Aomusic

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Biography

AOMUSIC , (also known as, AO ) is a pan-cultural world music|world / new age music|new age band (music)|musical group , known for an exotic blend of ethnic texture, rhythmic energy and ambient harmony. Their compositions employ melodic refrains, sung by Miriam Stockley (the voice of Karl Jenkins ' Adiemus project), and children’s choral ensembles from around the globe. Song lyrics are typically sung in a mixture of ancient languages or made-up phonetics , so as not to pay allegiance to a particular ethnicity; thereby lending to a more Universal (metaphysics)|universal impression. Each song is composed, produced and performed by three well established recording artists; founder Richard Gannaway , Jay Oliver and Miriam Stockley . The group self-produces albums on their own independent label|indie label Arcturian Gate|AO Music/Arcturian Gate (established in 1996). Richard Gannaway|Gannaway and Jay Oliver|Oliver produce the sound using a blend of live acoustic instrument s and music sampling|digital samples that cover a broad range of world indigenous music|indigeny mixed with contemporary elements.

Formation

Richard Gannaway ( stringed instruments , singing|vocals ) and Jay Oliver ( music synthesizer|synths , music sampling|samples , piano keyboard|keyboards ) were born and raised in St. Louis , Missouri . They met in 1988 and moved to the Los Angeles area in 1989. They began working on the Aomusic project in 1996. Richard Gannaway|Gannaway started his career as a touring folk musician then toured Western Europe and Canada as leader of the rock group Tiger & the Helix before founding the vision of Aomusic. Jay Oliver|Oliver began at the age of sixteen as the youngest member of Maynard Ferguson ’s band. His later credits include: Sheryl Crow , The Eagles , Jimmy Buffett , Wynona Judd , Glenn Frey , Peabo Bryson , Chick Corea and Dave Weckl .

In the Fall of 1996 Richard Gannaway|Gannaway approached Jay Oliver|Oliver to co-produce a world music sound that was more universal and inclusive than what was known at the time, involving an international choir of children. Richard Gannaway|Gannaway had a fresh collection of song compositions that were originally written for the second Tiger & the Helix rock album. Jay Oliver|Oliver liked the idea, so they began to reconstruct the songs in a world music| world format using indigenous textures from his ethnic instrument music sampling|sample library. These sessions culminated in the first Aomusic album " Grow Wild ", released in 2000 on Arcturian Gate and promoted on NPR radio across North America .

In 2001 Richard Gannaway|Gannaway and Jay Oliver|Oliver moved to Carlsbad, California to begin production of their second Aomusic album " Twirl (world music album)|Twirl ". During that year the group traveled to Indonesia , where they studied the Gamelan music tradition. They were also invited to China by China Record Corporation|CRC (the China Record Corporation ) and introduced to the Beijing Olympic Committee , who asked the group to compose theme music for the 2008 Summer Games . That same year they enlisted Miriam Stockley to sing the chorus of " On Jai Ya " along with Beijing 's renowned China Record Corporation|CRC Children's Choir , which is how Miriam Stockley|Stockley became involved with Aomusic. Richard Gannaway|Gannaway and Jay Oliver|Oliver were impressed with her work on Karl Jenkins ' " Adiemus " album " Songs of Sanctuary " while she was still living in the UK . Miriam Stockley|Stockley has also worked with Tina Turner , Chaka Khan , George Michael , Freddie Mercury , Deniece Williams , Mike Oldfield , Brian May and David Arkenstone . She is heard in several feature film soundtrack s, including " The Lord of the Rings film trilogy|The Lord of the Rings ".

In 2004 they were invited to Mumbai to work with Bollywood film score composer Sandeep Chowta , who brought a wealth of musical resources to the group from that region. Sandeep Chowta|Chowta also joined Aomusic as a contributing Music producer|producer . Their trips throughout Asia over the course of four years brought a new depth of influence to the group's sound, and in late 2004 they performed the first live Aomusic concert at the Habba Festival in Bangalore , India . In 2006 Miriam Stockley officially joined Aomusic and began co-composing with Richard Gannaway|Gannaway and Jay Oliver|Oliver .

Ultimately, the Aomusic song (" On Jai Ya ") was not used as the official 2008 Olympic theme piece, and later selected as a soundtrack for the 2011 promotional trailer Project Peace on Earth . The song was released Feb 17, 2009 to an international audience on the group's second album " Twirl (world music album)|Twirl ", which was well received by a broader fan base with Miriam Stockley|Stockley as a core member of the group. " Twirl (world music album)|Twirl " debuted on international music charts at #5.

In June 2009 Richard Gannaway|Gannaway , Jay Oliver|Oliver and Miriam Stockley|Stockley composed and produced the song "Gaiya Lo Mane" as theme music for the Give Kids the World Foundation.

On Feb. 15, 2011 Aomusic released their third album " ...and Love Rages on! ", via Independent label|indie label , Arcturian Gate|AO Music/Arcturian Gate . The album features children's choral ensembles from Beijing , Tbilisi , Johannesburg , Asheville and Orlando, Florida|Orlando . The album charted at #2 internationally in its genre that year and was awarded Zone Music Reporter's "Best World Album of 2011".

With the release of " ...and Love Rages on! ", Aomusic aligned with one of the many charities under the FirstGiving / GlobalGiving umbrellas. The FirstGiving / Aomusic alliance is specifically organized to build sustainable villages for the children of Haiti , who were displaced by an earthquake in 2010, and represents the first association of its kind for Aomusic's non-profit affiliate AO Foundation International .

Band members

Richard Gannaway (vocals, stringed instruments , production)

Jay Oliver ( piano keyboard|keyboards , music synthesizer|synths , music sampling|samples , production)

Miriam Stockley ( vocalese )

Regular Contributing Artists:

Sandeep Chowta ( music production )

Rod Houison ( music production )

Andy Georges ( stringed instruments )

George Bernardo ( drums and percussion )

Doug Lunn ( Bass guitar|Bass )

Choral Ensembles:

CRC Children's Choir ( Beijing , Peoples Republic of China )

William Joseph International Academy for Performing Arts ( Bangalore , India )

Martve Boy's Choir ( Tbilisi , Georgia (country)|People's Republic of Georgia)

Bishop Bavin St. George's Children's Choir ( Johannesburg , South Africa )

Chorus of Light ( Orlando, Florida )

Rainbow Mountain Children's School ( Asheville , North Carolina )

Guest Artists:

Sonu Kakkar ( Mumbai , India )- Singing|vocals

Kimba Arem ( Boulder , Colorado )- didgeridoo

Ashwin Srinivasar ( Mumbai , India )- Flute|Indian bamboo flute

Michael "Piper" Cooney ( Tipperary , Ireland )- Tin Whistle|Irish pipes and whistles

Peter Mayer ( Nashville , Tennessee )- acoustic guitar

John Higgins ( St. Louis , Missouri )- mandolin

Susan Craig Winsberg ( Los Angeles , California )- Flute|steel flute

Miari Peterson ( Los Angeles , California|CA ) - Singing|backing vocals

Claudia Cummings ( Los Angeles , California|CA ) - Singing|backing vocals

Katy Hill ( St. Louis , Missouri|MO ) - Singing|backing vocals

Cayla Clark ( St. Louis , Missouri|MO ) - spoken word

Mary Jo Clark ( St. Louis , Missouri|MO ) - Irish dance|Irish dance hard-shoe taps/choreography

Discography

Grow Wild (2000)

Twirl (world music album)|Twirl (2009)

...and Love Rages on! (2011)

Copyright Citations

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Undetermined Music Artists