America Speaks From The Heart by Centurion

Approximately 6 years ago, Judy began working with Bianca to create an all-English-language pop/jazz CD. A wonderful jazz stylist, Bianca is well known throughout Scandinavia. Judy wrote the lyrics for 11 of the 12 songs, and the CD, "I've Been Dreamin'," was released to great reviews in the summer of 2000.

Always a freelancer, Judy's writing activity has encompassed more than song lyrics. In the late '80s she began seriously writing screenplays. She concluded that if she could sell the script she could automatically write the title song as well.

Her writing partner, Patricia Ford and she had the good fortune of getting one of their scripts to Peter Falk, who, upon reading it, didn't care that they were unknown writers, and "Caution, Murder Can Be Hazardous To Your Health" became the 2-hour 1991 season opener.

She currently has another script optioned that she adapted from a well-known science fiction novel. For this project she created a musical adaptation for which she has written 8 songs with the expectation that not only will it make a great film, but a terrific Broadway musical as well.

Several of her other properties are under consideration with various production companies; one project, "Voice Of The People," based on a true prohibition era story, has taken her and her partner several years to write due to the amount of research required and the need to peruse hundreds of pages of court transcripts.

Prior Work and Credits:

As a songwriter, Judy has amassed many credits over the years. Film credits include a three feature deal with Chako Productions in which she wrote the title song or featured track: "Forever And Beyond," distributor, Toho worldwide; " The Survival Game," distributor, Toho/Embassy; Bouncin' Back," distributor, Toho worldwide.

Television assignments have included documentaries such as "Last Of The American Hobos" (5 songs) for Public Broadcasting and cable syndication; "Rape of The Environment" (Theme song) for KTLA, Los Angeles and syndication TV; an after school dramatic special, "Antonio And The Mayor" (Theme song, "A Miracle" with composer, Morton Stevens) for CBS Network TV, and the TV pilot for the "Minnie Pearl Show." (4 songs under the direction of Lionel Newman) for 20th Century Fox/April Blackwood Music, and Co-executive producer/music supervisor for "The Youth In Film Awards," an independent pilot for Rogers Television Syndication.

Earlier song credits include "Situation" for Jobete/Motown, released on London Records by artists Hodges, James & Smith, "Lulu" by the Jackson Five (available on the collection "SoulSation"), "Nobody," a Capitol Records release by Nancy Wilson, and "I Haven't Got the Heart to Say Goodbye" and "Here I Am" (title song of the album), a special project for James Brown's label Starday King, by the Mayor of Macon, Georgia, Ronnie Thompson. Dian Hart for Amaret Records and also "The Group" for the Pete Records label, both recorded "If's A Mighty Big Word" and "If You Don't Love Me" (published by Melon Music/Shelby Singleton Music).

As a performer, Judy's career began while still in high school and continues on today as needed; the last group association was as a member of the girl trio "Code 3," which recorded, a title song for the film "Bouncin' Back," for Chako Film Productions which was distributed worldwide by Toho of Japan. "Code 3" did a lot of club and event appearances, and was booked for a USO tour.

She sang with "The Treasuretones" and recorded the key track "He's My Guy" along with "I Promise" on AIP Records for American International's release of the motion picture, "The Ghost Of Dragstrip Hollow." Other groups Judy performed with included "The Galaxies" for Capitol Records, from which the cut "The Big Triangle" became a "turntable" hit in several markets around the country. There was also a brief stint with "The Century Five" recording for Belmont Records.

Earlier recordings as featured singer/soloist included "Surfin' With Jimmy" from "The Beach Party Album" on Gary Paxton's GARPAX label, and "We Got Somethin' Goin'" on RAMSHORN Records. The Garpax surfing cut has just been re-released in a compilation entitled "Beach Party" subtitled "Garpax Surf n'Drag."

Judy has recently performed at the number two Jazz Club in America, the Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood and the Bel Age Hotel's TEN20 Club in West Hollywood among others. She often sings many of the songs she wrote for Bianca, particularly the ballads and the Latin rhythm songs.

History:

Judy comes from a family that appreciated music. Her father was a child prodigy on the violin and had a beautiful voice that attracted the attention of film producer, Joe Pasternak, who wanted her father to replace his star, Bobby Breen, whose voice was changing. Judy's grandfather had other ideas however, and her father stayed with the family "schmatta" (knitwear) business which he eventually took over for the rest of his life.

On her mother's side, Judy's grandmother Gross was the headlined soprano for many seasons of the Yiddish Opera in Chicago.

Judy herself started writing poems and songs from age nine. Her first remembrance is writing a new verse to "Silent Night." She admits that her early songwriting education was the result of her passion for writing new lyrics to all the popular songs.

As a matter of style, Judy can either write to the music or independently of the music. She has often written "by Email and fax" when only a scratch track and dummy words were provided. She loves Broadway type musicals and has written several songs with two or three part counterpoint lyrics and harmonies.

