Collaborations

During the course of my endeavors, I have been blessed to have collaborated with some of the most successful people in the entertainment industry. I bring these experiences with me as we work with our particpants in an effort to provide a realistic presentation of what is required to create original musical works.

With millions of records sold to their credit, each of these very gifted people has helped either directly or indirectly as a result of our association to define the parameters we use to bring our program of creative expression - Reach & Teach - to our participants.

Some may be quite recognizable while others , though their work is surely well known, may not be as familiar. Each has proven themselves to be a great creative talent and the experience of collaborating with them has enabled us to grow and become better at what we do.

Here are some of our collaborators and their accomplishments:
 

Jeff Barry

Jeff Barry has been a major force in the music business since rock and roll's Golden Era, when New York's Brill Building churned out young talent and hit records by the dozens . . . when girl groups in miniskirts and teased beehive hairdos were all the rage, and when rock and roll music was actually melodic, with lyrics young people could understand and relate to.

Jeff Barry's first Top Ten song was "Tell Laura I Love Her." Ray Peterson recorded it, and the song reached #7 on the U.S. Billboard charts in 1960, instantly propelling Jeff Barry to the status of hit songwriter. Barry would go on to write dozens of hit songs for artists such as Darlene Love, The Crystals, The Ronettes, The Shangri-La's, The Dixie Cups, Bobby Bloom, Andy Kim, Tommy James and The Shondells, Manfred Mann, The Beach Boys, and Olivia Newton-John. He'd work alongside the likes of Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Don Kirshner and Phil Spector. He'd produce for artists such as Neil Diamond, Dusty Springfield, The Drifters, The McCoys, Sha-Na-Na, John Travolta, Lisa Hartman Black, The Monkees, and The Archies. He'd compose for movies (The Idolmaker), television ("The Jeffersons," "Family Ties") and Broadway (The Boy from Oz).

Sometimes Jeff has been called the The Godfather of Rock and Roll. From "I Honestly Love You" (composer) to "I'm a Believer" (producer) to "Sugar, Sugar" (both) . . . from pop songs with simple lyrics and simple melodic lines to country/western, gospel and reggae. . . to the joyful sounds of hands clapping, the frenzied shaking of tambourines and the infectious rhythms of a steel drum .

Jeff Barry's role in 20th century music cannot be overstated, and his influence in our everyday lives is indisputable.

Jeff Barry's Website.

Jeff Silbar has been a prominent pop, country and rock songwriter for the past 20 years. His songs have been recorded by a wide variety of artists, including Bette Midler, Wynonna, Fleetwood Mac, John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, Reba McEntire, Eddie & Gerald Levert and Jonny Lang. He has co-written #1 country hits for Alabama ("Then Again") and Janie Fricke ("He's A Heartache (Looking for a Place to Happen)"), plus Top 10 country hits for Gary Morris, Restless Heart, Lee Greenwood and Dolly Parton. He also wrote the #1 AC hit for Lobo, "Where Were You When I was Falling In Love."

But Silbar is best known for co-writing (with Larry Henley) the Grammy-winning standard, "Wind Beneath My Wings." This song has been recorded by about 200 artists, and is one of the most performed and covered songs of the past two decades. Bette Midler's classic recording of the song (from the "Beaches" soundtrack) became a #1 Pop hit in 1989, and Silbar & Henley subsequently won the Grammy Award for "Song Of The Year." Gary Morris and Gladys Knight & The Pips have also had hits with this song.

A Mississippi native, Jim?s songwriting credits include the Gladys Knight classics ?Neither One Of Us Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye,? ?The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me? (also a #1 Country hit for Ray Price) and ?Midnight Train To Georgia,? which earned Jim a Grammy nomination for best R&B song. Jim?s credits also include Bryan White?s ?Someone Else?s Star? and Glen Campbell?s ?A Lady Like You? and ?Where Shadows Never Fall,? which earned Jim his first Dove Award.

Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, Kent Blazy arrived in Nashville in 1980 after completing a two-year stint playing guitar with Canada's legendary singer/songwriter, Ian Tyson.

Kent started a demo recording studio in his own home, employing many soon to be famous singers such as Trisha Yearwood, Randy Travis, Martina McBride and a certain young man from Oklahoma, Garth Brooks. He and Garth developed a friendship and writing partnership resulting in many great songs, eight of which Garth has recorded. Their first collaboration, "IF Tomorrow Never Comes," became the first #1 record for both of them.

Other artists recording Kent's songs include Gary Morris, The Forrester Sisters, T. Graham Brown, Diamond Rio, Paul Brandt, Kenny Chesney, Clay Walker and recently, Patty Loveless.

BOB WELCH is best known as singer, songwriter, and guitarist for the immensely successful rock band FLEETWOOD MAC-and for his own platinum solo albums and top-ten hits such as SENTIMENTAL LADY and EBONY EYES from FRENCH KISS on Capitol Records.

Bob started his career with a show band, the SEVEN SOULS, playing night clubs around the country. Las Vegas lounges, and chic European resorts after having a Top-20 hit on the L.A. R&B charts. While living in Europe , where he was majoring in French at the Sorbonne, he was chosen to fill the guitar spot in FLEETWOOD MAC. He flourished with the band as a songwriter and guitarist, and wrote and sang 22 of the 50 songs on five albums.

