If It Ain't High Volume It Ain't Loud Enuff!!!

Houston Loses Another Legend In The Music World.

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 00:28:53 GMT

Thursday, Feb 21st, 2008

(HOUSTON, TEXAS) - February 21, 2008 -Iconic trumpet player and former B.B. King Band Leader and arranger, Calvin Owens died early this morning.

A native Houstonian, Calvin "The Maestro" Owens' recording credits included work as an artist and producer for Memphis' Kiondict Recording Company, A & R director/studio musician for Peacock Recording Company locally and as an arranger for A & M Recording Studios in Los Angeles. He founded the Sawdust Alley Preservation Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to blues preservation.

Owens was a fixture at SugarHill Studios, beginning with the Gold Star era recording in the late 40s with Blues legend Lightnin' Hopkins and in the early 60s with singer Joe Hinton. He returned to the studios in 1994 recording parts of "True Blue", and would record and mix another eight Blues albums, two Spanish-language albums and one Hip-Hop album with Chief Engineer and longtime friend, Andy Bradley. Those albums included: "The House is Burnin'" (2002) a remixed/remastered version of "True Blue" (2005), "Keeping the Big Band Blues ALIVE" (2005), "I Ain't Gonna Be Yo' Dog No Mo'" (2006), his Hip-Hop album "Say Boy How You Do That Thing?" (2006), "Es Un Amor Legendario" (2006) and remixing "That's Your Booty"(release pending). In 2007 he released "Houston is the Place to Be" and his final Spanish-language album, "La Mujer Que Canta Blues" featuring Evelyn Rubio.

Owens arranged and played on countless releases including Trudy Lynn's "I'm Still Here" (2006) and Johnny Bush's acclaimed 2007 release, "Kashmere Gardens Mud". He also arranged two tracks and played on three tracks of the forthcoming Johnny Bush album featuring Willie Nelson and Ray Price. Owens was heralded by many and worked with musicians spanning a spectrum of genres. Among his recordings you will find tracks featuring Shelly Carrol, Otis Clay, Archie Bell, Arnett Cobb, B.B. King, Conrad Johnson, David "Fathead" Newman, Marvin Sparks, Keith Vivens, Barbara Lynn, Pete Mayes, and Rue Davis.

Andy Bradley said, "My heart is heavy with the loss of one of the most talented musicians and a very dear friend. Personally and professionally, I will miss his enigmatic spirit. May his memory live on through his resplendent music."

http://sugarhillstudios.com

High Volume Music Evolves Yet Again!

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:54:00 GMT

High Volume Music, the music store which opened in 1995 by Anthony Frazier, has evolved once again. The beloved music store that was located in Southwest Houston for many years before closing it’s doors, became a music label in 1999 which launched the career of Houston’s favorite indi SOUL band Collective Hallucination, has evolved into a distribution company for indi artist/labels.

High Volume Music Recordings and Distribution will officially launch January 1^st, 2008 with it’s feet planted firmly in the music industry.

“I’m very proud of the evolution of my company”, says Anthony Frazier, “and I’m looking forward to working with many indi artist in Houston as well as America.”

Anthony says he saw the need to launch the distribution department of High Volume Music when he found how much work he had been putting behind his band and how many websites, MP3 Download, ring tone sites and more he had placed his band on by himself. “Artist started approaching me because they didn’t have time to create, maintain, upload, etc their music or the music of their friends”, he said, “so I figured why the hell not. I can still concentrate on my band Collective Hallucination and at the same time help many other artists out there get it done. Helping people is something I love to do. So I figure why not make money doing what I love to do.”

Anthony says his distribution company will not have exclusive rights to any artist cds and or music. Instead, Anthony says he wants to eventually help artist get major distribution through his concerted efforts with those artists who sign up with his company. If an artist wants major label distribution we’ll work on getting that. This could be a win win situation for those who sign up. Everyone who knows me, knows I work hard at what I do.

Along with his efforts to get artist on these download sites and in stores he also plans on helping artist get their videos posted on all of the video download sites across the globe as well. “If you have a video, infomercial or anything you want posted up on the various sites that let people post their videos we’ll help artist concentrate on getting those videos posted!”

Looking forward to 2008, Anthony says he plans on taking his company high into the ranks of being at the forefront of indi distribution in America and beyond.

