*MUSIC

MATTHEW S. ROBINSON 62 Brookline Street, Needham, MA 02492

617 877 6264 / [email protected] The following piece appeared in Billboard:

Meet the Parents By Matt Robinson MINNEAPOLIS — Having lived together for over eight years, Musicland Group, Inc. and The Mall of America finally got hitched on October 24. The result is the renaming of the Mall’s five-story, 5,000 square foot central rotunda as "Sam Goody Central." With 1,331 stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, Musicland Stores Corp.

(which is made up of Sam Goody, Suncoast Motion Picture Company, Media Play and On Cue) is the largest specialty retailer of home entertainment software in the U.S. (the nearest competitor being Record Town owners Trans World Entertainment, with 967 stores nationwide). With only a 3,500 square foot Record Town as its competition, the three Sam Goody stores and one Suncoast Video store make up what is definitely the Mall’s largest entertainment retailer, with a total of 28,000 square feet of retail space. Opened in August of 1992 and owned by TIAA CREF, Melvin Simon & Associates and Triple

Five Corp., the 4.5 million square foot Mall of America is the largest mall in the nation. With 2.5 million square feet of retail space the Mall includes more than 520 stores, 50 restaurants, eight nightclubs, an indoor amusement park, a walk-through aquarium and its own concert and event venue. According to a 1997 study by the National Park Service this $650 million consumer wonderland ranks as the number one travel destination in the U.S. Sam Goody Central will feature live appearances stars and up-and-comers from the worlds of

stage, screen and music. Featuring sales satellites during performances, the transformation of the Mall’s Rotunda into Sam Goody Central will make the pairing of these two Minnesotan giants virtually unbreakable. And the parents couldn’t be happier! "I think it’s a very positive move for our relationship," says Mall General Manager Maureen

Bausch. "Together, we can bring some fabulous and exciting events to the Mall. And everyone benefits- especially the consumer!" Sam Goody Central was launched with a day-long celebration featuring local and national

musical talents and celebrities, ranging from fitness expert Stephanie Corley to members of the Minnesota Vikings. With a 10,000 square foot anchor store at one end of the Mall, a second 3,500 square foot

store on the basement level and a new 10,000 foot co-anchor which recently opened on the Mall’s opposite end, Sam Goody has been a prominent member of the Mall’s family since day one. With the renaming of the central rotunda as Sam Goody Central, Musicland’s licensing domination should be complete.

"It’s a licensing agreement most similar to the naming of a stadium in the sense that we have the signage and the naming rights to what was the Rotunda at the Mall of America," says Musicland’s President of Stores Jonathan Reckford. "The Mall had asked us to build second statement store at the other end to coincide with their

other entertainment zone," Reckford explains. "We figured that if we were going to make large secondary commitment and continue to provide a large number of events and presentations at the Mall, since Sam Goody is predominately a mall retailer anyway, the biggest mall in the country would be a good place to show what Sam Goody was all about." Though Sam Goody will now have undeniable dominance over the Mall, Bausch does not see

the new arrangement hurting would-be competitors. "I think they will benefit," Bausch figures, "because Sam Goody will bring musical artists and

actors to the rotunda and that brings more customers, which is good for all the stores." Bausch has not heard from Record Town as to whether or not they plan to renew their lease. According to Reckford, the idea for the renaming had been thought up over a year ago.

However, due to complications among the Mall’s multiple owners, the final plan took some time to iron-out. Now that all is in order, however, Reckford and his staff are excited about the future. "The Mall is unique in America in terms of visitors," Reckford says, noting that the Mall attracts

more visitors than any other attraction in America. "What better place to make our flagship statement?" "We have worked with Sam Goody for along time on bringing special people and events

here," Bausch recalls. "They have been wonderful partners and our relationship continues to grow." Proud parents indeed! Though there are plans to remodel Sam Goody’s first anchor store to bring it up to date with

its new twin, Reckford says that, for the time being, not much else will change in terms of how the stores are run. "We are very excited about being highly visible and cementing what was already happening,"

Reckford says, mentioning a heretofore unheard of signage arrangement which will have Sam Goody’s name literally all over the Mall. "It’s also a great sales opportunity." "We are viewing it as another sales location," adds Director of Corporate Communications

