“The Last American Gladiator,” a CD of stories and songs that highlights life in Richmond during the 70‘s and 80‘s was presented with the award for Best Action Stories of 2013 by Storytelling World Magazine. The CD which was recorded in front of a live studio audience in 2012 at The Chrysalis Group Gathering Space in Carytown features the work of performer/writer Slash Coleman.
Slash Coleman, a Richmond native, is best known as the performer/writer for the award-winning PBS productionThe Neon Man and Me which enjoyed six national tours before it landed in an Off-Broadway theater.
“Richmond is my home and the CD brings to life my eccentric family of artist immigrants and my obsessions with the icons of my childhood – Evel Knievel, the rock band KISS, etc. I’m pretty excited that my CD received honors with so many other national prominent storytellers,” Coleman said.
The CD was recorded and engineered by Frank Coleman of Home Cookin’ Studios in Richmond. As a sound engineer/musician Frank Coleman is a regular participant at the Richmond Folk Festival, Ashland Coffee & Tea and known for his extensive work with WCVE/The Community Idea Station. The last documentary for which he produced a score, WCVE’s “Liberty Or Death”, was among the Top 10 most aired public television documentaries in the entire country.
The iconic photo on the CD was created by Richmond photographer Kim Frost and features Willis Da Great Dane (who has his own Facebook page view it here) owned by Rod Berbert, the fire captain for the city of Richmond, and also his teenage son Cole Berbert.
The 19th Annual Storytelling World Awards were created by Dr. Flora Joy in 1995 to evaluate storytelling books, CD, and DVD’s. The award committee consists of a select panel of several qualified judges (with a variety of professional, personal, and geographic backgrounds) who spend several months in an intensive evaluation process to select awards in 7 categories. For more information about the awards visithttp://www.
