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Professional Poker Player “The Duke” Survives Attempted Murder, Kidnapping And Being Robbed For Six Figures In Las Vegas Hotel

Las Vegas, NV, – Ron Wall, the man known as The Duke of Fremont Street has been a well-recognized figure around the poker rooms of Las Vegas for many years so he is used to defending his hand at the tables. What he wasn’t prepared for was the savage attempt on his life during a robbery in a hotel room on June 26th, 2010 in Primm, Nevada, outside of Las Vegas. 
 
The Duke thought he was meeting a man he had dealt with before at Whiskey Pete’s to purchase gold and silver. Duke was carrying $137,000 in cash and a couple of Smith & Wesson .38 caliber handguns. Instead, as he entered the hotel room he was ambushed, hit on the head, and for the next twenty minutes the man and a female accomplice pummeled and attacked him with any and every item they could find in the room – a lamp, an iron, a two wheel dolly, and even a toilet tank cover!  The Duke was stabbed with a knife and also suffered a scalping wound.
 
“The twenty minutes seemed more like an eternity to me” said Duke. “I fought with all that I had in me. I knew that I had to stay conscious or I would have been killed and dumped in the desert.”
 
After the two hog-tied The Duke with duct tape and phone cords, they went into the bathroom – either to clean up or count the money – and Duke knew he had to grab the moment to get away or it was all over for him. Dazed and covered in blood, he got out of his restraints and made it out of the room and down the hall to the registration desk for help. “I thought my number was up,” he recalled.
 
Needless to say, Duke suffered multiple injuries in this vicious attack. He suffered a concussion and numerous head wounds, fractured cheek bones, broken ribs, and had defensive stab wounds and fractures to both hands. Duke had to undergo surgery and had to attend physical therapy sessions for many months.
 
The suspects fled to California with his money, but Duke identified the man as Edmond Price, who has a prior criminal history, and the woman as 23-year old Victoria Elizabeth Edelman, described as Price’s girlfriend, out of a photo lineup. They were arrested in California soon after the attack and were later extradited from California to Nevada where they were indicted by a grand jury for eight felony counts. They face anywhere from 15 years to life in prison if convicted on all counts. The bail for each defendant was set at $2,000,000 because of potential flight risk and because authorities suspected they would use Duke’s money, which has yet to be recovered, to hire their defense attorneys.
 
The Duke has a reputation for being cautious and not taking risks at the poker table; however, his adventurous exploits around the globe are well known among his fellow poker players. When his absence was noticed in the poker world it was thought at first by the rumor mill that he must have been ambushed on one of his many adventures to the Amazon, or some other wild and remote place he has visited, but this time it was something much closer to home that just completely caught him off-guard. The Duke refuses to be considered a victim but believes he is a survivor instead. When asked about the attempted murder and robbery Duke said he “was just dealt a bad hand!”
 
Since The Duke is considered somewhat of a legend in Las Vegas, easily recognized for his 1930 era gangster-look – complete with custom made, pinstriped Italian suits, polka dot ties, fedora, diamond pinky rings, and even spats – it is expected that the trial will be a highly visible one. His many followers on numerous poker blogs will want justice for this gracious gentleman who has been part of the allure of Las Vegas for many years.
 
The Duke, who’s conservative poker playing style is far less flashy than his persona, has been featured on the cover of Poker Pro magazine and written up in numerous articles. He believes that surviving the recent brutal attack means that he once again made ‘a win in the game of life’ and, in his words…”The Adventure Continues!”
 
TIP SHEET:
‘Duke’ calls attack just a bad hand – Article in Las Vegas Review Journal

 

 

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Mike Leach’s New Book Looks To Challenge College Football’s Conventional Wisdom

Co-editors Mike Leach and Ferhat Guven speak to fans looking for more out of college football in their new book “Sports for Dorks: College Football”

Key West, FL, — “What do you get when you combine an astrophysicist, a world champion backgammon player, some respected economists and a few other brilliant minds?”

New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan is referring, in this case, to former Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach’s latest literary undertaking, “Sports for Dorks: College Football” (ISBN 978-0615484976), in which Leach once again takes aim at college football’s conventional wisdom.

