Big Guns R & B "The Whispers" Support Debor'ah for Oprah Reality TV Contest
LinMar Strategies For EntertainmentFor Immediate ReleaseEmail:marketing@linmarstrategies.comPhone: 330-746-1109 June 24, 2010
Big Guns Move in to Support Local Host for Oprah’s Reality TV Competition
Youngstown, OH---“When you’re in a fight, though in this case a friendly one, that’s when true friends can make all the difference,” said Debórah Benton; Producer–Host of “The Debórah Show” (Formerly called The Valley Gold Show with Debórah Benton).What began with an email alert has led to an all-out full scale Public Relations/Promotional assault by Debórah, Family, Friends, and Celebrities. In mid may, Debórah read an email inviting people to audition for Oprah Winfrey’s Reality TV Show to choose the Next Big TV Talk Show Host.Within a couple of days Debórah had prepared a video and completed the online profile to qualify as a contestant. She felt this opportunity was designed for her, stating, “One of the questions asked in the Profile questionnaire was ‘Why should you win this competition?’ My answer was, ‘Because I have prepared for this.’” Debórah began broadcasting her TV Talk Show in 2005; a studio set, audience seating for over 100 people, 3 cameras, microphones, lights, teleprompter, etc., but only one local Advertiser and no Sponsors.Within a few short months, she graduated to include a Production Crew, House Band, and live Studio Audience; but still no Sponsors. In come the Big Guns - Award-winning Classic R & B Recording Artists from California, “The Whispers.” They developed a close personal relationship with Debórah and made several appearances on her show. Wowing audiences with hits like “Rock Steady,” “The Beat Goes On,” and “Hold On;” these International stars helped Debórah’s fan base soar to global proportions. The Whispers also promoted Debórah’s DVD along with their other merchandise as they toured throughout the United States and abroad. It soon became very evident that there was a true ‘Mutual Admiration Society’ developing between Debórah Benton and The Whispers. So, it seemed completely natural for The Whispers to step in to assist when they learned that Debórah had auditioned for Oprah Winfrey’s TV Show competition. Initially, Debórah’s support team consisted of family and friends:Debórah‘s brother, Jerry Gordon, was spending endless hours voting online and soliciting his Social Network and CB buddies to vote for his ‘Baby Sister.’ Debórah‘s sister, Lorraine Gordon (a school teacher), enlisted a group of middle-school students to vote as often as they could.Debórah, husband LaMarr and daughter Lindsay, committed whatever time they could to voting and spreading the word for others to do the same; but the numbers just weren’t mounting up fast enough – until that fateful phone conversation with, of course, “The Whispers.” While conversing about recent activities, Debórah happened to mention Oprah’s competition. She gave a sigh of despair as she reported to The Whispers how low her votes were, compared to many other contestants.That’s when The Whispers Marketing Director, George Aubrey, immediately came up with a plan and The Whispers sprang into action. George suggested to Scotty and the others that they produce a promotional video encouraging their fans to log onto Oprah’s site and vote for Debórah Benton.“We will do anything Debórah needs us to do,” was leader, Wallace ‘Scotty’ Scott’s immediate response to the idea. “If anybody deserves it, she [Debórah] does.”The entire group concurred and a production schedule was set. Keyboardist, Dwayne Sweet, of The Whispers Orchestra (T.W.O.) volunteered to shoot and edit the video, but Orchestra members made it clear that Debórah was their friend as well, and they, too, would support her with a promotional video from The Whispers Orchestra. “When we [T.W.O.] released our new CD, Debórah did not hesitate to invite us to be guests on her TV Show,“ said Sweet. More to the point, T.W.O.’s Music Director, Grady Wilkins quipped, “Anything for Debórah.” “Being in a small town where TV Talk Shows are not the norm, any level of success can be unimaginably difficult, so having The Whispers and T.W.O. step in to support me has meant a lot,” reflected Debórah. That’s like, “Watch Out Oprah Contestants, we’re bringing in the Big Guns now!”” Debórah still has a long way to go to outrun her opponents; but says she is making strides, and still with no sponsors, she feels that every week she remains on the air; her audiences and she are the big winners.
“The Debórah Show” Current Broadcast Schedule & Online Access to Audition, Promotions, and Videos:
Local TV Talk-Variety Show Signs Syndication Deal to Europe
Youngstown, OH - Los Angeles (USA); Cologne (Germany)–It was January 2005 that “The Valley Gold Show with Debor’ah Benton,”which features interviews and performances with Celebrities and Award-winning Artists and Entertainers, aired its inaugural weekly broadcast on WKBN –TV 27 (CBS) on a Monday night at 1:37 AM.Now, nearly four years later, Executive Producer, Debor’ah Benton just signed a five-year contract with Global Broadcasting Company, Inc. to syndicate “The Valley Gold Show with Debor’ah Benton”across Europe on the Global Broadcasting cable channel America Unleashed which will be carried on the Kabelkiosk platform.
The GlobalBroadcasting Company, Inc. and Eutelsat visAvision GmbH have announced the launch of a bouquet of seven thematic television channels via Eutelsat’s KabelKiosk platform. These channels are featuring content by independent producers from the USA. The package offer includes America Unleashed, Total Hip Hop Television, News and Finance, Indie Pix and Classics, Faith Lifestyle, Indie Sports Games and Comedy and Travel Home and Garden. The launch of the first channels is intended in the beginning of 2009 on the new EUROBIRD™ 9A satellite at Eutelsat’s newest orbital position 9 degrees East.
