2008 IMA Artist Judges

Les Claypool

Les Claypool is renowned as the singer/bassist for Primus, one of the most eclectic bands to gain significant mainstream airplay. Claypool's mastery of the electric bass has brought him into the spotlight with his funky, creative playing style. He mixes finger-tapping, flamenco-like strumming, a similar double-thumb technique, and a Larry Graham-like slap technique to forge his own unique style. Claypool has earned respect as one of rock's premier bass talents and has become an influence for younger bassists in recent years. Visit www.LesClaypool.com for more.

Chad Smith
Red Hot Chili Peppers

Drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chad Smith is indisputably one-half of the most slamming, funky rhythm sections to grace recorded music since the dawn of wax. And in fact, it's the one-two collaboration of Smith and ace bassist Flea that stokes the Peppers' furnace.

Although he is known principally as a member of the multiple Grammy Award-wining, headlining band, Smith's drumming is featured on over a hundred albums. He has also toured the world extensively performing drum clinics, and he recently did a series of clinics with Deep Purple's Ian Paice. See www.RedHotChiliPeppers.com for more.

Snoop Dogg

Iconic in stature and in essence, Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr. has carved out a permanent place in musical history. Undeniably, the rapper, producer, actor, entrepreneur, coach, husband and father affectionately called Snoop Dogg, has performed the most unique balancing act that hip hop has ever witnessed. Never short on vision, drive or ambition, the C-walking, sharp talking wordsworth has managed to redefine and reinvent himself over the course of his fifteen year career, each time revealing a distinctive cache from the depths within. His rhythmic cadences are classic in nature and his demeanor is as laid back and effortless as the brand extensions he has created for himself.

With his eighth installment Tha Blue Carpet Treatment on Doggystyle/Geffen, the ultimate boss player is prepared to retain his thrown as the King of the West Coast. Instead of rolling out the red carpet, in true Snoop fashion, the royal blue is only befitting of this king. Reconnecting with the man that put him in the game, production wizard Dr. Dre, Snoop's laser like focus is as sharp as the needle that Dre drops on the record and his execution can only reflect the exemplary standard they have set on their timeless collaborations throughout the years. Check out www.SnoopDogg.com for more.

Mavis Staples

Mavis Staples is a force of nature. A 40-year veteran performer, recording artist and collaborator, Staples is a Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame inductee and one of VH1's "100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll." With The Staple Singers and on her own, she is responsible for blazing a rhythm & blues trail while never relinquishing her gospel roots. Her voice has influenced artists from Bob Dylan to Prince, who dubbed her "the epitome of soul." She has appeared alongside everyone from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Presidents Kennedy, Carter, and Clinton, to Janis Joplin, Pink Floyd, Santana, and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. She is also featured on recordings with Bob Dylan, Los Lobos, Aretha Franklin, Marty Stuart and many others. www.MavisStaples.com has more.

Duncan Sheik

Duncan Sheik just added multiple Tony Award Winner to his resume for his score and orchestrations for Broadway's "Spring Awakening." The play swept the ceremony, claiming eight wins, including the top prize, for Best Musical. Before his Broadway debut, Sheik was best known for his eponymous Atlantic Records debut, which was certified Gold and spawned the 1996 hit single "Barely Breathing," which earned him a Grammy Award nomination. His official website is www.DuncanSheik.com.

Susan Tedeschi

Whether sharing the stage with the Rolling Stones, BB King, Willie Nelson or Sheryl Crow; performing on national TV or singing the American National Anthem at NY Knicks, Boston Red Sox and Celtics games, four-time GRAMMY® award nominee blues vocalist & guitarist, Susan Tedeschi, always delivers.  With six albums and one live DVD under her belt, she has sold well over a million records in the US, alone.  Tedeschi has developed a loyal, grassroots following garnered from years of touring, potent live shows and radio support.   Critically acclaimed, she has scored four Grammy nominations, from 2000 - 2007 including Best New Artist in 2001, Best Female Rock Vocal in 2003, and best Contemporary Blues Album in 2004 & 2007.  She has been recognized for both her recorded & live performances with awards from WC Handy Awards and Boston Music Awards, etc.  With distribution by Universal records, Tedeschi intends to expand her international career by supporting her releases on Verve Forecast / Universal Music Group. Find out more at www.SusanTedeschi.com.

Angelique Kidjo

Angelique Kidjo launched her career at the age of six, in the Beninese African port village of Cotonou, and has become a much-celebrated singer, composer and performer. The four-time Grammy-nominated artist has traveled far and mesmerized audiences on countless stages. Her striking voice, stage presence and fluency in multiple cultures and languages won respect from her peers and expanded her following across national borders. It also earned her access to humanitarians who sensed the passion in the words of her songs, resulting in her long-term dedication to global charity work. Kidjo’s latest album, DJIN DJIN, (Razor & Tie/Starbucks Entertainment) includes collaborations with Peter Gabriel, Alicia Keys, Joss Stone, Josh Groban, Ziggy Marley and Carlos Santana. Visit www.Kidjo.com for more.

