Bill Cuomo
Everything You Need To Know About Being An Indie Artist
Friday, July 14th 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Bill’s background is in keyboard record session work, starting in LA with demo work, then branching into records doing arranging, writing, and eventually producing and engineering. Records most noted are “Bette Davis Eyes”, (Grammy-Record of The Year 1981) for Kim Carnes-he played and arranged, and “Oh Sherrie” for Steve Perry-played, arranged and co-wrote. He has also played on, written, or arranged records for Don Henley (“Building The Perfect Beast” CD), Whitesnake (“Whitesnake”CD with “Here I Go Again”), REO Speedwagon (“Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore”), Olivia Newton-John (“Physical” CD), Little River Band (“Time Exposure”CD), Herb Alpert (“Fandango” & “Highway 101”CD’s ) 38 Special, Lynyrd Skynyrd (“1991” and their latest), Johnny Van Zant, Smokey Robinson (“Being With You”), Eric Carmen, Barbra Streisand, Mark Knopfler (“Golden Heart”) Alabama (4 albums, including piano on “Forever is as Far as I’ll Go”), Faith Hill (first 2 CD’s), Trace Adkins, Kathy Mattea (“Walking Away a Winner”CD-all keyboards), John Berry, John Michael Montgomery, and Steve Wariner’s “Burnin’ The Roadhouse Down”CD.
Bill has done a good deal of arranging and playing in foreign markets as well, particularly in the Spanish and French markets. Working with artists such as Juan Gabriel, Amanda Miguel, Jose Jose, Marisela, Diego Verdaguer, France Gall, and Johnny Hallyday, recording around the world.
He has also written, recorded and produced a number of gospel/pop-Christian hits (at his own own recording facility). Also,co-wrote #1 hits for Kathy Troccoli, (“Sounds Of Heaven” & “Love One Another”) Larnelle Harris, and Pam Thum. Both Larnelle’s CD’s were Grammy nominees (“Beyond All The Limits” ‘94, and “Unbelievable Love” ‘95) and he received a Dove award for the latter, and awarded “Inspirational Album of the Year”. Also awarded American Songwriter Magazine “Christian Producer of the Year” 1995.
Bill played keyboards in a number of films (Any Which Way You Can, Sharkey’s Machine, Every Which Way But Loose, Beverly Hills Cop....etc.) and arranged the title track for the Sean Connery James Bond film, “Never Say Never Again”. He has also scored two films, including “Katherine” for ABC-TV and “That Was Then, This Is Now” starring Emilio Estevez and Morgan Freeman for Paramount. He recently finished a children’s album that he recorded and co-produced for J.Aaron Brown ( for a spring 2000 release). Tracy Dawn Thompson, his latest project, is now signed to Warner/Atlantic and released Sept 21, 1999 and is doing well with her first top 10 hit.
In late 1998, he and Beeb Birtles (from the Little River Band) formed Sonic Sorbet Records, to unite their combined experience of over 100 million records sold worldwide. Beeb’s first solo CD,“Driven By Dreams”, is the label’s debut release. Sonic Sorbet’s second release, Pete Benz’s “Hang On Cowboy” contains the most requested song on Austin radio, goes nationwide in May 2000, and brings a new heartfelt slant to country music. Incidentally, Bill and Beeb hooked up after finding out they were neighbors in Tennessee, both seeking great music, and wanting to renew their musical friendship formed during the recording of Little River Band’s “Time Exposure” (back in 1981). Hence, Sonic Sorbet’s aim - to bring quality music to fans all over the world regardless of genre. First formed as an internet only label, Sonic Sorbet is currently expanding its presence in the retail market as well. Their website, www.sonicsorbet.com features all the latest news and releases as well as offering previews and sales of all their products.
