New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Blake Whyte official website) An Irrepressible
Spirit Shines Through on Confident Debut CD, 'More Like Myself' - Album Includes a Track Written During and Following Whyte's Ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro
CD Release Event Set for April 7th at Alvin Ailey in NYC
Singer/performer
Blake Whyte makes an auspicious debut with his invigorating album 'More Like Myself'. With a pop/soul sound that crackles with energy, Whyte evokes a range of artists, from
George Michael to
Jason Mraz to
Maroon 5 to Elton John. The album will be feted with a CD release event at Alvin Ailey in New York City, on April 7th (details below).
'More Like Myself' was produced by Whyte and Jeffrey Lee Campbell (Sting,) and features Whyte on vocals/piano, as well as the backing of his terrific band: Paul Wyatt on Acoustic Guitar and Backup Vocals, Alex Wyatt on Drums, Curtis Stewart on Violin,
Amanda Gookin on Cello and
Benjamin Gallina on Electric Bass. The album will be available via iTunes and also via physical CD with 20-page booklet.
Whyte draws on diverse and meaningful inspirations for the new album, from his ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro (the highlight track "
Common Ground",) to his volunteer work at New York's Ronald McDonald house, to his love of nature, to life in New York City - his passion for performance is evident throughout the album, and he happens to be brimming with confidence, evident as he describes his sound as arguably a mix of "Donny Hathaway,
Regina Spektor, Jim Croce, Jason Mraz, Gavin Degraw, Ben Folds, Film Composer
James Horner and Sir Elton John. I know that's an eclectic mix of genres, but that's how my music is…It's Soulful, Positive, Pop
Music that GOES there…"
An accomplished actor/singer, Whyte has appeared in numerous productions, including "
Wicked" on Broadway and currently "
Mamma Mia!" He's admittedly at his most joyful when he's creating and performing and interacting with a live audience: "Y'all know I can't stop moving, still can't! Whether it's singin' a melody in my head or tappin' my fingers, music is pouring out of me all the time...My heaven is sharing it LIVE with an audience, I feel heard, more understood than words can express, I feel freedom, I feel peace.
Music heals me, it inspires me..."
BLAKE WHYTE CD RELEASE EVENT:
Sunday, April 7TH at 7pm
Alvin Ailey (405 W. 55th at 9th Avenue)
Tickets available at the door for $10.
OR - For $20, entry includes copy of the physical CD.
First 100 in the door get a free t-shirt.
Blake Whyte will be accompanied by his band: Paul Wyatt, Alex Wyatt,
Amanda Gookin, Curtis Stewart and
Benjamin Gallina.
Special guest artists include original choreography from Albert Guerzon (Ghost and Mamma Mia), and singer/songwriter Celisse Henderson (Wicked and Godspell).
Select Song Notes, by
Blake Whyte:
Common Ground: A true epiphany moment in my life, on the final summit day I had severe altitude sickness while climbing Kilimanjaro, I was given oxygen with my father and sister, finally upon reaching the top, I thanked god and really just started running down the mountain cause I was in so much pain, my "Porter" carrying my bag was yelling behind me in Swahili "Polle, Polle" which means SLOW down. I finally stopped and got extremely sick everywhere, this man wiped the vomit off of my face, it was a life changing experience, I felt that we were all connected in this magical way, that we are all supposed to help each other out, I got down to my tent and wrote in my journal "We Are All One" and that's the core of the song, We Are All One. "Common Ground, Our Beating Hearts, Crying Out Loud"
More Like Myself: The title of the album, "More Like Myself" is a song that I wrote for an event I produced at the Ronald McDonald House here in New York, it is about being O.K. with asking for "Help" in your life. That when you reach out to others and give love, more comes back your way, one of the lyrics is "Love and
Friends and Trees will set us free, it's very much a compilation of Nature,
Friends and asking for help will set you free, life is there for you.
Sadie's Song: Sadie's Song is a piece I wrote for a woman named Katie Gott's who's daughter was in the New York Ronald McDonald house with a terminal illness. She is from Great Britain and brought her child over here to get better, her child passed away and she asked for a piece of music for her funeral, I wanted the sound to evoke the truth that when someone passes, they are still there "
In The Air" so to speak, that they are all around us still and we still feel their light. This is an "Instrumental" track.
Win Or Lose: Is a fantastic New York Story, We had some free recording studio time and doing a project at the
Institute of Audio Research, it's a class in the recording studio where students are learning there craft as engineers etc. There was one student whose name is Rhalik Tafari and he had some lyrics and asked If I would take a look at them, On a whim I did, cause I believe in People, and we came up with Win Or Lose, He is from
Jamaica and the music just came out as a swing-reggae feel.
What I Want: Is a true "It Takes A Village Song" My band is just amazing, Paul Wyatt on Acoustic Guitar and Backup Vocals, Alex Wyatt on Drums, Curtis Stewart on Violin,
Amanda Gookin on Cello and
Benjamin Gallina on Electric Bass. This song is my statement to the world that I'm going to nourish my music, love it, and make it grow till the day I die. That my music is one of the greatest gifts given to me, it's a vessel channeling through me that I am so thankful for. It's also encouraging everyone to find and do what they love in life, ask for what you want in life, go your own way, nourish it and make it your love.
Album Liners:
Produced by
Blake Whyte and Jeffrey Lee Campbell
Executive Producer Mary Whyte
Tracks Mixed by Jeffrey Lee Campbell
Mastered by Matt Agoglia
Background Vocals Arranged by
Blake Whyte and Jeffrey Lee Campbell
String Arrangements by Curtis Stewart and
Amanda Gookin
Photography and Design Artwork by Ikarus Ronan
Featuring:
Blake Whyte - Piano, Vocals
Paul Wyatt - Guitar, Vocals
Alex Wyatt - Drums
Curtis Stewart - Violin
Amanda Gookin - Cello
Benjamin Gallina - Electric Bass
All Songs ©
Blake Whyte ASCAP
(Win Or Lose Lyrics by Rhalik Tafari,
Music by Whyte)
(Summer Love Soul,
Music by Paul Wyatt and Whyte)
More about
Blake Whyte, by
Blake Whyte:
I'm a native of Portage, Michigan and have performed my original music at Lincoln Center's Rose Studio, Rockwood
Music Hall, Sullivan Hall, The Living Room and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.
I'm a Volunteer Artist with organizations Sing For Hope and The Ronald McDonald House of New York, Favorite Volunteer Artist events include an original music evening fundraiser, partnering with Sing For Hope at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, also partnering with the Mott
Haven School in the Bronx with Sing For Hope.
Partnering with
Leslie Barrett of Serino Coyne Corp for a Ronald McDonald House, Wicked/Mamma Mia! Event complete with songs from the show's and original music.
Theatre credits include Wicked on Broadway, 1st
National Tour covering the role of "Fiyero" and Currently Mamma Mia! covering the role of "Sky"
Playing the role of "Gordon" in the Summer Play Festival version of Etan Frankel's "The Fearless"
Two Summer's at the Chautauqua Theatre Company under the direction of Rebecca Guy.
Also Favorite concerts and workshop's include playing "Walker" in composer
David Are's "Walker In Babylon" at the Monkey Space.
Also working with composer Michael R. Jackson on his work at great concert's at Ars Nova and Joe's Pub
Working with composer Adam Gwon on the reading of "Bernice Bob's Her Hair". I am currently shooting Season 3 of Submissions Only playing the role of "Josh Clark".
Blake is a Graduate of the Syracuse University Department of Drama.
Visit: www.blakewhyte.com