Ice-T

Although one of West Coast rap's leading figures, Ice-T (Tracy Marrow) was actually born in Newark, New Jersey. While attending Crenshaw High School in California, Ice-T became obsessed with rap and often recited rhymes for classmates. After a stint in the Army, Ice-T began his extremely long career of recording raps for various studios on 12." These tracks were later compiled on "The Classic Collection" and also featured on disc 2 of "Legends of Hip-Hop." His first rap was "The Coldest Rap" in 1982; this was also the first hip hop record to use the words "nigga" and "ho," although few recognize this early record as "gangsta rap." Much of his music is politically oriented. In 1991, Ice-T released his classic album O.G. (Original Gangster) which is regarded as one of Gangsta Rap's defining albums. It was also on this album in which he introduced his heavy metal band, Body Count. He has since released four other Rap albums, collaborated with Hard Rock/Metal bands, such as Icepick, Slayer, Motörhead, Black Sabbath,
Six Feet Under and covered songs by Hardcore Punk bands, The Exploited and Black Flag. Since 2000, he has played the role of Detective Odafin Tutuola on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which shows his acting chops. His official website, www.IceT.com, shows more.

Suzanne Vega

Known for her highly literate lyrics and eclectic folk-inspired music, Suzanne Vega became a household name in 1985 when her self-titled debut reached platinum status in Britain. Her next effort, Solitude Standing, garnered critical and commercial success including two hit singles, "Tom's Diner" and "Luka," which was an international success. Vega followed this breakthrough album with four critically and commercially successful releases and then a 21-song greatest hits compilation, Retrospective: The Best of Suzanne Vega. In 2006, Vega became the first major recording artist to perform live in the online, virtual universe called "Second Life." She is currently gearing up for the July 17, 2007 release of her seventh album, Beauty and Crime, her first recording on Blue Note Records. www.SuzanneVega.com is her official site.

Charlie Musselwhite

Blues harmonica icon Charlie Musselwhite was born in Mississippi, raised in Memphis, and headed north to Chicago in the 1950s where he met and performed with Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker and others.  His 1967 debut, 'Stand Back!,' established him as a blues master in his own right. Charlie has performed and/or recorded with everyone from Ben Harper to INXS to the Blind Boys of Alabama, the North Mississippi Allstars to G. Love to Gov't Mule, and many others.  He's won 18 W.C. Handy Blues Awards and received multiple Grammy nominations.  Recently, Charlie was the big winner at the 28th annual Blues Music Awards, walking away with four of the five trophies he was nominated for including: Album of the Year (Delta Hardware), Song of the Year ("Church Is Out"), Traditional Blues Album of the Year, and Instrumentalist - Harmonica. For Tour Dates and more, see www.CharlieMusselwhite.com.

Tim Pagnotta
Sugarcult

As frontman for veteran Santa Barbara, California Pop-Punk rockers, Sugarcult, Tim Pagnotta and his bandmates have taken their characteristic DIY attitude to the limit. Sugarcult has been touring non-stop for the past six years throughout the US, UK, Japan and Europe, stopping only to make new records. The band's career highlights include playing the Main Stage at Warped Tour, opening for Green Day on the band's American Idiot tour and hitting stages at Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds in the U.K. and Summer Sonic in Japan. The band found fans at modern rock radio and MTV 2, and earned critical acclaim in magazines like Alternative Press. With three studio albums and one live album/DVD, Sugarcult has crafted hit singles ("Bouncing Off the Walls," "Pretty Girl," "Stuck in America") and MTV hits ("Memory," which was also featured in Burnout 3 and NHL 2005, and "She's the Blade"), that have appeared in films such National Lampoon's Van Wilder, Old School, American Wedding and Employee of the Month. His band's website is www.Sugarcult.com.

MickDeth
18 Visions

Mick started his music career straight out of high school playing in bands around his hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah. His band, XclearX, toured the country and gained a dedicated following in the Hardcore Straight-Edge community. In '99, XclearX did a short winter run with the Orange County band Eighteen Visions. Things clicked with Mick and the 18v boys and he ended up packing his bags and moving out to California to start a new life and career as the band's bass player. Since then, Eighteen Visions has released two records on premiere indie label Trustkill Records and two major label releases through Epic Records. Eighteen Visions has toured worldwide playing many fests including two stints on Warped Tour and hit the road with such acts as Avenged Sevenfold, Hinder, Buckcherry, Kittie, AFI, Lostprophets, Bullet for My Valentine, Killswitch Engage, HIM, Lamb of God and Atreyu...just to name a few. As the band stays busy, Mick also stays busy with his clothing line, Dethless Clothing, which specializes in Horror-style apparel. Mick followed his dream of rockin' the world and made it a reality. For more on Mick and his various endeavors, check out www.Dethless.com, www.EighteenVisions.com, and his MySpace page.

Mobb Deep

Mobb Deep is comprised of Havoc and Prodigy, who have powered this eminent group to the top of the hardcore rap scene through their straightforward narration of street life. The duo is best known for releasing one of the most influential Hip-Hop albums of the East Coast hardcore rap genre, The Infamous, featuring the hit single, "Shook Ones Pt. II." In 1999, the album Murda Muzik debuted at Number 3 on the Billboard charts and quickly went platinum. Prodigy and Havoc announced that they had inked a deal with 50 Cent's label G-Unit Records in 2005 and went on to release their seventh album, Blood Money. It featured G-Unit members 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, and Young Buck, as well as Mary J. Blige and Nate Dogg. Mobb Deep made history on November 3, 2006, by becoming the first ever American rap act to perform in India, via "VH1's Hip Hop Hustle." Visit www.MobbDeep.net for more.

