OLTL for Katrina Relief
Recently, Weekly had a chance to talk to just a few of the ONE LIFE TO LIVE voices that appear on One Life, Many Voices, including project organizer and producer Robin Strasser (Dorian).
Filling a CD with your co-stars’ musical stylings is not as simple as following them around with a recorder. It was “sheer terror,” says Strasser, “making sure all of the legal releases and graphics were in place.” Thankfully, “We had this extra blessing of Michael Easton (John),” she sighs. He copped to being unable to carry a tune, but contributed his skills as a photographer for a 32-page booklet accompanying the recording.
Strasser is proud of Easton’s exclusive shots of each performer, noting, “We often go to events and the fans will pass us a picture and we’ll say, ‘Where’d you get this?’ and they’ll say, ‘Oh, I paid $20 for it on the Internet.'” Strasser confides, “I would like the fans to stop spending $20 on these if they’re copyrighted by ABC. I’d rather that they bought [this CD] and they’ll have this gorgeous booklet.”
In addition to the booklet, fans will get 26 songs and spoken-word tracks on an album that is a true labor of love: Each track was produced by its artist. The finished product benefits hurricane relief in the wake of storms like Katrina and Rita that devastated America’s Gulf Coast in 2005. One hundred percent of the net profits from each disc will be donated to charity.
Listeners may be surprised by some of their favorites, such as Kristen Alderson (Starr). “I am singing ‘Valentine,’ by Martina McBride,” she says. “I love that song.”
“No one belts ’em out like my little lady,” assures proud new husband Josh Evans of bride Bree Williamson’s (Jessica/Tess) rendition of ‘Billion Dollar Rockets.’ “It’s the most amazing song, with really powerful lyrics.”
Renee Elise Goldsberry (Evangeline) boasts, “I have two tracks. One is called ‘Stand For Me,'” which she sang on-air during Nora’s wedding to Daniel. “Another song is called ‘Borrow Mine.’ It’s a song by Bebo Norman, a contemporary Christian artist I love, which I sing with Trevor (St. John, Todd).” Keeping things in the Williamson family, Tika Sumpter (Layla) adds, “I’m singing an original song called ‘Paint the World’ with a group called TWISE.”
Twice is probably the minimum number of times OLTL fans will listen to One Life, Many Voices. Visit www.onelifemanyvoices.com for ordering information.
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