LEGENDARY SONGWRITER/ MCTRAX CEO ANDY FRASER DONATES SONG AND A VOICE TO OCCUPY MOVEMENT
Song titled “99” Debuts On Double Decker “Love-Bus” at Los Angeles’ City Hall
“It wasn’t even a decision, or a passing thought, not a way to make money” states former Free bassist Andy Fraser about donating a copyright-free song to help bring awareness to the Occupy movement. Fraser showed up at the Occupy Los Angeles demonstration on Sunday October 23rd to bring some “light entertainment” and support the movement that had entered its 23rd day of occupying the City Hall lawn in Los Angeles.
“There is a self-appointed ‘privileged’ 1% who feel the ‘great unwashed masses’ are there to serve them. They want to cut taxes to the rich and services to the poor, borrow from China if need be, but keep their nests well feathered” Fraser mentions as he describes what motivates him about the worldwide movement. “Wall Street took public bailout money, with a false promise to lend, but instead actually bought Treasury Bonds, and paid themselves even bigger bonuses. So 99% of the people say ‘enough’, and it’s global.”
At 2pm on Sunday, a red Double Decker bus spontaneously rolled up on the hundreds of tents stationed on the City Hall lawn on Spring St in downtown Los Angeles accompanied with a DJ and a group of choreographed dancers to show support for the Occupy movement. After parking on the west side of the City Hall building, Fraser debuted his song titled “99” from the second deck for the newly energized crowd. “Together with my daughter Hannah and a bunch of friends, many from the Lucent Dossier Dance troupe, we were motivated enough to get a red Double Decker bus, very English, ‘what – what’, and go down to Occupy LA to show our support.” says Fraser. “It turned into quite the adventure, with everyone hugging each other, and spreading good vibes.” During the day the bus was later deemed the “99 Love-bus.” “I wasn’t about to hold a board meeting and forward the motion… ‘Isn’t the name a bit corny?’ I just rolled with it and had good fun” Fraser states.
Fraser, an activist for human rights, feels that contributing to the movement will bring attention to the demonstrator’s efforts who were there for a variety of reasons leading to the Occupy movement. “Many have thrown in all sorts of pet peeves from legalizing marijuana to stopping genital mutilation, and there are some who know their stuff, and stay focused on the big picture. But all suddenly and spontaneously have reached the breaking point, are saying ‘enough’, and intend to be heard.” Fraser states. “I am just doing my part in bringing attention to the situation in the way I know best – Music. Previous times have seen the likes of Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye and other protest singers give voice to injustice. I can’t hope to equal them, but must do my best. I Just hope in some small way to add a voice and be of service.”
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About Mctrax International:
Mctrax.com is an independently owned and operated music company founded in 2005 by legendary songwriter/ bassist Andy Fraser (Free) and incorporated as Mctrax International Corporation in Southern California. It’s subsidiaries, which includes music label, MctraxMotion
(video), MctraxMedia, Mctraxfilms, with upcoming plans for feature length films combining the talents of Hannah (Mermaid) Fraser, whose career has taken off since her move to Hollywood – and the new Mctrax Music Delivery System, was created originally as an outlet for Fraser’s prolific song-writing material. It has since become a less expensive method of delivering music straight to the listener for a few cents without the aid of other systems such as iTunes, Google etc. Mctrax plays an important role in the integration of artists and control of their content, as it was one of the first labels owned by a musician to primarily feature their own material and achieve crossover success by going around the established music industry.
About Andy Fraser:
Andy Fraser is a legendary singer/ songwriter, bassist, environmental and social activist. He is a strong defender of individual human rights, and holds a unique place in rock ‘n roll history. Originally a classically trained pianist as a child and moving to bass in his early teens under the tutelage of legendary Brit blues architects Alexis Korner and John Mayall, he revolutionized the art of bass playing by combining the raw energy of blues with hard rock in the late 60’s to help form the “blues rock” sound. The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame exhibits one of his basses in their Museum.
As a founding member of Free and the band’s bassist, Fraser wrote and produced some of their most groundbreaking and world renowned songs, including the worldwide hit “All Right Now,” having been honored with BMI’s “Million-Air” award for passing 3 million radio/television plays in the U.S., making it one of the most enduring classics of the rock ‘n roll era.
Fraser has written a substantial amount of songs including Robert Palmer’s smash hit, “Every Kinda People” as well as having his songs recorded by such recording artists as Joe Cocker, Rod Stewart, Three Dog Night, Etta James, Bob Seger, and Chaka Khan among others. Fraser’s musical career continued after Free with such bands as The Sharks and the Andy Fraser Band, along with his solo material that includes the albums, “Fine, Fine Line” and “Naked-and Finally Free”, “On assignment” and the long awaited “ALIVE” concert and documentary.
A survivor of both cancer and AIDS, Fraser continues to be a perfectionist in his craft and an inspiration to many both with his music and his approach to life.
Source: maelstrompr@gmail.com
