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
SOURCE Three Chapeau Productions

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