“It’s so hard to keep “official dates” in today’s age of technology.” Moreno reacts. “It’s like someone’s opening your presents before Christmas. But of course, I’m excited too- the video has already gotten over 25,000 you tube views in a week! That’s pretty amazing and actually gives us more reason to celebrate at the release party.”

Expected to attend next week’s festivities are “Pray For You”‘s Jaron Lowenstein, of Jaron and the Long Road to Love, Nashville producer and songwriter Joel Brentilnger and national talk show host Padre Alberto Cutie. Following the video screening, Jorge Moreno performs an acoustic performance.

The “Rezo Por Ti” Release Party will take place October 18 at The Catalina Hotel, 1720 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139 at 8PM. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and signature cocktails will be provided by Kung Fu Restaurant and L’Chaim Vodka. The official “Rezo Por Ti” video can be seen on www.jorgemoreno.com and is now available for download on iTunes and other music sharing sites.

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ABOUT “REZO POR TI”

“Rezo Por Ti” is the spanish version remake of the double-platinum country hit “Pray For You” by Jaron and the Long Road to Love. The song was recorded by Latin grammy winner singer/songwriter Jorge Moreno and is about a love gone wrong and the feelings, frustrations and EMOTIONS that follow after a break-up. The music video features a special guest cameo by “Padre Alberto.”

“Rezo Por Ti” : Songwriter credits:: JARON LOWENSTEIN, JOEL BRENTLINGER, JORGE MORENO
Music Producer credits:: FERNANDO PERDOMO and A.T. MOLINA

ABOUT JORGE MORENO

The award-winning singer/songwriter recently won “Best Video” for his latest english release “Thank You” from the esteemed International Songwriting Competition. For more information on Moreno visit his official website www.jorgemoreno.com

Latin Grammy winner and songwriter, Jorge Moreno, records Spanish version of country hit single “Pray For You” by Jaron and The Long Road to Love.

Cuban-American and Miami-based artist, Jorge Moreno released the video for his freshest single “Rezo Por Ti.” The track is a cover of country artist Jaron and The Long Road to Love’s double-platinum hit “Pray For You.” As a fan of the song and liking it’s clever twist, Moreno turned the English hit single into Spanish. Not only is the video funny and attractive, but it features the appearance of Miami’s own sexy priest El Padre Alberto.

On October 18, Jorge Moreno will be giving an acoustic performance at The Catalina Hotel (1720 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Fl), 8PM. The official video premiere will follow right after. “Rezo Por Ti” is available for download via iTunes.

This is a teaser for the upcoming live cd/dvd of the event. The audio you hear is rough mixes of some of the performances matched with the photography of Cristina Isabela Rivera . The audio was recorded by Zach Ziskin

Omine
Jim Camacho
Vic Kingsley
Jorge Moreno
Robert Goodman Band
Joshua Stedman
Lizette Santana
Tyler Bernhardt
Dreaming in Stereo
Jesse Young
Kim Drake

More artist will be on the Cd and DVD!

Originally intended to be a latin hit, “Pray For You” was released in english. “I heard a latin rhythm in my head,” explains Nashville songwriter and producer Joel Brentlinger, “I envisioned it as a latin song the whole time I was writing it with Jaron Lowenstein. I just couldn’t put my finger on it until I got in the studio with Jorge.” The song topped the country charts for months and featured a special guest cameo by actress Jaime Pressly in the music video. The song went double-platinum and sold over two million singles.

“When I was approached to record “Pray For You” in spanish, I loved the idea from the start” says Moreno already having heard the english version. “I always liked how the song had a clever twist to it.” He recorded the song and shot the video, produced by Moreno’s own production company Beach Pictures featuring a special guest cameo by Miami’s most popular former Catholic priest turned national talk show host “Padre Alberto Cutie.” The now Episcopalian minister is currently taping his own “life advice” talk show to be aired on the Fox Network next year. In the “Rezo Por Ti” video Padre Alberto offers that very “life advice” and counsel to Moreno. The twist though is that Moreno misinterprets his advice and instead prays for mischief.

“Rezo Por Ti” is soon to be available for download on iTunes and other music sharing sites. Jorge Moreno performs an acoustic performance on Tuesday, October 18th, 2011 following the music video premiere of “Rezo Por Ti” at The Catalina Hotel, 8PM. 1720 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139

The Miami Springs artist has adapted two different styles, an alternative rock vibe for his English language tunes and his Spanish songs with a strong dance beat.

“It’s like having two alter-egos,” Moreno said.

Balancing isn’t difficult for the agile, Cuban-American singer-songwriter. Rather, it’s been fun, he said.

“I do it like every assimilated Latino in the United States,” Moreno said. “I navigate.”

The tightwalk act that Moreno’s been doing since childhood lets him pull from the best of both worlds.

Growing up in Miami, Moreno got an early introduction to rock and Latin music through his parents and at his grandmother’s record store in Hialeah.

