Bill Bentley (producer)
Encyclopedia
Bill Bentley is a music industry executive, particularly notable for having produced tribute albums of the music of significant cult artists
Roky Erickson
(1990) and Skip Spence
(1999), in addition to other projects, such as being the co-producer of a tribute album to noted Texas and international artist Doug Sahm
(2009).
-AM radio station in Houston. While in high school, he formed a band called The Aggregation, the local rivals of which were The Coachmen, from neighbouring Lee High School and featuring guitarist Billy Gibbons
, later of ZZ Top
. Bentley grew up in the newspaper business; his father, Bud Bentley, was a cartoonist and later the art director
at the Houston Post
.
Bentley attended the University of Texas at Austin
, where he joined a band of English major
s called The Bizarros. The band was notable for including Velvet Underground founding member Sterling Morrison
. Bentley had also developed an admiration for the 13th Floor Elevators
during the Sixties, following the band extensively to dozens of Houston concerts starting at La Maison in 1965 on through to their last performances at Love Street Light Circus and Feel Good Machine in 1968.
Bentley had developed typesetting
skills, and was able to use these as an entry to a position in 1974 as the music editor at the Austin Sun
bi-weekly newspaper. In 1978, he became the music editor at the L.A. Weekly, being one of six people forming the core of the first editorial staff at that paper.
Entering the record business, Bentley became the Director of Publicity at Slash Records
and rose to become a Senior Vice President of media relations
at Warner Bros. Records
. In his role as a publicist, he has worked with such artists as Los Lobos
, Elvis Costello
, The Blasters
, Green Day
, X, Lou Reed
, The Red Hot Chili Peppers
and R.E.M.
. As a record company executive, he has provided guidance to the careers of such artists as The Barenaked Ladies
, Kenny Wayne Shepherd
, and Wilco
. In addition, throughout a career in music that spans over forty years, he has been a writer of liner notes
to numerous record releases.
In 1990, upon learning of the financial distress of Roky Erickson
, founder of the 13th Floor Elevators, Bentley organized a tribute album for him, for the purpose of raising funds. The result was Where The Pyramid Meets The Eye: A Tribute to Roky Erickson
, released on Sire Records
, part of the Warner Bros. Records group with which Bentley was then associated. Similarly, in 1999, when Bentley learned that Moby Grape
co-founder Skip Spence
was seriously ill with cancer and facing mounting medical bills, Bentley again organized a tribute album: More Oar: A Tribute to the Skip Spence Album
, released on Birdman Records
. In 1992, Bentley was instrumental in restarting the career of Jimmy Scott
, acting as Executive Producer and writing the liner notes for Scott's comeback album
, All The Way, which was also released on Sire Records.
Bentley is also notable for his efforts to enhance public appreciation of the contributions of particular artists. For example, he is the executive producer of a retrospective Roky Erickson compilation, I Have Always Been Here Before: The Roky Erickson Anthology (Shout! Factory
, 2005) and a tribute album to Doug Sahm
, Keep Your Soul: A Tribute to Doug Sahm
(Vanguard
, 2009), recorded and released nearly ten years after Sahm's death. Similarly, Bentley was associated with the 1992 compilation of O.V. Wright
material, Soul of O.V. Wright, released twelve years after Wright's untimely death, at the age of forty-one.
Bentley was with Warner Bros. Records from 1986 to 2006, at which point he became the personal public relations
representative of Neil Young
, as well as the Chief Executive Officer
of Sonic Boomers Inc., an internet-based music news and information site, modeled "as something like Pitchfork Media
for the older set, or maybe something like No Depression on the Web." He also became the A & R Director at Vanguard Records
, where his first signing was Merle Haggard
. Bentley remains a longtime contributor of music reviews and music articles to the Austin Chronicle
.
Cult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
Roky Erickson
Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye: A Tribute to Roky Erickson
Where The Pyramid Meets The Eye: A Tribute to Roky Erickson is a 1990 tribute album to singer-songwriter Roky Erickson, founder of the 13th Floor Elevators and solo artist, whose career has been subject to significant periods of challenge from schizophrenia. The album was released by Sire Records...
