Tad Sisler
Tad Sisler received Superior Ratings in International Classical Piano Competitions under the tutelage of world-renowned concert pianist Joanna Hodges. He attended the prestigious Idyllwild School of Music And The Arts for 4 years, which at the time was affiliated with the University of Southern California. In High School, Tad Sisler was elected to All-State Choir in Missouri, an honor bestowed on only 75 people in the entire State.
As a young man, Tad Sisler received private acting lessons from Richard Burton, a friend of his family. Later, Tad studied music in choreography under world-famous Broadway Dancer/Choreographer Jacque D’Amboise. Tad has appeared as a lead actor and vocalist in productions of “Paint Your Wagon”, “Lil’Abner”, “Liliom”, and several other shows.
As a performer, Tad Sisler was one of Frank Sinatra’s favorite musicians, performing many times at private events for Frank and Barbara Sinatra at their home in Rancho Mirage, CA. Tad has also had the honor of performing with and among such greats as Gladys Knight, Rita Coolidge, B.B. King, Marilyn McCoo, Johnny Mathis, Kenny Rogers, Tito Puente, Sonny and Mary Bono, Gene Barry, Teri Cole Whittaker, Shecky Greene, Peter Marshall, Mary Hart, Blackwell, Herb Jeffries, Trini Lopez, Glen Campbell and other legends.
Tad Sisler produced a series of headliner events from the ground up, including sold-out performances by Kenny Rogers, Earth, Wind & Fire, Los Lobos, Glen Campbell, The Righteous Brothers, Lou Rawls, Tito Puente and others.
Tad Sisler began producing music in recording studios several years back with “Donny Hathaway” producer Hillery Johnson. Tad’s Contemporary Jazz CD “So Good To Come Home To”, featuring Gerald Albright and Teri Lyne Carrington, was distributed throughout America by Valley Vue Records and given heavy airplay in more than 100 cities as well as garnering critical acclaim in the Gavin Report, R&R and other industry publications. Tad worked s as assistant to composer and musical contributor on television episodes of “Silk Stalkings” on the USA Network as well as episodes of the “Famous Families” series on Fox, as well as numerous syndicated programs.
Tad Sisler has released a series of other CD’s and continues to compose and edit television and film music, as well as to produce main-stage events. Tad currently has several projects in development including a book, an Independent Feature Film Script, and music applications for upcoming Television and Film productions. Currently, Tad owns and operates a state-of-the-art recording facility in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA with complete digital audio and film scoring capabilities, and 4 ASCAP & BMI publishing companies.
Tad Sisler is a specialist and project developer for Yamaha Corporation of America, having turned in more than 500 full-on projects to date during the last 6 years. Tad is proficient at programming using both Digidesign’s PROTOOLS HD-TDM software and Motu’s DIGITAL PERFORMER. Tad’s foray into production music and co-development, marketing and direction of the Mainstream Source library catalog is a natural extension of his multi-faceted experience in the Entertainment Industry.
Andrew Fraga Jr.
Andrew Fraga, Jr.is Vice President of Mainstream Source and an integral member of the Mainstream Source composition & production team. Andrew is also owner of AHF Publishing (ASCAP) and has a full-on recording facility in the Los Angeles, CA area. Andrew began his musical career as a trained drummer and percussionist. He is a graduate of the renowned Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts in Idyllwild, CA. While at ISOMATA, Andy studied under renowned conductor Jung Ho Pak. Andy’s talent and ambitious persona quickly landed him a job at a major film studio in Burbank, CA.
With a desire to produce music as well as perform, Andy began working in the recording industry as a Composer, Producer and Session Player. This experience paid off with a 2 year Broadway tour as lead percussionist for “Fiddler On The Roof” starring Theodor Bikle.
Andy’s performances include the Kennedy Center’s 25th Anniversary Concert with Tom Selleck. Andy has performed with Richard Dreyfuss conducting “Mr. Holland’s Opus”, as well as with Aretha Franklin.
In 1997, Andy was hired by television composer Jeff Edwards as a composer, engineer and producer. Andy’s underscore style, combined with his aggressive programming and percussion/drum performances, drew immediate recognition when his work was placed on several episodes of “The Jenny Jones Show”.
The exposure and visibility created by his successful “Jenny Jones” exposure quickly earned Andy the reputation as a top-notch, creative with competitive flair composer/producer. A request by the lead composer positioned Andy as an assistant composer and programmer/percussionist for the 1997-1998 season of “Silk Stalkings”, showcasing his talents regularly alongside “Le Femme Nikita”, “Walker Texas Ranger” and “Pacific Blue” in the USA Network weekly action line-up “Heat”.
Understanding the art of episodic composing, Andy developed varied composition and production skills that provide the cutting edge underscore in demand by television networks today. Andy’s continued creative efforts have provided opportunities to produce and perform music for Foxstar’s “Famous Families” series.
In the year 2002, Andy began his association with composer Tad Sisler, working as editor and lead assistant in production and development for Tad with Yamaha Corporation of America. Andy signed on in the process as a developer and composer for the Mainstream Source library catalog, as well as many other film and television projects.
Andy also continues to perform as a sought-after Broadway Show percussionist, recently completing a stint as percussionist on the traveling Broadway tour of “Oklahoma”.
Carl Joiner
Carl Joiner is an accomplished musician, writer, producer, bass player and arranger. Carl was born in Alexandria, Louisiana, a third generation musician straight from the seat of the soul of blues and gospel music. His background includes television, radio and stage plays.
Carl has traveled as far as Japan with various bands and has opened for many great talents throughout his career such as, War, Marilyn McCoo, Cheech & Chong, The Platters, Kenny Rogers, The Isley Brothers, Sly and the Family Stone, Larry Graham, The Ink Spots and Buddy Miles.
Rowan DeSantis with the Portland Music Project walked into the Columbia Double Tree Lounge to do a review and said Carl was the “best kept secret in Portland, Oregon.” She had never heard him before and in her review she mentioned the release of his first CD, entitled, “A Better Place.”
