JULY 2008
POET RHONDA WELSH ANNOUNCES NEW CD DISTRIBUTION RELATIONSHIP WITH CD BABY
DETROIT, Mi. - July 17, 2008 - Poet, Rhonda Welsh, today announced new CD distribution partnership with CD Baby. The new partnership, effective immediately, will make I Saw Myself, the poet’s debut CD available for sell online. Digital downloads will also be available through various digital distribution venues like iTunes and Amazon.com.
"I’m delighted to work with CD Baby,” says Welsh. “The company is well-known for providing independent artists with opportunities to distribute product.”
CD Baby is a Portland, Oregon-based online record store that sells albums by independent musicians. In business since 1998, CD Baby is the largest seller of independent music on the web. According to Welsh, this relationship will allow her to reach a national, and potentially international, audience.
Originally released in 2006, I Saw Myself tackles real-life subjects like eating disorders, sex, and life transitions through the lens of Christianity. “Most of my CD sales have taken place at my southeastern Michigan performances. Now that the CD is available through CD Baby, people have access to it from anywhere in the country. I am really excited about this opportunity to get my poetry into the hands of more people.” Rhonda Welsh’s CD Baby page can be accessed at http://cdbaby.com/cd/rhondawelsh starting July 17, 2008
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Welsh’s spoken word poetry has been compared to work by Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni and Lisa McClendon. The only poet featured during the Detroit Institute of Arts Re-Opening, her work has also been heard at the Detroit Opera House, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and several other Michigan venues. For more information on Rhonda Welsh and her poetry check out the following websites: www.rhondawelsh.com, www.myspace.com/rhondawelsh and http://cdbaby.com/cd/rhondawelsh
NOVEMBER 2007
Poet Rhonda Welsh Pays Tribute to Africa and Africa’s Poets at Detroit Institute of Arts Reopening Events
DETROIT , Nov. 14 – Native Detroiter Rhonda Welsh will read poetry at the upcoming Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) Reopening Events. The Member Preview Events will be held from Nov. 16 until Nov. 18 and the General Public Events will be held from Nov. 23 until Nov. 25. The performances will include a mixture of poetry by African artists and poems about the continent of Africa .
“Typically I perform original works. It’s an honor to share pieces by some of Africa ’s poetic voices,” said Rhonda. “Many of us can name American poets like Jack Kerouac or Sylvia Plath but we’d be hard pressed to name an African poet. I can’t wait to introduce listeners to accomplished writers like David Diop, Ben Okri and Antonio Jacinto.”
Last year, Rhonda released her debut CD, “I Saw Myself.” The CD explores real life subjects like eating disorders, sex, and life transitions through the lens of Christianity. Her DIA performances will take place at 10:45 a.m., 1:45 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. (no 1:45 p.m. shows on Sunday) in the African Gallery. For more information about Rhonda’s DIA performance or upcoming projects, view her website at www.rhondawelsh.com
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SEPTEMBER 2006
POET, RHONDA WELSH, CONTINUES DETROIT’S INNOVATIVE ARTISTIC TRADITION WITH RELEASE OF SPOKEN WORD CD, “I SAW MYSELF”
DETROIT, Sept. 24---Detroit has always inspired artistic innovation. From Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry fresco to the world famous Motown to the proliferation of Gospel and House Music artists, progressive art has an established home in the Motor City. Detroit poet, Rhonda Welsh, stays true to this tradition with the release of her debut CD, “I Saw Myself.” The CD combines spoken word, traditional poetry and instrumental jazz.
“For many, poetry evokes images of Shakespeare and string quartets,” said Welsh. “I am from Detroit not the Elizabethan courts so my poetry is about real people and real situations. I want to shatter any ideas that poetry is stuffy and inaccessible. Add to that Detroit’s strong urban culture shaped and molded by the Black Church and you get a sense of how this CD evolved. My intent is to portray all of these concepts in my work.”
Tackling subjects as divergent as self-realization, promiscuity, church life and eating disorders, the unifying theme in the CD is the strong Christian message. It begins with the title cut, “I Saw Myself,” an upbeat piece about the importance of understanding your own failings before judging others. “Bailey Temple,” an acapella story/poem about purpose follows and flows into the jazzy, self-reflective, “Valley.” The remaining seven cuts alternate between acapella and jazz accompanied and they weave stories that will ring true to listeners from all walks of life.
“My biggest poetic influences are Gil Scott-Heron and Langston Hughes. I relate to Heron’s and Hughes’ social consciousness and simplicity but I tie that consciousness to answers offered in the Bible.”
Experienced musicians, Audrey L. Mabins and Gideon Guitar Watson, composed the music on “I Saw Myself.” It will drop on Saturday, September 30 and will be available for purchase through www.rhondawelsh.com and selected independent bookstores.
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