Judy Collins

Legendary Folk/Singer-Songwriter, Judy Collins is known for the stunning purity of her soprano, her eclectic taste in the material she records (which has included Folk, Standards, Chansons, Pop and Rock 'n Roll, etc.) and her social activism. She has won two Grammy Awards (Best Folk Performance or Folk Recording, "Both Sides Now", 1968 and Song of the Year, "Send in the Clowns", 1975). In addition, Collins was nominated for an Academy Award in 1975 for the documentary, "Antonia: A Portrait of the Woman," a film that honors her classical piano instructor, conductor Antonia Brico. See www.JudyCollins.com for more.

Chuck Comeau
Simple Plan

Chuck Comeau is heavily involved in all business aspects and plays drums in the Lava/Atlantic pop/punk rock band Simple Plan.  The French-Canadian group has released two studio albums: No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls (2002) [US (2x Platinum), Canada (4x Platinum), Japan (2x Platinum), Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore (Gold)] and Still Not Getting Any... (2004) [US, New Zealand (Platinum), Australia, Indonesia (2x Platinum), Canada (4x Platinum), Japan (Platinum), Mexico, Brazil, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand (Gold)]; as well as two live albums: Live in Japan (2002) and MTV Hard Rock Live (2005). Its debut album, "No Pads, No Helmets.Just Balls" sold over four million copies worldwide and spawned several Top 10 hits. Not to mention a Gold selling DVD, endless tours with Avril Lavigne, Good Charlotte, Green Day & others, a headlining spot on the Vans Warped Tour, several #1 Videos on MTV's TRL and a nomination for Best New Artist at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards. Simple Plan won the Favorite Canadian Band Award at the MuchMusic Video Awards a record breaking four years in a row, their first Juno in April 2006 for People's Choice Favorite Canadian Group, Favorite Pop Act at the 2005 MTV Asia Awards, and Choice Rock Group at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards. See Simple Plan's website at www.SimplePlan.com.

Martin Atkins
Public Image Ltd.
Nine Inch Nails

From Public Image Ltd. to Nine Inch Nails, Atkins is known for his innovative tribal drumming, groundbreaking production, and his 20 year-old label Invisible. This entrepreneur now has a new book, Tour:Smart, has guest-lectured worldwide on the business of touring, and writes a weekly band advice column on The Suicide Girls site........catch him out on some Ozzfest dates and in a town near you soon! For more on his label visit www.InvisibleRecords.com, for his book, visit www.tstouring.com.

Frank Iero
My Chemical Romance

Although he plays guitar in one of the most popular bands today, My Chemical Romance, and fronts indie hardcore band Leathermouth, Frank Iero continues to support indie music and the DIY lifestyle. When he's not touring across the world, headlining festivals or busy posing for magazine covers, Iero gives back to the scene through Skeleton Crew, his music label & publishing company. Relentless touring and a fanatical fan following have been majors contributors to the success of My Chemical Romance. Shortly after forming, the band signed to indie label Eyeball Records and released its debut album, I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love, in 2002. Reprise Records signed MCR the next year and released the band's Double Platinum selling major label debut, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, in 2004. Shortly after, the Life on the Murder Scene DVD went Gold. MCR's most recent release, The Black Parade, went Platinum and reached #2 of the Billboard Charts. The song, "Welcome to the Black Parade," became the band's first #1 Modern Rock simultaneously in the UK and US, where it stayed for seven weeks. Visit www.MyChemicalRomance.com, www.Leathermouth.com, and www.SkeletonCrewOnline.com for more.

Rob Wasserman

Rob Wasserman's greatest musical joy and challenge is the art of collaboration. He's put that ability to the test in a variety of contexts over the years, most notably on a series of three Grammy Award-winning albums -- SOLO, DUETS AND TRIOS -- All of which have been recently released as a boxed set called “TRILOGY.” They feature Rob and his various basses on originally written collaborations with Neil Young, Jerry Garcia, Les Claypool, Rickie Lee Jones, Elvis Costello, Willie Dixon, Stephane Grappelli, Brian Wilson among sixteen others others. Additional musical partners in crime over the years have included Lou Reed, The Mark Morris Dance Group, and Bob Weir, first as a partner in the duo Weir/Wasserman, and then later in the band they founded together, RatDog. Rob is currently collaborating with the Woody Guthrie Foundation and Archive and producers Joe Henry and Hal Willner, on an album of unreleased Woody Guthrie lyrics and poems -- all interpreted by Rob and his bass, along with Ani di Franco, Lou Reed, Studs Terkel, Nellie McKay, Michael Franti, Pete Seeger and others. This project will be released on Anti Records in 2008. See Rob's website at www.RobWasserman.com.

