Red Letter is a duo from California whose lead singer, Jessica Tomich, and guitarist, Frank Sorci, have become finalists on the NBC TV show Star Tomorrow. The show is produced by Grammy Award-winner David Foster.

      The show’s creators learned about the band via the Internet. "We were fortunate enough to be invited to perform on a website called rehearsals.com a few months back," says Tomich. "They are this huge, amazing performance/rehearsal facility that features footage from big acts as they rehearse and fine-tune for upcoming tours or for big shows. We got to spend a day rehearsing with our band in their space and they recorded the whole thing along with some performances; it's up on their site now. Star Tomorrow used the rehearsals.com facility to film and audition their show. Rehearsals.com recommended some of the emerging artists featured on their site, and we were one of the lucky bands that got the call."

      She says the feedback has been great. "We are so motivated by this opportunity. It kicked us in the booty a little and got us on the fast track to finishing a new album [Wishbone, released in September]. It's been a little nerve-wracking at times, not knowing how the TV show might portray us or how many votes we'd get. But we decided to push the limits of our comfort zone a little wider and we took the chance. Now we're onboard and there's no getting off!"

      Adds Sorci, "It was very cool, a great experience. We've never been much for contests when it comes to art. But we were invited to audition and we thought we'd roll the dice."

      Meeting David Foster has certainly been a highlight for the pair. "David was so warm and enthusiastic about our music," says Tomich. "He got up and jammed with us and we were blown away! He chatted with me afterward and let me know he thinks we could go all the way in the competition. It was a huge confidence boost, getting that from him."

      Red Letter is no stranger to television; their music has been a part of other shows. Says Tomich, "We've been lucky enough to have songs placed in several TV shows and films. Not only do those placements help pay the bills, but they also expose our music to lots of new listeners. We made it into several WB shows, Melrose Place and Beverly Hills 90210, and we're looking forward to the release of a film called The Contract starring John Cusack and Morgan Freeman. We have a song in that movie and we can't wait to hear how it got used!"

      Both artists come from musical families. Tomich’s maternal grandparents were successful musicians in the Big Band era. "My grandpa was a band leader for the Don Ricardo NBC Orchestra in the old days, and my grandma sang and played violin in that band," she says. "My mom was a rock and roll mom. She always had bands practicing in our house and is a very talented writer and singer in her own right. My step-dad was my first collaborator, and he's an all-around great musician who's made a name for himself playing pedal steel guitar in the Bay Area." Sorci’s family was musical, although none were professionals. "I generally listened to the records my big brother had around, everything from acoustic rock to soul," he says.

      The two met at a recording session. They sensed immediately that they would connect musically. "I was doing a project with a friend and he hired Frank to come in and play guitar," says Tomich. "We definitely clicked right away and started writing in our spare time together. Our first collaboration, 'Hope,' is still one of my favorite songs. We had an interest in tapping into the same emotions, and that's hard to find in a collaborator. We were pointed in the same direction, but we brought different strengths and skills to the table. I don't play an instrument well and he really, really does. We've been able, right from the start, to help each other communicate our deepest thoughts and feelings through music. And that's an incredible gift we feel so lucky to have found."

      According to Sorci, "We both came to the table being singer/songwriters on our own. It took a little time before we really found a zone that works for us. We don't have a set way of writing; it's different all the time. Generally, Jessica is a lyric person and I'm a melody person, and we bounce those ideas off each other as we work."

      They are also involved in charity work, donating their musical services primarily to "groups helping heal people who are suffering from addiction, trauma and abuse," says Tomich. "Music is all about feeling, and a lot of our songs touch on intense topics and elicit emotional reactions. We like to share our music with people who need some constructive tools and reassurance."

      Prior to Wishbone, the pair recorded Under The Same Hot Sun and an earlier CD that is no longer in print. As songwriters, says Sorci, "We have stripped away a lot of the fat. Hopefully our productions and performances have just gotten better. There isn't one song on the [new] record that we don't feel strongly about." They have also signed a publishing deal and are collaborating with artists and songwriters in genres outside of the rock arena.

      Star Tomorrow has been a positive learning experience for both musicians. "This show has forced me to put myself out there and to realize that I'm way stronger and more resilient than I thought and that who I am really cannot be changed by external successes and failures," says Tomich. "I've gotten pretty clear that all this career/entertainment stuff is here today, gone tomorrow, and I do my best to enjoy each moment."

      "The experience has reinforced my belief in trying to take every opportunity that comes your way, because they don't come every day," says Sorci. "You have to really put yourself out there if you want something back."

      Visit www.redletterband.com.