Let's Roll to finally release on one-year anniversary of terrorist attacks

In memory of the first anniversary of September 11, the long-awaited compilation project, Let's Roll: Together In Unity, Faith, and Hope, will be released on September 10 through Chordant Distribution Group to the CBA market and EMD to the general market, announced Rich Peluso, co-president of Chordant.

The multi-genre compilation of artists from Christian, country, pop, and classical music includes dc Talk, Wynonna, Yo-Yo Ma, Nicole C. Mullen, Jennifer Knapp, Lila McCann, Selah, James Curlin, Shane Minor, Jody McBrayer, and more. Let's Roll:Together In Unity, Faith, and Hope includes 18 tracks and features a choir of more than 20 artists (Steven Curtis Chapman, Anointed, Mark Stewart of Audio Adrenaline, Out of Eden, and more) singing the "Lord's Prayer." Fourteen of the songs were originally written for this record including the title track performed by dc Talk. Let's Roll was produced by Tony McAnany (Chant, Point of Grace, Jennifer Knapp), and honors his longtime friend, Todd Beamer, one of the heroes from United Flight 93 and the man whose last words on September 11 were "Let's Roll!"

On September 11, 2001, Beamer and a group of determined passengers helped prevent the fourth terrorist attack on the United States by taking over United Airlines Flight 93. After completing a 15-minute phone call with a GTE operator, Beamer, who left the line open, was heard saying, "Are you ready? OK. Let's roll!" Not long after, the plane crashed in a rural Pennsylvania field, killing everyone aboard. It is unknown how many lives were saved by these everyday heroes.

"In the aftermath of the tragedy of September 11, we find ourselves looking for answers. Let's Roll has been created to help point each of us, through music, to answers to some of those questions and provide comfort to all that seek unity, faith, and hope in these challenging times," McAnany said.

Profits from the album will be given to the Todd M. Beamer Foundation, which was launched by Beamer’s widow, Lisa Beamer. The mission of the foundation is to"equip children experiencing family trauma to make heroic choices every day." In an effort to maximize the contribution to the Foundation, all the traditional artist, producer and publisher royalties have been waived.

"The Let's Roll CD is a coming together of many people and talents with one goal in mind -- to help the children affected by the events of September 11. Each artist deserves many thanks for their time and effort. This CD is a lasting tribute to Todd and all American heroes of September 11, 2001," said Douglass MacMillan, executive director, The Todd M. Beamer Foundation.

The Let's Roll album cover photo is a taken from the Beamer family archives, a compelling photo of Todd and his two boys taken by Lisa Beamer which is included on Lisa Beamer’s new book Let’s Roll, published by Tyndale House Publishers.

"Let's Roll: Together In Unity, Faith, and Hope will be a priority for us this fall," said Peluso. "While the record came to us at a later date than we usually have to set up a project at retail, Tony has delivered an unusually poignant recording that we are proud to be associated with. We will do our very best to help retailers get this product on the shelf. To be sure to maximize its visibility at retail, we encourage retailers to position this title in the music section as well as with the Lisa Beamer book in the book section."

Planned marketing and promotion activities include:

• Cross-format radio strategy addresses Pop, AC, Rock, Country, Inspirational, CHR, Classical/NPR outlets planned to support the singles "Let's Roll" (dc Talk), "I Believe" (James Curlin), "Who Else Could It Be?" (Lila McCann), and "Don't Ask Why" (Shane Minor) well into 2003.
• Unique marketing events and strategies will be implemented to build awareness for the album and help position it as an American musical event well beyond the anniversary of the eleventh. Aggressive positioning (retail/publicity) will focus on Let's Roll as an essential holiday season gift item. Also planned are major events created in concert with the Todd M. Beamer foundation.

Here is the complete track listing for the album:

• "Let's Roll" - dc Talk
• "Horizon" - 38th Parallel
• "I Believe" - James Curlin
• "Who Else Could It Be?" - Lila McCann
• "Light of the World" - Jennifer Knapp
• "Interlude" - Nick Moroch, Don Potter
• "Carry On" - Wynonna
• "I See You In His Eyes" - Nicole C. Mullen
• "Don't Ask Why" - Shane Minor
• "With New Eyes" - Joy Williams, James Curlin, Jody McBrayer
• "We'll Praise Your Name" - James Curlin, Jody McBrayer, Selah
• "Lullaby" - Jeremy Lubbock, Chaka Khan
• "How Great Thou Art" - Pam Kenyon Snider
• "Our Father" - L.A. Session Choir
• "Daily Bread" - Phil Keaggy
• "The Lord's Prayer"/"To You Be the Glory" - Various (see below)
• "In His Arms" - Yo-Yo Ma

One of the special moments on the recording is the "Lord's Prayer" with an all-artist choir that includes Nicole C. Mullen, Steven Curtis Chapman, Joy Williams, Lila McCann, Out of Eden, Bart Millard of MercyMe, Jennifer Knapp, James Curlin, Selah, Mark Stuart of Audio Adrenaline, Plumb, Wynonna, Jody McBrayer of Avalon, Jonathan Pierce, Streetcalled Straight, and Anointed.