Tabitha's Secret
Encyclopedia
Tabitha's Secret was a band formed in March 1993 in Orlando
, Florida
. It was originally composed of lead vocalist Rob Thomas
, John Goff, and Jay Stanley on guitar, Brian Yale
on bass (Colin Christan was the original bass player), and Chris Smith playing drums., Brad Presa was the bands roadie. In September 1993, Paul Doucette
joined the band as a second percussionist, only to replace Chris Smith entirely a year later. Some of the band's most popular songs were "And Around", "Dear Joan", "Unkind", "Forever December", "Paint Me Blue", and "3 A.M.".
Also that year, songwriter/producer and representative for Atlantic Records
, Matt Serletic
, approached the members of Tabitha's Secret concerning a long-term record deal with his production company, Melisma, which neither Jay Stanley nor John Goff were interested in, believing that it would be better to sign an album deal directly with the label and not with Serletic's company. However, Serletic pressed on with his desire to sign the band. It is commonly believed that Serletic was more interested in helping Thomas find his voice than he was in the band Tabitha's Secret. In spite of objections from Stanley, Rob Thomas decided to take the offer.
Stanley and Goff's refusal to sign a long-term production contract, along with alleged pressure from the record company to drop the two guitar players, convinced Thomas to leave the band and take the deal for himself. Stanley continued to operate Tabitha's Secret as a business, however, Goff signed over his interest in the Tabitha's Secret business to Stanley in 1998 and started his own company, separate from Stanley.
Serletic's own personal manager and accountant were installed to handle Thomas's affairs. Shortly after, Thomas, Yale, and Doucette signed a seven-record deal with Atlantic Records
. Atlantic Records introduced the trio to two guitarists: Adam Gaynor (Serletic knew Adam from his time at Criterion Studios in South Florida with Collective Soul) and Kyle Cook (Serletic grew up two houses from Cook in Stone Mountain, Georgia). With Cook on lead guitar and Gaynor on rhythm guitar, the five formed the well-known band Matchbox Twenty
.
contained the song "3 A.M." This song was written and performed as Tabitha's Secret, and was released on the band's self-titled/self-published cassette EP. Stanley and Goff sued Matchbox Twenty claiming fiduciary breach of contract and sued Serletic and his attorney for tortious interference. This lawsuit lasted five years and was settled out of court in 2000.
The first post-breakup Tabitha's Secret album was entitled "Don't Play With Matches" (a thinly-veiled reference to Stanley's ex-bandmates), released in 1998.
The next recording, in 2000, was entitled Live, and features recordings from Tabitha's Secret's shows.
In 2001, Jay Stanley joined with Tony Miceli and George Spatta to re-mix, re-master and overdub the original recordings from the self-titled EP, much to Thomas's disapproval. Unfortunately for Thomas, the laws in the US state that any audio recording may be released providing the songwriter is provided royalties. Therefore, as long as Thomas receives payment as a contributor he has no legal standing to stop the release.
Thomas has been quoted as saying he is angry that Stanley is making a living from his past.
Recently, Jay Stanley has begun to release new Tabitha's Secret material, entitled the "Vault". Currently, three releases are available, Vault(s) 1, 2 and 3.
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It was originally composed of lead vocalist Rob Thomas
Rob Thomas (musician)
Robert Kelly "Rob" Thomas is an American rock recording artist and songwriter. He is the primary songwriter and lead singer of the band Matchbox Twenty. Thomas also records and performs as a solo artist...
, John Goff, and Jay Stanley on guitar, Brian Yale
Brian Yale
Brian Joseph Yale is the bass guitarist for the band Matchbox Twenty. He likes to quote Austin Powers, "Do I Make you horny, baby?"...
on bass (Colin Christan was the original bass player), and Chris Smith playing drums., Brad Presa was the bands roadie. In September 1993, Paul Doucette
Paul Doucette
Paul John Doucette is the rhythm guitarist and former drummer for the band Matchbox Twenty. A native of North Huntington, Pennsylvania – a suburb located roughly 15 miles SE of Pittsburgh in Westmoreland County – Doucette graduated from Norwin High School in June 1990. He now lives in...
joined the band as a second percussionist, only to replace Chris Smith entirely a year later. Some of the band's most popular songs were "And Around", "Dear Joan", "Unkind", "Forever December", "Paint Me Blue", and "3 A.M.".
The Split
In 1995 the band interviewed several managers and selected Kevin O'Malley, then manager of Spider Monkey, a regional band enjoying a great deal of success at the time, to represent them. O'Malley immediately connected the band with a publicist, agent Chris Tanner out of Nashville and several record company reps including Kim Stephens, a promotions and A&R rep for Atlantic Records. Kim Stephens brought the band's demo to Jason Flom, then President of Atlantic's Lava sub-label. O'Malley arranged a showcase at Potbelly's in Tallahassee, FL and Flom was sold on the band's material, which included the future hit 3AM. Kevin O'Malley's brother John, Jay Stanley and John Goff financed a new recording session in Atlanta which yielded recordings of new material as well as a refreshed version of 3AM.Also that year, songwriter/producer and representative for Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, Matt Serletic
Matt Serletic
Matt Serletic is a record producer who has worked with several popular bands and artists for Atlantic Records, including Collective Soul, Matchbox Twenty, Blessid Union of Souls, Edwin McCain, Stacie Orrico, Taylor Hicks, Rob Thomas, and singer/songwriter Angie Aparo. Serletic will be working with...
, approached the members of Tabitha's Secret concerning a long-term record deal with his production company, Melisma, which neither Jay Stanley nor John Goff were interested in, believing that it would be better to sign an album deal directly with the label and not with Serletic's company. However, Serletic pressed on with his desire to sign the band. It is commonly believed that Serletic was more interested in helping Thomas find his voice than he was in the band Tabitha's Secret. In spite of objections from Stanley, Rob Thomas decided to take the offer.
