Jon Grossbard, a different drummer… professional biography

 

Jon Grossbard, an Executive Music Producer and recording studio icon in New York City for 25 years. Dual passions: music and art.

Curious, but uninspired by the “boring normalcy” of his Long Island suburban upbringing, Jon’s salvation was hearing R&B and Pop music on New York radio stations, buying records and digging live music shows and museums in the big city. Already attending North Shore Conservatory of Music and playing with local bands (a drummer then), life suddenly changed in the form of a tip from a fellow musician. Jon caught a James Brown show at the famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem. James’ “Pappa’s Got a Brand New Bag,” became Jon’s life-long mantra. After hours of listening to Hipster Symphony Sid’s Late Night Jazz radio shows, Jon had a suspicion that the world did not need “a white Jewish Elvin Jones or even a wanna-be Buddy Rich”, however…

Jon threw his lot in with the “artsy” kind gravitating to the New York Avant Garde art scene at Max’s Kansas City nightspot and other NYC downtown venues and traveling to Europe to study Dada and Surrealism. Returning to NYC, Jon opened the Everyman Gallery on Madison Avenue near the Whitney Museum, exhibiting original graphic and multiple works of Marcel Duchamp, Andy Warhol, Jim Dine, Malcolm Morley, David Hockney, Richard Hamilton, and Peter Blake, who, with his wife, Jan Harworth, created the Sargent Pepper visuals for the Beatles’ album and costumes. Major influences on Jon at this time were art dealer, poet and scholar, Timothy Baum, British art world insider and writer, Bernard Jacobson, who opened Jon’s eyes to the English pop and colorfield scene, and Arturo Schwartz, writer/historian and publisher/dealer in Milan. Jon enthusiastically promoted new music events performed at the gallery thus prompting a career shift back to music.

Jon moved to Greenwich Village, joining the explosive music scene. In the 60’s, Jon toured with mostly black bands up and down the East Coast and around the U.S. and Europe – quite an eye-opener, especially in the South. Ultimately deciding Artist production and development was “his bag,” Jon began nurturing acts he would book in venues such as Max’s Kansas City. Spoonbread, one of his groups, opened for Al Green at the Apollo, three shows a night and five on weekends! Before owning his own studio, Jon had the honor of recording and co-producing records with a New York City and Woodstock-based group called Shout Band at Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studio. At Electric Lady, Jon worked closely with Michael Gayle, a brilliant guitarist and songwriter (credits include Aretha Franklin, Howard Tate and session man for Jerry Ragavoy at the original Hit Factory in NYC), and Jimi’s studio co-owner and legendary manager, Mike Jeffries. Alfa Anderson, one of the singers in the Shout Band, became a lead singer in the Pop group, Chic. Other members included keyboardist/songwriter, Kenny Brawner (Raw Sugar), awesome vocalist Gail Eason, drummer “Chocolate,” and bassist “Buffalo” Gelber. Shortly thereafter, Jon developed the live music operation for the famous West End Café near Columbia University, booking acts as diverse as Joan Armatrading, Jake and the Family Jewels and Aztec Two Step. Finally, after a stint of playing on records and commercials for other producers, a chance meeting with a fellow musician, and old friend, Gene Heimlich, who was managing Deodato and George McCrae (“Rock You Baby”) culminated in Jon’s participation in Daily Planet Studios. Gene eventually “went West” to pursue other dreams. In New York, Jon’s “bag” opened wider.

Jon’s music career joined creativity with entrepreneurship in three recording ventures, each representing a reflection of both his personal tastes and the evolution of modern sounds and trends in Jazz, Funk, Rock, Pop, R&B, Reggae, Soul and Hip-Hop/Rap. These studio ventures were Daily Planet, Planet Sound, Inc., and Planet 2 Planet, Inc.

Clients and friends from the Daily Planet era include: The Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, Peter Frampton, Phil Collins, Hall and Oates, Ian Hunter, Brian Adams, Tommy Mandel, KISS, Doctor Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band, Ricky Lee Jones, Dead Boys, Carly Simon, Tom Waits, The Manhattans, Hermie Hanlin, Cameo, Machine, George McCrae, Todd Rundgren, Kool and the Gang, Herbie Hancock, Roberta Flack, Ashford and Simpson, Patti LaBelle, Sara Dash, Nona Hendrix, Vicki Wickham, Dennis Davis, Bud Ellison, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Max Romeo, Brass Construction, Elvin Jones, Chico Hamilton, Larry Coryell, Deodato, David Sanborn, Gato Barbieri, Dave Hubbard, Noel Pointer, Eddie Palmieri, Grace Jones, Ike Wallace, Dave LeBolt, Henry Yee, Dennis Weeden, Al McDowell, Kenwood Denard, New York Dolls, Mink DeVille, & Weather Girls.