Ray Davies

Ray Davies, one of the most successful and influential songwriters to emerge from the British music scene of the 1960s, founded The Kinks with his brother Dave in London in 1963. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted band had many top ten international hits over the following two decades, including “You Really Got Me.” Affectionately referred to as the “Godfather of Brit Pop,” Davies is cited as a major influence of artists such as Pete Townshend, Paul Weller, Morrissey and Damon Albarn of Blur. He has performed in front of millions at Buckingham Palace for the Jubilee celebrations, played the lead in the television play “The Long Distance Piano Player,” was resident composer for the BBC television series The 11th Hour and Where Was Spring, and directed films including the Charles Mingus portrait, ‘Weird Nightmare.’ In 1995 Davies published his unauthorized autobiography, X-Ray, to critical acclaim and since then has been touring internationally with his one-man show, ‘The Storyteller.’ Following the Kinks induction into the UK Hall of Fame late in 2005, recent adulations have also included the Ivor Novello Outstanding Contribution to British Music Award and the BMI Icon Award in 2006. In 2006 Ray played the USA extensively with his accomplished band. The shows included tracks from his extensive back catalogue and recent solo LP ‘Other People’s Lives’. Davies is currently finishing his second studio solo album.

2008 IMA Industry Judges

Carrie Hughes
Music Supervisor, MTV
Reflection Music Management

As if her daily responsibilities as music supervisor for MTV weren't enough to keep her occupied, Hughes recently launched her own management firm, Reflection Music Management, to shepherd the careers of artists and bands she uncovers along the way. Prior to joining the MTV staff, she coordinated the music for the venerable TV reality-based, docudrama syndicator Bunim Murray Productions. Hughes has also held positions with Dreamworks Records, Universal Records, Aware Records and was the head of Campus Entertainment at CSU. See www.ReflectionMusic.com for more.

Kevin Lyman
Creator and Producer
Vans Warped Tour,
Rockstar Taste of Chaos Tour

Music industry leader Kevin Lyman is best known as the creator and producer of the hugely successful Vans Warped Tour - the longest-running music and extreme sports festival tour in the world. Now in its 13th year, the tour reaches more than 600,000 kids each summer, and has spawned a host of imitators.

Lyman began his career booking bands for his university, and working as a roadie for then-unknown acts such as The Untouchables, The Bangles and Bad Religion. After college, Kevin began working with up-and-coming independent promoter Goldenvoice, serving as production manager for seminal punk rock and metal bands such as The Germs, Metallica, the Circle Jerks, Anthrax and Jane's Addiction. www.WarpedTour.com and www.TasteOfChaos.com have more.

Joe Cuello
Director of Music/
Creative and Licensing
MTV

Joe Cuello began his career in music for TV and Film out of a desire to combine several of his interests.  After receiving a degree in Fine Arts and completing a post-graduate degree in Education, Joe began work on a documentary project that solidified his direction.  The process of producing the film and selecting music for its score, lead to freelancing as music supervisor on MTV productions.  "Pimp My Ride," "Making the Band," "Newlyweds" and "VH1 Bands Reunited" are among the shows he worked on in that role. Working with unsigned artists and musicians on various projects, he brought that excitement for emerging talent to his Music Supervisor role.  In January 2006, Joe assumed the newly created position as Director of Music / Creative and Licensing at MTV.  The goal of the position is to help shape the evolving music story of MTV within its long form programming.   With initiatives such as a Guest Music Supervisor role on marquee productions (Dashboard Confessional, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker-Laguna Beach, Pete Wentz -The Hills) as well as Composer work with various artists for the documentary series True Life and "Rolling Stone Project" (Michael Penn), Joe is committed to expanding the connections between music and television.

Joe Boyd
Producer

Joe Boyd recently chronicled his formative years in the music business in the eminently engaging memoir, "White Bicycles." The book is a must-read for anyone who wants an insider's view of the continually burgeoning, music business careerist.

Boyd became best-known for his work with British folk and folk rock artists, including the Incredible String Band, Nick Drake, John Martyn, Fairport Convention and Richard Thompson.

Boyd returned to the States in the 1970s, assembling footage for the eponymous film documentary on Jimi Hendrix (1973) and producing records by Maria Muldaur and Kate and Anna McGarrigle among others. He went on to found his own Hannibal label (now a part of Rykodisc) which released records by the likes of Richard Thompson, and various discs of so-called world music. Boyd also produced R.E.M.'s third album, Fables of the Reconstruction, and records by Billy Bragg and 10,000 Maniacs. His official website, www.JoeBoyd.co.uk, has more.

Elena Rossi
Promotions
Blue Note Label Group

Elena Rossi started her career as a College and Lifestyle Marketing Rep for Universal Music, before venturing into the world of Radio Promotion (first as an assistant and later coordinator) at Aim Strategies. She also worked at Columbia Records as Pop Promotion Coordinator and has worked in various genres including Rock, AAA and Pop; with some of the biggest names in the biz. She currently does promotion at the Blue Note Label Group.  

Anthony DeCurtis
Contributing Editor
Rolling Stone

Anthony DeCurtis is a contributing editor at "Rolling Stone," a position he's held since 1980. Among the many subjects he has interviewed throughout his career are: Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Pete Townsend, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Eminem, Trent Reznor and a multitude of others. DeCurtis is the author of "Rocking My Life Away: Writing About Music and Other Matters" and editor of "Present Tense: Rock & Roll & Culture." DeCurtis is co-editor of "The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock and Roll" and "The Rolling Stone Album Guide" (third edition). His essay that accompanies the Eric Clapton "Crossroads" box set won a Grammy in the "Best Album Notes" category.

