FOOTPRINTS AND MORE ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF FIRST ALBUM

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (September 3, 1997) -- Footprints and More is excited to announce the release of their first album, "Songs from Life's Journey", at a Saturday, September 20^th, Release Concert. This concert will be held in the Peninsula Vineyard Christian Fellowship's auditorium (i.e. The Warehouse). Footprints and More is a Christian Music Ministry seeking to share a witness to the good news of Jesus Christ through a contemporary music medium.

Having been together for just over a year, this dynamic and diverse group presents a new flavor of Christian contemporary music while remaining faithful to the eternal message that "God is Love". This group draws together some of the Peninsula's top amateur talent in both the classical and contemporary fields. The combination of classical instrumentation (i.e. cello, viola, violin, and flute) and contemporary rock/folk instrumentation (i.e. drums, synthesizer, piano, and acoustic guitars) behind tight vocal harmonies gives this group its unique sound. Persons attending Footprint's quarterly concerts since the fall of '96 at The Warehouse have described this music with words like "bright", "cheerful", "uplifting", "encouraging", and "beautiful". A number have expressed amazement at the way such a diverse grouping of instruments has been orchestrated into a unified whole.

Footprints and More's first album, "Songs from Life's Journey" is being released on the Yobel Records label and includes 13 of the group's original tracks. It begins with an upbeat song entitled "New Song", written and arranged by Bruce R. Brunk for the 1996 Tidewater Mennonite Music Festival held at Calvary Community Church. This song likens Jesus' love and concern to a "new song" that begins every morning reaching out to the lonely ones, the busy ones, the lost ones, and the children throughout our world. The song develops by inviting each of us to participate in Jesus' daily "song" and to join as "harmony" in reaching out to the world around us. Also featured on this album is the group's title track, "Footprints and More", based on the anonymous poem "Footprints". This song, like the poem, reminds us of God's presence and support throughout the course of our lives.

"Songs from Life's Journey" was recorded at Master Sound Studio in Virginia Beach, VA by nationally known engineer, Rob Ulsh. The producer for this project was Bart Reardon from Electric Arts Recording in Harrisonburg, VA. As two Christian recording professionals teaming up together for the first time, Rob and Bart quickly became a stellar recording team that captured the very best of Footprints and More's music and ministry. Fans who have enjoyed Footprints and More's live performances are sure to enjoy and appreciate this high quality recording.

All the songs on this initial album were written and/or arranged by Bruce R. Brunk, the Founder and President of Footprints and More. Bruce was born in Denver, CO in 1964, but spent most of his growing up years in Newport News, VA. In 1986 he graduated from Eastern Mennonite University with a BA in Mathematics, Computer Science, and Christian Ministries. After several years in the computer field, Bruce returned to Harrisonburg, VA to complete a MA in Church Leadership from Eastern Mennonite Seminary. He spent several months in Costa Rica, and a year in The Netherlands as a short term missionary under Eastern Mennonite Board of Mission's Youth Evangelism Service program. While still in Newport News, Bruce discovered his love of music as he studied pop organ beginning at the age of 8. During his college and seminary years Bruce continued to develop his interest in music while studying classical pipe organ and participating in various college and seminary choral groups. His overseas exposure to two opposite extremes on the music spectrum (Latin American versus Traditional European) helped to round out his musical tastes and understandings. From 1994-1996 Bruce began to develop his expertise in the area of arranging contemporary music while leading the Praise Band for the Warwick River Mennonite Church. During these two years he began to explore the connection between classical and contemporary music that has led to the unique Footprint's sound. Since the Spring of 1996, Bruce has worked full time with Footprints music and his computer software company. He also enjoys playing regularly with the Peninsula Vineyard's worship team.

Joining Bruce for this recording are a number of locally recognized musicians. Lynn Dash (flute), Dawn Wing (viola), David Wing (cello), and Ingrid Brown (violin) have all played throughout the region as primary players with the York River Orchestra. Jay Shenk (bass vocals and lead acoustic guitar) is known in the local rhythm and blues scene for his tenure with Bad Sneakers and Certified Blues. David Alderfer (tenor vocals and rhythm guitar) and Darrel Schrock (acoustic and electronic drums) came to Footprints from two years of singing (with Bruce) in the 4-For-Christ quartet. Evangeline Schrock (synthesizer) came to Footprints and More after 2 years of playing piano with the Warwick River Praise Band, and finally Wendy Brunk (alto vocals) joins the group with a lifetime of singing in various gospel/country groups.

Tapes and compact discs will be available beginning September 20^th at the release concert. These items will be sold Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Footprints and More Box Office (525 Industrial Park Drive) and also via mail order at (757) 877-5229 or toll free at 1-800-597-9632. The list prices are $9.98 for tapes and $12.98 for CDs. Please check the Yobel Record web site (http://www.yobel.com) for additional details.

Following their September 20^th Release Concert, Footprints and More will continue to share quarterly concerts at The Warehouse as well as play at various church related functions throughout the Tidewater area. You are invited to check in on their next performance by either calling their hotline at (757) 877-5229 or by visiting their web site (http://www.yobel.com).

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