DECADE OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
3/20/10

First of all, I want to thank Jeff Brenner at Kurfew Entertainment, the RDP Group and the Original GLBT Expo for the opportunity to express my gratitude to the GLBT community.  

When I was recording my debut CD back in the 90’s, I wanted to make pop music that I didn’t have growing up--Music that spoke directly to the experience of LGBT people.  I am so thankful for the ways in which the community has embraced me and supported me. Every fan that has told me my music helped make them feel better about themselves makes any struggle I’ve had to go through completely worth it.

But this award is not about me--its about the community coming together to recognize work by and about LGBT people because unfortunately—especially in the music industry-we are not hearing our unique voices nearly enough.  And that means that our work is not done.  

While we can certainly hope that the mainstream music industry will support the work of openly gay artists and we can be optimistic that an artist like American Idol’s Adam Lambert will help open doors, we cannot simply wait for that to happen—especially in a music industry in crisis—even before the fallout of this economic crisis.  

It is up to us to create our own stars and create our own opportunities to recognize each other and support one another just like this opportunity was created for me today.  

•    If you are a gay magazine publication, you might think you need straight celebrities to sell advertising, but please be creative on how you can highlight gay artists on the cover.  

•    If you are a company selling any product, join forces with a gay artist for promotion like the ventures we see every day with mainstream artists.

•    If you are a pride festival or gay club, it’s understandable to sprinkle some big name straight artists in between gay artists—but it shouldn’t be the other way around.  

•    Dowload music from iTunes of your favorite LGBT artists TODAY!

Let’s make sure that we treat our gay artists with just as much reverence, care, and support as we do our mainstream stars.  And remember that nothing great comes without risk.

I humbly accept this award that recognizes the incredible decade of achievement I have had as an openly gay artist from the beginning of my career.  But if I tell you that I am up here and still need support to continue to do my work, then we can only imagine how many other gifted and talented gay and transgendered artists are out there who also need institutional or financial support to do their work.  

The gay community- with all our talent, creativity, innovation and “disposable income” – should be able to come together- bringing more visibility and power so we can finally be seen in all our complexity, diversity- and equality.

I want to conclude by saying that I could not have achieved anything without the help of my family who have stood by me and cheered me on.  I think that kind of support from your family cannot be underestimated in contributing to the strength that is necessary to be an artist who is fiercely unafraid to show who they truly are in a world where we are still fighting for our equal rights.  Thank you and let’s rock this next decade out better and stronger than the last.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
grapeVine Public Relations
Steven Le Vine
(212) 537-0611, ext. 1
steven.levine@theprgrapevine.com

A Decade of Groundbreaking Music:
Ari Gold Celebrates Ten Years As America’s First Openly Gay Pop Star

•    Gold’s music recently featured on ABC’s Scrubs and Cougar Town.
•     Gold scores fifth No. 1 Video on LOGO (most in LOGO history)

(NEW YORK – DEC. XX, 2009) – Before American Idol, before there were gay TV networks, before Adam Lambert and before Justin Timberlake’s solo career, when the only gay pop stars you ever heard of were the ones who came out, or were pushed out, after they were already famous, there was Ari Gold.

“I wanted to make the kind of music that I didn’t have growing up,” he said after the release of his eponymous debut album in 2000, a recording that boldly asserted the use of male pronouns in its lyrics.  

Billboard Magazine, VIBE, HITS and virtually every local and national gay publication around the world documented the moment in pop music history, when a recording and performing artist wasn’t afraid to stand up for who he was both in his life and in his art. Pop icons and industry luminaries like Clive Davis, RuPaul, Boy George, and Whoopi Goldberg, soon took notice of Gold’s unique voice for breaking down barriers without prior fame—and without hiding in the closet.