At home, his mom played Elvis Presley, the Beatles and ’70s rock records. His father, Tony, headed a Latin record label giving the then-younger Moreno an opportunity to meet with famous artists after shows and at recording sessions.

When it came time for Moreno to prove himself musically, his first effort was a goth-style rock band. He began experimenting more with Latin music and got his big break in Janusary 2002, with the release of his self-titled debut disc on Madonna’s Maverick label. The CD led to winning the Latin Grammy for best new artist.

After another CD dropped in 2005, Moreno decided to expand his talents by forming a film production company, Beach Pictures. All the while, he was still making music, but getting heard as an independent artist was hard, he said.

He signed with the Miami Beach-based Forward Motion Records label last year, which includes the release of a single, “Thank You.” The English language indie pop song won best video in the 2011 International Songwriting Contest and was a semi-finalist for overall best song, Moreno said.

He’ll also be releasing a Spanish language rendition of the country song, “Pray For You.” The tune was done by Jaron And The Long Road To Love. Moreno’s version is dubbed “Rezo Por Ti.”

Moreno will hold a video premiere with a live performance Oct. 18 at Catalina Hotel, 1732 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. Call 305-674-1160, or visit forwardmotionrecords.com

Copyright © 2011, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

If you’ve heard the music of Kim Drake, the Chris Alvy Band, the Mann Sisters, Jill Hartmann or Jorge Moreno — heck, even if you’ve only heard their names — it may be thanks to Fernando Perdomo. The founder of the Miami-based Forward Motion Records, Perdomo is a tireless, enthusiastic and impatient promoter of South Florida’s rock scene. Tireless because in the year since he created the label, he’s released albums by the aforementioned acts, as well as by Andy Pratt, Arboles Libres, Jim Camacho and his own band, Dreaming in Stereo, among others. Enthusiastic because you’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger believer in his label, his artists or the radio-courting, heart-on-sleeve rock ’n’ roll in which they traffic. Impatient because he also believes that each of these artists — himself included — should have been made a star as soon as yesterday. If you disagree with that sentiment, you’ll have to take it up with the man himself tonight at Revolution Live, where he’ll throw one hell of a birthday party for Forward Motion that will do its best to prove you wrong. At least 16 of the label’s acts will perform, with proceeds from the event benefiting Kristi House, which cares for children who have been sexually abused.
Location: Revolution Live, 200 W. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
Time: 7-11 p.m.
Cost: A $10 suggested donation
Contact: 954-727-0950 or Jointherevolution.net

Fernando Perdomo says he’s “really passionate about South Florida music,” and I suppose there’s no better evidence of that than the fact that he made time to talk to me about South Florida music on Sunday, the same day that he buried his mother.

A long-time EL Nuevo Herald editor, Araceli Perdomo died last week after a five-year battle with ovarian cancer. Her son, who was by her side throughout, says her funeral drew members of her three families, “her blood family, musicians, and her Miami Herald family.”

“It’s funny,” he says. “[Former Herald publisher] David Lawrence in the same room as [local experimental musician] Rat Bastard.”

That is funny, but, naturally, Perdomo wasn’t feeling jocular. Still, he made a point to get on the phone with me because he wanted to talk about his Miami Beach-based record label, Forward Motion Records, which will celebrate its one year anniversary on Thursday with a 16-artist showcase at Revolution Live in Ft. Lauderdale.

“It’s been one hell of a year,” says Perdomo, referring both to the loss of his mother and to the impressive successes of his record label. Since its launch last summer, Forward Motion has released more than 30 records, had two artists (Dreaming In Stereo, Perdomo’s band, and singer-songwriter Andy Pratt) play at SXSW, and one artist, singer Jorge Moreno, win a prize in the International Songwriting Competition for his low-budget video, “Thank You”.

The 31-year-old label boss isn’t satisfied.

“I’ll never be satisfied,” Perdomo says. “You know what, I’ll be satisfied, but I’ll never be done. My biggest goal is for a success story to come out of South Florida in the genre that is [Forward Motion’s] specialty, which is English-language singer-songwriter music … the most-timeless genre.”

Perdomo says he wants to “bring back the hometown hero,” someone who puts Miami on the map for old-fashioned songwriting.

“Miami really needs one,” Perdomo says. “You know, Rachel Goodrich is really close. I really hope that works out. Jacuzzi Boys are really close. Of course, these are not my artists, but all we need is one artist to break it big in a style that isn’t Latin or electronica or hip hop to really break things open for South Florida.”

Forward Motion represents 18 different acts, and, as label chief, Perdomo says one of his biggest challenges is “getting people fired up because there’s not a lot you can do in this town.”

“Not a lot of places to play, not a lot of momentum, not a lot of places where I can set up meetings,” he says. “But what I really have been trying to instill is small victories. That’s really what we’re made out of. Not necessarily trying to sell thousands and thousands records, but every single new fan, every single piece of press, every single cool gig, every single kudo will be the thing that builds everyone’s careers.