Lisa Hawks. As well they should! In addition to promotional signage, Sam Goody Central also includes

sales stations which allow consumers to purchase products at the venue itself. There is also talk of connecting the new central venue to the perimeter stores and even of

broadcasting events to Sam Goody stores nationwide. For now, however, Reckford is happy to have the added visibility and market share that will come of the new arrangement. "It enhances our motivation to bring in top-level acts and to develop our marketing

procedures," Reckford says. While Sam Goody had been a key sponsor for most of the Mall’s 250 annual events, it will

now be unavoidable in terms of its visibility and marketing strength. "This alliance will allow the Mall and Sam Goody to continue to bring fabulous and exciting

events to the Mall," Bausch observes, noting the hundreds of acts which will appear at Sam Goody Central between Thanksgiving and Christmas alone. "And because our stores are there in the Mall," Reckford notes, "the connection will be

cleaner for the consumer."


617 877 6264 / [email protected] The following piece appeared in Entertainment Weekly:

Draw the Line Boston Bad Boy Steven Tyler launches new tour Grammy winner. Hall of Fame rocker. Tour guide? In his latest incarnation, Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler has lent his unmistakable voice to a pioneering tour developed by Candide Media Works’ Talking Street™ (www.talkingstreet.com). Called “Boston: City of Rebels and Dreamers,” the tour is accessed through calling a special number on the user’s cell phone. “Who would have thought when I came here in the 1970s that I would be telling people about what Boston is?” Tyler opines. “It is a great way for me to do something for the city” Among the 17 stops are Fenway Park, The Old North Church, and the site of the Molasses Flood of 1919. “We picked places that were either catastrophic or sort of miraculous,” Tyler explains, “and I tried to work in points that most people might not know to make it more interesting.” With sister tours in New York and Washington, D.C., Talking Street is hoping to help tourists worldwide. “It’s a way to bring people to fascinating places, and then reveal their stories in ways that no other media could,” says Executive Producer Miles Kronby. “We plan to have at least 20 tours across the U.S. by 2006.” In the meantime, those involved are thrilled to visit such historic cities in the company of famous friends. “It’s an honor to be the spokesman for Boston,” says Tyler. “I got in so much trouble for having a big mouth- and now it’s paying off!”

- Matt Robinson


617 877 6264 / [email protected]

The following press release was created for Warner Bros. Records:

Reprise to Release Multi-Format Trading Cards with “Lord of the Rings” Sdtrk.

Limited Edition Cards Available with CD or On Web

HOLLYWOOD – In preparation for the Holiday season release of New Line Cinema’s star-studded adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkein’s “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” Reprise Records is releasing a special limited edition set of Lord of the Rings trading cards. Depicting favorite characters such as Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm), Frodo (Elijah Wood), Arwen (Liv Tyler) and Gandalf the Wizard (Ian McKellen), these six cards will be available in both analog and digital formats. One card will be included with a special edition of the soundtrack to the forthcoming blockbuster. All six will be available on line at www.lordoftherings-soundtrack.com. Working like digital postcards, each collectable card can be emailed and instant messaged to friends through a special notice that notifies the receiver where to find the card(s). Cards can also be permanently downloaded into fans’ personal collections. For those Hobbit fans who purchase the special edition CD package, a seventh card will become available through a special CD-ROM link which comes on the audio CD. This extra special bonus card depicts Grammy® award-winning artist Enya who has composed and performs two new songs on the soundtrack. One of these new tracks, “May it Be,” is also downloadable on the website, as are streaming excerpts of Howard Shore’s score, featuring the additional talents of Elizabeth Fraser and Edward Ross. Once any or all of the cards have been downloaded, they can be “traded” with friends through email or instant messaging. “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” hits theatres December 19, 2001. The limited edition soundtrack is scheduled for release on November 20. The downloadable cards are available right now!