After three studio albums, a 96-page photo book and remix CD (released in 25 countries), four Billboard Top 40 dance hits (two Top 10), five No. 1 videos on the LOGO network (more than any other artist in LOGO’s history), numerous awards and honors (Independent Music Award, two Outmusic Awards, Grand Prize Winner Of the USA Songwriting Competition, OUT 100, etc.) and electrifying live performances in Europe, Canada, and over 50 cities in the U.S., it looks like 2010 will be Gold’s biggest year yet with a fourth studio album in the works. Already, a future single has been featured on ABC’s new hit TV show, Cougar Town, with Courtney Cox.

To all those who have been moved, inspired and entertained; who have supported, promoted and believed; who recognize and appreciate the journey of a true pioneer, Ari Gold thanks you from the bottom of his heart and hopes that you will continue on this amazing ride with him for another decade, and beyond.

http://www.logoonline.com/video/misc/327824/ari-gold-interviews-brandy.j...

http://www.newnownext.com/2009/03/rupaul-ari-gold-interviews-music-video...

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Hey fan-tastic fans,

Spring is coming and its all about bringing in the new!  New single, new video, new management, new tour, new V-LOG oh and yes, a new president!!

Thank you so much to all the fans who made my "Human" video the #1 Video on LOGO's Top 10 Video Countdown!!  Keep voting!

The video is currently available for download on iTUNES as is the Maxi-single with 8 new pop, dance, hip-hop, house and electro mixes of "Human" along with a previosuly unreleased mix of my Billboard Top 10 hit "Where The Music Takes You"!  Also, if you download the full single there are a few surprises along with it, like the entire digital booklet to the album TRANSPORT SYSTEMS, just in case anyone downloaded from iTUnes but didnt get all the liner notes and the lyrics.

I also want to invite anyone who will be in NYC in March to something very special!! I am giving a talk at the 92Y in Tribeca on March 27th as part of their Shabbat dinner lecture series!  That’s right, I will be speaking, there will be a discussion and there will be a delicious KOSHER Shabbat dinner. It only cost $30 (which if they do Shabbat dinner correctly means lots of food and wine!).  

It's a great program and I really hope you can attend.  So tell ALL your Jewy, Jewcy, and Jew-ish, friends, Matzo Queens, Jewaphiles, Heebs, Kabbahlists, Yids and all--and get the tickets early!

Here’s where you can purchase tickets to the event:
http://www.92y.org/shop/event_detail.asp?category=92Tri+92Tribeca+Jewish... <http://www.92y.org/shop/event_detail.asp?category=92Tri+92Tribeca+Jewish+Life888&amp;productid=T-MM5SH11>  <http://www.92y.org/shop/event_detail.asp?category=92Tri+92Tribeca+Jewish+Life888&amp;productid=T%2DMM5SH11

I really do hope you all can all attend!

Speaking of Jew stuff, I just did a guest vocal on my friend Etan G's new album The Foundation for the song "Change The World (JJ's Song)" - Etan did some guest rapping on my song "Good Realtionship" and I was very happy to be a part of his album--especially on a song about a friend of his who is made a difference in his life but is no longer with us.

I'm lining up some exciting tour dates for the spring summer and even fall so keep checking in here for all the details.  I can't wait to see all the fans that have been with me from the begining a well as al my newer myspace and facebook fans!

Love Always,
Ari Gold

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Hey everybody,

I am writing a blog for the LOVE and PRIDE website and they asked me to pick my favorites for this years Grammy's so check it out!

http://blog.loveandpride.com/love_and_pride/truthfully-i-have-absolutely...

Hey fans and friends.  Check out this article I wrote about myself, HBO's Entourage and the ban on gay marraige.  Didnt think they were connected? Read on!

http://www.ethansays.com/ari-gold/ 

I have a hard time with this whole blog thing because I'm such a perfectionist and I don't want any wriiting that I do not to be at least 98% without errors (actually while writing that I mis-typed "eros instead of "errors"...which brings me to my calendar--did you see the photo of me in my white speedos from the back with the words "Eros" on my ass? The photo was taken by photographer and activist Duane Cramer and its sold exclusively with my 12 month calendar. That was pretty smooth, right? Oh yea, my ass too.)

