During the Christmas season I had the good fortune of being interviewed by Barry Gaston of the National Public Radio Moonglow program that goes out to over 45 countries around the world. Here’s an MP3 of that 30min interview. Thank you National Public Radio, program directors, music directors all around the globe and all of you out there listening for your continuing support.
Have a great New Year!
Michael Tinholme
Singer/songwriter Michael Tinholme has a remarkable personal story, caught between homelessness and privilege. Happily, Tinholme’s fortunes have been on the upswing since 2007, and his It’s Christmas Time in the City is a lovely, rather traditional exploration of classic jazz standards (and one Tinholme original) for the holidays.
Tinholme’s vocals are unique–he sounds like a cross between Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. Singing with warm emotion, Tinholme’s slightly nasal tone and stylized pronunciation have a distinctly New York feel. Years ago, I lived in the Big Apple, and listening to Tinholme’s grand renditions put me in Rockefeller Center, admiring the dramatic, towering Christmas tree and the iconic ice rink. Ah, Christmas time in New York City is something special indeed!
It’s Christmas Time in the City is something special, too. For one thing, Tinholme is surrounded by superb musicians who amplify and balance Tinholme’s jazzy vocals. The instrumentation is distinctive, well-executed, and never crowds Tinholme. Second, the jazz treatments here are deliciously tempered; everything is perfectly proportioned. The arrangements are creatively jazz-infused, conveying a sense of welcome familiarity and even fun (particularly on Sleigh Ride). Nothing frenetic here; the atmosphere is sophisticated, but comfortable and a bit introspective.
For jazz fans, there is much to savor here. My personal favorites? Oh, I must include Tinholme’s haunting Moonlight in Vermont and his excellent original Maybe Next Year, an anthem to our end-of-the-year resolutions. The latter track is evocative and absolutely outstanding, but much too short (only 90 seconds!).
Thank goodness that Michael Tinholme has triumphed over his personal demons to produce wonderful music like this! We all face difficult challenges in our daily lives; may we have Tinholme’s courage so that we might transform despair into infinite opportunities and success. In addition to its superior musicality, It’s Christmas Time in the City symbolizes hope and love, a very fine message to send in December and throughout the year.
–Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2009) http://www.christmasreviews.com/wtinholme6.shtml
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you out there listening! I’m happy to say that it is indeed Christmas Time on NPR and that my CD “It’s Christmas Time in the City” is receiving great support from NPR and commercial radio stations all across the country. My singles “Happy Christmas (War is Over)” featuring Hall of Fame guitarist Steve Lukather and “When Winter Falls on New York the Whole World Knows its Christmas Time” with the great saxophonist Albert Wing are receiving airplay on both public and commercial radio stations all across the country and on stations around the world. Thanks to NPR and the support of program directors, music directors, radio hosts and radio station owners all across the country my music continues to be played around the world.
Look for me, Michael Tinholme your humble singer-songwriter and entertainer on Barry Gaston’s Moonglow Annual Christmas Show…KMUW http://www.kmuw.org/index.php/programs/moonglow/ that will be broadcasted on December 20, 2009 at 6pm pacific time and will be broadcasted nationally on NPR and to 45 countries around the world! I hope you will tune in for this 30 minute interview with selected songs from my CD’s. It should be a great show, especially if you enjoy hearing your humble singer-songwriter stumble all over himself in an interview. Thank you Barry Gaston for being so kind in allowing me to talk about my music, my life and my small works with Covenant House-this great organization that is on the front lines against the exploitation of children and helping to get homeless children off the streets.
Also look for “It’s Christmas Time in the City” to be broadcasted on the Dr. Christmas Radio Show http://www.uwosh.edu/wrst/christmas.php broadcasted on WRST-FM and congratulations on the 22nd edition of your Christmas show!
Also on WNYC’s flagship radio station in Manhatten “It’s Christmas Time in the City” will be featured during their holiday broadcast schedule and on so many other great NPR and commercial radio stations all across the country. I simply would not have a music career without National Public Radio and thanks for your continuing support.
I wish all of you out there listening all the love, peace and joy possible in this holiday season and in the New Year to come. Michael TInholme
I’m very grateful to the folks at National Public Radio (NPR), JAZZIZ Magazine, All About Jazz, Magnet Magazine and broadcasters across the country for lending their support to Covenant House by contributing free ad space and broadcast time to promote and support the works of this organization that makes a positive real world impact for homeless and exploited kids living on the streets. These folks were quick to come onboard and to support me in my humble efforts with Covenant House and I’m very grateful.
