Category Archives: Heights Foundation

(Fort Myers, Fla. – March 8, 2013) – The Harlem Heights Cultural Arts and Community Center presents Nashville Songwriters on Stage Wednesday, March 20 at the Center, 15570 Hagie Drive in Fort Myers. Three highly accomplished hit songwriters will perform their popular compositions and tell the stories behind them. The evening will feature the famous Buddy Greene (Mary, Did You Know?), Grammy award-winning Randy Thomas (Butterfly Kisses), and Nashville hit-maker Regie Hamm (The Time of My Life). General admission tickets are $40 and VIP tickets that include a reception with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and meet & greet with the songwriters are $75.

All proceeds benefit the Heights Center, a place for education, opportunity, and enrichment. The Center’s mission is to promote family and community development, support education, health and wellness, and provide the benefits of enrichment, expressive and cultural arts in the Harlem Heights neighborhood.

Reserve tickets online by March 15 at www.heightsfoundation.org. For more information call (239) 482-7706 or visit www.heightsfoundation.org

About the Artists

Buddy Greene is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and harmonica player. Most of his recordings consist of gospel music, with a distinctly Southern flavor. Much of his music is influenced by country and bluegrass music. Greene grew up in Macon, Georgia. He has written the music for many songs and also co-wrote the Christmas song “Mary, Did You Know?” with Mark Lowry; Greene also wrote “Recovering Pharisee” recorded by Del McCoury, and “He Is” recorded by Ashley Cleveland. He is considered a harmonica legend by many, and once played a classical harmonica medley at Carnegie Hall.

Regie Hamm’s songs have been recorded by the likes of Kenny Loggins, Maxi Priest, Bob Carlisle, Jaci Velasquez, and Clay Crosse. He wrote one of the most popular Christian songs of the 1990s, entitled “I Surrender All,” recorded by Clay Crosse. His Top 20 Adult Contemporary hit entitled “Babies,” was featured on Delilah Rene’s nationally-syndicated love-songs program. In 2008, “The Time of My Life” became the finale song and first single for the winner of American Idol’s seventh season, David Cook. The song was a platinum-selling #1 single. In addition to the American Idol success, Regie Hamm has written for Clay Aiken and Lonestar. He has had over 400 cuts as a songwriter, and has been named SESAC songwriter of the year 4 times. Regie Hamm has a solo album titled “Set It on Fire” and a book titled “Angels & Idols”, released in 2010.

Randy Thomas has received numerous awards for his work in the pop, country, and Christian genres. These include the Grammy, Dove, ASCAP, NSAI, and Nashville Music awards. His pop/country smash “Butterfly Kisses” has been performed and recorded by numerous artists. “Butterfly Kisses” was the crossover hit of ‘97. Written with Bob Carlisle, it was #1 for seven weeks on Adult Contemporary radio, won a Grammy for country song of the year, and sold 3 million CDs. Randy is currently worship director for Westminster Presbyterian Church in Fort Myers and is still very active writing and producing and recording.

About the Heights Foundation and the Heights Center

The Heights Center, supported by the Heights Foundation, is a place for Education, Opportunity, and Enrichment. The Heights Foundation works to build strong, self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood. As a 501(c)3 grassroots organization, the Center’s mission is to promote family and community development, support education, health and wellness, and provide the benefits of enrichment, expressive and cultural arts. The 14,000 square-foot Harlem Heights Cultural Arts and Community Center opened in February 2013.

Harlem Heights was originally settled as a rural agricultural community. Approximately 1,200 children live in a mixture of single-family homes and multi-family apartments. Demographically, the population is approximately 55% Hispanic, 36% African-American, and 9% Caucasian. The poverty rate for children in Harlem Heights is more than twice the county average, with family income 40% below the county average. Families are not able to easily access family support services located in downtown Fort Myers, and benefit greatly from programs located within the neighborhood.