Beeb Birtles
Beeb Birtles, Partner, SonicSorbet Records Beeb Birtles was born in Amsterdam, Holland and migrated with his family to Australia in 1957. Growing up in Adelaide, South Australia, his passion for music was shared by some of his high school friends. They formed their first band, TIMES UNLIMITED while still in high school. After changing their name to ZOOT, the band became one of Adelaide’s most popular bands in the late sixties. ZOOT became a very popular teenybopper band nationally between 1969 - 1971 and featured Birtles on bass guitar and Rick Springfield on lead guitar. The band scored several Top Twenty hits on the Australian charts during this time. They parted amicably in April 1971. After the demise of ZOOT, Birtles switched to playing guitar and started writing original songs. He was asked to join a band called MISSISSIPPI which already had a Top Ten hit with a song called “Kings Of The World”. MISSISSIPPI played the Australian pub circuit between 1972 - 1975 before departing for England to seek their fame and fortune. They disbanded having lived there only three months. Once back in Australia, the nucleus of the band decided to reform the group and changed their name to LITTLE RIVER BAND. Birtles was instrumental in guiding the band’s career through their international chart successes which spanned from 1975 - 1983. For five consecutive years between 1977 - 1983, the band holds the distinction of scoring a Top Ten hit with songs like “Help Is On Its Way”, “Happy Anniversary”, “Reminiscing”, “Lady”, “Lonesome Loser”, “Cool Change”, “The Nightowls”, “Take It Easy On Me”, “Man On Your Mind” and “The Other Guy”. LITTLE RIVER BAND has sold close to 40 million albums worldwide. Birtles quit the band in late 1983 to pursue record production also forming his own music publishing company, SONGSKILL. Feeling he was growing stagnant by staying in Australia, he and his family moved to the United States in 1992. Settling in the Nashville area, he became reacquainted with Bill Cuomo (keyboards on LRB’s “Time Exposure” album) which led to their partnership in SONIC SORBET RECORDS, formed in October 1998. The label’s first release was Birtles’ own solo CD entitled, “Driven By Dreams” produced by Cuomo & Birtles. They have since produced two more projects for the label: “Hang On Cowboy” by Pete Benz, and “Indian Casino Royale” by Williams & Ree. Phone/Fax 1- 615-395-0040 or call us Toll Free at 1-877-395-0040. You can also visit our website at: www.sonicsorbet.com and you can email us at: sonicsorbetsales@home.com
Jan Elliott
Jan Elliott is a Lighting Designer with 25 plus years experience in the music industry. She began her career at Showco in Dallas working with such artists as, The Rolling Stones, The BeeGees, Peter Gabriel, and Jackson Browne, among others.
She also spent 10 years living in Toronto lighting film, television, fashion, and live industrial shows. While in Canada Jan met Canadian Country singer Michelle Wright in 1989. She spent the next 5 years working for Michelle as Lighting Designer, and Tour Manager.
Since coming to Nashville in 1991, Jan has toured with Highway 101, Big House, The Dixie Chicks and others. She currently is Lighting Designer for Emmylou Harris, and in her spare time works as a freelance designer for Opryland Productions. Mark Kastle, CEO Air Music.Bio coming soon! Liam Music Director/ZDTV- Bio Coming Soon!
Catherine Masters
President - Mwi, Inc. In the late 70’s and early ‘80’s, Masters was one of the top women in the sports industry. In
the 90’s, she positioned herself and used her skills to secure a solid reputation as a leader in the music
industry.
It doesn’t suprise the people that know her. She took up tennis at 30 and within three years
was ranked in the top ten in five states, owned a small chain of tennis stores and began working on
the famed Virginia Slims Tennis Circuit as a scout/liaison for Head Racquets. In this position she
traveled to all of the major pro tennis events worldwide including the U.S. Open and Wimbledon.
She also worked as a marketing consultant for the Sporting Goods Manufacturer’s
Association where she was responsible for bringing in buyers to both the New York and Atlanta
international sporting goods trade shows. Her efforts brought in more than 62,000 buyers from 53
countries.
After leaving the sports industry, Masters opened a video and TV production company which
produced TV commercials and sports series for national distribution on cable. Her series, “Inside
Golf” and “Tennis Anyone” were broadcast to more than 10 million homes.
Masters came into the music industry in 1994 is the CEO of MWI, an entertainment marketing
company based in Nashville, Tennessee. Opened in 1993, MWI offers it’s clients a variety of services
including: public relations (both national and tour), radio promotion and marketing for bands, TV
commercial placement, TV production, special event coordination and casting services for film, video
and TV projects.
