Internet Radio Station Founder David Gonzalez Kicks Off Major Kids' Charity Event with www.smoothwavejazz.com

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Sep 17, 2010, 09:26 ET

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- How did smooth jazz guitarist, recording artist and producer Marc Anotine discover David Gonzalez, the youngest smooth jazz radio station owner in the world? Apparently, goodwill and hard work still pays off in the smooth jazz community of more than 100 well-known artists and a global audience of 2 million listeners in the US market. Fortunately, for music lovers, Smooth Wave Jazz is firmly seated on the map and is growing.

This 17-year-old and National Honor Society Scholar from San Antonio, TX entrepreneur named David Gonzalez has always loved smooth jazz music. He launched his Internet radio station Smooth Wave Jazz (http://www.smoothwavejazz.com) on July 31st, 2010. David will smile and tell you about his charity work and how his station promoted "A Taste of Sierra Madre," a benefit based in Southern California designed to help kids with cleft palate. All these kids needed was $500 per surgery for the life-changing operations by the Rotaplast Foundation.

Event chairman and Internet founder of The Destination Group (http://www.dgrp.com) Tom Brady contacted Gonzalez and his smooth jazz station via Facebook and helped connect jazz aficionados with local and A-list musicians such as Chris Standring, who donated his performance at the September 11th Taste of Sierra Madre (http://www.ATasteofSierramadre.com) event in the Pasadena, CA area.

Gonzalez watched the linked video of the work of Rotaplast International (http://www.Rotaplast.org), performing life-changing cleft palate surgeries for children in need and where half of the net funds raised will be donated. "It touched my heart," reflected Gonzalez, "and I offered to help. Though I'm far away, I can get the word out to the world on my station." He posted the Taste of Sierra Madre logo, website and Rotaplast video link on the station's home page immediately with his own endorsement. Interest from smooth jazz enthusiasts blossomed, and several major recording artists answered his call for help.

In fact, this past weekend on Sept. 11th, David helped host the fundraising event with his mother Lorena Gonzalez in Sierra Madre where he met smooth jazz greats and two-time GRAMMY winner Paul Brown, Michael Lington, Eric Byak, and singer Lauren Wood, who sang "Fallen" in Pretty Woman. David also found time to kick back, visit Beverly Hills and Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles in Pasadena.

The 17-year-old San Antonio, TX native is poised, confident and comfortable way beyond his years in his role as proselytizer of the smooth jazz genre for his generation. "I have a passion for smooth jazz. I think it will be the next wave for kids my age since it combines other genres like hip hop, and is very listenable."

Following in the media footsteps of his father, who owns a "terrestrial" hip hop and R&B radio station in San Antonio, Gonzalez put the first of two planned Internet radio stations on the air, actually on the Internet, only 6 weeks ago. He must be doing something right, since Hotel Renew (http://www.hotelrenew.com) in Honolulu, HI seized the opportunity to be his first commercial sponsor at http://www.SmoothWaveJazz.com and now is known around the world.

After hearing the appeal from Gonzalez and speaking with Brady, smooth jazz greats Paul Brown, Michael Lington, Eric Byak, Lauren Wood, MB Gordy, Bar Samolis, Katisse, and Marco Lucciano all agreed to perform for the special event, which ultimately raised $18,000 for kids' surgeries and fine arts in its first year.

"David is a leader and demonstrates an extraordinary example for others. He knows what his priorities are and applies himself with a big heart. He is an inspiration to many who meet him," said Brady.

Smooth Wave Radio logo:

http://www.ereleases.com/pic/Smooth-Wave-Radio-logo.jpg

Photo of David Gonzalez, National Honor Society Scholar, with his mother Lorena:

http://www.ereleases.com/pic/David-and-Lorena-Gonzalez.jpg