Indie Folk-Rock Singer/Songwriter Katie Reider Dies at Age 30

Indie Folk-Rock Singer/Songwriter Katie Reider Dies at Age 30

LOS ANGELES, July 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Cincinnati-born singer-songwriter Katie Reider (pronounced RIDER), 30, died Monday July 14, 2008 in New Jersey after a two-year battle with a rare facial tumor that robbed her of her voice and ability to perform, but not her will to survive.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080723/LAW037)

Since 1998, Katie Reider has been recognized by the local and national recording industry inspiring the heart of thousands with her music and genuine personality. Reider performed from small clubs to big events, including The Bitter End in New York City, The Taste of Cincinnati and Comfest in Columbus, Ohio, where she was a Gazebo stage favorite. She has performed with several national and international touring artists, including Catie Curtis, Antigone Rising, Over The Rhine, Melissa Ferrick and Shawn Mullins, among many others and won five Cincinnati area music awards, gaining national recognition when her songs were used on ABC, Lifetime and the WB series "Dawson's Creek."

Although it was clear she had musical dexterity at a young age, her music career essentially began in a small coffee shop in her Cincinnati hometown. Since then, Reider and her band, The Katie Reider Band, released four albums, Wonder (1998), No Retakes (2001), I Am Ready (2002) and Simplicity (2004). The latter featured Reider's brother, Robbie, on guitar.

Reider's illness began with what was thought to be a toothache in February 2006 and by May of 2007, she found herself on stage performing for the last time. After many treatments, Katie was finally diagnosed in June 2007 with a rare myofibroblastic inflammation tumor that progressed from her sinus area to behind her left eye. By March of 2008 the non-cancerous growth left Reider blind in one eye and took away her ability to speak clearly and sing. Reider continued to keep her audience alive -- posting updates on her blog, as she underwent numerous rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, maintaining a sense of courage and grace throughout.

In May of 2008, long-time friend and fan Lauren Fernandes developed a website to introduce 500,000 people to Katie Reider, her story and her music over the course of one year. http://www.500kin365.org/ was launched May 23, 2008 with the help of Reider's loyal fanbase, well-known Hollywood casting director and producer Heidi Levitt, of Three Chapeau Productions and friend Clarinda Morales, of Inspiral Productions, devoted to the young recording artist where fans can donate $1 for a digital compilation of nine of Reider's original songs to help keep Katie's voice alive for new fans all over the world. All proceeds from the compilation and private donations will help support Reider's family with the medical expenses that have accumulated, over the last two years.

Surviving Katie Reider are her devoted life partner of 10 years, Karen and their two sons, as well as five siblings and her father, Rob Reider, best known as a singer on the 1970s Cincinnati-based syndicated entertainment program "The Bob Braun Show".

Services for Katie Reider will be held Saturday, July 26 at 11 a.m. at Crossroads Community Church, 3500 Madison Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45209. The Katie Reider family has asked anyone wanting to help that, in lieu of flowers, they visit and donate to the http://www.500kin365.org/ Website.

(The Cincinnati Enquirer writer Lauren Bishop contributed)

Log onto http://www.500kin365.org/ to Hear Katie Reider's Story today

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Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080723/LAW037
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN3
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Three Chapeau Productions

CONTACT: Lauren Fernandes of Three Chapeau Productions, +1-323-525-0800,
lauren@500Kin365.org; or for more information about Inspiral Arts Collective,
contact Clarinda Morales at Clarinda@inspiralproductions.com

Web site: http://www.500kin365.org/

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