(1990) and Skip Spence
More Oar: A Tribute to the Skip Spence Album
More Oar: A Tribute to the Skip Spence Album is a 1999 tribute album completed shortly before and released shortly after the death of Moby Grape founding member Skip Spence. The album contains cover versions by various artists of Spence's music from his Oar album, released in 1969, presented in...
(1999), in addition to other projects, such as being the co-producer of a tribute album to noted Texas and international artist Doug Sahm
Keep Your Soul: A Tribute to Doug Sahm
Keep Your Soul: A Tribute to Doug Sahm is a 2009 tribute album to the late Doug Sahm, released on Vanguard Records.-History and Critical Reaction:Sahm died of a heart attack, in Taos, New Mexico, on November 18, 1999, days after his 58th birthday...
(2009).
History
Bill Bentley was born in Houston, Texas in 1950 and attended Lamar High School. He commenced playing drums at an early age. His music career started at the age of fifteen, when he interned at the KYOKKYOK
KYOK AM is an Urban contemporary gospel radio station in the Houston, Texas metropolitan area operationg at 1140 AM during the daytime hours only. It is currently owned by Martin Broadcasting....
-AM radio station in Houston. While in high school, he formed a band called The Aggregation, the local rivals of which were The Coachmen, from neighbouring Lee High School and featuring guitarist Billy Gibbons
Billy Gibbons
William Frederick "Billy" Gibbons is an American musician, actor and car customizer, best known as the guitarist of the Texas blues-rock band ZZ Top. He is also the lead singer and composer for many of the band's songs. Gibbons is known for playing his Gretsch Billy Bo guitar and his famous 1959...
, later of ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
. Bentley grew up in the newspaper business; his father, Bud Bentley, was a cartoonist and later the art director
Art director
The art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games....
at the Houston Post
Houston Post
The Houston Post was a newspaper that had its headquarters in Houston, Texas, United States. In 1995, the newspaper was absorbed into the Houston Chronicle.-History:The newspaper was established on February 19, 1880, by Gail Borden Johnson...
.
Bentley attended the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, where he joined a band of English major
English major
The English Major is a term in the United States and a few other countries for an undergraduate university degree focused around the consumption, analysis, and production of texts in the English language...
s called The Bizarros. The band was notable for including Velvet Underground founding member Sterling Morrison
Sterling Morrison
Holmes Sterling Morrison, Jr. was one of the founding members of the rock group The Velvet Underground, usually playing electric guitar, occasionally bass guitar, and singing backing vocals.-Biography:...
. Bentley had also developed an admiration for the 13th Floor Elevators
13th Floor Elevators
The 13th Floor Elevators were an American rock band from Austin, Texas formed by guitarist and vocalist Roky Erickson, electric jug player Tommy Hall, and guitarist Stacy Sutherland, which existed from 1965 to 1969...
during the Sixties, following the band extensively to dozens of Houston concerts starting at La Maison in 1965 on through to their last performances at Love Street Light Circus and Feel Good Machine in 1968.
Bentley had developed typesetting
Typesetting
Typesetting is the composition of text by means of types.Typesetting requires the prior process of designing a font and storing it in some manner...
skills, and was able to use these as an entry to a position in 1974 as the music editor at the Austin Sun
Austin Sun
The Austin Sun was a bi-weekly counter-culture newspaper, similar in nature to Rolling Stone during the latter's formative years, that was published in Austin, Texas, between 1974 and 1978. It is notable for being the newspaper that started the careers of many persons who later became well-known...
bi-weekly newspaper. In 1978, he became the music editor at the L.A. Weekly, being one of six people forming the core of the first editorial staff at that paper.
