Without thought..... it is ever present in your spirit. Echoes of Africa...... the drum.... the drum drum.... the colors....vibrant and rare...... the smells of the earth... the rain.... the earth...... sounds of celebrations... mourning... a faint cry.... a wail..... Memories of royalty..... of traditions stolen..... but remembered.....never forgotten..... the eyes of your children..... their smiles..... the tears......... the drum..... the drum.... the drum...... the drum.................the silence!
Diane Cameron is a child of the Diaspora.... a daughter of Africa.... She writes all her songs and melodies inspired by persons, places and events of the Motherland past and present. Her love affair with Africa began at birth writing music to express the longings of generations. She is a singer * songwriter * actress * free-lance journalist * playwright with a passionate heart for reaching out to children and young people. Ironically her first International tour as an artist was not in the Motherland. In 2000 she traveled to Tokyo, Japan for a 3-month Jazz tour with the Phil Morrison Trio. It was in Japan that she released her first CD "This Woman's Heart". The CD was an eclectic collection of heart felt realities spilled out from her soul to music. 8 years later, it is still a highly requested Independent release. The music chronicled a roller coaster ride of emotions experience by women in various phases of relationships.
In 2004, Ms. Cameron traveled to the Republic of Benin, West Africa for the first time... so moved by her experiences and by the people, she returned to America and wrote the award winning CD "The Reconciliation". It was a tribute CD to Africa and in 2005 the song "Come Back Home To Africa" was nominated by the KORA AWARDS for Best Afro American Diaspora, in the same category with Will Smith, Mariah Carey, 50 cents and Candadian Olivier. Ms. Cameron muses, "When Mariah Carey came on the scene in the early 90's, I was at home baking cookies and nursing one of my 6 children. When I first heard her, I thought that girl can sing.... but never, ever could I have dreamed I would be in Durban, South Africa in December of 2005, years later, up against her for an award. Well Will Smith won.... but I was there", she laughs, "even my own children were rooting for 50 cents because they liked his hot song at that time , In Da Club..... but to me it was marvelous just being in South Africa with all the hopefuls from all over Africa. I didnt' win, but this mother of 6 and grandmother of 4 was there".......
Diane was invited to return to Benin July of 2008 to perform in the Republic of Benin, West Africa Gospel and Racines Festival. She plans to team up with Beninese musicians she has worked with on past visits. Below is her personal quote:
"We live in a Global Society...Our neighbors are next door or a continent away. Our prayers should not be just for our children...but also for the children we may never meet. When I eat a meal and drink clean water, I should be mindful that my neighbors across the waters may not have eaten in a week. When I am tempted to complain about the rain, I repent and remember that my sisters and brothers in other countries may be praying for rain. As musical artists, we are the modern day griots....we must sing the stories...the mantle is in our hands. Art is my contribution to my collective earth family....Its the least I can do....." Diane Cameron
Upon returning from Africa.... Ms. Cameron will embark on an Arts In Lecture Tour with "Diaspora's Child" a team of dancers, singers, drummers and musician from 'Benin....
