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The Gayle Harrod Band's News

In February 2023 we released our first, all original, full length CD, “Temptation”. It did unexpectedly well for an independent CD, receiving rave reviews and international radio play. It made the top 20 in both the Australian Blues and Roots Airplay Chart and the IBBA Independent Blues Broadcasters Association UK Chart, and placed as high as #2 on the Roots Music Report Contemporary Blues Album Chart. Our CD Release Party at Mobtown Ballroom was a smashing success, with well over 100 people in attendance, and an all-star band including Tam Sullivan on Keys, Christopher Brown on Bass, a full horn section and special guests, Bobby Thompson, Buddy Speir and Rachelle Dantos.

Over the Sumer of 2023, we were blessed to be invited to perform at a number of music Festivals, including Main Street Music Festival in Ellicott City, The Columbia Pike Blues Festival in Arlington, VA, The Maryland Microbrewery Festival in Westminster, MD, The Greenbelt Music Festival, Bluestoberfest in Washington Grove, MD, Jazztoberfest at Cross Keys Village in New Oxford, PA, and Solomons Island Art Festival.

As we rolled into 2024, our CD “Temptation” was nominated by the DC Blues Society for “Best Self Produced CD” for the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN. Much to our surprise, it was selected by The Blues Foundation as one of the top 5 Finalists! We traveled to Memphis as a band in January 2024 and played in the Women in Blues Showcase at Alfred’s on Beale. Although the CD did not win the top honor it was an absolute privilege to be a finalist among so many talented artists.

We did however, win big here at home at the 2024, 36th Annual Wammie Awards where we unexpectedly swept the Blues category with wins for Best Blues Artist, Best Blues CD for “Temptation” and Best blues Song for “In The Deep Dark Night”.

We are incredibly excited to see what the rest of 2024 has in store for us, as we are about to embark on a trip to play the North Central Florida Women in Blues Showcase in May at Heartwood Soundstage in Gainesville. Stay tuned for what’s next!

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On Saturday February 16th, Gayle joined some of the most well known and talented performers in the DMV area for the annual Daryl Davis Presents “Thanks for the Memories” show on the renowned stage at The Birchmere. This incredible night of tributes also included local music royalty like Patty Reese, Tommy Lepson, Robbin Kapsalis, Paul Bell, Wes Crawford, Greg Thompkins, Sam Goodall, Stoney Johnstone, Angela Hill, Jeff Jones, Keith Arneson, Jeff Karn, Bruce Thomas, and Patsy Stevens and of course Daryl Davis.

   

 

Gayle’s performance of “Natural Woman”, a tribute to Aretha Franklin, earned a standing ovation.   You can see video of her performance below.

https://youtu.be/sn3HTWwH9OU

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Back in June we participated in the Baltimore Band Block Party and took 3rd place in the competition. As part of our prize package we got to be interviewed and play our original music live in studio for an episode of Baltimore Hit Parade, with Sam Sessa. We had such a great time hanging out in studio and talking with Sam. He asked some tough questions and even got a little personal. You can hear the compete interview at the link below.

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The Gayle Harrod Band is proud to present the Elevate EC Music Festival, Saturday, June 30th from 7:00 pm to 1:00 am at Bare Bones Grill in Ellicott City.  We have brought together a fantastic group of bands, singers and musicians to raise money for our Elliott City friends in need of help in recovering from recent flooding.   We will also be hosting a 50/50 raffle, and raffle off a few donated prizes as well.

Musical Line-up Includes

7:00-7:40     Ren Rick
7:45 – 8:25   E.C. Funkenstein
8:30-9:10     Bone Dri
9:15-9:55     Pete Kanaras and Automatic Slim Band
10:00-1:00   The Gayle Harrod Band (with Special Guest Vocalists Carly Harvey and Deletta Gillespie)

RSVP/Get Tickets or make Donations here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/elevate-ec-music-festival-presented-by-the-gayle-harrod-band-tickets-47390283614

Update:  We raised $806 for the Elliott City Partnership Flood Relief fund!  Huge thanks to all who donated time and merchandise and to those who attended and shared so generously!

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Exciting News!  The Gayle Harrod Band has been chosen to be a part of  WTMD radio’s Baltimore Band Block Party on June 16th!  This is a HUGE opportunity for us.  The Winners will perform at a First Thursday concert at Canton Waterfront Park, in front of thousands of people, 2nd place does a live lunch at the station, 3rd gets to be on Baltimore Hit Parade, and there are additional cash and gear prizes and all the bands get to have their music played on the radio.   

I got to hear my own original song, “God Laughed”,  played on WTMD radio for the first time ever today!  Very cool stuff!

This event is a fundraiser for WTMD, Baltimore’s ONLY publicly funded radio station.  20 bands start out but only the top 10-12 bands with the most ticket sales or donations in raised their name get to go through to the finals.  Both tickets and donations are tax deductible, because they support the nonprofit radio station.  

We are so excited to be a part of this event and we REALLY want to get to the finals, but we can’t do it without the help of our friends and family! You can support us by either purchasing a ticket for The Gayle Harrod Band, or by making a Donation in our name. We hope you’ll come out and support us but if you can’t make the show,  a small donation  to the station in our name would be greatly appreciated. There will be a space to type in “The Gayle Harrod Band” prior to submitting your donation. This is just an incredible opportunity for us and it would mean the world to us to make it through to the finals.  Can we count on you for even a small donation in our name to help us make this happen?  

Just follow the link to buy at ticket or make a donation.

https://www.mt.cm/wtmds-7th-annual-baltimore-band-block-party

Thanks so much!

Gayle  ?

P.S.:  We are happy to report that we raised $2470 for WTMD radio and took 3rd place in fundraising!

We will be featured on an upcoming episode of Baltimore Hit Parade with Sam Sessa!

Final Standings:

1.     Soul Island Rebels — $3026

2.     Too Soon Jokes — $2860

3.     The Gayle Harrod Band — $2470

4.     Them Animals — $1300

5.     Ebb & Nova — $1300

6.     Crisco Dreams — $1045

7.     Shelby Blondell — $1000

8.     Subtastics — $960

9.     Automatic Slim — $910

10.The Old Part of Town — $850

11.Lenore Lenoire — $760

12.Leo & Cygnus — $670

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