During his career as a solo artist, Welch received numerous awards including BILLBOARD'S "FAVORITE DEBUT ARTIST" AWARD and the NORTH AMERICAN ROCK RADIO'S "#1 POP SINGLE NEW MALE ARTIST" AWARD, as well as playing in front of the largest rock concert audience ever (over 300,000 people) at CAL JAM. Both RHINO RECORDS and CURB RECORDS have recently released collections of Bob's solo material, and FLEETWOOD MAC has released a 25th anniversary boxed set, "THE CHAIN," which includes some of Bob's work with that band, as well as re-releasing on CD all his former recordings with FLEETWOOD MAC.

Bob helped found AFTRA'S "SINGERS NIGHT" at the famous BLUEBIRD CAFE, when he served on the their Board of Directors. He is currently a member of ASCAP (32 years), NSAI and is a voting member of NARAS. Bob's songs have been cut by SAMMY HAGAR, POINTER SISTERS, BRUCE CHANNEL, DON NIX, and most recently, by KENNY ROGERS. Bob has had his material used in HBO movies, like "TOUGH AND DEADLY," and one of his compositions is featured in the DREAMWORKS/STEVEN SPIELBERG production directed by CAMERON CROWE, "Almost Famous."

In 1999 Bob released a new CD , "Bob Welch Looks At Bop", a tribute to the "BE BOP" music of the 1940's. He also writes a column for the music professionals website and magazine "ARTISTPRO.COM", and is an audio consultant for A.M.D computers and for STEINBERG Gmbh, the audio production specialists.

On July 8th 2003, One Way Records released Bob's latest CD; "Bob Welch; His Fleetwood Mac Years And Beyond"

Bob Welch's Website.

Lyndie White Wenner

Lyndie White Wenner is a veteran of the performing, songwriting and recording arts in New York, Los Angeles and Nashville. The world of voice-overs seemed like a natural progression for Lyndie having been a session singer for many years. Almost 15 years ago, Lyndie was introduced to the world of voice-overs. She was hooked! This was a new, yet somewhat related career opportunity to make great money doing something fun, and it was in the same familiar working environment.

Lyndie's voice-over credits include Blockbuster Video, AT&T, Glaxo/Welcome, Mercury and Sony Records, KFC, CBS Cable Network, Bank of America, Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation, Chrysler, Hyundai, Kinko's, H & R Block, Enterprise Rent A Car, as well as animation credits including various character voices for BBC Children's Video Network, the Girl Scout Council of America, and many more.

Lyndie has co-hosted syndicated radio shows, audio magazines, and is also a guest lecturer at universities around the country for their Broadcast Communications departments. She consults radio personalities, sports and entertainment figures for broadcast presentations and interviews.

Lyndie directs the "Me and My Big Mouth" Commercial Voice-over Workshops.

Lyndie White Wenner's Website.

Janey Clewer

Janey has performed and recorded with many well known artists such as Luther Vandross, Michael Bolton, Elton John, Richard Marx, Peter Cetera, Olivia Newton-John, Patti LaBelle, Harry Connick Jr., David Foster, Eric Carmen, George Benson, Julio Iglesias, Mel Torme, Chaka Khan and more.

Some of her TV work includes, "The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson," "The Tonight Show starring Jay Leno," "Arsenio Hall" "Rick Dees- Into The Night" "The Cosby Show," and a few of her movie credits include "Aladdin", "Species", "City Slickers II" and "The Net".

Besides her own CDs, Janey has penned songs which have been recorded by Olivia Newton-John, Patti LaBelle, Lara Fabian, Sarah Brightman, Kenny G., The Jets, Richard Marx, Eric Carmen, Jay Graydon, Bill Champlin, Sandrine Francois, Wendy Moten, Randy Waldman and Bruce Gaitsch.

Besides having finished her new solo CD, which features the phenomenal Randy Waldman, Vinnie Colaiuta and Bruce Gaitsch, Janey is writing with Kurt Howell for CURB artist Laura Turner?s next CD. She is also writing with members of Bering Strait for their next CD as well as for Sofia Kallgren of Sweden.

Janey Clewer's Website.

Rick Dees

Talented comedic performer Rick Dees has made an indelible mark in the world of radio with this captivating, wacky style of comedy which is as many-faceted as the assortment of characters he creates.

His is a familiar voice each weekend on the internationally syndicated "Rick Dees Weekly Top 40." The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 reaches over 70 million people a week. The syndicated show is heard on over 350 radio stations in the USA, over 125 countries and 27 ships at sea.

Rick has been honored with many awards for his accomplishments, including his own star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame. He wrote and recorded "Disco Duck," which became an unexpected runaway hit, hitting #1 and selling more than four million copies. That platinum record also earned him a People's Choice Award. Subsequent albums, "I'm Not Crazy", "Rick Dees' Greatest Hit (The White Album)" and "Put it Where the Moon Don't Shine" have proven successful follow-ups to his Grammy-nominated "Hurt Me Baby, Make Me Write Bad Checks." For the past eleven years, Dees has been named Billboard Magazine's "Number One Radio Personality in America."

In the motion picture "La Bamba," Rick portrayed Ted Quillen, the young man who helped launch the career of Richie Valens. Rick was the character Rocket Rick in "Jetsons: The Movie." His television credits include appearances on "Roseanne," Married With Children" and "Burke's Law," as well as the host of the ABC-TV late night program "Into The Night", and the popular syndicated series, "Solid Gold." Rick is also known for his character voices for animated children's programs including "The Flintstones," for which he provided the voice of "Rock Dees."

Rick Dees' Website.

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