RETURN OF "LADIES SING THE BLUES"

Colorado Springs, CO - A Music Company Inc. is presenting its second Intimate Evening with "Ladies Sing the Blues" at the Castaways Inn, 107 Manitou Avenue, Manitou Springs, on Saturday, March 15, 2008. Hosted by one of the mainstays of the Colorado music scene, Jill Watkins from Boulder, "Ladies Sing the Blues" stars four female singers backed by piano, bass and drums. Each singer will have a portion of the show individually and will join together for the finale.

"After the huge success of the first "Ladies Sing the Blues" last year, I'm even more excited about having the opportunity to bring this show back to the Castaways" says Ms. Watkins. "The wonderful Juanita Martin will be returning along with Lila Mori from Colorado Springs and Erica Brown from Denver." We're taking the show up a notch this time with the addition of the rhythm section from the band I perform with, George Whitesell & His All Stars. We'll have Tim Zahn on piano, Santi Guarnera on bass, Dave Deason on drums, and, as special guest, Brad Eastin on sax. All in all, it should provide for one very exciting evening."

A slide show of "Ladies Sing The Blues" from October 2007 can be viewed at http://www.amusiccompanyinc.com/press.html

Jill Watkins' singing career began at the age of five, singing for her church choir. Her first solo performance was at the age of eight. Jill's journey has taken her from singing gospel to singing the blues in her own band to joining Colorado Springs' George Whitesell and His All Stars. The influence of her musical heroes - from Aretha Franklin and Koko Taylor to Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin - is obvious in her style, stage presence, and musical selection. Her powerful voice, playfulness, and personality fill every room she plays.

Juanita Stroud Martin is no stranger to the Colorado Springs music scene. She began singing with her three siblings--billed as "The Stroud Four"-- in local Baptist churches. Juanita entertained locally with several well known artists, such as George Nelson, Eddie Jones, and Bug Barbee. With George Nelson, Juanita sang as the opening act for the Castaways presentation of the Stan Kenton orchestra. She has also sung with the musicians for Ray Charles and sang onstage with Lou Rawls. Juanita was the soloist with "Contempra" and other local bands. She has sung at Pikes Peak Jazz and Swing Society jam sessions with a variety of musicians and has appeared on television and radio programs both singing and discussing jazz and contemporary music.

Lila Mori has actively embraced a vocal career as both a jazz artist and a classical artist for over 32 years, (twenty two of them in Colorado Springs) and as a vocal educator. A master teacher and mentor, her instruction includes students involved in jazz, classical, musical theater, barbershop, country, rock and roll, rhythm and blues, folk and bluegrass music. In the world of a cappella, she has become a highly popular teacher and coach to Sweet Adeline choruses and quartets throughout their world-wide organization. In July 2006, she was a featured clinician and performer at their International Education Symposium in San Antonio, Texas. Her tutorial CD of vocal skills, Warming Up to Vocal Freedom, has become an internationally best selling product. For almost fourteen years, audiences have thrilled to Lila's performances with the Ken Miller Trio every Wednesday through Saturday in the Penrose Room at the world famous Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. They have recorded three CD's: Penrose Dancing, I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart, and their latest release Moonglow Dancing.

Erica Brown states, "The blues are my musical love." She has fronted the Erica Brown Band for ten years and has shared stages with Tab Benoit, Kenny Neal, Delbert McClinton, Sonny Rhodes, Debbie Davies, Bernard Allison, and Larry McCray and B. B. King, to name a few. The Erica Brown Band has performed in numerous Blues festivals held throughout Colorado. Her vocals were featured in the Sony Pictures movie, "The Fan", with Wesley Snipes and Robert DeNiro in 1996. The Erica Brown Band has released two CDs, Body Work and Rough Cut Stone. Recently, the Erica Brown Band won the Colorado Blues Societies competition for the International Blues Challenge that was held in Memphis.

Show is $22 in advance and $30 the day of show. Doors open for General Admission at 7pm. A $50 VIP ticket includes: 6-7pm Meet and Greet, appetizers, a beverage and choice seating. The show is 8-11pm. Special room rates are available for this show. Tickets may be purchased on-line at www.AMusicCompanyInc.com or at the Castaways Inn, 107 Manitou Avenue, Manitou Springs. For more information, please call 719-685-3300 (The Castaways) or 719-576-5945 (A Music Company Inc.).

"This is an exceptional opportunity to see four great singers individually & together on stage to close with an electrifying finale" says Amy Whitesell of A Music Company Inc. "We are excited to once again bring this unique show to The Castaways Inn which is the most beautiful showroom and the best kept secret in the Pikes Peak area. The line-up this time is phenomenal"