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I have been trading phone calls with my niece Stephanie Urbina Jones. She has been steadfast in her writing and recordings. She has been in the studio with three great artists, Porter Howell, Paul Jefferson and visited with Raul Malo of "The Mavericks" at his studio in Nashville. She was privy enough to preview some of his next album and says it is awesome!. When Stephanie opened for "The Mavericks" in Austin I was taken by Malo's vocals. I liken him to Frank Sinatra.. Porter Howell is famous for writing the National Anthem of Texas, "God Bless Texas" when he was in the band, Little Texas. He is the author and or co-author of 9 Top Ten Billboard Hits in the 90's. Paul Jefferson is no shrinking violet in the music business having penned tunes for several Billboard Artists and is now lead singer for the group Hilljack. Add Augie Meyer into the mix and the result has been like fireworks on New Years Eve. For those of you who don't know Augie Meyers, he is one of the Texas Tornados. Stephanie will have two of the new tunes "Revolucion" and "Como se Llama, Mama" (What's your Name, Mama?!) a duet with Augie on her Web Site for you to sample as of tonight. The rest are still being brewed in the Studio. This next album will be paying homage to Stephanie's tex/mex/american roots. Much of Stephanie's inspiration you have experienced in her "Live Performances." But this time she is going to capture her trademark hybrid Spanglish sound on CD. The time is right for performers and songwriters with a Latin edge. The major press and corporations have been giving more and more attention to the Hispanic market (Note the rise of "Los Lonely Boys," nominated for 4 Grammy's this year, and the box office hit movie "Spanglish" ). This is a rising wave and a market that is still very much under exploited. Stephanie and her band have shared the stage with "Los Lonely Boys" (Willie Nelson Fourth of July Picnic) and "The Mavericks" ( La Zona Rosa, Austin ). The response from the crowds were incredible, if not unbelievable. Stephanie is squarely positioned to take off in this market. She has already received awards for Best Latin Female Performer in San Antonio and using her fame has already done commercials in Spanish for Honda in South Texas. She was selected as the Grand Marshall for the Ford Holiday River Parade in San Antonio, an honor reserved for stars and artist like Cheech Marin, Jose Feliciano, Flaco Jimenez, and Vickie Carr. Comparisions have already been made with Linda Ronstad and Selena. Still, Stephanie is her own artist, but these comparisons are rightly so, for reasons of her marketability. Stephanie has already had a Number One Single on the Texas Music Chart, proving this talent and marketability. She is the only Hispanic, male or female to achieve this status. And she is the only artist ever to break into the Tejano Music Festival, Country Music Fan Fair, The Kerrville Folk Festival and the Willie Nelson Fourth of July Picnic. No other artist has been able to translate Tex Mex Hispanic performances to all these separate, but venerated audiences. The acknowledgments go on, but what is important to understand is that Stephanie is an artist on the brink, in a growing market that is breaking. And Stephanie is positioned to take her share of it. I have to say that I am most proud of Stephanie, for her work ethic. A lot of people don't know that Stephanie owns her own company Texicana Entertainment and her own Publishing Company / Record Label Casa Del Rio. She is not just an Artist, she is a visionary business women ala Dolly Parton or Oprah. Texicana Entertainment and Casa Del Rio are the business engines that runs the artist engine. Her company has placed Stephanie's music in front of the best and most influential Music Critics in the business. And her name keeps coming up in these circles along side Lyle Lovett, Selena, Patsy Cline, and Martina McBride. In this era of Music, talent is still the litmus test, but promoting yourself requires the dedication and entreprenuralship of a business enterprise. For those of you who have already become investors in this business, the Jones family thanks you all for your support , kind words, letters and prayers...Your investments have accomplished a Number 1 Single on Texas Music Chart... Something all the "experts" said couldn't be done. Now of course, Stephanie is working on her new project. Her Companies are now aiming at even larger and more sweeping accomplishments. At this moment her company is putting together the team to take her career Nationally and Internationally. She has already booked a tour in Europe for this summer. If you are interested in learning more or becoming part of Texicana Entertainment just log on to www.stephaniejones.net and read about it's history mission and who's involved. Oh Yeah, I almost forgot..... check out samples of Stephanie's two
new songs to be realeased on the new project..Look forward to seeing
you all down the road... |