Leach, along with co-editor Ferhat Guven, came up with the idea of “Sports for Dorks” during  a “typical” telephone call in which they discussed Henry VIII, US fiscal policy, Sub Saharan Africa real estate, and of course college football. 

The two come from different walks of life; Leach is the still wildly popular former head football coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders and author of New York Times bestselling autobiography Swing Your Sword: Leading the Charge in Football and in Life, while Guven, based in London, is an executive in a global real estate investment firm and avid college football fan.

Leach views the world of college football as a crucible of innovation, yet despite the enormous media coverage enjoyed by the sport, he notes that little if any of that side of the game is exposed to the public. Guven, out of his own interest, follows a number of talented academics, writers and bloggers who cover many of the sport’s more unique aspects, but do so in what he describes as relative obscurity.

The two wondered if there was an audience that wanted to better understand the game in a manner that went beyond what was being offered by conventional media.

Leach and Guven set out to collect essays and articles from a wide range of thinkers who were examining the game in an unusual way. “We were focused on identifying well-formulated ideas which challenge a sport dominated by conventional wisdom,” said Guven. “The book’s contributors include coaches, journalists, bloggers, academics, economists and yes, even an astrophysicist.”

Leach and Guven examine college football, both on and off the field, through disciplines such as economics, psychology, statistics and sociology. Their book also provides readers with unique insights into Leach’s coaching influences and philosophies, offers a formula that would make the BCS ranking process more rational, and examines what they describe as the meteoric rise of American football in Great Britain.

“We are trying to bring innovative content to readers,” Guven says. “We want to provide a unique perspective to readers who are looking for more than just box scores, cliches and lukewarm paeans to their favorite teams’ greatness. We hope our readers will be informed and entertained. There is plenty of opportunity for both throughout the book which come from a variety of perspectives.”

“Sports for Dorks: College Football” is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other channels.

About the Editors
Mike Leach is the former all-time winning football coach at Texas Tech and author of the bestselling autobiography, Swing Your Sword:  Leading the Charge in Football and Life. Leach is a graduate of BYU and Pepperdine University School of Law. Ferhat Guven is a real estate investment professional who graduated from Texas Tech University before earning his graduate business degree from the London Business School.  For more information, see www.sportsfordorks.com.

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TIP SHEET:

Rex Ryan, Head Football Coach, NY Jets: “What do you get when you combine an astrophysicist, a world champion backgammon player, some respected economists and a few other brilliant minds?  This fascinating book and the reason I’m hoping to watch Mike Leach on Saturdays instead of coach against him on Sundays.” 

Gil Brandt, former VP Dallas Cowboys: “Sports for Dorks is an exciting collection of ideas and trends shaping the world of college football.  Mike Leach proves, once again, that he is a step ahead of the rest.”

Austin Murphy, Sr. Writer, Sports Illustrated: “One man’s dork is another man’s intellectually curious, envelope pushing pioneer.  Mike Leach is the most original thinker I’ve met in three decades as a sportswriter.  With this provocative, nourishing, all-you-can-eat buffet of intriguing ideas, Leach reminds us why football needs him more than he needs football.”

 

 

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Stand Out From The Competition In Today’s Lagging Job Market With These Proven Strategies

McKinney, TX, – Howard Stephen Berg is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for reading more than 25,000 words a minute and writing more than 100 words a minute. But it’s not just his reading and writing skills that make him a well-known figure; it’s his brain-based learning strategies that make it possible to comprehend and retain the information. Since his strategies can be learned by anyone, the possibilities are mind-boggling!

Berg once completed a 1,100 page book on Cleveland’s Morning Exchange and achieved a perfect score on recall – what makes it truly astounding is that he was retested three years later on the same book and again had perfect recall. As a guest on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, he memorized a 200-page book, reading at the rate of 13-14 pages/minute, and scored 100% accuracy on an extensive test given by the author.

