Musical Ambassadors For Peace
Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - is considered the world’s greatest Sufi /Qawwali singer. Rahat’s family has an unbroken tradition of performing Qawwali for more than 600 years. Rahat took over the family Qawwali party after Nusrat’s death in 1997. Rahat’s music has been featured in Tim Robbin’s film “Dead Man Walking” which featured Sean Penn and Mel Gibson’s film “Apocalypto.” Rahat has performed with numerous high-profile musicians including Eddie Vedder and James Horner. He tours globally.
Beth Nielsen Chapman. She has had several popular songs on the Adult Contemporary charts in the 1990s, such as “I Keep Coming Back to You”, “Walk My Way”, “The Moment You Were Mine” and “All I Have”. In 1993, she sang a popular duet with Paul Carrack, “In the Time it Takes”.
Co-songwriter of Faith Hill‘s hit song “This Kiss“, Chapman has written songs performed by numerous artists: Trisha Yearwood (“Down On My Knees”, “You Say You Will“, “Trying to Love You”), Martina McBride(“Happy Girl“), Willie Nelson (“Nothing I Can Do About It Now”, “Ain’t Necessarily So”, “If My World Didn’t Have You”), Tanya Tucker (“Strong Enough to Bend”), Lorrie Morgan (“Five Minutes“), Mary Chapin Carpenter(“Almost Home”), Jim Brickman & Rebecca Lynn Howard (“Simple Things”), Alabama (“Here We Are”), Suzy Bogguss (“Save Yourself”), Claudia Church (“What’s the Matter With You Baby”), Holly Dunn (“You Say You Will”), Crystal Gayle (“When Love is New”), Highway 101 (“All the Reasons Why“, “Long Way Down”), Terri Clark (“Sometimes Goodbye”), Mindy McCready (“One in a Million”), Waylon Jennings (“Shine On Me”, “Old Church Hymns and Nursery Rhymes”), and Bette Midler (“The Color of Roses”), among others. Several artists have performed with Beth on her albums: Bonnie Raitt on “Heads Up for the Wrecking Ball” and “Shake My Soul”; Vince Gill on “Deeper Still”; John Prine on “Every December Sky”; Michael McDonald on “Right Back Into the Feeling” & “Will and Liz”; Emmylou Harris & Kimmie Rhodes on “There’s a Light”;
Beth Nielsen Chapman.com Right click to save Beth Nielsen Chapman – My Religion (Sweet Love) from the Prism album. Song lyrics by Atoaji Radellant. Melody by Beth Nielsen Chapman and Atoaji Radellant
Ernest Chapman comes to World Music Nashville with many years of experience in musical performance, composition and instruction, having shared the stage and/or performed in the studio with many notable artists and musicians, including Michael McDonald, James Taylor, Vince Gill, Bob Geldof, Olivia Newton-John, Rodney Crowell, David Foster, Bonnie Raitt, Beth Nielsen Chapman (mother and mentor), Craig King (Organ/Keys for Ray Charles), Leland Sklar (Bass – Phil Collins, Leonard Cohen, etc…), Roscoe Beck (Bass – Eric Johnson) Rusty Anderson (Guitarist – Paul McCartney), Maart Allcock (Keys – Jethro Tull; Lead Guitar – Fairport Convention), Kevin Bacon, Richard Marx, Matt Rollings (Keyboardist for Mark Knopfller), Jim Brickman, Mike Reid, Gregg Collins (Engineer- No Doubt, KISS), Charlie Morgan (Drums – Elton John, Bjork), the Nashville Chamber Orchestra, the Idaho Falls Symphony, the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, John Michael Talbot, DC Talk, Brenda Lee, Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris, and JD Souther (Legendary songwriter for The Eagles).
Alex Ebert, Musical Ambassador for Project-Peace on Earth (PPOE), founder and lead singer of the famed rock group Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros discusses the the mystical nature of music and the importance of the Project-Peace on Earth worldwide musical prayer for peace.
Alise Ketnere (Fox Lima) - She answered the call to one of the largest talent hunts in the world by one of the most famous rock groups in history called “Enigma” famed for its Gregorian-lke musical projects. She answered the call to Enigmas song writing contest. The rest is history.
Sussan Deyhim – famed Iranian Sufi singer internationally known for creating a unique sonic and vocal language. She has collaborated with Peter Gabriel, Bobby Mc Ferren, Micky Hart and other noted musicians. Her composition Windfall/Beshno Az Nev was used by U2 throughout their 360 tours in the US and Europe.
