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INAUGURAL SONGWRITERS WORKSHOP
June 6, 2023 - September 1, 2023
WILLIS WONDERLAND ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL SONGWRITERS WORKSHOP
Allee Willis’ Legacy Lives On: Empowering Songwriters to Launch Their Careers with help of Primary Wave Music & More
The Willis Wonderland Foundation is thrilled to announce its inaugural Next Level Songwriters Workshop in partnership with Primary Wave Music, the leading independent publisher of iconic and legendary music in the world.
Beginning in early June, this unique intensive will give opportunities to, and empower, the next generation of visionary songwriters, especially women and those in underserved communities, while carrying on the legacy of award-winning Hall of Fame songwriter Allee Willis.
Allee’s compositions have sold more than 60 million copies and include the classic hits “September,” “Boogie Wonderland,” the theme song from the TV series “Friends” and the Tony-winning musical The Color Purple, which is being released as a major motion picture December 25, 2023.
The Next Level Songwriters Workshop will host 12 working songwriters from eight countries who’ve been hand-selected by notable songwriters and industry experts from over 400 applications received.
Coordinating the program is songwriter/producer Autumn Rowe, Grammy winner for Best Album last year for her extensive writing and producing work on Jon Batiste’s album, who along with multi-platinum songwriter mentors including Lindy Robbins, Stephen Bray, Shari Short, Shane Stevens, Elev3n, and more, will guide the participants in creating new works, which will then be recorded at state-of-the-art Just for the Record studio in Los Angeles.
“This unique opportunity for mid-career songwriters who haven’t yet broken through is something that Allee would be honored to have as part of her legacy,” said Prudence Fenton, longtime partner of Willis and founder of the foundation. “Allee had a passion for collaborating with and mentoring diverse artists and wanted to ensure a future for all, knowing the persistent decline in funding for the arts.”
Ramon Villa, COO of Primary Wave says, “The amount of creativity and authenticity that Allee embodied is extraordinary. When Primary Wave welcomed Allee’s legacy into our family partnering with Prudence and the foundation, we did so to help expand her reach. We’re happy to support them as they kick off their inaugural songwriters workshop to empower the next generation of songwriters.”
In addition to the Next Level Songwriters Workshop, future foundation plans include seminars, lectures and exhibits, as well as Artist-in-Residence programs, at Willis Wonderland, Allee’s home in North Hollywood purchased from her first “Boogie Wonderland” royalty check. The 1937 Art Deco Streamline Moderne house holds one of the world’s largest collections of pop-culture kitsch memorabilia.
For more information on the Next Level Songwriters Workshop please
visit: https://nextlevelsongwriters.com and for more information on the Willis Wonderland Foundation, please visit www.williswonderland.org.
ABOUT WILLIS WONDERLAND:
Willis Wonderland Foundation is a nonprofit 501c3 that supports the advancement of songwriters and multimedia artists, especially women and those in underrepresented communities, who will perpetuate the legacy and extraordinary creative vision of Hall of Fame songwriter and artist Allee Willis.
Launched in 2022, the foundation supports diversity, gender and racial equality, and inclusion by giving opportunities to often overlooked songwriters and artists through mentorships, professional training, exposure to industry experts, and Artist-in-Residence programs. Willis Wonderland Foundation promotes personal creativity and elevates authentic voices, empowering the next generation of groundbreaking artists.