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Half Price Books Unveils Employee Music CD: 'Music By the Book'

Posted on: Tuesday, 8 July 2008, 18:00 CDT

Half Price Books, the nation's largest new and used bookstore chain, has released a compilation CD of 15 original tracks recorded by employee talent from across the country. The songs were chosen from entries through a company-wide contest calling for original music, and the compilation encompasses everything from rock to folk to original classical compositions, a mix that reflects the diverse employees of Half Price Books. The CD's cover art was also included in the competition, and several employees submitted original artwork that was considered for the jacket.

The CD retails for $6.98, and proceeds from its sales will benefit the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting music through the donation of musical instruments to young musicians.

"Half Price Books has always been a haven for talented artists and musicians, many of them performers first, booksellers second," said John Wilson, project manager for Music by the Book and an employee since 1992. "This CD was designed to showcase that talent and to let our employees know that as a company, we value and support their creative energy."

Since the company's founding in 1972, Half Price Books has drawn musicians from every musical genre into the family, and a large percentage of the original employees that are still with the company continue to perform on a regular basis. Steve Leach, whose group "The Bob Monk Singers" is featured in the project, has been with the company for more than 20 years, and currently serves as Half Price Books' collectible merchandise specialist. "Half Price Books has always been sort of a brotherhood of musicians and artists, and we're excited that our company is supporting us in such a public way," Leach said. "It really shows what kind of place this is to work."

"Music by the Book" is available at any Half Price Books location or online at http://www.halfpricebooks.com/. Also online are 30-second samples of each song, along with the names and hometowns of the featured artists.

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