...Singer With The Band' Available From Zoom Express/BMG Kidz In May
New York, NY -- Chris Burke"who was born with Down Syndrome 28 years ago, has helped transform our image of people with disabilities and has earned a place in the hearts of millions of fans worldwide. Best known for his starring role as Corky Thacher on the ABC-TV series "Life Goes On," Burke now brings his talents and immense enjoyment of life to his debut album, .. .Singer With The Band. This l2-song pop recording, which stars Burke along with long-time friends Joe & John DeMasi, will be released May 24, 1994 from family entertainment company Zoom Express/BMG Kidz.
Produced by Emmy A ward-winning entertainer Fred Miller, .. .Singer With The Band is a 40-minute compilation of fun and inspiring music for the entire family. Songs include "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," the Beatles classic that became the theme song of "Life Goes On";
"Nature Boy," sung by special guest artist Cissy (Whitney's mom) Houston; and "All Walk Together," featuring a choir of family and friends in the style of "We Are The World." Other uplifting songs on the album are "Rising In Love," "Everybody In The Pool," "Poison Ivy," "Eating Is Fun," "Forever Girl," "You're A Star," "Nobody's Chasin Nobody," "My Imagination," and "Love Makes The World Go Round."
A portion of the proceeds from ... Singer With The Band will benefit Very Special Arts, an international organization providing programs in the arts for individuals with physical and mental disabilities. Founded in 1974 by Jean Kennedy Smith, Very Special Arts will spotlight Chris, Joe and John in their ongoing 20th anniversary festivities. If All Walk Together" will be made into a vibrant music video, with key segments filmed at the 1994 Internatio!)al Very Special Arts Festival in Brussels this May. The threesome will appear on Very Special Arts' 20th anniversary television specials and will tour the country with Very Special Arts' America In Concert program -- participating in the nationwide awareness/fundraising effort at select Pace and MCA-owned ampitheaters.
Chris Burke met twin brothers Joe and John DeMasi some 15 years ago, while he was a camper and they were music counselors at Camp Anchor. Since that time, the DeMasis have performed throughout the U.S. and the world -- from New York's Bottom Line and Nashville's Fan Fair Showcase to The Sydney Opera House. They appear regularly with Chris at schools, festivals and conferences around the country.
"Life Goes On" was created after Burke landed the role of a boy with Down Syndrome on the ABC-TV movie, "Desperate. " His work so impressed network executives that the film's producer was asked to write a show with Burke in mind. The critically acclaimed drama series "Life Goes On," which earned Burke a Golden Globe nomination, aired on ABC from 1989-1993, and more recently on The Family Channel.
Burke I S success on the series led Bantatn Doubleday Dell to publish his autobiography,
A Special Kind Of Hero, in 1992. He has filmed a PSA with President Bush, marched in President Clinton's inaugural parade with the Special Olympics, received numerous awards including a Youth In Film and Christopher, and had a New York City public school named in his honor. In addition, he continues to have a fresh television presence with guest- starring roles on shows like "Jonathan, The Boy Nobody Wanted," "The Commish't and the ABC mini-series "Heaven and Hell."
Burke also serves as spokesperson for the McDonald's McJobs program, National Down Syndrome Congress, and National Down Syndrome Society which, using Burke as an example, proclaims: "Having Down Syndrome doesn't mean you can't reach for the stars.. .or sometimes even become one."
Says Burke, "We've all got disabilities. It's what we do with our abilities that counts Everyone can be a Singer With The Band!" .
...Singer With The Band is packaged with a four-color sing-along big book and has a suggested retail price of $9.98 for cassette and $15.98 for CD. It is available wherever quality music, videos and books are sold and can also be ordered directly via 800/727-2233 or 800/342-0295.
Zoom Express -- a full-spectrum family entertainment company and co-venture with the Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) -- produces CDs, cassettes, AudioGames, book & tapes, videos and special entertainment projects. Zoom Express products are distributed by BMG Distribution and Bantam Doubleday Dell.