LA Weekly Music Awards 2005 Nominates Rising Vocal Star Billy Miles for 'Best Contemporary Blues/R&B Artist'

LA Weekly Music Awards 2005 Nominates Rising Vocal Star Billy Miles for 'Best Contemporary Blues/R&B Artist'

Earlier in May, Her Hit 'Sunshine' Was iTunes' 'Single Of The Week'

Billy Continues to Tour in Support of Her Acclaimed Debut Album

LOS ANGELES, June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Billy Miles' extraordinary rise continues as she picks up a coveted nomination for "Best Contemporary Blues/R&B Artist" from the LA Weekly Music Awards 2005. On a major roll since the recent release of her self-titled debut album on Aezra Records, the hot soul/jazz vocal sensation is a breakout success in markets nationwide. This newest honor, from her hometown's acclaimed leading independent newspaper, is especially meaningful to Billy.

Of this important nod to Billy's arrival as a stellar new talent, LA Weekly Music Editor Kate Sullivan commented, "I am very happy to have the chance to recognize her early in her career this way." Launched in 1999, the LA Weekly Music Awards salute top L.A.-based musicians in over twenty categories. Using quality -- not fame or commercial achievement -- as the barometer for selection, the Awards honor, in the Weekly's words, "emerging artists we feel deserve praise and encouragement for their efforts." LA Weekly Music Awards 2005 will take place June 14 at the Henry Fonda Theatre.

"As a native Californian," says Billy, "I'm so excited about receiving my first career nomination in my hometown. I want to thank my fans, all over, for this recognition and their support of my music."

For the week of May 8, Billy's infectious single "Sunshine" was music download leader iTunes homepage-highlighted "Song Of The Week." "Sunshine" scored 173,000 downloads, and immediately following, her self-titled Aezra Records debut album Billy Miles -- soared to the #6 position on iTunes' R&B chart.

A recurrent favorite at AAA and Hot AC radio since her album's release, Billy is also a phenomenal success at NPR and non-commercial radio stations nationwide, with the alternative tracks "Your Love's A Lie" and "A Friend Like You" garnering significant airplay in addition to "Sunshine." On television, Billy has appeared before national audiences on Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, The Early Show's Second Cup Cafe and Soul Train. Upcoming on August 17, she will be a featured guest on the popular "Viewers Choice" segment of Emeril Live, performing her song "I Know," and perhaps one more track, with the Emeril Lagasse Band.

A dynamic live performer, Billy Miles draws the audience into her invitingly earthy and exotic vibe from the very first downbeat. Wrapping soul, jazz, R&B, pop, rock, trip-hop and hip-hop into a singularly distinctive sound, Billy and her ace band will continue to tour and make special media appearances as her remarkable career momentum builds.

Upcoming live dates include Big Apple performances at landmark Manhattan club S.O.B.'s on June 9 and on June 24, at the popular BAMcafe Live in the historic Brooklyn Academy of Music, a vibrant multi-use cultural facility that's home to the Brooklyn Philharmonic and a diverse range of film and music events. Also on the calendar is a July 14 date at the hotspot Tangier in Los Angeles and a July 20 gig at Chicago's Elbo Room.

A striking Los Angeles native of African-American and Eurasian descent, Billy will be featured in the June issue of America Magazine, and in a fashion spread in UnChin, the avant garde new lifestyle magazine fusing arts, fashion, politics and more. Known for its riveting visuals, UnChin's spotlight on Billy Miles is a natural fit.

Distributed by EMI, Aezra Records was founded in 1999. They are located at 14040 North Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ 85022, and can be reached at (602) 482-6518. For more information, log onto:

www.aezra.com or www.billymilesmusic.com

Tour/Special Appearance Dates: June 9 S.O.B.'s NYC, NY June 16 WCAU-TV 10 (NBC) Philadelphia, PA June 17 World Cafe Live Philadelphia, PA June 20 Pittsburgh Today Live/KDKA-TV (CBS) Pittsburgh, PA WYEP Radio Acoustic Performance Pittsburgh, PA June 21 Club Cafe Live Pittsburgh, PA June 24 BAMcafe Live-Brooklyn Academy of Music NYC/Brooklyn, NY July 14 Tangier's Los Angeles, CA July 18 WGN-TV Chicago, IL July 19 Press day/TBA Chicago, IL July 20 Elbo Room Chicago, IL July 22 WXPN Music Festival Camden, NJ August 17 Emeril Lagasse Live New York, NY

Source: Aezra Records

CONTACT: Meghan Helsel, +1-626-585-9575, meghan@jensencom.com, or Juanita Stephens, +1-718-858-2814, jsmediarel@aol.com, both of Jensen Communications, for Aezra Records

Web site: http://www.aezra.com/ http://www.billymilesmusic.com/

------- Profile: Ent