CROWN OF ROSES
BIOGRAPHY
Crown of Roses began in the early nineties and have been together for about fourteen years, even though they have been playing since they were nine years old. Crown of Roses has always been William David Jampo and James Anthony Jampo (identical twin brothers!). The other band members though have changed over the years. The conception of the band started when William David Jampo and his wife lost twin baby girls bringing about their conversion along with some blessed medals from Medjugorje. This began the group's spiritual journey. Crown of Roses have had different musical influences over the years. They have been inspired by great classical composers such as Strauss, Handel, Bach, Vivaldi, and Corelli. Rock, pop and easy listening music has also influenced them greatly as in the Beatles, Bobby Lamm, and James Pankow of the band Chicago. The work of the band Bread, with David Gates, Larry Kneckel, Mike Botts, and the late James Griffen, has also been a source of enjoyment and inspiration. Crown of Roses has found influence in the real rock and roll men of Black Sabbath. For James, the closest influences for guitar and vocals are George Harrison (a former Beatle), Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, Andy Summers of Police, and Pat Methany. For William, his vocal and bass influences are Sting, Walter Becker of Steely Dan, Butler Geezer of Black Sabbath, Don Henley of the Eagles, and Peter Cetera, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and Jeff Lynn.
Performing live in the Philadelphia, Allentown, and Doylestown areas of Pennsylvania, and the New Jersey, Delaware, New York, and Maryland states, the band has hugged the east coast region of the USA and has built up a loyal fan following.
Their musical journey has taken them from college concerts, religious retreat centers, private oratorios, and tri-state concert performances. Crown of Roses debut album, released in 1994, was a self-produced EP called Crown of Roses, First Water. It received good radio airplay in parts of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, and New Mexico. The album was independently distributed in three countries, and within nine American states, mostly in Christian book and record stores and college bookstores. Crown of Roses, First Water album has been re-mixed and re-mastered by Golden Swan Records, and has been CD and digitally re-released for CDbaby Oregon this past summer of 2006.
Crown of Roses has never really fit in with the Christian contemporary music mold. They have developed a unique, classic, Christian pop sound, and image. With a variety of pop/rock songs and ballads, all with a deep Christian message, the Jampo Brothers have created beautiful harmonies, and have been compared to Simon and Garfunkel, and to The Beatles. They released a double CD on the Canadian American Records/Golden Swan Records label, in 2003, called Crown of Roses, Second Taste, with two of the singles hitting the international charts. In Belgium, in February 2005, There Will Come A Day was number twelve on the Playlist Radio Eagle 107.9 FM Report, and INDIE Radio, best Christian spiritual song. This same single has been given substantial radio airplay on the east coast of the U.S. In Australia, in March of 2005, their single, In Every Moment, AKA, Holy Wounds, was number four (Canadian American Records) on ISON Radio International Network Playlist Report and remained on the charts for the year. Also it was nominated for the Pre-Grammy Nominations for Gospel Performance in 2005. The single, Precious Blood, has received great attention by African internet radio stations and by the Independent Artist Company (IAC). Recently, for 2007, Crown of Roses Second Taste album has several other singles such as Ave and Mexico Way attracting listeners on many digital partner superstore sites.
Most recently, Crown of Roses have been performing live over the past year and a half on a café/coffeehouse tour in central and southern New York, and throughout all of northeastern Pennsylvania. The tour ended last fall of 2006 and the band has been promoting and supporting the release of their new album, Crown of Roses, Third Sign, which is expected to be released sometime in 2009. The new material on this upcoming album will showcase fresh, exciting, and dynamic new soundscapes. The lyrics , buoyed by the unique harmonies created by the band, will reach out, and grasp you at the very heart of your soul. You will be treated to some amazing musical moments that the band captured while recording this new album in the two different studios situated in the idyllic Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania. In the end, this latest project by Crown of Roses will be a veritable Pandora's box full of pleasant surprises for listeners.
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