Memberships:

WGA, west; NARAS; ASCAP; L.A. Women In Music (for which she serves on the board as Membership Chair); Entertainment Coalition (ECO*USA) and she's on the board of the Namaste Interfaith Community Center.

ABOUT "America Speaks From The Heart":

Almost immediately following the terrorist acts of 9-11, Ms Lamppu felt she wanted to contribute something of herself to the healing and comfort of those victims' families suddenly bereft of loved ones. (Judy herself had previously lost both her father and husband of 24 years within two hours of one another.) She decided to give music and to make that music available on a strictly nonprofit basis, whereby purchasers could give their heartfelt contributions directly to the displaced, injured and devastated survivors of 9-11.

To help in this effort, Judy turned to her music industry friends who were all eager to give of their talent and material. The musicians, engineering and technical support were therefore provided by some of the best and most sought after session/recording artists in the business.

The material: Utilizing a variety of styles, typical of a compilation effort, this tribute is rendered in contemplative, sometimes plaintive ballads and in up-tempo numbers of encouragement and strength: Messages of compassion, togetherness, love, rebounding and of ultimate triumph.

This music is now being shared with many of our troops fighting in foreign lands.

About Our Beneficiaries...

The motivation that enabled the "America Speaks" CD project was one of charity. The goal of all the artists involved was that this nonprofit effort would help benefit 9/11 survivors and others in need.

The nonprofit venture has been facilitated through the auspices of NAMASTE, an interfaith, self-realization and spiritual awareness church. The Namaste organization, founded by Rev. Dr. J. Robert Prete, is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit. The organization provides support in its local community of San Fernando Valley for a battered women's shelter, homeless shelters, a pet orphan shelter, and promotes an ongoing community outreach program that provides food and clothing to those in need. Namaste also has established an annual volunteer special effort to serve Thanksgiving Dinner to those in need, and to collect holiday toys.

We licensed the "America Speaks" CD through Namaste in order that proceeds would be shared with 9/11 causes, the first of which was the Firefighters And Police Officers Victims Fund. However, with the duplication and overlapping of many similar fundraisings, the latest assessment is that this group is adequately funded.

Accordingly, we are now designating THE TWIN TOWERS ORPHAN FUND, one of the charities recognized by Congress and President, George W. Bush, as part of the Liberty Partnership. The Twin Towers Orphan Fund operates to serve the surviving children of parents who perished in the Twin Towers, Pentagon or Somerset, Penn. air disasters. Those parent victims included business people, custodians, restaurant workers, airline personnel and others from all walks of life.

The Twin Towers Orphan Fund helps provide these surviving children with long-term mental and physical health care support and higher educational assistance.

It is interesting to note that The Twin Towers Orphan Fund was created by 40 public relations professionals from around the nation and is 100 percent volunteer supported; therefore no donations to the fund are spent on administration, marketing, public relations, printing, postage, legal/accounting, etc.

You may help by ordering the America Speaks CD. We know you will enjoy it and we welcome your comments and encouragement. There is yet one other thing that you may be able to do: America Speaks CD project is looking for corporate sponsors to help us defray the cost of CD duplication, packaging and fulfillment. Maybe you could talk to your company about becoming involved.

TESTIMONIALS ...

Freddie Ravel, whose recent CD contains the #1 hit "Sunny Side Up," and who is "One of L.A.'s truly great keyboardists," per the Hollywood Reporter, says of "America Speaks from the Heart":

"The project is really heart felt. Another title could be 'Judy Lamppu speaks from her heart!!' 'The Land of the Living' is especially nice."

Singer-songwriter, Harriet Schock, says:

"Judy Lamppu has a wonderful way of expressing difficult things."

Scandinavian Jazz star, Bianca Morales, says:

"Judy Lamppu's lyrics tell stories that touch people universally in a very real way. Her CD "America Speaks from the Heart" is truly from her heart."

Judy's acclaimed vocal coach, Elisabeth Howard, founder of the Vocal Power Academy, president of NATS/LA (National Association of Teachers of Singing), and author of "Born to Sing," says:

"Judy came to me a songwriter who wanted to be able to improve her voice so that she could better record her own demos. She developed a unique voice and style that became one of my favorites, and her songs are wonderfully moving."

Michele Weaver, of the Twin Towers Orphan Fund, said of 'America Speaks from the Heart':

"WOW! -- what a great CD. Judy, the lyrics are inspirational. You're amazing ... Thank you for thinking of the children."

Charles Donovan, London journalist, composer and performer, currently reviewing CD's for the international website allmusic.com, said of Judy's recent performance of her own songs:

"I thought your performance at the (L.A. Women in Music) Soiree was spellbinding. I hope you undertake a project of you singing your own songs, because you sing with such style and feeling."

Website: www.CenturionProductions.com

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