Producers

James Mtume and Reggie Lucas at Sigma Sound Studios NY

in New York & East Coast, Producers, Songwriters

After touring with legendary Jazz artists such as Miles Davis, both men decided to venture into song-writing and producing. They created a music production team known as James Mtume and Reggie Lucas Music Productions, which operated out of Sigma Sound Studios in New York City, where they both gained fame […]

Reggie Lucas at Sigma Sound Studios, New York

in New York & East Coast, Producers

After the successful collaboration with James Mtume, Reggie Lucas branched out and began to write and produce material by himself. In addition to his own instrumental record “Survival Themes” (1978), one of the first solo projects he co-produced was Madonna’s 1983 self-titled multi-platinum debut album, including the million-selling single “Borderline”, […]

Ashford & Simpson at Sigma Sound Studios, New York

in Artists, New York & East Coast, Producers, Songwriters

Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson had staff positions at Motown, where they wrote and produced hits for Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross. During their stay at Motown, Valerie released a couple of solo albums which flopped, prompting her and Ashford to leave in 1973. From then on, the duo concentrated on making […]

Brunswick Records

in Chicago, Producers, Record Companies & Recording Studios

The association of the Brunswick name with popular music goes back a long way. Brunswick-Balke-Collender, a company based in Iowa, was a manufacturer of pianos and sports equipment, that began trading in 1845. In 1916 they began making phonographs and then records too. In 1930, they sold their record business to […]

American Sound Studio

in Memphis, Producers, Record Companies & Recording Studios

American Sound Studio was set up in 1964 at 827 Thomas Street, North Memphis, by producer Chips Moman and Don Crews. Moman had helped owner Jim Stewart develop Satellite Records and then set up in the new venue as Stax Records, but a dispute between them over royalties led to Moman leaving […]

Holland, Dozier, Holland

in Arrangers, Motown, Producers, Songwriters

The creative team of Holland-Dozier-Holland became the dominant and most influential songwriting and music production team of the 1960s. They were responsible for making Motown a globally powerful force in the music industry that was able to meet the challenge of the British invasion led by The Beatles and The […]

Billy Davis

in Arrangers, Chicago, Motown, Producers, Songwriters

The late Billy Davis was born on July 11th 1932 in Detroit. He started his career in the entertainment industry as a songwriter with Berry Gordy in Detroit during the mid 1950s, creating successful songs for his cousin the late Jackie Wilson, under the pseudonym of Tyran Carlo. Billy Davis Their first major international hit was “Reet Petite” released […]

Invictus Records

in Arrangers, Motown, Producers, Record Companies & Recording Studios, Songwriters

The analysis of the Sound of Detroit was made more complicated in 1970 by the first major successes for Invictus Records, which had been founded in Detroit by Motown’s former staff song-writing and production team Holland-Dozier-Holland in 1968. Two key members from the audio and sound team at Motown were […]

Curtom Records

in Artists, Chicago, Producers, Record Companies & Recording Studios, RnB, Songwriters

Curtom Records was co-founded by Curtis Mayfield and Eddie Thomas, the manager of The Impressions, in March 1968. The company’s name was taken from the first three (or four) letters of the founders’ first names. The name was also used for the music publishing company they established in 1960, when […]

Richard Evans & Johnny Pate

in Arrangers, Chicago, Musicians, Producers

Both these men have contributed to further education at university level in recent years, with Richard Evans now a professor of composition at Berklee College of Music in Boston and Johnny Pate conducting classes at Nevada University in the music department. Pate was born in 1923, in Chicago Heights, Illinois. […]