XXX



The following piece appeared in Travel Weekly:

Bringing the Music Back New Orleans is already rising from the hurricanes and looking to party! By Matt Robinson Though Katrina and Rita took a big bite out of the Crescent City, New Orleans is on its way back. According to New Orleans City Council, 1,270,000 of the metro area’s 1,417.000 have already returned and normalcy is beginning to poke its head out. The city’s world-famous festival of Mardi Gras was a huge success this year, with an estimated crowd of 800,000 and area hotels reporting a 95 percent occupancy rate throughout the last weekend of the pre-Lenten bacchanal blowout. As tourism accounts for 35 percent of the city’s annual operating budget, it is more important than ever that people come back to the Crescent City. Fortunately, there is plenty for them to do when they =get there! On the weekend of April 27-29 and May 4-6, 2007, hundreds of local artists, chefs, craftspeople and revelers and thousands of visitors from all over the world will gather at the famed New Orleans Fair Grounds for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (www.nojazz.org) - a week of music, muffaletta and merriment. From local legends like Dr. John, Pete Fountain, Better Than Ezra, Cowboy Mouth, Harry Connick, Jr., Rebirth Brass Band, and Allen Toussaint and Tab Benoit (who were both recently featured in the IMAX documentary “Hurricane on the Bayou”) to imported stars like George Thoroughgood, Bonnie Raitt, Steely Dan, Ludacris, Norah Jones, and an even newer New Edition, ‘Fest will show off all New Orleans has to offer while drawing talent from all corners of the music world. “A lot of the artists who come from other places may not have that soul connection,” says Festival associate producer Louis Edwards, “but they have all played here before and have helped the Festival gain the prominence it has. So it is all good!” Whether you like old-fashioned Gospel, down-home Blues, native Cajun or good old Rock n’ Roll, ‘Fest has all you need for a good time! “It is overwhelming how our musical family has rallied to our cause,” says Festival producer Quint Davis. “They are all committed to returning to be a part of the renewal of our spirit.” With all this entertainment, it is hard to believe that tickets to Fest are only $45 ($35 if purchased ahead of time)! For those who wish to make their Fest experience extra special, Big Chief VIP packages offer admission, program guides, access to special viewing areas (most of

which offer their own private Southern “comfort stations”), and, perhaps most importantly, access to an air-conditioned lounge with its own restrooms. In addition to the “all good” music, Fest also offers scores of local artists who work in all manner of media to create Folk, African, and Contemporary art. “The Festival is a celebration of Louisiana culture,” Edwards explains. “We want to let people know that New Orleans is back and that the culture is back and that they can come have a great time in a great city.” That ‘Fest did not miss a season despite the destruction all around the fabled Fair Grounds Race Course on which it has been held year after year since 1972 demonstrates the strength of this beautiful city and the spirit of the people who live and work there. “It marks the hard-earned comeback of the city,” Edwards suggests. Though numbers were down last year, the spirit of Fest was high, as 350,000 music and culture fans and literally thousands of local and international artists, and artisans gathered at the Fair Grounds and throughout the rebuilding city for two weeks of music, food and laissez-faire fun. In the process, they brought over $200 million of desperately-needed business and support to the area. “Some people like to go from stage to stage getting all the variety from Cajun and Zydeco to Gospel to Blues to Rock and Roll,” Edwards observes. “Other folks know exactly what they want to see. They wait all year for this and they love every minute of it!” And for those minutes when you are not at the Festival, New Orleans has plenty of other things to offer. From the Audubon Zoo to Zydeco bands all over town, New Orleans is an alphabet soup (or is that gumbo?) of activities for young and old. When not at the festival site, many tourists and locals gather in the French Quarter to listen and dance at the historic Preservation Hall (www.preservationhall.com), or just to take in the post Mardi Gras glories of the neighborhood’s storied streets where Jazz and Zydeco can be heard at nearly every hour of the day and night. If you’ve had too much dancing (too much dancing?!), you can travel through the historic neighborhood in the back of a horse-drawn carriage or on a Gray Line bus (www.graylineneworleans.com). When the sun begins to set, take one of Marie Laveau’s famous “Voodoo tours” (www.neworleansvoodoocrossroads.com). And if you are feeling really adventurous, book a trip on an airboat through the Bayou (www.louisianaswamp.com) or climb on board the historic Natchez for a steamboat ride down the mighty Mississippi (www.steamboatnatchez.com). If the animals on Bourbon Street are a bit too wild for your tastes, check out the world-famous Audubon Zoo or the Aquarium of the Americas (www.auduboninstitute.org). Hungry? New Orleans is one of the best places to find yourself in such a state, for in addition to being one of the nation’s (and the world’s) musical Meccas, New Orleans is also one of the greatest dining cities in the world. As such, the Big Easy is an easy place to pack on the pounds…and love it! According to a recent study by The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA), 1,650 of the roughly 3,400 restaurants in the metro area are open, including 65 brand new openings! If you want just a li’l sum’n, drop by for beignets at Café du Monde (www.cafedumonde.com) - an open-air coffee shop where you can watch the fried dough delicacies being made and eat them hot off the rack! In the mood for lunch?