Jonathan Elias – Founder and CEO of Elias Arts. Musician and Composer of the album “The Prayer Cycle.” Jonathan Elias began his career by scoring the trailer for Ridley Scott’s film Alien while still a college student. His contribution brought him instant industry attention leading to additional scoring work for Blade Runner, Gandhi, Back to the Future, Fight Club, and Random Hearts. He has also written for soundtracks such as Chaplin, Jagged Edge, Parents, 9 1/2 Weeks and the recent The Singing Detective starring Robert Downey, Jr. In addition to composing many award-winning commercials such as Nike’s Move, which earned him an Emmy. Jonathan is looked upon as one of the world’s most successful composers in this field. He was responsible for creating the famous “Moon Landing” score in 1983 for the launch of MTV, the first sound mark for Apple Computers in 1994, the Columbia Pictures sound logo, and the world famous Yahoo! yodel sound mark. His company, Elias Arts, has won countless other awards including dozens of Clios (ten this year alone), multiple Cannes prizes, several London International Advertising Awards and others too numerous to note. With offices in New York and Los Angeles, Elias has become the premiere agency for commercial branding, providing music for clients such as Ford, GM, Nissan, Audi, Infiniti, Mercedes, AT&T, NASDAQ, IBM, Apple, Sony, Levi’s, Adidas and Nike.
As a record producer, Jonathan has produced David Bowie, Duran Duran, Grace Jones, BB King, Alanis Morissette, James Taylor and Yes among others. In 1989, he produced his first solo album, Requiem for the Americas, a tribute to the spirit and vision of Native American culture. Ten years later, the inspiration from the birth of his first child led to a multi-language, nine-movement choral symphony centered on a message of hope, The Prayer Cycle. This Sony Classical release topped the charts globally and was also named one of Billboard’s international Best Selling Classical Crossover albums.
Lili Haydn - Rolling Stone magazine has called her music “fiery and virtuosic…” Lili Haydn has released four critically acclaimed major label recordings as a solo artist. Lili (1997 Atlantic Records), Light Blue Sun (2003 BMG Music), Goodbye Stranger Ep (2007 Nettwerk Music Group), and Place Between Places (2008 Nettwerk Music Group). She has played with, sung with, and opened for everyone from Roger Waters, Herbie Hancock, Sting, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Josh Groban, Seal, Matchbox 20, Cyndi Lauper, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and George Clinton’s P-Funk All Stars to name a few. Both as a solo artist and as support, Lili has performed in premiere concert halls such as Carnegie Hall, the Vienna Opera House and the Hollywood Bowl.
In addition to Lili’s extensive recording and touring career, Lili is the featured voice and violin on several films with Hans Zimmer (Pirates of the Caribbean 3 and 4 (2007, 2011), The Burning Plain (2009), Casi Divas (2009), The Boat that Rocked (2009)), as well as with composers Harry Gregson Williams (The Town), Ramin Djwadi (The Unborn (2009), Fright Night (2011), Henry Jackman (Henry IV, Gulliver’s Travels), Cliff Eidelman, Paul Cantelon, Tom Petty (Open Window (2006), She’s the One (1996), among others.
Richard Horowitz – composer, best know for his work on The Sheltering Sky, directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, starring Debra Winger and John Malkovich, which was awarded the 1990 Golden Globe award. Founder and Artistic director for Gnaoua Festival in Mogador Morocco (500,000 people annually).
AO Music - consisting of Miriam Stockley (acclaimed for her song Adiemus), Richard Gannaway, Jay Oliver, Sandeep Chowta, Andy Georges, George Bernando, and Doug Lunn).
Right click to save AO Music – On Jai Ya
AO Music – On Jai Ya by AO Music
Hani Naser – a virtuoso percussionist and Oud player. Considered a master in his field. Hani has performed and recorded with many of the most influential artists of this era including: Bob Dylan, Carlos Santana, Nickey Hopkins (Rolling Stones), Jackson Brown, Bonnie Raitt, Ry Cooder, Jim Keltner (John Lennon’s drummer), Steve Miller, Don Henley (Eagles), Hamza El Din, Kazu Matsui, David Broza, Lou Reed, David Lindley and many other great musicians.
Musical Ambassadors
Omar Akram - 2012 Grammy winner best New Age song “Echoes of Love”. ”His first album was Opal Fire on Real Music, which went Top 15 on Billboard magazine’s national New Age sales chart, and featured Akram’s piano backed by additional keyboards played by Omar and David Dial. On his second CD, Free as a Bird, Omar again composed all the music, but this time produced half the album and utilized top keyboardist Gregg Karukas to produce the other half. Omar also expanded his sound by bringing in guest musicians including saxophonist Eric Marienthal (The Rippingtons). The recording was ranked the #2 contemporary instrumental album of the year by the prestigious Wind & Wire publication.
