Jd and the FanRising team would like to wish you a very Happy Holiday season and we're looking forward to a great 2010!

It’s official I am in Christmas overdrive and it’s not even Thanksgiving yet. I think what finally did me in has to be blamed on Coffee Bean. They introduced their holiday drinks and for one day last week they were free! Well let’s just say I don’t think I drove by a Coffee Bean that day without stopping. It was a peppermint latte love fest!

Now you know what spawned the whole Starbucks or Coffee Bean posts. And I have to say, Coffee Bean is wooing me!

It’s not like I needed to me more in the Christmas spirit. I’ve been singing Christmas songs since May when I started recording Home For The Holidays You know the saying "it makes you want Christmas all year round"? Well this year I’m living it!

Recording the title song a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/home-for-holidays/id338613628">Home For The Holidays with so many of my family members really kicked it off. That was an amazing memory. Having all of them together in the studio was unbelievable and they rocked it!

The whole thing was a great time in the studio. I loved putting my own spin on Christmas songs that I’ve grown up with as well as writing new ones! My Grandfather hasn’t heard “Just Like You” yet, we’re keeping it a secret until I get home to Hawaii. My family said they just keep stopping the CD before the last song starts.

Thanks for all of the great comments about the CD. I hope it brings your family years of enjoyment!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!!

Jd

Congratulations to team member DrummerGirl for winning the iPod Nano. Hope you enjoy the nano and the tunes!

Gotta love LA, I spent the weekend on the water and it was beautiful, sunshine great weather, it’s been a while since I just kicked it. I’m feeling all refreshed and ready to take on the world.

Big news this week, Big for Me is #47 on the Urban AC charts. #47 in the country peeps! This week KJLH 102.3 in Los Angeles adds the single and it looks like Washington DC, New York and Miami aren’t far behind! Thanks to all of you who have requested the single. Please continue to do so, we’re making a huge impact in the industry and competing with the majors! We’re setting precedence in the industry that good music; great fans and an amazing team can compete with the big boys! Thanks for helping to make that a reality!

I can’t wait for you to hear the Christmas CD; it’s an awesome mix of originals, Christmas classics and holiday favorites. The title track features most of my family, and recording it brought back so many childhood memories. Most of you know that almost all of my family sings - or should I say “sangs”! Having all of us in the studio together again was the best!

There’s also a song about my Grandfather called Just Like You, I did a Joyful, Joyful/ Joy To The World medley that I’m really proud of and a rendition of Silent Night like nothing you’ve ever heard. I wrote a song called Born To Be My Everything that was really the initial reason for wanting to record a Christmas project. Trust me, it’s not your typical Christmas CD.

I spent a couple of days in Nashville last week and it was surprisingly nice to be back. The benefit was a lot of fun and we made some great connections. I shared the stage with some Country greats and received a lot of love! Looks like I’ll be spending some more time in Nashville soon. Who woulda thought?!

OK friends, more news next week!!

- Jd

Music City USA
Hi friends,

I’m on my way to Nashville and it’s such a weird feeling. I haven’t been back for eight years. Nashville was full of highs and lows for me (you can tell by the lyrics to Amber), but ultimately Nashville was good to me. I got my first record deal there and had the opportunity to tour the world. I remember being so ready to get the heck out of dodge and never looking back. Now (looking back LOL), I have so many fond memories of this place. Pancake Pantry (the sweet waitresses that remind you of Grandma), Bongo Java, and Café Elliston- we used to have out there till the wee hours of the night. Good friends, great songwriters and some of the most beautiful fall colors I’ve ever seen. Yeah Nashville, it looks like maybe I do still love you.

Tonight will be really cool. I’m playing a benefit with country greats Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney and John Rich. I’ll be the lone R&B kid.

Lately I’ve found a new appreciation for country. I’ve been writing for country artists recently and I’ve fallen in love with the stories of love and heartbreak. Don’t worry friends, my blood runs R&B, but I love writing different styles of music.

Now that the Christmas CD is finished, I’m writing a bunch, which is always great.

So yeah, the Christmas CD...since we’re all friends here, let me vent for a moment. The idea for the CD was to bring on some great producers so that I could focus on the radio tour and other promo stuff for The Introduction. Let me just say that somehow that ended up taking way more time and, in some cases, I ended up having to reproduce some tracks. But as difficult as it has been, I am so proud of the Christmas CD. It’s called Home For The Holidays and it’s a mix of originals, classics and pop favorites! I can’t wait for you guys to hear it. It’ll be out in a couple of weeks to get you in the holiday spirit!

I’ll give you more info on Home For The Holidays and let you know all about my Nashville trip in next week's blog! Until next week friends!

- Jd