This Memphis music project was spearheaded by guitarist/songwriter/producer, Mario Monterosso, who was born and raised in Italy and became a resident of Memphis in 2016.
The MVP3 Foundation and MVP3 Records joined in Monterosso’s mission to helped roll out this project in efforts to bring this song to global attention. MVP3 Foundation and MVP3 Records is releasing the song on Sunday, November 26, 2023, through Select-O-Hits, an American independent record label distributor of music based in Memphis owned by Sam and John Phillips, was co-founded in 1960 by their father, Tom Phillips, and uncle, Sam Phillips, the founder of the legendary Sun Records, where Elvis founded by Tom and Sam Phillips (Sun Records) in 1960Sam Phillips family owned music distribution based in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Novick Cardiac Alliance will benefit from the sales of the song. Its global organization, which has been working to ensure that children from all over the word with life threatening illnesses continue, despite war, to receive the treatment they need. An allocation of proceeds from this remake of Bobby Darin’s creation to Novick Cardiac Alliance is particularly appropriate and poignant, because Darin died, at age 37, due to cardiac disease, after suffering recurring bouts of rheumatic fever as a child. Bobby Darin passed away on December 20th, 1973.
We are indebted to the participation and support of many Memphis Music luminaries, including Priscilla Presley, Memphis Queen of Soul Carla Thomas, Kallen Esperian, Rev. Charles Hodges, Dr. Gary Beard, Dr. Keith Norman of First Baptist Church Broad, and Bar-Kays Founding Member Larry Dodson.
A 90-sec preview and preorder can be found on iTunes starting on November 9th, 2023. https://orcd.co/memphisfreedomband. The music video directed by Billie Worley includes a special message from Pricilla Presley. The music video is tentatively scheduled to release by MVP3 Foundation and Select-O-Hits on December 20th, 2023. The documentary of the behind the scenes interviews and footage will be released through the MVP3 Foundation. It is scheduled to be released in selected theaters by Spring 2024.
Music Video Release Date December 20th, 2023
Directed by Billie Worley
For more information and interview inquires, please contact info@MVP3media.com
Special Thanks:
Jerry Phillips - Sam Phillips Recording Studio
Dabney Coors - Production Manager
Thaler Beasley - Graphic Artist
Jamie Harmon - Photographer
Alex Greene - Video Interviewer
Elizabeth Rouse - ArtsMemphis
John Doyle - Memphis Rock 'n' Soul Museum
Jon Hornyak - Memphis Recording Academy
Pat Mitchell - Stax Music Academy
Elizabeth Cawein - Music Export Memphis
Bobby Darin Estate, 7S MGMT, Trio Music Company and Alley Music Corp
MVP3 Foundation, MVP3 Records, Select-O-Hits and Dr William Novick
This humanitarian project for the people and children of Ukraine and around the world has been underwritten by Dorothy O. Kirsch
Memphis musicians are uniting in song in a worldwide humanitarian effort to raise one voice to bring peace and love to the world through a remake of Bobby Darin’s 1969 song, Simple Song of Freedom, Memphis Music Project. Leading musicians, singers, and cultural organizations of Memphis are supporting this effort. Since the middle of the 20th century, Memphis Music has been the strongest musical bridge across the world, and now we come together in solidarity as one voice to create a bridge of hope and freedom.
This non-political project uses as its musical vehicle the song, Simple Song of Freedom, written by the great artist, Bobby Darin, in 1969. Mario Monterosso, Italian guitarist/songwriter/producer, conceived and produced this project at Sam Phillips Recording Studio in Memphis, with Scott Bomar as Recording Engineer.