Berg has created more than 14 other accelerated learning programs that include speed math and memory. His Time-Warner book Super Reading Secrets is in its 28th reprint and his Nightingale-Conant program, Mega Speed Reading, grossed over $65,000,000 and earned him recognition as a leading expert on brain-based learning. He has been honored by both Who’s Who Among Emerging Leaders and 2,000 Notable American Men; two leading books that track outstanding professional performance.

Known as the world’s fastest reader, Berg’s talents are attributed to the cutting-edge, accelerated learning techniques he developed that turn information overload into information assets. His methods have not only enabled the unemployed to get back to work sooner by teaching them additional skills that make them more marketable, but by continuing to apply these skills they will stay on top of the information their success depends upon! He makes life easier by cutting learning time in half – giving everyone the opportunity to succeed but with more time left for the things they enjoy.

Howard Berg is an entertaining celebrity who has appeared on over one thousand radio and television programs including Neil Cavuto and Jon Stewart, and is the spokesperson for the Sony E-Reader along with Justin Timberlake, Peyton Manning and Amy Sedaris. He ‘walked the talk’ by completing a four year Psychology program in one year using his brain-based learning techniques, leading the way for many others to follow as evidenced by the testimonials on his website at : www.speedreadprogram.com.

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TIP SHEET:

Please see: http://www.speedlearningpower.com/?page_id=1435

W. Berry Fowler, Founder Sylvan Learning Centers: “Maximum Power Reading is not only one of the most effective ways an individual can increase their reading rate, it’s easy to learn. I congratulate you on your success and the success of your students.”

Maurice C. Thompson, Jr. Past President & Chairman of Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics: “I feel you have moved one step beyond speed reading to speed learning, bringing the discipline into the 21st Century.”

Claire Herthum Major, President ASTD Baton Rouge Chapter: “Evaluations showed 100% exceeded or met expectations…”

 

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The Dead Celebrity Cookbook – A Resurrection Of Recipes From More Than 145 Stars Of Stage And Screen

New York, NY, – For anyone who loves Hollywood memorabilia, is an entertainment junkie, and loves to eat and cook – they will treasure Frank DeCaro’s The Dead Celebrity Cookbook: A Resurrection of Recipes from More Than 145 Stars of Stage and Screen (HCI Books). Frank compiled favorite recipes from some of Hollywood’s biggest names; including Lucille Ball, Elizabeth Taylor, Sonny Bono, Liberace, Michael Jackson, John Denver, Frank Sinatra, Rock Hudson, Humphrey Bogart, and Peter Falk, just to name a few.

“I love these dead celebrities! They’re the stars I grew up watching, and they deserve to be remembered even if they were more talented on screen than they were in the kitchen. Frank clearly worships them as much as I do, and after reading The Dead Celebrity Cookbook you will, too.” -Rosie O’Donnell

“Celebrities die–eventually–but their recipes live on, thanks to Frank DeCaro’s thorough and thoroughly delicious book. DeCaro’s dry wit is tasty, and judging from these yummy concoctions, most of these celebs died really happy!” –Michael Musto, Village Voice

Inspired by a “Dead Celebrity Party” during his college years, DeCaro thought the one thing missing from the event was the food of the dead. Since then, he’s been collecting recipes of the stars and lucky for us, he’s put them together in, THE DEAD CELEBRITY COOKBOOK: A Resurrection of Recipes from More Than 145 Stars of Stage and Screen (HCI Books – October 2011- $19.95).

DeCaro, who is best known for his nearly 7-year stint as the movie critic on The Daily Show with John Stewart, and now heard weekdays on his own call-in radio show, gives us a giggle while feeding us treats from Tinsel Town like: Liberace’s Sticky Buns, Mae West’s Fruit Compote, John Ritter’s Favorite Fudge and Bea Arthur’s Vegetarian Breakfast.

THE DEAD CELEBRITY COOKBOOK is here to remind you that before there were celebrity chefs, there were celebrities who fancied themselves as chefs. They were whipping up culinary delights, and sometimes sharing them with us on shows like Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas or even Johnny Carson. DeCaro gives us some entertaining and informative commentary before each section of recipes in chapters that include: “Talk Show Chow,” “An All-Night Oscar Buff,” and “I Lunch Lucy,” a whole section dedicated to the red-haired TV goddess.