So I'm going to blog because times are tough even with the incredible news that Barack Obama will be our next president--but as much as I love him, he aint Jesus or Moses, or even Buddah-despite possibley inhabiting characterstics from all 3. And because times are tough I think I have to write and so please forgive me for my imperfections here, misspellings, run-on sentences or just plain sentences that don't make sense. Better I write, I think.

If you wanna see a live interview I did about growing up gay and religious for the book CRISIS: 40 Stories of The Personal, Social and Religious Pain of Growing Up Gay and Religious in America click on this link: http://www.crisisbook.org/video-arigold.php.

I also just finished an article called Being Ari Gold, Or Will The Real Ari Gold Stand Up For Gay Marraige.  Not sure where it will be published. The internet seems like a good choice at the moment. Things have a way of getting around on here--if you know what I mean! Ok, so I don't really know what I mean but it sounded like a good thing to say.

One thing I am very grateful for during these times is my family and friends. I have truly been blessed in that regard. They make me laugh, they cheer me up, they keep it real and sometimes even take me out to dinner and cook for me. And this Jew feels loved when he's fed.

OK, that's it for now. Oh here's another interview I did in my apartment. Herndon Davis is a cool guy who does some great work. The quality of the taping is not perfect but we're all about Guerilla marketing up in here. http://www.herndondavis.com/aboutdiversitytv-Ari_Gold.html

My video for "Human" will be premiering soon, I promise. Hot Remixes too.

I'm also workin on an exciting new project with LOGO so stay tuned. 

And buy more of those CD's and books I got! Mamas gotta eat :) Happy Holidays my people.

Much Love and Peace,

Ari

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Hey Transporters!

Happy Jewish New Year! Sorry its been so long since I’ve blogged.  Touring, recording, filming and running my own record label has been keeping me busy!  Lots of exciting things on the horizon.  My new video is almost done and we will be having a sneak peak at Splash on October 18th.  The video is directed by Aaron Cobbett and it is a total surreal fantasy where Little Red Riding Hood meets Narcissus meets E.T.  I wanted bring the “fairy” back in “fairy tale.”  It was inspired by the work of James Bidgood (Pink Narcissus) and Pierre Et Gilles. Stay tuned for the premier on LOGO as well as some hot new remixes for “Human” that are gonna blow your socks off!

I will be performing a full show at the CMJ Music festival sponsored by the Independent Music Awards which I took home one of this past year for my song, “Love Wasn’t Built In a Day” featuring multi-platinum selling artist Dave Koz.  After that I’m off to LA for a concert benefiting the Trevor Project at Here Lounge w/ my special guest Shoshana Bean (“Wicked”).

I wanted to make sure you all new about an incredible project I have the privilege of being a part of. Its a book called CRISIS: 40 Stories Revealing the Personal, Social and Religious Pain and Trauma Of Growing Up Gay and Religious in America.  It includes contributions by Nate Berkus, Candace Gingrich, Alec Mapa, Richard Champberain, Jim McGreevy and a forward by Martina Navratilova.  I wrote a chapter about my experiences of being in Yeshiva when I was 16.  The book is great for teachers, parents and spiritual leaders and I’m very proud to be a part of it.

On a lighter note, just because growing up gay and religious might have been painful, that doesn’t mean we can’t laugh about it! Check out this talking heads interview I did about the high holidays for the Jewish Channel.  Check it out! http://www.tjctv.com/programming/tjc-original-series/holy-dazed/

In some behind the scenes news I am working with a new management company. Stay tuned for more details.   I have to thank Rich Overton of RJO Artists for 5 years of incredible work—which included both my Space Under Sun World Tour and the over 20 cities I performed in for the TransporTour.  I am excited to see you all on the second leg of the TransporTour coming soon! Check arigold.com for details!