The Eutelsat KabelKiosk is Europe’s leading independent channel and service platform for broadband network operators in Western Europe offering more than 100 digital German and international TV channels in eleven languages. The KabelKiosk serves 250 cable and IPTV affiliates with about 2.6 million households in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Luxemburg and Denmark. The launch on the KabelKiosk platform strengthens the position of The Global Broadcasting Company, Inc. and the channel’s growing distribution throughout Western Europe.
“I had to work frantically to get the first four shows to the network by deadline. A few days later, the network called and asked for ten more shows ASAP, and somehow, instead of being overwhelmed, I find that exhilarating!” Debor’ah cajoled. Her excitement is largely due to the fact that her show, which initially began in her living room, will now be seen by millions on the continent of Europe, improving her stock as an Executive Producer and Host, and attracting more internationally known entertainers to guest on the show.Ms. Benton said she envisions hundreds of people flocking to Youngstown weekly, to be part of the studio audience and meet their favorite celebrities on her show.She sees that Youngstown is turning a corner and she intends for “The Valley Gold Show with Debor’ah Benton” to become known as a global asset from her community. In keeping with that goal, Benton says she has been developing some strategic partnerships which include former music industry executive, Tarone Claybrook, Executive Director of HeartReach Ministries, Inc., local and regional Sales Executives for securing advertisers and sponsors for her show’s Ohio-PA broadcasts, and via her seat as a Founding Member of the National Rhythm & Blues Music Society, which is giving her access to a growing list of professional Artists and Entertainers for future shows. Here in the states, “The Valley Gold Show with Debor’ah Benton” can be seen every Saturday on WYFX-FOX TV 17/62 at 12:00 Noon.Within her nearly new studio which is located in downtown Youngstown, OH, the show sports its own professional House Band and is taped before a ‘live’ studio audience of up to two hundred people. Featured guests are most often nationally and internationally known Celebrities and Entertainers. What’s next on the agenda for Debor’ah Benton is completing those requested ten shows and shipping them off to the network in the next few days, as well as preparing for celebrity guest appearances on up-coming Valley Gold Show tapings in her downtown studio. For more information about “The Valley Gold Show with Debor’ah Benton” Call:330-746-1109 Email: info@ValleyGoldShow.com Visit: www.ValleyGoldShow.com
LinMar Strategies Announces New Face of Old School Entertainenment
For Immediate Release:
LINMAR STRATEGIES ANNOUNCES THE NEW FACE OF OLD SCHOOL ENTERTAINMENT
"The Valley Gold Show with Debor'ah Benton"
August 2008 – Youngstown, OH – LinMar Strategies for Entertainment an Ohio-based television production company, has just announced the new format featuring more ‘Old School’ Celebrity Entertainers on its flagship program, "The Valley Gold Show with Debor'ah Benton.” In so doing, the company plans to capitalize on what has been attracting nationally-known Entertainers to this small town, and strengthen their brand in the process. If you ask Americans who is the face for Jell-O Pudding, most will say ‘Bill Cosby; ’or the face for home decor, you’ll hear ‘Martha Stewart’.If you ask people residing in Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, who is the face showcasing ‘Old School’ R & B Artists and Entertainers, you’re likely to hear a resounding, Debor’ah Benton [of Valley Gold Show] When first introduced over three years ago, the initial concept for “The Valley Gold Show with Debor’ah Benton” was that of a family-friendly talk format featuring local personalities. However, as word about the show spread, the variety of guests began to include internationally known celebrities from all genres of art and entertainment; from classically trained musicians and dancers, to legendary athletes, network TV, Film, and Broadway Stars.The show became highly viewed, but the greatest audience responses always seemed to follow the exclusive interviews and performances segments featuring ‘Old School’ celebrities.The Whispers, The Chi-Lites, Ohio Players, Temptations, and others appeared on the show; laying the foundation for what was becoming The Valley Gold Show brand.Many pioneering artists of R&B never had a platform to share their stories with the masses; that is, not until The Valley Gold Show with Debor’ah Benton.With so many stories yet to be told, producers recently have decided to feature a ‘Roots of R&B’ segment each month. Host, Debor’ah Benton has a long, rich history in the soul music genre that has played such an important role in our nation, and specifically within her television broadcast community which currently includes Mahoning, Trumbull, Lawrence, Mercer, and Shenango Counties. In a written statement Debor’ah explains, “As an African American girl, growing up in the Valley, I was aware of the volatile climate all around me. The fight for civil rights, integration vs. segregation, Black Panthers, the KKK, Black Power, White Flight, and so many of the growing pains and challenges confronting our nation.Yet in the midst of the chaos and turmoil, there was Motown, The Philly Sound, Stax, and more.It was in this infectious wave of soulful expression that I, and millions of other Americans, found years of refuge in our treasured 89 cent black vinyl discs made available in the local Soul Music stores.” And so began Debor’ah’s great affinity for Rhythm & Blues music, and her deep respect for the Artists and Entertainers who made it all happen. Debor’ah spent several years performing and she also studied to become a producer. However, her greatest satisfaction comes from presenting stories of inspiration to the world, “with a healthy dose of entertainment,” she is careful to add. With heightened emphasis in the vision for “The Valley Gold Show with Debor’ah Benton,” the producers have partnered with The National R & B Music Society, to book entertainers for their fall line-up where they expect to feature a host of a rich list of Entertainers, including from the ‘Old School’ era.Some of those names include Ted Mills of Blue Magic, GQ, The Persuaders, The Manhattans, The Marcels, Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King, Little Anthony & The Imperials, and many more. For more information, to schedule an appearance, or for audience tickets, contact Publicity Representative Sadie Jackson,Phone: 330-746-1109 / Email:marketing@linmarstrategies.com .