thanks to Videographer Nedzad Muhamedagic, for shooting this special feature HD version of the Acoustic Cover of Miranda Lambert’s White Liar at the DWG Video Shoot in Laporte City, Iowa.

Savannah Jane DeGroote to perform on Fill the Plate Telethon with Dennis Halverson & Brittin Meany on Dec 2 on KCRG 9.2 HD

Savannah Jane DeGroote with Dennis Halverson & Brittin Meany to play Fill the Plate Telethon on KCRG

Cedar Falls, IA – 13yr old live music performer and Nashville recording artist Savannah Jane DeGroote will be performing live on KCRG 9.2 HD with Dennis Halverson from the Dennis Wayne Gang band and Brittin Meany of Eleventh Hour Band on Dec 2nd for the FILL THE PLATE telethon.

Coordinated efforts between Wanda Baird and Karen Davis of North Liberty brought the 13yr performer together with the Heritage Area Agency on Aging who is putting the Telethon on in partnership with KCRG 9.2 HD who will cover the Telethon from 5-10 on Dec. 2nd.

About Savannah Jane DeGroote-

Savannah Jane’ DeGroote is a native of central Iowa.  Now a 8th grader attending Cedar Falls schools has been passively singing since she was two years old.

It was thanks to an observant teacher’s aide named Leslie Forsbloom that gave life to Savannah’s confidence in 2009. She suggested she sing in the student talent show at school and Savannah began the journey that ha lead her to the point she is at today, 3 years later.

Now, Savannah is a 13 yr old singer with the Dennis Wayne Gang & Eleventh Hour bands as well as singing for the Waterloo Bucks, NASCAR, Waterloo Blackhawks, USAA Wrestling and the United States Army and the Iowa National Guard.

Nashville Recording Artist- Recently, Savannah was in Nashville finishing up her recording her 1st album which launched Oct 1st 2012. Her recording studio, the Love Shack, is frequently used by national stars; Dixie Chicks, Jewel, Taylor Swift, Faith Hill, Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney, LeAnn Rimes, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Trace Adkins, Celebrity Apprentice, Alabama, Lady Antebellum, Pat Green, Phil Vassar, Jack Ingram, Chris Cagle, Danielle Peck,  Gordon Mote and Fisher Stevenson

Savannah’s most prize possession is the plaque she received from the Iowa National Guard – United States Army for greeting 3 Company’s return from their tour in Afghanistan. She performed 3days  in UNI Dome in the presence of Dignitaries from the Military, media, Senators and most importantly the solidiers families.

About Dennis Halverson of Dennis Wayne Gang -

• Son of Country singer Eddy Halverson, Dennis is a former US Marine and the lead singer of Country Rock “The Dennis Wayne Gang” about performs 50-60 live shows around the Midwest
• He was the one that invited Savannah to sing in the band because they worked well together for a year prior when he was a ring announcer and she was the national anthem singer.
• Link to one of the events she asked to sing at when she was 10, just 9 months or so before she just his band.

About Brittin Meany of Eleventh Hour -

• Former Waterloo Waterhawks stunt expert & water performer, Lead Guitar player and guest vocalist in the band “Eleventh Hour”
• Former front manager for Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas
• Well know Live Local band member of the Radio played band SEVER in Las Vegas
• Asked Savannah to join as a guest singer and works hand in hand with lead singer Sheena Meany to tutor and mentor Savannah to push her live vocal performances

About the Telethon (Courtesy of KCRG Online)

CEDAR RAPIDS – The Heritage Area Agency on Aging is facing a funding shortfall, forcing organization leaders to make tough decisions about the future.

The Heritage Agency dishes out nearly $2 million a year to keep the nutrition program running. That’s money that fuels Meals on Wheels programs and senior dining sites across Eastern Iowa. The non-profit agency is now finding itself forced to cut meals for low-income and homebound seniors in need.

Dorothy Benesch said the news of the cuts is tragic.

“There are so many people, other than myself, that really need these,” Benesch said.

The Cedar Rapids woman gets the meals every week day.

“I don’t drive anymore, and I’m home all the time,” Benesch said. “I found out that I wasn’t cooking like I should.”

Last year, The Heritage Agency provided 490,000 home-delivered and congregate meals to low-income seniors in a seven county area around Cedar Rapids. The Heritage Agency said the decision to cut back comes as federal funds and donations remain low and the need for meals in Eastern Iowa continues to rise.