David Arkenstone - is a 3-time Grammy nominee with over 40 albums to his credit, numerous works in Television, Films and Video Games, with his records appearing continuously on the Billboard Charts. David Arkenstone’s music was named in the Top 30 albums of the decade and his work has appeared repeatedly in the list of the top new age artists in the Billboard Magazine’s Year in Review issues along side Enya, George Winston, 2002, Kitaro and Jim Brickman. David is currently signed to Domo Records (also home to New Age Artist, Kitaro)
Right click to save David Arkenstone – Embrace Everything
Ms. Sasha Cooke - 2011 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording for her performance as Kitty Oppenheimer in the Metropolitan Opera premiere of John Adams’ “Doctor Atomic.” The 54th Grammy AwardsMezzo-soprano of the NY Metropolitan Opera.
Pamela and Randy Copus - the duo known as 2002, have charted 9 albums on the Billboard Charts. 2002made the list of top new age artists in the Billboard Magazine. Also on the list; Yanni, Manhneim Steamroller, Jim Brickman, George Winston and Enya.
Right click to save 2002 – Memory of the Sky
Mark Isham - Grammy, Emmy, and Clio award winning composer. Mark composed the soundtrack for the Oscar award winning film “Crash“. His musical collaborations include work with: Sting, Bruce Springsteen & Will.I.Am.
Ray Lynch is a multi-platinum selling composer and producer who is also considered one of the early iconic pioneers of inspirational instrumental music. Ray is a classically trained composer and producer who began as a classical guitarist and lutenist. He has won 3 Billboard Awards, written five albums (which included the renown “The Sky of Mind”, “No Blue Thing”, Nothing Above My Shoulders but the Evening” and “Deep Breakfast”), and sold over 2 million albums without the benefit of live performances or videos. His second album Deep Breakfast became a classic and the first independently released album to be certified Gold and then later Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (R.I.A.A.).
For more than a decade Ray has been fully engrossed in the passion of writing a book which explored the relationship of mathematics, music and Pythagorean tuning theory. The book also explores ancient cosmology and mythology, the nature of number, metrology, geodesy, the mathematical constants of physics, human spirituality, the precession of the equinoxes, human prehistory, and the meaning of what we call “history.”
Itai Disraeli (bass) and Hagai Or (horns) of the group MAETAR. Their music itself is a declaration of peace, calling on Hebrew and Arabic melodies, filtering it through a rigorous jazz perspective, and the exuberance of funk, soul, and rock. Born in war torn Israel on a kibbutz, the Maetar brothers started making music at the age of six and four. The whole family used to gather around their grandfather’s table every Saturday and jam. Hagai became an award-winning soloist and performed with Israeli orchestras and Itai became a celebrated and sought after bassist, winning “Bass Player of the year.” Itai and Hagai had a vision: to create original soulful and substantive music that reaches across cultural boundaries as an instrument of peace. Their love of soul, jazz, classical lyricism, and sacred tribal music from around the world led them to create MAETAR, a setting in which they could create this fusion of sound and cross cultural collaboration. Their concerts for human rights and peace have brought Arab and Israeli, Muslim, Christian, and Buddhist musicians and communities together alike.
Cofield Mundi - Her distinctive voice and prolific songwriting ability are a powerful combination. Cofield recently released her seventh radio single, called “Look at the Sun”. Six of her singles have charted in the top ten. In 2011, Cofield charted on both South African and US radio. “I’m gonna fly” climbed to number 1 on the Ryan Seacrest Top 8 at 8 show on KFM 94.5 and Highveld 94.7 FM, as well as charting on other major AC stations across South Africa. In the first few weeks of release, “Count me out remix” made the US Mediabase most added AC single chart alongside Katy Perry, Bruno Mars and Train. “Days”, similarly made the Mediabase most added single chart for Smooth Jazz alongside Sade and Dave Koz. Cofield’s two albums, Ceremony (2004) and The Big Question (2009), licensed to Universal Music Group, were nominated for Best Pop Album and Best Adult Contemporary Album (2009) respectively. As a result of both her radio and media success, Cofield was asked to appear as a guest judge on South African Idols Season VII. Idols Season VI winner Elvis Blue on his album “Lightly Tread” covered her track “Only wanna be with you”. This album is nominated for Best Adult Contemporary Album for the 2012 South African Music Awards to be held in May this year. Mark Haze (Idols VII runner-up) covers a track on his upcoming release that Cofield cowrote in Nashville with Russell Dickerson (Combustion) called “Make Time Stand Still”. An ambassador for both the Nelson Mandela 46664 Foundation and The Sunflower Leukemia Fund, she enjoys contributing to her community.
