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Derek Joseph Press Releases

DEREK JOSEPH Experiences “No Cool Way” to Move to Nashville!

Jun 8, 2009

Nashville, TN (June 8, 2009) – Thanks to the success of his debut single, “No Cool Way,” plans for Little House Records artist, DEREK JOSEPH, to relocate from his home in upstate New York to Nashville were put on the fast track! The moving process itself, however, turned out to be anything but smooth. The following is a detailed six-day recap of events from Derek as he works his way around several road blocks surrounding his imminent move while still keeping up with his obligations as a recording artist!

THURSDAY, MAY 28:

Still in New York, we go on Thursday to pick up our 24-foot rental truck for the move. When we get there, the place hasn't opened yet, even though it's 20 minutes past when they were supposed to open. Sitting outside the place is a kid who works there who asks me, "Are you here for the 16-foot truck?” I respond, "No, I'm here for the 24-foot truck." He proceeds to tell me that particular truck came in damaged last Monday, so they couldn’t rent it to me. The owner finally rolls into the parking lot 25 minutes after they were supposed to open, lets us in, and we discover they had our reservation down on the wrong day! They don't have a truck available because my reservation was for the next day, and they told me they didn't even know if they could get a truck! I tried to gently explain the situation, especially pointing out the fact that the truck came in damaged on Monday and today is Thursday... and I'm pretty sure they got my point!

FRIDAY, MAY 29:

Friday morning we go to pick up the truck, but we don't see it on the lot. It's 10am. We figured we'd give the owner enough time to arrive late and get opened before we try to come get our truck! We go inside, and the owner proceeds to tell me this long story about how he lives in one town and the truck was in the next town, so he had to send one of his employees to get it. The kid said he knew how to get back but didn't really and got lost! On top of getting lost, he now needs to go re-fill the truck up! The owner couldn't do the paperwork without the truck because he needed a number off it. So, we wait...and wait....and wait, until 11:20 when the kid finally shows up with the truck! We NOW start the paperwork, and finally pull out from our 9am reservation at 11:45am, which has already put us behind for the day, on top of the full day we lost because our reservation was wrong! We get to my house and load the truck all day.

SATURDAY, MAY 30:

Already behind schedule, we can't leave at 6am on Saturday like originally planned. I have to be at my record label’s office first thing Monday morning to rehearse for our Wednesday session! We resume loading on Saturday, and looks as though we'll pull out of town at 10am. Then, my wife calls to inform me that her 2007 like-new car won't start and she's at the store with some supplies she went to get us! So, I head into town. Sure enough, her car won't run, and I could tell it's something to do with the fuel pump. I call my mechanic, who is also a very good friend. He and his wife were on the way to their camp, so they turn around to meet me at their shop to get me the keys to their spare car to let my wife borrow until hers gets towed to them and they can fix it. I get to their shop, but he has to inspect the vehicle. In New York, your car has to be inspected every year and run through the Department Of Motor Vehicles computer system. They had hardly used that vehicle, so it had passed time for the new inspection. Luckily, him being a mechanic, the car is in perfect running condition and passes the inspection, so it's now back to where my wife is broken down to hand off keys to the borrowed vehicle and get back to my place to finish packing and get on the road!

It's 1pm by the time I get back to my house. We finish loading and finally leave at 2pm but we have to head to my guitarist’s place to get him loaded since he was moving down also. We get to his place, get him loaded with just barely enough room, and finally get on the road at 4pm – a long stretch later than the 6am original plan! The drive down is great! We only hit bad weather in a couple spots, but overall, it was an easy 15 hour drive down the road.

SUNDAY, MAY 31:

We pull into my buddy Shelby’s home in Nashville at 7am on Sunday, and finally get to relax for a little while, maybe grab a quick nap. We decide we should start thinking about getting unloaded into our new place, which conveniently is located directly across the street from Shelby’s house. We go over to look at it and get our game plan only to walk in and find that the house is a disaster! It is absolutely full of junk and items from the last inhabitant and in no way, shape, or form ready for a new tenant. As if the insane amount of junk in the house wasn't enough, the horrid stench on top of it all was enough to send us running! So, we get a newspaper and start calling around to try and find another place. In our travels from place to place, we had run across a sign on a back road in front of a nice, newer duplex that was for rent! We give the landlord a call and he says we can move in on Monday. This is GREAT news!

