Mr President: Difference between revisions

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'''Mr. President''' is a popular song, co-written by Mike Loveless, Joe Sterling and Birmingham musician [[Ray Reach]].  The purpose of the song is to raise money to aid the homeless people of the United States.
[[Image:Mr President Cover.jpg|right|thumb|175px|Cover of the CD, "Mr. President" by Ray Reach]]


'''Mr President''' is a popular song, co-written by Mike Loveless, Joe Sterling and Birmingham musician [[Ray Reach]] for the purpose of raising money to benefit homeless people in the United States.


== History ==
The song was composed and first produced in Dallas, Texas in [[1989]]. George White and Jeff Tokar introduced homelessness activist Joe Sterling to Reach and Loveless, partners in a music production company. They, in turn, enlisted the help of local musicians and facilities including the Dallas Symphony Chorus. Reach and Loveless arranged the piece. Reach played keyboards and performed lead vocals along with Benita Arterberry, Tony Powers and Amy Hahn. Other instrumentalists included guitarist Kim Platko and saxophonist Randy Lee. Engineer Danny Brown assisted the producers with the recording and remixing.


'''Dallas Production'''
"Mr President" was performed live on HBO's ''Comic Relief '90'' by Natalie Cole and Al Jarreau along with New York City public school choral students and a band directed by saxophonist Tom Scott. A new recording of the song was made in Birmingham in [[1993]] with choral students from [[Jefferson County Schools]], [[Chuck Leavell]] (keyboards), [[Charlie Hayward]] (bass), [[Chuck Tilley]] (drums), [[Kelley O'Neal]] (saxophone), [[Wayne Perkins]] (guitar) and help from [[Front Row Productions]] and [[Airwave Productions Group]]. Proceeds from the recording benefit PATH activities through the [[JBS Mental Health Authority]].
 
'''Mr. President''' was originally recorded and produced in Dallas, Texas in 1989.  This debut version of the song was produced by a team of professionals, including Ray Reach, Mike Loveless, Daryl O'Barr, George White and Jeff Tokar.
 
White and Tokar introduced Joe Sterling, a homelessness activist, to Ray Reach and Mike Loveless, who were partners in a music production company based in Dallas.  Reach and Loveless immediately recognized the potential of the ideas which Sterling presented to them and agreed to refine Joe's ideas and create a marketable popular song.  They realized that a hit song could potentially do a lot to aid the plight of America's homeless. 
 
So, Mike and Ray put their heads together one afternoon, and an hour or so later, the song '''Mr. President''' was born.  All the producers agreed that it would be a good idea to enlist the aid of local musicians and musical production facilities.  The production team was able to enlist the help of Dallas area organizations, including The Dallas Symphony Chorus, the Richardson, Texas All-District Children's Choir, conducted by Glenda Casey, and vocalist Benita Arterberry (Star Search finalist).  Other Dallas area organizations and individuals who donated their time and efforts included ''Sound Logic Recording Studio'', ''Sumet-Burnett Recording Studio'' and others.
 
The recording credits for the Dallas version of '''Mr. President''' are as follows:
 
* Recording produced by Ray Reach and Mike Loveless
* Recording Engineers:  Danny Brown (Sound Logic Recording) and Sumet-Burnett Recording
* Remix engineers:  Danny Brown, Ray Reach and Mike Loveless
* Adult Male Lead Vocal:  Ray Reach
* Adult Female Lead Vocal:  Benita Arterberry
* Child Male Lead Vocal:  Tony Powers
* Child Female Lead Vocal:  Amy Hahn
* Keyboards:  Ray Reach
* String Arranging:  Mike Loveless and Ray Reach
* Choral Arranging:  Ray Reach
* Guitar:  Kim Platko
* Tenor Sax:  Randy Lee
* MIDI Programming:  Mike Loveless and Ray Reach
 
== Mr President on HBO ==
 
Following the success of the Dallas production of Mr. President, Joe Sterling presented the song to Bob Zmuda and the producers of the HBO special, "COMIC RELIEF '90."  It was so well received that the producers decided to feature it on the "COMIC RELIEF '90" special, sung by Natalie Cole and Al Jarreau.
 
== Birmingham Version ==
 
In 1991, after relocating from Dallas to Birmingham, composer/producer Ray Reach mounted a new production of the song, featuring Alabama musicians, including keyboardist [[Chuck Leavell]] (Allman Brothers, The Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton), bassist [[Charlie Heyward]] (Charlie Daniels Band), drummer [[Chuck Tilley]] (Lee Greenwood, Dolly Parton), guitarist [[Wayne Perkins]] (Rolling Stones, Leon Russell, Joni Mitchell) and saxophonist [[Kelley O'Neal]] (Take 6, The Winans) along with choir singers from churches and schools from all around Jefferson County, Alabama.
 
All profit proceeds from this version went to benefit the PATH homeless organization in Birmingham, Alabama.
 
For more information about Mr President, contact Ray Reach at rreach@bellsouth.net or 205-960-6328.


== External Links ==
== External Links ==
* [http://www.myspace.com/misterpresidentbyrayreach Mr. President] on MySpace.com


* [http://www.myspace.com/misterpresidentbyrayreach Mr. President on MySpace.com]
[[Category:Songs]]
[[Category:1989 works]]
[[Category:1993 works]]

Latest revision as of 23:16, 24 November 2009

Cover of the CD, "Mr. President" by Ray Reach

Mr President is a popular song, co-written by Mike Loveless, Joe Sterling and Birmingham musician Ray Reach for the purpose of raising money to benefit homeless people in the United States.

The song was composed and first produced in Dallas, Texas in 1989. George White and Jeff Tokar introduced homelessness activist Joe Sterling to Reach and Loveless, partners in a music production company. They, in turn, enlisted the help of local musicians and facilities including the Dallas Symphony Chorus. Reach and Loveless arranged the piece. Reach played keyboards and performed lead vocals along with Benita Arterberry, Tony Powers and Amy Hahn. Other instrumentalists included guitarist Kim Platko and saxophonist Randy Lee. Engineer Danny Brown assisted the producers with the recording and remixing.

"Mr President" was performed live on HBO's Comic Relief '90 by Natalie Cole and Al Jarreau along with New York City public school choral students and a band directed by saxophonist Tom Scott. A new recording of the song was made in Birmingham in 1993 with choral students from Jefferson County Schools, Chuck Leavell (keyboards), Charlie Hayward (bass), Chuck Tilley (drums), Kelley O'Neal (saxophone), Wayne Perkins (guitar) and help from Front Row Productions and Airwave Productions Group. Proceeds from the recording benefit PATH activities through the JBS Mental Health Authority.

External Links

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