On behalf on my family, I’d like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all of you for your thoughts and prayers during this trying time. Your thoughtful consideration helps to ease our grief and for this we are truly grateful.
Heather
Heather Hayes: "Thanks For Your Support"
New Label/New Record
The Soul of John Black recently finished recording their debut album on Eclecto Groove Records, “Black John” with JB driving the machine, self-producing and writing the music.
On "Black John," JB masterfully combines soul, gospel, funk and hip-hop, while tracing its roots all the way back to its humble origins - the blues. Backed by notable musicians Adam McDougal on keys (Black Crowes, Macy Gray, Maroon 5, Nikka Costa), Oliver Charles on drums (Ben Harper, Rhythm Roots All-Stars), Scott Seiver on drums (Nikka Costa, Inara George), Jake Najor on drums (Carl Denson, Connie Price, Breakestra), Shawn Davis on bass (Beck, Nikka Costa), Davey Chegwidden on percussion (Rhythm Roots All-Stars, Bitter Sweet, Ghost Face Killer, Big Daddy Kane), and Bill Botrell on 2nd guitar (Grammy winning producer for Sheryl Crow, Shelby Lynne, and many others), The Soul of John Black has reached a new plateau; transcending the crossroads and arriving upon an unexplored intersection on the aural highway. It's soul music for a whole new generation.
About Eclecto Groove:
Eclecto Groove Records, a new subsidiary label of Delta Groove Music which was created by celebrated producer and successful entrepreneur Rand Chortkoff, is a home and showcase for music that isn’t easily categorized or pigeon-holed from genre-bending artists covering a wide spectrum of musical styles.
Recognizing that his primary area of expertise was within the blues genre, Chortkoff decided to bring in an expert with a lifetime of knowledge and experience in all styles of popular music, and has brought in industry veteran Robert Fitzpatrick as the new President of Delta Groove Music and Eclecto Groove Records. Fitzpatrick has been well-known and highly respected within the music industry since the 1960s, when he was The Beatles' attorney; he also represented such high-profile artists as The Rolling Stones, The Who, and as a partner with entertainment mogul Robert Stigwood in the firm Stigwood Fitzpatrick, Inc., managed such groups as Cream and The Bee Gees and Taj Mahal , as well as actor Don Johnson and many others. Prior to joining Eclecto Groove, Fitzpatrick was President and CEO of Vista Ave Entertainment Group, a multi faceted film and music company, RFO Entertainment, a management and production company, and The Robert Fitzpatrick Organization. Fitzpatrick was also Music Supervisor for a number of high-profile film projects including “Remember The Titans”, “Pulp Fiction” and others, and his expertise in this area will be utilized as he takes on the same role in Chortkoff’s film production enterprise, Big Sky Motion Pictures.
On "Black John," JB masterfully combines soul, gospel, funk and hip-hop, while tracing its roots all the way back to its humble origins - the blues. Backed by notable musicians Adam McDougal on keys (Black Crowes, Macy Gray, Maroon 5, Nikka Costa), Oliver Charles on drums (Ben Harper, Rhythm Roots All-Stars), Scott Seiver on drums (Nikka Costa, Inara George), Jake Najor on drums (Carl Denson, Connie Price, Breakestra), Shawn Davis on bass (Beck, Nikka Costa), Davey Chegwidden on percussion (Rhythm Roots All-Stars, Bitter Sweet, Ghost Face Killer, Big Daddy Kane), and Bill Botrell on 2nd guitar (Grammy winning producer for Sheryl Crow, Shelby Lynne, and many others), The Soul of John Black has reached a new plateau; transcending the crossroads and arriving upon an unexplored intersection on the aural highway. It's soul music for a whole new generation.
About Eclecto Groove:
Eclecto Groove Records, a new subsidiary label of Delta Groove Music which was created by celebrated producer and successful entrepreneur Rand Chortkoff, is a home and showcase for music that isn’t easily categorized or pigeon-holed from genre-bending artists covering a wide spectrum of musical styles.
