Dena on Her Way to Stardom with "New" Hit-Song and Big-Time Representation
ENDICOTT, NY – Acclaimed local singer / songwriter Dena performed at the Endicott Performing Arts Center on Saturday, September 22, celebrating the release of her new, full-length CD, ‘Mirror.’
‘Mirror’ promises to be a high-impact work as it contains Dena’s new, contemporary version of the timeless, world-wide smash single “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,†which was written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin and became a 1 hit on Billboard’s Top 100 in 1961. The song has been ranked at 125 in Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Dena’s version of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow†was co-produced by music-industry mogul Reid Whitelaw (Brookside Music Corp / Reid Whitelaw Productions) and Jeff DaBella of Binghamton’s Mansion Audio Recording Studio, and was mixed by industry-heavyweight Tom Moulton who has been credited as popularizing the disco genre, inventing the 12†single format, and creating the “remix†concept and product.
The release of ‘Mirror’ also makes Dena’s new, professional relationship with Brookside Music Corp and company president Reid Whitelaw official publicly. Whitelaw began representing Dena at the 2007 MIDEM event in Cannes, France last winter; MIDEM is the world’s largest music industry trade fair which draws thousands of industry professionals annually. Dena will also be represented by Brookside Music Corp at this year’s Popkomm Festival in Berlin, Germany (Sept 19-22); Popkomm is heralded as being is the top international business music festival in Europe and one of the most important showcase festivals in the world.
Reid Whitelaw is no stranger to music industry success; his writing, arrangements, production, and efforts as Executive Producer made such acts as 1910 Fruitgum Company (“Goody Goody Gumdropsâ€) and The Delfonics (“La-La Means I Love You,†“Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love),†“Didn’t I Blow Your Mindâ€) household names in the late 60s-early-70s. More recently, Whitelaw has received platinum-album accreditation on works by such artists as JoJo, Notorious B.I.G., The Fugees, Missy Elliot, and Jermaine Dupri and has contributed to popular works by Snoop Dogg, the late Eazy E, Jay-Z’s Young Gunz and Ghostface Killah to name a few. He has contributed material to such hit films and soundtracks as “Boogie Nights,†“Jackie Brown, “Carlito’s Way-The Rise To Powerâ€, “John Q,†and “Prince of Egypt,†and he has written and or produced material for the likes of Meatloaf, Gloria Gaynor, Good Times TV’s Ralph Carter, and the late Vicki Sue Robinson. Whitelaw is credited as breaking-out the “Bubblegum†genre, and as helping to popularize Philadelphia’s R&B / Soul and Disco / Dance scenes around the world.
Whitelaw’s plan for Dena is largely focused on foreign markets such as Japan, Germany and the UK, and on internet applications such as The Orchard , eMusic and iTunes , all of which will be driven by Dena’s new version of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,†its accompanying video, and her new album. Whitelaw feels that Dena “has all the potential to become a star. She’s very-talented, groomed, and willing. She has the right mental attitude and that ‘star-quality’ that can’t be aptly defined or described…Dena has all of the essential ingredients and the stuff to outweigh the odds and catapult her to stardom.â€
Dena has been dedicated to studying her craft and honing her skills for more than 14 years: since the age of 4, when she began professional instruction. She has performed regionally at such events and venues as Spiediefest ’06, the Broome County Arena, NYSEG Stadium, Rec Park Music Fest, and the Magic City Music Hall. Dena recorded and released her first work, an EP titled “The Way You Look at Me,†with Mansion Audio in the spring of 2006. The EP’s first-pressing was sold-out in less than 4 months.
Todd Russell
Mansion Audio Recording Studio