Copperman, friends take stage to raise record funds

Photo courtesy of Gabby Revilla Junior Ross Copperman and Friends will perform at Grafton-Stovall Theatre at 9 tonight to raise money for his debut album.

The soulful tunes of talented solo acts and a capella groups will fill Grafton-Stovall Theatre tonight at 8:30 for the Ross Copperman and Friends Concert.

Piano man Ross Copperman, a junior, will perform along with the Overtones, Low Key, Note-Oriety, Exit 245 and Exit 247 B-Flat Project and individual artists juniors Graham Cochrane and Brian King. The concert is free, but donations will be accepted at the door.

"Low Key is always welcome to help out with a cause," said sophomore Keith Mann, a member of Low Key. "We like to [perform] with all types of groups … so we're really looking forward to that."

Copperman said the money will go toward publicity for the release of his first album. At least 1,000 copies have to be made for distribution, since that is the minimum in one press, according to senior Gabby Revilla. She said an April release date is anticipated.

Copperman said he hopes the concert will help him reach his $1,000 goal in order to have the capital to make the first 1,000 records.

"The fund-raiser concert is to raise money for the album that I just finished in Nashville," Copperman said. "I am flying to Austin, Texas, to finish the vocals over Spring Break."

Copperman signed a contract with ARISS Entertainment, Inc. in January. ARISS was founded Revilla and senior Erika Seberhagen. ARISS' other clients include local bands Adelyn and Indigenous Womb, according to www.ariss-entertainment.com.

Revilla is Copperman's personal manager, who accompanies him to shows and recording sessions. "She has been the best thing to ever happen to my career," Copperman said.

Copperman's debut album is being produced by Clay Ryder, who plays the keyboard with country singer Phil Vassar, who attended JMU until 1985. The album features Vassar's band, along with Copperman's piano and vocals.

Copperman joined forces with Vassar after performing at Vassar's Homecoming performance in October 2003 "After the show, [he and I] were hanging out, and I asked him to check out some of my stuff. [Vassar] was like, 'Wow, you should come to Nashville, and I'll produce your record,'" Copperman said.

Copperman's publicity strategy features a street team, which is a grass roots campaign in which the fans help promote the artist. Interested fans began calling him to see how they can help put his name into the industry, so a street team was created, according to Revilla. 

"[Having a street team] is a very popular tool for all artists who are serious in music," Revilla said. Members of the street team do everything from posting fliers, promoting shows, selling merchandise at shows and working on Internet publicity in chat rooms and message boards, according to Revilla.

Senior Kristen Tomlinson is Copperman's street-team leader at JMU; he also has a street team leader at the University of Virginia and at Virginia Tech. "It is an awesome way to get your name out there," Copperman said.

For people interested in joining Copperman's street team, e-mail kristen@rosscopperman.com.