Elliott Murphy

Murphy is a Long-Island born, Paris-based singer-songwriter whose influence is reflected through the music of Lou Reed, Bruce Springsteen, and The Talking Heads. His first album Aquashow was release in 1973 to huge critical success.

In addition to being a musician, Murphy is also active as a writer. He has had articles published by Spin and Rolling Stone, among others. He’s also published a novel entitled Cold and Electric. [Photo: Carlos Rodríguez]

Dion DiMucci is one of America’s most legendary artists whose musical career has spanned six decades. Dion and The Belmonts were one of the leading doo-wop groups between 1958 and 1960. Dion left for a solo career in 1960, and his hits “Runaround Sue” and “The Wanderer” are rock classics. In 1963, he was on the U.S. charts for the entire year with seven hit singles. He was elected to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

Lucky 7
www.kennymargolis.com

This New York City-based band possesses a blend of cajun, zydeco, blues, and rock-and-roll. Lucky 7 is headed by Kenny Margolis, Cracker’s keyboard and accordion player. Margolis is a gifted musician and producer, and has also worked on movie soundtracks. He joined Elliott Murphy on Soul Surfing in 2002. Lucky 7’s current CD release is One Way Track. Lucky 7’s other band members are Billy Roues, Steven Roues, Boris Kinberg, and Bill Rankin.

Dan Bern

Bern is an Iowa native who released his self-titled debut in 1997 and has attracted many fans. He is frequently compared to Bob Dylan and has acquired a strong underground following. His songs are witty, insightful, and sharp. He has officially released 5 recordings, including his latest CD release Fleeting Days. [Photo: Dennis Kleiman]

Crazysloth
www.johnnyhickman.com

Crazysloth is Johnny Hickman’s new sideband, based out of Sedona, Arizona. Hickman is the lead guitarist and co-founder of the Virgin-label band, Cracker. Hickman has also worked on movie soundtracks. Cap Hickman, Eddy Barattini, and Troy Perkins also comprise Crazysloth.

When Richards and Baird discovered they had both been invited to record tracks for the Light of Day CD, the tracks were laid under the name The Mystic Knights of the Sea. Baird was the lead singer/guitarist for the 1980’s roots-rock band The Georgia Satellites. Richards was also part of the band, lending his support on vocals and guitar. The Georgia Satellites are probably best known for their 1986 hit single, “Keep Your Hands to Yourself.”

Nils Lofgren

Although probably best known for his work with Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young, Lofgren is a highly respected, critically acclaimed solo artist. Lofgren joined Neil Young’s band at age 17, and played the piano, guitar, and sang. He became part of Bruce Springsteen’s band as a guitarist in 1984. He has an extensive and dynamic career. His latest release was in 2002 with the well-received Nils Lofgren Band Live.

A rock singer-songwriter, Bullens sang backup for Elton John and appeared in Grease before cutting a series of her own albums. She received the AFIM Indie Award for Best Rock Album in 2000 for her album entitled Somewhere Between Heaven and Earth.

Matthew Ryan
www.matthewryanonline.com

Ryan is often compared to such greats as Bruce Springsteen and Tom Waits. This Chester, Pennsylvania native is known as a passionate lyricist and working-class man, and has toured with Steve Earle. This singer-songwriter’s most recent CD is Regret Over the Wires.

Mike Rimbaud

An indie musician from New York City, Rimbaud is a talented musician whose third CD was produced by Elliott Murphy in Paris. Rimbaud performs regularly in New York City and has visited Brazil many times. Beast of Broadway is his most recent CD release.

Sid Griffin
www.sidgriffin.com

Born is Louisville, Kentucky, Griffin is a musician, songwriter, producer, author, and archivist. Griffin is a pivotal member of the roots-rock movement, both in the United States and United Kingdom. He is best known as the leader of the group The Long Ryders. He also published the first full-length book about his musical hero – Gram Parsons: A Musical Biography.

Billy Bragg & The Blokes

British singer-songwriter and political activist, Bragg first came to prominence in 1983 with his debut album Life’s a Riot. He was the leading figure of the anti-folk movement of the 1980s. He managed to chart consistently in Britain, and gathered a cult following in the States. Bragg formed The Blokes in 1997. His most recent album in England, Half English, was released in 2001.