His voice lit my ears with smooth, gutsy, deep, full, intelligent, emotional and sensitive tones, he can sing anything. “A Better Place” falls into the category of Rhythm and Blues, sort of. How do you put a label on such a wealth of sounds and inspiration? It’s funky, jazzy, bluesy, soulful, uplifting, lilting and beautiful and is dedicated to his beloved late mother.” In addition to being a great person, Carl Joiner’s soulful vocals and excellent compositional skills are a valuable contribution to the Mainstream Source library catalog within the R&B, Reggae/Ska and Rock genres.
Carl Rigoli
Carl Rigoli was born in New York City and raised in Astoria Queens, and at the early age of three he became interested in music. At sixteen he began performing professionally and after attending the Manhattan School of Music he received a Bachelor of Music and Master Degree in Music Education in 1965. Carl started performing with the vibes in 1964 at the Worlds Fair in New York City with many well-known studio musicians. This eventually led to working in nightclubs and in the studios. A year later he performed in such famous clubs as the Copacabana and the Latin Quarter both in New York. At the Waldorf Astoria he performed both with the vibes and percussion for such super stars as Frank Sinatra, Julie London, Johnny Mathis, Carol Lawrence, Tony Bennett and many others. In 1970 Carl moved to Los Angeles where he now makes his home with his wife. He has been very active as a teacher and also performing with Dave Angel's Big Jazz Band and his own Jazz quintet. He continues composed music, has recorded four albums (CD's) featuring the vibraphone, and worked in television and motion pictures.
Portfolio includes:
TV Show Soundtracks- Laverne and Shirley - Happy Days - Bosom Buddies (Tom Hanks) - Little House on the Prairie - Barneybe Jones - Best of the West - Major DadMotion Picture Soundtracks
- Little Mermaid - Sho Gun - Rocky II - Greece II - Star TrekPlayed for Top Entertainers
- Frank Sinatra (Trilogy Album) - Johnny Mathis - Sonny and Sheer - Jim Nabors - Shirley Mc Laine - Tony Bennett - Trini Lopez - Bob Hope - Jack Benny - Florence Henderson - Lisa Minelli - The Tonight Show - Tributes to Great African American Entertainers
Chad Quist
Chad grew up in the Bay Area where he began playing piano at age five. He took up guitar at ten and began studying with Jimmy Lyons (Eddie Money), Terry Maderas (Starship) and Jack Eskridge, along with other local Bay Area instructors. From age seventeen to nineteen Chad attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. There he studied music theory, composition and all styles of guitar performance.
After his college years, Chad relocated to Seattle. His talents for being adept at many styles on stage or in the studio were soon sought after by the top local acts, from the top-40 scene, to casuals and record work, doing everything from rock, pop and country to fusion and jazz. Some highlights were playing with local favorites where he had the chance to perform on stage with Kenny G, The Platters and Martha and the Vandellas. These experiences led to gigs opening shows for artists such as Ray Charles, Tower Of Power, George Benson, Rick Derringer, Head East, Diane Schuur, Dave Grusin, Lou Rawls, Larry Carlton, Basia, Huey Lewis and Jamie Foxx. In 1995 Chad began a ten year recording career with Muzak. In addition to appearing on close to one thousand Muzak cover tunes on their Environmental channel, he has over 20 of his original songs on worldwide rotation.
In ’96 he released his first CD with his band Paradigm Shift and in ’99 he teamed up with partner Liz Aday to form Quistaday. Their release “These Are The Days” was co-produced by veteran Bay Area engineer Wally Buck, and featured Steve Smith (Journey) on drums with Paul DeLisle (Smash Mouth) and Geoff Stanfield (Black Lab) on bass. The CD was released on Groovehouse Records and the band scored an opening slot for Pat Benatar on her '00 and '01 summer tours. In 1997, Chad landed a touring gig with Big Brother And The Holding Company, of Janis Joplin fame. His travels with Big Brother have brought him to Europenumerous times as well as Thailand, Hawaii and throughout the continental U.S.
The band has toured on bills with Vanilla Fudge, Canned Heat, Jefferson Starship and Booker T. and the MG’s and recently released the live CD and DVD “Hold Me” which features Chad’s fluid technical skills. More recently, Chad has been out with Glenn Yarborough, backing Glenn on his classic folk songs. Working on his own records led Chad to his interest in producing and engineering. Recent projects include Shyamali Malakar, Nick Deonigi, Light Euphoric and Devorah. In the future, Chad would like to continue to sit in the producer’s chair as well as tour, see the world and play music. Chad is a voting member of NARAS and a writer and publisher member of ASCAP. Chad is currently residing in Los Angeles working on a variety of projects including writing for Sanjaya and Shyamali Malakar's upcoming releases. He continues a steady diet of gigging, including regular dates at Disneyland and the House Of Blues in Hollywood.
Franchesco Dicosmo
Having been influenced by a musical family, Franchesco DiCosmo began singing at age five. He started teaching himself bass at age fourteen, inspired by various artists in Rock, Blues, R&B, Funk and Fusion music. Francesco studied music theory with Schuyler Collins from the Berkley School of Music, He studied voice with master vocal technician Nikki Cukor in New York.
For several years Franchesco played bass and was lead vocalist for several top drawing bands on the East Coast club circuit. Franchesco then decided to move on to Los Angeles, to further pursue his music career. He was one of the top ten bass players picked by Billy Sheehan for the Musicians Institute Scholarship Contest. Franchesco then attended the well-known school, not only graduating at the top of the class with the VOCATIONAL HONORS AWARD, but also receiving the HUMAN RELATIONS AWARD at M.I. in 1995. This led Franchesco to assistant teaching and private instruction at Musician's Institute.