In addition to the above named services, MWI hosts and coordinates the INDIE MUSIC WEEK conferences and showcases each year. At these events, Masters works with a variety of major corporate sponsors. She’s produced a three city tour called “Hot Music...Cool Women” for Media Play/Sam Goody’s and handled a variety of publicity and marketing/promotion clients
including the Palm Springs Suns professional baseball team, The Nashville Film Festival,
entertainment attorney, Deborah Wagnon and Blix Street recording artists, The Groobees, with lead
singer, Susan Gibson who penned the multi-mega hit, “Wide Open Spaces”. She has been written up
in Billboard Magazine numerous times and is the recipient of many awards and honors including
“Who’s Who of American Businesswomen”.
In 1998 she formed a division called MusicCine which helps connect artists and bands with
film, video and TV production companies worldwide. This service includes such well known
subscribers as Disney and the new Oxygen Network.
Born in Detroit, Michigan to a career Air Force officer, she has lived and traveled all over the
world. She attended high school in Tokyo, Japan, college at the U. of Maryland, lived in Annapolis,
Maryland sailing the Chesapeake Bay, Palm Springs, California and Boca Raton, Florida.
There’s a lot you can say about Catherine Masters. The most obvious is...Grass certainly
doesn’t grow under her feet! Tim Erwin, Executive Vice President, LiveOnTheNet.com
A leader of the Company since its inception, Tim Erwin has kept LiveOnTheNet.com on the cutting edge of its core technologies, from systems integration to the Internet. As the Company has evolved, he has played many key leadership roles ranging from directing product development and managing the firm’s sales force to overseeing efforts at opening new markets.
Mr. Erwin is greatly responsible for LiveOnTheNet’s success as a new media company and currently manages the Company’s Webcast group. He also focuses on establishing and maintaining LiveOnTheNet’s position in the entertainment industry. Tim developed procedures for and has served as Executive Producer for many of LiveOnTheNet’s cutting edge webcasts including Paul McCartney’s Standing Stone Concert at Carnegie Hall and the 1997 and 1998 CMA Award Shows. He is also widely recognized as an expert in Web-based media and is often sought to make presentations at industry events, most recently at the Real Conference, The Cutting Edge Music Conference, and at Digital Hollywood. Under Tim’s leadership, LiveOnTheNet.com has also produced events including career revival webcasts of premiere groups such as Kansas, the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Bad Company and The Band; two Democratic National Conventions; The 53rd Cannes Film Festival; Christian rock artists Third Day, Big Tent Revival, NewSong, Clay Crosse, and Burlap to Cashmere; Warner Music Group’s MusicFest ‘98 which featured 30 of Warner’s top-name groups in virtually every musical genre; hot country acts such as Neil McCoy, Marty Stuart, Tracy Lawrence and others; TBS NASCAR racing; and Hank Aaron's Home Run 25th Anniversary among many others. During the Company’s period as a computer systems integrator, Tim was instrumental in developing business opportunities in the former Soviet Union. These efforts culminated in the award of a contract to provide computers and numerous local area networks for over 2000 factories under the control of the Electronics Ministry for the Soviet Union.As Intergraph’s National Logistics Manager from 1980-1984, Tim was one of Intergraph’s youngest members of its management team. He was responsible for 30 domestic and 12 international product support offices. As an Auburn University graduate in Industrial Management, Tim also served as a Material Planner for NASA Space Shuttle flights in the late 1970’s.
Jonell Polansky
Her interest in technology and music lead Jonell to the recording studio where she studied studio engineering in the San Francisco Bay Area. While playing Bass in various bands and computer consulting, she began doing more recording studio engineering. Working as an engineer and musician led her to begin producing and arranging projects. For five years Jonell was a sought after engineer/producer specializing in original music. She also had the opportunity to record and produce Jazz, Blues, Pop, Rock and Ethnic music genres. Moving to Nashville five years ago was the logical step for her to continue pursuing her interests in Artist Development, Production of Pop, Rock and Country music. Since she has been in Nashville, she has installed a twenty four track digital recording studio and established Da Capo Music, a Music Production Company. During her time in Nashville, Jonell has distinguished herself in several arenas of the music business. She was the first producer in Nashville to utilize the 24 bit recording technology in conjunction with the all digital facility at Ocean Way Recording Nashville. Her recordings presented to major record labels have resulted in significant interest: most recently two acts that are currently being considered for Major Label recording contracts. She is presently working with several Acts that will be presented for Record Label consideration or independent release, employs a Production Coordinator and maintains publishing interests in several catalogs.