Ep. 108: Peter Frampton

Art: Michael Richey White

He’s collaborated with such legendary artists as George Harrison, David Bowie, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Ringo Starr, among many others, and he’s toured with the likes of Stevie Nicks, Greg Allman, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cheap Trick, and the Steve Miller Band. At 18, he co-founded one of the first supergroups, Humble Pie. By 22, he was touring incessantly and making use of the talk box which would become his signature guitar effect. In 2007, he won the Grammy Award for “Best Pop Instrumental Album” for ‘Fingerprints,’ and in 2014 he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame. His 2019 album, ‘All Blues’, was No.1 for fifteen weeks on Billboard’s Blues Chart. He has voiced himself in “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy” and appeared on “The Colbert Report” and “Madam Secretary.” For Cameron Crowe’s film, Almost Famous, he wrote songs, served as an advisor, and played the role of Reg. In his memoir ‘Do You Feel Like I Do?: A Memoir,’ he shares stories of his diverse collaborative work and reveals both the blessing and curse of ‘Frampton Comes Alive!,’ his breakout 1976 live album that spawned three top-20 singles and sold 8 million copies the year it was released (over 17 million to date). He opens up about his experience grappling with fame at a young age and how he continues to play despite an inflammatory muscle disease. Woven throughout is the story of his favorite guitar, which he thought he’d lost in a plane crash in 1980 but reappeared in 2011, saved from the wreckage. And The Writer Is… Peter Frampton!

Ep. 107: Lauren Christy

Art: Michael Richey White

Today’s guest is a Grammy-nominated songwriter, producer, artist, and record label executive. Her journey into music began at the age of five when she found a piano buried in the garden at her parents’ house in South London. By the age of 19, she was recording her own songs, and soon after, she signed her first publishing deal with Allen Jacobs at EMI. And at 22, she signed a record deal at Mercury Records (with Tom Vickers and Ed Eckstine), relocated to Los Angeles, and started work on her first album. Her debut album self-titled garnered her a nomination for Best New Artist at the 1994 American Music Awards. Her single “The Color of the Night” was a top 10 hit on Adult Contemporary radio and also landed her a nomination for Best Song in a Motion Picture at the Golden Globes. As she started a family, she reinvented herself as the co-creator of The Matrix. Alongside creative partners Graham Edwards and Scott Spock, the trio wrote and produced Avril Lavigne’s worldwide phenomenon album ‘Let Go’ which included three international No. 1 hits: “Complicated,” “Sk8er Boi,” and “I’m With You”. For “Complicated,” the Matrix trio won the Ivor Novello Award for International Hit of The Year. The Matrix also received seven Grammy nominations including Producer of the Year (she is one of 7 women to ever be nominated). She is also a two-time Juno Award winner and a BMI Songwriter of the Year Award recipient. The Matrix has sold more than 30 million records and has worked with artists including Avril Lavigne, Jason Mraz, Shakira, Liz Phair, Korn, David Bowie, Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, Britney Spears, Rihanna, and Greyson Chance among many others. Her independent work includes Enrique Iglesias’s worldwide No. 1 hit “Tonight I’m Loving You,” as well as songs with Kelly Clarkson, Jason Derulo, Bebe Rexha, Iggy Azalea, Avril Lavigne, The Struts, and more. Recently she started her record label, Youth Be Served Records (YBS Records). The first signing is artist Jenn Bostic, whose ‘Take My Hand EP’ entered the iTunes Christian chart at No. 11. And her second signing is Australian artist Tassia Zappia, who is in the studio now with an expected release during 2020. And The Writer Is...Lauren Christy!

This episode is sponsored by BMI.

Ep. 106: Sarah Hudson

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Art: Michael Richey White

Our guest is a Grammy-nominated songwriter and vocal producer known for her signature concepts, edgy and prolific lyrics, and catchy pop melodies. She's written for Dua Lipa, Katy Perry, Kim Petras, Charli XCX, 5 Seconds of Summer, Years & Years, Idina Menzel, Santigold, The Neighbourhood, New Kids on the Block, and many more. Most notably she co-wrote Katy Perry's "Dark Horse ft. Juicy J" and nine songs on Katy Perry’s album ‘Witness,’ including her single “Swish Swish.” She also co-wrote the alternative hit “Good Things Fall Apart ft. Jon Bellion” by Illenium, “Something’s Gotta Give” by Camila Cabello, “Black Widow ft. Rita Ora” by Iggy Azalea, “Two Fux” by Adam Lambert, “Get On Your Knees (Beg For It) ft. Ariana Grande” by Nicki Minaj, and “The Feeling ft. Halsey” by Justin Bieber. And most recently, she has penned Dua Lipa's hit singles “Physical” and "Levitating" from her album 'Future Nostalgia' and "What Makes a Woman" by Katy Perry for her album 'Smile.' As an artist, she formed the underground electro club pop project called Ultraviolet Sound (UVS). UVS topped the dance chart with their single, "Girl Talk" from an independent label in 2011. She has also been featured and has co-written on multiple EDM records such as "Fuzzy Peach" by Brillz, “Saturn” by Kill The Noise/Brillz, “Can’t Get Enough” by Tommie Sunshine/Halfway House, and “Reality” by Bro Safari. In 2017, she released her solo EP and accompanying short film entitled ‘Songs from the Sea.’ In addition to her work in music, she co-hosts “Right to the Source,” a podcast about the creative process and spiritual journey. This guest understands the mind of the artist and is not afraid to be different and daring in her approach to songwriting. And The Writer Is… Sarah Hudson!