Reputation and experience led Franchesco to play with Dweezil Zappa, and MEGADETH'S Chris Poland, with whom Franchesco recorded the instrumental Rock/Funk/Jazz/Fusion record called, "Chasing The Sun" (available at http://www.GROOVEYARDRECORDS.COM) and http://www.CHRISPOLAND.COM ). Having caught the attention of label exec Fred Brown at WARNER BROTHERS, Franchesco was referred to work with other artists such as Stan Whitaker, (former guitarist/vocalist for Peter Gabriel and Happy The Man), and Vonda Shepard from TV's "Ally McBeal". Since then he has performed with WARNER BROS. recording artist, Tracy Dawn, alternative L.A. rock band, PUSH (PUSHTHEBAND.COM), and co-produced and arranged the album, "Burnin’" for Elizabeth Wills with producer Chris Vantassel. Franchesco DiCosmo recorded and co-produced an EP with the band WORLDS APART with producer Barry Fazman, recorded the album "CONFESSIONS" with the band JADED (Tina Yothers), and recorded the album "GOOD VIBRATIONS" with L.A.'s Rock/Reggae/Rap/Pop Band SHAKA BUKU (ShakaBuku.com).
Franchesco also wrote one song and recorded another song for the new album "TRUCE" by singer/songwriter Jamie Green (named by L.A. Music Awards as Best Unsigned Artist), and most recently recorded the album "FALLEN" by WIND UP RECORDS new artists, EVANESCENCE, (learn more @ EVANESCENCE.COM). of which the single "BRING ME TO LIFE" was #1 on BILLBOARD's MODERN ROCK Chart. "FALLEN" recently won TWO GRAMMY AWARDS FOR BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE AND BEST NEW ARTIST AT THE 46TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS IN FEB. 2004 AND HAS SOLD OVER TEN MILLION COPIES WORLD WIDE!!!! (More @ GRAMMY.COM) Also two tracks from "FALLEN" are the soundtrack of Ben Affleck’s comic book movie "DAREDEVIL"(Winduprecords.com).
Franchesco is also currently performing and writing new songs with the band DUDE JONES (DUDEJONES.COM), with guitarist Mark Gregg and drummer Mike Lewis. Franchesco is writing and recording with new L.A. Modern Rock Band ETHIK for a new CD. Francesco’s amazing bass performances and compositional abilities are an appreciated strength in the Mainstream Source collection within the Dance/Party genre.
Gary Hartman
Gary Hartman has worked full-time as a musician and composer in Southern California for the past 30 years. His musical career began as a trumpet player working in many of the Big Bands and orchestras in Los Angeles, the Inland Empire and the Palm Springs area.
Gary has an amazingly sweet melodic sound which was formed in his early years under the tutelage of greats Glen Stewart and Charlie Davis. Gary Hartman has performed with such luminaries as Bob Hope, Joel Gray, Jack Lemmon, George Burns and Phyllis Diller throughout his career. After years of working as a session performer and first-call trumpet player, Gary ventured out into some of the areas hottest groups such as Maya, The Cross Town All Stars, Nuclear Fishermen, as well as touring throughout America with Tad Sisler.
In recent years Gary has focused on composing music, as well as working on several projects in the Television and Film Industry. His contributions to the Mainstream Source library collection can be found on numerous tracks, including original compositions and performances on Americana, Patriotic, Jazz Combos, Solo Instruments as well as Contemporary Jazz and other genres within the collection.
Gilbert Hansen
Gilbert Hansen attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, where he learned to play bass guitar.
Gilbert has toured with such greats as The Pointer Sisters, Big Joe Turner, Big Mama Thornton, The Drifters, The Platters, The Five Satins, and famous blues guitarist/vocalist Kal David, just to mention a few.
Gilbert Hansen is known for his diversified style, including Blues, Pop R&B, and Jazz. His contribution to the Mainstream Source collection is huge, performing as a bassist on countless tracks as well as contributing a large amount of original music to the Blues collection. His unique, gritty vocal style is a signature element of this multi-talented composer and performer.
Glen Myerscough
Glen Myerscough is a world-class saxophonist and flutist, renowned for his technique and ability. For years, Glen’s talents have been in great demand among top studio recording professionals. His career spans more than 3 decades.
In 1975, Glen Myerscough began to work with Andrae Crouch & the Disciples, touring and recording several albums with that group, most notably the 'Live in London' and “I’ll Be Thinking Of You” albums. “Live in London” secured a Grammy Award for Glen and his ensemble as writers/producers/performers of that project.
While working towards his Bachelor’s Degree in Science, Glen recorded and toured in the 80’s and 90’s with a myriad of performers including James Felix, Kelly McGuire, Jeff Stover, Tad Sisler, Pat Rizzo, Marty Morell, and many more legendary artists. Glen was an original member of the famous Christian band Psalm 101. On Tad Sisler’s “Good To Come Home To” CD, Glen did a flute/sax duet with Gerald Albright on a tune, which was played in more than 100 cities on jazz stations throughout the USA and listed as ‘chartbound’ in Gavin and R&R.
Over the years while on stage with Tad Sisler, Glen had the honor of performing with and among such greats as Gladys Knight, Rita Coolidge, Marilyn McCoo, Johnny Mathis, Kenny Rogers, Sonny and Mary Bono, Mary Hart, Herb Jeffries, Jack Kemp, Vice President Dan Quayle and other legends. Glen has been an integral part of the Mainstream Source success story, composing a large amount of music for the catalogue and performing on a large number of tracks as well as heading up the website design team in our early stages of development.
Helene Immel
Helene Immel is a new, fresh talent bound for stardom! At the age of 10, Helen began performing in venues in Southern California as a lead vocalist, and she recorded her first CD at the age of 12.
Helene’s parents came to the US from Europe when Helen was a small girl. She is the oldest of 7 children, and she has an outstanding personality and vocal quality, which draws everyone to her whenever she sings.
Helene’s latest offering is an amazing CD of contemporary pop, produced by Tad Sisler. Helene wrote the title track of this 16-tune CD which she recorded this year at the age of 14, entitled “Be Who I Am”. This brand-new CD tackles broad issues from teenage angst to true love and broken hearts.
Helene’s vocal style is largely compared as a mixture between Norah Jones, Minnie Ripperton, Renee Olstead and Colbie Caliat, but truly she brings a sweetness and uniqueness to everything she records.
MAINSTREAM SOURCE is proud to announce Helene Immel as our newest star!
