Singer/Songwriter Launches Campaign to Increase Awareness of National Holiday

SAGINAW, Mich., Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- This year, National Grandparents Day falls on Sept. 12. The holiday originated in 1970 with Marian McQuade of West Virginia. It was made official in 1978, when President Jimmy Carter signed a proclamation designating the first Sunday after Labor Day as Grandparents Day, a national holiday. But singer/songwriter Johnny Prill is determined to "make every day Grandparents Day."

Prill has worked for more than a year on his project. He penned the official National Grandparents Day Song, "A Song for Grandma and Grandpa," which received The National Songwriters Award from The National Grandparents Day Council in 2004. The track is an uplifting, inspirational homage to the bond between grandparents and their grandchildren, featuring the adorable vocals of 8-year-old Katie Naffie and the rousing background chorus provided by The Perfect Blend Children's Choir.

An audio clip is available at nationalgrandparentsday.com. A CD featuring the song and 14 other tracks - including four bonus versions of the song - is available for purchase at the site. The song also can be purchased and downloaded in MP3 format, including two other songs and a music video. Both the CD and MP3 include sheet music.

Schools are one of Prill’s biggest supporters, purchasing his song throughout the year since they celebrate Grandparents Day on different dates. More than 150 celebrities and entities also support Prill’s effort to raise awareness of National Grandparents Day. Many have donated autographed CDs, photos, books and T-shirts, including sports favorites, musicians, actors and actresses, comedians, television personalities, and historical figures. A complete list of celebrity supporters is available at nationalgrandparentsday.com/FreeConcert.

To promote awareness of National Grandparents Day, Prill is holding an online contest. Twenty-four visitors to his site, http://www.nationalgrandparentsday.com/Contest, will win an autographed item from one of the celebrity supporters. The contest will run until Sept. 19, one week after Grandparents Day.

While Prill is becoming recognized nationally for his efforts, he is well known locally. Prill will hold his third annual free concert on National Grandparents Day at Courtney Manor Nursing Home, where Prill is the longest-running volunteer, entertaining the residents monthly for 24-plus years. Prill will also give away free autographed items from the celebrity supporters at his concert. "Over the years I have had the opportunity to meet so many interesting grandparents, and I hope I have the opportunity to meet many more," he said.

For more information about the National Grandparents Day Song, "A Song for Grandma and Grandpa," visit http://www.nationalgrandparentsday.com.  

Photos:

http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2010-Johnny-Prill-1.jpg

http://www.ereleases.com/pic/2010-Johnny-Prill-2.jpg

About Johnny Prill

A number of Johnny Prill's songs have been recorded by Bobby Vinton, who calls Prill "one of the most creative songwriters of our time." His songs have been featured in various publications, including Country Weekly, The Detroit News, The Detroit Free Press and The Las Vegas Weekly.

This press release was issued through eReleases(R).  For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Johnny Prill