111 john street ++ suite 1620 ++ new york, NY 10038 For Immediate Contact: Justin Loeber (212) 260-7576 [email protected] For Reviewer Copies: Michelle Bayuk, Quarto Publishing Group USA 212-779-1809 [email protected] Brand New Kid’s Lyrics and Kid-Friendly Characters Inspired by The Number One Billboard Single and “Song of the Year” FOOTLOOSE By Grammy® Award Winner Kenny Loggins and Dean Pitchford Art by New York Times Best-Selling Illustrator Tim Bowers Kenny Loggins will be available for national and local in-studio interviews the week of Monday, October 17th in NYC and the week of Monday, October 24th in Los Angeles It’s been 32 years since “Footloose,” the 1985 Oscar® nominated and Grammy® Award-winning “Song of the Year,” hit the airwaves and graced movie screens—making it one of the most recognizable hits Kenny Loggins ever recorded, and one of the top 100 movie songs of the last 100 years. Now, the iconic pop anthem that dared you to “kick off your Sunday shoes,” takes on a brand new life of its own as a children’s book with new lyrics, entitled Footloose (Moondance Press, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group USA, October 17, 2016; ISBN: 9781633221185; Price $17.95 US and $23.95 Canada; Hardcover) by Kenny Loggins, Music & Lyrics by Kenny Loggins and Dean Pitchford, and Illustrated by Tim Bowers. In this version of the classic we all love and remember, Footloose features a zoo-full of wolves in top hats and canes, llamas in their tutus, rhinos, snakes, cats, kangaroos, giraffes, cubs, monkeys and more— dressed in their dancing best—all ready to party by the light of the moon after the visitors leave and Mr. DJ Elephant pumps up the music! Also embedded in the book package is a new CD, including the new version of the song, recorded by Loggins, and a three song-medley of traditional songs. As grandparents, parents and kids relish the new lyric—but with the original music—there’s not a generation on this planet who hasn’t heard of—if not danced to—the iconic pop music anthem, “Footloose,” by Kenny Loggins and Dean Pitchford, who co-wrote the theme song after Pitchford asked Loggins to check out a screenplay for Pitchford’s as-yet- unmade picture by the same title. "I had a little up-tempo thing I'd been messing with that I probably wouldn't have written if it hadn't have been for the movie," says Kenny Loggins, who wrote two songs for the film as a favor to his friend, Dean…and shortly after “Footloose” was released, the song and the movie delivered big time: “Footloose” (the song) spent three weeks at number one, March 31—April 14, 1984, on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was the first of two number-one hits from the motion picture; Billboard ranked it as the No. 4 song for 1984. “Footloose” (the movie) hit the top 100 songs list when the American Film Institute released its AFI's 100 Years…100 Songs. Loggins and Pitchford won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year (1985). - over - - 2 - “Footloose” was covered by country music artist Blake Shelton for the 2011 remake of the 1984 film—30 years after the original. (Loggins and Shelton performed it together on the 45th Annual CMA awards). The song has also been parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic ("Hooked on Polkas") and was made available as downloadable content for the Rock Band series. Kids Incorporated covered "Footloose" in 1984 in the Season One episode "Space Case," and PureNRG sang "Footloose" on their 2007 debut album PureNRG. “Footloose” was performed by the Season 2 cast of American Idol, and Kenny Loggins performed the song solo on Idol’s Season 14. In 2014, Loggins also performed the song on NBC-TV’s Today to commemorate the movie’s 30th anniversary. Loggins is no novice to reaching out to the kids’ market; he released his first children's album, Return to Pooh Corner, which remains the best-selling children's album of the last 20 years, with 1.3M albums sold to date. In 2013, Loggins was also the performer of the music for the critically acclaimed book Frosty the Snowman (Imagine Books/Charlesbridge). On the subject of the new kids’ book Footloose, says Loggins, “Now, as a grandfather of Phifer, and a dad who always sang with my kids, I’m totally psyched that Footloose has taken up a whole new persona with the new lyrics and characters. For those of us who remember the movie, you won’t have to kick off your Sunday shoes in this version of the song!” Also included in this book package is a CD, which includes the new version of the title and a