Then grab a Po’Boy at Napoleon House (www.napoleonhouse.com) - a corner café that was once lived in by you-know-who. The French Quarter is also home to a great farmer’s market where local produce, shellfish, coffee and other treats await. As some of the world’s best chefs make their home in New Orleans, there is always a sensation to savor, whether it be at Paul Prudhomme’s K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen (www.kpauls.com), Emeril Lagasse’s similarly eponymous place (www.emerils.com), or the original Ruth’s Chris Steak House (www.ruthschris.com). If you want more of a taste of old New Orleans, reserve a table at Brennan’s (www.brennansneworleans.com), the birthplace of bananas foster (see the website for the recipe!), celebrate the first 100 years of Galatoire’s (www.galatoires.com) or take a pre-meal tour of Antoine’s (www.antoines.com). For a lighter bite (perhaps a mid-afternoon snack), try Po’Boys at Domilise’s or Guy’s or for a breakfast-y kind of meal, you can’t beat The Bluebird Café (www.bluebirdcaferi.com). After dinner, you might want to head back to Bourbon Street to catch the leather-clad dueling pianos (and world-famous Hurricanes) at Pat O’Briens (www.patobriens.com) or to witness the legendary entertainer Chris Owens (www.chrisowens.com). For those who just can’t get enough music, there is the legendary Tipitina’s and Tip’s Uptown (www.tipitinas.com), The Howlin Wolf (www.howlin-wolf.com), and New Orleans’ take on the House of Blues (www.hob.com). With last year’s successful campaign by the Saints and the return of professional basketball to the area, this hub of the sportsman’s paradise of Louisiana has also reclaimed its placed as a place to watch or play your favorite sports. Of course, the jewel of the city is the completely rebuilt and refurbished Superdome (www.superdome.com), but there are plenty of other parks and venues. One noted sportsman who made sure to come back to New Orleans was boxing champion Bernard Hopkins, who trained last year that the Sheraton New Orleans. “My conditioning coach Mackie Shilstone is from there,” Hopkins explains, “and I thought it would be great to be there for him and to uplift the spirits of the New Orleans people. The publicity New Orleans received by having me train there for one of the biggest fights of my career helped the rest of the country know that New Orleans is alive, vibrant and making its way back to what it used to be.” Another grand attraction that has already brought thousands back to the city is the completely refurbished 357,500 square-foot Morial Convention Center (www.mccno.com). After a $60 million renovation, the Center is once again ready to welcome visitors from around the world and is already gearing up for the city’s largest convention ever- the 25,000-person National Association of Realtors convention that will take place from November 10-13, 2007. From the American College of Cardiology (March 23-27) to the American College of Sports Medicine (May 29-June 2) to the International Association of Chiefs of Police (October 13-17) to scores of other events, the Center is already nearly fully booked for the rest of the year! For the more culturally minded, the nation’s only museum dedicated to WW II (www.ddaymuseum.org) offers a stirring historical perspective on the second Great War and is currently mounting an exhibit on famed Jewish author Anne Frank. The world-renown New Orleans Museum of Art (www.noma.org) features local artists like Clarence John Laughlin and international stars like Picasso, Renoir, Degas, Manet, and

