There are many things I have to be thankful for, but in this article I want to address and thank my circle of friends and musicians.
As an artist I catch a lot of the limelight, but I can’t create my albums just by myself. I could not do it with a team of supporting cast members, and I have one of the best. It takes many steps to take some songs from an idea I have to the finished CD the listener can enjoy.
Wolfgang Amadeus
It starts with the recording process, where I relied on my friends Greg Watmore who helped me with getting guitar sounds, Wolfgang Amadeus who recorded my acoustic guitar and lend me additional mics and gear I needed, and Eddie Brown to help me with arrangement ideas.
Then there are the players: Ricky Lawson, may he rest in peace (I miss you my brother), laid down some incredible grooves. He was always a step ahead at the sessions and new exactly what I wanted or needed on a track.
Ricky Lawson
Clydene Jackson and Oliver Brown have been my core band members since I produced their Gravity 180 CD. Cly’s tasteful keyboard parts and Oliver’s exciting percussion grooves are just a phone call away.
Johnny Britt happens to live just around the corner and was always ready to laydown a horn section, vocal or keyboard part if needed. Nate Harasim lives all the way in the Detroit area, but that did not prevent him from laying down some killer keyboard parts. Furthermore he took time out of his busy schedule to mix a track for me when I was under a crunch. Dov came by and did overdubs on violins and violas to create a live string section.
Nils, Clydene Jackson and Oliver C. Brown
Yes, I suppose anyone could have hired musicians and studio engineers to record and play the parts. But my friends came for the love of the music, and it’s hard to put your finger on it exactly, but I believe one can hear it on the recordings. Bassist Darryl Williams said: “I really love these tunes you have me play on” , “ and you made them sound so much better”, I replied. It’s the mutual appreciation of each other’s talents that strengthens our friendship.
Nils – Styling by Dion Julian
When it came to the album cover, my friend and stylist Dion Julian made me two custom suits for my photo shoot in less than 2 days. He would have just let me use the outfits for the shoot, but I ended up buying the suits from him anyways.
My friends at Pax Stereo TV: Meko Williams, Victor Allen and Mario Hemsley helped me with getting the word out about the new CD by putting us on their program.
Then there are my live band musicians like Tony Moore, Donnell Spencer Jr, Reggie McBride and Roberto Vally always go the extra mile and make sure the shows are rockin’. They brought their A-game when we performed our first two CD release concerts, and the raving reviews are the proof.
We also just shot video for Gravity180 and myself with film director Len Rosen, a incredible talented film maker and friend who just donated his time.
Life is great. It seems I have amazing talent available on tap. And for an artist, composer and producer there is nothing more valuable than that. These are relationships I nurtured over years, it takes work , dedication and mutual support. Now I am harvesting the benefits. So I am incredible thankful to all who helped me on my current project Alley Cat. This also includes Kathryn Bostic, Malcom McPearson, Reggie Codrington, Carsten Schmelzer, Eric Marienthal, Dave Rideau and I ask for forgiveness for anyone I might have forgotten to mention.
I might be the one on the front cover, but it takes a whole tribe. I could not have done it without a little help of my friends.
Thank You