Betty Buckley Named Latest Artist Signed to Playbill Records

Tony Award ® Winner and Broadway legend, Betty Buckley, has become the first female artist signed to Playbill Records, a join-venture partnership with SONY BMG Masterworks Broadway. Buckley's first CD as a newly signed artist to Playbill is entitled Betty Buckley 1967 and will be released on October 16th, 2007. This will mark Playbill Records' second studio-album release, following its successful, label-launching record, the self-titled Brian Stokes Mitchell. Buckley's second album for the label, Quintessence, is slated to release on Valentine's Day 2008.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071011/NYTH035 )

Betty Buckley 1967 features this artist's unique vocal talents at the ripe age of 19, in her very first professional recording and reveals a voice whose beauty is second to none. From the moment the recording begins, one can't help being uplifted by the joyous sounds of a young woman who was primed to become one of the Great White Way's most impressive talents of a generation.

This never-before-released recording showcases Buckley in an enormous array and range of songs including a refreshingly upbeat rendition of Bye, Bye Birdie's One Boy, the classic Gershwin number They Can't Take That Away From Me, a free-spirited Call Me, and the simplicity of Buckley and a piano in Where is Love? The album was originally recorded and engineered by T Bone Burnett.

"It is truly remarkable to finally see this album be released after forty years. To listen to this recording, I remember a girl who loved to sing for the pure joy of it," said Betty Buckley.

Philip S. Birsh, President and Publisher of Playbill and Playbill Records President, stated "Betty is an astounding talent. I have seen her perform in theatres filled to capacity and in the intimacy of a recording studio. No matter the setting, the reaction is always the same; those present are moved and mesmerized by the sheer beauty of her voice."

Richard Jay-Alexander, Executive Producer of Playbill Records, echoes those same sentiments and adds, "I'm so happy we found a queen for our king at Playbill Records."

Buckley herself is overjoyed by the release of this album after four decades. This album proves that the music and talent featured in "1967" is just as timeless and significant as the person who sang them.

Because Buckley never got to see her first album actually become a record, Playbill is pressing special, limited-edition 12-inch vinyl LPs of "1967" to commemorate the release. This special collector's item will be available only through PlaybillStore.com. 2007 continues to be a landmark year for Buckley. She recently began filming the highly anticipated film from director M. Night Shyamalan entitled "The Happening." She will make her debut at New York's Town Hall in a special one-night-only performance on October 20th, 2007. Buckley's second release on Playbill Records, Quintessence, celebrates Buckley's 17-year working relationship with musical director and pianist Kenny Werner. Backed by a quintet of musicians, Buckley offers original renditions of Amelia, I've Grown Accustomed to His Face, Cry Me a River, No One Is Alone and So Many Stars.

Before landing her first Broadway role on her very first audition, before Cats made her a household name, before it all, there was 1967. This album is simply the prelude to a brilliant and unmatched career.

About Playbill Records: Playbill, the internationally recognized and authoritative publication for theatre, music and the performing arts expanded the reach of its famous yellow and black trademark logo with this newly minted record label in the summer of 2006. Since then, the label has produced a successful, original album and has expanded its trusted "Editors Choice" rating system for a new series of Broadway themed discs culled from the best archival original cast recordings ever produced. The first of its kind entitled "Scene Stealers" was released on April 1st, 2007, and features a 22- year old Buckley in her first role on Broadway in the show 1776.

About SONY BMG Masterworks Broadway: The recent mergers of Sony BMG combined the Sony Classical/Columbia Masterworks and RCA Victor labels, and led to the formation of Masterworks Broadway, which houses one of the most formidable catalogues of cast albums anywhere, with recent titles such as Tony winner Avenue Q, the revival of A Chorus Line, and Grammy-award winners The Producers and Hairspray, as well as the treasured original cast recordings of West Side Story, the original A Chorus Line, the revival of Chicago, and many others. RCA Red Seal, Sony Classical, Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, Masterworks Broadway and Masterworks Jazz are labels of SONY BMG Masterworks. For e-mail updates and information regarding RCA Red Seal, Sony Classical, Deutsche Harmonia Mundi, Masterworks Broadway and Masterworks Jazz artists, promotions, tours and repertoire, please visit www.sonybmgmasterworks.com.

For more information, please visit www.playbillrecords.com, www.sonybmgmasterworks.com and www.bettybuckley.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071011/NYTH035
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PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

SOURCE: SONY BMG Masterworks

CONTACT: Blake Ross of Sunshine, Sachs & Associates, +1-212-691-2800,
Ross@sunshinesachs.com; or Susan Schiffer of SONY BMG Masterworks,
+1-212-833-4763, Susan.Schiffer@sonybmg.com

Web site: http://www.sonybmgmasterworks.com/
http://www.playbillrecords.com/
http://www.bettybuckley.com/
http://www.playbillstore.com/