Joining forces with Jon during the Planet Sound, Inc. era were: Mike Theodore, legendary producer of “Get Ready Here I Come” (Rare Earth), “So Nice To Be With You” (Gallery), “Scorpio” (Dennis Coffey), and producer of artist Rodriguez, the subject of the Academy Award winning documentary “Searching for Sugar Man”. Bob Babbitt, ultimate studio bassist and member of Motown Funk Brothers who played on all the hits, including Stevie, Elton, & Frank. Andy Hernandez aka Coati Mundi, actor and musical director for Kid Creole and the Coconuts; and Dr. Brown’s Original Savannah Band (“Cher Chez La Femme”). Artie Bressler, jazz saxophonist, producer and composer.

Planet Sound, Inc. era include: Village People, The Ritchie Family, August Darnell, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Anita Baker, Doug E. Fresh, Madonna, Chaka Khan, Dave Cole/C&C Music Factory, Phillip Saisse, Mario Sprouse, Pal Joey, Victor Willis, Mark Anthony Jones, Vic Washington, Kerry Gordy, Roy Ayres, Burnin’ Flames, Dr. John, Buddy Cage, Greasy Boys, Ben E. King, Skyy, Randy Muller, Genya Ravin, Frankie Macintosh, Arrow, Mighty Sparrow, Steps Ahead, Michael Brecker, Peter Erskine, dead prez, Whodini, Jerry Bocchino, Vickie Bell, Black Ivory, Cuba Gooding, Tony Sylvester, Lou Toby, Fred Zarr, Charlie Gross, Bert DeCoteaux, Ray, Goodman and Brown, George Carris, Copernicus, Modern English, Burt Price, Imajen, Dick Scott, John Cale, Barry Saperstein, Dave LeBolt, Gregory Hines, Charlie Gross, Angie Stone, Menace, Jed Becker, Wayne Cooper, The Mighty Sparrow, Lord Nelson, Arrow, Barry Finnerty, The Burning Flames, Rick Derringer, Carlos Alomar, Bernard Purdie, The Whispers, Russell Valazquez, Mark Lineberry, and Michael Powers.

Joining Jon at Planet 2 Planet, Inc. was Kirk Yano, as Prez, recording engineer, producer and guitarist who has garnered multiple Grammy nominations, including Phoebe Snow, Miles Davis, Run-DMC, Mariah Carey, Pat Martino, Bell Biv Devoe, and Public Enemy.

Clients and friends from the Planet 2 Planet, Inc. era include: The Beatnuts, Force MD’s, Niki Buzz, Parliament-Funkadelic, George Clinton, Greg Nice, Craig Mack, DJ Skribble, Zooco, Flavor Flav, DeVante Swing, Jodeci, Horace Brown, Wu-Tang Clan, Onyx, Kiyamma Griffin, Warlock Records, Phoebe Snow, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Kurt Burrowes, Her Sanity, Tenishia Toussaint, Dave Hall, Rob Fusari, Quincy Patrick, Delmar Brown, Marlin Prescod, Pat Martino, Kyle West, James Hall, Mario Winans, Keith Shocklee, Rio Webber, Lyfe Jennings, Phillip Damian, Calvin Gaines, Murray Weinstock, DJ Logic, Soul Live, Eldar, David Lai, Easy Mo Bee, Common, Xzibit, Solomon Silber, Richard D’Abreau, Stix Bones, Eric Durham, Trevor Gayle, Cookie Waltkins, Fred Wells, D. D. Nice, Joe Taylor, Edna Holt, Dodie Drayer, Tony Bridges, Patrick Adams, Luther Vandross’ alumni Tinker Barfield, Skip Anderson, & Ivan Hampton, Freddy Jackson, Melba Moore, Antionette Silicato, Bart Reiss, Al Brisbane and B. Darius.

Jon has received numerous gold and platinum records and awards for recording and video production and studio excellence for his contributions to various creative projects.

