Billy News Archive

February 2003

Billy at Fan Fair 2003 - Thursday, February 20, 2003 The CMA has officially announced that Billy is scheduled to take part in Fan Fair in Nashville June 5-8, 2003. ... Talk about it, click here!

Heartsongs to Be Released April 15, 2003 - Wednesday, February 19, 2003 SOURCE Sony Music Nashville Billy Gilman Collaborates With Young Poet Mattie J.T. Stepanek "Heartsongs" to Be Released April 15, 2003 NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- When Billy Gilman released his debut single, "One Voice," in 2000, the 11-year-old singer became an instant media sensation. He sold millions of records, won many awards and, most importantly, thanks to noted CNN talk show host Larry King, met a young poet named Mattie Stepanek. Three years later, Gilman and Stepanek, who has himself sold more than 1.5 million copies of his books, have joined together to create an album based upon Mattie's poems for Billy's new release: "Heartsongs" (Epic Records Nashville). The much talked about collaborative effort will be in stores April 15th. Stepanek was born in 1989 and diagnosed almost immediately with a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy, an incurable disease that progressively weakens the muscles. (Mattie's Mom, Jeni, also has MD, and has lost three other children to the disease). At the remarkable age of three, Stepanek began writing poems to help him deal with the illness, and by age 11, he was a published author. That same year, at the age of 12 (or is it 11?), Gilman released "One Voice". The song's theme paralleled the ideas that inspired Stepanek's work -- hope and peace. Because Larry King thought the young men would be an interesting pairing, he booked each of them on his show the same night. His instinct proved to be correct. "When I heard Mattie's amazing story and his beautiful poetry, I knew I had to do what I could to get his message out to as many people as possible," Gilman said. "I have always felt that music has a healing power, and I was very excited about the opportunity of putting Mattie's words to music and sharing them with the world." David Malloy, who also co-produced Gilman's previous three releases, serves as the lead producer on "Heartsongs." The CD features some of music's most outstanding songwriters, putting their own special musical interpretations to Mattie's poetry. These writers include; Richard Leigh ("Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue"); Tom Douglas ("Little Rock"); Bruce Roberts ("God's Alive & Well," "No More Tears," "You Should Be Mine"); Malloy himself ("One Voice," "Driving My Life Away"); Randle Chowning (lead singer for the Ozark Mountain Daredevils); and James Slater (whose credits include "That's Why God Made Mexico" from the new Tim McGraw album). "'Heartsongs' is an album of inspiration, but it also speaks to the complexities of life, as seen through the eyes of two young men only just beginning their journey," said Allen Butler, title. "We here at Sony are extremely proud of Billy and Mattie, and this musical collaboration. What they have to say needs to be heard, especially in these uncertain times." ... Talk about it, click here!

Billy to sing Heartsongs by America's bravest kid - Wednesday, February 19, 2003 From CountryStars/GAC BILLY GILMAN TO SING HEARTSONGS BY AMERICA'S BRAVEST KID Mattie Stepanek (ste-PAN-ek) is the 12 year old boy that is terminally ill with a rare form of MD that has already killed his sister and two brothers. But, this amazing kid fights on and has written a book called, "Heartsongs," full of songs and poems about life that he has written. STEPANEK appeared on Larry King Live last night to explain that BILLY GILMAN is currently recording an album made up of songs created from Mattie's book. Stepanek is the Spokesperson for the Muscular Dystrophy Association that is working hard to find a cure Mattie's mitochondrial myopathy. David Malloy is producing the album that is due out this spring. ... Talk about it, click here!

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