Random notes-a songwriter's journey is in the folk/rock genre and addresses social and environmental issues.

12 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Modern Folk, ROCK: Americana



Details:
Howard Shapiro, songwriter and recording artist, has spoken out through his music addressing social and environmental issues. His music career began in 1975 when he began writing about the struggle of the native Hawaiian people for their land and cultural rights. This soon expanded to include songs with themes concerning environmental protection, world hunger and poverty and human rights.

In 1977 he and songwriter Michael Joao created the musical group Aina (Land). In 1978 they released their first recording entitled Greenpeace: To Save the Whales/A Shift in the Wind. This was a benefit record for Greenpeace and The Hunger Project. From 1977-1980, Aina performed at concerts, festivals, and fundraisers supporting organizations promoting the protection of the environment, the preservation of native Hawaiian culture, the ending of hunger etc. In 1980, Aina released itâs first album Lead Me to the Garden. The album spoke of our collective need to live in peace with one another and with the earth.

In 1981 Howard embarked on his solo career. He produced and recorded two single releases. These recordings supported the work of the Hale Naua III Society
of Hawaiian Artists and the Hawaii Council of American Indian Nations.

In 1986 Howard created the Performing and Fine Artists for World Peace. Building on his commitment to numerous causes, he formed this non-profit organization as a means for other artists to create works that would address social and environmental issues. In 1987, the organization received the Peace Messenger Award from the United Nations.

Howardâs travels have taken him to cities across the United States as well as to international venues in Canada, Russia, Europe, United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and New Zealand.

Howard is currently working with other performing artists in Hawaii addressing the issue of substance abuse and addiction. He is performing in a concert series entitled We AreOhana-Working Together to Heal Our Islands. He is also working on a new CD entitled Earth Patriot.

RECORDINGS WITH KUMANU MUSIC & PERRYSCOPE RECORDS

Greenpeace: To Save the Whales/A Shift in the Wind: 1978
Hale Mohalu: 1979
Lead Me to the Garden: 1980
Island in the Sea/Aloha Aina: 1981
The American Indian/Calling to Me (John Lennonâs Song): 1981
The Prize: 1987
Ka Aina: 1987 (Re-released as CD 2003)
The Peacemakers: 1989
We Remember Them: 2002
Listen to the Forest: 2003
We Are Ohana - Songs of Hope: 2004
Legacy: (For Kamehameha Schools) 2005
Random Notes: A Songwriterâs Journey: 2007
Earth Patriot: To be released October 2007

PERFORMANCES (Partial listing)

Aloha Cultural Exchange - London, Leicester, Edinburgh, Belfast, Dublin
Peace Messenger Conference â Sochi, Soviet Union
Paz y Cooperacion â Madrid, Spain
Life-Link Foundation â Sigtuna, Sweden
Journey to Peace â Vancouver, B. C., Canada
United Nations International Year of the Family - New Zealand
50th Anniversary of the United Nations â San Francisco, CA
Human Rights Access â Washington, D. C.
Swords Into Plowshares Peace Center â Detroit, MI
M. K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence â Memphis, TN
September 11th Memorial Program â New York City, NY
The Dream Lives On: A Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. â Kauai, Hawaii
Hawaii Environmental Education Association â Honolulu, Hawaii
Pacific Whale Foundation Whale Day Festival â Maui, Hawaii
We Are Ohana: Working Together to Heal Our Islands â Hilo, Hawaii

Press Release

Hilo, Hawai-- June 5, 2007 -- Howard Shapiro, songwriter and recording artist from Volcano on the island of Hawai'i, has released his new CD Random Notes - A Songwriterâs Journey.

Random Notes reflects a diversity of themes that includes relationships with family and friends, interdependency with our natural world and how we as individuals of our nation relate to one another and to the rest of the world.

âThe concept for Random Notes began to evolve 20 years ago and has finally been realized,â Shapiro said. âIâm really thankful to my good friend and producer Gregg Perry for motivating me to record Random Notes.â

âHoward and I worked together on the production of the We Are Ohana-Songs of Hope CD and we had been producing other music and video projects for about 4 years, but until last year I had never actually seen him perform liveâ commented producer/arranger Gregg Perry. âIt dawned on me watching him perform that as an artist, heâs mainly a storyteller. So my first idea was to produce a project with Howard on guitar and vocal and Rupert Tripp, Jr. on accompanying acoustic guitar, developing an intimate setting for Howardâs songs and stories. However, as we got into the project it became apparent that some of the songs required more orchestration to really nurture the emotion and further the message. So now we have an eclectic and interesting pallet of compositions and arrangementsâ

Shapiroâs music career began in 1975 when he started writing songs about the struggle of the native Hawaiian people for their land and cultural rights. Soon after, he expanded his writing to include issues such as environmental protection, human rights and peace.