Gary Nicholson – Grammy winning Texas Song Writer Hall of Fame inductee. He has written songs for Robert Plant, Jeff Bridges, Vince Gill, Trisha Yearwood, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, The Judds, Emmylou Harris and Bonnie Raitt to name a few.
Right click to save Gary Nicholson – Choose Love
Gary Nicholson – Choose Love by Gary Nicholson
Ash Ruiz – former famed singer of the band Menudo, the most popular Latin American teen musical group of the 1980′s. The famed Puerto Rican boy band that was formed in the 1970s by producer Edgardo Díaz, releasing their first album in 1977. The band achieved much success, especially during the 1980s, becoming the most popular Latin American teen musical group of the era.
Seay: LifeStyle Music award nominated singer, songwriter and humanitarian, internationally known for her celestial voice and world inspired music. Her album “A Winter Blessing” was named one of the Top 30 albums of the decade in New Age and World Music.
Farah Siraj has recently been named Jordan’s “Musical Ambassadress”. She has performed at some of the world’s most prestigious platforms, including the Nobel Prize Hall of Oslo, Norway,the the World Economic Forum, the Antena de Oro Awards of Spain and the Good Morning Live Show in the USA. She has represented Jordan on UN International Peace Day in the USA and the Inauguration of Mediterranean week at Barcelona’s City Hall. Her music has been played before the United Nations Security Council before passing a legislation regarding the genocidein Darfur. Farah’s music has played on radio stations in the Middle East, Europe and over 114 radio stations in the United States.
Joanne Shenandoah – Grammy winning singer. Iroquois Indian, she has been compared to Irish chanteuse Enya. She has performed at the Olympics, Woodstockand President Clinton’s and President George W. Bush’s inaugural events. She performs on the new Jonathan Elias “Prayer Cycle” album called “Path to Zero”.
Right click to save Joanne Shenandoah – Prophecy Song
Joanne Shenandoah – Prophecy Song by Joanne Shenandoah
Kenji Williams – an award winning filmmaker, music producer, and classically-trained violinist. A world bridger of music, visual arts, science and philosophy, Williams has collaborated with Trance group Medicine Drum, world famous DJ John Digweed, visionary painter Alex Grey, evolutionary philosopher Ken Wilber, the Gates Planetarium Dome Theater (Denver Museum of Nature and Science), exposing his solo work from big music festivals around the world, to mainstream television, to exotic fashion shows at Japanese Temples. In addition to public and critical acclaim, Pioneer, Panasonic, and Sony corporations have sponsored Williams with technology to support his artistic vision. Combining unique skills in film and music, Williams has earned international film awards from the CSC to Sundance, exhibited work at the Smithsonian Institute.
Monica Yunus – Soprano with NY Metropolitan Opera. Co-Founder of Sing For Hope. Monica Yunus is quickly establishing herself as one of America’s most promising young sopranos. She has been called “especially winning” by The New York Times, and commended for her “rich and sensuous voice [that] was utterly captivating,” by the Charleston City Paper. Her performance as Gilda in Rigoletto was applauded by Opera Online as “a performance that was quintessentially, Gilda. During the 2010 – 11 season she once again joins The Metropolitan Opera, singing Alice in Le comte Ory and covering the role of Despina in Così fan tutte, makes her Washington National Opera debut as Oscar in Ballo in Maschera, and performs in concerts with the Syracuse Symphony, among others. Daughter of Nobel Peace Prize winner, Dr. Muhammad Yunus.
Bill Whelan - Renowned composer, producer and arranger Bill Whelan has worked extensively in theatre, film and television. His grammy winning album of music for RIVERDANCE. The Show is certified Platinum in the US, Ireland and Australia. His orchestral work, The Seville Suite was specially commissioned for Expo ’92. As a producer he has worked with U2, Van Morrison, Kate Bush, Richard Harris, The Dubliners, Planxty, Andy Irvine, Patrick Street, Stockton’s Wing, Davy Spillane and Bulgarian/Irish band, East Wind.
Global Dance Ambassadors
RIVERDANCE - world famed Irish Dance group. Riverdance has delivered over 10,000 performances throughout 40 countries to live audiences of 22 Million people
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