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» Flame on GMA

JOHNSTOWN - Lexington Center's long-awaited human-interest segment on Lexington Center's soft-rock group, Flame, filmed by ABC's "Good Morning America" last summer, aired Friday morning on that network.

"Good Morning America" informed Lexington on Wednesday that the segment on Flame probably would air Friday, center Director of Public Relations Tim Fiori said Friday.

For those who missed the segment, it appears on the program's Web site, abcnews.go.com/GMA. It also is linked to Lexington's Web site, www.lexingtoncenter.org.

"It's great, I'm glad they finally put in on," Fiori said of the nationally televised segment, which had been delayed in its airing several times.

Lexington Center Executive Director Paul Nigra said Friday. "I thought it was excellent."

Flame is made up of Lexington clients who have disabilities. A "Good Morning America" crew filmed a Flame rehearsal at the Lexington Day Treatment Center on East State Street and the group's performance at Railfest in downtown Gloversville on Aug. 8. The film crew also visited the residence of the band's autistic lead singer, Michelle King, and the group home of blind drummer, David LaGrange, both in Gloversville.

Nigra said all of that is featured in the ABC segment about Flame that aired Friday.

He said the reporter used a theme of "Music Helps People" to introduce Flame to a national audience.

"Good Morning America" learned about Flame through Lexington staff member Kathy Simone.

Nigra said she was in contact with the show about an unrelated segment regarding getting children to clean their room, and she later "raved" about Flame and the need for ABC to tape a segment.

Flame, led by King, was formed in 2003. The group's CDs and live performances include covers of songs such as "Hotel California," "I Think We're Alone Now" and "La Bamba."

Flame Manager Maria Nestle said the piece about Flame appears to be very complimentary.

"I think they did a nice job," she said. "They captured the message they were giving out that despite their disabilities, they're just naturally talented people. It's a message of hope and inspiration."

Flame has played live at both national and international venues and recorded CDs.

Network television has shown some interest in Flame in the past, but had never followed through on the band until now.

Nigra said The Learning Channel was in Schenectady in 2006 filming a segment and was told about Flame by the producer of one of Flame's CDs.

He said executives at that national cable network were so intrigued by Flame, they pitched a reality series to follow the group around, but that idea fell through.

A documentary film about Flame is being planned for theatrical release.

Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com.