The American Road was conceived and designed by Songmasters, founded in 1994 by a coalition of senior executives from the nonprofit, music, entertainment and marketing worlds. Songmasters develops and delivers integrated marketing and brand communications, business development, music services and non-profit services to its clients. All Songmasters programs directly benefit educational and other charitable causes.
Songmasters’ partners and affiliates have an impressive record of accomplishments, including significant work with for profits and non-profits, award-winning concerts, televised events, feature and made-for-television films, music CDs, videos and radio series. Some of its extensive for-profit and non-profit client list can be found on the Songmasters’ website.
The American Road key project staff includes a highly skilled team of core leadership and their staff advancing the key elements of the project. More detailed information can be found on the Songmasters website/Our People.
Brief Bios
JENNIFER COHEN, Songmasters’ Founder and Managing Partner, oversees music production, development of the digital portal and delivery of the supporting programming and will serve as Executive Producer of all media included in the project. Ms. Cohen was formerly a successful and multi-award-winning executive at Time Warner music labels, Warner/Elektra/Atlantic International (now Warner Music International). Ms. Cohen is responsible for design and coordination of all Songmasters’ integrated marketing and brand communications programs, music initiatives, and project development.
REGAN McCARTHY, Ph.D., Songmasters’ Senior Partner, is responsible for the development of educational and civic engagement components of The American Road as well schools and communities nationwide. Presently, Dr. McCarthy oversees Songmasters’ media production activities, development and oversight of all philanthropic, non-profit and community relations. McCarthy has led major educational, museum and award-winning media production initiatives and has also had extensive experience in the education, government, diplomacy and nonprofit sectors.
MARIE HUBLEY ALCOCK, Ph.D., serves as a leader of the curriculum development process for the project. A national and international education consultant, her work focuses on the areas of curriculum, instruction, and assessment design. For the last twenty-five years she has worked in public and private education as a teacher, administrator, and public advocate. She is the President of Learning Systems Associates. Dr. Alcock is widely published and read, including as co-author of Bold Moves for Schools, How We Create Remarkable Learning Environments and many more including numerous papers and articles about student mobility, innovative models of education, curriculum mapping, gaming in education, leadership, and organizational change.
PETER ASHER serves as Executive Producer of The American Road contemporary “cover” music recordings and Executive Music Advisor to the planned events and concerts. A legendary performer who amassed nine “Top 20” records during his career, Mr. Asher has been awarded 37 RIAA-certified gold albums and 22 platinum albums in the U.S., and many more internationally. He has produced fourteen Grammy® Award-winning recordings and was twice honored individually with the Grammy Award for “Producer of the Year.” He was producer of the Grammy- nominated original cast album of the Broadway musical, “Bright Star,” which itself won a Tony in 2017. Among his film-related music projects are several soundtrack album collaborations with Hans Zimmer for select films in the Madagascar, Superman, Spiderman and Pirates of the Caribbean series, among others. His previous collaborations with Songmasters have resulted in an award-winning concert, album and PBS special.
HEIDI HAYES JACOBS, Ed.D. serves as The American Road’s editor of the curriculum writing process and Professional Development Advisor. Dr. Jacobs is internationally recognized for her work in curriculum mapping, curriculum integration, and developing 21st century approaches to teaching and learning. She is President of Curriculum Designers, Inc. and Executive Director of the Curriculum Mapping Institute, and works as an education consultant with schools and districts (K–12), academic institutions, professional and research organizations on issues and practices pertaining to curriculum reform, instructional strategies to encourage critical thinking, strategic planning, assessment and effective learning spaces.
We are also grateful for the assistance of Kenneth scleshinger,
Our thanks go to Adam Finked, Sc.D. for his support for development of The American Road website, to the the Houghton family for financial start-up support and the the John and Lilian Lewis Foundation for their programmatic support.