Interviewing The Legends: Annie Haslam

SYMPHONIC ROCK PIONEERS

R e n a i s s a n c e

WILL PERFORM THEIR

In Gratitude

FAREWELL TOUR FALL 2024

ZOOM SPECIAL EVENT

WITH

LEGENDARY SONGSTRESS

A N N I E H A S L A M

ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

WITH RAY SHASHO

Renaissance, the legendary symphonic rock band featuring Annie Haslam, will be back in the US playing select dates from October 17th through October 31st. This will mark 54 years since the formation of the band and its 16th consecutive year of touring since its reactivation in 2009. Renaissance leader and vocalist Annie Haslam remarked that “We are very proud but sad to announce our ‘In Gratitude’ Farewell Tour. Where did the time go? Looking back over the years, I believe we have made history in the worlds of Progressive and Symphonic Rock.”

The upcoming shows will include stunning arrangements of “Ocean Gypsy,” “Northern Lights,” “Forever Changing,” “Mother Russia,” “Carpet of the Sun,” “Ashes are Burning” and other favorite classics. Ms. Haslam will be joined on stage by long-time musical associate Rave Tesar on piano, along with Mark Lambert on guitars/vocals, Geoffrey Langley on keyboards/vocals, Frank Pagano on drums, percussion/vocals, and John Galgano on bass.

Annie Haslam noted that “Performing with Renaissance since 1971 has been my whole life. I still love singing these unique, surreal, dramatic and romantic songs and pairing up with some of the finest orchestras in the world. All of this was born from the music of Michael Dunford, John Tout, Terry Sullivan and Jon Camp combined with the emotional and poetic words of Betty Thatcher. Our music has filled the hearts and minds of many thousands of fans around the world. It started for me, with a dream from my childhood that ended in this miracle called Renaissance! Rave Tesar, is an extraordinary man and musician I have worked with in my solo band since 1989 and with Renaissance since 2009. He has also been a very big help in keeping the band 'alive'! Some very talented musicians have stepped into our band, and their devotion and hard work have added to the band’s touring longevity and personality.”

Renaissance is a band with a rich history unique to themselves as progressive rock pioneers who rose from the ashes of the seminal UK rock band, The Yardbirds. Acclaimed for their unique blending of progressive rock with classical and symphonic influences, the band's career has spanned fifty plus years spearheaded by the 5-octave voice of Annie Haslam and the masterful songwriting skills of Michael Dunford, John Tout, Jon Camp and Terry Sullivan. They are widely considered to be the band that most successfully and routinely utilized the sound of a full orchestra in their recordings.

The band has toured throughout the world and has performed at Carnegie Hall with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Royal Chorale Society.

Renaissance had a top ten hit in the UK with their song “Northern Lights” that still demands airplay to this day.

PURCHASE

Renaissance

The Legacy Tour 2022

In celebration of Annie Haslam’s 75th year, Renaissance performed classic songs with the remarkable Renaissance Chamber Orchestra and music from Annie’s solo career.

Double live audio CD in fold-out digipack cover with 12-page booklet. Recorded at the Keswick Theatre Glenside PA USA on October 21 2022.

Personalized autograph by Annie Haslam.

Includes unlimited streaming of The Legacy Tour 2022 via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Available at

https://renaissancetouring.bandcamp.com/album/the-legacy-tour-2022

Tracklist

1.Carpet Of The Sun 03:43

2. Black Flame 06:39

3. The Sisters 06:39

4. Ananda 04:26

5. The Captive Heart 04:46

6. Symphony Of Light 13:08

7. Blessing In Disguise 03:42

8. Celestine 04:41

9. Reaching Out 03:57

10. The Angels Cry 04:33

11. Day Of The Dreamer 10:07

12. Running Hard 10:26

Renaissance:

In Gratitude

Farewell Tour 2024

Thursday October 17, 2024 – NEW YORK CITY

The Town Hall

123 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036

Friday October 18, 2024 – ALBANY, NY

Lewis A. Swyer Theatre at the Egg

Agency Building 1, S Mall Arterial, Albany, NY 12203

Saturday October 19, 2024 – Ridgefield, CT

The Ridgefield Playhouse

80 E Ridge Rd, Ridgefield, CT 06877

Sunday October 20, 2024 – Boston MA

City Winery Boston

80 Beverly St, Boston, MA 02114

Wednesday October 23, 2024 – Rochester, NY

The Theater at Innovation Square

131 Chestnut St, Rochester, NY 14604

Thursday October 24, 2024 – Homer, NY

Center for the Arts of Homer

72 S Main St, Homer, NY 13077

Friday October 25, 2024 – Newton, NJ

The Newton Theatre

234 Spring St, Newton, NJ 07860

Saturday October 26, 2024 – Lansdowne, PA

Lansdowne Theater

31 N Lansdowne Ave, Lansdowne, PA 19050

Tuesday October 29, 2024 - Edwardsville, IL

Wildey Theatre

252 N. Main St. Edwardsville IL 62025

Wednesday October 30, 2024 - Edwardsville, IL

Wildey Theatre

252 N. Main St. Edwardsville IL 62025

annie haslam

APPEARS

JULY 27TH 2024

ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

WITH RAY SHASHO

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

BOOK TRAILER

BOOK REVIEW

-By Literary Titan (5) STARS

The Rock Star Chronicles by Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show.

The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan.

Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives.

The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music. The second noteworthy thing is the use of high-definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.

I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new things by going back in time.

https://literarytitan.com/2020/05/03/literary-titan-book-awards-may-2020/

Gold Award Winner