PERFORMING HIGHLIGHTS
Television Credits Channel 44 – Nona Simmons – Cover Stories – Interview & Vocal Performance – Mobile, Alabama Channel 3 – Pensacola Television to promote trip to Benin Channel 12 – Good Morning Jacksonville – Clennon King – Interview & Vocal Performance – Jacksonville, FL. ORTB – Republic of Benin, West Africa LC2 – Republic of Benin, West Africa Radio Credits St. Augustine – Interview for compilation CD – Jacksonville, FL - 1997 Kennedy-King College Radio – Chicago, Illinois – This Woman’s Heart” 1998 WBEE – Peoria, Ill. – Listening Party for first CD 1999 – “This Woman’s Heart” WDLT – Mobile, AL – Carmen Brown Host - 2001 WDLT – Mobile, AL – Carmen Brown Host - 2002 WDLT – Mobile, AL – Carmen Brown Host - 2003 WDLT – Mobile, AL – Carmen Brown Host - 2004
WDLT - Mobile, AL - Carmen Brown Host - 2008
WLVV, Spanish Fort, Al - 2008 Oceane FM Radio – Republic of Benin, West Africa - 2005 Radio Star FM – Republic of Benin, West Africa - 2005 Golf Radio FM – Republic of Benin, West Africa – 2005 CAPP FM Radio – Republic of Benin, West Africa – 2005 Radio Ouidah – Republic of Benin, West Africa - 2005 Theatrical Credits Fame – Hilton Head Island, SC 1991 Big River – Hilton Head Island, SC 1992 Prelude to a Kiss – Hilton Head Island, SC 1992 Midsummer’s Night Dream – Chicago, IL 1993 Merrily We Roll Along – Atlanta, GA 1995 Piano Lesson – Jacksonville, FL 1997 Rhythm of the World – (written & directed) – Daphne, AL 2000 Voices of Freedom – (written & directed) – Mobile, AL 2001 Cry of Freedom – (written & directed) – Mobile, AL 2004 Open Letter to the African American Daughter – (written & directed) Mobile, AL 2005 Open Letter to the African American Son – (written & directed) Mobile, AL 2005 Will I Ever See Africa Again? – Written and Directed, Republic of Benin, West Africa 2005 Trash Tawkin – 2005 Water – When Katrina Came - 2007
Community Connections Juneteenth Celebration - June 2008
National Music Awards Nominee - 2008 Commercial Credits Haverty’s Furniture – Holiday Scene – Televised Aaron’s Furniture – Family Purchasing Scene – Print Marriott Grand Hotel – Postcard Scene - Print Newsprint Credits Hilton Head Island Packet – Dec 1991 Florida Times-Union – March 1997 Folio Weekly (Jacksonville) – December 1997 Mobile Press Register – May 2002 The Islander – Gulf Shores, Alabama – October 2002 Mobile Press Register – February 2004 National Festivals 2002, 2003, Alabama Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce Shrimp Festival International Tours Tokyo Dome Hotel – Artist Café – 3 Months with Phil Morrison Trio, Tokyo, Japan - 8/2000 – 11/2000 – Mitsuya Agency mitsuayproject@nifty.ne.jp *Republic of Benin/Africa Gospel & Roots Reconciliation Tour August 2nd – 8th 2004 *Republic of Benin/Africa Gospel & Roots Reconciliation Tour July 31st – August 7th 2005 Republic of Benin/Africa Gospel & Roots Reconciliation Tour July 2008
Music On The Following Sites:
http://www.myspace.com/dianecameron
http://www.last.fm/music/DIANE+CAMERON+ELAM/THE+BEST+OF+DIANE+CAMERON http://www.betarecords.com/dianemcameronsings http://www.betarecords.com/diane_cameron AWARDS & MEDIA CREDITS CONGRATULATORY RESOLUTIONS SIGNED BY ALABAMA GOVERNOR BOB RILEY http://www.legislature.state.al.us/searchableinstruments/2004RS/Resolutions/HJR700.htm http://www.legislature.state.al.us/searchableinstruments/2006RS/Resolutions/HJR262.htm PRESS RELEASE ON WATER-WHEN KATRINA CAME IN RED CROSS NEWSLETTER http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_312_6914,00.html COMPANION VIDEO INTERVIEW OF DIANE CAMERON ON NBC 15 WATER-WHEN KATRINA CAME http://www.nbc15online.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=235099@video.wpmi.com HILTON HEAD ISLAND PACKET STORY ON TRIP TO DAUFUSKIE BY MS. CAMERON AND AFRICAN DELEGATION http://dwb.islandpacket.com/features/story/6296224p-5491059c.html THIS IS THE COMPANION VIDEO TO ACCOMPANY THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND STORY http://www.islandpacket.com/man/video/122406_AfricanFilmmakers.html
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