MONDAY, JUNE 1:

We spend Sunday night at Shelby’s, and I go to my label’s office Monday morning for my rehearsal. Then it's over to the new place to begin unloading the moving truck. We start unloading, the landlord shows up, we get everything signed, and it’s official – we have a place to live! We continue unpacking, my buddy calls to get the electric turned on, and I go online and submit to get the water turned on. We keep unloading until we have to leave for my band rehearsal at 7pm. The electric has now been turned on. We turn the air conditioner on and head to practice, excited to come home to a nice cool place! We have a great practice then get home about 11:30pm to find we still haven't had our water turned on, and the air conditioning unit is NOT working! And, it's still 82 degrees out at 11:30 at night! So we go to bed. It is hot inside but we sweat it out until morning.

TUESDAY, June 2:

We call the landlord Tuesday morning before heading off to rehearsal. The landlord calls and says he'll have a guy there by noon with a new motor for the air conditioning unit. The guy finally shows up at 1:30, and proceeds to check the unit and tell us it needs a new motor... which we already knew! He now has to run into Nashville and get a new motor, but told us should make it back by end of day. In the meantime, my publicist scheduled me an interview for 3:30pm, so I got ready to head downtown to do that interview. Now, I'm generally an optimist, but by now, there seemed to be a pattern to the chaos. So I figure I already know what will happen – the guy will get back to Nashville for the part, but the warehouse will be out, and he'll have to order it, and it will be coming on a slow boat from China! Lo and behold, he proves me wrong, shows up that afternoon, gets it fixed, and we now have air conditioning. In the meantime, the water company showed up to turn on our water!

So finally, after a six-day adventure, we're moved in, we have utilities, and life is getting back to normal!

Derek has settled into his new dig just in time to jump head-first into the CMA Music Festival later this week! This will be his first time participating in event festivities as an artist. In between giving interviews, Derek will also be meeting fans at a number of sponsor booths as well as playing two shows – at Big Shotz and Fuel, respectively. All scheduled appearances are listed on Derek’s MySpace page. His official artist page is currently being revamped and will be re-launched soon.

Please send all interview and/or media requests for DEREK JOSEPH to Estella at info@starcountrymedia.com.

“No Cool Way” to “Listen Up!” in Country Weekly!

May 11, 2009

Nashville, TN (May 11, 2009) – Little House Records recording artist, DEREK JOSEPH, is one of the artists featured in the “Listen Up!” section in the May 18 issue of Country Weekly magazine! The new issue (with Carrie Underwood on the cover) hits newsstands TODAY and will remain in stores through May 18! The publication is offering fans the opportunity to download a free mp3 of Derek’s debut single, “No Cool Way,” directly from www.countryweekly.com/freemusic beginning today! Download period for “No Cool Way” is May 11 – May 24.

“No Cool Way” continues to make its way up the Music Row Chart! This week, it climbed another two spots to #66.

With his single doing so well right out of the chute, Derek is gearing up for his first-ever CMA Music Festival as an artist coming up next month! During the week, Derek will be meeting fans and signing autographs at various sponsor booths inside the Nashville Convention Center. In addition, he will be giving interviews to credentialed media attending the event. This year’s dates for CMA Music Festival are Thursday, June 11 through Sunday, June 14.

DEREK JOSEPH’s “No Cool Way” Reaches Top 75 On Music Row Chart!

Apr 10, 2009

Nashville, TN (April 10, 2009) – Little House Records recording artist, DEREK JOSEPH, is celebrating his first Top 75 with “No Cool Way”! The single made its debut appearance on the Music Row chart on January 29 and quickly landed within the Top 100. Just eleven weeks since its release, “No Cool Way” currently occupies the #75 slot for the second week in a row. “When Randy Jack from Little House Records called to tell me the news, I could hear him smiling through the phone; he was as excited to tell me as I was to hear it!”