Toulouse-Lautrec. On a slightly less serious tip is the new musical “Hats” at Harrah’s Casino (www.harrahs.com). As for getting around, the 28 bus lines and the world-famous streetcars are running, providing an average of 23,000 rides daily. As such, Fest-ers and other visitors can still get from the Fairgrounds to the French Quarter (and many other places as well) with little trouble and, if they want to live in the bliss of ignorance, little evidence of the storm. However, opportunities abound for those who wish to combine the nation’s most important business with their pleasure, as organizations like Habitat for Humanity (www/habitat.org), Hands-On Gulf Coast (www.handsongulfcoast.org) and The American Red Cross (www.usa.redcross.org) can easily put you in touch with people and places in need, if only for a soul-cleansing day. “A weekend or a day is not too little,” says Jeanne Ellinport, director of communications for the American Red Cross’s hurricane recovery program. “There is a lot to be done, but every little bit helps.” “Volunteers that come to New Orleans to volunteer with New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity [can] commit as much or as little time as they want,” adds New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity’s communications director Aleis Tusa., noting that a “typical” day with Habitat runs from 7:30 Am to 2:30 PM. “This gives volunteers time to rest, clean up and enjoy the city and all the area has to offer.” With nearly 50 homes in production, there is plenty to do and opportunities for people of every ability and skill level. “On the construction site,” Tusa explains, “volunteers are organized based on their interest. We have some who want to do more physical work and they usually are committed to roofing, raising walls, or building floor systems. Some prefer to paint, hang sheetrock or work on the interiors. Whatever their interest, we usually can find a task for them to work on.” No matter what you do to help, though, the experience will benefit not only the people who will eventually move back to the area but those who helped them do it as well. “I will say the best thing about volunteering on your vacation is that you get to give back and help out and still enjoy all the area has to offer,” Tusa says. For those who have stayed in the city or returned after their hurricaned exile, there are also efforts underway to rebuild from the inside. Among these is the Musician’s Village, a rebuilding project that is being spearheaded by local sons Harry Connick, Jr. and the Marsalis family. “Music is as much a part of the fabric of life in New Orleans as the cuisine and Mardi Gras,” says Branford Marsalis. “It is central to the city’s culture...and to the city’s infrastructure.” “Since music is what we know,” Connick adds, “we felt we could be most effective by helping musicians.” And help they are! From housing to a music school, Marsalis, Connick, and such legendary friends as Clint Eastwood and members of the Dave Matthews Band are band-ing together to help their friends and colleagues. “A true community…is the model that works,” says NFL star and Musician’s Village participant Andy Lee. “The Village sends a message that, musician or…citizen, it is safe to come back!”

Though the levees are broken, the spirit of the city is not. After a temporary exile, thousands of native N’awlins are coming back and invite you to join them, either for ‘Fest or any time! “I worked from the levees breaking until now to return to my home,” says Mark Samuels of New Orleans’ own Basin Street Records. “Although this is a very frustrating place to try to live right now, it is still a lot of fun, and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!”



The following reviews appeared in The Boston Globe:

The Push Stars – Opening Time (Co-Op Pop/Wicked Disc) In returning to their indie/DIY roots, Boston’s most swoonable sons recapture their favored familiarity. Chris Trapper’s lyrical poems of suburban losers ("Small Town Geek," "Frathouse Joe") still come up winners and the laid back rhythms of drummer Dan MacMillan and bassist Dan McLoughlin keep the tunes pushing ahead. From the pianistic pacings of "Last Night’s Dream" to the broad musical expanses of "Millionaire" and the New Wave flavors of "Fading Away," the album combines old-tyme flavors with contemporary pop sensibilities and chronicles where the boys have been and where they may be headed. A guest spot by brother Tom Trapper on the retro-esque rocker "Waiting, Watching, Wishing" ("Get up. Get up, Get up. Get down.") makes the collection even more of a family affair. As a final turn, the teched-up version of "One Summer Day" reveals once more the band’s senses of humor, musicianship and their evolving audience. - Matthew S. Robinson

