90°F
weather icon Cloudy

Pahrump artist nabs multiple musical awards in 2021

Artistic passion takes many forms and for local resident John Michael Ferrari, it’s music and entertaining others that fires his enthusiasm.

A longtime singer and songwriter with a deeply embedded love of all things lyrical, Ferrari has spent years creating music and presenting it to the world and recently, he earned several more feathers in his musical industry cap.

For 2021, Ferrari has taken home an array of awards, including Crossover Artist of the Year by New Music Awards and Rising Star of the Year by Virtual Golden Gala Wall of Fame Awards.

This year has also seen Ferrari recognized for one of his newest songs as well as his latest album, with the song “Like a Rock ’n’ Roll Band” being named Peace Song of the Year by Art for Peace and the album “Be the Smile on Your Face” taking the Triple A Album of the Year award from Producers Choice Honors.

It’s far from the first time that Ferrari has garnered such prestigious recognition and it will likely not be the last, but no matter how many times he is honored with awards that highlight his talent and and passion, his feelings of profound appreciation never seem to fade.

“I am always grateful and fulfilled by the appreciation of an audience. However, this latest recognition, Crossover Artist of the Year, as well as several previous awards over the past two years, are most unusual because strangers I pass in everyday life come up to me and congratulate me either on the success of a song or the honor of an award. It brightens my life!” Ferrari told the Pahrump Valley Times.

Ferrari noted that he has been playing music and composing his own songs since childhood, recalling that he spent many hours as a youngster standing in front of a mirror, guitar in hand and trying to mimic the king of rock and roll, Elvis himself.

“Music has given me an opportunity to meet people as I’ve performed all over the country. I’ve discovered there is never a stranger in the audience,” he said. “By nature, we all need to be creative, to create something. That’s our way of contributing to society and to the world. Music should make one feel good and I hope that’s the reaction of others to my music. It’s exciting that several of my songs have been on the radio in the U.S. and internationally and five of them have hit several radio charts.”

Ferrari, who produces under the independent record label Cappy Records, is set to release a brand new single next week as well, a song that takes a bit of a different form than a majority of the other pieces he has written.

“‘My Heart Can’t Breathe’ is different from most of my other songs,” Ferrari detailed. “Most of the many songs I’ve written and arranged, like the 12 tracks on my previous album ‘Be the Smile on Your Face’, were love songs. ‘My Heart Can’t Breathe’ is a breakup song. You know that feeling when your heart hurts and you feel you can hardly breathe? I wrote it after seeing a photo of myself and a friend from long ago and my heart hurt seeing it because we no longer are together as friends.”

“My Heart Can’t Breathe” is scheduled for release on Tuesday, Aug. 10 and will be available on a variety of platforms, including iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Reverbnation and more.

Ferrari made sure to shine the spotlight on the many others whose efforts have helped make him the music-man he is today. “Musical success is a collaboration from several different directions,” Ferrari said. “I appreciate my music producer Pepper Jay, and also my radio promoter Paul Loggins, as well as Larry Beaird Music Group in Nashville where I recorded my last album as well as ‘My Heart Can’t Breathe’, and the fantastic studio musicians who have played on my tracks.”

Ferrari encouraged those who love good music to check out his newest single when it is released and noted, “I would appreciate fans asking their local radio station to play ‘My Heart Can’t Breathe’ by John Michael Ferrari.”

For more information on Ferrari visit www.johnmichaelferrari.com

Contact reporter Robin Hebrock at rhebrock@pvtimes.com

THE LATEST
Motorcycle rider flown to UMC Trauma

Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue Services Chief Scott Lewis told the Pahrump Valley Times that crews were dispatched to a report of a serious two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Sandpebble Street and Kellogg Road on the south end of the valley at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 8.

US 95 head-on crash kills one in Nye County

The Nevada Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash along US 95 at approximately 2 a.m. on Monday morning, May 13, according to Pahrump Valley Fire and Rescue Services Chief Scott Lewis.

Impact fees rising for new development in Pahrump

The cost for new construction in Pahrump has now officially gone up following impact fee increases approved by the Nye County Commission, which went into effect as of Tuesday, May 7.

Nevada Volunteers hosts Pahrump Volunteer Fair

Nevada Volunteers hosted the Pahrump Volunteer Fair this month, the first such fair in a grant-funded series that will take the nonprofit all around the Silver State over the course of the next three years, all in the name of advocating for and educating people on the power of volunteering.

Garage fire destroys 11 classic cars

Close to a dozen classic cars in various states of restoration were consumed by fire at a residence along the 3000 block of North Joanita Street last week.

Repairs underway for wildlife fence

With a variety of free-roaming wild horse and burro herds calling the open land surrounding Pahrump home, car-versus-equine crashes are an unfortunate but all-too-common occurrence. Fencing is essential. Join the effort to protect wild horses and burros — and drivers too.

GALLERY: These community activists are changing Pahrump Valley

A dozen volunteers in the valley were celebrated for their contributions at the Inaugural Hope Floats Volunteer Recognition Luncheon hosted by the NyE Communities Coalition.

Beatty board backs Ash Meadows conservancy plans

At its May 6 meeting, the Beatty Town Advisory Board voted to send a letter supporting the Amargosa Conservancy’s conceptual map showing the boundary of its proposed Ash Meadows mineral withdrawal area.

Memorial service set for former Town Manager Bill Kohbarger

A special Celebration of Life ceremony for former Pahrump Town Manager Bill Kohbarger is scheduled for Friday May 10, at the Pahrump Veterans Memorial at 751 East Street from 12-to-4 p.m.