James
Gender: Male
Location: Ohio
Relationship: Married
Orientation: Straight
Children: Proud Parent
# of Kids: 2
Body Type: Some extra baggage
Height: 5'9"
Religion: Christian - other
Ethnicity: White / Caucasian
About Me: In 1989 at the age of 43 I decided to make a career move for the future and the total enjoyment of something that just moved in my way. I began this business in July of 1989 as a management/booking agent. The band was ok for a local band but the lead singer as Robin had suggested was really good. His name was John Crabtree. I suggested after promoting the band for about a year that I should manage only John. I felt that he was that good. John and his wife had just got married not too long before he started practicing with the band and he already had one child with another one on the way at the time. I decided to take John to Nashville where he got a chance to sing on music row where he attracted a good crowd that appreciated his talents. I then entered him into a talent contest at the legendary Broken Spoke. John placed 4th out of 19 performers and he was the only one not from Nashville. I told John he was a complete package with "looks, stage presence and vocals" and he had a great future in the music industry if he would persist. I booked John and his band until May 1992 when the band disbanded and John decided to leave the entertainment industry to support his family. After the band split up one of the guitar players, James Lancia; mentioned to my wife he was playing in a band called Pryme Tyme and Debbie Collins. She went to watch them and she came back with a story that I had to go see this group and its lead singer. She was fantastic!!! In August of 1992 I signed Debbie Collins to a personal and business management agreement. Because of Debbie's songwriting ability it was determined that we needed a publishing company to publish her songs and in 1994 we established James Paul Music, a publishing company through BMI. In order to promote Debbie's music and advance her career it was obvious we needed to record Debbie and release her first CD. After further consideration I decided to take Debbie to Nashville and record her debut album in 1995. The CD was titled "That’s The Way" and received lots of heavy airplay in Europe. . Acquiring booking agents for this very beautiful and talented artist became a priority and before long I had her and her new band "Wildride" booked on the Carnival Cruise Line. I arranged for another booking agent to book Debbie and Wildride from then on they booked her for the next 4 years. Debbie currently is living in Wisconsin with her 2 daughters while still playing on weekends and working at a local radio station. After I got Debbie on the road in 1995 I started looking for a new preferably young male artist to promote. Not!!! I spotted Brandi Lynn Howard at an American Legion Post in Hilliard, Ohio while attending an Ohio Country Western Music Association meeting. I was so impressed with this very young female talent (only 10 years old) I knew right then and there that this young performer and vocalist had what it takes to be a success in the entertainment industry. Within 2 months I signed Brandi to a management contract. Since then Brandi has performed in Las Vegas, Nevada; Nashville, Tennessee and throughout the Midwest at fairs, festivals, concerts, and conventions. Brandi and I created a record label known as "Spotlight Records" to promote her and Debbie's music. In 1999-2000 we completed Brandi’s first CD "Only in a Picture" which has received airplay all over the world. Brandi helped produce wrote and co-wrote this very successful first effort. Brandi has been on numerous TV shows and featured as far away as Japan on NHK-TV Worldwide Release. She also has won so many music awards that she has a small museum in her basement to display her many accomplishments. Dark blonde hair and brown eyes, along with a beautiful smile make Brandi's appearance like that of a princess. Her petite frame belies the powerful range of her vocal talent, proving the old adage "big things come in small packages". Brandi has the musical background and experience of someone many years older. I still look for Brandi to make it big in this business!!! In 2002 Brandi was hired by the Longaberger Basket Company as an Entertainer for one of the largest companies in Ohio. In the year 2002 I decided that it was time for me to cut back so I decided to be a consultant after 14 years as a music publishing, music promoter, merchandiser, webmaster, record, video and TV producer, talent manager, talent agent, and record label owner. My new company was called Access Talent and for more than two years I consulted with and advised singers, songwriters and bands on how to go about their careers. That was fun, but I admit I did miss the excitement of the real music business so in 2004 