Alex Francke is a native of Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America (USA), and the daughter of Ken and Crinda Francke. Graduate, University of Kentucky – Gatton College of Business and Economics – Class of 2019.
In 2019 Alex Francke won the title of "Miss Kentucky."
Alex Francke competed in "Miss America 2020" which was held on 19/12/2019. He did not win the top prize, but was the winner of the "Women in Business Scholarship awards".
During her tenure at UK, Alex was active with DanceBlue, a member of Alpha Delta Pi, and was an Alumni Ambassador. Her time at UK presented her with opportunities to study abroad in Cape Town, South Africa and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
"Adopt An Art" is Alex's Social Impact Initiative. This non-profit, founded by Alex in 2014, provides Kentucky public schools and community programs with high quality arts lessons and classes, free of charge. An alumna of both Governor's School for the Arts and the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCAPA), vocal performance was Alex's talent in the Miss Kentucky and Miss America competitions. She loves any opportunity to perform and share her passion for the arts. In the future, Alex hopes to be an entrepreneur who can combine her love for serving others and excitement for business, as a 4th generation business woman. She is a member of Southland Christian Church and has served in their children's and student ministries for multiple years.
After getting a glimpse of the job of Miss Kentucky (as Miss Kentucky's Outstanding Teen 2014) Alex was thrilled to get the opportunity to travel our state as the official spokesperson for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's Kentucky Proud program. Earning the job of Miss Kentucky afforded Alex the opportunity to represent Kentucky at the 2020 Miss America competition at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. In addition to making some of the best memories, Alex was honored and proud to be selected as a finalist for the Miss America Foundation's Additional Scholarship Award Interviews. At the conclusion of the interview process, Alex was selected as the Miss America 2020 Women in Business Award Recipient…the first Miss Kentucky to ever do so.
PROFESSIONAL CONTACT
Website > https://misskentucky.org/meet-miss-kentucky
Facebook > https://www.facebook.com/misskentuckyalexfrancke/
Instagram > https://www.instagram.com/alexfrancke/
MIKE LEPOND
Michael Anthony LePond III is an American musician, best known as the bass guitarist of the progressive metal band "Symphony X".
Right now, in 2020 AD, you really, really need the escape which is Whore Of Babylon, courtesy of Mike LePond’s Silent Assassins. Cranking this thunderous, relentless double fistful of pure metal escape, whether in your car navigating this increasingly weird and wild world, in your headphones shutting out everything or on your home stereo system, sabre-rattling at the neighbours, is the sort of soul-nourishment your metal-self will repeatedly crave. Because in forging a union between the mighty worlds of heavy metal and ancient history, LePond’s Silent Assassins have delivered the heaviest of escapes, some rich tales and a deliciously sore neck.
It started in 2014 with their blistering self-titled debut album, continued with 2018’s Pawn And Prophecy and achieves its most intense peak yet with the no-holds barred, gauntlet-thrown, real heavy metal mission that is Whore Of Babylon, led by LePond (known worldwide as one of the foremost bass virtuosos in heavy metal music and a member of progressive metal band Symphony X).
“In a lot of newer metal bands,it’s become very cookie cutter, with this stereotypical singalong hook,” explains LePond. “The keyboards are so loud they’re as loud as the guitars, and a lot of it has become very poppy and commercially friendly in the process, losing that mean, nasty, biker kinda sound. I think that maybe a lot of the younger generation has just been not exposed to the true power of the metal riff, and it is my mission to educate them!”
Since childhood, LePond has devoured said-riffs for 3 meals a day, 7 days a week. Growing up in Newark, New Jersey, he became absorbed with the bass guitar after hearing the likes of Judas Priest, Saxon and Manowar before witnessing Kiss live, which motivated LePond to get gear and take music lessons. In 1999, he met Michael Romeo, who invited LePond to become the bassist for the progressive metal act Symphony X. Over time, LePond became known as one of the most skilful, heavy bassists in modern hard rock and heavy metal, yet since his school days, LePond always harboured a deep desire to recreate the impact of hearing blistering heavy metal for the first time.