Abby White
Music Editor
Performing Songwriter Magazine

As Music Editor of Performing Songwriter Magazine, Abby can usually be found in her office listening to new CDs. When she's not chained to her desk, she's out on the town-or the continent, for that matter-catching live music. She takes her role as a musical globetrotter very seriously, attending every music conference and festival in order to check out as much new music as possible. Abby has participated in panels and events at conferences including SXSW, NXNE, CMJ, Triple A Radio Summit, Triple A Non-COMMvention, Folk Alliance, ECMAs, Midwest Music Summit, Key West Songwriters' Festival, South Park Music Festival and Atlantis Music Conference. Prior to Performing Songwriter, she worked at Nashville's only independent Triple A radio station, WRLT Lightning 100.  Performing Songwriter's website is www.PerformingSongwriter.com.

Chris Douridas
DJ/Tastemaker
KCRW-FM

Boasting a wealth of music industry accomplishments, Chris was recently the creative programming consultant for the iTunes Music Store and created the store's live performance and interview series, iTunes Originals that features new and exclusive tracks from Alanis Morissette, Sting, LL Cool J, Bjork, PJ Harvey, and others. Additionally, Douridas created the iTunes Essentials, an ongoing series of downloadable music playlists for the iPod culture. Chris has also been nominated for Grammy awards for his work on the films Shrek 2 and American Beauty. He continues his dedication to discovering and nurturing unsigned artists through a new nationally syndicated weekly radio program called newground, heard on Radio@iTunes, and KCRW-FM in Los Angeles. Visit his official website, www.ChrisDouridas.com, for more.

Philippa Murphy
Talent Buyer
BFG

Philippa Murphy has worked in the music industry for over ten years. Most recently as the Talent Buyer for BFG, which creates and produces tours for Camel.  As a Band Booker for tours she tries to push the envelope mixing established acts with new and upcoming artists.  Before that, she was A&R at Wind Up Records, where she brought in numerous demos of many now successful well-known bands. Since the label didn't share her vision she moved on to working alongside the President of Blue Note Records and EMI.  She spent her early career in the Music & Talent Department at MTV Networks, always fighting to get good music on the air and at the very least more music video airtime.   All throughout her career she has worked to promote up and coming bands and get good music to the masses. She is a self-proclaimed music nerd with an encyclopedic knowledge of music, whose love and passion for music has not diminished with time.  She is also a freelance DJ, music journalist and blogger as well as being a proud member of the Ladies in Music Group in NY. See www.BFGCom.com for more.

Ben Fong-Torres
Journalist, Author,
Broadcaster

Ben Fong-Torres began writing for Rolling Stone magazine at the age of 23 in 1968 when the magazine was just 8 issues old.  He eventually joined the staff a year later as the News Editor.  Over the course of his twelve-year tenure with the preeminent music/culture publication, he wrote 37 cover stories and an additional estimated 360 credited stories.  After leaving Rolling Stone, Fong-Torres went on to write for many other publications, including The San Francisco Chronicle (where he was a feature writer and radio columnist for 9 years), Esquire, GQ (music editor for 3 years), Playboy, Parade, Sports Illustrated, Travel & Leisure, American Film, TV Guide, Harper’s Bazaar, and California Business.  From 1970-1979, Fong-Torres was a weekend DJ on San Francisco’s KSAN, and later  won a Billboard Award for Broadcast Excellence for his syndicated radio special, San Francisco: What A Long Strange Trip It’s Been. His memoir, The Rice Room, was published by Hyperion in 1994, and he has since written and edited a number of other books, including The Motown Album: The Sound of Young America, Hickory Wind: The Life and Times of Gram Parsons, The Hits Just Keep On Coming: The History of Top 40 Radio, Not Fade Away: A Backstage Pass to 20 Years of Rock & Roll, and most recently, The Doors, a band-biography culled from interviews with the surviving members of the 1960s psych-rock troupe, and Becoming Almost Famous: My Back Pages in Music, Writing, and Life, a collection of articles and essays from Fong-Torres’s long career. For news and updates, go to www.BenFongTorres.com.

David Wilkes
A&R
Koch Records

David Wilkes has made major contributions to shaping and re-shaping the music world as we see it today.  He has done everything from producer to manager and publishing. 

Currently, David is Vice President of A&R at Koch Records.  For the Koch Records website, visit www.KochRecords.com

Chris Kimsey
Producer

Chris Kimsey is known throughout the industry as a 'Producers, Producer' and has been an influence on many. He is musically astute - he both writes and plays - and is also conversant with modern recording techniques including Pro-Tools and continues to make exciting and creative records. Over the years, Chris Kimsey has produced and had hits with acts as varied as; The Rolling Stones, INXS, Gypsy Kings, Marillion, The Chieftans, Deacon Blue, Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Killing Joke, Psychedelic Furs, The Cult, Duran Duran, Johnny Halliday, Peter Frampton, ELP, Bad Company and Ten Years After. His more recent work includes albums for Soul Asylum, The Proclaimers and Ash as well as recording for The Rolling Stones live in concert for DVD and a 5.1 DVD which features songs from Elton John, Dire Straits, Genesis and Phil Collins amongst other greats.