Recognizing that his primary area of expertise was within the blues genre, Chortkoff decided to bring in an expert with a lifetime of knowledge and experience in all styles of popular music, and has brought in industry veteran Robert Fitzpatrick as the new President of Delta Groove Music and Eclecto Groove Records. Fitzpatrick has been well-known and highly respected within the music industry since the 1960s, when he was The Beatles' attorney; he also represented such high-profile artists as The Rolling Stones, The Who, and as a partner with entertainment mogul Robert Stigwood in the firm Stigwood Fitzpatrick, Inc., managed such groups as Cream and The Bee Gees and Taj Mahal , as well as actor Don Johnson and many others. Prior to joining Eclecto Groove, Fitzpatrick was President and CEO of Vista Ave Entertainment Group, a multi faceted film and music company, RFO Entertainment, a management and production company, and The Robert Fitzpatrick Organization. Fitzpatrick was also Music Supervisor for a number of high-profile film projects including “Remember The Titans”, “Pulp Fiction” and others, and his expertise in this area will be utilized as he takes on the same role in Chortkoff’s film production enterprise, Big Sky Motion Pictures.
Another Nomination for The Soul Of John Black
The Soul of John Black and his Yellow Dog Records debut album The Good Girl Blues are nominated for “Best New Artist Debut”, in the just-announced 2008 Blues Music Awards.
The Blues Music Awards (formerly known as the W.C. Handy Awards) are universally recognized as the highest honor given to Blues artists. The awards have been presented by The Blues Foundation in ceremonies since 1980 to celebrate excellence in recording and performance during the previous year. This year’s awards ceremony will be held May 8, 2008 at the Grand Casino Event Center in Tunica, MS, and will reveal the results of voting conducted by members of the Blues Foundation at its web site.
The Soul of John Black is the nom de performance of soul/roots guitarist John "JB" Bigham, an accomplished performer who has toured and recorded with artists as acclaimed and diverse as Fishbone, Miles Davis, Eminem, Dr. Dré, and Nikka Costa. Bigham’s new album The Good Girl Blues, a "funky blend of blues, soul, and rock" that merges rootsy, bluesy fundamentals with modern soul, funk, and hip-hop influences, was released by Yellow Dog Records in 2007 to critical acclaim, also earning widespread airplay and reaching the #2 position on XM Satellite Radio’s Bluesville channel. The album was recently named one of five Blues finalists for Album of the Year in the Independent Music Awards (three of the other four finalists are also Blues Music Award nominees), and is currently featured in Blues listening posts throughout the Borders Books and Music chain.
The Blues Music Awards (formerly known as the W.C. Handy Awards) are universally recognized as the highest honor given to Blues artists. The awards have been presented by The Blues Foundation in ceremonies since 1980 to celebrate excellence in recording and performance during the previous year. This year’s awards ceremony will be held May 8, 2008 at the Grand Casino Event Center in Tunica, MS, and will reveal the results of voting conducted by members of the Blues Foundation at its web site.
The Soul of John Black is the nom de performance of soul/roots guitarist John "JB" Bigham, an accomplished performer who has toured and recorded with artists as acclaimed and diverse as Fishbone, Miles Davis, Eminem, Dr. Dré, and Nikka Costa. Bigham’s new album The Good Girl Blues, a "funky blend of blues, soul, and rock" that merges rootsy, bluesy fundamentals with modern soul, funk, and hip-hop influences, was released by Yellow Dog Records in 2007 to critical acclaim, also earning widespread airplay and reaching the #2 position on XM Satellite Radio’s Bluesville channel. The album was recently named one of five Blues finalists for Album of the Year in the Independent Music Awards (three of the other four finalists are also Blues Music Award nominees), and is currently featured in Blues listening posts throughout the Borders Books and Music chain.
The Soul Of John Black - Finalist for Indpendent Music Awards
The Soul Of John Black's "The Good Girl Blues" has been named a finalist in the 7th annual Independent Music Awards! Please vote for us by clicking the “2008 Independent Music Awards” Link (see above) and scroll down to the Blues category.
The Good Girl Blues - Downbeat Magazine
Check out the December issue of Downbeat magazine's review of The Soul Of John Black's "The Good Girl Blues" at your favorite newstand or bookstore.