“I loved all the classic metal bands like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Saxon, Manowar and all that stuff,” says LePond. “I’ve always wanted to show where my raw roots come from because I think it’s vitally important that younger fans feel the same things that I felt when I first listened to Black Sabbath, when I first listened to Metallica and Kill ‘Em All, that crazy “wow man” feeling. I wanted to stress that classic heavy metal riff, the riff that comes in and makes you involuntarily bang your head. That riff is the main thing, and I wanted to create the feeling I had when I heard the first Manowar album.”
From the scintillating fury of “Dracul Son” to the baroque mystery of the title track, with Whore Of Babylon LePond has written and produced the sort of album that old school metalheads have been dreaming of. Amidst the furious aural assault, LePond also marches through the tales of some of history’s most fascinating and brutal characters.
“Years ago, I started to watch a lot of the History Channel, and something flipped in my head,” LePond explains. “I never wanted to write about hot chicks and stuff like that, so when I started to learn more about history, I knew that the marriage of history with old school crushing metal riffs would be great, epic and powerful. I wrote the first two solo albums on that premise, and this new album is another step up on that model. Vlad the Impaler and Countess Bathory? Look, these are epic historical tales! Take the story of “The Whore of Babylon”, which in my interpretation was this demonic woman who seduces you, takes you to hell and takes your soul. Come on! That is some story, and it just matches up with this glorious music perfectly. All these stories do, and I hope that people will be stimulated into seeking more information and learning even more about these amazing figures. Epic tales go with epic metal!”
LePond recorded the album in-between various tours with Symphony X, working in Symphony X guitarist Michael Romeo’s home studio, LePond also playing the rhythm guitars, while the core of Silent Assassins remains the same.
“Alan Tecchio (vocals) has been with me from the beginning, and possesses such an incredible amount of range and power that we’re always gonna work together, and just like Lance Barnewold (guitars), he will definitely be in a touring situation,” states LePond. “Jamming with these guys is a no stress situation. There are no egos, there’s no bullshit, it’s just love of this metal music that drives us all, and I think you can clearly hear that on Whore Of Babylon.”
As the world spins on an axis weirder and crazier than any of us could’ve predicted even a month ago, there is more purpose and value in knowing your history than ever before.
“I think history does repeat itself at different times, with one of the main reasons being because people don’t want to learn from their history, so they just keep repeating it,” says LePond. “My advice to anyone is to go back and learn history. Learn what happened before you were here, it can only help you in your life.”
When that learning is wrapped in the sort of molten metal that is Whore Of Babylon, education becomes so much better. Listening to Mike LePond’s Silent Assassins is a gateway to halting the cycle of human ignorance. A sentence you might’ve thought you’d never read, but one which can most certainly bear the finest of fruit…that and it will push your speakers to the brink of metal-motivated madness!
Track listing:
Dracul Son
Ides of March
Tell Tale Heart
Night of The Long Knives
Champion
Ironborn
Lady Bathory
Power of Steel
Whore of Babylon
Avalon
Credits:
Mike LePond – 4 and 8 string basses, rhythm and acoustic guitars, backing vocals
Alan Tecchio – Lead and backing vocals
Lance Barnewold – Lead guitars on tracks 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8
Rod Rivera – Lead guitars on tracks 4, 5, 10
Sarah Teets – Flute, lead and backing vocals on track 5
Michael Romeo – Drum programming, keyboards, orchestration, mandolin
Michael Pinnella – Piano on track 3, organ on track 10, backing vocals
Music and lyrics by Mike LePond
Produced by Mike LePond
Engineered by Michael Romeo
Scratch tracks engineered by C.J. Scioscia @ Le Chateau Bow Wow Recording Studio
Mixed and mastered by Eric Rachel
PROFESSIONAL CONTACT
Facebook > https://www.facebook.com/mikelepondssilentassassins/
Instagram > https://www.instagram.com/mikelepondssilentassassins/
Twitter > https://twitter.com/mlsassassins
Spotify > https://spoti.fi/3b1da95
Leandro Teixeira é um Ator, Apresentador e Humorista Brasileiro, com passagens por diversos programas de TV: Rede Record, SBT, Multishow, History Channel, Oi TV, atuações em filmes, e com mais de 30 campanhas publicitárias.