Entering the record business, Bentley became the Director of Publicity at Slash Records
Slash Records
Slash Records is a record label in Los Angeles, originally specializing in local and punk rock bands.The label was formed in 1978 by Bob Biggs as an outgrowth of the Los Angeles-based fanzine, Slash. Biggs, a painter, initiated the label with a seven-inch single from The Germs in 1978. A full album...
and rose to become a Senior Vice President of media relations
Media relations
Media relations involves working with various media for the purpose of informing the public of an organization's mission, policies and practices in a positive, consistent and credible manner. Typically, this means coordinating directly with the people responsible for producing the news and features...
at Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. In his role as a publicist, he has worked with such artists as Los Lobos
Los Lobos
Los Lobos are a multiple Grammy Award–winning American Chicano rock band from East Los Angeles, California. Their music is influenced by rock and roll, Tex-Mex, country, folk, R&B, blues, brown-eyed soul, and traditional Spanish and Mexican music such as cumbia, boleros and norteños.-History:The...
, Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
, The Blasters
The Blasters
The Blasters are a rock and roll music group formed in 1979 in Downey, California, by brothers Phil Alvin and Dave Alvin , with bass guitarist John Bazz and drummer Bill Bateman. Phil Alvin explained the origin of the band's name: "I thought Joe Turner’s backup band on Atlantic records – I had...
, Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
, X, Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
, The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
and R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
. As a record company executive, he has provided guidance to the careers of such artists as The Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies is a Canadian alternative rock band. The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, then a suburban municipality outside the City of Toronto...
, Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Kenny Wayne Shepherd is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He has released several studio albums and experienced a rare level of commercial success both as a blues artist and a young musician.-Biography:Shepherd graduated Caddo Magnet High School in Shreveport, Louisiana...
, and Wilco
Wilco
Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup has changed frequently, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John...
. In addition, throughout a career in music that spans over forty years, he has been a writer of liner notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
to numerous record releases.
In 1990, upon learning of the financial distress of Roky Erickson
Roky Erickson
Roky Erickson is an American singer, songwriter, harmonica player and guitarist from Texas. He was a founding member of the 13th Floor Elevators and a pioneer of the psychedelic rock genre.-Biography:...
, founder of the 13th Floor Elevators, Bentley organized a tribute album for him, for the purpose of raising funds. The result was Where The Pyramid Meets The Eye: A Tribute to Roky Erickson
Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye: A Tribute to Roky Erickson
Where The Pyramid Meets The Eye: A Tribute to Roky Erickson is a 1990 tribute album to singer-songwriter Roky Erickson, founder of the 13th Floor Elevators and solo artist, whose career has been subject to significant periods of challenge from schizophrenia. The album was released by Sire Records...
, released on Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
, part of the Warner Bros. Records group with which Bentley was then associated. Similarly, in 1999, when Bentley learned that Moby Grape
Moby Grape
Moby Grape is an American rock group from the 1960s, known for having all five members contribute to singing and songwriting and that collectively merged elements of folk music, blues, country, and jazz together with rock and psychedelic music...
co-founder Skip Spence
Skip Spence
Alexander Lee "Skip" Spence was a Canadian-born musician and singer-songwriter. He was co-founder of Moby Grape, and played guitar with them until 1969. He released one solo album, 1969's Oar, and then largely withdrew from the music industry...
was seriously ill with cancer and facing mounting medical bills, Bentley again organized a tribute album: More Oar: A Tribute to the Skip Spence Album
More Oar: A Tribute to the Skip Spence Album
More Oar: A Tribute to the Skip Spence Album is a 1999 tribute album completed shortly before and released shortly after the death of Moby Grape founding member Skip Spence. The album contains cover versions by various artists of Spence's music from his Oar album, released in 1969, presented in...
, released on Birdman Records
Birdman Records
Birdman Records is an independent record label based in South San Francisco, founded by former Warner Bros. Records A&R vice-president David Katznelson.-History:...
. In 1992, Bentley was instrumental in restarting the career of Jimmy Scott
Jimmy Scott
Jimmy Scott , aka "Little" Jimmy Scott, is an American jazz vocalist famous for his unusually high contralto voice which is due to Kallmann's syndrome, a very rare genetic condition. The condition stunted his growth at four feet eleven inches until, at age 37, he grew another 8 inches to the...
