Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Live From SugarHill Season 2 in OiH

The following article originally appeared on the Only in Houston website. I'm reprinting it here because it is probably the best overview of the show that's been written so far, (thanks Ross, Merideth, Gina, and Jarrod).


With episode 13, Live From SugarHill Studios launches its second season and big plans are in the works.

Live from SugarHill features regional artists recorded in their natural habitat: 69-year-old Studio A at SugarHill Recording Studios. Over the decades Studio A has played host to a broad variety of artists from The Rolling Stones to Lightning Hopkins, The Big Bopper to Willie Nelson, Archie Bell and the Drells to Freddy Fender, Destiny's Child, Beyonc� and many more. The "hill" is a veritable "House of Hits" as described by Andy Bradley's new book coming out this spring.

Today SugarHill Studios is the Texas nexus for new and established audiences from an eclectic array of genres.... The Houston Sound.


Each episode features performances by two recording artists or bands and in-depth interviews with hosts Rosa Guerrero and award-winning record producer Dan Workman. The show is broadcast live on internet radio by OutboundMusic.com as it happens. The HD Video version of the show is mixed by SugarHill, Edited by Zenfilm and released on iTunes, YouTube, Vimeo and more than two dozen other sites within 3 or 4 days of the broadcast.�

The show aired its pilot episode in December 2008 which featured recording artists Benjamin Wesley, Robert Ellis and Grandfather Child & Sad Gorilla. When the show began it was well received but very few people knew about it.


The third episode saw the implementation of the "Audience of One": one studio audience member that represented a larger online community. On episode 3, the first audience of one was Lou Congelio from Only in Houston. Audience of one participants have represented a variety of online communities and publications connecting LFSH to a larger audience with each new episode.�

One year, 25 recording artists...and a ton of social media marketing later, Live From SugarHill has a growing monthly audience of thousands of and is syndicated on video sites around the world.�The new year holds many surprises, more national acts, twice as many episodes, a 1st season DVD and much more.

Perhaps it is the "if walls could talk" phenomenon in practice as the septuagenarian studio tells its tales. Studio A has witnessed the recording of many #1 hits since its inception. World-class studio engineering, digital cinematography and photography and internet delivery are helping spread those stories to the world. Whatever the reason, the show has a burgeoning audience and is being noticed by recording artists and the recording industry, helping to focus some much-deserved attention on Houston's incredible music scene.

Last month the Live From SugarHill Studios website was launched. The site contains free downloads of all episodes, links to artists, video channels, audience of one members, a store that sells music featured on the show and many other features.
Season Two, Episode One features and incredible mix of jazz masters and modern indie rock genius.... watch it now on livefromsugarhill.tv.

Season Two, Episode One: Jazz Trio Paul English, Dennis Dotson & Brennan Nase as well as experimental indie rockers Peekaboo Theory are the musical guests. Community guest and �audience of one� � a 17 year veteran of creative direction and design whose work covers print, web design, video, photography and writing is Henry �Von Wolffe� Davis, who also acts as the Live Music Examiner for�Examiner.com.

The program includes short sets and candid interviews with Rosa Guerrero and award-winning record producer, Dan Workman. Live from SugarHill Studios is a collaborative effort between Zenfilm, OutboundMusic.com and SugarHill Recording Studios.

Paul English�is an established composer, producer and educator, is known to Texas audiences as a jazz pianist who has performed and recorded with such greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Arnett Cobb, David Liebman, Mark O?Connor and Kirk Whalum. As a studio musician, he has appeared on over 350 recordings of various genres and has produced a number of mostly jazz and classical recordings including arrangements and orchestrations for country music legends, Willie Nelson, Johnny Bush and Ray Price.

Peekaboo Theory�has been serving refreshing audible treats, slaughtering boundaries and stereotypes linked to their sound. The band has gained loyalty, respect and critical acclaim of fans and media alike with raw talent in the national music scene, boasting a resume of live shows everywhere from Albuquerque to Los Angeles to New York City.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Grammy Week, 2010

I'm sitting at my window on the eighth floor of the Millenium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. This is my second year to actually attend the Grammy telecast. I showed up well before the weekend in order to participate in many of the parties and tributes that take place before the big day of the show--which is Sunday. Tomorrow, I'll get a chance to have breakfast with Glenn Lorbecki, Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of NARAS. He and I never seem to spend enough time together at these events, but tomorrow may change that. One of the more unusual things that I will do this week is to follow up on potential music business opportunities that may arise as our country's Foriegn Policy changes. Similar opportunities may take me to Dubai in May! It feels weird--and somehow right, all at the same time--to be swimming in international waters this year.

While I'm here, I'm shopping for a record deal for one client, and looking for publishing for another. The way that is done is to hang out in the Biltmore Lobby/Bar. Tough work, but somebody has to do it. I may have the opportunity to see a rehearsal of the Grammy telecast. THAT would be quite cool! I might learn something that we could use in Live From SugarHill.

Finally, Steve Christensen's record for Steve Earl is up for a Grammy in the Best Contemporary Folk category. My cousin, Charles Workman, sang tenor in an opera recording that is nominated as well. I have a lot if cheering to do this year. Oh yeah, Beyonce' is nominated for, I think, 10 awards! Crazy!