DR. GARY SHAPIRO

Gary L. Shapiro, Ph.D. began his involvement with orangutans 43 years ago in the field of primate cognition and learning. He was the first person (1973-1975) to teach a symbolic communication system to an orangutan (at the now Chaffee Zoological Park, Fresno, CA) and the first person to have taught sign language to orangutans in the species’ natural environment, the forests of Tanjung Puting National Park, Indonesian Borneo (1978-1980; 1981). One of the orangutans, Princess, adopted Shapiro as her father. Shapiro was able to teach Princess over 40 signs which she used to express her interests in obtaining items and activities of interest as well as describing her environment. During his time in Indonesian Borneo, Shapiro assisted in the rehabilitation efforts of dozens of orangutans confiscated from the illegal pet trade and monitored the phenology of local rain forest ecosystem.

Shapiro received his doctorate in Zoology in 1985 from the University of Oklahoma then returned to Indonesian Borneo (1986) to conduct post-doctoral freshwater ecology studies in Tanjung Puting National Park. Shapiro’s interest in the freshwater ecology of Borneo was an extension of the research projects he conducted while being employed by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (1982-1985). He spent 28 years as a government scientist, first as a biologist with the Army Corp of Engineers, then as a planner with the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and finally with California EPA in the Department of Toxic Substances Control where he worked as a Hazardous Substances Scientist and an emergency responder. He retired in 2014.

Shapiro was the co-founder and vice president of the Orangutan Foundation International from 1986-2004 where he administered and oversaw the activities supporting research and conservation in and around Tanjung Puting National Park. He participated in the 1993 Population and Habitat Viability Assessment in Sumatra and authored or co-authored various papers on orangutan linguistics, cognition, conservation and ethics. In late 2004, Dr. Shapiro and his Indonesian wife, Inggriani, were inspired to create the Orang Utan Republik Education Initiative (OUREI), a nonprofit project, in response to the education needs underscoring the crisis facing orangutans today, particularly in Sumatra. In Sumatra, the orangutan is Critically Endangered. In 2007, the Orang Utan Republik Foundation (OURF) and OUREI Indonesia (OUREII) were established as legal organizations to support the programs of OUREI in Indonesia.

The goals of OURF and OUREII are to transform the attitudes and values of Indonesian people regarding the orangutan and its rain forest habitat such that they become the stewards of their forests and wildlife. Shapiro’s philosophy is to enroll the Indonesian people to become the educators. Shapiro’s efforts have lead to the establishment of Orangutan Caring Week in Indonesia as well as the Orangutan Caring Clubs of Indonesia.

Through OUREI, Shapiro facilitated the establishment of the Sumatran Orangutan Education Consortium, a group of Indonesian NGOs that assisted in putting on an education conference, workshop, and summit in Sumatra (2006). Shapiro administered an education program to reduce the human-orangutan conflict in Sumatra through the administration of US Fish & Wildlife (USFW) funds to the consortium members. He also co-administers a successful Indonesian scholarship program with two local NGOs.  130 Orangutan Caring Scholarships have been given out since 2006. Shapiro also oversees the LP Jenkins Fellowship for Orangutan Research, given in honor of his late mother, which has helped Indonesian and foreign graduate students in their field research. Additionally, through OURF, he administers the Mobile Education & Conservation Unit (MECU) with the Orangutan Caring Club of North Sumatra to bring human-orangutan conflict reduction programs, tree-planting and sustainable farming activities to villagers living near orangutan habitat. Seeking and implementing solutions of sustainability for local people through education and innovative collaborative projects is the key to saving Indonesia’s great red ape and other species.

Shapiro returns to Indonesia each year to facilitate OURF’s programs in Jakarta, Sumatra and Borneo. He also conducts ecotours to Borneo and Sumatra, and he is an avid SCUBA diver. Shapiro also lectures to audiences of all ages in both English and Bahasa Indonesia when he has the opportunity.

MERCEDES

“Born to Rock, Soothe and Stir The Soul”

Mercedes is world-renowned singer-songwriter who was born to rock and bring listener’s worlds together with her sultry voice and universal lyrics and personal experiences that melt the heart.

Breaking down age, gender and race barriers, her rock and soul sound captivates audiences from around the world, soothes and stirs the soul, and ignites the senses as a result of her infusion of symphonic, inspirational and visual elements in all of her work.

Mercedes has worked with the best in the industry including Grammy-award winning producer Mike Shipley who worked with Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Alison Krauss, Shania Twain and more; producer and American guitarist Bruce Gowdy, known for his work with World Trade and Unruly Child; and Multi-Platinum Hip Hop Super Producer Nick Fury.

Her performances have rocked a variety of stages and acclaimed venues including the Hammerstein Ballroom for New York City’s 9/11 Benefit Concert, The Key Club in Los Angeles, The Roxy, Whisky, The Troubadour, The Gig, and The Knitting Factory, among others. Her first commercial album release, “Rock-n-Soul Blvd.,” with breakout single “Hey Baby,” remixed featuring Guérilla Black has been played throughout mixed shows and club circuits in Cleveland, Chicago, Milwaukee, New York and Los Angeles.