Mike Errico
Editor
Blender.com

National recording artist and Editor of Blender.com Mike Errico contributes breaking music news on Sirius satellite's Maxim radio channel and also writes features and reviews for Maxim.com, Stuffmagazine.com and many other publications. In addition to maintaining his musical touring schedule, Mike has provided musical scores for feature films and TV shows ranging from VH1's hugely successful "Pop Up Video" to MTV's "Band in a Bubble." All In, his fifth full-length CD, was released on June 11, 2007. Visit his official website at www.Errico.com.

Lior Goldenberg
Producer

Producer/Mixer Lior Goldenberg has recorded with some of the biggest names across the musical spectrum including: Ringo Starr, Sheryl Crow, Rancid, Alanis Morissette, MxPx, H20, Macy Gray, Alice Cooper, Vanessa Carlton, Juliana Hatfield, Ozzy Osbourne, Ziggy Marley, Robert Downey Jr. and Lindsay Lohan and additionally, with some of the greatest up-and-coming artists around including: The Hanks, The Ringers, Oliver Future, Boy In The Bubble, The Forward, and Phathom, to name a few.

Melissa Cross
Vocal Coach
The Zen of Screaming 1 and 2

In the early 90s, a passionate and unrestrained movement of singers emerged from the underground that would test the extreme limits of the human voice. Heeding the call of the warriors of rock and metal for over 15 years, Melissa Cross developed a vocal training method that has since been embraced by these artists who value raw power and  passion above everything in their performance. With a roster of clients ranging from Lamb Of God, Stone Sour, and The Bravery to Kevin Bacon, Melissa has provided vocal, production and career expertise for countless signed artists. Her DVD's, The Zen of  Screaming 1 and 2 are presently the best selling vocal training  product available. She has appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NPR radio, Discovery Channel, has been featured in multiple print and online magazines, and is distributed by Alfred Music Publishing. Visit her official website, www.MelissaCross.com, for more.

Carrie Istad is the Local Talent Buyer for the Key Club, located on the legendary Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, CA. She began working at Key Club in 2002, and has since been named Talent Buyer of the Year by the LA Music Awards. Carrie is the creator and booker of RUBY, the SPIN Magazine sponsored weekly indie-rock showcase (voted one of the top showcases in Los Angeles). Additionally, she books all Key Club support slots for national touring artists, the nationally acclaimed Metal Skool show, as well as multi-genre local music showcases on a regular basis. Prior to her employment at Key Club, Carrie worked at KIIS FM and STAR 98.7 in promotions in Los Angeles. See the Key Club's website at www.KeyClub.com.

Pilley Bianchi
A&R
Mamapalooza Records

Pilley Bianchi is an ASCAP award winning songwriter and featured artist in the organization's showcase series at the Sundance Film Festival, where she has shared the stage with Jen Chapin and India.Arie.  As a pianist, she had her debut with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra at 16 years old and was First Prize winner of the prestigious Mozart competition.  She has appeared as a rock/pop keyboardist in video and television programs on MTV, BET, PBS, HBO & the Lifetime Network and was the featured keyboardist/talent for MTV's ace award winning show, "Turn It Up," and "Spotlight Cafe" with Denis Leary, for which she co-wrote both theme songs. Her original band, Ila's Dress, debut CD Ignorance & Bad Manners, received critical acclaim, charting on CMJ and landed her a recording contract with Allen Kovak's label, Beyond (BMG), and co-publishing contract with TRIO Publishing (Nashville).  Her music is currently featured in several soundtracks.  She was the music director for seven years of the long running NYC hit "Tony & Tina's Wedding" and is currently head of A&R for Mamapalooza Records & Mamapublooza Publishing for which she is also a featured artist.  Most importantly, she is mother to six year-old Aidan Bianchi, her eternal inspiration and VP of the PS 84 PTA in Brooklyn! Check out her official website at www.PilleyBianchi.com.

Michael Patterson
Producer

Michael Patterson is a Mixer and Producer who has worked with artists such as Beck, Notorious B.I.G., Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, She Wants Revenge, OPM and Duran Duran.  

Jeff Torrice
Director of A&R
Majorlabelscout.com

Jeff Torrice graduated from Michigan State University and began his music career as a local promoter in the Detroit music scene. Jeff has managed several regional artists and has produced nearly 100 concerts throughout the Midwest. After joining the MajorLabelScout.com (clients include J and Arista Records) team in early 2005, Jeff was promoted to Director of A&R in the spring of 2006 by company President Ken Krongard (best known for signing Avril Lavigne). Regarding the MLS program Jeff says, "What I learned over the course of two years about the major label A&R process is pricless!" Visit MajorLabelScout.com here.