For more information feel free to contact Anthony at AnthonyHVM1@yahoo.com or anthony@highvolumemusic.com

Visit www.highvolumemusic.com

Wilson Pickett Dies of Heart Attack at 64

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 14:52:13 GMT

01/19/2006 6:00 PM, AP
Associated Press

Wilson Pickett, the soul pioneer best known for the fiery hits "Mustang Sally" and "In The Midnight Hour," died of a heart attack Thursday, according to his management company. He was 64.

Chris Tuthill of the management company Talent Source said Pickett had been suffering from health problems for the past year.

"He did his part. It was a great ride, a great trip, I loved him and I'm sure he was well-loved, and I just hope that he's given his props," Michael Wilson Pickett, the fourth of the singer's six children, told WRC-TV in Washington after his death.

A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Pickett — known as the "Wicked Pickett" — became a star with his soulful hits in the 1960s.

"In the Midnight Hour" made the top 25 on the Billboard pop charts in 1965 and "Mustang Sally" did the same the following year.

Pickett was defined by his raspy voice and passionate delivery. But the Alabama-born picket got his start singing gospel music in church. After moving to Detroit as a teen, he joined the group the Falcons, which scored the hit "I Found a Love" with Pickett on lead vocals in 1962.

He went solo a year later, and would soon find his greatest success. In 1965, he linked with legendary soul producer Jerry Wexler at the equally legendary soul label Stax Records in Memphis, and recorded one of his greatest hits, "In the Midnight Hour," for Atlantic Records. A string of hits followed, including "634-5789," "Funky Broadway" and "Mustang Sally." His sensuous soul was in sharp contrast to the genteel soul songs of his Detroit counterparts at Motown Records.

As Pickett entered a new decade, he had less success on the charts, but still had hits, including the song "Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You."

In later years, he had legal problems and battled substance abuse; in 1994 he served jail time on an assault charge.

Besides his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991, he was also given the Pioneer award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation two years later.

STEVE MARTIN AND PRINCE ON SNL

Fri, 20 Jan 2006 14:48:14 GMT

Thursday, January 19, 2006
Released by NBC

STEVE MARTIN AND PRINCE ON SNL

SUPERSTARS ARE FRONT AND CENTER IN FEBRUARY ON NBC'S "SATURDAY NIGHT
LIVE"

Prolific SNL Host Steve Martin Returns, Extends Record, Joined By
Musical Guest Prince

NEW YORK - January 19, 2006 - NBC's "Saturday Night Live" pulls out
the stops on its sole February broadcast with two legendary
performers - Steve Martin and Prince (LIVE, February 4, 11:30 p.m. -
1:00 a.m.).

Steve Martin returns to Studio 8H for his record-solidifying 14th
hosting appearance. The award-winning actor, comedian, author,
playwright and producer's hosting stints have left an indelible
impact on SNL's 30-year history. With recurring characters like as
the "Wild and Crazy" Czech Festrunk brothers, each Steve Martin-
hosted show is an event unto itself.

Martin is set to take on the role of Inspector Clouseau in "The Pink
Panther" opposite Kevin Kline and Beyonce Knowles. With scores of
film roles to his credit, Martin has most recently been seen
in "Shopgirl" (which he adapted from his novella) and the
hits "Cheaper By The Dozen" and "Bringing Down the House." Martin
starred in such comedy classics as "The Jerk," "All of Me" "Dirty
Rotten Scoundrels" "Father of the Bride," "Parenthood" and "Planes,
Trains and Automobiles." Martin scripted and starred in the hit
acclaimed comedies "Three Amigos," "Roxanne," "L.A. Story"
and "Bowfinger," as well as in the dramas "Grand Canyon" and "The
Spanish Prisoner."

Martin has won Grammys for his comedy records as well as for his
banjo work on Earl Scruggs' 75th Anniversary album. He has won raves
for his essays in The New Yorker, plays "Picasso at the Lapin Agile"
as well as his books "Shopgirl" and "The Pleasure of My Company."

