About The Readings

Listen to more songs at www.MySpace.com/thereadings; buy songs on iTunes.

There aren’t too many bands whose lead singers are twin brothers. But then again, The Readings (pronounced ‘Reddings’) aren’t your typical band. Fraternal twins, Chris and Eric Reading, who are native San Diegans, have unique and varied backgrounds; one gave up a professional baseball offer, the other, medical school, to pursue their passion for creating songs, making music together, and moving the world…if only just a little bit at a time.

The Readings were inspired to pursue their dreams by their mother Bonnie, who passed away at the age of 51 from Multiple Myeloma, an aggressive but relatively rare form of bone marrow cancer.  Shortly thereafter, their hearts led them to Nashville, and they spent several years in Music City creating songs, and music, with a message.

Perhaps the best way to get a feel for who The Readings are, and for what their music says about them, is to judge by the reactions of people who interact with them and see them perform for the first time.  One such time, The Readings found themselves stranded for several hours along with a few thousand strangers at Chicago’s Midway Airport during a weather delay.  A short performance for a handful of waiting passengers turned into an impromptu two and half hour acoustic concert for the entire terminal of weary, and bored-out-of-their minds travelers. One of the passengers later recounted the event in an inspiring, un-prompted email to The Readings:

“…Airports are usually dreary places. Even under the best of circumstances, people are in the middle of a means to an end: “Just get me where I am going and…Have a Nice Day!”. Delays of course, are worse. But your concert, and your generous spirits, transcended all that. You created a group dynamic, allowed people to come together, you got past age and racial boundaries, and created happiness…My friends, you did it! It was so inspiring to watch, to observe, and to see the happy faces of everyone forgetting their circumstances for just a few hours. Thank you so much for the experience.”

The Readings like to describe their sound as “real life, set to music”, or simply put, “good American music”. Their video “She Brings Me Down” which aired on CMT.com, and is on You Tube, their MySpace page and personal website, was selected by CMT as one of the nation’s best independent videos. They are passionate performers who have opened for major label acts, and have two full-length albums under their belts, a catalog of hundreds of songs written, and some cut by other artists.

But what sets The Readings apart from other artists is their mission and dedication to use their music to bring about positive change; to not only entertain, but also to motivate and inspire. “One of Those Days”, which was written in honor of their mother, was adopted by the American Cancer Society as well as The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The Readings later launched the Tour 4 Cure to benefit Multiple Myeloma Research.

Another of The Readings’ passions was inspired by “Wanda’s Song”, perhaps their most artistic and poignant piece. The song carries a strong message about the powerful and lasting impact words can have on other people. It has been circulating around the Internet as an anti-bullying anthem, and has been embraced by people of all backgrounds, from young teenage girls and middle aged victims of childhood bullying, to organizations dedicated to stamping out bullying. Several national advocacy groups and countless schools and school districts have used “Wanda’s Song” in anti-bullying educational campaigns.

The response to Wanda’s Song, and its message has been overwhelming. The Readings often receive messages like the following, inspiring them to keep spreading the word:

Great Sound!!!! What a Powerful song! I am one of our State’s crusaders in the fight against bullying. I see the potential for “Wanda’s Song” to become an anthem for this cause.
–Scott, Police Officer in Michigan

I am 43 now, but Wanda could be me. I am a survivor of years of chronic bullying. Many times I got to that point in my life, and through miracle upon miracle, I kept going. I am blessed to have found a way back to happiness; so many others have not. I think Wanda’s Song will touch and change many hearts and minds. Thank you.”
–Brandi

I just wanted to say that I love your music, and that your song “Wanda’s Song” is probably the most Inspirational song i’ve ever heard. Thank you Strangers.
–Chasey, (15 year old female)

In addition to the grass roots support for Wanda’s Song, and the adoption of One of Those Days by cancer organizations, The Readings’ timely “I Do This For You” has been embraced by military support groups around the U.S. The song was written as a tribute to the sacrifice military personnel make after The Readings saw news stories of people protesting at the funerals of fallen soldiers. I Do This For You was a Finalist in the International Songwriting Competition, selected as one of the final songs from more than 15,000 submissions.

The Readings can be found online at many locations, including iTunes and www.myspace.com/thereadings.