I was approached by a bass player by the name of Jon Hawks of the band known as Category IV in the hopes they might become a client of mine. Here are Jon’s thoughts on what happened “For those of you who don't know, and I am aware that most of you do, but for those who don't, here is the story behind our recording contract. I (Jon) had been running the "behind the scenes" stuff for the band and felt we were ready for the next step. I sent out several promotional packages to agents and management companies about the band. I received a few responses but the one who seemed most interested was Jim Bruce of Access Talent. Jim came to just ONE of our shows at the Dugout and was "hit by the storm" that IS Category IV. Jim began giving me advice, pulling from his past experience with several musical acts and I listened. Jim then offered to manage the band. Jay, Donnie, Mike and I all discussed it and went to a meeting at Jim’s house. All agreed to move forward with Access Talent and Jim as our manager. Come to find out. Jim owned a record label by the name of Spotlight Records. Again, several meetings, some tweaking' of the contract and BOOM, we were signed at a big party held at Dough Boys in Ashville early in 2005!” So in 2005 I decided that I would like to produce my third CD titled “The Storm” by Category IV. The process of finding a studio that fit all the criteria the band and what I was looking for took a few months. I made contact with studios in Washington D.C., Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee and New York. We settled on a studio in New York. This place was just blocks from Central Park, in the heart of Manhattan. This guy has done work with artist like James Taylor and Madonna. We were going up to do just 3 or 4 songs and release those while we worked on the rest of the CD. Then, I discovered a studio in Lafayette, Indiana by the name of Sound Logic. Sound Logic has earned several awards including 2 Grammy nominations generated from work in this studio. Time for a "road trip." The band and I all packed into Mikes (the drummer) van and off we went. We misjudged the time it would take us but a Ponderosa dinner and 5 hours later, we arrived at the Sound Logic studio. You would never know it was a studio. Out in the middle of nowhere, you would just see this nice house with a pole barn next to it and assume nothing! Go into the pole barn and you are in a whole different world. Completely finished and equipped with recording gear, a grand piano, separate rooms for vocal recording and a HUGE control room overlooking the main studio. Two hours later and we were no longer going to New York. The owner of Sound Logic, Jeff Anderson, made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Jeff was born in 1976 and has accomplished a great deal throughout his varied career. Jeff began his career working in the music industry as a musician. While recording in the studio, he found true enjoyment in the art of recording music. Following this newfound interest, he attended the prestigious Full Sail School of Recording Arts and began work as a sound engineer. In 1996, Jeff founded and built Sound Logic Recording Studios in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Over the next 5 years, Jeff produced over 480 productions that received national syndication and built the studio into one of the 100 largest recording studios in the US. Jeff’s work at Sound Logic, has earned him many national and international awards including Grammy® nominations, Addy Awards, Communicator Awards, Telly Awards, Aegis Awards, and an International Cindy Award. He has worked in all levels of the music, advertising and film industries. In 2004 Jeff moved to Lafayette IN and achieved his dream, "a world class recording facility in a laid back private location." Category IV recorded at Jeff Anderson's private 1600 sq foot studio. Sound Logic houses a vintage Neve 8108 console. One of 6 left in the USA. This console has recorded over 30 number one hits in the past and has a unique warm feel about it. I expect to release this CD to radio sometime in 2007.
Music: Rock, Country, Hip Hop and Pop
Movies: Occasionally
TV: Rarely
Books: Health, Golf and Travel
Likes: Hot women, fast cars and family
Hobbies: Music
Vices: None
Virtues: loyal
Heroes: Those that protect us from crime, war and fire.
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Heya,
Category IVSorry I don't have more time to visit, but occasionally I do. Friends is what its all about and I'm glad I have a bunch. Working on 2 new CD's to be produced next year. Both country one each for Brandi Lynn Howard and the other for Todd Berry. Promoting other acts as well. Very busy right now. Just received music from one of Reba McEntire's songwriters. Will continue to look for songs until January. Exciting stuff. Check for updates.See ya
Jim
04:07 PM CST