UTAH (www.lemboentertainment.com) - Boney James,
Chris Botti and... Donny Osmond?!!! Don't be surprised if that's what the DJs on your favorite Smooth Jazz station say when they announce the songs you just heard. Osmond's latest single 'Breeze On By' takes the familiar melody of the
George Benson classic 'Breezin'' and pairs it with lyrics co-written by Osmond, Eliot Kennedy, Gary Barlow, and
Bobby Womack. The result is a perfect spring and summer song that's making a big splash with music fans.
As Radio and Records' Smooth Jazz Editor Carol Archer writes in her Going For Adds column, 'KKSF/San Francisco added Donny Osmond's new single "Breeze on By" (Decca) out of the box. I must hand it to PD Michael Erickson and MD Ken Jones for unearthing this one because I have a hunch that, like me, others may have snickered at the thought of an Osmond cover of George Benson's classic. Herein lies a humbling lesson about stereotypes, because Osmond's version, which includes original lyrics penned by Donny, forcefully demonstrates his vocal flare.'
Many programmers at Smooth Jazz radio are following Erickson and Jones's lead. Other stations adding 'Breeze On By' include KSBR/Los Angeles, WLVE/Miami, WNWV/Cleveland, KSSJ/Sacramento, KOAS/Las Vegas, WVSU/Birmingham, KAJZ/Albuquerque, KSMJ/Bakersfield, KUAP/Little Rock, KJZY/Santa Rosa, WVAS/Montgomery and WSBZ/Ft. Walton Beach.
Osmond's success at this new format is in addition to the attention 'Breeze On By' is receiving at AC radio, where he remains a staple. Interest in Osmond is strong, and his multitudes of fans are as fond of him as ever. After his recent interview on 'Larry King Live' and his cameo appearance on 'American Idol', Osmond's 54th album What I Meant To Say featuring 'Breeze On By' went to number one on Amazon.com.
Osmond is in the midst of his U.S. tour. Ticket sales are brisk, as evidenced by his back to back sellouts B.B. King's in New York City, where a third date was added by popular demand. A European leg of the tour scheduled for this fall is already sold out.
From 'Puppy Love' to 'Soldier Of Love' to 'Breeze On By', Donny Osmond's appeal remains ageless and continues to defy genre and trends.
For more information on Donny Osmond, visit his official website www.donny.com
For more information on 'Breeze On By', visit the Jerry Lembo Entertainment Group website www.lemboentertainment.com