I never intended for my experience of being homeless to be the center piece of my music career, nor do I want it to be. It does not define me but I can’t run from it either. I did discover finally, that being homeless as a kid had become inextricably a part of the person that I am-for better or for worse. Truthfully, it has always been a source of shame and an example of my own personal failing. It was probably the main reason why I ran away from a music career, years ago. My experience does not make me an expert. I am just the sum total of my experience and the wonderful people who have contributed to my life and changed my thinking and my heart. As long as I can do anything to help Covenant House and repay the goodwill from the many people who helped and invested emotion and time in my well being, so that I may now enjoy the blessings of this wonderful life, I will do whatever I can to help.
I’ve often been asked, what was the hardest thing about being homeless? Certainly, being hungry, cold and constantly on the move was miserable and unpleasant, but I think the most damaging thing that happened to me was when I became invisible. When people look through you without seeing you it has a devastating impact on the human psyche and spirit. The support from NPR, JAZZIZ Magazine, All About Jazz, Magnet Magazine and broadcasters all over helps make these kids and their desperation more visible to all.
Thank you for Supporting Covenant House. They really do open doors for homeless youth.
Michael Tinholme
PRESS-RELEASE
Covenant House Contact
Tom Manning
212-727-4920 (office)
845-300-2126 (cell)
“It’s Christmas Time in the City” Helps Benefit Covenant House
NEW YORK – November 20, 2009 – Blue Planet Records announced today that proceeds from jazz singer/ songwriter Michael Tinholme’s “It’s Christmas Time in the City” will benefit Covenant House, the largest nonprofit agency in the Americas helping homeless, trafficked and sexually exploited kids.
“I remember more than one Christmas I spent on the streets as a teenager,” says Tinholme. “Thankfully there were people who came into my life to help when I needed it most. Covenant House has always been a place where kids on the street know that they can go for protection and to lift them up. I am humbled by this opportunity to support Covenant House and I hope this effort will make a solid, real world impact on children who really need our help this holiday season.”
“Covenant House is very grateful that Michael has chosen to share his unique talent to help our kids,” says Covenant House spokesman Tom Manning. “The fact that Michael knows what our kids go through on the street makes his support all the more special. It is through efforts like this that we will continue to pursue our mission of getting all kids off the streets.”
$1 from every CD sold online and 15% of all downloads of “It’s Christmas Time in the City” will go to benefit Covenant House.
“I’ve been given a gift, a career making music with some of the most talented jazz musicians in the world,” says Tinholme. “It is my goal to use this gift to spread the word that more and more children are pouring onto the streets, that more and more are missing every day, and that there are people on the streets that seek to exploit the innocent. Places like Covenant House confront those exploiters and traffickers of innocent children and gets children off the streets. They deserve the support of all of us.”
About Covenant House
Founded in 1972, Covenant House is the largest nonprofit agency in the Americas helping homeless, trafficked and sexually exploited kids, providing 24/7 crisis care and ongoing support at more than two dozen facilities, www.NINELINE.org, Covenant House NINELINE (1-800-999-9999) and www.covenanthouse.org.
CONTACT: Tom Manning, Office, +1-212-727-4920, Cell, +1-845-300-2126
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PRESS-RELEASE
LOS ANGELES-November 16, 2009-Blue Planet Records and recording artist Michael Tinholme are proud to announce…
$1 of every CD of “It’s Christmas Time in the City” by singer songwriter Michael Tinholme sold online and 15% of all downloads of this CD will go to benefit Covenant House-on the front lines against the exploitation of children and getting homeless children off the streets.
From the recording artist who brought you the singles “When Winter Falls on New York the Whole World Knows it’s Christmas Time”, “Brother Can You Spare a Dime,” “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square,” “The Party’s Over,” and “Make Someone Happy.”
From “It’s Christmas Time in the City” Michael Tinholme introduces his new single his remake of John Lennon’s classic “Happy Christmas (War is Over)” with legendary Hall of Fame guitarist Steve Lukather and his all-star band.
“It’s Christmas Time in the City” features ten great Christmas classics and two new Christmas originals by Michael Tinholme “When Winter Falls on New York” and “Maybe Next Year.” We all remember those great classic recordings by Nat King Cole, The Beatles, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, “It’s Christmas Time in the City” is in the tradition of these great recordings.
