A&R…the heart beat of any record label…without great A&R then you don't have anything…..
A&R ..Artist & Repertoire…an old-fashioned term but still used today……..A&R's are the "Gods " of the music business….the guys and girls who can make or break a career ……
So how did I become a GREAT A&R ?
I fell in love with Soul music aged 11 or 12 in rural Gloucestershire in the early 1970's……to this day Marvin Gaye is my hero…my idol…my inspiration….
I bought singles by The Temptations,The Isley Brothers,Isaac Hayes, Al Green……I still listen to them all the time
In 1974 I moved to Brighton to study Biochemistry at Sussex University…I hated Biochemistry with a passion ( though I have an Honours Degree ) but went to Brighton as it was the SOUL capital of England……
I didn't know anyone but I started attending student nights promoted by Brighton Soul Society and soon learned that the place to hang out was Sound Unlimited Records owned by Tony Monson but run by the legendary " King Jerry "…the most important DJ in town ….I soon stopped going to lectures and just hung around the shop all day spending my student grant on Earth Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye, Ohio Players etc……some of the happiest days of my life……..
This is just the beginning of my journey to become one of the GREAT British Black Music A&Rs
I signed :
Loose Ends
Maxi Priest
I-Level
Inner City
Mantronix
Soul II Soul
MN8
LeftField
Grooverider
Pressure Drop
DJ Rap
Oh yeah….and some that weren't successful
Pt 2 tomorrow
The Soul Guru
A&R ..Artist & Repertoire…an old-fashioned term but still used today……..A&R's are the "Gods " of the music business….the guys and girls who can make or break a career ……
So how did I become a GREAT A&R ?
I fell in love with Soul music aged 11 or 12 in rural Gloucestershire in the early 1970's……to this day Marvin Gaye is my hero…my idol…my inspiration….
I bought singles by The Temptations,The Isley Brothers,Isaac Hayes, Al Green……I still listen to them all the time
In 1974 I moved to Brighton to study Biochemistry at Sussex University…I hated Biochemistry with a passion ( though I have an Honours Degree ) but went to Brighton as it was the SOUL capital of England……
I didn't know anyone but I started attending student nights promoted by Brighton Soul Society and soon learned that the place to hang out was Sound Unlimited Records owned by Tony Monson but run by the legendary " King Jerry "…the most important DJ in town ….I soon stopped going to lectures and just hung around the shop all day spending my student grant on Earth Wind & Fire, Marvin Gaye, Ohio Players etc……some of the happiest days of my life……..
This is just the beginning of my journey to become one of the GREAT British Black Music A&Rs
I signed :
Loose Ends
Maxi Priest
I-Level
Inner City
Mantronix
Soul II Soul
MN8
LeftField
Grooverider
Pressure Drop
DJ Rap
Oh yeah….and some that weren't successful
Pt 2 tomorrow
The Soul Guru
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