The band hits the stage running, and the show isn’t finished until the last autograph is signed. Sounds exhausting, but it’s just the last act of a very long day for Nashville recording artist Michelle Murray and her band. Besides touring, practice, countless hours in the recording studio and many personal appearances, Michelle and her manager/husband Tom are parents of 3 very active small children.
Theirs is a family business, with Tom & Michelle taking the children along on tour with them as often as school schedules allow. Michelle credits her kids with giving her the strength to stay grounded and on track with life, and besides, they’re fun! Michelle said, “I feel like any other mom trying to balance home and work. Sometimes it comes more natural and other times I can feel very overwhelmed. I think the most important part of anything running smoothly is constant communication and staying involved with each other.”
Asked about touring, Michelle responded, “I love traveling with everyone – it just feels like family. We all get along great and my kids especially love the tour bus and all the band members. We use the travel time to go over song lists, catch up with each other, play practical jokes…. It’s great quality time.”
After recording several CD’s and opening for dozens of Country Music’s biggest stars, Michelle Murray is truly becoming a star in her own right. Performing LIVE for hundreds of thousands of fans, 2009 has become a breakthrough year for Michelle with no sign of things slowing down. Michelle will release her fourth CD, “Long Road to Fame” in 2010 and expects to see over 100 dates on the road.
With all this going on, it’s amazing that Michelle can dedicate any time to the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation. But Michelle sings at Foundation events, takes advantage of every opportunity to spread the word about SSPF, and has even recorded a tune she co-wrote with bandmate Paige Logan, called “Sam’s Song”.
To listen to a clip of Michelle singing "Sam's Song", her moving tribute to Sam Schmidt and the daily struggle against paralysis,
Asked about her inspiration, Michelle answered, “I wrote a song about Sam and one of the lines is, ‘Nobody can tell me that something is beyond me.’ With God, nothing is impossible and it’s so exciting for me to see where He takes me when I stay grounded in faith. I have always seen that in Sam. I feel like he’s such an inspirational example of how our spirit can prevail no matter what comes our way.”
Michelle Murray considers volunteerism an essential part of life, along with faith, family and career. As a spokesperson, she is using her unique God-given talents to extend the reach of the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation. Charismatic as well as musically gifted, Michelle enjoys meeting people and talking about the Foundation. No one soon forgets her or her strong commitment to Sam Schmidt and the Foundation.
Inspired by Sam’s oft-repeated advice to “find your passion and follow it”, Michelle is well on her way towards proving that it is indeed possible for a mother of three to be successful in the music business. The road to fame is log and exhausting, but joyful, exciting and rewarding as well.
Join us in wishing SSPF spokesperson Michelle Murray all the luck and love she so deserves! Follow Michelle and the band on MySpace and Facebook. And when you see her in concert, be sure to let her know you share her dedication to the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation.
NEW 2012 IZOD INDYCAR SERIES CALENDAR NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER
Proceeds benefit 3 charities, including the Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation
United Medical Providers, Inc. (UMP) is proud to announce the release of the official 2012 IZOD IndyCar wall calendar.
For the first time in history, proceeds of the calendar will benefit three racing-related charities: Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation, Racing for Kids and Racing for Cancer. By purchasing the popular calendar, fans are doing their part to support all three organizations.
Now renowned throughout the paddock, the official calendar has become a must-have for any racing enthusiast. The twelve-month, 12”x9” (12”x18” open), photographic wall calendar features some of the hottest stars of the IZOD IndyCar Series, including Dario Franchitti, Will Power, Marco Andretti, Simona De Silvestro, Helio Castroneves and more!
The month of May is celebrated in the calendar by showcasing IZOD IndyCar champion, and two-time Indy 500 winner, Dan Wheldon. From now until December 31, 2011, UMP will donate $1 from the sale of every calendar to the Dan Wheldon Family Trust Fund.
Race fans will also enjoy a full-page poster of Cameron Haven, the IZOD IndyCar Series Trophy Girl. The entire calendar offers everything a race fan needs to celebrate their favorite open-wheel sport, or give as a gift.
“We’re really excited about the 2012 calendar,” said David Wills, President of UMP. “The demand for this awesome product keeps going up, which gives us the ability to donate to three amazing charities in the racing community. It’s a win-win for everyone involved and we truly appreciate the fan support.”
