In mid May, Larry Lee, President of USCF, flew to US to attend the board meeting for the further discussion on key businesses.
During his visit, Larry met USCF executive board directors and USCF senior advisors such as William Harrison, David Robison and Jesse Watkins etc. He had a talk with Jesse Watkins on the sales of Chinese automobiles and digital medical instruments in US market. Meanwhile, Larry met some well known people in the field of education, Mr. George Wilson, the provost of NCU and Prof.
Jiaxing Shi, etc. for the China International University Project. He also met Ms. Diana Corto, USCF senior artist advisor several times, and discussed the preparation for Chinese famous vocal artist, Ms. Zuying Song’s solo concert in US.
USCF strongly support Mr. David Robison, USCF board executive director and law consultant, running for the State congressman.
USCF Dalian Office is in preparation stage.
US Front Porch Music Band was invited by USCF for a music tour in China from May 3 to 16 after a year’s waiting. The band should visit China last year, but was postponed by SARS. China Performance Arts Agency entrusted USCF to recommend a popular US country music band to join the annual “Meet in Beijing” activity in 2003. Central government officials paid much attention to “Meet in Beijing”, one of the most important international cultural exchange activities. USCF selected “US Front Porch Music Band”. This band has six experienced members, Johnny Jolin, lead vocals and guitars, Angela Springman, lead vocals, Kim Reichley, bass, Ambrose Campana, guitars, Joseph Gaughan, key boards, and Mike Hudson, drums. They are very popular in America. Their music is full of American country music taste, “Real American Country music” as media said. “America stand tall” and “somebody tonight” produced by them had listed on the top one on the America Country Music board for 13 weeks as the historical and the greatest country music. The Front Porch Band hit “the number one on the US country music bulletin in 2003”, as American top country music magazine covered. The China music tour in four major cities, Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan and Ningbo started at Beijing Chaoyang Park. The band headlined for thousands in the open air and were rushed for autographs after the show. The audience was crazy and intoxicated with the natural, passionate music. They sang together with the band the familiar songs “country road” and “Nanniwan” waving their hands. The first performance finished successfully in the starry summer evening in Beijing.
As we all know, American country music is similar to Chinese campus folk music in the style. They are light and easy to learn. That is why the main performance was arranged in Peking University, the top university in China. This stop was a sold-out show on May 5 at Centennial Hall. The president of the 70,000-student University introduced the band to the audience with loud applause in the packed house. “I was blown away when I saw members of the audience singing along,” said lead singer Johnny Jolin. “It’s hard to believe people know your songs on the other side of the world”. They raised hands high for the band’s energetic country songs. They were particularly interest in “Echoes of Your Love”, a song evoking the miss of loved ones lost in the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. A solitary American flag remained on stage for the entire show.
After an encore performance in Chaoyang Park, the band was flown to Shanghai. They performed at one of the finest theaters – Shanghai Commercial City Theater on the Nanjing Road, the downtown of Shanghai. The band got a lot of media hype before the performance. Mr. Ted Bailey, the marketing director of The Sound of Country, the only country music radio program in China, interviewed Rick, executive manager of the band. Rick gave many thanks to USCF for arranging this China music tour. 95% tickets were sold out, and many American people dressed up as cowboys to support their hometown band. Local TV channel reported the performance. After the successful performance, the organizer hosted the band at Nanjing road.
On Monday, the Front Porch Country Band headed to Wuhan, which was recently added to the tour by the Ministry of Culture.
As part of the cultural exchange tour, the band has been taken to the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and many other interesting culture sites. They completed their whirlwind tour in Ningbo on May15.
“Sometimes I think this is more of a vacation than a tour, ”said bassist and singer Kim “Kimbo” Reuchley. “We work hard to put on good news, but the experience of traveling in China has just been incredible.”
The tour has been covered in Chinese televisions such as CCTV4, CCTV9, and radios, newspapers, and advertised in outdoor billboards in China’s large cities.
The Front Porch Country Band is performing their original music from their latest release “somebody tonight” as well as songs from an upcoming album which will be released in late 2004. They also played a tribute song from “America Standing Tall - The American Trilogy,” released one week after September 11.
In the afternoon on May 16, it’s time to say goodbye. All the members said they hope to come again in the near future bringing with their greatest music to Chinese audiences. “It is the USCF that gave this great opportunity for us to bring American country music to China and get to know more about China as well”. The memory will be enshrined in mind now and forever.
