American History Explored In Song

Fifty-six songwriters and performers including Dolly Parton and Kathy Mattea have collaborated on a new concept album exploring American history called This Is My America. The 3-disc set was conceived by Canadian Douglas Hutton, Executive Producer and president of King Motion Picture Corporation. He explains, “Portraits of the American experience have been expressed and distributed through film, television, recordings and countless literary works, but I wanted to tell it in a more inventive way that respects and reflects today’s American values.”

Songs and spoken narratives chronologically span more than 500 years, touching on significant subjects such as European exploration, the arrival of the Mayflower, the California Gold Rush, the Civil War, World War I and II and the recent Sept. 11 tragedy.

While talents such as Charley Pride, Billy Dean, Beth Nielsen Chapman, and J Fred Knobloch contributed to the project, Hutton says, “The ‘star’ of this project is a place called America.” Also appearing are the Nashville Symphony, and the Fisk Jubilee Singers.

“This is My America is simply one of the most amazing projects the Nashville Songwriters Association International has had the privilege to be involved with,” says NSAI Executive Director Bart Herbison. It is currently available at www.ThisIsMyAmerica.com.