Martin is joined by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and musical
superstar - Prince. Arguably one of the most acclaimed and
influential musicians of the 20th century, Prince makes his first
appearance on the show since 1981. Fresh off his double Grammy Award-
winning release "Musicology" and his top-grossing tour, Prince is
back with an eagerly anticipated album "3121" whose first single "Te
Amo Corazon" made a major video debut in December. Always on the
cutting edge of music and the music business - from his rare triple-
threat in "Purple Rain" which was the No. 1 movie, album and single
simultaneously in 1984 (winning an Oscar? for Best Score as well) to
some of his seminal albums, "Sign O'The Times," "Around the World in
a Day" and "Diamonds and Pearls" - he has sold over 60 million
records and was at the forefront of web-based music distribution with
his NPG Music club.

An Interview With Mik Starr

Thu, 12 Jan 2006 07:09:41 GMT

Meet Mik Starr-The "..the diacritic"

Mik Starr is a writer. Mik Starr is a producer. Mik Starr is a beat maker. Mik Starr is beautiful. Mik Starr is a poetess. Mik Starr is Everything. She's a renaissance woman!

She was born Shawn Michelle 29 years ago in Chi-City, "IllaNoyze"…her very first piece was written at age 5 and published by Hungry Writers Publishing, a company founded by her grandmother (poet Mai Taj). Though she inherited a talent for the rhyme style, she blossomed in the art of short stories, writing throughout high school under the pseudonym Amori Allen.

In 1999, she completed her first full length novel

Well Runs Dry (available on Amazon.com under pseudonym Miki Rogers). She has since completed Broken Promises, Blueprints, and Resplendent Thoughts: Muzik for the Soul (co-authored by King Xavier Joseph Woods/ATL).

In September 2005, after being given the gift of music via an iBook (thanks to her mom), Starr began experimenting with beat making and reciting poetry over the tracks. With the help of DJ Sid (Roc) the Apocalypze and thanks to the encouragement received from her myspace.com fam, she has to date successfully recorded 3 tracks (“Whispers” , “Explosive”, and “Rainbow Niggaz”) and is currently hard at work on her 4th piece, “Battlefield of the Mind: an intimate dialogue”.

I “discovered” Mik Starr on MySpace.com and we’ve become tight friends. The beautiful Chi Town native has the talent, look and skills to make the best of them jealous. I caught up with her recently and we literally chatted via My Space about her talent, plans for the future and of course the hot as fire tracks she has posted on her site. Read on!

Ant: So, who does your music?

Starr: I do, with the exception of “Explosive”. That was done by DJ Sid the Apocalypze.

Ant: So the beats that the listeners hear along with the poems are all you, with the exception of "Explosive", right?

Starr: Yes

Ant: So, you know you're hot on the boards, right? What got you into beat making and production? Who taught you, or are you self taught?

Starr: I'm learning and starting to take it more serious. I’m listening more intently to what others do and trying to develop a style for myself. How I started, umm let’s see, I was trying to find a way to get attention drawn to me and my writing. Sid was making beats and I thought it'd be cool if he gave me some that I could read poetry over. Then my mom gave me an iBook. While on my lunch break I started trying to teach myself the program and created the basis for “Whispers”. I really liked it so I finished it and used it. I just kinda got caught up after that so I only took ONE Sid beat! I didn't expect anyone to take me serious so it's incredible that people like what I do.

Ant: So how do you feel about what you've accomplished thus far?

Starr: I’m proud of it. What I do and people treat me like I’m some sort of professional.

Ant: You are a professional, just an independent professional.

Starr: THANKS!!

Ant Boogie: U know if I had an Ipod, "Whispers" would be on my top ten, right?

Starr: THANKS!! I get scared when people treat me like a pro at this.

Ant Boogie: Why is that?

Starr: I’m scared they will discover I’m a fraud. An author PLAYING musician. I’m such a geek.

Ant: Umm, do you know how many "frauds" are out there on major labels doing garbage tracks and releasing them, selling millions?

Starr: LOL, true

Ant: What people dig is the vibe a person gives them. You know, gone are the days when you HAD to have a degree in music to be considered a musician, or be on a major label to be considered a success, and you give a positive, tight vibe. I'm loving it.

Starr: Thank you *blush* I do kinda wish I could do is work with pros like yourself and learn more about the process of making music.

Ant Boogie: Well, we can definitely make that happen. We’ll talk later. So let's talk about "Rainbow Niggaz". Excuse the pun, but that track is explosive in every definition of the word. I'm listening to it right now. How did it come about?