Fans can purchase the calendar online now at www.UMPonline.com/calendar. Bulk purchase discounts are available. In addition, updates will be published throughout the 2012 season for fans that wish to purchase additional calendars at the track.
Recipients of Calendar Profits for 2012
The Sam Schmidt Paralysis Foundation was started in 2000 by Indy Racing League driver Sam Schmidt shortly after a practice-run crash left him paralyzed from the chest down. SSPF is leading the charge to cure paralysis by funding scientific research, medical treatment, rehabilitation and technological advances. In addition to initiating local and national advocacy efforts on behalf of those disabled, SSPF funds a national Day at the Races program.
Founded in Detroit in 1989, Racing For Kids is designed to use the increasing popularity of motorsports to focus public attention and funding on the health care needs of children.
Racing For Cancer, Inc. was formed to unite motorsports fans around the world to help those afflicted with cancer and to promote early detection and prevention initiatives that support the global fight against cancer.
About United Medical Providers
United Medical Providers (UMP) has been serving the medical supply and equipment needs for thousands of clients in the United States since 1996. UMP can supply clients’ urological needs with a complete line of quality products. UMP carries thousands of products from top manufacturers like Astra Tech, Bard, Coloplast, Hollister, Rochester Medical, Rusch and Securi-T. For more information, visit www.UMPonline.com.
Schmidt Wins International Motorsports Industry Show Achievement Award
INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 7, 2011) – Officials from the International Motorsports Industry Show (IMIS) announced Wednesday that Sam Schmidt, owner of Sam Schmidt Motorsports (SSM), is the recipient of the 2011 IMIS Achievement Award.
Schmidt was presented the award during the IMIS Welcome Reception at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Chip Ganassi, who won the first IMIS Achievement Award last year, presented Schmidt with the honor along with Randy Bernard, president of INDYCAR, and Chris Paulsen, one of the founders of IMIS.
“The International Motorsports Industry Show is for hardcore racers,” Paulsen said. “Sam is the definition of a hardcore racer. After his driving career ended unexpectedly, he became one of the most successful and respected team owners in INDYCAR. He’s given a lot of young drivers their first break into INDYCAR racing and his record in Firestone Indy Lights competition is unmatched. It’s an honor to present him with the second International Motorsports Industry Show Achievement Award.”
Schmidt, 47, who resides just outside of Las Vegas in Henderson, Nev., was a top-notch driving talent in IZOD IndyCar Series competition before being involved in a testing accident at Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando, Fla., prior to the 2000 season that rendered him a quadriplegic.
He formed SSM in 2001 and, since then, has captured five Indy Lights championships (Thiago Medeiros, 2004; Jay Howard, 2006; Alex Lloyd, 2007; J.K. Vernay, 2010 and Josef Newgarden, 2011) and 46 race wins. For the past nine years, Schmidt has also fielded cars in the IndyCar Series’ premier race, the Indianapolis 500. This past May, SSM driver Alex Tagliani won the pole position for the Indy 500 while his teammate, Townsend Bell, qualified fourth.
Several drivers who have competed for SSM in Indy Lights competition have moved up to race in the IndyCar Series, including Lloyd, Ana Beatriz and James Hinchcliffe.
“This is a tremendous honor for me to win the International Motorsports Industry Show Achievement Award,” Schmidt said. “It’s very humbling and is really an award for all of our employees who work so hard to build championship-winning racecars. It meant a lot to me to have Chip and Randy there to present the award, as well. I just can’t thank everyone enough for this honor.”
The third annual IMIS, set to run Thursday through Saturday, is the United States’ premier hardcore racing trade show. Owned by Paulsen, owner of C&R Racing, Jeff Stoops, president of Stoops Freightliner, and three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, IMIS has a lifetime contract with the City of Indianapolis and has reserved show dates through 2015. From car builders to tire manufacturers to parts suppliers, every form of motorsports is represented at IMIS. Attendees come from all levels of the sport. From NASCAR team owners to weekend road racers, IMIS attracts motorsports enthusiasts from around the globe.
For information about IMIS, go to www.imis-indy.com.