Given the fact that there were no lofty expectations when the single was first released to radio, Derek is very pleased with the success of his first hit single! “My promoters and label forewarned me that it may never make the charts, especially with it being a debut release from a brand new artist. So to make the chart at all and then go all the way into the top 75, I'm just ecstatic about that!!” He continues, “From the beginning, we had no expectations, except to record a single that could compete with the big boys, and then promote, promote, promote to see where it goes. So everyone on my team is just happy as can be as to how well it's done so far and couldn't ask for more!”

After wrapping up a successful CRS week in Nashville, Tennessee, Derek spent the remainder of March visiting radio stations across the country. Stops included WHWK 98.1 “The Hawk” in Binghamton, NY and WCJW 103.7 in Warsaw, NY.

Earlier this week, Derek returned from a trip to Las Vegas, where he attended the 44th Academy of Country Music Awards! While in town, he had the opportunity to meet Doug Erickson and Betty Miller, the songwriters who penned “No Cool Way.”

Derek will spend April continuing to introduce his single to radio stations around the country.

STAR Country Media will also be hosting a Media Day for DEREK JOSEPH on April 22, 2009! To be included in Derek’s Media Day, please send all interview requests to Estella at info@starcountrymedia.com.

DEREK JOSEPH Wraps Up a Fun-Filled Week of CRS-40 Festivities!

Mar 10, 2009

Nashville, TN (March 10, 2009) – Little House Records recording artist, DEREK JOSEPH, had a full schedule throughout Country Radio Seminar week! The week consisted of a multitude of interviews with various publications and websites. Derek also had the opportunity to tape a public service announcement for the Nashville Goes Nautical project. “I absolutely LOVED doing the public service announcement, because that’s something so near and dear to me!”

This having been his first time attending the annual seminar, Derek admits he was a little nervous, not knowing what to expect as he prepared to introduce himself and his debut single to the media – though the abundance of positive feedback he received from those he met during the week quickly dissolved any anxieties he may have had prior to diving in to the whirlwind week! “I had a great time and met a lot of established artists who were very receptive to me as a new artist and willing to offer their advice!” He adds, “All the journalists were great! They were so enthusiastic about interviewing me and wanting to follow my career even with me being a new artist! I’m already looking forward to next year’s CRS!”

One especially meaningful bit of encouragement Derek received came from longtime journalist, videographer, and photographer, Barry McCloud, who runs the Country Music Facts & News and www.mccloudscrowd.com websites. Derek recalls, “I had to sing a cappella for one interviewer who has been around Nashville and knows a lot of successful artists. It was a huge compliment to have him tell me I ‘shouldn't have any problem making it in Nashville with a voice like mine!!’ I hope he's right!”

Meanwhile, “No Cool Way,” continues a steady climb up the Music Row chart! After debuting at #149, the single quickly landed within the Top 100! This week, “No Cool Way” climbs to #88.

STAR Country Media will soon be hosting a Media Day for DEREK JOSEPH! All interview requests may be sent to Estella at info@starcountrymedia.com.

About Derek Joseph:

Born and raised in Phelps, New York, Derek lived in a small rural farming community with one stoplight and 3,000 residents; he grew up learning small town country values. Derek has always had a love for music; from the earliest of ages had a stereo in his bedroom and would listen to music whenever he had the chance. He began his musical journey taking piano lessons at 8 years old, and played for several years, then took a liking to the drums and began taking lessons. Derek eventually played with several successful local bands for more than ten years around the Finger Lakes area.