Says DeCaro, “I miss those days when celebrities still had mystery about them, and a glimpse inside their radar ranges seemed, for any fan, like a window into the world of glamour and excitement, which is why I put together this book.” This book delivers recipes that the stars are dying for you to make.

For more information, please go to: www.deadcelebritycookbook.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Best known for his years as the flamboyant movie critic on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Frank DeCaro is heard each weekday morning on his live national call-in program The Frank DeCaro Show on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. A writer and performer, DeCaro pens the “Icons” column for CBS Watch magazine. The author of the pioneering memoir A Boy Named Phyllis, DeCaro previously wrote the “Style Over Substance” column for The New York Times. Visit the author at frankdecaro.com and on Facebook, and follow him at twitter.com/frankdecaroshow.

Available online or at bookstores or to order directly from the publisher, contact:  (800) 441-5569 or www.hcibooks.com.
THE DEAD CELEBRITY COOKBOOK: A Resurrection of Recipes from More Than 145 Stars of Stage and Screen
Frank Decaro
ISBN: 978-9-7573-1596-1– $19.95 — October 2011

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TIP SHEET:

Brini Maxwell, author of Brini Maxwell’s Guide to Gracious Living and creator of felixpopuli.com: “I adore this book so much I find myself on the horns of a dilemma–make the recipes or kill myself so I can be in the sequel.”

Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough,, bestselling authors of more than twenty cookbooks including Lobsters Scream When You Boil Them and 100 Other Myths About Food and Cooking: “Hankering for star-powered recipes? With this laugh-out-loud encyclopedia of Hollywood culinaria, Frank DeCaro brings out the real ‘celebrity chefs’ in spades. Or with a spade.”
 
Lisa Lampanelli, comedienne: “Frank DeCaro has the most delectable treats I’ve ever tasted — and the recipes aren’t bad, either! My dying wish is to have one of my recipes in The Dead Celebrity Cookbook II. Anyone for the Queen of Mean’s ‘So-Good-You’ll-Slap-Yo-Mama Chicken ’n Waffles’?”

Bob Smith, author of Remembrance of Things I Forgot: “Frank DeCaro’s two obsessions–food and the famous–have been hilariously united in The Dead Celebrity Cookbook. Reading Frank is like breaking your diet with your funniest best friend.”

SAMPLE RECIPE FROM THE DEAD CELEBRITY COOKBOOK
Peter Falk 1927-2011
He was one of the great ones–appearing in films as disparate as The Princess Bride and Wings of Desire in the same year, 1987. But no matter what Peter Falk did (and he did a lot), he will always be remembered as the police detective in the rumpled raincoat on the mystery series Columbo. The character, one he played for more than thirty years beginning in 1971, is one of TV’s most indelible portraits. Among Falk’s most beloved films were the cult hit The In-Laws, the one-two Neil Simon punch of Murder by Death and The Cheap Detective, and six pictures with his buddy, the director/actor John Cassavetes, including the 1974 classic A Woman Under the Influence. The Emmy- and Oscar-nominated actor published his memoir Just One More Thing in 2006, and it wasn’t a moment too soon. Falk was diagnosed with dementia two years later. Just one more thing: His pork chops are as toothsome as he was.

Peter Falk’s Pork Chops
6 pork chops
1 medium onion, finely chopped
¼ cup olive oil
¼ cup white vinegar
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon thyme
1 cup water
½ cup liquid from jarred vinegar peppers
1 cup (or more) vinegar peppers
2 tablespoons cornstarch

Preheat oven to 350°. Brown pork chops in olive oil in a heavy frying pan and remove to a casserole. Cook onions until translucent in same oil and add to casserole. Deglaze pan by adding white vinegar and stirring up all brown bits. Add to casserole along with all remaining ingredients except vinegar peppers. Bake for 1½ hours. Add vinegar peppers and cook 15 minutes more. Remove pork chops and peppers to a warm serving plate. Add 2 teaspoons corn starch to pan drippings to make gravy. Pour over pork chops and peppers and serve.