Carol Lester
Mamapublooza
Publishing

Whether unplugged or backed by the World Women Ensemble, Carol Lester simmers with emotion and passion. An active national leader in the grass roots and social cause music scene, this award-winning ASCAP writer is a featured performer on SOUNDS OF HOPE and NYC ARTISTS REMEMBER 9/11. Songs from her three indie CDs have been licensed for use in TV, Film & Radio projects including USA TV Network, The Red Cross, and 9/11 Memorial Commission, among others. And because there are 24 hours in the day, Ms. Lester is a partner in Mamapublooza Publishing, a division of Mamapalooza Records for which she is also a featured artist and a co-founder and long time Board President of one of the most successful urban Charter Schools in New Jersey. Visit her website at www.CarolLester.com.

Jennifer DaRe
President
ATN Management

Jennifer DaRe, President of ATN Management and a hands-on independent manager, represents THE HANKS, The Forward and producer/mixer Lior Goldenberg. With 20 years in the music industry, and 8 years in talent management, Ms DaRe, has amassed a network of industry contacts with whom to collaborate in developing and growing ATN Management. Ms DaRe, with a well-rounded and proven managerial style unique in the music industry, is especially known for managing and supporting artists in every aspect of their work and life enabling them to achieve their goals for a long-term and successful career in music. ATN Management's website can be found at www.ATNManagement.com.

Ethan Allen
Producer/Engineer

Ethan Allen began his musical career playing in bands and writing songs in Austin, Texas. It was also there that he began learning to record, working first at a small jingle studio, and later at Arlyn and Pedernales, Willie Nelson's two studios and at the time the largest studios in town. In 1995, Ethan accepted an invitation to come and work at Kingsway, producer Daniel Lanois' recording studio located in the French Quarter of New Orleans. While there, he eventually became house engineer and worked on many major label and independent records with a wide variety of artists, producers, engineers, and musical styles. In 2000, Ethan left that position to become a freelance engineer and producer, and also helped to found the Truck Farm Studio in the upper ninth ward of New Orleans. In 2003, he moved to Los Angeles where he now lives and has a studio in Silverlake. Some of his credits include albums from Better Than Ezra, Throwing Muses, Luscious Jackson, Tricky, Ani DiFranco, Galactic, Patty Griffin, and Melissa Ferrick. His most recent credits include The Forward, The 88, and Gram Rabbit.

Annie Lin
Director of Creative Licensing
The Orchard

Annie Lin is the Director of Creative Licensing for The Orchard. She handles all film and television licensing for The Orchard, working with music supervisors, producers and studios to bring independent music to a wide variety of film and TV productions. Recent motion picture placements include "John Tucker Must Die" (20th Century Fox), "Surf's Up" (Columbia/Tri-Star), "Flushed Away" (DreamWorks/SKG), "Norbit" (DreamWorks/SKG) and "Grindhouse" (Dimension Films, for the Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez double feature) and TV placements with NBC, CBS-Paramount, WB, and the Showtime Network's acclaimed series "Dexter". The Orchard offers film, broadcast, advertisers and new media companies access to its diverse music catalogue of over one million master recordings, representing every music genre and spanning international multi-platinum acts, cutting-edge breaking bands, and iconic, historically significant regional music. Annie earned her B.A. from Rice University and her J.D. from the University of Houston, and is also a songwriter and musician. See www.TheOrchard.com for more.

Danny Saber
Producer

Los Angeles resident Danny Saber is not only known for his years playing guitar and bass with the Manchester, England-based Black Grape -- he is also known for his skills as a producer, remixer, engineer, and DJ, and has worked with a long list of major artists ranging from Sheryl Crow to Madonna to Public Enemy. Saber is not an easy artist to categorize; he has strong alternative rock credentials, but he has also embraced everything from hardcore rap to industrial to trip-hop.

Brett Kimberlin
Director
Justice Through Music

Brett Kimberlin is a lifelong musician and the Director of Justice Through Music, a non-profit organization that works with famous bands to inspire youth to participate in the political process by voting and supporting civil rights. Brett is also co-founder of VelvetRevolution.us, an activist organization dedicated to empowering people toward enlightened government policies and a progressive agenda. Brett's band, Op-Critical, has been pushing the envelope with its hard-hitting protest music and videos; the latest, called "Happy Springtime, Bush Is Over," is a huge hit on YouTube and MySpace. See the video here, and visit the Justice Through Music site at www.JTMP.org.

Shari Black Velvet
Editor-In-Chief
Black Velvet Magazine (UK)

Shari Black Velvet is the editor/publisher of one of the UK’s longest running independent music magazines, Black Velvet. Black Velvet has been bubbling in the underground for over 13 years and Shari has interviewed, reviewed and photographed everyone from Slash to My Chemical Romance to Good Charlotte. Always eager to discover new musical talent, Shari, a self-confessed perfectionist, is never without a gig to go to, never without a pile of CDs to listen to, and not far from MySpace either! Black Velvet’s slogan is ‘read it, breathe it, believe it’ and Shari makes sure you do. See www.BlackVelvetMagazine.com for more.

Roger LeBlanc
Talent Buyer
Canyon Club (Agoura Hills & Las Vegas)

Originally from Canada, Roger LeBlanc moved to Southern California in 1988 to work for prominent local concert promoter Gary Folgner and the Coach House. Today, he is talent buyer for five major West Coast concert venues: The Coach House (Orange County), Galaxy Theatre (Orange County), Key Club (Hollywood), Canyon Club (Agoura Hills), and Canyon Club (Las Vegas). He also books the "Orange County New Years Eve" festival, one of the largest New Year's events on the West Coast.