Ep. 105: Billy Mann

Art: Michael Richey White

He is a Grammy-nominated multi-platinum hit songwriter, producer, artist, executive, and entrepreneur who has been on the charts for 25 years. His active discography includes P!nk, Cher, Sting, John Legend, Take That, Kelly Rowland, Hall & Oates, Jessica Simpson, Martina McBride, Celine Dion, among others, and has written numerous Top 10 hits around the globe and achieved sales of over 125 million albums. Beginning as an A&M artist in 1994, after two solo albums, his ambition helped him pivot towards writing, producing, and entrepreneurialism. In 2001, he founded Stealth Entertainment, a talent development company with a special focus on brand partnerships. Over the years, Mann’s ability to discover promise in talent early ranges from Oscar-winner Emma Stone to hitmakers Teddy Geiger, John Ryan, Supah Mario and Christian Medice, to Tik Tok royalty Dixie and Charli D’Amelio. EMI acquired Stealth in 2007 and he was soon after appointed to EMI’s Board and thereafter President of International/Global Artist Management, overseeing EMI’s rosters in over 34 countries championing the careers of such artists like David Guetta, Pablo Alboran, Robyn, Zoe, Helene Fischer, Tiziano Ferro, and many others. In 2010, he was appointed President of Creative-BMG North America before becoming CEO of Green & Bloom/Topline the following year (a catalog that boasts of 4,000 copyrights that include artists like Drake, Tory Lanez, Lovelytheband, Travis Scott, John Legend, Drake, Tiesto and more). In 2012, he founded Manncom Creative Partners, a management company that has consulted numerous major brands and represents independent-minded (often digital focused) creative talents like Alex Aiono, Christian Medice, Charli D’Amelio, Dixie D’Amelio, Kid Sistr, Veronica Ferraro, among others. He is a national board member of Autism Speaks serving on the Advocacy, Strategic and Digital Committees, co-founder of the Rema Hort Mann Foundation, and was an elected Governor of Songwriters in New York for the National Academy of Arts & Sciences (Grammys). In 2007, he helped draft the Autism Policy for the Obama/Biden Presidential campaign and later had the honor of watching his oldest son, Jasper, receive the first pen in the Oval Office from President Obama after he signed H.R. 2005, the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act in 2011. In December 2013, his family was presented The Champion Award at The Winter Ball at the Met by friend Senator Bob Casey (PA), an original sponsor of the ABLE Act. He resides in Connecticut and is a proud husband and father of four children. And The Writer Is… Billy Mann!

This episode is sponsored by SESAC.

Ep. 104: Luke Dick

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Art: Michael Richey White

This Oklahoma born, Nashville-based songwriter and artist has written songs for the likes of Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Kacey Musgraves, Dierks Bentley, The Brothers Osborne, The Highwomen, Eli Young Band, and more. This year, he is nominated for Song of the Year at the 54th CMA Awards for co-writing Miranda Lambert’s #1 single, “Bluebird” from her album ‘Wild Card’ for which he wrote 5 songs. He also notably co-wrote Dierks Bentley’s hit single “Burning Man,” Kacey Musgraves’ “Velvet Elvis” for her GRAMMY-winning Album of the Year, ‘Golden Hour,’ and Eric Church’s single “Kill A Word.” As an artist, he fronts the new wave punk band called Hey Steve. The band delivers its rebellious message in a way that only they could conjure. Rolling Stone Country calling our guest and his band “something of an anomaly in the Nashville songwriting community.” Last year he premiered his first feature-length documentary, ‘Red Dog,’ at the 2019 SXSW Film Festival. The film which he co-directed, co-produced, and scored, explores his childhood experiences living at The Red Dog, an Oklahoma strip club where his teenage mother worked as a dancer. He just released a new song as a solo artist called "Polyester" featuring Miranda Lambert. And The Writer Is… Luke Dick!

This episode is sponsored by BMI.