Renee Armand & Paul Aleman: A Life with John Denver

Renee Armand and Paul Aleman bring the genius and joy of John Denver to the Franklin Theater by sharing real and vibrant stories of life on the road with John and his wonderful, unforgettable music.They spent six years singing and recording with John and being an artistic partner in songs that became part of the American dream.

Renee Armand began her professional career at seventeen performing with John Handy’s fusion band in San Francisco. By the age of twenty she was discovered by Tony Bennett, mentored by Carmen McRea, and on the road with Woody Herman and Harry James as their last band singer. Her gift for live performance has taken her to every major city in the United State, Europe, Japan and Australia, on stages from a chicken-wire bar in Roswell, New Mexico, to Madison Square Garden, Albert Hall, The Budokan, and the Sydney Opera House.

She’s the voice of Oscar-winning soundtracks (“The Morning After” from The Poseidon Adventure), television themes, commercials (Rice A Roni, Toyota), and sung on albums with Michael Jackson, Linda Rondstadt, Little Feat, John Denver and Emmylou Harris.

Armand has written, sung and collaborated with many, including Hoyt Axton (“Boney Fingers,” her first country hit), and is the writer of Michael Jackson’s “One Day In Your Life.” Her own albums include “The RainBook” on A&M, “In Time” on RCA, and “The Coyote Sisters” on Motown, and “Listen.”

Paul Aleman is a composer, vocalist, and guitarist that has been performing professionally since childhood. In college, Paul began studying and writing for musical theatre and had his first musical produced at Fresno City College in 1989, “Moonlight,” which he composed with his close friend, Martin Torres. Paul’s cantata “The Abduction of Spring” was also featured at Fresno City College as well as several of his choral arrangements and symphony orchestrations.

In 1997, Paul wrote the music and lyrics for “Freedom’s Run,” a fully staged musical and 1997 Pulitzer Prize Candidate. Highlights of the soundtrack were recorded in Hollywood in the fall of 1997 by a full orchestra with orchestrations by the composer.

Paul’s musical, “Dillinger: Public Enemy Number One” which features his music and lyrics written to Joel Gross’ great script, was recorded by a full orchestra in Los Angeles, with several of Broadway’s biggest stars lending their talents; Tony winners-Alice Ripley, Debbie Gravitte, and Michael Maguire, leading the cast that also included Ron Bohmer, Jana Eastin, Eric Jordan Young, and Chuck Wagner. “Dillinger” has also had readings at New York’s “The York” theatre and “Manhattan Theatre Club” featuring well known Broadway performers such as, Tony winner-Lena Hall, Burke Moses, Bob Cucciolli, Aaron Lazar, Brooke Sunny Moriber, as well as Lou Diamond Phillips, to name a few. “Dillinger” is in development for a Broadway opening in the near future.