With over 20 years experience in an ever-changing music industry, LeBlanc is oftentimes a panelist for various music industry conferences where he speaks on behalf of the thriving independent concert industry. LeBlanc lives in Orange County, Ca with his wife and three children.

Roy Jackson
Managing Director
A & G Records (UK)

Roy Jackson is Managing Director of A&G Records. The UK based label is home to acclaimed international headlining band, Sohodolls. Also on the A&G roster are Lou Rhodes (formerly of Lamb), Bowling for Soup, Gloria Cycles, Wasi and Cherry. Whether it be pure pop, rock, urban or sometimes a little more ‘left field’, A&G first and foremost brings creative energy to the process and provides an environment in which artists feel at home. A&G Records has two sister companies, both based in Italy. A&G's Tuscany base is one of the leading sales and suppliers of professional audio hardware and software in Italy. A&G's website can be found at www.AGRecords.co.uk.

Stefan Goldby
Vice President,
Programming,
The ManiaTV Network

Born and raised in the Midlands of England, Stefan Goldby entered the US music industry as a college radio DJ in deepest Ohio at the tender age of 17. After stints as both a radio and club DJ back in the UK, Stefan returned to America in 1996, joining the Music Link Productions team in Denver, Colorado. Over the next seven years, Goldby served as both program director for the Music Link family of TV shows (Music Link, BPM, Punk TV and Eleven) and as senior producer for the company’s highly successful production wing. During that time, he conducted more than 750 artist interviews, created more than 500 hours of original programming, and won nine Billboard Awards for outstanding music television. On the production front, he helped create both shortform and longform music television content on film and video in both SD and HD for a wide variety of platinum artists including Norah Jones, Incubus, N*E*R*D, Nelly Furtado, David Gray, 311, System of a Down, Jewel, Alien Ant Farm, Johnny Marr, Allman Brothers, Gomez, Ben Harper, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Blur and Papa Roach. Goldby has also served as a programmer for National Video Subscriptions, producer for the X Music Network and helped form the Los Angeles-based Red Eye Network of music TV shows which eventually was acquired by Launch.com. Alongside his role as the co-creator of ManiaTV!’s programming, line-up, Goldby also co-owns Chemistry Productions, a boutique posthouse in Culver City, California together with his wife, Christine. They spend their spare time playing with their children, Carter and Amber. He also makes a lovely cup of tea. Visit ManiaTV.com for more.

Scott Reifman
Talent Buyer
The Roxy, LA

Scott Reifman is the talent buyer for The Roxy in Los Angeles.  See the club's website at www.TheRoxyonSunset.com.

Jennifer Tefft
Talent Buyer
Spaceland, LA

For over six years, Jennifer Tefft has been the talent buyer at Spaceland, the Los Angeles live music venue known for showcasing up and coming bands before they explode. She was the first person in LA to book the Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys, Art Brut, Bloc Party, Jet, Kaiser Chiefs, Keane, Secret Machines, Snow Patrol, The Decemberists, The Killers, and The Shins, among many others. After garnering press for her consistency at finding new talent, she is now starting to delve into the world of music supervision for films. See the Spaceland website at www.ClubSpaceland.com.

Josh Rabinowitz
SVP/Director of Music
Grey Worldwide

Josh Rabinowitz’s mission is to produce a hit record through an ad. Over the past decade, he has written and/or produced about 1,000 tracks for advertisements. These include some of the most high profile initiatives to integrate compelling music with advertising, including Macy Gray’s version of “Walk This Way” for SONY Walkman and Alana Davis' cover of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's "Carry On" that landed her a deal with Columbia. He has also worked on campaigns for Dr. Pepper featuring artists such as Black Eyed Peas, Run DMC (their last recording together), LL Cool J, Smokey Robinson, and Latin heartthrob, Thalia. In 2005 he accepted the position of SVP, Director of Music, at Grey Worldwide, where he has worked with Cyndi Lauper, Rihanna and Queen Latifah. Rabinowitz has won virtually every award in music for advertising that exists. Moderating/ participating in panels and guest lecturing on music at the Clive Davis School of Recorded Music, are just a few of the ways Rabinowitz gives back to the industry.

Tim Riley
Worldwide Executive Of Music
Activision, Inc.

As Worldwide Executive of Music at Activision, Inc., Tim Riley directs all activities concerning the integration of music into the company’s leading franchises such as Guitar Hero, Tony Hawk, Spider-Man and Call of Duty. With more than 16 years of experience in the music industry, Riley has brought established acts such as The Rolling Stones, Jay-Z, Beastie Boys and Johnny Cash to Activision’s games, as well as award-winning composers such as Graeme Revelle. Riley has been at the forefront of industry innovation, including creating the appearance of artists such as Green Day’s Billie Joe, Travis Barker and Snoop Dogg as characters within the games themselves. Formerly, Mr. Riley held A&R positions at some of the industry’s top record labels including Jive, Giant/Revolution, Warner Bros., and Geffen. He has served as music coordinator the CMJ Music Marathon and is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, in addition to participating on the nominations panel for the music committee of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.

More to Come