The studio maintained a reputation for being technically advanced. In the early 1980’s it contained two world-class Synclavier-based midi suites with associates Bruce Nazarian and John Rosch, producing many film and TV soundtracks and commercials including Tom Hanks’ “Turner and Hooch.” It has been a modern recording center with multi-Pro Tools/Logic and SSL installations featuring a legendary live recording area with separate isolation booths for vocals, a variety of high quality microphones, Yamaha grand piano, Hammond B3 organ, many drum kits, vintage analog and digital pre-amps, reverbs, echo chambers, delays, equalizers and a vast collection of unique signal-processing equipment.

Currently, the recording center at Planet 2 Planet Productions, LLC located at 251 W. 30th Street, NYC 10001 also includes producer suites occupied by Rio Webber (R.A.W. Entertainment) producer and musical director of Lyfe Jennings, Missy Elliot etc.; Keith Shocklee, producer of Public Enemy, Lil’ John and the Eastside Boyz, and Xzibit etc.; MBK Entertainment (Alicia Keys’ management company); guitarist Michael Graetzer; producer and engineer Phil Moffa (Butcha Sound); producer Michael “Slim” Wicks; producer Jake Palumbo (SpaceLAB Recordings); blues producer Mike Gannon; and producer Sheik. For further information call 917-723-1688.

Jon takes pride in:

• Instrumental in the audition and recording process of Village People and their various bands in association with his wife, Hope Goering, their International Manager; Can’t Stop Productions’ Executive Producer Henri Belolo; Manager Russell Sidelsky; and Creative Producer Jacques Morali.

• Produced Victor Willis’ (original lead singer of Village People) solo records (Sutra Records) in association with Mike Theodore, Jon’s wife, Hope, and dear friend, promo-specialist, Hank Talbert (Arista Records/Capital Records) responsible for breaking the Shaft soundtrack album for radio.

• Produced Rock group, Pal Joey, consisting of Joe and Ritchie Salucci, album released on Sutra Records, and nurtured singing and instrumental group Unlimited Touch.

• New York Video Producer’s Award for “Pal Joey” music video, co-produced with wife, Hope, in conjunction with Director, Ken Cirelli.

• Special recording projects: Long Island no. 1 band Atrilogy, The Score, The Works, and soul singers Caroline Harding and Portia Neeley Rolle.

• Designed and oversaw the New School For Social Research’s Audio Engineering Program with Richard Dysinger in concert with the Guitar Study Center and hosted by the studio for more than five years.

• Soprano’s episode “Beating in the Studio” filmed in the studio’s Power Play suite.

• Developed and produced the phenomenally talented singer-songwriter-guitarist Mark Anthony Jones. Jon secured Mark a spot with Kid Creole & the Coconuts and also a recording agreement with Warner Brothers Records. Mark subsequently went on to sign with Sony Music and Jay-Z and has recorded and written for D’Angelo, Mary J. Blige, Kid Creole etc. Mark became a fixture on the New York acid jazz scene and performed with Nuyorican Soul.

• Developed and produced, with Mike Theodore, artist Danny Madden securing his record deal on Peter Edge’s (Executive Producer, J Records) Eternal / Warner Bros. Records and subsequently landed a track on the New Jack City soundtrack.

• Co-executive produced with Motown President Kedar Massenberg, and Anel Pla with Hope Goering, Executive Producer, Noble Entertainment, a singing group, Her Sanity, featuring three soulful ladies, two from New Orleans: Sunny Fitch, and Tameka Neville and from Long Island NY: dancer/singer Lindsay Robinson, culminating in an album release on Motown Records.

 

Projects developed through Jon and Hope’s associated production company, Noble Beast Productions:

• Greasy Boys, edgy rock and edgier country featuring Brian Farrell (vocals) and Jamie Boyd (guitars), adding steel guitarist Buddy Cage (Bob Dylan, New Riders of the Purple Sage), hard-hitting Donna Kelly (drums), & Steve Stebile (guitars); the sound of Rhode Island School of Design, filtered through the Lower East Side of NYC.

• K.I.N.G.S. a sensational male R&B/Hip-Hop singing and performance group lead by Jordan Battiste, singer-keyboardist-producer-songwriter. Jon secured a spot for Jordan on P. Diddy’s television special “Star Maker.” Jordan’s current band Pants Velour is now with Tommy Boy Records. Helpful with this project was producer, B. Darius, whose credits include platinum records for Fugees and Akon.

