The WannaBeatles
Franklin, Tennessee, United States | SELF | AFM
Music
Press
BEATLES-STYLE BENEFIT FOR W.O. SMITH SCHOOL
With a Little Help from My Friends Event to Feature Appearances by Former
Apple Records Executive Ken Mansfield and Superstars Wynonna and Phil Keaggy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 2009) – The popular Nashville band The WannaBeatles, former Apple Records executive Ken Mansfield, and superstars Wynonna and Phil Keaggy will celebrate the 42nd anniversary of The Beatles'
Sgt. Pepper album on June 9 (Tuesday) with an evening of live music and storytelling at the W.O. Smith Nashville Community Music School.
The With a Little Help From My Friends benefit will occur from 7-9 p.m. in the school's concert hall. The event will feature career reflections and readings from Mansfield; live performances by The WannaBeatles, country star Wynonna, contemporary Christian artist Phil Keaggy, Jonny Lang, country star David Ball, and other celebrity guests; and the
presentation of a proclamation by Metro Councilman Parker Toler naming Jan. 30 as Nashville Beatles Music Day.
Proceeds from the event will be used to help W.O. Smith continue to provide instruments and music instruction to hundreds of children from low-income families.
"Everything changed with The Beatles," said two-time Grammy winner Dennis Scott, who sings and plays guitar for The WannaBeatles. "Then in ‘67 they recorded Sergeant Pepper, and everything changed again. The WannaBeatles and I are humbled and honored to be part of Nashville’s celebration of their music."
The Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County recently voted to approve Councilman Parker Toler's proclamation to name Jan. 30 as Nashville Beatles Music Day. Toler introduced the bill after The WannaBeatlesperformed on the roof of Rippy's nightclub on Broadway to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Beatles' legendary
rooftop performance in London. The proclamation cites The WannaBeatles and the MENC: National Association for
Music Education for helping to raise public awareness about The Beatles' contributions to music education.
Members of The WannaBeatles are Dennis Scott, vocalist/bassist/keyboardist Jim Hayden,
vocalist/guitarist/saxophonist Bryan Cumming, and vocalist/drummer/percussionist David Toledo. Playing to standing ovations in Middle Tennessee, the group is creating a bit of Beatlesmania of its own. The band consists of Grammy Award-winning and nationally acclaimed music producers, arrangers, studio players, and singers who have "Come
Together" to play the music they grew up with. Their first "all Beatles" gig together was "love at the first note". Since
then, The WannaBeatles have developed a following of regulars who look forward to the band's own special version of
the "British Invasion". The band has appeared at a host of Middle Tennessee venues, including Sambuca Restaurant,
Puckett's Grocery, the Music City Bowl, Riverfront Park (for Nashville's July 4th celebration), the Tennessee Performing
Arts Center, and Red Caboose Park. A 2008 performance in Crockett Park as part of the Brentwood Summer Concert
Series drew approximately 6,000 people. For more information, visit http://www.TheWannaBeatles.com.
Mansfield has worked with artists as diverse as The Beatles, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, The Beach Boys,
Stan Kenton, Judy Garland, Merle Haggard, Lou Rawls, Andy Williams, David Cassidy, Dolly Parton, and The Flying
Burrito Brothers. A highly sought-after public speaker, he is the author of two other books: The Beatles, the Bible, and
Bodega Bay, and The White Book. For more information, visit http://www.thomasnelson.com.
Founded in 1984, W.O. Smith Community Music School is a non-profit educational institution created for the
purpose of making quality music instruction available to talented, interested, deserving children from low-income families
at the nominal fee of 50 cents per lesson. The school offers instruction in all band and orchestra instruments, piano, guitar,
and voice taught by a volunteer music faculty representing many facets of the Nashville music community. W.O. Smith
also seeks to encourage student participation in the cultural life of the community through concert attendance and
performance. Fore more information, visit http://www.wosmith.org.
### - Press Release
THE WANNABEATLES
The WannaBeatles is a high energy group featuring
four professional musicians with a passion for the songs of John, Paul, George, and Ringo - the Beatles.
The WannaBeatles consists of Grammy award winning and talented music producers, arrangers, studio players, and singers who have "Come Together" to play the music they grew up with.