When she’s not rocking the stage, Mercedes is the Founder and Creative Director of Jus D’Amour – “A Love Song in A Bottle” – her beauty and lifestyle brand of scents, candles and jewelry inspired by her time as a musician and as the marketing agent for boxing legend, Roy Jones, Jr. and their equally aptly named line, Legend – “The Scent of Victory.”

Mercedes’ newest single, “U Make Me Shine,” a beautiful soul, country and pop-infused tribute to Mike Shipley, who also produced and mixed this track for her before his passing, is now available for download at mercedesmusic.com and CD Baby.

Bryan Meyer is the Chief Legal Officer of the Veterans Community Project of Kansas City, Missouri.  He is a former Marine Corps helicopter Crew Chief.  During his time in the Marines he was attached to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 355. He deployed to Iraq in March of 2003, participated in Operation Shining Express (which was support of rescue efforts of the U.S. Embassy during the Second Liberian Civil War), and he deployed again to Iraq in August of 2004. During these deployments, his unit provided assault support and casualty evacuation.



After the Marine Corps, Bryan moved backed home to Kansas City where he attended the University of Missouri Kansas-City earning a Master’s in Public Administration and a Law Degree.  Bryan worked as a practicing attorney at a Kansas City law firm until leaving to co-found Veterans Community Project.



He is also active with the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Military Matters Operating Committee, UMKC School of Law Young Alumni Association and Here’s Waldo Neighborhood Association. 

Donald Jeffries has been a JFK assassination researcher since the mid-1970s. His first novel, "The Unreals," was published in 2007. His first nonfiction book, "Hidden History: An Expose of Modern Crimes, Conspiracies, and Cover-Ups in American Politics," was released by Skyhorse Publishing in November 2014 and quickly became a best-seller. The paperback edition featured a new Foreword from Roger Stone. His writing has been compared to Voltaire by award-winning author Alexander Theroux, and likened to Rudyard Kipling and John Kennedy Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces" by "Night at the Museum" screenwriter Robert Ben Garant. Jeffries' second nonfiction book, "Survival of the Richest" was released to universal critical acclaim in July 2017. His next book, "Crimes and Cover Ups in American Politics: 1776-1963" will be released in May 2019.

DONALD JEFFRIES was inspired by a diverse and ecclectic group of authors like Charles Dickens, Madeline L'Engle, Edward Eager, George Orwell, Kurt Vonnegut, Bram Stoker, Charles Fort and Ambrose Bierce. The Unreals was published in 2007 and has been compared to the television shows The Twilight Zone and X-Files, as well as the classic fairy tales The Wizard of Oz and Alice In Wonderland. 

Jeffries has spent many years researching the assassination of John F. Kennedy and other significant historical and political events. Various conspiracies and unexplained, fortean-style phenomena play a strong role in his writing.

ABOUT Hidden History: An Expose of Modern Crimes, Conspiracies, and Cover-Ups in American Politics by Donald Jeffries...

The US government has spent half the time covering up conspiracies as it has spent helping the American people. In Hidden History, you will see the amount of effort over the past fifty years that our government has dedicated to lying and covering up the truth to the world.

Starting with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Don Jeffries chronicles a wide variety of issues that have plagued our country’s history. Whether it’s the assassinations of MLK and RFK, Iran-Contra, the Oklahoma City bombing, TWA Flight 800, voting fraud, or 9/11, every major disaster or war that we’ve witnessed has somehow been distorted by those who are supposed to be protecting us.

Jeffries also delves into extensive research on the death of John F. Kennedy Jr., and you’ll be shocked by what he finds out.

So whether you’ve only heard bits and pieces of these stories or have read several books on the topics, Hidden History is the book that belongs in every conspiracy theorist’s library, as the information included in this encyclopedia has never been collected together in any other published work available. So sit down, strap in, and get ready to be shocked and awed by how much has been hidden from you by our government over the past fifty years.

JP SOTTILE is a freelance journalist, published historian, radio co-host and documentary filmmaker. His credits include a stint on the NewsHour news desk, C-SPAN, and as a newsmagazine producer for ABC affiliate WJLA in Washington. Joseph “JP” Sottile is a two-time Washington Regional Emmy Award Winner. Documentary film credits include: writer, director, producer of The Warning and various production and photography credits on other public interest films. His weekly show, Inside the Headlines w/ The Newsvandal, co-hosted by James Moore, airs every Friday on KRUU-FM in Fairfield, Iowa. He is the Newsvandal.

ROGER FISHER

LEGENDARY  GUITARIST AND SONGWRITER

FROM   'H E A R T'   

SPECIAL GUEST

ON THE RAY SHASHO SHOW

Seattle, Washington native ROGER FISHER was the hard driving electric fury that established HEART as a rock and roll powerhouse in the 70’s. Originally known as Hocus Pocus, Heart was formed by guitarist Roger Fisher, bassist Steve Fossen, and Roger’s brother Mike Fisher who became the band’s manager. They met Ann Wilson at one of the bands gigs. Soon thereafter, Roger, Mike, Steve and Ann Wilson moved to Canada. Heart was officially formed in 1973 with their new songstress and songwriter Ann Wilson. The following year guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and sister, Nancy Wilson joined the band.

