Skeleton Crew is proud to announce the band’s participation in Music For Good. We have partnered with Music For Good to help raise awareness and money for OXFAM America: “Creating Solutions to Poverty, Hunger & Injustice.”

Every artist selling music on ReverbNation that participates in Music For Good chooses a charity they'd like to support and splits proceeds of that sale right down the middle: $0.56 for the artist + $0.56 for the charity + $0.17 processing. So every time a fan buys a song from a ReverbNation artist, they're demonstrating their support for indie music and a worthy cause.

Skeleton Crew has contributed our song: “Why.” Originally inspired my Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award winning film, “Schindler’s List” and the genocide that was taking place in Bosnia-Herzegovina circa 1994. “Why” is a dramatic moment in a live Skeleton Crew performance that usually opens a set. “Why” has never been released as a recording to the public until now. Our purpose is to inspire the power within everyone to speak up, help others, and simply “do good.”

Skeleton Crew’s “Why” was first enlisted as the soundtrack to the band’s video of the same name focusing on the 2011 Arab Spring uprising taking place in Egypt:
Why Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYJY9F9ZE68&feature=share&list=UUMaGtvTSkV2lmE-pz55tBJw

The sound recording is the original conceptual demo of “Why,” basically written and recorded the moment inspiration hit the same day. The song shows the band experimenting with found sounds and tape loops to help illustrate the chaos and carnage taking place in the world at that moment.

OXFAM video: http://youtu.be/cwjJsrcihEc

Direct Link to Why: http://www.reverbnation.com/theskeletoncrew/song/16915240-why

Skeleton Crew is proud to announce the release of our much anticipated single [at least in our minds! :-)] “Chime For Change: If I Were a Boy,” as a Valentine to Beyonce for including Skeleton Crew at the close of her “***FLAWLESS” video. Each band member went through a lot of personal crises during the recording process which is why it took so long to finish. The process was painful, but so is the important subject matter of the song.

On December 13, 2013, Beyoncé surprised the world with the release of her self-titled album: Beyoncé. Her record-breaking release sold nearly 900,000 copies to adoring fans in over 104 countries in three days.   

The first single and video release for “***Flawless” included Skeleton Crew and introduced the band to the world. The timing of her release was almost twenty years to-the-date when Skeleton Crew faced a 12-year-old Beyonce and her then group, Girls Tyme on Ed McMahon’s Star Search TV show: “the American Idol” of its time. Skeleton Crew defeated Girls Tyme, but went on to lose in the semi-finals. The Girls Tyme Star Search loss became “a defining moment of [her] childhood,” according to Beyonce.  

Skeleton Crew is eternally grateful to Beyonce for the overwhelming amount of attention the band has received as a result of this global exposure. The media focus has been off-the-charts!    

Skeleton Crew’s hope with this recording is to draw awareness to Chime For Change: a global campaign co-founded by Beyoncé, Salma Hayek, Frida Giannini and founded by Gucci. Chime For Change’s mission is to help promote gender equality and advance the status and human rights of all women and girls around the world.  

Skeleton Crew has also released the "Chime For Change: If I Were a Boy" video to bring this critical issue to the forefront and help initiate positive change by inspiring everyone to #ChimeIN and pass this powerful message forward. The Chime For Change video is available for viewing on Skeleton Crew Music's YouTube Page.  

Skeleton Crew co-produced “Chime For Change: If I Were A Boy” with Emmy-Award winning producer, Kevin Sharpe, and it was recorded at Detroit’s Metro 37 Recording Studios. The song will be available as a free download on the Skeleton Crew's Soundcloud.com and Nimbit.com websites among others.

Learn more about Chime For Change and how you can help make a difference at www.chimeforchange.org.  

Learn more about Skeleton Crew at: www.skeletoncrewmusic.com 


Download Chime For Change: If I Were a Boy Digital Booklets here: http://bit.ly/211tUCA

peaceloveone! ~Skeleton Crew

Chime For Change: If Were a Boy

The recording sessions for “Faith,” Skeleton Crew’s contribution to the Christmas in Detroit 3 project, began on 09/09/09. There was a palpable energy and vibe in the air that was felt by everyone involved. 

