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It's an embarrassment of riches! Meet the special guests of "Vote Him Away (The Liar Tweets Tonight) #3" in order of appearance .... LACY J. DALTON  Lacy J. Dalton is a country music hall-of-famer (“Country’s Bonnie Raitt”) with a career spanning five decades. Her voice makes us melt. Here’s her paean to Nashville, “16th Avenue.” Lacy is also a dedicated activist. She co-founded the Let ‘Em Run Foundation, committed to rescuing wild horses. Lacy's support for the Black Lives Matter Movement compelled her to write and record "I Can't Breathe," and to donate all proceeds from the song to the Equal Justice Initiative. SUSAN GUNDUNAS  Back in the early 80’s (that’s right, the NINETEEN-80’s), Roy began performing his original funny songs in a duo called The Original Cast with his singing partner from high school, Susan Gundunas. They brought their hyper-theatrical harmonies to San Francisco nightclubs like the Boarding House and the Chi Chi Club in the days leading up to the Comedy Boom. Imagine Roy’s dismay when Susan left the duo to become an international opera star. Audiences across the US and throughout Europe have thrilled to her “gorgeous range, perfect pitch and expressive stage presence.” We're so proud to feature Susan as our "avenging angel" descant in "Vote Him Away #3." REGGIE HARRIS  Reggie Harris is a giant of American folk music performing his trademark songs of Joy, Hope and Freedom. He’s also a teacher and a riveting storyteller. Check out this compilation video of Reggie’s - “American Troubadour.” “Reggie Harris is part of the solution. His marvelous music, his hard-earned wisdom, and his loving presence lift up any room he enters. Reggie reaches across all boundaries and makes strangers into friends." —Rabbi Jonathan Kligler BOB MIRANDA OF THE HAPPENINGS  Bob Miranda is the leader of the 1960s pop sensation The Happenings. Bob contacted us after the viral success of “Vote Him Away #2” wondering if we might do something with The Happenings' 1966 hit “See You In September." We suggested incorporating a "September" parody into "Vote Him Away #3." A flurry of emails later, and we’d cowritten parody lyrics (“Beat You in November”) and edited Bob’s soaring falsetto into “Vote Him Away #3." And to sing The Happening’s harmony parts, we brought in ... THE FOREMEN  People have been asking about a reunion of Roy’s satirical folk quartet The Foremen since their heyday in the mid-90’s. Roy has always joked that he’d have to get HIMSELF back together first. But the other three Foremen, Doug Whitney, Kenny Rhodes and Andy Corwin were generous enough to jump in and provide The Happenings harmony parts for this video. The Best of The Foremen is available on CD or as a download. EMMA'S REVOLUTION  We consider Emma’s Revolution to be our sisters in socially conscious music. They’ve been tireless musical advocates for peace, equality and economic justice for decades. You can hear that they're wonderful singers and players. They are also fabulous songwriters. Check out their current viral hit “Gonna Vote Your Asses Out.” “Beauty, power and ferocity all mixed together with love and hope.” — Deb Andersen, KZUM STEVIE COYLE  Another long-awaited reunion! Stevie Coyle was Roy’s other half in the comedy duo The Reagan Brothers, who trucked the boards at all the premiere comedy clubs during the San Francisco Comedy Boom years. Stevie went on to found the Americana band the Waybacks, and to establish Mighty Fine Guitars in California's East Bay where you can catch his playing live or virtually through his frequent live broadcasts. To have your mind fully blown, give a listen to in Stevie's original piece, “Mr. Oyster’s Theme.” VISUAL EFFECTS The stunning “Vote Him Away” flag you see at the beginning of our video was fashioned by Joseph and Barbara Lane. Joseph and Barbara are doing more than their fair share to get out the vote this election season -- they’ll be providing home-cooked food for voters waiting in line in Georgia’s 144th, 1145th and 146th precincts.. You can support the Lane's work and help flip Georgia blue by donating through their gofundme page, Feed the Voters, Feed the Vote." The beautiful “Vote Him Away” weathervane is the original handiwork of Terry Faust who offers hand-crafted custom wind art at his Wee Weathervanes site. -- Roy and Melanie We are pleased to offer you FREE DOWNLOADS of the mp3 audio files for some our recent videos. Just click on the record player. If you're able and so moved, you can also make a contribution of $5 or $10 to help us produce our next Virtual Sing-In. To add a contribution, just click on either the “Kick In a Lincoln” or “Kick In a Hamilton” box below.
It’s tempting to think of voting rights as one of those issues we can all agree on. But “issues we can all agree on” are like, you know, unicorns. They might exist, but no one’s ever seen one. In fact, as our song says, “always in the shadows there are those who want you not to vote.” That’s especially true this year. In early 2013, a re-consideration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was pending before the Supreme Court. Filmmaker Steven Armsey wanted a song for a documentary he was producing about voter suppression, and he commissioned Melanie and me to write that song. “My Vote, My Voice, My Right” tells the story of our struggle as Americans to secure, expand and freely exercise our right to vote. We finished the song in March of that year. By June, Steven’s film had premiered at the Scary Cow Film Festival in San Francisco, and the Supreme Court had struck down the heart of the Voting Rights Act. Ruth Bader Ginsberg famously observed that the court’s decision was tantamount to “throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.” Melanie and I shot a video of the song [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-X-uBIqeVM] at the 1898 Memorial in Wilmington, NC which commemorates the only successful coup in American history. On November 10, 1989, White Supremacists in Wilmington violently overthrew the bi-racial city government, burned down the black-owned newspaper and murdered over 100 black citizens. The US government did not step in, signaling the end of federal protections for black voting rights.  This year we’ve lost both Justice Ginsberg and civil rights giant John Lewis, and we wanted to honor their memory by reprising “My Vote, My Voice, My Song” by way of a populist Virtual Sing-In. 
CLICK HERE to get your FREE DOWNLOAD of the mp3 audio single of the new version of “My Voice, My Vote, My Right.” CLICK HERE to get “My Vote, My Voice, My Right” merchandise - shirts, hoodies, mugs and vinyl stickers. We are so moved when others perform our songs. “My Vote” has been covered by numerous choirs. Enjoy this soulful sampling ... Voices Rising Chorus (Boston, MA) - CLICK HERE Women in Harmony (Portland, ME) - CLICK HERE One City Chorus (St. Petersburg, FL) - CLICK HERE Womansong Chorus of Asheville - CLICK HERE Let us know if your choir would like to sing “My Vote, My Voice, My Right” and we’ll send you the sheet music. Looking forward, -- Roy and Melanie We are pleased to offer you FREE DOWNLOADS of the mp3 audio files for some our recent videos. Just click on the record player. If you're able and so moved, you can also make a contribution of $5 or $10 to help us produce our next Virtual Sing-In. To add a contribution, just click on either the “Kick In a Lincoln” or “Kick In a Hamilton” box below.
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