The Manhattans – Love Songs (Legacy/Columbia) Through a baker’s dozen of digitally remastered yet still vinyl warm ballads, The Manhattans revive the oft lost art of balladry seduction. Opening up with a well-known one-two of "Shining Star" and "Kiss and Say Goodbye," this compilation sways from the classic doo wop stylings of "It Feels So Good to Be Loved So Bad" to the meteorologically metaphoric "Cloudy with a Chance of Tears" and the Sylver-y "I’ll Never Find Another (Find Another Like You)." Though the quartet occasionally gets stuck in sap (as is the way with such a repertoire), they remain Big Apple smooth and saucy throughout. Mixing originals by their founder and "spiritual leader" Winfred (Blue) Lovett with cozy covers including an echoey enhancement of "The Way We Were" / "Memories," The Manhattans look back over a decade gone by of chart-topping harmonies which remain as bright and impressive as their namesake skyline. - Matthew S. Robinson

Writer’s note: This second piece garnered me the opportunity to compose liner notes for Columbia Records!


617 877 6264 / [email protected] The following are liner notes for the 2002 Columbia/Legacy reissue of Luther Vandross’ “Forever, For Always, For Love”:

Always, Luther Dear Diary. I know I've said this before, but I'm sure this time, it's really love! So begins "The Sweetest One," the second track of Luther Vandross' second solo album, Forever, For Always, For Love. A diary entry, at once intimate and universal, inviting each and every listener into a private moment with this very public figure. Such is the magic of Luther Vandross and such is the magic of this album. Forever, For Always, For Love is a musical diary. It is the diary of a boy who grew up in the Church with dreams of the top of the pop charts. It is the diary of a child who came out of New York's Lower East Side and set the world on fire with his undeniable passion. It is the diary of a man who had overcome loss on his way to finding a higher faith, both in his art and in himself. It is the diary of a talented creator who, having spent years in the shadows of legends, is now taking his first steps into the spotlight, crafting simple themes into works of impassioned greatness. It is the diary of a romantic who made love to Sweet Music and her many fickle fans and who can now proudly say "She loves me back." No naïve statement of infatuation, this. Luther had given too much of himself to casually pass off his success to luck and good fortune. This time, it was really love. And, as the title suggests, it would be an eternal love. Forever, For Always is also a musical "thank you" note. Ever since he got his start as a musical artist and performer, Vandross had wanted to find this love. Years of work in a variety of aspects of the music industry had educated Vandross about what music was, and what it could be. He had worked with a cadre of legends and taken strength and solace from others. So many had come before him, put their life into their art and made it, and Luther felt both inspired and indebted. On Forever, For Always, Vandross pays tribute to some of the giants who had taken him in their musical hand, lifted him up and started him on his way.

Opening the album with a clap-along cover of Sam Cooke's "Having a Party," Vandross thanks the man who had shown the way for countless performers from the sacred to the secular; from the Church to the street. In another journal entry, Luther recalls his childhood idols, The Temptations, who had inspired his impeccable production values and sense of dramatic flair. "Since I lost my baby," he cries, confiding his most painful personal moments with his million-plus fans, "been looking everywhere." Though his search had yielded bounteous fruit, Vandross was not fully satisfied. This love might be real, but it was still a young love that would need constant tending. "Promise me you'll leave me never," Vandross pleads. After all, he reasons, "who could love you better?" Few even knew how. Vandross' first solo album, 1981's Never Too Much, had exceeded all expectations, charting platinum and hitting the top of the R&B charts. On his sophomore effort, Vandross wanted to prove, to himself and to the world, that the success of his debut was no fluke. Every member of the supporting cast, including Jazz royal (and close friend) Nat Adderly, Jr., Gospel queen Cissy Houston and bass master Marcus Miller, had been hand-selected to help make this follow-up as strong and worthy as it could be. Every song had also been carefully chosen to ensure that, this time, the love will not only be real, but lasting. Having tasted the real thing, Vandross was not willing to let the sweetness fall from his lips. This love will be forever. This passion will be for always. This music will be for love. Matthew S. Robinson is a self-described romantic who contributes to over 80 international publications.



