(Atlanta, GA – Monday, August 1, 2022) – Contemporary jazz flutist Ragan Whiteside’s current single, “Thrill Ride,” leaps from No. 9 to No. 5 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz chart after only 12 weeks on the chart. The single is her fifth Billboard Top 5 single. Filled with joy and excitement about the news, she said, “I swear this never gets old.”
“Thrill Ride” is the title track from her forthcoming album, set for release on August 26, 2022, on her label, Randis Music. Written and produced by Dennis Johnson, Bob Baldwin, and Whiteside, the single features guitarist Phil Hamilton and drummer Richard Harrison, also known as the artist RAH.
The music video of “Thrill Ride” has a light-hearted, comical storyline, following Ragan on her impromptu stroll before her show. After getting dolled up by her glam squad, Ragan takes advantage of some downtime and ends up engaging in various thrill rides, skydiving, and a scooter sojourns around the neighborhood. Ragan returns to the show venue a little worse for wear – much to the chagrin of her glam squad. To view the video, click here.
Though the pandemic resulted in two challenging years for Whiteside, 2021 still proved to be a successful year for her previous hit single, “Off The Cuff,” where it spent 17 weeks on the charts and peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Airplay chart. The single also reached No. 5 on RadioWave, No. 3 on Media Base, and No.5 on Smooth Jazz Network. “Off The Cuff” will also be featured on her forthcoming album.
As she continued to impact the music charts, the native New Yorker also charted at No. 1 this year on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Airplay chart for her collaboration with Kim Scott and Althea René of Ashford and Simpson’s classic anthem, “I’m Every Woman.” She also co-wrote Bob Baldwin’s top-charting hit “B Positive” with production partners Dennis Johnson and Baldwin. Whiteside is also featured on “This Time Around” with contemporary jazz artist Jarez, from his latest project, J Funk City.
She also has a series of upcoming concert dates including Marcus Anderson’s Jazz and Coffee Escape in Asheville, NC (Saturday, August 6); Ferrario Elmira Jazz Festival in Elmira, NY (Saturday, August 13); the LOVAM Jazz Festival in Omaha, NE (September 3); Jazz in the Park in Huntsville, AL (September 4); SOUTH Jazz Kitchen in Philadelphia, PA (September 15); White Plains Jazz & Food Festival in White Plains, NY (September 18); Velvet Note in Atlanta, GA (October 1); Chayz Lounge in West Columbia, SC (October 14th & 15th) with additional dates to be announced in the fall.
Meanwhile, her four-hour Saturday radio show (10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET), “Saturday with Ragan Whiteside” is the No. 1 Saturday show on Atlanta’s NPR affiliate radio station Jazz 91.9 WCLK.
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