Jason Weber
Jason Weber has been playing sax since the age of nine. In 1994, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from the University of Wisconsin. Before relocating to southern California in 1997 to further pursue his music career, Weber led an award-winning contemporary jazz group in southeastern Wisconsin. Weber's first solo CD, '1st AVENUE', achieved national recognition by making it to the final round in Musician Magazine's 1997 Best Unsigned Band Contest (top 25 of a nation-wide 3,000 entries).
Upon his arrival to the San Diego and Los Angeles music scenes, Weber quickly made his presence known as an incredibly gifted performer capable of moving audiences not only with finesse, but also with his unbridled passion and intensity. This versatility allows Weber to perform virtually any style of music in any setting. Consequently, Weber is in great demand as a sideman and for recording sessions when not performing with his own group. Over the past several years, Weber has taken his talents to perform with or open for international recording artists including: Bobby Caldwell, Boney James, Richard Elliot, Kirk Whalum, Gerald Albright, Everette Harp, Brian Auger, Alex Ligertwood, Robert & Dean Deleo (members of Stone Temple Pilots), Brandon Fields and Steve Ferrone among others.
PRESS
San Diego Reader - December 6, 2007
“Good Jazz Beats All Food”
Good jazz can not only evoke past scenes, it provides them with a haunting soundtrack -- moving music turning into movie music. In my case, the memory movies (with my jazz-loving teenage self as the protagonist) are shot in black and white, in the fluid style of the New Wave filmmakers of the time, with a backdrop of glorious, bohemian Manhattan in the early '60s, jazz capital of the universe.
Jason Weber is a dark-eyed, intense-looking guy, maybe in his 30s. A few numbers into the first set, he launched into a sad-happy flowing melody that tore my mind away from my plate and left my heart in little pieces.
The next day I Googled Jason Weber. Found his website. Discovered in "Reviews" a roaring all-out rave from 2006 by the late, great (sucks that he's dead) Buddy Blue, who was apparently as surprised and as knocked out as I was. It seems that when jazz lovers write about Jason Weber, they end up writing love songs.
In the latening evening, Jason Weber and his sidemen were also cooking from the heart, another fluid, happy-melancholy melody, math and passion, drawn out in a long sinuous sax line that reeled my mind in like a hooked marlin. Food is an easy physical pleasure, whereas good jazz is often difficult and complex and apt to steal your soul. Sensual, too, but in a sneakier way. An image came to mind of an old cheap paperback of the sort published in the late '40s and early '50s. On its cover, a tawdry-looking hotel room, where a long-haired brunette lies on the bed, wearing a white satin slip and an ankle bracelet, smoking a cigarette, legs slightly spread, while a dark-eyed saxophonist kneels on the bed between her ankles and plays. No chef interview tonight, folks. We're done here. The chef of the evening was not at the stove but on the stage. (This review is dedicated to Buddy Blue and Judith Moore.) Naomi Wise - www.sandiegoreader.com
San Diego Union Tribune - January 19, 2006
“Buddy's raging case of black-envy flares up again”
We long ago established in this column that black people are hipper than other people, particularly if they are American, over 40 and don't listen to crappy hip-hop (although some under- 40 black people associated with hip-hop to one degree or another can be very hip as well; witness, say, Snoop, "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather and Dave Chappelle). Too, we long ago established in this column that smooth jazz or acid jazz or crossover jazz or contemporary jazz or whatever they call it this week is not really jazz at all, and is, in fact, often very nearly as crappy as crappy hip-hop, and in worst-case scenarios can indeed be adjudged as even crappier.
And so I was stunned – stunned! – when one evening not long ago, I spent an evening at Humphrey's Backstage Lounge and found it crammed to sardine can proportions with exotically hip black people, many of whom appeared to be well over 40 and smelled of pricey perfumes and colognes and sported marvelously posh-looking threads in rainbows of gorgeously luminescent pastel colors and brushed beaver retro-Stetsons to render the hipper-than-everyone-else-on-theplanet Delroy Lindo green with envy.
Stun Factor No. 1: This awe-inspiring assemblage of hipster elite had descended upon Humphrey's in support of a self-advertised smooth/acid/contemporary/crossover jazz reedman, a sullen-looking but extraordinarily handsome youth named Jason Weber, who is white, well under 40 and wearing a very casual, perhaps Target-purchased wardrobe with the top shirt buttons undone and surfer-dude beads around his neck.
Stun Factor No. 2: Despite the fact that Weber looked like someone who might possibly hang around trendy L.A. clubs listening to crappy hip-hop in the company of Colin Farrell and Paris Hilton, when I closed my eyes I might have sworn it was 1970 and I was listening to Quincy Jones up on the bandstand, conducting an all-star combo featuring Cannonball Adderly, Eddie Harris, Herbie Mann, Pepper Adams and Herbie Hancock. There was nothing smooth or contemporary or crossover emanating from that stage, and if it was acid, it was a damned good trip; a flight of fantastic, first-class, full-fashion funk; I'd even go so far as to frame the fuss as "far out." The kid can write, the kid can blow, and he can blow soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, flute and keys (although tenor is his main ax).
If ya don't believe me, check him out with your own optic organs: Weber's new CD, "Can U Feel Me Now," is available at his Web site, www.jasonweber.net, and his entirely fly combo makes a return engagement at Humphrey's Sunday night, a concert you ought to attend even if you're not a cool, middle-aged black person. Buddy Blue - www.signonsandiego.com
Jimmy Frank
MAINSTREAM SOURCE is delighted to feature Jimmy Frank as a featured artist within our “Artist’s Series Rock” collection. Jimmy has contributed music from his 2 solo CD’s entitled “Bring On The Blues” and “It’s Only Right”, both recorded in Seattle, WA with Dick Powell, John Goforth, Ed Vance, Al Katz, Chad Quist, Garey Shelton, Rob Moitoza, Don Peake, Chris Leighton and Allen Sanders.
