"Money In A Card" now on iTunes!!!!
Click the banner below to purchase:
Averaging just 15 years in
age, the six members of the
Camp Jam Allstars pulled off this summer what most bands twice their age would have a hard time doing. Never having played together as a group, these talented teens from towns across America got together for the first time in Atlanta this July and in a matter of days united as a band to learn, rehearse and record the song “Money In a Card.” The result: a yuletide rock anthem destined to be an instant classic among the teen set who, like it or not, would much rather get some “hard cold cash” than toys this holiday season.
A teen rock super group of sorts, each member was handpicked for the
project by rock guitarist/songwriter Jeff Carlisi, who's best
known as a founding member and lead guitarist for 38 Special and
co-writer of classic rock hits such as “Hold On
Loosely.” Carlisi is also the co-founder of
Camp Jam, a nationwide rock ‘n‘ roll summer camp program with the mantra "No Canoes. Lots of Rock." The six members of the Camp Jam Allstars have all attended the camp over the years, and having personally worked with each kid, Carlisi saw an opportunity to bring them together in the studio to record a song that he wrote with his longtime friends, renowned rock drummer Liberty DeVitto (Billy Joel, Stevie Nicks) and singer/guitarist Derek St. Holmes (Ted Nugent).
As Carlisi explains, "I've had the chance to hear
hundreds of young musicians perform at Camp Jam
over the past four years, and I'm amazed at how
proficient these kids are at such a young age. So it
dawned on me that I could bring together a band of
players from our various camps that would rival many
bands consisting of much older musicians, not to
mention the length of time that they knew each other.
The only hard part was choosing just six band
members because we have so many talented kids in
our camps."
More than a chance for the six to become a band
though, the recording of "Money In a Card" was an
opportunity for the Camp Jam Allstars to help others
their age who want to play music but don't have the
same access to gear and instructors. When "Money
in a Card" is released this November exclusively
online, a portion of the proceeds from each download
sale will go to Little Kids Rock, a program that
provides free instruments and instruction for public
school students.
"Little Kids Rock is a superb program that Liberty and
I have worked with in the past and they share our
belief that music is one of the best ways to build
confidence and self-esteem. It was only natural that
we'd figure out a way to benefit their program with
this song," says Carlisi.
While the recording project is a new experience for
the members of the Camp Jam Allstars, in many ways
it parallels what they and hundreds of other campers
experience each and every week at
Camp Jam. The
innovative program held in cities across America
brings together teenage musicians and singers who
have never met and places them in bands on the first
day of camp. After a week of practicing and
rehearsing together as a group, the bands perform a
full-fledge rock concert in front of a crowd.
"What the young rockers at Camp Jam can
accomplish in just one week is a testament to their
ability to work as a team in order to achieve a goal,"
shared Carlisi. "The Camp Jam Allstars is a perfect
example of this in action."
