Based on the Hit Single of the Same Title from His New Album, Signs & Wonders.
Produced and directed by Dante Ludovici, No. 6 Magnolia Avenue is a literal film interpretation of the song’s optimistic, uplifting lyric. It is the story of an unknown, down-and-out musician who attains acclaim and stardom after encountering the beautiful “Girl in China Blue” at a bar gig.
Ludovici’s production ably captures all the emotion, pathos, and humor inherent in the recording. Many of the artist’s New Castle, Pennsylvania friends and family form the colorful cast of characters.
Sun King Rising is the musical moniker and alter-ego of John Blangero, who lives in Port Isabel, Texas. By night, Blangero is Sun King Rising. By day, he is a world-renowned genetic research scientist and professor at the University of Texas, Rio Grande Valley.
Meghan Greenwood, a popular Pittsburgh choreographer/dancer, plays his love interest in the film. Ludovici also featured her in his first Sun King Rising film production, “Free Will in China Blue.” She has retained her “girl in China Blue” identity in the second production.
In addition to the mostly local Newcastle cast, Ludovici also utilizes multiple Newcastle and nearby Poland, Ohio locations to significant effect.
Blangero wrote the song, and producer Ace Acker completed it with a who’s who lineup of Pittsburgh players and singers at David Granati’s Maplewood Studio in Ambridge, PA. Granati engineered Sun King Rising’s first album, Delta Tales. as well.
Fans can enjoy the video here on the special Sun King Rising will webpage
Sun King Rising will give away a free Signs & Wonders CD to the first 50 viewers who subscribe to the Sun King Rising blog “The Lowdown“
Signs & Wonders Sessions John Blangero – Piano, Keys, Lead Vocals, Orchestral Arrangements George Perilli – Drums on all tracks except 4 and 10 Roger Humphreys – Drums 4 George Elliott – Bass Guitar on all tracks Willie Ross – Guitar 1 2,3 4.5,8 Steve Schuffert – Guitar 6,7 8 9 Ace Acker – Acoustic Guitar 3 Fred Delu – Electric Piano 4 Background Vocal Arrangements by Stevee Wellons and Ace Acker
Background Singers: Stevee Wellons – All tracks but 10 Joy Brown – 1,3,4,5,7,8, Bernice Wilkerson – 1,3,4,5,7,8 Pete Hewlett – 6,9 Ace – 2,6,9 Raloh Guzzi – Horn Arrangements Ralph Guzzi, Eric Defade, Kevin McManus – Horn Section Kennv Blake – Saxophone 4
Studio Credits Engineered by David Granati Recorded at Maplewood Studio, Ambridge, PA Mixed and Mastered by Brian Foraker Produced by Ace Acker
When I reviewed John Blangero’s debut album as Sun King Rising, I said it would undoubtedly raise his profile within the music scene, which is exactly what happened. Now here he is back with the fo…
Album Art Clint English – CD Catalog No. PSR-1-008
October 1st, 2022
Sun King Rising’s long-awaited second album, Signs & Wonders, has been released today on PeacockSunrise Records. “We are thrilled to represent such an astounding artist and album,” says label head, Nick Katona. A year in the making, the 10-song album is now available on all popular formats: CD, Digital, Streaming, and coming on vinyl.
PeacockSunrise Records is the Americana/Rock label spinoff of Nick Katona’s successful Progressive Rock label, Melodic Revolution.
Sun King Rising is the professional moniker of singer/songwriter/piano player John Blangero who hails from Port Isabel, Texas. He calls his music “the new wave of southern rock and soul music.” As with Sun King Rising’s highly acclaimed debut album, Delta Tales, Pittsburgh’s Ace Acker again served as producer.
Signs & Wonder is a collection of Blangero’s southern noir stories set to music, with a cast of colorful characters, intrigue, tales of sin and redemption, murder without justice, and love without limits. Had William Faulkner and Tennessee Williams been lyricists, they might have written deeply nuanced musical stories like Sun King Risings.
The album’s first single, “No. 6 Magnolia Avenue,” is a classic 60s/70s horn band pop in the vein of Chicago, Spiral Staircase, and Blood. The official release of Dante Ludovici’s cinematic short film of the same title is to be released in the coming weeks. Ludovici directed the official “Free Will in China Blue” video from the first album, as well.
ListenNow!
Signs & Wonders Sessions John Blangero – Piano, Keys, Lead Vocals, Orchestral Arrangements George Perilli – Drums on all tracks except 4 and 10 Roger Humphreys – Drums 4 George Elliott – Bass Guitar on all tracks Willie Ross – Guitar 1 2,3 4.5,8 Steve Schuffert – Guitar 6,7 8 9 Ace Acker – Acoustic Guitar 3 Fred Delu – Electric Piano 4 Background Vocal Arrangements by Stevee Wellons and Ace Acker
Background Singers: Stevee Wellons – All tracks but 10 Joy Brown – 1,3,4,5,7,8, Bernice Wilkerson – 1,3,4,5,7,8 Pete Hewlett – 6,9 Ace – 2,6,9 Raloh Guzzi – Horn Arrangements Ralph Guzzi, Eric Defade, Kevin McManus – Horn Section Kennv Blake – Saxophone 4
Studio Credits Engineered by David Granati Recorded at Maplewood Studio, Ambridge, PA Mixed and Mastered by Brian Foraker Produced by Ace Acker
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