JAZZ SINGER BARBARA MONTGOMERY TO PERFORM A NEW SONG
FOR VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE AT THE MILLION MOM MARCH, MAY 9, 2004
Philadelphia-based jazz vocalist Barbara Montgomery is scheduled to perform a new song, from her upcoming CD, during the Million Mom March "Halt the Assault," on Sunday, May 9, 2004. Her performance of "Alexandra Leaving" will be in honor of the victims of gun violence and their families in America. The song is a tribute to Alexandra Wake, a dear friend of Montgomery's daughter, who was 14-years-old at the time of her death. In January 2002, Alexandra was a victim in a murder-suicide that involved three generations of a family in Ardmore, Pa. Her stepfather Michael Burgess shot his wife, in-laws, stepdaughter Alexandra, and then turned the gun on himself.
In her efforts to let Alexandraıs relatives know what is being done in her memory, Montgomery has contacted Barbara Mills, a relative who was part of a gospel group that included Alexandra, her mother and grandmother. Mills and the remaining members of the group will be joining Montgomery in song at the march. They will also perform on the recording of ³Alexandraıs Wake² for Montgomery's new CD, which is expected to be released in the Fall. A portion of the proceeds from the CD sales will be donated to the Million Mom March United with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
The Million Mom March, mothers united together to tell Congress to ³halt the assault on our safety, our families, and our gun laws,² will take place on Motherıs Day, Sunday, May 9 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC.
The day will begin at 10am with an Interfaith Service where all faiths will be welcome. Among the various forms of prayer, the Service will contain a call to prayer, readings from various traditions, music and hymns, and prayers of remembrance for those who have died from gun violence.
Throughout the day, speakers will share their stories of how violence has impacted their lives and how the gun lobby has assaulted their lives and families.
For more information, please visit these websites:
www.millionmommarch.org and
www.mmm2004.com
In addition to her jazz music career, Barbara Montgomery has been very active by hosting town meetings to address the dilemma of gun accessibility and the mentally ill, speaking at press conferences in PA and NJ, and lobbying in the Pennsylvania state capitol and Washington, D.C. She has presented a bill called "The Firearms Risk Removal Act" to the Pennsylvania state legislature, testified in front of and advised the City of Philadelphia on firearms legislation, presented numerous gun violence prevention workshops to middle schools, high schools, community organizations, and colleges and produced a state-wide assault weapons ban conference in March of this year. She also works with Mothers In Charge and Mothers Opposed to Murder, both groups of Philadelphia mothers who have lost children to homicide.
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