Starr: I was driving in to work on a Friday. The Beat was playing “Self Destruction”. I started to feel emotional and think about the state of our brothers today. It was a long drive and at one of the lights I was waiting at, I grabbed a pen and paper and started writing. I came to work and before I did anything else I finished it and posted it on BP. I was pretty popular for a minute because of that piece. A lot of people showed respect.

Ant: I love that track. That's one of those songs I wish I had written. I mean, I literally wake up almost every morning doing the beat with my mouth. That is a blazing track. You should be proud of yourself. So do you do any open mics around Hollywood, FLA?

Starr: I don’t. I’m such a punk. I’ve only recited once publicly and that was in English class for finals. I got an A and a great reaction despite me hiding beneath my fedora!!

Ant: So, you’ve never recited at a open mic? Why not?

Starr: I'm a sucka

Ant: Meaning what? Umm, if you say so, but you don't come off as one in "Rainbow Niggaz".

Starr: I'm pretty shy. I guess I'm scared people won't like me...I dunno.

Ant: That's interesting. So you can go in the studio and drop it and put it in a book, but when it comes to stage you get scared?

Starr: Yeah, cause I'm in my room, home alone. And believe me I was REAL nervous about doing that. I recorded like a thousand times before I relaxed. I was TERRIBLY shy as a kid, so much so that my teacher used to call me mouse.

Ant: So, you're still shy, I assume. Do you think you'll ever overcome the fear?

Starr: I've kinda overcome it mostly as an adult but when it comes to performing it comes back full force. Still for me to totally overcome the fear, it will be only by force. If I do it and get it out of my system, each time could get easier.

Ant: Of course. So it's safe to assume you have developed a fan base on MYSPACE, huh?

Starr: On MYSPACE, yeah, it's pretty incredible. I do have a fan base.

Ant: I'm probably your biggest fan there!!

Starr: YES. yes you are! and i loooove you for it!! with Ant Boogie behind me, who knows what I might try. You give me courage

Ant: Ahh, thanks for that. So what are your plans for the future?

Starr: My plans for the future...with music. I’m going to likely keep working on it...trying to get better. More writing. I'm working on a piece now and I feel more at ease. A CD? I dunno about that. lol. I’m not THAT confident yet. LOL

Ant: It's naturally the next step. So what do you do during the daytime when you're not Mik Starr?

Starr: I'm just Miki and I work as a sales assistant at a branch office for a seafood wholesaler in Deerfield Beach. I’m also freelance graphic designer & web designer and of course work on my novels and short stories.

Ant Boogie: So what are three things you want people reading this to know about you and your music?

Starr: That it's all from my heart and soul, not dressed up for attention. This is what I really feel. I also hope they love it and that GOD speaks through me and my gifts.

Ant: Cool. Who are some of your inspirations?

Starr: All of my MYSPACE Allstars, definitely. there is a collage and list on my page....(you are listed)

Ant: Oh, thanks...

Starr: Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Billie Holiday, Les Nubians, Portishead, Kanye West and a plethora of artists always someone new. It goes on and on Coltrane, Ellington, Etta..

Starr: I DEFINITELY intend to be seen on the road promoting books. But who knows, I might be selling CD's AND signing books. Now that would be awesomely incredible!

Ant: Well, we hope to see you down south one day! Maybe opening for Collective Hallucination. I mean it's possible. All things are, through Christ, right?

Starr Muzik: THAT would be AMAZING as well and a major accomplishment and big step for me and my shyness. Hey, I never saw THIS in my future. who knows what other plans HE has for me.

Ant: That's right. It feels good doesn't it?

Starr: it does! makes me wanna rush home and finish my next piece.

Ant Boogie: Ahh, yeah. Well thanks for taking time out to do this interview. Is there anyone out there you'd like to give a shout out to?

Starr: My mama, my grandma, pookie nem! My siblings, South FL fam, myspace fam, Rahsaan, DJ Sid, and most importantly Glorius L and my son Storm and the infamous ANT BOOGIE!!!!!

Ant Boogie: HA, you're too funny. Well, I'm sure once more folks hear you they are gonna want to get to hear more of you and

see you live somewhere, so I pray you take the music seriously and keep on keepin on. Thanks a million for doing this interview.

Starr: Maybe God is trying to tell me something through you. I would have already quit had you not been so supportive. I'm always wanting to do something that you can hear and critique. So THANK U!

