Local singer’s CD wins Will Rogers Award

THOMPSON RIDGE, NY — “Yondering—Songs of the American West,” the new CD by Rich Flanders of Thompson Ridge, has just been awarded the 2008 Will Rogers Cowboy Award for the song “Blue Prairie,” by The Academy of Western Artists (AWA). The album had also been nominated for Best Western Album of the Year.

“To have a first album nominated in two categories seemed honor enough,” said Flanders. “To receive an award named after someone I’ve always admired, Will Rogers, makes it even more meaningful.”

The award was presented at the Granville Theatre in Garland, Texas, on September 23 in a gala ceremony featuring top entertainers from the western music industry. In accepting the statue, Flanders thanked Ken DeAngelis, producer, engineer, guitarist, accordionist and co-arranger; Julie Ziavras of JAZ Music Productions, Inc.; bassist Barry Wiesenfeld; and violinist Rachel Handman.

Flanders said that one of the most memorable experiences of the evening was the jam session after the ceremony. Award winners, together with the runners up, gathered in the hotel lobby and played and sang together into the wee hours. “Any guests wandering through got the show of a lifetime. I’ve seldom heard such formidable musicianship or sung with such a stunning assembly of talented, versatile, open-hearted performers. Amy and I made some wonderful new friends.”

Created at JAZ Music Productions in Middletown, “Yondering” is an album of “songs of the American West, of earth, sky, and the great lone places.”

For more information visit richflanders.com or cdbaby.com/cd/richflanders.