CINDY ALTER: Dark Heart

Cindy Alter

Dark Heart

© 2001 Alter Music (796747777724)

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Rootsy country rock, from an artist born in South Africa, and has experienced worldwide success.

tracks

1 Shooting Star
2 Fall From Grace
3 Land Of The Free
4 Pretty Wings
5 Alive
6 Close The Door
7 Dark Heart
8 Slow Down
9 Emotionally Blind
10 Tied To Me
11 Kindness
12 Fall To My Knees
13 Out Of My Mind

notes

Even though Cindy Alter was born to a musical family in Johannesburg South Africa, she claims that "music chose her", not the other way around. She picked up a guitar at age 10, wrote her first song at 15 then joined a heavy-rock, cover-band, playing everything from Zeppelin to Grand Funk. Her strong childhood dream to live in America and write songs was reinforced by listening to James Taylor, Carol King, Cat Stevens and other prolific songwriters.

After graduating from High School and working as a girl-Friday for a local recording studio, Cindy recorded her first single, "Schoolboy", and spent the next few years touring South Africa, opening for various big-name acts, until 1978, when her life changed dramatically with a request to join an all-girl band. She was suddenly catapulted into the world of pop-stardom, constant touring and recording, playing 15,000 to 100,000 seaters in Europe and Africa, as she spearheaded the band "Clout", selling over ten million albums worldwide, earning gold records, Sarie Awards (South Africa's Grammy equivalent), and charting at No.1 across Europe and Africa, No.2 in U.K., and entering the U.S. Billboard top 100 with their hit single, "Substitute".

"Clout" recorded two of Cindy's songs but her efforts to contribute more were met with indifference as the band began a long struggle to redeem royalties from their management & record company. Cindy's personal life took a turn when her mother was diagnosed with leukemia; the ill-feelings between band members and management escalated and the pressures finally took their toll - "Clout" disbanded.

Cindy decided to leave South Africa and move to the U.S., but was invited to join a new band with the sole purpose of writing and recording original material. The band "Cyndicate" had enormous potential, but the pressures of the business had taken their toll. She took a well-deserved break & in 1986, with the African-pop band, "Zia", Cindy wrote three No.1's and began touring Africa and France, opening for the "Bee Gee's" at "Bercy" in Paris. "Zia" was immediately offered the opening slot on the "Bee Gee's" U.S. tour, but the South African record company could not offer tour support. Cindy took this as a sign to move on. She resigned from "Zia", and in July 1990, booked a ticket to Los Angeles.

In L.A., Cindy has found peace and fulfillment as a human being, musician and songwriter, stretching her musical capabilities beyond her wildest dreams, co-producing, writing and independently releasing, to critical acclaim, two solo CD's, "Silver Moon", and "Dark Heart". Cindy is active in the local songwriter community, playing clubs from the "Roxy" to "Roxbury"; hosting numerous songwriting showcases and events, including "Women Who Cook" at Rusty's Surf Ranch in Santa Monica, and the "Gypsy Tea Kettle" at Lulu's Beehive in Studio City, all featuring guest songwriters. She is L.A. Programs Coordinator for 'Songsalive', as well as a member of ASCAP & other organizations across the U.S. and she is a published poet.

Cindy gives charity performances, donating the proceeds to "Stop Cancer - The New Generation", in memory of her mother who finally lost her battle with cancer in 1997. She is a published poet, has had an Honorable Mention in the "John Lennon Songwriting Competition", and been a prize winner in the "Senheisser Evolution Band Search" & the "Grand Slam" Songwriting competitions. Her appearance at the LAWIM soiree in April 2000 was an overwhelming success, impressing ASCAP staff & Harriet Schock, who hosted the evening - "Meeting you was one of the highlights of the soiree, thanks for making us look so good"!

Right now Cindy, who performs acoustically and with her band in California, continues to make waves in local songwriter circles. Her performance at the 600-seater Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara, opening for Laura Love in the "Sings Like Hell" series, was a powerful introduction to an audience who support the likes of John Hiatt, Peter Case, & Gillian Welch, to name a few, and Santa Barbara newspaper, "The Independent", called her "red-hot"! Cindy also appeared with Kenny Loggins at his annual "Xmas Unity Telethon" on KEYT, Santa Barbara, sharing the stage with Olivia Newton-John, Clint Black, Glen Phillips, Dave Mason and others and she opened the "Earth Day Festival" in Santa Barbara in April. In July 2001 Cindy returned to South Africa for her first concerts there in 11 years and was overwhelmed by the response to her music. She performed at Peace-Aid, a benefit for the Clearchannel Relief Fund, with Glen Phillips, and shared the stage with Sophie B. Hawkins at World Fest. Cindy will be a panelist as well as hold mentoring sessions at the NMC2 in September. She has begun recording tracks for her 3rd solo CD and is writing a book about survival and self-empowerment in the music industry and life. Cindy feels she has come full-circle and right now is her personal & professional best. The word is out! This girl sings like a demon, writes soulful & memorable music & lyrics and is a very real, earthbound soul. She is definitely a writer for the New Age, sending out messages of truth and self-empowerment.


"IT'S BEEN A WILD RIDE BUT IT'S FAR FROM OVER"

reviews

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  • Like she is in person..powerful..rockin...soulful.
    author: gail lary

    I heard Cindy sign Alive from this album live, and I was hooked. I was hoping that the cd Dark Heart would be all that and more and it is. Dark Heart, the title track is strong and sad and Alive is wild and sweet. The complete cd is addictive, I find myself singing it, humming it, playing it over and over again.

  • Best Artist In LA...
    author: D. Tough

    Cindy IS my favorite female artist in LA. There is no one else that is more powerful, soulful and has more passion than this lady. Keep it up Cindy!!

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