Living on

NORTON CENTER FOR THE ARTS

News release

International superstar and multiple Grammy Award winner Olivia Newton-John, Grammy nominee Beth Nielsen Chapman and SOCAN Award winner Amy Sky have an amazing gift for storytelling. Together, they share their individual and collaborative journey in a magical event where they perform eleven newly recorded songs from their new album, “LIV ON,” and many of their timeless hits. The trio will appear on Oct. 15 in Newlin Hall.

 “This is a very special concert that will be most memorable for its positive message and most wonderful voices,” said Norton Center Executive Director Steve Hoffman. “Singing from the heart, this is a not-to-be missed performance that includes the sensational Olivia Newton-John, who will also be singing more-acoustic versions of her greatest hits.”

 This inspiring new project grew out of the three artists’ personal experiences with loss and illness, which they all survived, to “LIV ON” and celebrate each day with a depth of gratitude. 

“As a group, our intention with this album is to create songs with a message of compassion and hope,” said Newton-John. “They are for anyone facing a time of challenge in their life.”

 The LIV ON Project and CD came to fruition the way many of the best collaborations do — via a series of conversations between friends about what matters most in life: love, loss, hope and healing. In this case, however, the three friends happen to be international star Newton-John, Canadian singer/songwriter Sky and Nashville-based singer/songwriter Nielsen Chapman. All three had endured profound, life-altering losses and yet each remained committed to one thing: a desire to transform individual grief into healing via music for all.

 This very special collection of songs will help lift the hearts of others going through their own hardship, whatever the cause. From the uplifting “Stone In My Pocket” to the poignant, “My Heart Goes Out To You,” the songs on the “LIV ON” CD take the listener on a journey of remembrance, toward one of inspiration and hope. 

“We found that any time we shared a vulnerable part of us, we felt such an overwhelming feeling of kinship and relief…that we were not alone with our pain,” said Newton-John. “We hope these songs that came from the depths of us, will offer a place of comfort to others.”

In addition to performing songs from this new album, the three will perform together on some of each other’s best-known songs including Nielsen Chapman’s “Sand and Water,” which was created following the passing of her husband.

 Newton-John’s appeal seems to be timeless. With a career spanning more than five decades, she is still a vibrant, creative individual adored by fans around the globe. Her first big break was winning a talent contest on the popular TV show, “Sing, Sing, Sing,” which earned her a trip to London. By the age of 15, she had formed an all-girl group called Sol Four and, in 1963, she was appearing on local daytime TV shows and weekly pop music programs in Australia. 

Newton-John’s U.S. album debut, “Let Me Be There,” produced her first Top 10 single of the same name, with her being honored by the Academy Of Country Music as Most Promising Female Vocalist and a Grammy Award as Best Country Vocalist. This proved to be only the beginning of a very exciting career. With more than 100 million albums sold, her successes include four Grammy Awards, numerous Country Music, American Music, and Peoples Choice Awards, 10 No. 1 hits including “Physical,” which topped the charts for 10 consecutive weeks, and over 15 top 10 singles.

 Her charmed life has not been without its share of upset. In the 90s, Newton-John successfully overcame her own battle with breast cancer, which inspired her self-penned and produced album, “Gaia,” her most personal album reflecting upon her experiences with cancer. She used these experiences to gain greater self-awareness and became known as a positive inspiration to millions of people battling cancer. She continues to give back to the community generously and has been acknowledged many times by charitable and environmental organizations for her ongoing efforts, among them: the American Red Cross, the Environmental Media Association, the Women’s Guild of Cedar’s Sinai Medical Center and the Rainforest Alliance and Concept Cure.

Toronto-born Sky is an award-winning singer-songwriter with 12 solo CDs to her credit. Well-known for using real-life experiences in her songwriting, Sky’s music has created a lasting and indelible impact on fans. Her 10 solo CDs have spawned a string of chart-topping hits. Songs such as “I Will Take Care Of You” and “Ordinary Miracles” have lit up radio station switchboards as callers respond to her lyrical exploration of relationships, experiences and life. Fans attending Sky’s live shows not only revel in her powerful voice and “feel-good” music but unite to celebrate everyday life, its losses and victories.

 A prolific and multi-talented artist, Sky has for written herself and for dozens of other international recording stars such as Anne Murray, Reba McEntire, Diana Ross, Aaron Neville and Heart. 

In addition to her music awards, Sky has also been recognized for her work as a mental health advocate. In 2006, she was awarded the CAMH Courage to Come Back award and in 2009, she was honored with the Mood Disorders Association Hero/Inspiration Award for her commitment to helping remove the stigma from mental health issues.

 From writing hits for other artists to recording her own, twice Grammy-nominated Nashville-based hit songwriter and recording artist Nielsen Chapman has had an amazing journey. She’s slated to be inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame this fall.  Nielsen Chapman is a breast cancer survivor, environmental activist, teacher of workshops and self-described “creativity whisperer.” Punctuated by her deeply moving songs, her lectures and keynotes on the magic of creativity are truly inspiring. 

“In my creativity workshops, I always end up talking about grief. And in my grief workshops, I always end up talking about creativity.” Nielsen Chapman sees them as intertwined on the path of healing through loss.

 The newest member of the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, Nielsen Chapman has penned numerous hits and written songs for many top artists including Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Bette Midler, Elton John, Neil Diamond, Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, Michael McDonald, Amy Grant, Keb Mo’, Roberta Flack, Waylon Jennings, Faith Hill, Willie Nelson, Bette Lavette and many more. 

Among Nielsen Chapman’s own recordings, the groundbreaking “Sand & Water,” released following the death of her husband from cancer in 1994, was performed by Elton John on his 1997 U.S. tour in place of “Candle In The Wind” to honor the memory of Princess Diana. The true thread that runs through everything Nielsen Chapman does is her great passion for the well-written song. It is also clear that she has a whole lot of fun performing her songs and uplifting those who are touched by her music.

 

IF YOU GO 

LIV ON: Olivia Newton-John, Beth Nielsen Chapman, and Amy Sky will be in concert at Centre College’s Norton Center for the Arts 7 p.m. Oct. 15  in Newlin Hall. Tickets, priced at $65, $52, and $39, are available at www.NortonCenter.com or by calling the box office at (859) 236-4692.