Palomino Introduces Blackwing Music
The iconic pencil brand launches new music collective for emerging songwriters
STOCKTON, CA, NOVEMBER 3, 2014 – After a successful re-launch in 2010, Blackwing is expanding to truly encompass what it means to be creative. On November 4, 2014, Blackwing Music will launch as an independent music collective that seeks to spotlight emerging songwriters in the folk, roots and Americana genres through live performances and album releases.
The first artist signed to the innovative label is folk musician Willy Tea Taylor, who has been called one of the most important American singer-songwriters of this generation by No Depression. Taylor is the co-frontman of the award-winning band The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit. His solo album, 4 Strings, was released independently in 2011 to much critical acclaim. With an affinity and respect for the Blackwing culture, Taylor happily chose Blackwing Music for his first record label.
“I believe in the benefits of living a creative lifestyle. That’s the spirit that Blackwing embodies so it was really a no brainer,” says Willy Tea Taylor. “I’m really pumped about the whole project.”
Recording sessions for the record begin on November 5, 2014 in Nashville at pH Balanced Studio under the guidance of Grammy-winning engineer Phil Harris and producer Michael Witcher. Witcher has worked with the likes of Dolly Parton, Bette Midler, and Dwight Yoakam and many others. Witcher has assembled a group of world class musicians to play on the album. The power players have recorded with superstars such as Harry Connick Jr., George Jones, Garth Brooks, Loretta Lynn, and Elvis Costello.
“As a strong supporter of the arts, we wanted to give deserving artists a chance to introduce their music to an audience that shares the same passion as they do,” says Blackwing Music’s Grant Christensen. “We are stoked to be working with Willy Tea, Michael Witcher and so many great musicians to produce the first album under the Blackwing Music imprint.
The album is tentatively slated to drop in March2015 with pre-sales beginning November 27, 2014. The pre-order packaging includes a limited edition print hand-signed by Willy Tea Taylor with a Blackwing pencil, and the pencil he signed it with. Orders will ship in time for the holidays.
A portionof proceeds from every album sold with be donated to the Blackwing Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 2012 by Charles and Ginger Berolzheimer to develop and enhance arts and music education at the K-12 level.
For more information visit www.BlackwingMusic.com.
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About Palomino’s Blackwing
Established in 1930 and revived in 2010, Blackwing pencils are a high-end line of California Incense-cedar pencils made with Japanese graphite cores and a lacquer finish. These pencils have been used by some of the most famous artists and writers of all time including Grammy, Emmy, Pulitzer and Academy Award winners over several decades.
About Willy Tea Taylor
Willy Tea Taylor is a singer, songwriter and instrumentalist and co-front man of The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit. Hailing from California’s Central Valley, Taylor spends his time writing, recording and performing for his ever growing fan base. According to SavingCountryMusic.com, “If you only have time for one name of a songwriter that could change your life, I would go with Willy Tea Taylor.” For more information visit www.willyteataylor.com.