JOANNA MARTINO BUILDS MOMENTUM WITH AWARD NOMINATIONS, RADIO SINGLES AND TOUR DATES
(PRLEAP.COM) Nashville, TN (February 27, 2006) – Nashville, TN based independent artist Joanna Martino has been celebrating many successes since the release of her debut album, My World, this past August.Martino was recently nominated for four IndieHeaven Momentum Awards, which recognize independent Christian artists’ pursuit of excellence and passion in their music and mission. Her nominations are in the following categories: “Female Vocalist of the Year”, “Contemporary Artist of the Year”, “Song of the Year” for “Right Where You Want Me” and “Album of the Year” for My World. Visitors to the IndieHeaven website can vote via an online ballot through March 1st, which can be found at www.indieheaven.com/go.idh?section=mawards. Votes will be tallied and Awards will be handed out in a ceremony on March 25th, during the IndieHeaven CIA Summit in Franklin, TN.
“This is the first year for the Momentum Awards and I am completely blown away to be nominated in these categories,” exclaims Martino. “There are many other great independent artists nominated who have been doing this a lot longer than I have. It is such a compliment to be recognized next to them.”
In addition to being nominated for “Song of the Year”, “Right Where You Want Me,” the first single from the My World, has also received rave reviews from radio stations across the country. The song is currently “new and active” on R&R’s AC Indicator.
Martino’s next single, “Fisher Of Men” is a track she recorded for Life Is Precious: A Wes King Tribute. One of the Christian industry’s beloved and critically-acclaimed singer/songwriters, Wes King was diagnosed with Lymphoma last spring. This benefit project was birthed out of the idea to both encourage King as he recovers from this life-threatening disease and pay tribute to the amazing songs he has contributed over the years. Other artists contributing to the two-disc project include Derek Webb, Phil Keaggy, Downhere, Paul Coleman, Kim Hill, The Kry, Scott Krippayne, Cheri Keaggy, along with several independent artists who have also been impacted by King’s contributions to the industry. “Fisher Of Men” will be the first single from the project and will go for adds at CHR and Rock radio March 3rd. The album is slated to release March 14th.
“It is such an honor to be involved in this project,” Martino explains. “Wes is one of the foundational artists in Christian music and he has influenced the next generation of artists, myself included. I love ‘Fisher of Men’ because whether we are praised or humiliated, blessed or suffering, we share all of this with our Savior, who paid the ultimate price for our life. To lay down our life for Him is just giving back what we have been graciously given.”
“I’ve been blown away by the talent on this tribute project,” says King. “To see my songs reinterpreted and given new life has been very humbling and exciting. The message of ‘Fisher Of Men’ is universal, there is an innate sadness in leaving all that you have to follow Christ, but a sadness that leads to joy. Joanna’s interpretation brings out the joy in this amazing journey, and has been reinvented and made into a fun and vivacious song.”
A busy tour schedule is a necessity for all artists, and Martino is no exception. She has an eventful spring ahead of her with performances at the “Wait4Him” Girls Conference in NC, JFest in Chattanooga, Crossover Christian Music Fest in Missouri and “Brown Bag” performances with WMHK, WRCM, KOBC and KLRC radio stations, to highlight just a few. Martino will also perform and fill the role of “Artist Host” this July at KLTY’s “Celebrate Freedom”, the nation’s largest free one-day Christian music event.
Discovered at the age of 16 as she advanced through over four rounds of auditions for the second season of Fox’s hit series “American Idol”, Joanna Martino was one of the youngest competing, yet continually making the cut for judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson in Los Angeles. Her voice has captured the attention of the highest of music execs in the past, but it is her message that sets her apart. With a beautiful transparency, her independent debut, My World, blends contemporary with eternal. At the height of her youth, Martino has learned that taking the unbeaten path has far greater rewards than the path of compromise our culture has so clearly paved for today’s generation. My World is currently available for purchase through GrassrootsMusic.com, CDBaby.com and TowerRecords.com and can be found on the following digital download sites: iTunes.com, Music Net, MSN Music, PassAlong, Rhapsody to name a few.
For more information about Joanna Martino, her debut release, My World, and a complete listing of tour dates, please visit her website, www.joannamartino.com.
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