Stanley and Goff's refusal to sign a long-term production contract, along with alleged pressure from the record company to drop the two guitar players, convinced Thomas to leave the band and take the deal for himself. Stanley continued to operate Tabitha's Secret as a business, however, Goff signed over his interest in the Tabitha's Secret business to Stanley in 1998 and started his own company, separate from Stanley.
Serletic's own personal manager and accountant were installed to handle Thomas's affairs. Shortly after, Thomas, Yale, and Doucette signed a seven-record deal with Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. Atlantic Records introduced the trio to two guitarists: Adam Gaynor (Serletic knew Adam from his time at Criterion Studios in South Florida with Collective Soul) and Kyle Cook (Serletic grew up two houses from Cook in Stone Mountain, Georgia). With Cook on lead guitar and Gaynor on rhythm guitar, the five formed the well-known band Matchbox Twenty
Matchbox Twenty
Matchbox Twenty is an American rock band, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1995...
.
The Lawsuit
Matchbox Twenty's first album, Yourself or Someone Like YouYourself or someone like you
Yourself or Someone Like You is the debut album by American rock band Matchbox Twenty, released in 1996. Featuring a traditional rock sound and themes of loneliness, psychological abuse, humiliation, anger, and alcoholism, the album sold more than twelve million copies in the U.S and was certified...
contained the song "3 A.M." This song was written and performed as Tabitha's Secret, and was released on the band's self-titled/self-published cassette EP. Stanley and Goff sued Matchbox Twenty claiming fiduciary breach of contract and sued Serletic and his attorney for tortious interference. This lawsuit lasted five years and was settled out of court in 2000.
Recordings
The first recording released by Tabitha's Secret was a self-titled and self-published EP featuring the name "Tabitha's Secret?" and original artwork by Perry Souza.The first post-breakup Tabitha's Secret album was entitled "Don't Play With Matches" (a thinly-veiled reference to Stanley's ex-bandmates), released in 1998.
The next recording, in 2000, was entitled Live, and features recordings from Tabitha's Secret's shows.
In 2001, Jay Stanley joined with Tony Miceli and George Spatta to re-mix, re-master and overdub the original recordings from the self-titled EP, much to Thomas's disapproval. Unfortunately for Thomas, the laws in the US state that any audio recording may be released providing the songwriter is provided royalties. Therefore, as long as Thomas receives payment as a contributor he has no legal standing to stop the release.
Thomas has been quoted as saying he is angry that Stanley is making a living from his past.
Recently, Jay Stanley has begun to release new Tabitha's Secret material, entitled the "Vault". Currently, three releases are available, Vault(s) 1, 2 and 3.
Former members
- Rob ThomasRob Thomas (musician)Robert Kelly "Rob" Thomas is an American rock recording artist and songwriter. He is the primary songwriter and lead singer of the band Matchbox Twenty. Thomas also records and performs as a solo artist...
– lead vocals (March 1993–1995) - John Goff – guitar, backing vocals (March 1993–1995)
- John "Jay" Stanley – guitar, backing vocals (March 1993–1995)
- Brian YaleBrian YaleBrian Joseph Yale is the bass guitarist for the band Matchbox Twenty. He likes to quote Austin Powers, "Do I Make you horny, baby?"...
– bass guitar (March 1993–1995) - Richard DeWitt – guitar (March 1993–1994)
- Paul DoucettePaul DoucettePaul John Doucette is the rhythm guitarist and former drummer for the band Matchbox Twenty. A native of North Huntington, Pennsylvania – a suburb located roughly 15 miles SE of Pittsburgh in Westmoreland County – Doucette graduated from Norwin High School in June 1990. He now lives in...
– drums, percussion (September 1993–1995) - Chris Smith – drums, percussion (March 1993–September 1994)
- Colin Crisman – bass guitar (March 1993)
- Scott Sullivan – drums, percussion (March 1993)
Additional personnel
- Mike Pilarski – instrument tech, roadie (March 1993–1995)
- Matt SerleticMatt SerleticMatt Serletic is a record producer who has worked with several popular bands and artists for Atlantic Records, including Collective Soul, Matchbox Twenty, Blessid Union of Souls, Edwin McCain, Stacie Orrico, Taylor Hicks, Rob Thomas, and singer/songwriter Angie Aparo. Serletic will be working with...
– songwriter, producer, representative (1995) - Kevin O'Malley - personal manager (1995)
- Chris Tanner - booking agent (1995)
Albums
- Don't Play with MatchesDon't Play with MatchesDon't Play with Matches is the debut album of the American Alternative rock band Tabitha's Secret. The album was released in 1997.-Track listing:*All tracks are written by Rob Thomas, unless where noted....
(1997) - LiveLive (Tabitha's Secret live album)Live is a live album by the American Alternative rock band Tabitha's Secret. The album was released in 1999.-Track listing:#"Million Miles" - 5:37#"Paint Me Blue" - 4:49#"Just Plain Tired" - 4:23#"This Is Not A Love Song" - 4:06#"Unkind" - 3:30...
(1999) - Tabitha's Secret?Tabitha's Secret?Tabitha's Secret is the second studio album by the American Alternative rock band Tabitha's Secret. The album was released in 2001.-Track listing:* All tracks are written by Rob Thomas.#"And Around" - 3:42#"Unkind" - 3:21#"Here Comes Horses" - 4:23...
(2001) - The Vault Vol.1 (2007)
- The Vault Vol.2 (2007)
- The Vault Vol.3: The Covers (2007)