The difference?
The WannaBeatles tackle all periods of Beatles music - (including orchestral) -
songs that the Fab Four recorded only in the studio, but never live!
Appearances Include:
• The Music City Bowl - LP Field, Nashville
• The Fab 4 Festival - Nashville
• Tennessee Performing Arts Center - Nashville
• Nashville 4th of July Gala - Riverfront Park - Riverfront Park
• Brentwood's Summer Concert Series - Brentwood, TN
• Puckett's Grocery - Franklin, TN
• Sambuca Restaurant - Nashville
• Owensboro Botanical Gardens - Kentucky
• Beatles 40th Anniversary Rooftop Concert - Rippy’s - Nashville
• Mexicali Grill - Franklin, TN
• Private Parties and Corporate Events - Tennessee
• Williamson County Fair - Tennessee
Performed with:
Wynonna, Phil Keaggy, Jonny Lang, Ken Mansfield,
Beegie Adair, Fisk Jubilee Singers
For more information call 615-309-8688
or visit www.thewannabeatles.com
- Act IV Music
WannaBeatles Mania Hits Nashville -
The WannaBeatles who have been playing to standing ovations at local Franklin venues such as Puckett’s Grocery and Mexicali Grill are about to hit the airwaves. The lads make their debut appearance on NPR’s “Live from Studio C” on January 29th. The morning show will feature The WannaBeatles performing songs from various eras of the Beatles career. “The later material poses more of a challenge.” says group founder and Grammy award winner, Dennis Scott. “Those songs were multi-layered recordings. We’re trying to reproduce music that the Beatles themselves never performed live.”
“In the early stage of their career The Beatles performed on BBC radio and sharpened their craft during stints at the Cavern Club in Liverpool” notes group drummer, David Toledo. “This live performance on NPR, along with our steady gig at Mexicali Grill, sort of parallels the path that the Beatles took.”
The WannaBeatles acknowledge that their popularity is a due to the extraordinary songwriting and performance skills of the original Fab Four. With music that is timeless, The WannaBeatles will continue to have a “Ticket To Ride.”
The WannaBeatles next performance at Puckett’s Downtown Grocery is on February 1st. Their next show at Mexicali Grill is January 7th. They will debut their February 14th Valentine’s Day show “All You Need is Love” at the newly opened venue, A New Thing - located in Ashland City.
For background information, credits, and performance listings consult website:
www.thewannabeatles.com
- Nashville Business Journal
Discography
Release of The WannaBeatles' first single, "February 9th, 1964" is a fun and nostalgic original song that pays homage the greatest band in music history.
Photos
Bio
The WannaBeatles has been creating a bit of BeatleMania of their own - playing to crowds of 100,000 at Atlanta's Peachdrop Celebration. They have received standing ovations at events such as The Music City Bowl, The Southern Fried Festival, and Tennessee 's Performing Arts Center.
The WannaBeatles is a high energy band which covers both the early and later hits of the Fab Four. But it's much more than that.
The WannaBeatles boldly go where no tribute band have gone before by performing unique arrangements of Beatles favorites, humorous skits and musical parodies. Unencumbered by fake wigs and noses, they delight their audiences with inside stories about the Beatles' songs and how they were created.
An while most Beatles groups require at least 5 members or more. The WannaBeatles literally tie themselves into pretzels to capture all the nuances of the music with only FOUR GUYS! Watching them switch between instruments (and sometimes playing two things at once) is something you have to see to believe.
The show a blast from the past which is demographically suited for both corporate and private events. The music is timeless, family friendly, and The WannaBeatles are all about getting their audiences involved.
Consisting of Grammy award winning talented musicians, The WannaBeatles have "Come Together" to play the music they love. It's a happy sound that spans the generations and is appropriate for concerts, festivals, corporate events, private parties, and even weddings.
We invite you to “Come Together” and share the musical magic that spans the generations. It’s some of the happiest music around and appropriate for concerts, festivals, corporate events, private parties, and even weddings (yes, they have played “Beatles” weddings).
Check out our video promo. We think you'll be impressed.
Love you do,
The WannaBeatles
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