Jimmy Frank has performed in London, New York, Boston, Rome, Seattle and Los Angeles as a drummer, keyboardist, singer, percussionist and harmonica player for many artists including Ringo Starr, Chuck Berry, Tim Bogert and Carmine Appece of Vanilla Fudge, Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues, John Entwhistle of The Who, Mickey Most at Abbey Road Studios in London, Ray and Dave Davies of The Kinks at Konk Studios and Apple Studios, Mathew Fisher of Procol Harem for RCA Records, Fox (#1 and #2 on the charts in England and Germany), Doris Troy, Mike D’Abo, made an album for A&M Records and toured England with Ronnie Lane of Small Faces.
Jimmy Frank appeared on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson with actor George Segal and jazz legend Leroy Vennegar and The Doc Severenson Orchestra with the Pointer Sisters. Jimmy recorded with members of Heart, Spyro Gyra, Jay Beckenstein, Will Lee, Roger Hawkins, Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues, Gordon Brisker, Bill Mays, Don Costa, Johnny Nash, Carolyn Franklin, James Burton and many more.
Jimmy Frank has been a Warner Music signed artist, as well as having signed with Island Music, Infinity Records and Ariola-Arista Records with a solo LP entitled “Jimmy Frank – Such A Pity” (1980). Jimmy was “New York Pick of the Week” in Billboard and Music World. Jimmy Frank has appeared in motion pictures including “Lil’ Abner”, “The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox”, “The Jayhawkers”, “A Touch of Class”, “Lost and Found”, and several other films written, produced and directed by his late father Melvin Frank. Jimmy’s father Melvin also wrote “White Christmas”, “The Court Jester”, “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House” and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”.
Kathy Sisler Soffer
Kathy Sisler Soffer plays guitar and piano and writes songs with both instruments. She is a singer and has been a songwriter for more than 30 years, having performed at private and public events in the Los Angeles area and in the city of New York where she currently resides.
Her unique vocal style and the beauty of her original music has been compared time and again to Joni Mitchell and Jewel. Kathy’s expertise in music is in choral harmonic arranging, and she has written songs in three and four part harmony for large choir performances. These harmonies are reflected in great manner and permeate her original music in general.
Kathy’s original music and vocal harmonies are a valuable contribution to the Mainstream Source library catalog within the Singer/Songwriter and Contemporary Jazz categories. Mainstream Source is delighted to announce our new Peace & Love series featuring 28 new titles penned by Kathleen Sisler Soffer.
Kirk Miller
Born into an artistic family in Denver, Colorado, Kirk Miller spent his formative years playing piano, acting and singing onstage, writing short stories, and performing magic shows. As time passed, however, Miller gravitated toward more intellectual pursuits, and he graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Arizona, Tucson with a degree in Psychology and a dual minor in Chemistry and Biology. He was not destined for a career in Psychology or the hard sciences.
“It was all too dry, devoid of personal expression,” explains Miller. So, in the early eighties, he headed to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music. He began working with hit songwriter Jack Kugell, and the two penned numerous songs, produced singer Owen Elliot (Mama Cass’s daughter), and scored various commercials and short films, including the 1989 American Film Institute’s grand-prize winner, STREET LIFE. After honing his experience with two early bands, he was hired as a sideman by IRS Recording artists the Rebel Pebbles. Miller toured Europe, Canada, and the US with the band, performed on network TV, headlined clubs and concerts, and opened theater and arena shows for the likes of No Doubt, Dada, Mary’s Danish, Michael Damian, and the Special Beat. Though he played the hits onstage, offstage he was hearing and writing music of his own.
In the early nineties, Miller released his first original CD, EARTH, SUN, & SKY, featuring drummer Dave Beyer (Melissa Ethridge), percussionist Burleigh Drummond (Ambrosia), bassist Mick Mahan (Pat Benatar), and background vocalist Rosemary Butler (James Taylor, Paul Simon). He also fronted several bands, produced various artists in his studio, and played keyboards and sang background vocals for many others. His music appeared in many TV shows and films (it is still being aired in CAMP JIM, ROOM RAIDERS, TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORIES—DREW BARRYMORE, ULTIMATE HOLLYWOOD HOUR 2, and MTV’S UNDRESSED, as well as others).
Toward the end of the decade, as he was finishing his second album, BIG BROWN BAG, Miller began to record, mix, and master audiobooks, and within a few years appeared on C-SPAN in a panel of experts in that field. It was then that his interest began to move toward literature. Writing, he discovered, offered him the chance to go further, to delve deeper, to express himself intellectually as well as emotionally—and without the bad haircut.
Miller’s THE COUCH QUOTATO, is a collection of aphorisms born on napkins and the back of his hand. His first novel, WONDERSLUG, was completed in 2005. Set in the music world he knows so well, WONDERSLUG deals humorously and poignantly with the big business of music, the psychology of family and relationships, and the desire of a young musician to become the person he most wants to be: himself. Miller’s album, BIG BROWN BAG, is credited to the novel’s fictitious band, SUPERBALL, in the book and on the companion CD itself. Still residing in Los Angeles, Miller is working on his second novel, THE NINE COMMANDMENTS.
Mainstream Source is delighted to offer Kirk Miller’s excellent compositions and brilliant arrangements.
Lajuana Johnson
Lajuana Johnson brings sixteen years of professional experience in the music industry. After graduating from prestigious Drake University, she began her career in music as General Manager with Valley Vue Records in Los Angeles. Over a five-year period, she had responsibility for administration and finance, including budgets, and coordinating contract negotiations between the label and the artist’s management.
Lajuana was also able to gain experience in artist management, when she had the opportunity to manage legendary Donny Hathaway’s daughter, Lalah Hathaway during the rise of Hathaway’s career. As Hathaway’s road manager during a six- month tour with Joe Sample and Gerald Albright, Lajuana was responsible for every aspect of the tour, including financial management, technical requirements, logistics and radio station promotional activities.
Lajuana designed the cover artwork for the single “Black Child Killa” by Valley Vue artist Lady Fresh. Through her experience in A&R administration, she began to recognize and hone her skills as a producer and developed a passion for music production.