Cutting Room Floor (sidebar):
You wouldn’t know it to look at him, but Idris Elba, the hulking British actor best known as Stringer Bell on HBO’s The Wire, has said that his edgy detective character on Luther owes a debt to Falk. Luther, a childhood fan of Columbo and creator Neil Cross, explains that both the classic American mystery show and the smoking hot BBC crime series are “howcatchems” not whodunits, and no one did that better than Lt. Frank Columbo.

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Uncle Al Capone…The Untold Story From Inside His Family – By The Last Of The Capones…

Bonita Springs, FL,  – Deirdre Marie Capone lived in the house of the infamous Al Capone, her uncle. He taught her to swim, ride a bike, and play the mandolin. In her tell-all memoir, Uncle Al Capone…The Untold Story From Inside His Family (Recap Publishing LLC), Deirdre, the last member of the family born with the name Capone, shares what it was really like growing up a Capone – definitely not the way most people would have imagined it to be. It is the only book ever written about America’s most notorious mobster by someone who knew him well.

Already a best-seller on Amazon, Deirdre’s fascinating memoir tells what really happened in the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, what the ‘outfit’ was really all about, and what the ‘family’ were really like, especially the one person she confided in more than anyone – her Aunt Maffie (short for Mafalda – the Italian princess she was named after); a strong woman with whom she shared a close bond as one of the only two girls in the Capone family.

Uncle Al Capone is packed with absorbing stories about Al and his family, along with never-before-published photos and authentic Capone family recipes for the food that Al and his family enjoyed. Simply stated, there is no one else left who could ever share this piece of history with the world.

Deirdre relates what life was like growing up the grand niece of Public Enemy #1, Al Capone. Her own life had been saddened by the fact that her father, who had tried to live a more legitimate lifestyle than the rest of the family, couldn’t shake the shame of the Capone name and ended up taking his own life when Deirdre was just ten years-old. For most of her life she too had made every effort to hide the fact that she was a Capone and in 1972, in her early thirties, she left Chicago and her family history behind to reinvent herself in Minnesota, making sure that no one other than her husband knew her ancestry. She succeeded.

That is, until her past caught up with her on the day her nine year-old son came home from school and announced they were studying Al Capone in a class project. She and her husband agreed it was time to tell the kids but she was afraid for them – she had not wanted them growing up shunned by others or not having other kids to play with once they knew her name. She need not have worried – her kids thought it was totally ‘cool.’ So, at age 34, she finally accepted herself as Deirdre Marie Capone and today her 14 grandchildren are proud to tell the story of their ancestry.

Uncle Al Capone grabs the reader’s attention right from the start with its true life dialogue of the Capone family – from their ancestral roots in Angri, Italy to Brooklyn, New York, and later to Chicago. Deirdre offers a true portrait of an American family and gives a decidedly different look at her favorite uncle, endlessly depicted as the iconic mastermind behind some of the century’s most brutal killings.

For all the dissension, for all the pain, there comes a moment in our lives where we have to stand up and say: This – the good and the bad – is who I am, says Deirdre Marie Capone. For more information on this intriguing book, please visit: www.unclealcapone.com.

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TIP SHEET:

Jonathon Eig, author of Get Capone: The Secret Plot That Captured America’s Most Wanted Gangster: “A lot of people think Al Capone was a psychopath. A lot of people think Robert De Niro captured the true nature of America’s most notorious gangster. A lot of people seem hell bent on clinging to a bunch of mythology that plain and simple makes no sense. A lot of people are fools. Deirdre Marie Capone is not one of them. With this lovely, personal, heartfelt story, she takes a stand. She’s not nominating Capone for sainthood. She’s not asking you to pardon him his crimes. She’s simply and honestly telling the story she knows best–the story of her family. Do yourself a favor: read it. You’ll be glad you did. And when you’re done, you can judge Al Capone for yourself.”

