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Events
For immediate release:
Contact: Billy McLaughlin: billy@billymclaughlin.com or 952-905-9800
Free Film & Music Event at Lutheran Church of Hope
Documentary film captures comeback of composer/guitarist Billy
McLaughlin
Friday, May 22 – Lutheran Church of Hope 925 Jordan Creek Pkwy, West
Des Moines, IA
6pm - Film Screening - “Changing Keys – Billy McLaughlin and the
Mysteries of Dystonia” an independent film by director Suzanne Jurva
Changing Keys follows award winning guitarist Billy McLaughlin who at the
height of his career began having unexplainable muscle spasms in his
fretboard arm and hand. In 2001, Mayo Clinic confirmed McLaughlin’s
opponent - an incurable neuro-muscular disorder called focal dystonia. After
years of countless therapies, McLaughlin was forced to give up his life’s
passion performing on solo acoustic guitar and abruptly disappeared from
sight of his national fan-base. Five years in the making, Changing Keys
follows McLaughlin’s unlikely attempt to re-claim his career by re-training
himself to become a left-handed guitarist and delves into the scientific
mysteries of dystonia. The film delivers a story about determination,
persistence and personal triumph wrapped in the exquisite music of this
innovative and newly left-handed guitarist. Billy was recently named an
Ambassador for Dystonia Awareness by the Dystonia Medical Research
Foundation (Chicago).
Changing Keys received platinum honors at the 2009 Houston International
Film and Video Festival and has begun an extensive broadcast schedule on
MN-PBS TPT- Ch2/Ch17.
7pm – solo acoustic guitar performance by Billy McLaughlin
- featuring music from new concert DVD “Coming Back
Alive”
Billy McLaughlin has been changing people’s idea of what an acoustic
guitar can sound like since the 1980’s. He is recognized internationally as an
innovative performer and composer who embraces the advantages of
acoustic guitar amplification, unorthodox technique and altered tunings
while celebrating a gift for melody. Coming Back Alive captures Billy
McLaughlin performing for the first time left-handed with string orchestra,
solo, and with long time bandmates from The Entire Band. Orchestrations by
Grammy Award winner Eugenio Toussaint. Previews available at www.
billymclaughlin.com
Free Event !!! – A goodwill offering will be taken by Lutheran Church of
Hope. A portion of the proceeds will provide an honorarium for Billy
McLaughlin. Additional donations to the Dystonia Medical Research
Foundation will be accepted. For additional information and directions to
Lutheran Church of Hope call 515-222-1520.
Please note: Billy McLaughlin will be an Artist-in-Residence at Theodore
Roosevelt High School in Des Moines Thursday May 21st from 7:40am – 2:
30pm. Press passes must be reserved in advance by calling the main office
at 515-242-7272. Additional press materials including reviews, video clips,
downloadable hi-resolution photos and long/short form bios are available at
www.billymclaughlin.com
Contact: Billy McLaughlin: billy@billymclaughlin.com or 952-905-9800
Free Film & Music Event at Lutheran Church of Hope
Documentary film captures comeback of composer/guitarist Billy
McLaughlin
Friday, May 22 – Lutheran Church of Hope 925 Jordan Creek Pkwy, West
Des Moines, IA
6pm - Film Screening - “Changing Keys – Billy McLaughlin and the
Mysteries of Dystonia” an independent film by director Suzanne Jurva
Changing Keys follows award winning guitarist Billy McLaughlin who at the
height of his career began having unexplainable muscle spasms in his
fretboard arm and hand. In 2001, Mayo Clinic confirmed McLaughlin’s
opponent - an incurable neuro-muscular disorder called focal dystonia. After
years of countless therapies, McLaughlin was forced to give up his life’s
passion performing on solo acoustic guitar and abruptly disappeared from
sight of his national fan-base. Five years in the making, Changing Keys
follows McLaughlin’s unlikely attempt to re-claim his career by re-training
himself to become a left-handed guitarist and delves into the scientific
mysteries of dystonia. The film delivers a story about determination,
persistence and personal triumph wrapped in the exquisite music of this
innovative and newly left-handed guitarist. Billy was recently named an
Ambassador for Dystonia Awareness by the Dystonia Medical Research
Foundation (Chicago).
Changing Keys received platinum honors at the 2009 Houston International
Film and Video Festival and has begun an extensive broadcast schedule on
MN-PBS TPT- Ch2/Ch17.
7pm – solo acoustic guitar performance by Billy McLaughlin
- featuring music from new concert DVD “Coming Back
Alive”
Billy McLaughlin has been changing people’s idea of what an acoustic
guitar can sound like since the 1980’s. He is recognized internationally as an
innovative performer and composer who embraces the advantages of
acoustic guitar amplification, unorthodox technique and altered tunings
while celebrating a gift for melody. Coming Back Alive captures Billy
McLaughlin performing for the first time left-handed with string orchestra,
solo, and with long time bandmates from The Entire Band. Orchestrations by
Grammy Award winner Eugenio Toussaint. Previews available at www.
billymclaughlin.com
Free Event !!! – A goodwill offering will be taken by Lutheran Church of
Hope. A portion of the proceeds will provide an honorarium for Billy
McLaughlin. Additional donations to the Dystonia Medical Research
Foundation will be accepted. For additional information and directions to
Lutheran Church of Hope call 515-222-1520.
Please note: Billy McLaughlin will be an Artist-in-Residence at Theodore
Roosevelt High School in Des Moines Thursday May 21st from 7:40am – 2:
30pm. Press passes must be reserved in advance by calling the main office
at 515-242-7272. Additional press materials including reviews, video clips,
downloadable hi-resolution photos and long/short form bios are available at
www.billymclaughlin.com