for charity, featuring an All-Star band comprised of members of famous rock groups. At those events, Wolanin performs along with rockers from ACDC, Survivor, Loverboy, and Starship; proceeds go to cancer research, the local Children's Hospitals and to fund a permanent scholarship endowment for needy students. In 2005, Wolanin did a national campaign with every Children's and Shriners Hospital in every state in the US , whereby all the sick children received a copy of her Christmas record. While Wolanin, currently hard at work on her second album, is eager to go on her first full-scale tour, she is focused on maintaining a balance between making music and being a regular teenager. No matter where her career takes her, she is adamant about remaining enrolled at her high school, where she is in the International Baccalaureate Program, an intense course of study, which assigns college level work. Naturally, while playing on the basketball team and also playing softball and volleyball, the singer maintains a straight A average. “There are so many things in life that I enjoy, but ever since I can remember, singing was the one thing I knew I was going to do,” Wolanin says. “It's a lot of fun to have all these things happening career-wise, but on a more meaningful level, I love having people relate to the music, and relate to what I'm going through in my life through the songs I sing. When they sing along, I know I'm reaching them, and there's nothing greater for me than experiencing that emotional connection.” |
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