three song medley. To set up a national and local TV, radio, print, and online interview with Kenny Loggins to coincide with the October 2016 launch of the book, please contact Justin Loeber at [email protected] or 212-260-7576. # # # About the Authors: Kenny Loggins has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, has won two Grammy® Awards, and co-wrote the book The Unimaginable Life: Lessons Learned on the Path of Love. His songs have been hits over the last four decades, including “This Is It,” “I’m Alright,” “Footloose,” “Danger Zone,” and so many more. In addition to his string of successful recordings, both solo and as a member of the famed duo Loggins & Messina, Kenny became the first major rock star to dedicate himself to recording music for children and families. His album Return to Pooh Corner remains the best-selling children’s album of the last 20 years. Kenny, who reunited with Jim Messina in 2009, currently resides in Santa Barbara, CA. Dean Pitchford, an American songwriter, screenwriter, director, actor, and novelist, has won an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award, as well as being nominated for three additional Oscars, two more Golden Globes, eight Grammy Awards and two Tony Awards. His books, stage shows and movies have earned an international following, and his songs have sold over 70 million records. About the Illustrator: Tim Bowers has illustrated more than 35 children’s books, including the New York Times best-seller Dream Big, Little Pig!, written by Kristi Yamaguchi, and Dinosaur Pet, written by Neil Sedaka and Marc Sedaka. Although Tim grew up around unusual pets, including his grandparents’ squirrel monkey and a singing African grey parrot, he never had pets that would dance. But he definitely wanted them to. He and his wife live in Granville, Ohio. Footloose By Kenny Loggins and Dean Pitchford Illustrations by Tim Bowers Publisher: Moondance Press, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group USA Format: Hardcover Original with 2-song CD ISBN: 9781633221185 Price: $17.95 US and $23.95 Canada Pages: 28 Publicity**: Monday, October 17 – Saturday, October 22nd – New York City Monday, October 24 – Wednesday, October 26th – Los Angeles (**Dates are approximate) Suggested Interview Questions for Kenny Loggins in Conjunction with Footloose (For media bookings, please contact Justin Loeber, [email protected], 212-260-7576) 1. You’re now releasing a children’s book based on your Grammy® Award-Winning song “Footloose.” What’s different between the story in the book and the story of the original song and 1984 movie? 2. The book is beautifully illustrated by NY Times best-selling illustrator Tim Bowers and its package includes a brand-new CD recording of the title song, along with other family-friendly tunes. We all understand how musicians collaborate; how do you work with an artist for a project like this? 3. How did the idea of basing the new version of the song to reflect animals come about? 4. What was it about the original song that has kept it high on the party list for almost every decade on the planet since 1984? 5. How did you become affiliated with the original “Footloose” film? At the time, did you think your title song was going to be Oscar® nominated and go on to win the 1985 Grammy for “Song of the Year”? 6. Are you still in touch with any of the cast of the film, including Kevin Bacon, or with Dean Pitchford, the screenwriter of the film and co-writer of the song? 7. How did you become known as the “King of the Movie Soundtracks,” and what other songs did you write for the screen? 8. You got your musical start as part of the duo of Loggins and Messina—created by Clive Davis. How did you get that break? 9. What is your most favorite recollection of working as a duo artist? 10. How did you have the courage to make the big break to become a solo artist? 11. Your music has been known at times as “Yacht Rock.” What is that style and what other artists/songs fall into that category? 12. Just when most artists think about retiring—or simply singing their hits over and over and around the country— you take a chance and start a new country band, called Blue Sky Riders. How many albums have you put out with the band, and why did you decide to go back to becoming a member of a group? 13. Footloose isn’t your first kids’ project. Can you tell us about the others? Is “Return to Pooh Corner” still available on CD? 14. You have five children, and are a grandfather of Phifer, a one year-old boy. How do you feel about growing older? 15.