Concert benefits scholarship

Staff report

AUSTINTOWN

A concert to begin the 2013 Mamie Ross Native American Scholarship fundraising effort is scheduled for Sept. 9 at Upper Room Ministries, 4301 New Road.

Singer/songwriter Jenah Ross Shank, along with her husband, Ron Shank, established the effort two years ago in partnership with Steel Valley Baptist Association based in Warren.

The scholarship assists Native American youths by underwriting their participation in summer Bible camp and providing clothing and school supplies.

The event will serve as the release of Shank’s new CD “Captive of Hope.” She, along with producers/ musicians Josh Lattanzi and Ronnie Cable, will perform songs from the CD.

The Upper Room Praise Band will start the night; doors open at 6:30 p.m. with music set to start at 7. Admission is free.

“Captive of Hope” is a collaborative effort among Shank, Lattanzi and Cable, all of Austintown. It features 11 original songs written by Shank and is the first completed effort for Lattanzi and Cable as producers. The work was mastered by David Granati.

Performances, along with Shank on vocals and guitar, feature Cable on guitars and mandolin; Lattanzi on guitar, bass, keyboard, drums and percussion; Amber Lattanzi on piano; and the vocals of Nickie Keagy and Kiara Lutz, Shank’s 5-year-old granddaughter, who helped write one of the tracks.

Copies of the CD will be available at the concert. The CD will also be available on itunes, amazon.com, cdbaby.com and bestbuy.com.

The performance will feature key players on the CD and guest bassist Jake Coughlin and Paul McCullough, who will assist with percussion.

Josh Lattanzi, Amber Lattanzi and Cable are members of the Upper Room Praise Band.

Shank leads worship at the Truckers Ministry at the Petro Truck Stop in Girard, where her husband, Ron, is chaplain.

She has recorded several CDs of her original music, with songs featuring the Pittsburgh-based Granati Brothers — David, Joey and Hermie Granati, along with Tony Bonomo — and Phil Keaggy and John Sferra of Glass Harp.

The Shanks work with Jemez Valley Baptist Church in Jemez Springs, N.M. to assist Native American families in that area.

This past summer, the scholarship program provided funding for 12 people to attend summer camp, including a disabled veteran who served in Iraq and was able to go to camp with his children.

The goal for 2013 is to send 20 youths to summer camp, and to provide one Native American youth with a college scholarship.

For information, call 330-978-1702 or email jenahshank@aol.com.