Grammy-Nominated Songwriter/Producer to Write and Record with Inner City School Kids in Chicago

Chicago, IL –  ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and America SCORES are pleased to announce that Grammy-nominated songwriter/producer The Legendary Traxster has enrolled in ASCAP Songwriter Residency @ America SCORES, a national songwriting mentorship program that gives ASCAP songwriters and composers a platform to give back to their local communities by engaging and inspiring inner city school kids through songwriting and recording.

As part of the program, ASCAP selects its talented members, ranging from rising stars to Grammy Award-winning artists, to collaborate with SCORES kids over three two-hour sessions: co-writing a song during the first two sessions and recording it in a professional studio during the third session. ASCAP’s songwriters have been very enthusiastic about the opportunity to work with the SCORES kids and support their local communities, and the Songwriter Residency has been a very effective addition to America SCORES’ year-round, nationally acclaimed programming agenda of engaging and inspiring kids in underserved neighborhoods. The ASCAP Foundation, a public charity dedicated to supporting music education and talent development programs, funds the program.

The Legendary Traxster will lead songwriting classes with kids at Chalmers Elementary (2745 W. Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL) on December 1 and 8, 2010. Traxster and the students will then go to CRC Studios (232 E. Ohio Street, Chicago, IL 60611) on December 14, 2010 to record the song. The finished song will be included on a special compilation CD that ASCAP produces, which is distributed to each of the schools involved, as well as to music industry decision makers.

Commenting on the program, The Legendary Traxster said: “It is an honor and a privilege to be in a position to give back to my community. Having grown up in the inner city, I know that the environment, conditions and circumstances of inner city life don’t always give you positive outlets to express yourself as a kid. I like to believe my love for music saved my life having seen so many of my childhood friends fall victim to the streets. In light of all the youth violence that has been occurring in Chicago, I am glad ASCAP has provided another platform for me to share my love of music with the youth of Chicago. Through the SCORES program I hope to inspire someone to pursue their dreams and avoid becoming another tragedy of the inner city.”

The Legendary Traxster (a.k.a. Sam Lindley) is currently enjoying chart success with the smash hit “My Chick Bad” by Ludacris (feat. Nicki Minaj). The certified platinum song, which he produced, debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts while his most recent single, “Make a Movie” by Twista (feat. Chris Brown) is also climbing its way to the top. He earned a Grammy nomination for his work with Mariah Carey, co-writing and producing the track “One and Only,” on her 2005 album The Emancipation of Mimi, which sold over 10 million albums worldwide. A Chicago native, Traxster is best known for his work with platinum-selling rapper Twista but has also worked with the likes of famed rap group Do or Die, T.I., Cam’ron, Lil Bossie, and Mystikal.

This year’s program also features critically-acclaimed band The Great Unknown (EP: The New Skin) in five cities; Latin Grammy Award-winning songwriter Claudia Brant (Luis Fonsi, Carlos Santana) and Da Internz (Justin Bieber, John Legend) in Los Angeles, CA; Grammy-nominated songwriter Odie Blackmon (George Strait, Lee Ann Womack) in St. Louis, MO; R&B singer/songwriter and So So Def/Island Music recording artist Dondria (debut album: Dondria vs Phatfffat) in Dallas, TX; and Grammy-nominated songwriter/producer Chris Henderson (R. Kelly, Jamie Foxx) in Atlanta, GA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To listen to the songs created during last year’s program, view photos and more, please visit: www.ascap.com/playback/2010/07/ACTION/American_Scores.aspx