Half Price Books Unshelves Employee Talent in Exclusive Music CD: 'Music by the Book'

Half Price Books Unshelves Employee Talent in Exclusive Music CD: 'Music by the Book'

Proceeds From Sales of CD Benefit Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation

DALLAS, July 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Half Price Books, the nation's largest new and used bookstore chain, has released a compilation CD of 15 original tracks recorded by employee talent from across the country. The songs were chosen from entries through a company-wide contest calling for original music, and the compilation encompasses everything from rock to folk to original classical compositions, a mix that reflects the diverse employees of Half Price Books. The CD's cover art was also included in the competition, and several employees submitted original artwork that was considered for the jacket.

The CD retails for $6.98, and proceeds from its sales will benefit the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting music through the donation of musical instruments to young musicians.

"Half Price Books has always been a haven for talented artists and musicians, many of them performers first, booksellers second," said John Wilson, project manager for Music by the Book and an employee since 1992. "This CD was designed to showcase that talent and to let our employees know that as a company, we value and support their creative energy."

Since the company's founding in 1972, Half Price Books has drawn musicians from every musical genre into the family, and a large percentage of the original employees that are still with the company continue to perform on a regular basis. Steve Leach, whose group "The Bob Monk Singers" is featured in the project, has been with the company for more than 20 years, and currently serves as Half Price Books' collectible merchandise specialist. "Half Price Books has always been sort of a brotherhood of musicians and artists, and we're excited that our company is supporting us in such a public way," Leach said. "It really shows what kind of place this is to work."

"Music by the Book" is available at any Half Price Books location or online at http://www.halfpricebooks.com/. Also online are 30-second samples of each song, along with the names and hometowns of the featured artists.

   Artist/Group                Song                     Where they Work   Ric Hickey                  Brownie's Gone           Kenwood, OH   Kallisti Gold               Church                   San Marcos, TX   When All Was Lost           The Fountain             Seattle, WA   Buttercup                   Hot Love                 San Antonio, TX   The Bob Monk Singers        When                     Dallas, TX   Wallace Wylie               Come Look At The Moon    Roseville, MN   Knotwork                    Our Kate                 Pittsburgh, PA   The Nevernudes              Rose in Winter           Garland, TX   Aaron Kerr                  Heavy Into It            Roseville, MN   Little Birds                Now I'm Two              McKinney, TX   Spunos                      Slowly But Surely        Berkeley, CA   John Rhett Barrett          Still in Love            Dallas, TX   Scott LaChance              Monkey Bars              Fort Worth, TX   John Schalcosky             Abigail's Dream          Pittsburgh, PA   The Electric Jake    Rhythm Test                Smoke My Kind            Seattle, WA     Cover Illustrations: Carol Pagan, Houston, TX  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Half Price Books

CONTACT: Kirk Thompson of Half Price Books, +1-214-360-0833,
kthompson@halfpricebooks.com

Web site: http://www.halfpricebooks.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: For information, or a copy of the CD to review, contact Kirk Thompson: kthompson@halfpricebooks.com or 214-360-0833.

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Profile: International Entertainment