Ant: I'm honored!!! Well don't be a quitter. Your music is all that. BTW- Your voice is soooooo mesmerizing. It's not too loud and harsh, yet it's not too low and soft. It's perfect. I could listen to you all day!

Starr: ME?? really?? and I always thought I sounded childish.

Ant Boogie: Nope, it's tight. I love it. I'm telling you, you gotta do a cd for us, the music buying, poetry loving public! Actually the tracks you have, you need to send me a copy so I can bang it in my truck. LOUD!!! You are A Starr , fo sho!

Listen to Mik Starr at the following link and join her my space group. Make sure you leave her some love!!!

http://www.myspace.com/mikstarr2

Lou Rawls Dies

Sat, 07 Jan 2006 04:15:46 GMT

01/06/2006 2:16 PM, E! Online
Joal Ryan

"People may not know what I'm doing," Lou Rawls once said, "but they know it's me."

Rawls, the Grammy-winning singer whose smoky growl was instantly recognizable whether on display in the disco era classic "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine," a Sam Cooke standard, or a Garfield cartoon, died Friday at a Los Angeles hospital. He was 72, his publicist's office said, and had been battling brain and lung cancer.

Rawls' illness became public fodder last month during a court battle with his wife. Nina Rawls told an Arizona judge that her husband didn't have long to live. From his hospital room in Los Angeles, Rawls told a newspaper, "Don't count me out, brother."

A prolific performer, Rawls' career extended well beyond the recording booth. He costarred in a TV series with David Hasselhoff (the Baywatch spinoff, Baywatch Nights), hosted annual telethons for the United Negro College Fund, hawked Anheuser Busch beer in commercials, and, for good measure, once visited Fantasy Island.

In short, Rawls put a lot of pop into the last 40 years of pop culture.

The career statistics, as compiled by Rawls' own Website, tell a similar story: More than 75 recorded albums, five gold-selling albums, one gold single (1976's "You'll Never Find..."), three Grammys and dozens of film and TV credits.

Rawls was born in Chicago. Multiple sources place his birth year at either 1935 or 1936, but by his publicist's count, he would have been born in 1933. (His birthday, all seem to agree, was Dec. 1.)

The career began in earnest in the late 1950s, when Rawls performed with Cooke as a member of a gospel group. During a tour, a bus crash severely injured the young Rawls. But it didn't kill him.

"I really got a new life out of that," Rawls said in a biography on his Website. "I saw a lot of reasons to live."

In 1962, Rawls emerged as a solo artist for Capitol Records--and a key collaborator of Cooke's. Turn up the volume on the Cooke hit "Bring It on Home to Me"--the "Yeahs" that answer Cooke's "Yeahs" are unmistakably those of Rawls.

Rawls became a hit-maker in his own right with collections such as Soulin', Lou Rawls Live! and, appropriately, Unmistakably Lou.

Starting in the 1980s, Rawls enjoyed a lucrative side career in animation. It began with crooning songs for the Garfield TV specials, and evolved into a steady gig as the voice of postal worker Harvey on the Nickelodeon series, Hey, Arnold!

Rawls was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2004, his wife said in court last month. The disease spread to his brain in 2005.

Though Lou Rawls had been seeking an annulment from his wife, whom he wed in 2004, Nina Rawls was said to have been at the hospital with her husband when he died.

On Rawls' Website Friday morning, there was not yet a mention of his passing--just a message of thanks from the then-ailing entertainer to his well wishers.

In the note, Rawls said he was thinking "good thoughts." And then he signed off: "Yeah, buddy--Lou"

Jordis Unga: In The Music News

Fri, 06 Jan 2006 05:36:29 GMT

The dreadlocked former bartender from St. Paul has spent the past few months holed up in Los Angeles, working on songs for what will be her debut album, due out this spring on Epic Records.
Unga landed the deal thanks to her electric performances on “Rock Star: INXS.” While the show wasn’t a huge ratings hit — and it has yet to be seen whether INXS will find success with its new lead singer, J.D. Fortune — Unga has found herself in an enviable position. Not only did she leave the competition with her own solo record deal but she also remains one of the show’s most likable and talented performers.
So far, Unga has spent her time collaborating with a bunch of different writers, including Evanescence’s David Hodges and the duo Anne Previn and Scott Cutler of Ednaswap. She’ll likely tour once the album’s finished.