Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Steve “Ace” Acker for No. 6 Magnolia AvebySun King Rising
John Blangero – Piano Vocals
George Elliott Willie Ross Steve SchuffertFred DeLu Stevee Wellons Joy Brown Bernice Wilkerson Pete Hewlett Ralph Guzzi Eric DeFadeKevin McManus Kenny BlakeDavud Granati George Perilli Roger Humphries
SUN KING RISING 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
ADDITIONAL CREDIT Engineered by David Granati Recorded at Maplewood Studio, Ambridge, PA Mixed and Mastered by Brian Foraker Produced by Ace Acker Art Direction & Design = Clint English
ABOUT THE ALBUM Signs & Wonder is the second critically acclaimed album by Sun King Rising, the album features a collection of ten Sun King Rising 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.
“QUOTES” “Signs & Wonders” is a satisfyingly psyche-cleansing experience. Dmitry M. Epstein – DMME
He doesn’t need the approval of the establishment to be a star; honestly, he just needs to keep making music like this. Mark Druery – Indie Shark
“Signs & Wonders” is not just about the music; it’s about the experience – the experience of being taken on a musical journey, of feeling the raw emotions, of witnessing the genius of a true artist. It’s about the journey from the first note to the last, and everything in between. Michael Stover – Music Crowns
We recommend listening through the album from start to finish to get the perfect experience but don’t worry, it’ll be the best 42 minutes you’ll ever spend. Board City
There is greatness within, and anyone who enjoys Americana-style rock cannot afford to miss out on what is a true classic of the genre. Accessible from the very first note, it repays repeated plays as there is just so much breadth and depth within. Music rarely gets better than this. Kev Rowland – ReZonatZ
Sun King Rising at their Soulful Best on “Signs and Wonders” LP | New Music – Music Crowns
How do you define music? Is it just a blend of sounds pleasing to the ears or is it something more? Music is a universal language, it’s an art, it’s a way of expression, it’s a journey, and sometimes, it’s just pure magic. One such magical journey has been created by John Blangero in his […]
We won the Silver Award for our music video, No. 6 Magnolia Avenue, at the International Singer Songwriters Association 2023 ceremony! Thank you very much to all who voted for us and to ISSA. Special kudos to Dante Ludovici who directed the video, and Ace Acker who produced the record. And thanks to my record company, PeacockSunrise Records, and it’s President, Nick Katona, for believing in me.
Oct 28, 2022, Sun King Rising releases the Short Film, No. 6 Magnolia Avenue based on the Hit Single of the same title from his latest 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.
Watch No. 6 Magnolia Here
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.
This is the last song I wrote for this album. I think the opening lines “Is this some Cosmic joke, another year’s gone up in smoke, the days like pages torn out of a book” sum up the shared experience of most of us during the pandemic. It’s only human to stumble and fall, but also human to pick ourselves up and keep walking. I do.
Don Mularz – Florida Street (2023) PeacockSunrise Records – CD, LP, & Digital Don Mularz – Buddha On My Christmas Tree – Spirit of December 7, Songs of Peace Love & Hope (2017) Melodic Revolution Records – Digital
Dark Horse Flyer Discography
Troubleshooting Pandora’s Box – Soldier’s Song – featuring Dark Horse Flyer (2022) Digital Dark Horse Flyer – Hotel Paradise (2016) Florida Street Records – CD, LP, & Digital Dark Horse Flyer – Breakaway (2015) Florida Street Records – CD, LP, & Digital
Split Decision Discography
Split Decision – Radio Hearts (1992) Blue Water Records – Cassette, CD, & Digital Split Decision – Borderline & Mission Blues (1992) Blue Water Records – 7″ single
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