We had the pleasure of working with Grammy Award winning record producer, Mark Pastoria, and Pastor Henry Covington who brought in the choir we incorporated for backing vocals on the  “Faith” recording. Pastor Henry is featured in Mitch Albom’s new book, “Have a Little Faith.” The choir was both inspirational and perfect for this song; they weren’t professional singers, but a group made up of diverse individuals who in some way or another ran into varying degrees of hard luck in their lives. These beautiful individuals, with the help of Pastor Henry and others, have managed to turn their lives around for the better. They have gone on to help and inspire others.

It was during the subsequent recording session to record this choir of hope that we had the pleasure of enjoying a break from recording to talk to one of the choir members. During our conversation about the overall recording experience, the topic returned to the song “Faith” and its meaning. 

It was at this moment that the individual we were speaking with offered to share a story that moved us deeply and one we will never forget. The choir member revealed that there was a time in the not-so-distant past where they had slept in a cardboard box outside of the very recording studio in which we were working. 

This candid individual lived to party and often frequented Lola’s, the nightclub that occupied the first floor of the building that housed Harmony Park Studios, located in the newly revitalized Harmonie Park area of Detroit. This person eventually dug down deep for the courage and pulled themselves up and got their life moving in a positive direction through the help of people like Pastor Henry and others.

Then came the point in our conversation where this individual told us that they were about to leave the mission that helped them get their life in order and where they worked helping others. This person did not share with us whether they were leaving to become the denizen of despair they fought so hard to conquer or if they were leaving to pursue other opportunities. 

It was at the time the choir member was about to announce their departure from the mission when Brian, the talented choir director, handed this person the lyrics to our song, “Faith.” They had not heard a note of the music nor had they ever heard of the band Skeleton Crew before. The choir member told us that immediately after reading the lyrics they were so moved they changed their mind and decided right then and there not to leave. The lyrics moved this person so much they felt this was their reason to stay on at the mission and continue helping others. Speechless and holding back tears we thanked this individual for sharing their very personal story with us. 

The reward for writing and recording “Faith” has exceeded even our greatest expectations. To have a song like “Faith” or something you’ve created affect someone so much to the point it alters their life course and steers them in a positive direction is priceless and worth every effort in its production. 

Skeleton Crew would like to thank Brian and Mark Pastoria for generously inviting us to participate in this incredible musical journey. We would also like to thank our engineer Alan and everyone at Harmonie Park Studios for making this one of the most memorable recording experiences of our career. Here’s to working together again soon and Merry Christmas to all!

peace & love ~Skeleton Crew®

PS: Help the homeless in Detroit by purchasing Christmas in Detroit 3. Learn everything at:

http://www.christmasindetroit.org

Faith

The celebrated author, H.G. Wells once wrote: “The past is but a beginning of a beginning.” In pre-historic...dig!, the debut album by Skeleton Crew, Mr. Wells’ profundity becomes embodied in a musical testimonial that’s just that; original songs of far-reaching lyrical and musical depth, vivid panoramic imagery, and an arrangement strewn with the subtle haunting of a familiar friend.

Pre-historic...dig!, and its “power acoustic”-based sound bars any formal labeling and transcends musical typecasting. Songs such as: “callalili,” “in sympathy,” “kiss the world goodbye,” and “everything a man can bring” flirt with the band’s pop sensibilities. The country-tinged ballad “we ought to know better” takes a nod from Nashville, while “trumpeting soul” – aided by legendary trumpeter Johnny Trudell (Sinatra, Streisand, Motown) – pays homage to Louis Armstrong and New Orleans’ jazz. The ballad “sentimental” and the album’s epic finale “lost my way” round off the band’s eclectic leanings.

The late great Detroit Free Press feature writer Bob Talbert noted in a past column that: “pre-historic...dig! is one of the best albums I’ve heard in years. The group’s terrific harmony and brilliant musicianship on original songs bring to mind both the Eagles and The Beatles.” No surprise since Skeleton Crew’s inclusion of John Lennon’s “I’am The Walrus” may have contributed in the comparison to the later.

Nationally recognized music writer and recording artist in his own right, Stewart Francke (Detroit News, CD Review, The Boston Phoenix, Minneapolis City Pages, Detroit Metro Times), writes of pre-histoirc…dig!: It’s certainly the most melodically sophisticated and emotionally comprehensive statement in recent memory.” Francke goes on to say that: “Like other most capable pop miniaturists (Jimmy Webb, Roy Orbison, Paul McCartney), Skeleton Crew writes songs rich in both romantic possibility and quotidian detail.”

