BOOKMARKS COVER ART REVEALED, ALBUM OUT SEPTEMBER 17
FIRST SINGLE “WHAT IF”ON AIRWAVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY
LIVE IN THE VINEYARD PERFORMANCE, SUTTER HOME PROMOTION ANNOUNCED
Singer/songwriter John Ondrasik, also known as Five for Fighting, the band name under which he records and performs, will release his sixth studio album Bookmarks on September 17, 2013 – the cover art has now been revealed. Bookmarks was produced by Gregg Wattenberg (Phillip Phillips, Train) & Derek Fuhrmann (Phillip Phillips, O.A.R).
Ondrasik has spent the past decade writing deeply personal songs that invoke the human spirit, including the classic “100 Years” and “Superman” (It’s Not Easy). “What If” carries on with the tradition of Five for Fighting’s cultural introspection as Ondrasik poses the question, “What if we could truly understand each other’s experience? Would our stereotypes and preconceptions change? Would compassion overcome insecurity and ideology? What if you were me? What if I were you?” Radio stations across the country have embraced the song and are blasting its inspirational message.
Announced today, Five for Fighting will perform two special shows on November 2 and 3 in Napa Valley at Live In The Vineyard, a festival that marries peoples’ access to recording artists, top tier wine makers, and world- renowned chefs during an “once-in-a-lifetime” three-day event. LITV offers attendees a series of private and exclusive “winner” only acoustic concerts from some of the biggest names in music and emerging artists as well as events with some of the biggest names in food and wine. Sutter Home Family Vineyards will sponsor and host the Five for Fighting performances and is promoting a sweepstakes to win tickets to the event at point-of-sale outlets. Consumers will also have a second opportunity to enter for a chance to attend by going to: http://www.musicwinefood.com. Sutter Home will also promote an exclusive song download from Five for Fighting across all of their social media platforms.
Five for Fighting has sold millions of albums and singles over its storied career. The critically acclaimed debut album, Message for Albert, was released in 1997. Five for Fighting’s breakthrough came in 2001 with the Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling song “Superman” from the platinum certified America Town. “Superman”(It’s Not Easy) was a chart-topping hit at both Top 40 radio and at Hot AC. Already climbing the charts prior to 9/11, “Superman” (It’s Not Easy) went on to have a life of its own, becoming a song of healing for the nation. In 2004, Five for Fighting recorded the platinum-certified album, The Battle For Everything, which yielded the retrospective double-platinum hit, “100 Years,” a song that has become a part of the classic American songbook and spent 12 weeks at #1 at Hot AC. With the 2006 release of Two Lights, featuring “World,” the hit song “The Riddle,” and “Freedom Never Cries,” Five for Fighting continued to craft songs with material drawn from personal experience in regards to love, war, culture, family, humanity and mortality. 2009’s Slice yielded the certified gold hit “Chances” which was featured in Oscar winning film The Blind Side. In all, Ondrasik has placed Five for Fighting songs in over 350 films, TV shows and advertisements, from HBO and the History Channel to ESPN.
In addition to his musical accomplishments Ondrasik has a made a personal commitment towards causes that are important to him. In February of 2007, Ondrasik launched a unique charity-driven web site whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com inspired by his song “World” for which fans could submit videos depicting their own visions of a better world. The initiative raised more than $300,000 for five designated charities – Augie’s Quest, Autism Speaks, Fisher House Foundation, Save The Children and Operation Homefront. Ondrasik has also been a dedicated supporter of US troops and has performed at Guantanamo Bay, Hawaii, Guam and Japan for service members. He conceived and produced “For the Troops,” CD compilation series, five volumes in all, of superstar recording artists given for free to members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Over 1 million CDs have been given away to date. Ondrasik has also carved out a niche for Five for Fighting in the orchestral world, performing his songs with symphonies around the country. As an avid sports fan, Ondrasik has appeared and performed on a multitude of sports shows and events, and also writes for Sports Illustrated online. Last year he did a Ted Talk on Where Songs Come From.
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