Legendary recording artist and Gospel Music Hall of Famer John Schlitt, best known as the lead singer for award-winning Christian band Petra during the era when the band won four Grammy Awards and 10 Dove Awards, is expressing his gratitude to his fans today.
“Thank you folks! We’re ahead of schedule and are already moving into Phase Two!” Schlitt says, on the heels of meeting the initial financial goal of $35,000 for the recording of his new music project, titled The Greater Cause, through Kickstarter, a popular “crowd-funding” platform for creative projects.
“We’re experiencing tremendous momentum, and only God knows the limit,” Schlitt says.
Additional funds which come in by the deadline of noon ET on August 8 will go toward the necessary expenses of packaging, manufacturing and promoting the new CD.
“Every dollar past the initial goal will help us complete the total package…not just the process of recording, which is now taken care of, but these additional funds will take us further down the line to total completion,” Schlitt continues.
Pledges are taken on Schlitt’s personal Kickstarter site (kickstarter.com or thegreatercause) and powered by Amazon, enabling backers’ credit cards to be charged via a secure website.
Using a system of pledges and rewards, supporters worldwide, dubbed the TGC Crew (The Greater Cause Crew), in honor of the new CD title, have partnered with Schlitt to produce the rocker’s fourth solo project.
“This Kickstarter project has opened my eyes to a whole batch of new friends; not only those who have pledged, but those who have been praying for the project and for myself,” Schlitt says. “I have a feeling that this is the beginning of a team that will be sharing in the next stage of my life.”
Throughout the Kickstarter process to meet the funding goal, Schlitt has captured the attention of his fans through a series of updates and early rewards, including a free demo download of one the first Christian songs that Schlitt ever recorded, as well as personal thank-you messages to each donor via Twitter and other social networking sites. As a bonus to pledgers, Schlitt is creating an exclusive website with a behind the scenes look at the recording of The Greater Cause, including photos, videos and a blog.
“The Greater Cause will be a ‘back to the roots’ rock album, which is what my supporters have been asking for,” Schlitt says. “It is intended to be a fresh and powerful tool to accomplish what God has been doing through me for many years: connecting and encouraging people through my music. We need to use common sense in this world and awaken to the fact that Jesus is Lord, no matter what those around us may say — or do. This is my goal with The Greater Cause.”
Fans can pre-order The Greater Cause through the website by noon ET on August 8 and become part of the TGC crew with access to Schlitt’s exclusive website.
For more information about Kickstarter or The Greater Cause, go to kickstarter.com or thegreatercause.
About Kickstarter:
Hundreds of individuals have raised capital through the Kickstarter business model, including Christian musician Shaun Groves, who, earlier in 2011, raised the funds for the CD he is currently recording. The film adaptation of Donald Miller’s Blue Like Jazz, slated for a Fall release, received $345,992 (276% of its original goal) from more than 4,495 donors through Kickstarter to make it the largest crowd-funded film in history, according to Paste Magazine and Kickstarter’s website.
About John Schlitt:
During more than three decades in the music business, Schlitt has earned multiple Gold Records, Grammys and Dove Awards. As a solo artist, member of Petra and former lead singer for popular ’70s mainstream rock band Head East, Schlitt has toured all over the world. He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame as the lead singer of Petra, one of the most successful Christian rock bands of all time. Schlitt was recently named the best rock singer in Christian music history by GospelMusicChannel.com, and according to the website, Schlitt “remains one of the most distinctive and impactful men to ever stand behind a microphone.” Schlitt was also named “Best Male Vocalist” in About.com’s 2011 Reader’s Choice Awards.Schlitt’s most recent album, The Grafting, is available on 4K Records and is distributed by New Day Christian Distributors in the U.S. and internationally by Go Global Entertainment. For more information on Schlitt and The Grafting, visit www.johnwschlitt.com.
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