NEW YORK (Top40 Charts/ Downtown Records) - Indie troubadour
William Fitzsimmons� first studio CD, 'The Sparrow And The Crow', will be released April 7th by leading independent label Downtown Records� newly launched imprint, Mercer Street.
Fitzsimmons has a haunting sound that evokes references to Iron & Wine, Bright Eyes and Elliott Smith. His forthright album tells the true story of two people who didn't make it: William conceived 'The Sparrow And The Crow' as an apology and a confessional to his former wife…and then set those words to music. The result is a hushed and heartbreaking collection of songs that charts a path from regret to reconciliation.
In a recent 'A-' CD review, BOSTON HERALD critic Kevin Convey described 'The Sparrow And The Crow' as "A Near Masterpiece": "Powerfully heart-wrenching and yet so delicate you fear a breath might blow it right out of the CD player, singer-songwriter Fitzsimmons� chronicle of his divorce is a near-masterpiece. Recalling both the cornhusker folk-rock of early Joe Henry and the doomed intimacy of Nick Drake, “The Sparrow and the Crow” makes art and beauty out of tragedy without selling the tragedy short - as you�d expect from a licensed therapist. It�s tough stuff, marred only by repetitiveness. But that does nothing to diminish Fitzsimmons� artistic achievement, which is huge and lasting.
Following an underground, digital-only release last Fall, 'The Sparrow And The Crow', debuted at Number Two on the iTunes Folk Chart. Rave coverage followed, as William toured in support of his indie gem, and by year�s end, �Sparrow� had become the No 1 Folk Album of 2008 on iTunes.
Fitzsimmons' story is unique: his initial home-studio albums were made while he was simultaneously finishing up a graduate program as a Mental Health professional, and it was only upon securing his Masters degree and becoming a practicing therapist that William returned to his burgeoning music career. Paste Magazine (which presented William�s recent tour) has lauded heavy praise on him, as has Billboard, and a wide variety of other press outlets. He�s also found his songs in demand in Hollywood, with tracks appearing on Grey�s Anatomy, Army Wives and more…
Raised in Pittsburgh by two blind parents, and now based in Illinois, William grew up listening to his father's orchestral records and to his mother�s collection of James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and Simon & Garfunkel. The influences of these seminal artists are felt throughout 'The Sparrow And The Crow'. Listen to a five-song streaming sample here: https://www.brickwallmgmt.com/williamfitzsimmons/
The label will release the Illinois-based musician's "The Sparrow and the Crow" on April 7. That set was previously self-released last fall to iTunes, which crowned the set as its No. 1 folk album of 2008; it has sold 5,000 downloads in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. He also released home studio records "Goodnight" in 2006 and "Until When We Are Ghosts" in 2005.
Fitzsimmons, featured as a Billboard Underground artist in February 2008 , earned further acclaim last year as a regular performer at the Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles and on the Hotel Cafe tour circuit. His music has been placed in television shows like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Army Wives."
The singer will tour the U.S. in March through mid-April. He will also be opening for jazz crossover artist Madeleine Peyroux on March 21, 24, 27 and 28.
Fitzsimmons says signing to Mercer Street Records, which is also home to Femi Kuti, Asa and Jesse Harris, is "a huge honor for me and something I'm truly humbled by. This is something that a lot of us dream about and to actually see it happen is a wonderful feeling."
WILLIAM FITZSIMMONS ON TOUR:
3/18/2009 Lake Pepin Art & Design Center Pepin WI
3/19/2009 Rock Island Brewing Company Rock Island IL
3/20/2009 Burke's Pub Omaha NE
3/21/2009 Boulder Theater Boulder CO supporting Madeleine Peyroux
3/22/2009 Kilby Court Salt Lake City UT
3/24/2009 Moore Theater Seattle WA supporting Madeleine Peyroux
3/25/2009 Mississippi Studios Portland OR
3/27/2009 Palace of Fine Arts - SOLD OUT San Francisco CA supporting Madeleine Peyroux
3/28/2009 Club Nokia Los Angeles CA supporting Madeleine Peyroux
3/29/2009 LeStat's San Diego CA
3/31/2009 Rhythm Room Phoenix AZ
4/2/2009 Launchpad Albuquerque NM
4/3/2009 Avenue L Coffee House Huntsville TX
4/4/2009 Lola's Sixth Fort Worth TX
4/5/2009 Stubb's Jr. Austin TX
4/7/2009 The Marquee Tulsa OK
4/8/2009 The Bottleneck Lawrence KS
4/9/2009 Mojo's Columbia MO
4/11/2009 Schuba's Chicago IL