With the help of producer Mike Flicker and session guitarist/keyboardist Howard Leese (who became a full- time member of Heart in 1975), the band recorded a demo tape. Heart’s debut album Dreamboat Annie was subsequently recorded for Mushroom Records in Vancouver, Canada. The seductive album cover featured a bare shouldered Ann and Nancy leaning up against each other.

The singles, “Magic Man” and “Dreamboat Annie” quickly gained notoriety over Canadian airwaves. Dreamboat Annie was released in the U.S. on Valentine’s Day 1976. “Magic Man” became the band’s first Top 10 hit. “Crazy On You” reached #35, and the single, “Dreamboat Annie” reach #42 in the U.S. on Billboard’s Hot 100. The album sold over 1 million copies and became a mainstay on AOR radio stations worldwide.

Heart became instantly identifiable as a rock phenomenon. A band fronted by two beautiful and multi-talented women, backed by hard rock virtuosos. It was that very combination which gave the band its true identity. Brothers Roger and Mike Fisher became romantically involved with Sisters Nancy and Ann Wilson, and “Magic Man” was written about Mike’s torrid love affair with Ann.

After the success of Dreamboat Annie, Heart left Mushroom Records due to a publicity stunt that stated the sisters were actually lesbian lovers. The group signed with Portrait Records and later released the album Little Queen in 1977. The album featured, “Barracuda” a tune that would become recognized as Heart’s signature song. Roger Fisher’s pivotal hard rock thrusting intro to “Barracuda” will forever be glorified in rock and roll history. Ann Wilson penned the tune out of sheer anger over Mushroom’s lesbian publicity stunt. Roger Fisher was a co-writer on “Barracuda” and on many other tracks on Little Queen. “Barracuda” reached #11 on Billboard’s Hot 100. Another preeminent arrangement on the album was Roger Fisher’s co-written masterpiece titled, “Love Alive.”

In 1978, Heart appeared on stage at California Jam II, a music festival held at the Ontario Motor Speedway in California. The concert featured Ted Nugent, Aerosmith, Santana, Dave Mason, Foreigner, Heart, Bob Welch (with special guests Stevie Nicks and Mick Fleetwood), Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush and Rubicon. More than 300,000 people attended.

Later in 1978, Heart released Dog and Butterfly on Portrait Records. The album spent 36 weeks on the charts and peaked at #17 on Billboard’s 200 -highest selling albums. “Straight On” was the first song released from the album reaching #15 on the charts. The title track, “Dog & Butterfly” reached #34 on Billboard’s Hot 100. Dog & Butterfly spawned several profound arrangements including, “Minstral Wind” an incredible rock measure co-written by Roger Fisher.

In 1979, Roger’s romance with Nancy Wilson ended. Later that year, Roger Fisher was voted out of the band. Mike Fisher also left the band after breaking his relationship with Ann Wilson. Heart lost their rock and roll backbone when Roger Fisher was asked to leave the band.

Roger’s songwriting and iconic guitar riffs have been used in numerous TV commercials, TV shows, Guitar Hero (3 songs), and in several movies, including Charlie’s Angels and Shrek 3. Other artists have covered his material, including Eminem. His timeless anthem guitar intro to Barracuda is frequently used as the lead in for America’s number one rated radio talk show, Rush Limbaugh. Tony Robbins refers to Barracuda as part of the turning point in his life. It was also controversially featured by Republican presidential and Vice Presidential candidates, John McCain and Sarah Palin in the 2008 election. The original line-up of Heart was inducted to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2013. His latest release is album one – ALL TOLD – of a four-album package entitled ONE VISION, with brother Mike, aka Magic Man.

Jeremiah Lowery is a Climate Justice Organizer currently working part-time with Chesapeake Climate Action Network to pass a carbon fee-and-dividend policy in the District of Columbia. An environmental and labor activist, he has worked on issues ranging from expanding green spaces in DC to environmental justice to workers’ rights to early childhood education.



Jeremiah has also worked with and organized low-income residents in the Washington, DC metropolitan area on issues, such as political empowerment and sustainability.



He’s also hosted “To Heal DC” on WPFW 89.3 FM Pacifica Radio, a radio show that focuses on health, environmental and labor issues.  Jeremiah has also worked on educational policies for the DC government.

Previously, Jeremiah was the Research and Policy Coordinator at Restaurant Opportunities Center-DC (ROC-DC), which aimed to improve working conditions for the restaurant workforce in Washington, DC.

He is currently a political appointee to the first DC Food Policy Council, a member of the Board of Directors of the Sierra Club-DC Chapter, a member of the Steering Committee of DC for Democracy and a lead organizer of the Universal Childcare Campaign.



Last week, Jeremiah spearheaded a national Sierra Club resolution to support DC statehood, which will be taken up by its Board of Directors.



Jeremiah is a native Washingtonian and a 2008 graduate of the University of Maryland.