The Heritage Agency on Aging’s Nutrition and Healthy Living Program Coordinator Tim Getty said the need is rising for a number of reasons. The economy, low retirement savings and the flood are a few explanations. Also, there are more seniors finding themselves in a “gap” where they don’t qualify for food stamps.

“But they also don’t have enough money to pay for their medicine, and their utilities, and their other bills and ultimately their food,” Getty said. “Something has to give. A lot of times it turns out that they eat a lot less than they should.”

Getty added that the meal programs are about much more than the meal.

“It’s the companionship. It’s the getting to talk with someone, visit with them … I think that’s the concern of the participants – if the meals have to be reduced,” Getty said.

“I have real nice people that deliver my meals and you look forward to seeing them,” Benesch said. “Of course, they don’t stay long, they just deliver a meal and talk a little and that’s it.”

The Heritage Agency has decided to cut 83,000 meals this year, unless it can get new funding. Volunteers are looking for new ways to bring in money. That’s where the “Fill the Plate” telethon comes into play. It’ll air is from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. on Sunday on KCRG 9.2. People can call in to donate to the non-profit organization to keep the meals coming to area seniors.

Savannah Jane DeGroote to Interviewed by KWWL for Someone You Should Know program

On Sunday Oct 28th, KWWL released their interview with local teen rising star Savannah Jane DeGroote of the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area. DeGroote appeared on the Network’s “Someone You Should Know” special along with Dennis Halverson of the Dennis Wayne Gang, one of the bands she sings with as well as Brittin Meany of the Band Eleventh Hour.

Savannah is 13 years old and sings with 2 adult bands as well as performs National Anthem around the state and is a full time cheerleader at Peet Junior High.

She has recently released her first CD titled “Gratitude” which is available worldwide online on iTunes, Amazon, Xbox, Zune & Spotify and more.

• Singing with Eleventh Hour in Cedar Rapids tonight. http://t.co/5UgOItWc #

13 year old Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa native, Savannah Jane DeGroote released her 1st album entitled Gratitude, worldwide on Oct 1, 2012.

The album consists of two 2 originals and a remake of a 1980s Pat Benatar song, Heartbreaker. The 2 original tracks “Worst Best Friend” and “Like to Be You” were written for DeGroote by the dynamic duo of Chris Rowe and Kenny Lamb of the Love Shack studio on Music Row in Nashville. Lamb has a successful history working on the NSync project in the late 90s and Rowe travels with Taylor Swift serving as her audio engineer on major performances. Swift also records many of her tracks at the Love Shack studio as well.

Rowe and Lamb’s studio and production has accolades that include the works of artists Jewel, Rascal Flats, Dixie Chicks, Taylor Swift, Faith Hill, Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney, LeAnn Rimes, Kellie Pickler, Trace Adkins, Alabama, Lady Antebellum, Phil Vassar, Jack Ingram,  Chris Cagle and Gordon Mote.

About Savannah

• 13 yr olds from Waterloo Cedar Falls Area
• Sings in both the Dennis Wayne Gang and Eleventh Hour, Adult Bands
• Singing Live for over 3 years.
• Recorded in this album in Nashville

She has performed Live more than any other teenager in the Midwest, playing over 120 gigs, she was featured in the Waterloo Courier, appeared on the Speed Channel for NASCAR, sang for the: Waterloo Bucks, the Blackhawks, in bars & clubs…. 

Purchase Album

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/heartbreaker-day-79/id567205549?i=567205633&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 

Thursday September 13, 2012 – Waterloo, IA
13yr old Nashville recording artist Savannah Jane DeGroote will debut her new album titled “Heartbreaker” taking the stage for an opening performance before national act
Hairball, in McElroy Auditorium.

About Savannah-

Savannah is a 13 yr old singer with the Dennis Wayne Gang & Eleventh Hour adult bands, as well as performing for the Waterloo Bucks, NASCAR, Karsyn’s Krusaders, Waterloo Blackhawks, USAA Wrestling, United States Army and the Iowa National Guard.She has been performing on the mic publically since Aug 2009 and is the only signer to hold a triple honary plaque from Iowa National Guard, her most prize possession.

• Headed to Fireworks in Waterloo and then to the Eagle to sing again tonight. Hanging with my sisters Sierra and Laura http://t.co/AKX17dGM #

• Starting the Sturgis Falls Parade http://t.co/lkuUKRp8 #

• Getting ready for 218 Casey’s pub!
  Can’t wait:) #
• Happy Father’s day to all those father’s that have to put up with us children:) jk #
• Nothing better than a belly filled with food:D #