A Simple Song is now a Simple Book

A New Children's Book based on the song by Venice that helps the Whole Family get through tough times

In times of grief and loss, the healing power of music has been found to transcend all ages, cultures, and boundaries. For children, coping with a loss can be traumatic. A hug offers comfort, but compassionate and meaningful words help their young hearts understand. Since 1999, a song by Southern California band Venice, has been helping people transform a painful experience into peace and acceptance with simple words and a simple melody -- “The Family Tree.”

The Family Tree Will Always Grow is a new children’s book based on this heartfelt song, designed to help kids cope with grief and loss. In addition to the lyrics, this new book contains color illustrations that kids of all ages can easily follow in a story about a family of birds, their nest, loss, and a new life.

The song was first released in 1999 on their album “Spin Art” and after 25+ years of live performances, countless memorial recitals, with OVER 3.6 MILLION plays on Spotify and 1.2 MILLION Youtube views, “The Family Tree” continues to unite people who hunger for the strength to keep moving forward in life despite their loss.

Co-author Kipp Lennon writes: “When we first wrote the song ‘The Family Tree’ for our band, Venice, it was a very personal song meant to be a loving tribute to those in our family that have passed on as well as a song of strength, shared loss and hope for those still here. Much to our surprise, this simple, personal song took on a life of its own as we watched it resonate and connect with people from all around the world in ways we never could have imagined. It turned out to be about their families too.”

Learn more about Venice and their 40 years of music at: www.venicetheband.com

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Michael Lennon, Kipp Lennon, and Mark Lennon are members of the Americana-pop quartet, Venice, a band of brothers from Venice, CA. The band consists of two sets of brothers, Mark and Michael Lennon, and their cousins, Kipp and Pat Lennon who have been performing together since the 1980s and singing all of their lives. They have recorded and toured around the world performing for a loyal, devoted fan base with a deep catalog of rich songs from over 20 albums. Venice’s trademarks are their harmonies, personal lyrics, and high energy, communal shows which garner them ovations and encores at virtually every performance they’ve given, from intimate theaters to sprawling festivals, across the US as well as in Europe.

Over the years, Venice has made their mark with their distinctive vocal sound and harmonies. As a group or as individuals, they have performed and/or recorded with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Stevie Nicks, Bon Jovi, Brian Wilson, Cher, Don Henley, Elton John, Michael McDonald, Phil Collins, Billy Idol, Rick Springfield, America, Heart, and the list goes on.

The Lennons spent most of 2010-2013 as backing vocalists performing in the 219 show, record-breaking worldwide arena and stadium tour of “Roger Waters’ The Wall” (Pink Floyd). Venice was invited to join such artists as Bruce Springsteen, Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley, Ben Harper and Lyle Lovett in contributing a track to the 2014 Jackson Browne tribute compilation album, “Looking Into You.” The Venice hybrid of folk/rock/soul is relevant, alive, and still growing, with many fans worldwide considering them the torchbearers of the Southern California sound. www.venicetheband.com

Singer/songwriter John Vester lives in Venice Beach, California. He grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he started playing in bands when he was about 16 years old. He moved to California when we was in his twenties. He went to the Grove School of Music in Los Angeles, played in bands and soon started writing his own material. His first CD entitled "My Heart Is In Your Hands" was released in 1998. His second CD "Half A World Away" was released in 2002. "Half A World Away" is a 12 song project, co-produced by Michael Lennon and John Vester. June 2004 the second CD of this project (and John's third one) "Things I Wish I Would Have Said" a 17 song project was released in 2004. All 3 John Vester CDs continue John's trademark, simple, straightforward, picture-painting style of songwriting. Both “Half A World Away” and “Things I Wish I Would Have Said” were co-produced by Michael Lennon and John Vester.
www.johnvester.com