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Born and raised in New York City, Hank Fellows was living in Guttenberg, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from Ground Zero, on September 11, 2001. Hank was an eyewitness to the immediate aftermath of the destruction of the World Trade Center. In the hours, days and months following the attacks, Hank watched the black smoke rising from the ruins of the Twin Towers. It was during these dark days following 9-11 that Hank Fellows wrote "The Spirit of America", a love song to his grief-stricken country. His song "Halfway to Heaven" followed soon after, as Hank and the nation began to comprehend the terrible loss of life on that fateful September day.
"Halfway to Heaven" was first performed at the Bronx County Courthouse on September 11, 2003, at a memorial service honoring the 159 residents of Bronx, New York who died on 9-11. Since that time, Hank's 9-11 songs have been performed at official 9-11 ceremonies in all five boroughs of New York City. Hank has distributed hundreds of free CD copies of "Halfway to Heaven" and "The Spirit of America" to 9-11 families through such 9-11 family support organizations as Families of September 11th, September's Mission, and the Cantor Fitzgerald Memorial Fund (on behalf of the brokerage firm that lost 658 employees in the North Tower). Hank's 9-11 songs have been sung by school children across America as they learn to understand the events of that terrible day.
Hank Fellows, "America's Songwriter", has received four Popular Music Awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), and a Special Achievement Award from the Unisong International Song Contest. His highly-acclaimed musical revues have been presented at Lincoln Center and at leading New York City cabarets. Hank is a member of ASCAP, the Dramatists Guild, and the National Music Publishers Association. On September 10, 2006, Hank was presented with a Citation from the New York City Council for his "continued generosity and devotion to the remembrance of September 11th." On March 8, 2007, the 911 Memorial Committee of Jersey City, NJ (which had featured the performance of Hank's songs on 9-11-06) presented Hank with an honorary plaque for his "commitment and dedication to our Community".
To see photos of "Hank's Songs Across America" click here.
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