• Jasmine Lodge, a soulful female songwriting Pop-Rocker who won a spot on P. Diddy’s original “Making The Band.”

• Currently, Jon is excited about a new Pop/Urban Soul group Dizfunktion led by singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, producer, performer LB aka El Beau who has worked closely with Flo Rida and DeVante Swing. The group features hot vocalist Angela Ragione; drummer, vocalist, producer P Shaw and guitarist Patafunk. For more information go to http://www.dizfunktion.com.

Special mention to the following dedicated professionals who have been incredibly helpful to Jon’s career over the years: Loie Feuerle, Ned Koppelson, Dick Singer, George Schiffer, Paul Marshall, Marvin Manheimer, Bob Urband, Allen Grubman, Artie Indursky, Bernard and Lauren Chodosh, Doug and Fred Davis, Peter Lewit, Joe Zinczak, Bill Krasilovsky, Russell Sidelsky, Ira Herzog, Seymour Strauss, Burt Padell, Robert Jackson, Michael Gusick, Andrew Justin, Clarence Avant, Arif Mardin, Ahmet Ertgun, Benny Medina, James Azore, Isabel Story, Abbe Rosenfeld, Kerry Gordy, Ross Michaels, Kim Jackson, CBGB’s Hilly Crystal, Al Fierstein, Bruno Ranc, Skip Chertoff, Rich Morris, Rory Bennett. Ken Janick and Bruce Garfield; and numerous record companies and personnel including CBS, Buddha, Island, Casablanca, Zomba, Jive, RCA, Arista, Atlantic, Elektra, MCA, Epic, Sony, BMG, Captiol, EMI, Warner Brothers, Motown, Def Jam, Virgin and Universal.

Awesome “Alumni” who observed, learned & ultimately worked for us at Planet: Ellen Kaufman aka Ellen Shipley /RCA recording artist-composer (“Heaven is a Place on Earth” for Belinda Carlisle), Ross Michaels, writer, producer & manager from Park Avenue Artists; Wendy Jaris, Executive Assistant to Tommy Mottola/CBS/Sony Records, and Tracy McKnight, Music Supervisor, LionsGate Films.

Talented engineers: Ed Stassium, Ollie Cotton, Craig Bishop, Julian McBrown, Rick Kerr, Tom Durack, John Hechtman, Dave Radin, Bill Titus, Lew Hahn, Andy Hermanns, Neil Hoffman, Steve Stabile, Tony Maserati, Ron Bowen, Tim Purvis, Ivan Feder, Vince McCartney, Mike Benavitch, Jeffrey Yellen, Larry Kerr, Glen Loreo, Dave Young, Rod Hui, Dave Swanson, Phil Moffa, Jake Palumbo, Ken Florendo, and Carl Cassella.

Jon states…

“There are certain people without whom I could never have enjoyed my initial success: Mike Shea, soul music aficionado, master designer-engineer with a truly unique creative personality, responsible for the layout of our original studios. Dick Singer, fierce guitarist and close personal friend, so so patient with Ricky Hoffman, took me in. Met them with Mike Taylor, high school best bud from whom I first learned to play Bobby Timmons’ “Moaning” on piano. Gene Heimlich, early friend and original first partner in Daily Planet. Jason Sprague, solicitor general, with supreme hustle, who snagged many clients for us. Ritchie McClean, best studio manager one could have, and most loyal and generous friend who gave his heart to our organization John Bagdasarian, task master supreme, my harshest critic, but well-meaning friend. John Hechtman, a funny and bizarre technical wizard without whom the set-up of our earliest recording environments would have been impossible. Mario Sprouse, arranger, producer, musical guru and friend for life who has brought us many projects through the years. Vic Washington, keyboardist, songwriter, musical confidante; makes the Hammond B3 organ fly towards heaven! Mike Theodore, co-producer, arranger, composer and life buddy…so many projects so little time!

God bless the vast number of international musicians whose numbers are too vast to list here, but have graced and enriched my life through their own special poetry.

Nothing in my life would have been possible or have any true meaning or significance if it weren’t for the Almighty, and the love of my mother, Rhoda, and my wife, Hope, who is a talented musician and composer in her own right.

Peace,
Jon Grossbard”