Spanning from despair and homelessness to working and recording with the world’s most renowned and accomplished
Contact
Kate Miles
Blue Planet Records
(818) 590-9364
email: kate.blueplanetrecords@yahoo.com
media inquires – michaeltinholme@yahoo.com
Visit the Michael Tinholme website: http://www.michaeltinholme.com
Michael Tinholme is a singer and songsmith with a special gift and compelling personal story.
Blue Planet Arts a family of companies:
Blue Planet FilmWorks / Blue Planet Records / Blue Planet Mix
Serving the entertainment industry for over a decade
Blue Planet Records and I would like to announce that $1 from every CD sold online and 15% of all downloads of “It’s Christmas Time in the City” by me, your humble singer songwriter Michael Tinholme, will go to benefit Covenant House.
We all see that these are times that are trying for all of us. The economy is putting more pressure on families all across the country and around the world. More families are breaking up every day. More children are pouring onto the streets and more children go missing every day. There are those in these times that seek to exploit the innocent.
Covenant House has always been a place where kids on the street know that they can phone or run to for protection and to lift them up. Covenant House confronts bravely those exploiters and traffickers of innocent children and is on the front lines in helping children get off the streets.
A few years ago I was given a wonderful gift, a career making music with some of the best talented musicians and artist in the world. I hope you will believe that I know how greatly fortunate I am. I must confess however that the Christmas season has not always been my favorite time of year. There were several Christmas’ that I spent as a teenager with nowhere to live. Thankfully there were people that came into my life who changed my thinking and my heart. I am very grateful to Covenant House for what they do and for allowing me to contribute. I wish Covenant House all the success possible in their great efforts.
To you out there listening I’m proud to say that with your purchase of “It’s Christmas Time in the City” and by supporting Covenant House you are making a positive, solid, real world impact on children who really need your help. Thank you.
I wish you all love, peace and joy and many wonderful blessings.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,
Michael Tinholme
Available at Amazon.com, Target.com, iTune, Napster, CD Baby and other fine retailers around the world. Amazon.com Link: http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Time-City-Michael-Tinholme/dp/B002UVW9RE/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1258144153&sr=8-6
CD Baby Link: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/MichaelTinholme
Featuring the singles
A remake of
John Lennons Classic “Happy Christmas(War Is Over)”
With Hall of Fame Guitarist Steve Lukather
“When Winter Falls On New York
The Whole World Knows It’s Christmas Time”
With Legendary Saxaphonist Albert Wing
“Silver Bells”
With Solos by Walt Fowler and Mike Miller
We all remember listening to those great Christmas records by Nat King Cole, the Beatles, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley. It was important to me that “It’s Christmas Time in the City” be in the tradition of those great holiday recordings and that it create those warm romantic holiday feelings that we all treasure and wish for at the holidays.
There are some rich and remarkable performances on “It’s Christmas Time in the City” by a list of legendary musicians and artists that I am thrilled and honored to be working with.
- Dennis Moody is simply one of the best engineers and producers out there.
- Guitar master Mike Miller created absolute magic with every solo.
- Walt Fowler’s trumpet playing on “Silver Bells” and the rest made the whole thing hip
- Bruce Fowler’s trombone help set the romantic tone for the entire CD.
- Bill Cunliffe is an amazingly gifted pianist and his solo’s are rich and exciting.
- Kim Hansen, who also co-produced my CD, is an absolute genius who wrote beautiful arrangements for “When Winter Falls on New York”, “Silver Bells,” “The Christmas Song”, “O Holy Night” and “Happy Christmas (War is Over)” and he played his Christmas bulbs off.
- Tom Fowler is one of the best bass players in the world and he also wrote some great arrangements. His playing is warm and romantic. I’m honored to be working with him.
- Gary Novak is simply one of the greatest and innovative drummers in the world and his playing on the CD is slamming.
- Percussionist Ray Yslas added those touches that make the whole CD sound ‘wintery.’
- Ralph Humphrey is on that same short list of great drummers. He came in and played some great drums on “Silver Bells” and it was an honor to work with my drum teacher from the old days.
- Albert Wing is one of the best saxophone and horn players in the world and he played great solos on both “When Winter Falls on New York” and “The Christmas Song”.
- Steve Lukather is a multi-Grammy winning world renowned guitar master and his guitar solo on John Lennon’s classic “Happy Christmas (War is Over)” is absolutely moving. Steve Lukather was just recently inducted into the Musician Hall of Fame in Nashville just a few days after he recorded his great guitar track for my Christmas CD. Everyone associated with my CD wants to congratulate him on this great accomplishment. I am so honored to have this legend playing on my CD and to have made music with him.
