New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Mimi Betinis Official Website) -
Chicago can lay claim to being the birthplace of "power pop" thanks to the late 1970's group Pezband. The local musicians, who garnered international accolades from the media and fans, had that description bestowed upon them by an executive at their record label, searching for a way to identify the band's unique and fresh sound. And so, a whole genre of music was born. MIMI BETINIS, founding member, lead vocalist and guitarist for Pezband, reaped the benefits of being in a pop band for several years, until it was time to move on. BETINIS turned to his other talents as an artist and became an art teacher in the
Chicago public school system. But now he is returning to his first love - that of music - with the release of his debut solo CD, "All That Glitters."
The album contains nine original compositions including lead track "Love Is Just A Thin Veneer" which, along with "Blue Sky" and "Romance Me," is beginning to receive airplay on commercial, college and Internet radio stations. As an added bonus, the CD contains BETINIS' own, moving rendition of The Beatles' "Across The Universe," recorded in celebration of what would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday this past October. A video for "Love Is Just A Thin Veneer" can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WGuhBo-xU0
The collage on the cover of "All That Glitters" is created by BETINIS and includes images of numerous objects that glitter - rings, bracelets, jewelry boxes and other hidden treasures. "Collage is one of my favorite mediums in which to work," he says. "You can say so much with the combination of images, and everyone can come up with their own interpretation as to what it all means."
The completion of the CD was celebrated in his home town of Oak Park, IL with a party at famous local spot Val's Halla, which included an acoustic live performance by BETINIS. The soft release date for the CD is slated for January 18th followed by a national release February 15th in physical format as well as online on iTunes, Amazon and other online distribution sites.