Katerie Prior, ForeWord Reviews: “…Throughout the book, Capone tries to reconcile what she knows about her family with recorded history. Early in the book she writes, “I will not pretend to be able to paint a rosy picture of my uncle Al. I cannot make him out to be a perfect man, or even a good man. But what I want people to know is that he was a complex man. He was human and he had a heart.” Capone succeeds, balancing both the public history of Al, from the Valentine’s Day Massacre to his incarceration at Alcatraz, with personal photos, family recipes, and her own memories…It’s not always an easy task as the author recounts losing friends, jobs, and other opportunities, once people learned she was a descendant of the notorious Al Capone… (it is) a memoir that is as complex and human as the man that it’s about. It brings a fresh perspective to the other Al Capone biographies, and finally gives the larger-than-life gangster the one thing that may have eluded him in life: to be seen as simply a human being.”

 

 

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This Dynamic ‘Green Team’ Recycles imaginations while Redefining The Meaning Of High Octane Entertainment

Fort Worth, TX. Vocal Trash is a unique troupe of environmental performers who have been engaging audiences nationwide with their exciting brand of entertainment. They have made guest appearances on Fox 21 in Colorado, on Good Morning Texas, and been featured in various newspaper articles.

2011 marks the tenth anniversary of this exciting, energetic group whose music is a mixture of pop, rock, swing and classic oldies that relates to all ages and crosses many cultural barriers. During this ten year period they have not only brought top rate, upbeat entertainment to audiences, but have used their music to make a positive influence on children by bringing awareness to our planet – quite a legacy to leave for future generations.

Their combination of traditional instruments together with a percussion section made of trash cans, metal objects, water bottles and other recycled items, makes a uniquely exciting presentation that teaches children to use their imagination in a meaningful and lasting way when it comes to recycling. By incorporating items that would normally end up in a landfill into their performance, they have created a powerful tool to reach young minds and made it fun!

Their energetic, high octane show is a hit at every venue – whether it’s Vegas, Madison Square Garden, State Fairs or corporate events. In demand nationwide, Vocal Trash plays to a full house at every performance. Audiences love their unique blend of first class singing, industrial style drumming, comedy antics, and award-winning break-dancing – described as “Glee with a kick!”   “It’s an energy thing,” says creator Steve Linder. This may just well be an understatement. Unlike many shows, it is the entire troupe that makes this seamless ensemble performance such a thrilling and enlightening experience. Their whole performance is an astounding display of excellence, synchronization, excitement, precision and musicianship. When it comes to diversity Vocal Trash is, without a doubt, the ultimate variety show woven in urban tapestry.  This talented team has been incorporating recycling into every show for years – long before “green” was cool. Part street performers, part recycling gurus, these entertaining personalities make upcycling and recycling fun for kids of all ages – and makes them one of the most positive role models in entertainment today. While not yet a household name, judging from their fan base it won’t take this Broadway-style stage show long to become one. Their show travels coast to coast, appearing at some of the country’s largest theaters, festivals and state fairs, and during their “off-season” they perform for major corporations like American Airlines.   You might ask, “What does recycling have to do with a high energy variety show?” It starts with seven dedicated musicians, extensively trained in the performing arts, who like to get their point across by playing car parts, trash cans, lids, water bottles, barrels, pots, buckets and brooms. Their ‘point,’ featured in their song lyrics and their one-of-a-kind instruments constructed from recycled materials, is that this ‘green team’ is out to save the planet!  Please read the amazing testimonials from clients, and check out this dynamic group on their website at: www.vocaltrash.net.  ###

TIP SHEET:
 Please watch Vocal Trash perform at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRyFRel2Rog.

Tour Dates:

Nov 5  Arlington, TX  “Breaking Silence: A Stage for the Courageous” fundraiser
University Center Rio Grande Ballroom
8 – 10pm

Nov 10  Fayetteville, AR  Susan G Komen “Pink Trash Ball”
6 – 9 pm

Nov 12  Henderson, TX  Heritage Syrup Festival

Dec 31  Pasco, WA  New Year’s Tri-Cities – Columbia Basin College

Danny Aguilar, Delaware State Fair: “If you want a high energy show, with standing room only crowds, Vocal Trash is the way to go. They have been a huge entertainment hit for our patrons and they demand Vocal Trash return each year…family entertainment at its best!”

