TEEN SINGING SENSATION BILLY GILMAN TO LEAD
MDA YOUTH PROGRAMS FOR ANOTHER YEAR
TUCSON, Ariz., Dec. 23, 2004 - Billy Gilman, the Rhode Island teen
who took the country music world by storm in 2000 with his hit single,
"One Voice," will return for another year as National
Youth Chairperson for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Gilman, now 16, was first appointed to the voluntary MDA position
in April 2003. He spearheads the efforts of thousands of teenagers
and young adults across the country who volunteer their time and energy
to help advance the Association's lifesaving mission.
Gilman supports MDA through appearances at sponsor and volunteer events
and through media interviews. Gilman also performs and hosts youth
segments on the Jerry
Lewis MDA Telethon on Labor Day weekend.
"I'm truly honored to continue serving as MDA
National Youth Chairperson," Gilman said. "It's been
an awesome experience meeting and working with young people across
the country and encouraging them to share their time, talent and energy
with the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
"They've responded in so many ways, and it's very rewarding to
see the outpouring of support MDA has been receiving."
Gilman had performed on MDA's national Telethon broadcast before 2003,
but it was his friendship and creative partnership with the late,
best-selling poet, peacemaker and MDA
National Goodwill Ambassador, Mattie J.T. Stepanek, that led to
his appointment as National Youth Chairperson.
"Of course, we all lost a dear friend this summer when Mattie
passed away at age 13," said Gilman, who divides his time between
Rhode Island and Nashville. "His message of hope lives on and
inspires me and so many others to continue the battle against neuromuscular
diseases until it is won!"
Released in April 2003, Gilman's fourth album, "Music Through
Heartsongs," features poems by Stepanek set to music and taken
to a new dimension by Gilman's vocals. The CD resulted from a year-long
collaboration between the two youths, and debuted at no. 15 on the
Billboard country music charts.
"Billy Gilman has done a wonderful job for MDA, and we're ecstatic
to have a star of his magnitude to serve as our National Youth Chairperson
for another year," MDA National Chairman Jerry Lewis said. "I
had the pleasure of meeting Billy during the 2001 Telethon, and he
made quite an impression on me -- not just because of his incredible
vocal talent, but because of his wonderful heart."
"Music Through Heartsongs" was Gilman's fourth release on
the Epic Records Nashville label, following "One Voice"
and "Classic Christmas" in 2000 and "Dare to Dream"
in 2001.
Gilman has garnered four Billboard Music Awards, and he won the American
Music Award for Favorite New Country Artist in 2000.
MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat more than 40 neuromuscular
diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive services,
and far-reaching professional and public health education.
The Association's programs are funded almost entirely by individual
private contributors.
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