'Rise from the Storm'

Celebrated singer-songwriter releases third full-length album

Meri R. Kennedy
Posted 4/15/15

Joanne Lurgio of Warwick has released her third full-length CD, “Rise from the Storm.”

Already, it is receiving praise from listeners, and she will officially launch the release from 2 p.m. to …

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'Rise from the Storm'

Celebrated singer-songwriter releases third full-length album

Posted

Joanne Lurgio of Warwick has released her third full-length CD, “Rise from the Storm.”

Already, it is receiving praise from listeners, and she will officially launch the release from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. April 19 at the Pub on Park, located at 665 Park Ave. in Cranston.

According to a biography on her website, Lurgio is a “talented songwriter [who], combined with her gifted voice and wonderful guitar work, will prompt you to chase your dreams and offer a tale or two about ordinary people who, like her, excel and inspire.”

Her music has been described by producer Mike Dunbar as having a “distinct Americana feel with England charm, moving from country to bluegrass, folk and R&B to gospel, all with a bluesy undertone.” She was named Motif Magazine’s 2012 Female Vocalist of the Year, and her release “Nothing Remains the Same” received Album of the Year honors at the 2010 Motif Music Awards.

Lurgio picked up her first guitar - given to her by her father, who passed away in 2011 - at the age of 10. She began to write songs and to follow her musical dreams and passion. She is currently a nominee for the Motif Magazine 2015 American singer/songwriter award.

“Joanne is that rare artist that never fails to deliver a great song lyrically, melodically - and that voice, that killer voice, never fails her," said produced and recording engineer Jack Gauthier, who produced “Rise from the Storm.”

“Storms, they come in many forms and usually cause an upheaval of normalcy in our lives. We may get beaten down, but never lose faith we will rise again with hope in knowing there is a new day waiting to begin,” Lurgio said. “I know I am stronger today than I was yesterday and all the days before. I am grateful and I am blessed.”

Accompanying Joanne Lurgio, who provided acoustic guitar and vocals on “Rise from the Storm,” were Duke Robillard (Pawtucket/Woonsocket) on electric guitar, Cathy Clasper-Torch (Providence) on fiddle, John Juxo (Cranston) on keyboard and accordion, Joe Lurgio (Nashville/Warwick) on mandolin, Mike “Scatman” Sullivan (East Providence) on slide guitar, Marty Ballou (Attleboro) on upright bass, Joe Potenza (Cranston) on bass guitar, Mike DeQuattro (Johnston) on percussion, Dan Hann (Warwick) on drums, Marc Douglas Berardo (Westerly) on harmony vocals, and Vance Gilbert (Arlington, Mass.) and Lara Herscovitch (Durham, Conn.) on harmony vocals. Lurgio handpicked each artist for the album.

Lurgio has had an extensive music career and received numerous awards, including 2012 Americana Singer/Songwriter of the Year honors from Motif Magazine; the magazine’s 2007 and 2011 Singer/Songwriter of the Year awards; Motif’s 2006 and 2010 Album of the Year honors; and first place in the 2012 Jane’s Joint Songwriting Competition.

She is a board member of the Rhode Island Songwriters Association, and is active in providing music therapy for Beacon Hospice Alzheimer’s/Dementia Unit patients, as well as at other facilities throughout the area. She is also a soloist for funeral and memorial services.

Her previous recordings include the 2012 single “Won’t Ever Quit,” the 2009 album “Nothing Remains the Same” and the 2005 album “Find a Dream.”

“Rise from the Storm” includes “Won’t Ever Quit” as a very special bonus track. The original recording was done by Anthony Marrapese at Reel to Real Recording Studio in Cranston.

“In 2012, the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Foundation asked me to write a song that could be used to help promote their 5K Road Race fundraiser. My musical vision came to fruition when I was joined in by studio by 61 beautiful voices I called the ‘Gloria Gemma Singers’ - friends, family, cancer survivors, all singing in support of, in celebration of their own triumphs and many in memory of those we will never forget,” Lurgio said.

Proceeds from the single go directly to the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation.

It has been four years since Lurgio recorded her previous album, “Nothing Remains the Same.”

“I didn’t mean to wait so long between recordings again, but life happens,” she said. “During that time, I continued to write and perform.”

Not only was a new album long overdue, but having just made the leap from the corporate world to work as a full-time musician, she needed to update her music, get all the songs recorded and get them out to be heard.

“‘Rise from the Storm’ was born out of both inspiration and necessity,” laughed Lurgio. “For me, although I had two previous albums, I felt this recording was going to be my real ‘coming out’ as a singer/songwriter. I wanted my songs to stand up and be strong. I wanted to give this my best shot. I believe if you want to learn how to get better at your craft, look to those who are where you want to be.”

“Rise from the Storm” was funded by a Kickstarter campaign, and Lurgio surpassed her goal of $4,500 with 109 backers and more than $5,000 raised.

“Of all my unrecorded songs, I selected a collection of 13 favorites, not including the bonus track. They all seemed to form a theme, although no title had been decided yet. As a matter of fact, ‘Rise from the Storm’ had not been written yet,” Lurgio said.

In the preliminary stages of recording those 13 songs, a new song came along, one so powerful that Lurgio knew it had to be added to the album. It fit the theme and was strong enough to be the title song. Originally called “Brand New Day,” Lurgio felt that title was boring and overused.

“I pulled the words ‘tattered and torn’ from the lyric as a potential title and imagined the creative CD cover. This was it! The new album would be called ‘Tattered & Torn,’ yet every time I introduced the song at a performance it felt so negative and down. It didn’t feel right,” she said. “Anyone who knows me knows I am optimist always looking for the good and positive in everything. So, ‘Tattered & Torn’ was not going to work. Then I looked at the whole line and it became instantly clear. ‘Rise from the storm tattered and torn; there’s hope in the light of a brand new day.’”

“Rise from the Storm” is available at www.cdbaby.com/joannelurgio2 and at Lurgio’s performances. For more information and to listen to some of Lurgio’s music, visit www.joannelurgio.com.

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