Vicki Imperati, Rhinebeck Events & Marketing: “Vocal Trash continues to present a high energy and entertaining show to our fair going public. Without a doubt, one of our most sought after groups at the fair!”

Candus Barnum, The Puyallup Fair & Events Center: “Amazing vocals – high energy – entertaining for all ages – a must see!”

Lisa Maldonado, Keller PTA: “…a wonderfully energetic and educational assembly…you are such professional role models.”

 

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Gospel Legends Vickie Winans and Kurt Carr To Headline 10th Anniversary Concert

GOSPEL LEGENDS VICKIE WINANS AND KURT CARR
To Headline 10TH Anniversary Concert Celebrating
BLACKGOSPELPROMO.COM AND ITS FOUNDER, VEDA BROWN
At Impacting Your World Christian Church in Cherry Hill, NJ
MONDAY, JULY 25, 2011 @ 7:00 PM

Celebrity Journalist Jawn Murray and Radio Veteran Neicy Tribbett To Emcee
  Lonnie Hunter & Structure, and Stellar Nominee Bryan Wilson Will Also Perform

Washington, DC, July 6, 2011 – Almost 200,000 people receive Veda Brown’s daily Black Gospel Promo e-mail blasts. The colorful, slickly designed emails promote everything from greeting cards, Jada Pinkett Smith’s “Hawthorne” TV series and Kirk Franklin’s chart- topping CDs to all of Tyler Perry’s movie promos. “Black Gospel Promo has become the CNN of gospel marketing,” says Grammy nominated producer Steven Ford. “Black Gospel Promo has revolutionized the way that the black church spreads the word about its products.”

Now, the gospel music and church communities are coming out to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Black Gospel Promo and the July 27th birthday of its founder, Veda Brown. Gospel legends Vickie Winans and Kurt Carr are headlining the concert in honor of Brown and her enterprise. Radio One’s syndicated on-air personality Lonnie Hunter and his Philadelphia-based group, Structure, will perform songs from his Top CD “I’m Back.” Veteran gospel artist, Bryan Wilson, best known for hits such as “His Eye is on the Sparrow” and “If You’re Talking About Jesus,” will be in the house too. Church leaders such as Bishop Andrew Merritt, Pastor Maria Gardner, Bishop Andrew Ford, and Prophetess Francina Norman will be on hand. Former Billboard magazine gospel critic Lisa Collins, marketing expert Melanie Few, Habakkuk label CEO April Washington-Essex, BET.com blogger Torrence Glenn, PR maven Jojo Pada, BET Sunday Best executive Neily Dickerson and TV producer Bobby Cartright will all attend. “Tom Joyner Morning Show” celebrity journalist Jawn Murray and veteran Philadelphia area radio personality Neicy Tribett will co-host the festivities.

A Philadelphia native, Brown rocketed into cyberspace long before the church market took note of the Internet. After college in the 1990s, she founded AOL’s Net Noir Black Gospel Chapel. AOL eventually sold Net Noir and Brown briefly took a job with a pastor with his own record label. She sent out email blasts on one of the pastor’s CD projects. To her surprise, she received a call from gospel star Fred Hammond’s brother who asked her to send out an email blast on the Commissioned Reunion concert in 2001. “I had no other job at the time,” Brown says. “So, I said, well, let’s try this for a little while.”

A while has turned into a ten-year operation that has allowed the firm to earn six figure revenue grosses in the boom years and to become the leading black gospel marketing company today. It sends out 1,800 eblasts a year for clients ranging from Verizon, McDonald’s, Revlon, Sony Music and Turner Broadcasting, among others. “I’m grateful to still be here working,” says Brown. “The economy has been very unstable the last two years and that’s had a big impact on my business but we’re still doing what we do and I’m thankful.” The free concert takes place at Impacting Your World Christian Center located at 2901 W. Chapel Avenue, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002.

Media Contact: Bill Carpenter at (202) 506-5051 or [email protected]

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