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TUCSON, Ariz., April 15, 2003 — Billy Gilman, the Rhode Island teen who — at age 11 — took the country music world by storm in 2000 with his hit single, “One Voice,” has agreed to serve as National Youth Chairman for the Muscular Dystrophy Association

MDA National Youth Chairman Billy Gilman

Gilman, now 14, replaces Mandy Van Benthuysen of San Diego, who recently relinquished the post after six years to pursue a career in broadcasting. MDA’s National Youth Chairman spearheads the efforts of thousands of teen-agers and young adults across the country who volunteer their time and energy to help the Association’s lifesaving mission.

Gilman’s invitation to serve in this important capacity comes at the recommendation of best-selling poet, peacemaker and MDA National Goodwill Ambassador Mattie J.T. Stepanek.

And the fact that Gilman’s latest album bears a name — “Music Through Heartsongs: Songs Based on the Poems of Mattie J.T. Stepanek” — is no coincidence.

“When I heard Mattie’s amazing story and his beautiful poetry, I knew I had to do what I could to get his message out to as many people as possible,” said Gilman, who divides his time between Rhode Island and Nashville.

Scheduled for release on April 15, “Music Through Heartsongs” features selected poems by Mattie, set to music and taken to a new dimension by Gilman’s vocals.

“I have always felt that music has a healing power, and I was very excited about the opportunity to put Mattie’s words to music and share them with the world,” Gilman added.

The two met when talk-show host Larry King noticed the similarities between the sentiments expressed by Gilman’s songs and Mattie’s poetry, and booked them on his show on the same night.

“We hit it off right away,” Mattie recalls. “We had so much in common — I felt like I’d known him for years.”

Gilman’s first scheduled appearance as MDA’s National Youth Chairman will be at the DECA Association of Marketing Students International Career Development Conference April 26-29 in Orlando, Fla. DECA is a longtime national MDA sponsor.

“We’re delighted to have an up-and-coming star of the magnitude of Billy Gilman to serve as our National Youth Chairman,” MDA National Chairman Jerry Lewis said. “I had the pleasure of meeting Billy during the 2001 Telethon, and he made quite an impression on me — not just because of his incredible vocal talent, but because of his wonderful heart.”

“Music Through Heartsongs” is Gilman’s fourth release on the Epic Records Nashville label, following “One Voice” and “Classic Christmas” in 2000, and “Dare to Dream” in 2001.

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