NOTE: The album contains 17 songs thanks to everyone's contributions, and is now available for purchase through Indiegogo InDemand, iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby, and my website. Thank you!
America's 21st Century Vaudevillian Cecelia Otto is honoring all who gave their lives in the First World War through the music of the time in this one-of-a-kind album.
Short Summary
Hi everyone! My name is Cecelia ("Cece") Otto, and I’m the creator of An American Songline®. Back in 2013, I did a singing travelogue across the United States from New York to San Francisco along America’s first transcontinental road, the Lincoln Highway. On that tour, I sang vintage songs in period attire, and shared stories of how people lived and loved along the route. With the go-go-go world of the 21st century, these concerts brought people back to a simpler time in a fun and educational way.
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I wasn’t sure how my tour was going to be received by other people, but six months and 30 shows later people loved it and wanted more! Last year, I published a book about my travels, and recorded some of the favorite songs from the shows. I then was faced with what I was going to do next, and then it came to me.
In 1917 and 1918, our nation changed forever when it entered into the First World War. More than a hundred thousand Americans fought and died in this often-overlooked period of our history, and I knew I had to share their songs and stories. I am proud to announce that I will be going back into the studio this year to record all these songs in their original sheet music as they were intended to be heard, and I plan on performing them live across the country in 2017 and 2018.
I have chosen a wide range of songs for the upcoming shows, including patriotic songs like ‘Keep the Home-Fires Burning’ and ‘It’s a Long, Long Way to Tipperary.’ Some other songs poked fun at military life, like ‘Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning’ and ‘How Ya Gonna Keep ‘em Down on the Farm.’ But it's not all marching songs; I will also include sentimental songs on the album like 'Till We Meet Again' and 'The Rose of No Man's Land'.
I love sharing America’s history through song, and I hope you’ll join me in having this music brought back to life again. Thank you for your support, and I look forward to hearing from you!
What We Need & What You Get
Producing an album not only takes time, it also takes money. A typical album by today’s standards is roughly 45-60 minutes with about 10-12 songs. But due to the recording technologies of the time, songs were much shorter than they are now. To make a full-length album, I need 15-20 songs to get around that 45-minute mark.
All funds will go strictly to the producing of the album, which includes the studio production expenses and piano accompanist's fees. Cover art as well as any fees to publish the album on CD Baby are also included in this funding goal. If I exceed my $3,000 funding goal, I will record an additional WWI tune for every $500 raised.
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The perks of this campaign include digital and/or physical copies of the album, as well as autographed copies of my American Songline book and album. International donors are welcome and I’ve got various rewards at all tiers, so check them all out!
The Impact
I truly believe that history doesn't just live in books, it lives on and is remembered in America's music. You can learn so much about a place and time through its songs, and the songs people sang during World War I really speak to the patriotism, the determination and the fears everyone felt at the time.
I’ve really come to see myself as someone who uses music to bring history to life, and I think the story of World War I is something all Americans should know about.
When I traveled across the country in 2013 for the original American Songline tour, I wanted it to remain a grassroots effort. So I used Kickstarter and was able to raise more than $15,000. I want to maintain those close ties with you (the audience) and involve you in this new project.
Risks & Challenges
There is very little risk with this project. The first two recording sessions are booked, and I'm working with the same amazing piano accompanist and recording engineer that I worked with on my first album. We all are raring to get back into the studio! Recording an album does take time as noted before, but I still anticipate having digital copies available to all backers by early 2017.
Other Ways You Can Help
Can't contribute at this time, but want to get involved or know more?
- Tell everyone you know about it, and share this campaign with your friends and family. You can use the Indiegogo share tools below on all of your favorite social media platforms. Just a reminder that one share with your circles may not be enough, you may need to share it again.
- Sign up for my mailing list! Shoot me a message noting your name and that you'd like to be added, and I'll keep you informed of future events.