TELEVISÃO
"O Infiltrado" - History Channel.
"Programa Pânico" na BAND.
"Maratona do Humor" na Rede Record.
"Conexão" vencedor de EMMY da TV americana, transmitida pela BYU TV para toda América Latina.
"Adorável Psicose" no MULTISHOW.
"A Vida Sexual de Babu" no MULTISHOW.
"Programa do Mallandro" no MULTISHOW.
"HUMANÓIDES" na Oi TV direção de Rosana Swartman.
"Parafernalha" na Web entre outros.
CINEMA
"Até que a Sorte nos Separe 3".
"Disparos" vencedor de 3 prêmios no Festival do Rio.
"Deuses e Titãs" (vencedor do melhor filme do festival Curta Criativo no CCBB), entre outros.
TEATRO
Mais de 15 espetáculos entre eles os musicais dirigidos por Ernesto Piccolo "Dá Um Jeitinho Aí" (Citado pelo Globo melhores peças de 2007).
"Sorria Você Está Sendo Roubado", criou, atuou e produziu o Clube do Humor, evento de humor em cartaz por 30 meses ininterruptos no SESC Tijuca se tornando referência no Brasil e participou de diversos shows de humor pelo Brasil.
PUBLICIDADE
Atuou em mais de 30 campanhas publicitárias entre elas campanha "BBB 2016", "GLOBOSAT" “Ipiranga”, "VIVO", "Sportv", "Skol", "BRADESCO" entre outros.
PORTFÓLIO DE APRESENTADOR
PORTFOLIO DE STAND UP COMEDY
MONÓLOGO
CONTATO PROFISSIONAL
Facebook > https://www.facebook.com/canaldoteixeira
Instagram > https://www.instagram.com/teixeiraleandro/
Charlie Benante é um Multi-instrumentista, Compositor e Designer Gráfico Estadunidense.
Charlie é mundialmente conhecido como baterista da banda de heavy metal ANTHRAX.
Charlie entrou no ANTHRAX em 1983, quando a banda procurava por um baterista mais técnico para substituir Greg D'Angelo, para a gravação do primeiro álbum da banda, intitulado: “Fistful of Metal”, e é até hoje é membro da banda ininterruptamente.
Charlie tem um modo peculiar de tocar, com uma rapidez incrível nos dois bumbos de sua bateria, também guitarra e percussão, sendo que no primeiro álbum do S.O.D. “Speak English or Die” ele toca o solo da faixa "United Forces". Além de músico, ele criou algumas capas para bandas e desenhou camisetas.
Charlie é um dos mais rápidos bateristas do thrash metal, e alguns críticos especializados, o creditam, ao lado de Dave Lombardo, como um dos melhores e mais técnicos bateristas do metal mundial.
DISCOGRAFIA
Com Anthrax
*Fistful of Metal (1984)
*Armed and Dangerous (EP) (1985)
*Spreading The Disease (1985)
*Among The Living (1987)
*I'm The Man (EP) (1987)
*State of Euphoria (1988)
*Penikufesin (EP) (1989)
*Persistence of Time (1990)
*Sound of White Noise (1993)
*The Island Years (1994)
*Stomp 442 (1995)
*Volume 8: The Threat is Real (1998)
*We've Come for You All (2003)
*Music of Mass Destruction (2004)
*The Greater of Two Evils (2004)
*Alive 2 (2005)
*Worship Music (2011)
*Anthems (EP) (2013)
Com S.O.D
*Speak English Or Die (1985)
*Live At Budokan (1992)
*Bigger Than the Devil (1992)
*Rise of the Infidels - Megaforce Records (2007)
CONTATO PROFISSIONAL
Site > http://charliebenante.com/
Facebook > https://www.facebook.com/CharlieBenanteOfficial/
Instagram > https://www.instagram.com/charbenante/
Carlos Alazraqui was not just the face of Deputy James Garcia on Comedy Central’s hit show RENO 911 or RENO 911 the movie! He recently won the prestigious ANNIE AWARD for Outstanding Achievement in Voice Acting in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production THE MR. PEABODY & SHERMAN SHOW. He’s also been a standup comic for over 25 years, a well known television/film actor and one of LA’s top voiceover actors with hundreds of credits to his name.
