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OCTOBER 23 2011 - The latest edition of JAZZED AND BLUE: PROFILES IN BLUES AND JAZZ is now available for download at Rockwired.com and features exclusive interviews with DUKES OF HAZZARD star TOM WOPAT, legendary MOTWON songwriter MARILYN MCLEOD and acclaimed singer-songwriter BARBARA MARTIN. Televison and Broadway veteran TOM WOPAT has released his brand-new jazz album, CONSIDER IT SWUNG . The record is a swingin’ collection of standards featuring Wopat and some of the best jazz musicians New York City has to offer, including TEDD FIRTH (piano), PETER GRANT (drums), DAVID FINCK (bass), and BOB MALACH (sax).The album shows an incredible variety of material and unique adaptations, all done in WOPAT’s unmistakable style. Highlights include an upbeat, swing adaptation of GERSHWIN’s “BUT NOT FOR ME,” a rollicking version of BLOOD,SWEATAND TEARS “SPINNING WHEEL, ” a smooth and touching version of JONI MITCHELL’s “TWO GREY ROOMS,” and a new jazzy style for BOBBIE GENTRY’s “ODE TO BILLY JOE.” The album also includes exclusives originals, including “THAILAND SEA,” which WOPAT wrote after being inspired by the gorgeous surroundings that he experienced while on set a few years ago, and “50 CHECKS”, an outtake from the Broadway musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN.

MARILYN MCLEOD was born in Detroit, Michigan, in a very musical and happy family of six siblings, which included two boys and four girls. Both parents sang in the church choir. In addition, Marilyn's mother played piano and composed music. Her older brother ERNIE FARROW played upright bass with the well-known jazz musician YUSEF LATEFF. One of MCLEOD's sisters' music history is world-renowned, being the late-great ALICE COLTRANE who was married to the legendary saxophone player JOHN COLTRANE. MCLEOD started at MOTOWN in 1970, relocated with the company to California in 1972, and stayed with JOBETE (MOTOWN's in-house publishing) until 1985. During her career at MOTOWN, she wrote and co-wrote hits for many artists, including her biggest top-of-the-charts hit and Grammy Nominated song "LOVE HANGOVER" by DIANA ROSS (co-written with PAM SAWYER). Also: "POPS WE LOVE YOU" by DIANA ROSS, MARVIN GAYE, SMOKEY ROBINSON, and STEVIE WONDER; "SAME OL' LOVE" - ANITA BAKER," "I GET HIGH" by FREDA PAYNE, also in the movie "SOUL PLANE"; "NOT THE FIRST NIGHT" by MONICA; "FREAKING IT" by WILL SMITHH; "YOU CAN'T TURN ME OFF" by HIGH INERGY; "WALK IN THE NIGHT" by JUNIOR WALKER; "THE WORLD SITUATION SHOULD BE RATED X" by MARVIN GAYE; "BODY AND SOUL" by THE FOUR TOPS; "LOVE TWINS" and "INCLUDE ME IN YOUR LIFE" by DIANA ROSS and MARVIN GAYE together on their duet album. On her latest release "I BELIEVE IN ME", the veteran hitmaker teams up with fellow songwriter JANIE BRADFORD and the results are truly inspirational.

Named one of ten worthy jazz singers by JAZZIZ MAGAZINE and garnering a Parent’s Choice Silver Honor Award for her children’s recording From Ragtime to Rock and Roll, BARBAR MARTIN has recorded and produced eight albums  including her latest release EYES ON THE HORIZON. BARNARA has been writing and performing original songs since her teen years, when even then a high school rock band took notice of a song she performed at a talent show and asked to use it. Since those early beginnings she has won numerous awards, the latest a Silver Award in the Vocal Blues and Jazz category at the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest for her song "KALEIDOSCOPE,” and she has placed songs with other artists and in TV and film. BARBARA has also written scores for theatrical performances.

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