, acting as Executive Producer and writing the liner notes for Scott's comeback album
Comeback (album)
Comeback is an album by Eric Burdon released in 1982, during the Comeback project. It was the studio album to the film. Live tracks during this sessions were released later on compilations.-Track list:# "No More Elmore" – 4:36# "The Road" – 4:50...
, All The Way, which was also released on Sire Records.
Bentley is also notable for his efforts to enhance public appreciation of the contributions of particular artists. For example, he is the executive producer of a retrospective Roky Erickson compilation, I Have Always Been Here Before: The Roky Erickson Anthology (Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory
Shout! Factory is an entertainment company founded in 2003 that was started by Richard Foos , Bob Emmer and Garson Foos initially as a specialty music label...
, 2005) and a tribute album to Doug Sahm
Doug Sahm
Douglas Wayne Sahm , was an American musician from Texas. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he was a child prodigy in country music, but became a significant figure in blues rock and other genres. Today Sahm is considered one of the most important figures in what is identified as Tejano music...
, Keep Your Soul: A Tribute to Doug Sahm
Keep Your Soul: A Tribute to Doug Sahm
Keep Your Soul: A Tribute to Doug Sahm is a 2009 tribute album to the late Doug Sahm, released on Vanguard Records.-History and Critical Reaction:Sahm died of a heart attack, in Taos, New Mexico, on November 18, 1999, days after his 58th birthday...
(Vanguard
Vanguard Records
Vanguard Records is a record label set up in 1950 by brothers Maynard and Seymour Solomon in New York. It started as a classical label, but is perhaps best known for its catalogue of recordings by a number of pivotal folk and blues artists from the 1960s; the Bach Guild was a subsidiary...
, 2009), recorded and released nearly ten years after Sahm's death. Similarly, Bentley was associated with the 1992 compilation of O.V. Wright
O.V. Wright
Overton Vertis "O. V." Wright was an American singer who is regarded as one of Southern soul's most authoritative and individual artists...
material, Soul of O.V. Wright, released twelve years after Wright's untimely death, at the age of forty-one.
Bentley was with Warner Bros. Records from 1986 to 2006, at which point he became the personal public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
representative of Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
, as well as the Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Sonic Boomers Inc., an internet-based music news and information site, modeled "as something like Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
for the older set, or maybe something like No Depression on the Web." He also became the A & R Director at Vanguard Records
Vanguard Records
Vanguard Records is a record label set up in 1950 by brothers Maynard and Seymour Solomon in New York. It started as a classical label, but is perhaps best known for its catalogue of recordings by a number of pivotal folk and blues artists from the 1960s; the Bach Guild was a subsidiary...
, where his first signing was Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard
Merle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
. Bentley remains a longtime contributor of music reviews and music articles to the Austin Chronicle
Austin Chronicle
The Austin Chronicle is an alternative weekly, tabloid-style newspaper published every Thursday in Austin, Texas, United States. The paper is distributed through free news-stands, often at local eateries or coffee houses frequented by its targeted demographic...
.
Credits
- 1972 Greatest Hits Little MiltonLittle MiltonJames Milton Campbell, Jr. , better known as Little Milton, was an American electric blues, rhythm and blues, and soul singer and guitarist, best known for his hit records "Grits Ain't Groceries" and "We're Gonna Make It."-Biography:Milton was born James Milton Campbell, Jr., in the Mississippi...
(ChessChess RecordsChess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
/MCAMCA RecordsMCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
) Liner Notes - 1975 Electromagnets ElectromagnetsEric JohnsonEric Johnson is an American guitarist. Though he is best known for his success in the instrumental rock format, Johnson regularly incorporates jazz, fusion, gospel and country and western music into his recordings...