Shapiro has recorded single releases to benefit international organizations such as Greenpeace and The Hunger Project. Random Notes is his sixth full-length album.

In 1986, while living on Kauai, Shapiro created the non-profit organization Performing and Fine Artists for World Peace. Building on his commitment to numerous causes, he formed the organization to further the message of peace by showcasing artists whose works addressed social and environmental issues. After its first year of activities, Performing and Fine Artists for World Peace received the Peace Messenger Award from the United Nations.

âLet Our Oceans Liveâ, âShe Will Surviveâ and âHeart Under Siegeâ are songs on Random Notes that reflect many of the beliefs that motivated me to create Performing and Fine Artists for World Peace,â says Shapiro.

Shapiro has performed in Hawaiâi, across the United States, as well as in Canada, Russia, Spain, Belgium, United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and New Zealand.

The release of Random Notes has been listed as an official event for the United Nations World Environment Day. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the CD supports Artists and the Environment, a program sponsored by Performing and Fine Artists for World Peace and Recycle Hawaii. This environmental education program motivates youth and community action through the arts.

For information on ordering the CD, call (808) 985-8725, email: artpeac@aloha.net or visit www.artistsandpeace.org.


Island Mele - John Berger

Random Notes
Howard Shapiro
(Kumanu Music KM 1010)


Howard Shapiro is a veteran composer who often writes in support of political causes or sane environmental policies. He emphasizes that side of his work here, bringing the traditions of early '60s protest singers into the new century in an articulate style. Political messages sometimes take precedence over pop-friendly hooks and standard meter, but the asymmetric rhyme patterns often underscore his passion in denouncing religious hatred or calling for better treatment of the world's ocean life.

A small band and several backing vocalists expand the melodies beyond the core sound of a singer and his acoustic guitar. For instance, a flute adds a light counterpoint to "Ashes Upon the Ground," one of several songs that decry the human cost of war (the liner notes show that he wrote it in 1988 and therefore it is not specifically an indictment of America's current war in Iraq).
Shapiro steps forward as a traditional American patriot with "Only Thing Worth Livin' For," and mourns the nation's apparent loss of innocence with "Sand Through Our Hands" as he recalls growing up in the '50s.
It isn't all political. Shapiro celebrates the beauty of Mauna Kea with "Silent in the Night" and honors the memory of his father with "Gentle Warrior."

www.artistsandpeace.org

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"What Others Are Saying"

"Thank you very much for sending me a copy of your new CD. The message in your music is so important today, and your dedication to peace will be an inspiration to others. Best wishes for wide distribution of
your work.â
Harry Kim
Mayor County of Hawaii

âGreat scope, warmth and variety. Good thoughts, sounds and feelings. I listen to it over and over.â
Nona Beamer
Beamer Hawaiiana Foundation, Lahaina, Maui

âCongratulations on the release of "Random Notes." The music, arrangements, and packaging are all first-rate, and more importantly, the message is a positive one seldom heard in music nowadays.â
John Burnett
Music Critic, Island of Hawaii

âVery beautiful. Strong messages with a sweet delivery. You carry the vibe for a new era of peace.â
Liz OâGarvey
Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute

âE aloha Howard! What a sweet surprise to find your Random Notes in the mail. I especially like "Gentle Warrior." I think it is my favorite album yet.â
Leilehua Yuen,
Yuen Media Services, Hilo Hawaii

âThank you so very much for the beautiful CD I love it. You are such a great composer and musician. And what a wonderful way to use all your talent in the service of mankind.â
Lani Star,
Heavenly Music, Makawao, Maui

âYou amaze me with your creativity, and I can honestly say the music on Random Notes touches me deeply. I hope the success you deserve comes your way with this release.â
Wendy Duke
Glasgow, Virginia

âThere's a lot in your music that I feel touched by and connected to - and so I'm eager to share Random Notes with listeners. Mahalo nui loa for sharing this with us.â
Anch Bergeson
KAOS 89.3 FM, Olympia, Washington

âYour CD has been added to the new music shelf.â
Marcus Kellis
Music Director KUOI-FM 89.3 Moscow, Idaho

âThanks for sending us your CD. It will start being aired this week.â
Jennifer Isaacs
Music Director, WGDR 91.1 FM, Plainfield, Vermont