Joe D’Urso and his band, The Stone Caravan, began in the early 1990s. D’Urso, who was an agency contractor before living his dream of becoming a singer-songwriter, has been critically acclaimed for being a passionate songwriter with a deep love for making music. His new double CD, Both Sides of Life, reflect his dual role of fronting The Stone Caravan and performing solo acoustic concerts.

In 16 years, Wynn has released over 20 albums and has seen over 200 of his songs recorded. His songs have been performed and/or recorded by such musicians as REM and The Black Crowes. The Dream Syndicate, a groundbreaking band founded by Wynn, practically invented the American Indie Rock scene of the 1980s. His new album, Static Transmission, was released in 2003.

Gary Lucas’ Gods and Monsters

A Grammy - nominated songwriter and international recording artist with over ten critically acclaimed solo albums, Lucas formed his rock band Gods and Monsters in 1989. He was in the unique 1970’s band, Beefheart’s Magic Band, which was headed by Captain Beefheart (one of modern music’s true innovators). His most recent CD was released in February, 2003 – Operators Are Standing By: The Essential Gary Lucas 1988-1996.

Jennifer Glass

Raised in Jackson, Mississippi and later in New Hampshire, singer/songwriter Jennifer Glass now lives in New York City. You might have caught Glass and her band playing at any number of clubs around the city or heard her voice in Coca Cola's "Life Tastes Good" campaign.  Splitting her time between New York and Nashville, she was also a featured performer in this year's South by Southwest festival in Austin, TX.  Jennifer has been called a cross between Sheryl Crow and Faith Hill, but prefers to call her music her own brand of country rock.

The Clarks have been cranking out country-influenced garage rock since they formed in Pittsburgh in 1988, and have great regional appeal and national presence. The Clarks have released five studio albums and have countless live performances under their belt. They’ve shared the stage with bands such as John Mayer, Wilco, and Train. Their newest CD, Another Happy Ending, was released in the summer of 2002.

Broussard calls Lafayette, Louisiana his home, and has been sharing the stage with his father, Ted, since age five. He has been singing, playing guitar, and writing for most of his life. He combines traditional soul, R & B, and rock into his own signature sound. Broussard and his five-piece band will be touring the country promoting his debut CD, Momentary Setback.

Hailing from Rhode Island, John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band reached the height of their success after writing the music for the 1980’s movie, Eddie & The Cruisers. The soundtrack sold in large quantities, and pushed John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown band to the forefront of the pop music scene. The band’s popularity even surpassed that of the actors who starred as Eddie and The Cruisers. The song “On The Dark Side” was immensely popular.

Born Declan MacManus, this self-taught songwriter is one of the most innovative, influential, and talented in the business. Costello has made more than a dozen albums both as a solo artist and with his band The Attractions. His first record was released in 1977 and linked him with the punk and new wave explosion. In 1987, Costello began a songwriting collaboration with Paul McCartney, and he has also collaborated with Burt Bacharach. His work with Bacharach earned him a Grammy in 1998. He was nominated for 3 Grammys in 2003. Costello’s latest release, North, is reached number one on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Album chart.

Yorn, a drummer turned singer-songwriter, is a New Jersey native. After four years of playing gigs on the LA club circuit, Yorn was offered a deal with Columbia Records after an executive at Columbia heard an acoustic version of his song, “Life on a Chain.” His songs have been heard in movies and the TV series Dawson’s Creek. Yorn’s debut album, musicforthemorningafter, went gold. His second album, Day I Forgot, was released in Spring 2003.

Graham Parker was known as one of the most successful singer-songwriters to emerge from England’s pub-rock scene of the early 1970s. Parker and his band, The Rumour, were formed in 1975. His musical abilities garnered critical support and propelled Parker to international recognition. His latest studio album, Deepcut to Nowhere, was released in August of 2001.

A prolific singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Jeffreys was born and raised in Brooklyn and began his career performing in Manhattan nightclubs in 1966. He released his self-titled debut album in 1973. The album spurred the hit “Wild In The Streets.” Jeffreys also had a chart single of the cover song “96 Tears.”

Raised in Illinois on a farm, Ringenberg is the man who pushed alt-country to the forefront. He formed an acoustic country-punk band called Jason & The Nashville Scorchers. He tours heavily and is also a very successful solo artist. He released his first children’s record in October 2003 entitled A Day at the Farm With Farmer Jason.

Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers have been making American blue-collar bar rock since the late 1970s. Originally called the Iron City Houserockers, Grushecky and his band received critical acclaim and won fans from all over the world. In 1985, Springsteen produced, co-wrote, and played on this Pittsburgh band’s American Babylon album. Grushecky released a solo album, Fingerprints, in 2002. A new release is expected from Joe Grushecky & The Houserockers soon.

Flores, a talented singer, songwriter, and guitarist, has been an important figure on the alternative country music scene in Texas and Los Angeles since the late 1970s. She’s a well-respected artist known for her gritty, energetic vocals and guitar solos. She released her first solo album in 1987. In her early days, she established herself as a highly energetic opening act for the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis. Flores is currently working on her first solo live acoustic record, Single Rose, which is due out soon.

This New York City-based singer-songwriter toured with The Who in the 1980s and released two critically-acclaimed albums on Arista. Highly respected by critics and other music industry heavyweights, Nile’s songs have been recorded by numerous artists in many languages. He’s recorded and performed with artists such as Ringo Starr, Tori Amos, Elvis Costello, and Lucinda Williams. His newest album is his first studio album in seven years – Beautiful Wreck of the World.

A folk-rocker who plays acoustic guitar and harmonica and has been on the Manhattan scene since the 1980s, Kelly writes many angry political songs. He has been part of an East Coast movement known as anti-folk (folk-rock with a punk attitude). The Greenwich Village resident recorded his debut album in 1988 and received a taste of national exposure.

Hailing from a small town in Western Maine, Griffin has become one of the most promising singer-songwriters to come out of the folk music scene in the previous few years. Griffin is known for her passionate and intimate songs. She has toured with Shawn Colvin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Dar Williams. Her newest CD, A Kiss in Time, was released in October 2003.

Kempner, the ex-Dictators guitarist/vocalist who founded the Del-Lords in the early 1980s, is known as a great storyteller of rock music. Kempner was also the guitarist for the band, the Little Kings. The Little Kings also featured the legendary Dion.

Neil Giraldo, is an incredible guitarist, producer, songwriter, and husband of Pat Benatar. In addition to working with Benatar, Giraldo has produced albums for John Waite, and Kempner’s band, the Del-Lords. He has also played lead and rhythm guitars for Kenny Loggins.

Mark Wright

Born in Brighton, England in 1972, Mark Wright has performed hundreds of gigs throughout England and Europe. 2003 has seen Mark make his debut at such notable venues as The Borderline in London and as support for Joe Grushecky at The Stone Pony, Asbury Park in August 2003. He has released the CD One Way Ticket. [Photo: Harry Scott 2003]

Sam Means and Nate Reuss, the duo who make up this new Elektra group, are Arizona natives in their early 20s. They record rousing straight-ahead pop music. Their debut CD is entitled Interventions and Lullabies.

This Queens native fronted the glam-rock, hard rock band, D Generation, for eight years. Malin’s longtime friend, Ryan Adams, produced his debut album, The Fine Art of Self-Destruction, in 2002. British press hailed Malin’s debut as one of the year’s best.

Cochrane, a Canadian rock icon, was born in Manitoba. He headed the popular Toronto band Red Rider in the 1980s. Red Rider had several big hits which were written by Cochrane. After leaving Red Rider, he embarked on a very successful solo career. Cochrane is a 2003 Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee.

Doyle was born and raised in Newfoundland and Labrador. This singer-songwriter grew up with music and theater all around her. Her third album, Davnet, was released in 2003.

This New Orleans born rock band was started by front man and drummer Fred LeBlanc in the early 1990s. The band took their name from a Sam Sheperd play. They’ve played with bands such as Hootie & The Blowfish, 3 Doors Down, Matchbox 20, and Eminem. Their newest CD, Uh Oh, was released in 2003.

Ely is a Texas Native who got his start back in the early 1970s in a group called The Flatlanders. Ely is one of the most completely realized artists in contemporary country music. A singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Ely is known as the link between country rock and so-called new country. He is also a member of the group, Buzzin Cousins, which also includes John Mellencamp, John Prine, Dwight Yoakam, and James McMurtry.