(EGM Records) Liner Notes - 1987 Just Say Yes: Sire's Winter CD Music Sampler Various Artists(SireSire RecordsSire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
) Writer, Liner Notes, Editing - 1988 Opal: Assembly 1 Various Artists (Opal Records) Liner Notes
- 1989 Joe "King" Carrasco and The CrownsJoe "King" Carrasco and the Crowns (album)Joe "King" Carrasco and the Crowns is an album by Joe Carrasco, released by Stiff Records on October 10, 1980 in England. An American version with a different track listing and cover design was released by Hannibal Records around the same time.-Side 1:#"Buena"#"Betty's World"#"I Get My Kicks On...
Joe "King" Carrasco (StiffStiff RecordsStiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
/Tornado) Liner Notes, ReissueReissueA reissue is the repeated issue of a published work. In common usage, it refers to an album which has been released at least once before and is released again, sometimes with alterations or additions....
Producer - 1990 Good Old Funky Music The MetersThe MetersThe Meters are an American funk band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Meters performed and recorded their own music from the late 1960s until 1977...
(RounderRounder RecordsRounder Records, originally of Cambridge, Massachusetts, but now based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is a record label founded in 1970 by Ken Irwin, Bill Nowlin and Marian Leighton-Levy, while all three were still university students...
) Liner Notes - 1990 Just Say Da: Volume IV of Just Say Yes Various Artists (Sire) Liner Notes
- 1990 L.A. Ya Ya Various Artists (High Tone) Liner Notes
- 1990 Songs for DrellaSongs for DrellaSongs for Drella is a concept album by Lou Reed and John Cale, both formerly of The Velvet Underground.On January 9, 1989 Cale and Reed performed a selection of Songs for Drella at The Church of St. Anne's in Brooklyn. The first full version was played on November 29–30, and December 2–3 at the...
Lou ReedLou ReedLewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
and John CaleJohn CaleJohn Davies Cale, OBE is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground....
(Sire) Liner Notes - 1990 Where The Pyramid Meets The Eye: A Tribute to Roky EricksonWhere the Pyramid Meets the Eye: A Tribute to Roky EricksonWhere The Pyramid Meets The Eye: A Tribute to Roky Erickson is a 1990 tribute album to singer-songwriter Roky Erickson, founder of the 13th Floor Elevators and solo artist, whose career has been subject to significant periods of challenge from schizophrenia. The album was released by Sire Records...
Various Artists (Sire) Liner Notes, Executive Producer, Album Supervision - 1991 Allen Toussaint Collection Allen ToussaintAllen ToussaintAllen Toussaint is an American musician, composer, record producer, and influential figure in New Orleans R&B.Many of Toussaint's songs have become familiar through numerous cover versions, including "Working in the Coalmine", "Ride Your Pony", "Fortune Teller", "Play Something Sweet ", "Southern...
(RepriseReprise RecordsReprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
) Compilation - 1992 All the Way Jimmy ScottJimmy ScottJimmy Scott , aka "Little" Jimmy Scott, is an American jazz vocalist famous for his unusually high contralto voice which is due to Kallmann's syndrome, a very rare genetic condition. The condition stunted his growth at four feet eleven inches until, at age 37, he grew another 8 inches to the...
(Sire) Liner Notes, Executive Producer - 1992 Grey Ghost Grey GhostRoosevelt WilliamsRoosevelt Thomas "Grey Ghost" Williams was an African American blues pianist, with a 70-year career spanning from the 1920s through the 1990s.-History:...
(Spindletop) Liner Notes - 1992 Soul of O.V. Wright O.V. WrightO.V. WrightOverton Vertis "O. V." Wright was an American singer who is regarded as one of Southern soul's most authoritative and individual artists...
(MCAMCA RecordsMCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003...
) Liner Notes, Compilation - 1993 Velvet Redux: Live MCMXCIII The Velvet Underground (Sire/Warner Reprise) Liner Notes
- 1994 Bird Nest on the Ground Doyle BramhallDoyle BramhallDoyle Bramhall was an American singer-songwriter and drummer, closely associated with the music of Austin.-Biography:...