Lajuana then went to work as an assistant in the Marketing department of Silas Records, an MCA affiliate. During that time, she successfully managed marketing administration, which included artist’s marketing budgets and account payables for the department. During her tenure at Silas, the established budgets that she managed were never exceeded. By the time Lajuana left Silas, she had been promoted to the position of National Marketing Coordinator.
Desiring to work for a major label, Lajuana moved over to MCA Records as an assistant to Ken Wilson, President of Black Music. She spent two years in that position before being promoted three more times. Because of her organizational abilities, she was tapped to be National Director of R&B Promotion Administration at MCA. In that executive-level position, she supervised five department assistants in the Los Angeles and New York offices, managed all R&B Promotions department’s artist’s marketing budgets, all overhead budgets and all of the department’s account payable functions. She also was responsible for the allocation of promotional material for mailing list recipients, MCA staff and radio for impact dates. Consistent with her past performance, she maintained strict adherence to established budgets while at MCA.
Lajuana is also the founder of Big Bulldog Enterprises, Inc., which has already signed its first act, Latin/R&B artist Raymond. Lajuana is the executive producer on Raymond’s album, which was produced in her own studio.
Lajuana’s production skills and professionalism are an integral part of the Mainstream Source library catalog, and her compositional abilities are a huge addition to the Rap/R&B genre of the collection.
Marty Morell
Marty Morell was born in New York City, NY on Feb. 25, 1944. He began his musical studies on the piano at age six. He started playing drums at age 12 and soon realized that music would be a great way to earn a living. Not realizing how difficult this path would be, he ventured out into the world of music. Fortunately his father led him in the direction of Education.
After graduating from High School he entered the Manhattan School of Music as percussion major. This would turn out to be very useful in later years. Marty was very fortunate to study with some fine teachers. Prior to entering college he studied with Stanley Krell. At that time (1958) Stanley was one of Broadway’s busiest show drummers. Marty studied mallets with Morris Goldberg and Timpani with Saul Goodman at the Julliard school of Music. His first major gig was in 1964, touring the US with singer Robert Goulet. After about 2 years with Goulet he toured with Diahanne Carroll. Playing Jazz was Marty’s first love and he had the good fortune to land the gig with Bill Evans in 1968. The next 6 years would become the most meaningful and fruitful years of Marty’s musical career. Marty played with Bill Evans longer than any other drummer and is the most recorded drummer with the trio (25-30 records). Prior to joining Evans, Morell worked with the Al Cohn-Zoot Sims Quintet (1966), Henry “Red” Allen (with whom he recorded) Gary McFarland, Steve Kuhn and Gabor Szabo. Morell played, recorded and toured the world with Bill Evans and Eddie Gomez from 1967-74. After leaving the trio in 1974 he settled in Toronto, Ontario Canada. He became a highly sought after studio drummer and percussionist and fronted his own bands as a drummer and in addition, as a vibraphonist and pianist with his Latin Band. Morell has performed on numerous jingles, films, and has recorded with many world- famous Jazz artists. Bill Evans, Don Sebesky, Moe Koffman, Stan Getz, Kenny Wheeler, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass and many others. He is often asked to lead drum clinics and percussion seminars. He was the head of the Percussion Department at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario for 2 seasons (1986 & 87).
Considered to be an extremely versatile musician, Morell also performed with the Toronto Symphony, Canadian Opera Co., the Hamilton Philharmonic and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and from 1989-97 he was the percussionist with the “Phantom of the Opera” orchestra in Toronto, Ont. Over a 25 year span, Morell has done numerous Theatrical Productions.
In 1998 he moved back to New York, NY his hometown, to play the Tony award winning Broadway Musical “Ragtime”. After a 2 year run on Broadway, he did the US National Tour of Ragtime. Following that, he did the National Tour of “Kiss Me Kate” (Tony award for Best Musical revival 2001) and “Suessical the Musical” staring Cathy Rigby. Currently residing in Ocala Florida, His recent projects include, his own jazz quintet CD entitled “Live”. Also, he recently launched “Datz It Productions” a CD production company. In the past year, he has produced 4 CD’s for various artists. In the coming year he plans to release his 2nd CD and will be touring Japan with his own Jazz Quintet. Marty’s contribution to the Mainstream Source Collection has enhanced the value of the library tenfold in the Jazz genre.
Michael Higgins
Michael Higgins is a multi-talented musician, having mastered the Performance Arts on Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Banjo, Tenor Banjo, Mandolin, Bazouki, Oud, Dobro, Hawaiian Steel Guitar and Vocals. Michael Higgins’ performances can be found throughout the Mainstream Source collection.
This multi-talented man received his Masters Degree in Studio Jazz Guitar from The University of Southern California under Richard Smith, Frank Potenza, David Oakes, Steve Trovato and Joe Diorio. Previously, Michael had received a Bachelors Degree in Music for Performance Classical Guitar from Long Beach State University. Michael also studied with Don Schamber at Monterey Peninsula College, John Crosse at Westminster College, Utah, and took Art History courses at Glendale College, California under Lenoard DiGrassi.
Michael studied composition with Ladd Macintosh, Lyle “Spud” Murphy, John Prince, Tom Kubis, Michael Mitacek and Bill Fowler. In private study, Michael studied with the greats including Joe Pass, Joe Diorio, Barney Kessell, Howard Roberts, Ted Greene, Dale Ramey, George Johnston and Tony Rizzi. Michael studied classical guitar with Harvey Malloy and Kurt Shuster at Long Beach State University, and with Scott Tennant and Brian Head at The University Of Southern California. Michael’s work has appeared on television, film, commercials and recordings.
His recording credits include Maynard Ferguson Body & Soul and High Voltage, Steve Allen Keep Swingin’, Tom Kubis Big Band Slightly Off The Ground and At Last, Simply Jazz Hook, Line and Speaker, Tad Sisler We’ve Loved This Way Before, Barbara Morrison I’m Gettin’ ‘Long All Right, Luther Hughes and Cahoots, Lois Boileau, and Michael’s own CD’s entitled Home Again and Ventana. Michael’s film and television credits include Boiling Point with Dennis Hopper and Wesley Snipes, CHIP’s, The Bob Newhart Show, The Today show, Wings, Charlie’s Angels, The Pat Sajak Show and Big Wave Dave’s.
