PRESS RELEASE: JULY 3, 2007
After a song on her debut-album became a surprise hit with
the Armed Forces Radio Network, vocal performer Shalyn
Becknell of Sandy, Utah, has released another song with the
men and women serving overseas in mind, ‘The Beauty of
America’.
Though it didn’t mention the military specifically, the
song, ‘Christmas in My Hometown’, on her ‘Magic of
Christmas’ CD which was released last November, reminded
Becknell’s mother, Darlene, of the emotions those serving
overseas must feel as they serve their country during the
holidays. She sent the song to the AFRN, who expressed an
immediate interest. The song hit the top of the AFRN charts
and stayed there until May, even though it was a Christmas
song.
Becknell wanted to find another song that would honor those
in the military who had enjoyed her first release, and her
vocal instructor Dan Whitley suggested a song that had
special significance to him.
Shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,
Pamela Johnson, a sixth-grade teacher at West Kearns
Elementary, asked her students to share the feelings about
the event. One of those students, Emily Atkinson, wrote a
poem as a response to the terrorists. Johnson was prompted
to put the words to music. The song was first performed by
the class, and then became part of the school’s routine.
The school principal claims she began to see a change take
place in the behavior of all the children. The principal
contacted the Beverly Sorenson, founder of Art Works for
Kids, who worked in conjunction with Whitley to have the
song recorded by the students.
The CD that Becknell has just released has that original
recording, entitled ‘Stand for America’ and a new version
that was updated and revised by Whitley and performed by
Becknell. “I wasn’t sure about the song when I first heard
it,” Becknell said. “But Dan believed in it so much, I was
willing to give it a try. Then one day as I was singing it,
I realized that it was from the point of view of a child,
which is something you just can’t get any other way. It was
so pure and honest and I loved it.”
Becknell’s voice has been compared to the deep, rich tones
of Karen Carpenter, which is what prompted her first CD to
be a Christmas album, featuring Carpenter’s, ‘Merry
Christmas, Darling.’ She is preparing a full-length CD to
be released in a few weeks, which will have an adult
contemporary style, and will include some Carpenter
originals and some new songs that Carpenter could have
sung.
Becknell, 20, says she just enjoys singing, and if anyone
enjoys listening to her, that’s an added bonus. Samples of
her music can be heard at www.shalynbecknell.com or
www.danwhitleystudios.com .
Proceeds from the sale of ‘The Beauty of America’ will be
used to support the arts for children.
