Category: Press Release
Roger Mapes: a country,gospel,rock singer/songwriter specializing in spreading love and beautiful melodies. Think The Blind Boys of Alabama, The Handsome Family, and Elvis in a blender. Roger is currently promoting his new CD Roger Mapes and Red Hook Junction.
After many years of playing and touring with his indie/alt/cult/jazz/rock/pop band called Yolanda and the Plastic Family, Roger began to re-evaluate his music and what he wanted to do.
Roger is originally from Muscle Shoals, Alabama and his first bands were bluegrass gospel folk and Southern rock. He has now returned to those roots. His act showcases his powerful and sensitive baritone vocals and inspirational songwriting.
Awards and Accomplishments:
July 2008: Roger's song "Love Divine" is #1 on the Christian music charts (final tier-3 rounds of competition) at Song Vault online radio- http://www.songvault.fm/artists/roger_anthony_mapes.htm
2007 Best Vocalist from The Bear Music Awards and was entered into their Hall of Fame.
http://www.myspace.com/2007bearmusicawards
2005 inducted into the GLBT Hall of Fame:
http://www.glbthalloffame.com/standinginductees.htm
Roger's music reviewed in Billboard magazine by Larry Flick 5 times from 1998-2003. Flick called Mapes "...best unsigned artist of 1999."
Roger Anthony (Tony) Mapes; singer songwriter, painter, and performance artist was born and raised in Muscle Shoals, Alabama - “The Hit Recording Capital of the World” and the birthplaces of Helen Keller and W.C. Handy. The Muscle Shoals area was populated by an abundance of musicians and visual artists/painters. He began studying music, painting and drawing at a young age with local artists and was encouraged to develop his own unique vision. Roger is influenced by pop, rock, blues, country, and folk, but doesn’t self-consciously follow any one tradition…combining them all into some hybrid of his own.
From 1996-2005 Roger Anthony Mapes performed as YOLANDA singer/songwriter/gender warrior with his/her band “Yolanda and the Plastic Family”. Roger created the character “Yolanda”, wrote the music, created the costumes, toured and recorded 2 discs with “The Plastic Family”: “Welcome To YolandaWorld” (LP) and “Yolanda and the Plastic Family” (EP). For more info on YOLANDA visit:
www.yolanda.net
For Roger’s paintings and other info about Roger visit:
www.rogeranthonymapes.com