Callalili

Click the DOWNLOAD link above to download your FREE Skeleton Crew song, “Sentimental” from the album pre-historic…dig! This is the song that was played the day Skeleton Crew competed against Girls Tyme on Star Search. Njoy

peaceloveone! ~Skeleton Crew®



Sentimental

Excuse Me Sir

Another Place And Time

Kiss The World Goodbye

We Ought To Know Better

To help commemorate of The Beatles 50th Anniversary of landing in America, performing on The Ed Sullivan Show..and basically changing “everything,” Skeleton Crew® is pleased to salute our heroes by offering our version of “I’am The Walrus” as a FREE Download here!

Njoy!

peaceloveone! ~Skeleton Crew®

I Am The Walrus

Everything A Man Can Bring

Four Winds

Lost My Way

Under The Watersign (Nikki's Song)

About Christmas in Detroit

"Christmas in Detroit " was  was put together and produced by Brian and Mark Pastoria of Harmony Park Records and was born out of the idea that during the Holiday Season we could help others in need and use the power of music to reach people all year.
A Christmas in Detroit Story

A composer was once so in love with where he lived, he wrote a symphony inspired by the scenery.
When a friend came to visit, the composer played him the music.
The friend then went to look out the window.
“Don’t bother” the composer said “I’ve already shown you everything out there.”
So it is with the songs in this collection. On one level, it’s simply marvelous music.
On another level, it is our city. Detroit is often maligned, but never by the people who live here. We know the spirit and resilience of our town, its endurance, diversity and unswerving belief that this is still the best place to call home.

Is it any wonder then, that when the call went to help our neediest citizens, the response was overwhelming? Guitar players, drummers, singers.
Writing new songs. Arranging classic songs. No money. No promise of fame.
Just great talent, great music, and a reason: because someone needs help.
We did it once. We did it twice. And this year, we did it again.


The music on these discs is a sparkling array of talent and performances that covers a 16 year span of Detroit love. The music will brighten your holidays and the proceeds will brighten the days of others.
Sit back. Enjoy.
And don’t bother looking out the window
We’ve just shown you where we live.

http://www.christmasindetroit.org


Nam Myoho Renge Kyo

About Christmas in Detroit

"Christmas in Detroit " was  was put together and produced by Brian and Mark Pastoria of Harmony Park Records and was born out of the idea that during the Holiday Season we could help others in need and use the power of music to reach people all year.
A Christmas in Detroit Story

A composer was once so in love with where he lived, he wrote a symphony inspired by the scenery.
When a friend came to visit, the composer played him the music.
The friend then went to look out the window.
“Don’t bother” the composer said “I’ve already shown you everything out there.”
So it is with the songs in this collection. On one level, it’s simply marvelous music.
On another level, it is our city. Detroit is often maligned, but never by the people who live here. We know the spirit and resilience of our town, its endurance, diversity and unswerving belief that this is still the best place to call home.

Is it any wonder then, that when the call went to help our neediest citizens, the response was overwhelming? Guitar players, drummers, singers.
Writing new songs. Arranging classic songs. No money. No promise of fame.
Just great talent, great music, and a reason: because someone needs help.
We did it once. We did it twice. And this year, we did it again.


The music on these discs is a sparkling array of talent and performances that covers a 16 year span of Detroit love. The music will brighten your holidays and the proceeds will brighten the days of others.
Sit back. Enjoy.
And don’t bother looking out the window
We’ve just shown you where we live.

http://www.christmasindetroit.org/buynow.php

Mary Christmas Was Her Name

This not-so-stereotypical Detroit band has enjoyed a wealth of accolades bestowed on them by their hometown in recent years. The band garnering top honors at The Motor City Music Awards as “Band of The Year” and pre-historic...dig! was named “Best Pop/Rock Record.”

As performers, Skeleton Crew has opened shows for such diverse acts as: The Rembrandts, the Smithereens, Robert Palmer, Todd Rundgren, Tesla, Kenny Loggins, Foreigner and Eddie Money. Venues have ranged from 2000- seaters, to the outdoor DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan, Tiger Stadium in Detroit and The Palace of Auburn Hills arena. Skeleton Crew® also merits a musical footnote in the career of superstar Beyonce Knowles as being “that scary band” that defeated the then 12-year and her group Girl Time on Ed McMahon’s Star Search.

Skeleton Crew Music

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