Check out my personal guide to NYC on Gay.com http://zoom.gay.com/viewArticle.do?id=1924&selectedRegionId=7&selectedCountryId12&selectedStateId=39&selectedCityId=84979ectedCityId=84979 

Thanks again to all of you for the incredible love and support you all give me to allow me to conitnue to do what I love and hope to see you at on either coast.

Much Love,

Ari 

Hey fan-tastic fans,

I want to thank everyone for coming out to my Soulforce benefit @ Touch Night club in NYC.  The organization raised thousands of dollars that night and I felt so much love from the crowd. Thanks to Bopa King, Kelly King, Jason Walker, Adam Joseph and Kendra Ross for singing and playing with me. Also, big thanks to Jack Mackenroth, Judy Gold and Anthony Rapp for lending their support. It was a truly special night.

Another special night was when I recently got invited to LOGO's first annual NewNowNextAwards.  I was up for "Because You Deserve An Award" award,which I thought was pretty cool, cause even if I didn't win it still means that I deserve one! Of course I was still nervous, as this was the first televised award I was ever nominated for and I knew if I won I wanted to make sure I thanked all the right people and didn't forget anything. That really is the best part of winning an award for me--getting to thank all the people in your life that support you and that you know it means something to them for you to win.  I also wanted to thank Oprah, cause you know how everyone thanks Jesus? Well, Oprah is my Jesus. (Those free podcast classes she co-teaches with Eckhard Tolle are awesome).

There were like 3 different press rooms before we sat down for the award ceremony where my photo was taken in sort of a red carpet situation without the carpet.Then there were some on-camera interviews.  I felt pretty fab in my Marc Jacobs suit even if I didn’t have nearly as many creative red carpet poses as Lady Ga-Ga (thanks to Casey and Matt for helping me pick out the suit at the Marc Jacobs store in soho).  I was sandwiched between Laura Bell Bundy from Legally Blond the musical and Michelle Williams from Destiny's Child.  I think I accidentally cut Laura in line (it was all pretty crazy), but she's got a Tony nomination under her belt so hopefully she will forgive me—if the gays cant cut the straights at the gay awards show then we’re in trouble, right?  I was pretty thrilled to get my photo taken with Michelle Williams as I have been a HUGE Destiny's Child fan since the first album (granted Michelle wasn't part of the group then, but hey, I even own her solo gospel album!).  

I finally sat down in the seat that had my name on it.  Candis Cayne and Coleman Damingo were hosting and they were funny and charming.  I just saw Coleman that week in Passing Strange which was probably the best musical I've ever seen in my life--a transformative and transcendental experience.  Coleman plays a few different characters brilliantly (for one of them he was channeling Kevin Aviance at Arena circa 1997).  Candis and I have known each other since the old east village Crowbar days (I was 12) and we were both recently in RuPaul’s drag/blaxpliotation/porn extravangaza.  Seeing Candis co-host the show, brought back a memory of going to the GLAMMA’s (the Gay and Lesbian Music Awards which no longer exists)when Candis was the trophy girl, handing out trophy’s to the winners.  I was so happy to see that Candis was no longer relegated to being just a pretty face and how our community has stepped up and given a voice to such a talented performer who deserves to be seen and heard.  Candis even got choked up at one point and it brought tears to my eyes.  It was an authentic moment in anotherwise funny and irreverent show. Love her.

At this point, I’m feeling emotional and vulnerable only to finally hear Cyndi Lauper tell us that she is announcing the last award of the evening.  What happened with my category you may ask? It turns out they will be announcing some of the categories on June 7^th when the show airs on LOGO. Nobody told me that though cause had I known I would not have sat there with shpilkis the whole time practicing my speech in case I actually won!  Well, that’s show-biz folks!  The good news is that I found out the next day when I bumped into Matt at Beige that Marc Jacobs didn’t want his suit back.  My Mom will be quite pleased I have a nice suit for Shabbos. Maybe I'll put my suit back on when I watch the awards on LOGO from home on June 7th.

See you all on tour!

Much Love,

Ari