(Antone's) Liner Notes - 1994 Can't Live Without ItCan't LIVE Without ItCan't LIVE Without It was the only live album release from Boston, Massachusetts hardcore punk/speed metal band, Gang Green.It was recorded at The Marquee Club in London, UK on February 25, 1990 and was released by Roadrunner Records later that year....
Various Artists(Antone's) Liner Notes - 1994 One Foot in the BluesOne Foot in the BluesOne Foot in the Blues is a compilation album by American blues-rock band ZZ Top, released in 1994 . The album contains a selection of the band's songs which fall into the blues genre...
ZZ TopZZ TopZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
(Warner Bros.) Liner Notes - 1994 Short Fuse The Blazers (Rounder) Liner Notes
- 1994 Words + Music Ry CooderRy CooderRyland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...
(Warner/Reprise) Interviewer - 1994 Z Zelebration: A Tribute to the Late Great Z.Z. Hill Various Artists (MalacoMalaco RecordsMalaco Records is an independent record label based in Jackson, Mississippi. Malaco is and has been the home of various major soul, blues and gospel acts, such as Johnnie Taylor, Bobby Bland, ZZ Hill, Denise LaSalle, Benny Latimore, Dorothy Moore, Little Milton, Shirley Brown, Marvin Sease, and the...
) Liner Notes - 1996 4 Aces Texas TornadosTexas TornadosTexas Tornados is a Tejano band. Its music is a fusion of rock, country and various Mexican styles.-History:The initial combination of musicians of the Texas Tornados happened almost by chance at a concert performance of a mutual acquaintance...
(Reprise) Executive Producer - 1997 Anthology: The Elektra Years The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (Elektra) Compilation
- 1997 Little Bit Is Better Than Nada: The Nada Mixes Texas Tornados (Reprise) Executive Producer
- 1997 Live on Letterman: Music from the Late Show Various Artists (RepriseReprise RecordsReprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
) Producer, Associate Producer - 1997 A Tone for My Sins Denny FreemanDenny FreemanDenny Freeman is an American Texas and electric blues guitarist. Although he is primarily known as a guitar player, Freeman has also played piano and electric organ, both in concert and on various recordings...
(Dallas Blues Society) Liner Notes - 1999 More Oar: A Tribute to the Skip Spence AlbumMore Oar: A Tribute to the Skip Spence AlbumMore Oar: A Tribute to the Skip Spence Album is a 1999 tribute album completed shortly before and released shortly after the death of Moby Grape founding member Skip Spence. The album contains cover versions by various artists of Spence's music from his Oar album, released in 1969, presented in...
Various Artists (BirdmanBirdman RecordsBirdman Records is an independent record label based in South San Francisco, founded by former Warner Bros. Records A&R vice-president David Katznelson.-History:...
) Producer, Liner Notes - 2000 Blues at Sunrise Stevie Ray VaughanStevie Ray VaughanStephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
& Double TroubleDouble Trouble (band)Double Trouble was the backing rhythm section for Texas blues rock guitarist and lead vocalist Stevie Ray Vaughan. Originally consisting of drummer Chris Layton and bassist Tommy Shannon, Reese Wynans would later join the outfit on keyboards.-History:...
(EpicEpic RecordsEpic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
/Legacy) Liner Notes - 2000 Return of Wayne Douglas Doug SahmDoug SahmDouglas Wayne Sahm , was an American musician from Texas. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he was a child prodigy in country music, but became a significant figure in blues rock and other genres. Today Sahm is considered one of the most important figures in what is identified as Tejano music...
(Tornado) Executive Producer - 2000 SRV Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble (Epic/Legacy) Liner Notes
- 2001 Labour of Love: The Music of Nick Lowe Various Artists (Telarc) Liner Notes
- 2004 Animal SerenadeAnimal SerenadeAnimal Serenade is a Lou Reed live album recorded in Los Angeles at the Wiltern Theatre in 2003 after The Raven. The show features a drummer-less band . Reed delivers dramatic readings of some of his most compelling work...