A few years later on a trip to Mississippi to visit his father, who was also a budding guitarist and singer, his father convinced Derek to give singing a shot, since he loved to sing. He belted out to a karaoke track, and found his knack for singing! Derek landed a job as lead singer for local band favorite Bad Habit. This was a rock/classic rock band and not exactly what he really wanted, but Derek was extremely thankful for the experience the opportunity afforded him. Derek went on to form the band Southern Drawl, the country band he truly desired, and sang with them for about nine months. Then, he was fortunate to be asked to sing lead in a new band being formed by one of the best guitarists in The Finger Lakes area. This was a huge opportunity for Derek that he had to take, so he left Southern Drawl to help form the band Outland! Outland quickly rose to become one of Upstate New York’s premiere Country acts, and Derek enjoyed many accolades to his singing! Recently, Derek has left Outland to form his solo act and promote his National Debut Release to country radio, which has already seen incredible success!

Derek hasn't moved to Nashville just yet, but travels there often to visit the many country music friends he has made there, sometimes even getting the chance to sit in with them and sing a song or two at places like Tootsie's and The Stage!! Derek continues to sing and play guitar, performing with his solo band, as well as doing studio work in Nashville. Derek is living his dream. His dedication and hard work will get him where he wants to be... and that is, singing on a stage near you!!

DEREK JOSEPH to Thank Radio at CRS-40 For “Cool” Success!

Feb 26, 2009

Nashville, TN (February 26, 2009) – STAR Country Media is pleased to announce Little House Records recording artist DEREK JOSEPH’s participation at this year’s Country Radio Seminar! Derek will attend his first CRS event as an artist in time to join in on the celebration of the seminar’s 40th year! In addition to promoting his debut single, “No Cool Way,” Derek will have the opportunity to meet the radio programmers who have been spinning his song. "I am very excited to be attending this year’s Country Radio Seminar. It will be a great chance to personally thank many of the stations spinning my song and make some new friends in radio!"

Derek’s involvement in CRS-40 festivities comes on the heels of his debut release, “No Cool Way,” which continues to gain adds and spins at radio stations across the country. The single first debuted on the Music Row chart at #150, then made a large leap upward to #113 the following week! Just five weeks on the chart, the song has already landed within the Top 100! It climbs another ten spots this week, landing at #89.

CRS-40 is being held Tuesday through Friday, March 3 – 6, 2009 at the Nashville Convention Center in downtown Nashville, and Derek will be on site for interviews with the media all four days!

Derek has just a few time slots remaining during CRS! Media and radio persons who have been credentialed for CRS-40 are invited to e-mail interview requests for DEREK JOSEPH to Estella at info@starcountrymedia.com.

About Derek Joseph:

Little House Records recording artist Derek Joseph was born and raised in Phelps, NY, a small rural farming community with one stoplight and 3,000 residents, and grew up learning small town country values. Derek has always has a love for music; from the earliest of ages, he listened and sang along to music whenever he could. He began his musical journey taking piano lessons at 8 years old, and played for several years. He soon took a liking to the drums and began taking lessons and eventually was afforded the opportunities to play with several successful local bands around the Finger Lakes area.

A few years later on a trip to Mississippi to visit his father, also a budding guitarist and singer, his father convinced Derek to give singing a shot. He belted out to a karaoke track, and discovered that he really could sing! Derek landed a job as lead singer for local band favorite Bad Habit. Though it was a rock/classic rock band and not ideally what he wanted, the experience he gained from being a part of that band was invaluable! Derek moved on to form the band Southern Drawl, the country band he truly desired, and sang with them for about nine months, but was fortunate to be asked to sing lead in a new band being formed by one of the best guitarists in The Finger Lakes area. This was a huge opportunity for Derek that he had to take, so he left Southern Drawl to help form the band Outland! Outland quickly rose to become one of Upstate New York’s premiere country acts, and Derek enjoyed many accolades to his singing!

Recently, Derek has left Outland to form his solo act and promote his national debut release to Country Radio, which is already seeing incredible success!

Derek hasn't moved to Nashville just yet but does travel there often to visit the many country music friends he has made there, sometimes even getting the chance to sit in with them and sing a song or two at Tootsie's and The Stage!! Derek continues to sing and play guitar, performing with his solo band, as well as doing studio work in Nashville! He is living the dream; his dedication and hard work will get him where he wants to be… and that is, singing on a stage near you!