To you out there, in whatever town, village or city that you are in Thank You for your support and for listening. In this season that we all want to promise so much, I wish you all the love, peace and joy possible. My love and best holiday wishes to you all.
– Michael Tinholme –
I am just thrilled to tell all of you out there listening that there is indeed a Santa Clause and he came in and ripped it up on my Christmas CD.
We all have those special people in our lives that when we see them our love and affection for them wells up inside of us almost to the point that it can’t be contained. It either comes out in nervous laughter or sometimes in tears of joy. For me Steve Lukather has always been one of those people. Not because he’s an amazingly gifted Guitar Master and Hero and multi-Grammy winnng Rock Star and soon to be Musician Hall of Fame guitarist, he’s certainly all of these things and more, but because he’s also kind and generous and was someone who was there for me at a time in my life when I truly needed friendship. Over the years I have watched and listened from a distance, as we all have, as he’s made his mark on popular music with his band Toto, and from his work with everyone from Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson, Miles Davis, Randy Newman, Joni Mitchell to almost every other great artist in today’s popular music that you can think of. I want to tell you of the thrill and elation that I would feel when I would open up a CD and Luke would be playing on it. I would pray or imagine that he could hear my screams of joy or feel the excitement within me.
Over the last few months I’ve been finishing a Christmas CD that we started on awhile back. Hadn’t seen Luke for awhile and then we bumped into each other at the famous Baked Potato a few weeks back and the next thing I know we are in the studio and he’s recording on my Christmas CD. It’s like a wonderful dream come true. Not to mention he played an amazing solo on John Lennon’s Christmas classic “Happy Christmas (War is Over)” that we are all excited about.
Thank you Steve Lukather, I do believe in Santa Clause and I love you forever!
Love always,
Michael Tinholme
Over the last few weeks I’ve been finishing my Christmas CD that we started awhile back. And I’m very happy to say that I’ve been working with some terrifically talented and just a great group of people. It’s also great for me to make music with people whom I’ve come to care so much about, especially gratifying because this is a Christmas CD.
Albert Wing came in and delivered just another fantastic saxophone solo that I know people are really going to love.
Walt Fowler came in and blew some beautiful jazz trumpet on a new version of a Christmas classic arranged by our co-producer Kim Hansen, that I think is really fantastic. Walt’s playing really created the mood that we were going for.
Every time I watch Mike Miller play guitar it is a real treat. Mike is so inventive and it’s a thrill and joy to make music with him.
I was very honored to have Ralph Humphrey, a legendary drummer and also happens to be one of my drum teachers from the good old days, come in and play on the CD. It was great to see Ralph again and an honor to make music with him.
The great percussionist Ray Yslas added those special touches that really make this Christmas music Christmasie.
Not to mention the beautiful singers that I got to work with: Andrea Miller, Carissa Schroder, Rebecca Jade. Each one of them are great singers who the world is going to hear a lot more about (funny, co-producer Dennis Moody is always the first to get at least several pictures with the girls-it always works that way, man he can really produce!!!).
And how about these beautiful kids-my best friends in the whole wide world! These kids who I love so much and they all gave great performances. Everybody was just tickled with what they did. Great job Alexis, Austin, Jon Jon and Aubrie Nestor! I love you forever.
And it seems Santa might be delivering us a really great present to our Christmas CD this year. We’ve been leaving the cookies and milk out for him and the stocking is a hangin’ so we hope he delivers. I hope you all will tune in later.
It looks like it’s going to be a really great Yule Tide this year. The best ever.
Merry Merry Merry
Michael Tinholme
I’ve just been informed that my music has received solid continuous airplay all across the US since my Christmas single debut in Nov. 2008 and we’ve received airplay in all radio formats. My CD’s and singles have played on Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz, Smooth Jazz, and Adult Contemporary radio stations.
“When Winter Falls on New York” received airplay across all formats.
“Brother Can You Spare a Dime” received airplay on Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz, Smooth Jazz, and Adult Contemporary.
“A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” and “The Party’s Over” and “Make Someone Happy” are now being played on Jazz, Smooth Jazz, and Adult Contemporary stations all across the United States and these new singles mark the introduction of my music to an international audience and I’m thrilled to say that I’m now receiving airplay on radio stations around the world.
I crossed-over all right, into some fantastic dreamland and I’m reminded of it every time I get an email or call from one of you out there listening that you’ve heard my music and that you appreciate what I do. Thank you Zoe, Barry and many others all around the world (wow! I can’t believe I said that) for your support and excitement.
