Roger Anthony Mapes
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| Status | Sonnie Badu must apologize – Kweku Gyasi http://bit.ly/qBJRM |
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Bio
Roger Anthony (Tony) Mapes; singer songwriter, painter, and performance artist was born and raised in Muscle Shoals, Alabama - "The Hit Recording Capital of the World" and the birthplaces of Helen Keller and W.C. Handy. The Muscle Shoals area was populated by an abundance of musicians and visual artists/painters. He began studying music, painting and drawing at a young age with local artists and was encouraged to develop his own unique vision. Roger is influenced by pop, rock, blues, gospel, country, and folk, but doesn’t self-consciously follow any one tradition...combining them all into some hybrid of his own.
From 1997-2005, Roger Anthony Mapes performed as YOLANDA singer/songwriter/gender warrior with his/her band "Yolanda and the Plastic Family". Roger created the character "Yolanda", wrote the music, created the costumes, toured and recorded with his/her band and was the opening act for Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wash. In 2005, Roger as YOLANDA was featured on The Dave Chapelle Show.
YOLANDA's NYC venues included CBGB's, The Cutting Room, The knitting Factory,Webster Hall, and The Limelight nightclubs. From 1997-1999: Roger's music was favorably reviewed in Billboard Magazine 5 times. Larry Flick called him the "...best unsigned artist of 1999".
For more information on YOLANDA go to: www.yolanda.net
About
ROGER NOMINATED FOR 2009 LA MUSIC AWARD for his songs "We Are Angels" and "Love Divine". www.myspace.com/lamusicawards scroll down to PRODUCER'S CHOICE catagory.
Roger Mapes: a southern rock,country,gospel,folk singer/songwriter specializing in spreading love and beautiful melodies. Think George Michael, Solomon Burke, The Handsome Family, and Elvis in a blender-add a touch of Emmy Lou Harris and enjoy.
NEW SONG ADDED 5/17/09: CONTROL QUEEN
Currently I have re-joined forces with long time friend, guitarist, writer, singer, and producer Robert Urban:
www.roberturban.com
We are working on a new recording project called House of Joy. Mostly a Southern Rock album, with trips into Blues and Country. I will be posting new songs as we have them available. Check out our first release "Angels" (heavenly version 2009). CD Release date is Fall 2009.
I am very proud to have worked ,in 2008, with pedal steel/guitar/dobro/mandolin player and producer Gerald Menke and band Red Hook Junction: www.myspace.com/geraldmenke
The band was: Roger Anthony Mapes- vocals/songwriter/acoustic guitar, Gerald Menke- electric guitar/ dobro/ mandolin/ bass/ producer/ engineer, Dan Menke- drums, Genevieve Menke- backing vocals.
My collaboration with Gerald created the song "Love Divine" currently on the SongVault permanent playlist in Christian music.
www.songvault.fm/artists/roger_anthony_mapes.htm
Media News...........
My music is prominently featured in the new documentary film by flimmaker Russell Dreher called "Slingbacks and Syrup". In fact my music is all over this wonderfully funny film about the "girls of Beaver Pond, and the boys who play them". In Burlington Vermont , there is a little cadre of drag queens who are shaking up the Northeast with their crazy world they call "Beaver Pond" and "the HOT DAMN TRAILER PARK". I love these guys/gals and their wacky sense of humor. Go to: www.houseoflemay.com To purchase the soundtrack, go to: www.soundstation.com/rogermapes.aspx and download "Welcome To YolandaWorld".
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