Thursday, October 12, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TRACI BRAXTON AND MORE LEND THEIR VOICES TO HELP INNER-CITY

YOUTH ATTEND THE GRAMMYS

PARTNER WITH INSPIRING YOUTHS DREAMS FOR “MOONLIGHT”

Los Angeles, CA ~ Star of the hit WEtv show “Braxton Family Values” and Singer Traci Braxton along with Grammy-nominated D.C. rap artist Kokayi have teamed with Inspiring Youths Dreams Founder Linda Nelson who co-produced the song with award-winning composer/arranger Danny Flam to create a unique blend of Classical and Hip Hop with their song, “Moonlight.” Sales of the song, and the album on which it will live, shall go towards Inspiring Youths Dreams mission to continue to take underprivileged and inner-city youth to the Grammy Awards and the accompanying week of events.

The program started six years ago when Linda Nelson, who worked many years for the Recording Academy / Grammy Awards, discovered the son of a good friend, who was living paycheck-to-paycheck, wanted to be a guitarist but did not have the means for either the instrument or lessons. Upon seeing his reaction after she purchased both for him, she realized she had found her calling and decided to make it her life’s mission to help and inspire inner city kids to realize their dreams. Out of her own pocket, for the past six years, Linda has taken a couple of kids with her to all Grammy Week events including a backstage tech tour the day before the Grammys, and attending rehearsals.

The great thing about working around so much talent is that so many of them are so generous and after being approached by Linda with the idea of a fundraiser to help her offset the many costs involved in what she was doing, Linda found herself inundated with offers of help from a host of producers, engineers and vocal talent. “Moonlight”, a rendering of Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”, one of Linda’s favorites, is the first single from an album Linda plans to release in January. Co-produced by Moonlight lyricist/composer Olayimika Cole, the raw and soulful vocal stylings of Traci Braxton, combined with the poignant phrasing of Kokayi, make this a song for the ages. “Moonlight” was beautifully mixed by multi Grammy Award-winning engineer, Ken Lewis and has rightfully been submitted for a Grammy.

The song represents the struggles confronted by so many from the opioid crisis to all of the divisiveness we witness daily that has such an impact on us all.

“Moonlight” is available now for purchase on all DSP’s.

For more information, visit moonlight.news

Credits

Artists: Kokayi & Traci Braxton

Songwriters: Olayimika Cole, Linda Nelson, Daniel Flam C. Walker (Kokayi) Traci Braxton

Producers: Linda Nelson Daniel Flam, Olayimika Cole, Kabir Sehgal

Engineered by: Daniel Flam

Arranged by: Linda Nelson, Daniel Flam

Mixing Engineer: Ken Lewis

Mastering Engineer: Ken Lewis

Release Date: September 26, 2017

Recorded: New York, Washington D.C.

Ruslan Agababayev - Piano
Michelle Deangelis - Strings, vocals ("lord where are you") and backing
Amber Sweeny - Vocals
Allie Dugan - Bassoon