Michael’s work appears in Commercials for Sanyo, Knott’s Berry Farm, Toyota, Great Western Bank, Chief Auto Parts, Nike, Sony, 7-Up, Budweiser, Campbells, GM, Chevrolet, Bally’s RC Cola, JC Penney, Miller, Coors Light, Mazda, Stouffer’s, Kraft, Ralph’s Supermarkets, Lipton and Pepsi. Michael performed and/or toured with Maynard Ferguson, Engelbert Humperdink, Shirley MacLaine, Carol Burnett, Bernadette Peters, Joel Gray, Maureen McGovern, Belinda Carlisle, Glenn Close, Jack Wagner, Al Hirt, Barbara Morrison, Frankie Avalon, David Clayton Thomas, Bobby Vinton, Milt Jackson, Max Roach, Mundell Lowe, The 5th Dimension, George Burns, Joan Rivers, Rich little, Clark Terry, Dizzy Gillespie, Elvira, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., Tom Kubis Big Band, Brandon Fields, Eddie Harris, Jor Diorio, Ron Eschete, Flora Purim, Roger Williams, Brenda Russell, Frank Sinatra, Jeffrey Osborne, Barry Manilow, Glen Campbell, Jimmy Buffet, Tad Sisler, Ned Beatty, Wilton Felder, Jack Sheldon, Kuh Ladesma, Dorothy Hamill, Paula Stapleton, John Guerin, Airto, Max Bennett & Freeway, Tom Scott, Mike Davis, Scott Henderson, Steve Allen, Carol Channing, Eric Marienthal, John Patitucci, Whoopi Goldberg, Bill Liston, Ernie Watts, bill Watrous, George van Eps, Jay Anderson and Cloris Leachman.
Michael’s performance credits also include appearances at Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, The Ice Capades, The Playboy Jazz Festival, Heritage Jazz Festival in New Orleans, LA Monterey and Newport Jazz Festivals, Ojai Music Festival with the New World Symphony, The San Jose Jazz Fesitval, Long Beach Municipal Concert and Studio Jazz Band, and with “Weird Al” Yankovic for the Gloria Estefan Hurricane Relief Concert in Miami, FL.
As a musician with Broadway Show bands and orchestras, Michael has performed in Show Boat, Ragtime, Miss Saigon, Sunset Boulevard, The Sound Of Music, Chicago, They’re Playing our Song, Everything’s Ducky, Grease, Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, Evita, man of LaMancha, Dreamgirls, Crazy For You, Annie Get Your Gun, Rent, Westside Story, A Chorus Line, Company, Cabaret, Big River, Godspell and Fiddler On The Roof.
Michael received endorsements from AKAI and GHS Strings. He has been a representative and product demonstrator for Roland Corporation. Michael’s work is featured most predominantly in the Mainstream Source Library in Solo Guitar, Contemporary Jazz, Christmas Rocks and Country. His excellent interpretations are interspersed throughout practically every genre in the collection.
Pat Rizzo
It is not unusual for this multi-talented musician, vocalist, and conductor to be booked far in advance. Whether leading an intimate trio or directing a big-band, Pat Rizzo is one of the most requested performers in show business.
Jazz In The Pines, the renowned Idyllwild Jazz Festival, has become an annual event for Rizzo since its inception several years ago. As a performer, Pat is a well-known featured vocalist on frequently requested love and swing songs artfully blended with his melodious horns. His unique smooth vocal performances have been compared to Tony Bennett.
Rizzo served as maestro for many of Southern California’s most illustrious events, including The Frank Sinatra Invitational Ball, as well as private after-party bashes for special celebrity friends. The Frank Sinatra Ball, in honor of The Barbara Sinatra Center for Abused Children, starring Steve Lawrence and Edie Gorme, was not the first shared event for Pat Rizzo and the Sinatras. Pat Rizzo came to the attention of Frank Sinatra after his appearance at the desert home of Ol' Blue Eyes. Shortly afterwards, in 1974, Sinatra asked Pat Rizzo to join his musical aggregation in Las Vegas. Pat Rizzo became a featured soloist. Their musical paths crossed many times following. "Working with Frank Sinatra has been one of the greatest musical opportunities of my life; a real learning experience!" Rizzo recalls.
In total contrast to life with Sinatra, Pat Rizzo performed on a World Tour with Sly and the Family Stone, as well as earning gold records composing music for Sly. Rizzo continued concert touring when he joined War, featuring Lee Oskar, one of the hottest recording groups of that era. Additionally, he recorded several albums and film soundtracks with Ry Cooder. He composed and performed on four of War's hit albums and can still be seen today on VH1's redubbed videos of both War and Sly and the Family Stone. Pat is a longtime friend and confidant of Eric Burton. Pat’s ability to make easy transitions from Jazz to Rock to Pop comes from a deep artistic devotion stemming from his early childhood. He learned to play piano by ear, picking up what he heard from his mother, a former concert pianist. Later, he turned to woodwind instruments and soon mastered the five saxophones.
By the time he was twelve, Pat and boyhood friends formed their own band and played for neighborhood fraternal organizations and high school dances. As early as age 15, they had to lie about their ages to perform in local nightclubs.
At college, first at Windham in Vermont, and later at The Manhattan School of Music, Rizzo received formal musical training and added mastery of the flute to his repertoire. His versatility and widespread notoriety in New York garnered the attention of noted band-leaders such as Tito Puente. His work with Puente widened his expertise in Latin Jazz where he added the conga drum to his musical craft.
Hollywood beckoned. On the West Coast, Pat worked for a cadre of superstars on the A&M, Warner Brothers, and Motown labels. He appeared in and recorded soundtracks for several movies, including “Palm Springs Week-End”. This began his twenty-five year love affair with the desert city. Today, Palm Springs is his home. He has become a must-see celebrity in the desert. Pat Rizzo is a valued contributor to the Mainstream Source library collection as a composer and performer in the Adult Contemporary and Jazz genres.