Television and film audiences have recently seen Carlos as Officer Alvarez in the new CBS series KEVIN CAN WAIT, Dr. Moncada on JANE THE VIRGIN for CW, Sammy Tucker on BONES for FOX, Detective Nash on Tru TV’s ADAM RUINS EVERYTHING, Mr. Foodie on MUTT AND STUFF, and Christopher Columbus on CROSSROADS OF HISTORY. On the big screen, Carlos plays Hector in DANCE BABY DANCE to be released in 2018, and Carlo in TAKE THE TEN for Netflix. He also has a long running commercial campaign in the Southeast as spokesman JJ Hightail for DIRECT AUTO INSURANCE.
Presently he is rebooting his role of Rocko in the NEW ROCKO’S MODERN LIFE for Nickelodeon. He plays Mayor Temoroso on THE NEW ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS for Dreamworks Animation and Netflix, he is the voice of Skylar in Disney’s ELENA OF AVALOR, and Jimmy Pierce on Cartoon Networks new show UNLOVABLE.
He also partnered with Michael Douglas/Further Films and HBO to develop his own half hour series based on one of his own characters titled GOOD MORNING IOWA. Carlos is Executive Producer on a primetime animated series called LET IT BEARD, and FUN SQUAD, a half hour live action series, with CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM’s Tim Gibbons. Additionally he is creator and Executive Producer with Ryan Seacrest/Endemol Shine on a show called UNCOMMON GROUND.
His other writing credits include THE RIP SQUAD a half hour live action series for Comedy Central, THE LAST WHITE DISHWASHER (short film), HEAD GAMES (short film in post production), SPIRITOLOGY (half hour series), and several other television and movie projects in development including projects with Broadway Home Video.
Carlos has provided the voices for Rocko and Spunky on Nickelodeon’s ROCKO’S MODERN LIFE, Mr. Weed on FOX’s THE FAMILY GUY, Lazlo on Cartoon Network’s CAMP LAZLO, Bane in JUSTICE LEAGUE DOOM, and Mr. Crocker on Nickelodeon’s long running series FAIRLY ODD PARENTS. One of his most famous roles was the voice of The Taco Bell Chihuahua for TACO BELL, which has been documented as one of the most well known advertising campaigns of all time.
Carlos also plays Bob in FUNHOUSE MASSACRE (2015), El Chupacabra, the breakout star of Disney’s PLANES, Amos in the hit film FREE BIRDS, King Magnus on Disney’s SOPHIA THE FIRST! You can also hear Carlos as the voice of Nestor, the Latin Penguin, in HAPPY FEET and HAPPY FEET 2 as well as Chuy and General Posada in BOOK OF LIFE, and the sexy Brazilian Helicopter Pilot and Dad’s Fear in INSIDE OUT, to name just a few of his film roles.
Carlos had a Showtime special and a Comedy Central Half Hour Special as well as several other national television appearances including three spots on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. He is presently developing another comedy special!
Carlos also doubles his work for PIXAR as the sound-a-like voice for Billy Crystal as Mike Wazowski for commercials and merchandise.
Carlos works with Stephanie Miller every Wednesday on his COFFEE WITH CARLOS segment on the Stephanie Miller Radio Show on Free Speech Radio. He has also produced his own Web Series Cartoon on Mondomedia.com called OFF THE CURB, which played live to a sold out crowd in the YouTube Lounge at San Diego Comic-Con.
Carlos also successfully produced the first ever live ROCKO’S MODERN LIFE event at LA’s Downtown Independent Theatre, along with Creator Joe Murray. The show was sold out in one week! He also produced the 2nd Rocko Live Panel at this year’s FLORIDA SUPERCON and is seen at Comic-Con’s across the USA.
In his free time, Carlos is an avid tennis player and sports enthusiast. Carlos currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two daughters!
PROFESSIONAL CONTACT
Website > http://www.carlosalazraqui.com/
Facebook > https://www.facebook.com/CarlosAlazraquiOfficial/
Instagram > https://www.instagram.com/carlosalazraqui/