It was a mere 35 years ago this past Valentine’s Day that singer/showman Bobby Vickers decided to inhabit an alter ego he fittingly dubbed Bud E. Luv. “Mr. Luv,” as he’s known to the always deferential members of his ensemble, modestly named The Bud E. Luv Orchestra. Now, at the behest of Tom Donald, founder of San Francisco’s hiTrecords, Bud E. Luv has recorded “Music
Back in the early 60s, people heard the blast coming out of Memphis, Tennessee and reacted. “What in the hell was that? And where can I get more?” That’s how we felt, and finally, we’ve done something about it. With every bit of due respect we can muster, we at hiTrecords dedicate this song to everyone who ever had anything to do with Stax/Volt, past
My pal and fellow songwriter Frank Grant sent me a lyric a couple of years ago. It was a story about rediscovering an old friend, but in unfamiliar circumstances. I read it and immediately decided the setting had to be New York City. And so, Joey Baker came to life. “Small town boy, had a best friend.” Click here for a link to Spotify: Joey
Singer-songwriter is a catch-all phrase, and if truth be told, Tom Donald falls directly into it. After all, he writes the tunes and he sings them. But he’s not exactly Tim Buckley or Bob Dylan. He’s himself and all he asks is that you listen to “Lucky So And So” and decide for yourself. The song is a cautionary tale of a long-time love affair
The boys in this band are a diverse bunch. There’s an acclaimed funk/hip-hop drummer, a power pop guitarist, a flights-of-fancy saxophonist, another guitarist prone to taking songs where no man or woman has ever been. And then there’s me. Bass, mostly, occasional keyboards. And usually, the writer and producer. We’ve been at it, off but mostly on, for about two years now. Our latest, “High
RW Smith is a polished showman, dancing and joking with the audience even as he delivers a song with his rich baritone voice. Born the sixth son of eight children, RW grew up on a small farm in the Hayward hills overlooking the San Francisco Bay. His interest has always been music. Singing for his family and friends at family gatherings. RW’s mother Delores gave
San Francisco native Fred Ross has been singing professionally since the age of 15. He’s blessed with a versatile instrument that spans an impressive four-octave range. Fred’s vibrant on-stage presence electrifies audiences everywhere he performs. The man’s a Bay Area favorite who has recorded and toured with a plethora of international and local artists, including Narada Michael Walden, Boz Scaggs, Tower of Power, Aretha Franklin,
Troy Johnson hails from Katy, TX and has been a songwriter writer and artist in Nashville for fifteen years. He’s had a number of songs recorded by artists such as Keith Urban, The Dixie Chicks, Sara Evans, Thompson Square, Montgomery Gentry, Trace Adkins and even James Taylor and Little River Band. Troy’s an integral part of the music community in Nashville and is currently writing