Paula Stapleton
A graduate of the esteemed Royal Conservatory Of Music in Toronto, Canada, Paula Stapleton was classically trained. Her soulfully strong yet sweet vocal talent was developed from hundreds of performances in major venues throughout North America as a lead vocalist.
Paula has been an opening act for many headliners including Chuck Mangione. In the studio, she has been featured as the female lead in duets with Jose Feliciano. Paula was a background vocalist for Alice Cooper. She has been a lead performer at huge events with Heads-of-State in attendance. Paula has been a lead and background vocalist on national and international television and radio commercials such as Must See TV on NBC, Simply The Best for Simmons Mattresses Canada, Aladdin for a Disney Cartoon Series, and Gimme Shelter (Canada), to name a few.
Paula’s strength, conviction and unique personal style have been a very valuable asset to the Mainstream Source library collection. Her vocals and consummate performances are showcased within nearly every genre. On one track, she has the clarity and beauty of Barbra Streisand and then morphs on another track into a gritty Pat Benatar sound. Paula’s compositional abilities are illustrated by the diversity of a lullaby on one genre, a rock & roll song on another and a dance track on yet another. Paula is one of a kind and each performance is filled with star quality.
Phil Moody
The piano artistry of Philip Moody has thrilled audiences from London to New York, Las Vegas and Palm Springs. His extraordinary piano interpretations have won critics’ applause for four decades.
Born in Southampton, England, Philip grew up in a musical world. His mother Alice was a soprano with the Doyle-Carte Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company. His father, a World War 1 hero, encouraged him to learn the piano. He studied extensively at the Royal Academy in London.
From stage and cabaret performing and composing in England, Philip began to write for motion pictures. He wrote complete scores for film at Universal, Warner Brothers and various independent studios, including “So This Is Paris”, “Love Me Deadly”, Paris Follies” and “Footprints On The Moon”.
Moody’s musical-composing-piano talents also took him to Las Vegas where he created music and performed at the Desert Inn, Stardust, Sahara and Flamingo Hotels with such stars as Betty Grable, The Ritz Brothers, Margaret Whiting, Jimmy Durante and Mae West. When the MGM Grand Hotel opened in Reno, NV, Philip was the Musical Director for the Main Showroom. Philip has recorded on MGM, Decca, London and Electrovox Records. His contribution to the Mainstream Source collection is invaluable, providing excellent solo concert piano compositions to the classical genre.
Scott Francisco
Scott Francisco is an extremely talented composer and producer. Scott is responsible for the outstanding quality of the majority of mixes within the Mainstream Source collection, Scott mastered the catalogue in it’s entirety, paying close attention to sonic integrity throughout each genre as well as contributing original music to several genres, including Rock, Reggae, Ska and Jazz Trios/Combos.
-Bajo el Azul de Tu Misterio*° Jaguares Engineer 1999 -Erase the Slate Dokken Engineer 1999 -First Big Picnic Laidlaw Second Engineer 1999 -Secret Life Portable Assistant Engineer 1999 -Urban Dreams Urban Jazz Network Engineer 2000 -The Supreme Being Of Leisure SBL Assistant Engineer 2000 -Blues Traveler Bridge Assistant Engineer 2001 -Come Clean Puddle Of Mudd Assistant Engineer 2001 -Headtrip to Nowhere Flybanger Assistant Engineer 2001 -On The Mile Different Lines Mix 2001 -In the Spirit Ron Brown Engineer 2002 -About a Boy Badly Drawn Boy Assistant 2002 -Felt Desert Center Producer/Engineer 2002 -Liz Phair* Liz Phair Engineer 2003 -Tad Sisler We’ve Loved This Way Before Eng./Mix 2004 -Martin Torres Collective Poem Engineer/Mixer 2007 *Grammy nominated °Latin Grammy NominatedCredits:
Episodic TV -The Drinky Crow Show (Cartoon Network) Music Editor/Additional Music -Help Me Help You (ABC) Music Editor -Malcolm In the Middle (FOX) Music Editor/Assistant to Composer Charles Sydnor -Three Moons Over Milford (ABC Family) Scoring Mixer/Assistant to Composer Charles Sydnor -Travel Channel’s Secrets (FoxStar Productions) Music Editor -Renegade (Stu Segal Productions) Music Editor/Assistant to Composer Jeff EdwardsTV Movie -A Boyfriend For Christmas (Hallmark Channel) Scoring Mixer/Assistant to Composer Charles Sydnor -For One Night (Lifetime) Assistant to composer Patrice Rushen Independent Film
-Solstice (Endgame Entertainment) Music Editor
Pilots
-Making It Legal aka Sachs Judah Pilot 2007 (ABC) Music Editor -Victor Fresco Pilot 2007 (FOX) Music Editor -Two Families (FOX) Music Editor/Assistant to Composer Charles SydnorSummary Of Skills:
- Music Editing/Composition for Film and Television - Extensive Experience with Pro Tools and Digital Audio Production Techniques - Extensive Audio Engineering and Music Production Experience - Audio Systems Management for Live Broadcast - Guitar Performance in Both Live and Studio Situations - Macintosh based Network/Systems ManagementEducation:
- 1989 –1992 Fullerton College - 1992 – 1995 University Of Southern California School Of MusicEmployment History:
December 2006 – Present
- The Drinky Crow Show (Cartoon Network)
Composer/Music Editor
December 2006
- Solstice (Endgame Entertainment)
Music Editor
August 2006 – December 2006
- Help Me Help You (ABC)
Music Editor
2003 – 2006
- Cossette Productions, Inc.
Pro Tools Editor/Digital audio Playback specialist for live broadcast:
- Grammy Awards (CBS)
- Latin Grammy Awards (CBS/Univision)
- BET Awards (BET)
February 2003 – Present
- Baby Fingers, Inc.
Pro Tools specialist for Composer/MD Patrice Rushen
- For One Night (Lifetime)
- Grammy Awards (CBS)