Here We GO!!!!!

Last year, the week of May 16th, 2009, I was feeling lost and worried about my future in the arts. I've been so blessed to spend the last 25 years on various stages playing and singing to so many people. Life would be great, then it would take a turn for the worse. Living out your dreams is a really tough road. A lot of the time, all you have is blind faith that what you're doing will lead to the next step. Bob Seger wrote a song called turn the page. Find those lyrics and you will find out more about what it's like to be a musician or an artist trying to make it. I can tell you it is a life riddled with fear, doubt, insecurity, extreme highs and destructive lows. You find yourself praying silent prayers to God you aren't sure exists or if it does exist, does it listen to someone like you? Try spending 25 years of pleasing some but disappointing most. 25 years of hearing your going to be the "next big thing" or "you could have been somebody if you had tried harder". Everyone hears those types of statements whether you are a musician or not.

So I was lost. I was so frustrated that I couldn't break through the steel doors that kept me from moving ahead with my music. Talent was never the issue, sexuality was. I am proud to be a gay man, but the industry felt other emotions towards "Gay" artists. With all this in my head and crashing my emotions, I called up my BEST MATE in Britain, Peter Brazier and we discussed co-writing/co-producing a solo project. Not just any project but a full on massive British/American Pop Fusion spectacle! Thankfully, he did not hesitate to join me. Pete and I are the original "Maniacs". It takes a maniac to do what we have done and believe it can work. We followed one simple rule, "be authentic".

We began the writing and recording process in October of 2009. Over the last 8 months, we have sacrificed more than was rational and put everything we had on the line based on the simple belief that someone had to be the "next big thing" why not us. We have had the total trust and support of our partners, soon to be spouses, Scott & Lucy, our parents, and very reliable advisers. In 8 months, we wrote, produced and recorded 15 tracks, 38 jingles and a bonus CD of media interviews and 2 bonus tracks. We have built a truly global machine we've called "McKendreeMania".

Today we shoot the pictures that will be the art work for the project and for all our marketing as well. Then Peter and Lucy arrive from London on Saturday and we work through till we shoot the video to the first single, Dolly Parton's "Jolene", then June 1st we hit the road touring the UK in support of the CD.

Mark Moffitt once told me " Bite off more than you can chew, then Chew Like HELL!". That is exactly what we have done.

Remember, 12 months ago, none of this existed! We had not idea that McKendreeMania was just around the corner. I felt so lost, but the Universe had an amazing destiny waiting for me, for us, and If we had given up hope and quit, we would not be on this amazing ride together right now. Nashville & London working together to create a totally unique sound that can't be categorized by a certain Genre.

By the end of May, www.mckendreemania.com will be a massive interactive music site and the project "McKendree Mania Vol.1" will hit the shelves!!!

Born of frustration, our Brotherhood now includes Public Relations firms on both sides of the Pond, UK Management, an amazing Nashville Entertainment Firm, Quantum Pictures, Major International Publishers, music blessed by Her Majesty, The Rightful Queen of all music Dolly Parton, phenomenal Nashville and London based Fashion & Jewelry Designers and a fan base now extending to over 25 countries!! Where once only drying up dreams lived, now stands a colossal beast of a international company McKENDREE MANIA!!!

Peter and I both started working towards our dreams at the same age on two different continents with no idea we were being driven and prepared to work together 25 years later. It's amazing to think of the reality of that statement!

So here we are. It's 6 am on Friday May 7th, 2009 and in 6 hours I stand in front of a camera fully knowing, understanding and loving myself. I'm so glad I didn't give up.

Many of you joined us on this ride from the very first day and hear me when I say we are humbled that you have continued to hang on through it all. Thank you for helping us spread "McKendree Mania"! We call ourselves and our fans "Certified Maniacs" because only a true maniac would dare to pull off what we are doing!!

Please join the fan page and post a message to your friends lists to join as well. Visit the links there and follow us on this manic ride. Sign up for our mailing lists to receive information about tour dates, and when and where to buy autographed copies of everything in the merchandise store. More information will begin being posted on the fan page and website as we move along!!

If you see that we are visiting a city near you, please make a point to introduce yourself. I live for interacting and making new friends as we travel. If you would like us to visit your city or a city near you, then get your friends working together, find other Maniac's in your area and let us know. If you would like to get involved with the tour and the music, let us know once the website is complete. No one makes it in this world alone!! Peter and I have built an amazing project, now help us get the word out their. Share this note with your friends list. Join marketing forces with us!! A NEW WORLD ORDER IS RISING! Traditional means and methods are being tossed out the window and we are letting our dreams guide us now!!

Peace to all NOT just the few,

McKendree