The following piece appeared in Berklee Today:

Out of the "Shadows" Allan Slutsky gives credit where it is overdue By Matthew S. Robinson Stevie Wonder. Marvin Gaye. Martha and the Vandellas. These are names that anyone who is familiar with music knows like the names of their own family members. But does anyone know the names of the men who made these greats so great? After decades of being kept in the dark, music lovers, historians and members of the general public are finally being made aware of the artists who made the Motown sound, thanks to the devoted work of performer and musicologist Allan Slutsky (’78). "Everybody thinks they know everything about Motown," Slutsky suggests, "but they don’t know anything." Considering that the collective of Motown session players known as The Funk Brothers played on more chart toppers than The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elvis and The Beach Boys combined, it is almost unbelievable that so few people know their names. "Their story is the last great story of rock and roll," Slutsky says, "and it’s a story that needed to be told." Slutsky himself first became interested in the Motown story as a teenage guitarist performing in his native Philadelphia. "America has always been obsessed with ‘cool,’" he observes, "and Motown was the coolest thing I had ever found." In an effort to copy his unknown idols, Slutsky spent hours trying to transcribe and translate the signature Motown riffs into a format that he and his bandmates could understand. "We tried to copy the licks," he recalls, "but it was such a Detroit groove, that no matter how we tried, we couldn’t play it right." In an effort to approach this vaunted level of cool, Slutsky studied music at Temple University and then came to Berklee in 1976 to pursue guitar studies. "If not for Berklee, I would not have been able to do the things I’ve done," he said recalling musical mentors like Bill Levitt and Herb Pomeroy.

After graduation, Slutsky returned to Philly, where he continued to work on transcriptions. Garnering the nickname "Dr. Licks," Slutsky also gained a publishing deal with Hal Leonard for a series of tablature books that bore his new nickname. Despite his notable precision, however, Slutsky still had trouble finding the groove when it came to Motown. "As I started transcribing that music," he admits, "I was blown away. I wanted to find out who had created these sounds and that led me first to the story of bassist James Jamerson." Further research led Slutsky to the discovery that, despite the general public’s familiarity with their music, Jamerson and other late greats like drummer Benny "Papa Zita" Benjamin, Eddie "Bongo" Brown and keyboardist Earl "Chunk of Funk" Van Dyke were all but unknown to millions of self-proclaimed music lovers. "Jamerson and company had played all these hits and nobody knew who they were!" Slutsky says. In an effort to right this long-standing wrong, Slutsky decided to expand this particular transcription book into a musical biography that came to be called Standing in the Shadows of Motown. Over a period of three years, Slutsky interviewed all of the living Brothers, including bassist Bob Babbitt, vibraphonist Jack Ashford, keyboardists Johnny Griffith and Joe Hunter, drummers Uriel Jones and Richard "Pistol" Allan (who passed on after filming was completed) and guitarists Joe Messina and Eddie "Chank" Willis, and painstakingly recreated their story of nameless fame. When the book won the 1989 Ralph J. Gleason Award for Music book of the year from Rolling Stone, Slutsky knew he was on to something. "After I won, I decided what I had to do next," Slutsky says, explaining his leap from page to stage. "I had to get these guys back together and get a physical document of them performing." Though the Brothers had not played together since Motown moved its headquarters to Los Angeles in the 1970s, Slutsky was not to be denied. Eleven years, 30,000 hours, and a bunch of pawn slips later, "Shadows" was released as a feature film by Artisan Entertainment (artisanent.com). "They also put out ‘Buena Vista Social Club,’" Slutsky notes, citing another popular film biography of undersung musical heroes, "so we knew they could do something like this." Combining testimony and reminiscence as well as live concert footage featuring the surviving Brothers and also contemporary artists like Bootsy Collins, Ben Harper, and Meshell Ndegeocello, "Shadows" is part history, part biography, part tribute and all Motown. "It doesn’t play like a movie," Slutsky says. "It’s more like a revival meeting. People go to pray at the altar of Motown sound." And what a revival it has been! Already, the film has won rave reviews from the international press and public, including a standing ovation at The Toronto Film Festival, which is the second largest gathering of its kind in the world. "They chased our limo down the street," Slutsky recalls. "Everyone seems to love it and hopefully that will help get the word out, because that is why I did it."

Not one to sit on his laurels, Slutsky is transcribing, performing, consulting and working on another book about on the famed rhythm sections that backed James Brown in the 60s and 70s. He is also mounting a Buena Vista-like tour for the Brothers. "These men who were anonymous now have names," he says. "They are the biggest hit machine ever and now people know who they are."

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