Lou Reed (RCA) Executive Producer - 2004 Genuine Texas Groover: Complete Atlantic Recordings Doug Sahm Liner Notes, Compilation Producer
- 2005 Heard It on the X Los Super SevenLos Super SevenLos Super Seven is a predominantly Latin American supergroup which debuted in 1998. The group won a Grammy Award for Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album in 1999 for its self-titled album. The group's musical style has changed with each incarnation, blending sounds from Tejano, mariachi, Cuban,...
(Telarc) Liner Notes - 2005 I Have Always Been Here Before: The Roky Erickson Anthology Roky Erickson (Shout! FactoryShout! FactoryShout! Factory is an entertainment company founded in 2003 that was started by Richard Foos , Bob Emmer and Garson Foos initially as a specialty music label...
) Liner Notes, Compilation Producer - 2005 Just Say Sire: The Sire Records Story Various Artists (Rhino) Liner Notes
- 2006 Complete Atlantic Sessions Willie NelsonWillie NelsonWillie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
Liner Notes - 2006 Definitive Collection Delbert McClintonDelbert McClintonDelbert McClinton is an American blues rock and electric blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player, and pianist....
Liner Notes - 2006 Fishing with Charlie and Other Selected Readings Jim DickinsonJim DickinsonJames Luther "Jim" Dickinson was an American record producer, pianist, and singer who fronted, among others, the Memphis based band, Mudboy & The Neutrons.- Biography :...
(Birdman) Liner Notes - 2007 Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats DominoGoin' Home: A Tribute to Fats DominoGoin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino is a 2007 tribute album by various artists to Fats Domino, issued by Vanguard Records.-History:In contrast to an earlier tribute album, That's Fats: A Tribute to Fats Domino , which mostly contained previously released cover versions, Goin' Home: A Tribute to...
Various Artists (VanguardVanguard RecordsVanguard Records is a record label set up in 1950 by brothers Maynard and Seymour Solomon in New York. It started as a classical label, but is perhaps best known for its catalogue of recordings by a number of pivotal folk and blues artists from the 1960s; the Bach Guild was a subsidiary...
) Advisor - 2007 Night In New Orleans Eddie Zip (DJMDJM RecordsDJM Records was the record label set up in the 1970s by British music publisher, Dick James, distributed by Pye Records in the UK and various other companies around the world, including the USA...
) Liner Notes - 2008 World of Peace Must Come Stephen John KalinichStephen KalinichStephen John Kalinich is an American poet.-Early Days:Kalinich drifted from the East Coast to California in the mid-‘60s, transferring from New York’s Harper College to UCLA. Immersing himself in the anti-war movement, he began working the LA scene as a poet and performer, appearing at legendary...
(Light In The Attic RecordsLight In The Attic RecordsLight In The Attic Records is an independent record label established in 2002 in Seattle, Washington by Matt Sullivan, known for its roster of reissue projects, and for its distribution catalog. . As reissue label, Light In The Attic has re-released works by artists such as Betty Davis, Serge...
) Liner Notes, Executive Producer, Essay - 2009 Keep Your Soul: A Tribute to Doug SahmKeep Your Soul: A Tribute to Doug SahmKeep Your Soul: A Tribute to Doug Sahm is a 2009 tribute album to the late Doug Sahm, released on Vanguard Records.-History and Critical Reaction:Sahm died of a heart attack, in Taos, New Mexico, on November 18, 1999, days after his 58th birthday...
Various Artists (Vanguard) Liner Notes, Executive Producer - 2010 I Am What I AmI Am What I Am (Merle Haggard album)I Am What I Am is an album by American country music artist Merle Haggard. It was released on April 20, 2010 by Vanguard Records. The album peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.-Track listing:...
Merle HaggardMerle HaggardMerle Ronald Haggard is an American country music singer, guitarist, fiddler, instrumentalist, and songwriter. Along with Buck Owens, Haggard and his band The Strangers helped create the Bakersfield sound, which is characterized by the unique twang of Fender Telecaster guitars, vocal harmonies,...
(Vanguard) A&RA&RArtists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...