“I hate the fact that [Miami is] pigeonholed,” Perdomo says later in our conversation. “Every town has its exports, you know, Pittsburg steel, Washington apples, and Florida oranges. I feel like we can be the next Nashville. It’s an untapped resource. I’m yelling, ‘Hey, there’s gold up in these hills. Why don’t you come check out these artists.’”

But waiting around for record companies to “discover” Miami is not an option: As the name of his record label implies, Perdomo is all about self-propulsion.

In line with that m.o., he is hosting the Forward Motion Records First Anniversary Concert on Thursday night. There will be a $10 suggested donation at the door, with proceeds going to the Kristi House, a local charity for victims of sexual child abuse. The concert will also help bring awareness to Musicians On Call, a non-profit that organizes bedside concerts for hospital patients all over South Florida.

Besides raising money for worthy causes, Perdomo says the show, hosted at a Live Nation venue, will do his artists “justice” by putting them on a “world-class stage.” The lineup will include Moreno, Dreaming In Stereo, Vic Kingsley, and long-time staples of the South Florida music scene Jim Camacho and Omine Eager.

“I want to prove that these artists are diamonds in the rough,” Perdomo says.

The show will cap off a year of heavy loss and many small victories, but Perdomo seems as if he has his eye on the future.

“I’m trying to prove that this town is a lot more diverse than it even seems, that this microscene exists, it’s powerful, and it deserves as much attention as [other local music] scenes,” Perdomo says. “I really want to build some careers and some household names.”

*

Here are the show details. To see more Miami music listings, check out our Miami Music Guide.

Headline: Forward Motion Records First Anniversary Charity Concert
Where: Revolution Live
Cost: $10 suggested donation
Event Page: HERE

While many boutique local record labels focus on the fringes of various music scenes, few have tried an arguably gutsier move: releasing wider-reaching, even radio-friendly rock fare without the support of the big record-industry machine. Miami-based Forward Motion Records, led by Dreaming in Stereo frontman and skilled session guitarist Fernando Perdomo, is a rare local label doing just that. Perdomo is an unabashed lover of power pop, singer/songwriter material, and all-around feel-good guitar music.

For Forward Motion, he’s put together a roster of artists across a wide spectrum, from the bilingual, psychedelic indie of Arboles Libres to the ’70s-roots-rock-leaning Vic Kingsley to the contemporary pop of Jorge Moreno. The whole label roster — some 16 acts, including Dreaming in Stereo, of course — is set to appear this Thursday at Revolution when Forward Motion officially fetes its first birthday. Another reason to feel good: All of the door take, plus any additional donations, go to Kristi House, a Miami shelter for child victims of sexual abuse.

“We have a different set of goals than most labels,” he adds. “We’re not focused on being a money-making enterprise. It’s all about exposure for this scene and a label that’s mostly dealing with artists from South Florida.”

To date, Forward Motion’s rate of production has been extremely intense, releasing 30 full-length albums, EPs, and singles by local and national acts including Alih Jey, Andy Pratt, Arboles Libres, Jim Camacho, Dreaming in Stereo, and Vic Kingsley. “So far, it’s been a really great year, from having multiple artists at South by Southwest to having Jorge Moreno win the International Songwriting Competition,” the label boss enthuses. “Things are looking good, man.”

Still, after all those freshman successes, Perdomo isn’t even thinking about taking a break. Forward Motion is set to full speed ahead. And the CEO’s looking toward 2012 with all kinds of ambition. “Our goal is to take everything we did in the first year and multiply that by ten for the second year,” he insists. “And the most important thing we can do is set the bar really high.”

That second year officially begins next Thursday when Perdomo, dozens of his label mates, and a thousand close friends pack into Revolution Live for Forward Motion Records’ four-hour, 15-act anniversary concert. “The sets will be about 10 minutes long,” he says. “We’re going to have a house band with different frontmen and instrumentalists switching out. It’s gonna be a pretty rapidfire night.”

But it won’t just be a big, boozy anniversary bash. It’s also going to be a full-on charity benefit. “All proceeds from the door will go to Kristi House, a support system for sexually abused youths,” Perdomo explains. “And it’s also a promotional awareness benefit for Musicians on Call, which organizes musicians to come play for sick people.”

Like music, charitable work is one of Perdomo’s personal missions. “Forward Motion has played a lot of hospitals,” he says, before confiding, “It’s been kind of a private battle. But my mother had been been battling cancer for five years.”

Sadly, his mother, Araceli, lost that battle earlier this week. So next Thursday’s anniversary concert has now become part memorial for her. As he says, “Not even death can stop Forward Motion.”

Forward Motion Records’ Anniversary Concert with Jorge Moreno, Dreaming in Stereo, Arboles Libres, Jim Camacho, Jesse Young, and others. Thursday, September 29. Revolution Live, 200 W. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. The concert begins at 6 p.m. and there’s a suggested donation of $10 to benefit Kristi House and Musicians on Call. Call 954-449-1025   or visit jointherevolution.net.