Originally from Youngstown, Ohio, form a musical family; I began playing the piano at the age of 4. With the assistance of my mother (a gospel pianist and choir director), I started performing at the age of 9, professionally playing the piano (getting paid) by the age of 11. I was known as “Little Karl Cousinâ€, my destination had been set. By the age of 14, I was doing the singing group thing. I had been a member the top acts performing in our city. Our training consisted of performing as the opening act at “Reeds Arena†and “The Casablanca†for everyone from the Temptations, Four Tops, Delfonics, The O’Jays, Sly Stone, George Clinton, The Supremes and Ike and Tine Turner. We learned from the very best in the industry. If they were off by one beat we would upstage the best. . . . .
I left town and went out on my 1st real road tour (6 years) with a group called “Baby Brother Bandâ€. This was one of the tightest units I had ever worked with. (Art Williams; lead vocals, Ronald Hardy; vocals, percussion and choreography, Rick Ward; guitar, vocals, Gary Strothers; guitar, vocals, Jamie McNeal; bass, vocals and myself Karl Cousin; keyboards, vocals) We moved to Huntsville, Ala where we met our new manager, Ed Franklin (formerly of the New Birth), he introduced us to Rick Hall, Fame Studio, Muscle Schoals, Ala. This is where my training as a producer and engineer really started, under the thumb of Rick Hall. He got us our 1st deal with Atlantic / Cotillion Records, with a Mr. Henry Allen. During this period I spent a great deal of time and established a still lasting friendship with Felton Pilate (Con Fun Shun) learning writing techniques and playing with this new thing called MIDI. During this and era I toured alongside Maze, The Barkays, SOS, Anita Baker, The O’Jays, Grand Master Flash, Lakeside, The Commodores, Brick and the list goes on. . . . .Upon returning to Youngstown, I started my first studio. My business partner, a high school friend, James Kennedy loaned me a keyboard; Tim Scanga loaned a four track recorder, we bought a drum machine the 1st studio was born (3rd Floor Works) in the attic of my fathers house. There after I opened the 1st computer based recording studio in Youngstown. Over the next 8 year I built 2 more studios in Youngstown and became one of the main players in our area as a keyboardist, producer, engineer and studio owner. Over the years we developed many quality artists in the area. In ’92, I moved to Tupelo, Ms and built the 1st Black owned and operated studio ever in the area “(DigitalcousticZ Studio and Allie Katz Productions)â€. In the next year my reputation as a keyboardist and producer had reached Miami and I was traveling back forth regularly. By ’95, I had relocated again, to Miami, Fl where I was introduce to my new mentor Noel “King Sporty†Williams (writer of Buffalo Soldier, Bob Marley). I worked with various record companies in the area doing everything from in-store promotion, street promotion, college radio, national radio promotion, setting up distribution deals as well as producing. My background allowed me to work closely with allot of the independent and major recording companies. . . .
The following is a list of some of the projects and people I have produced during my years in Miami, Florida: . . . . .
Bone, Thugs n’ Harmony, (multi-platinum artist), Mo Thug Family Scriptures Chapter II "Family Reunion" featuring Krayzie, Layzie, Wish and Flesh of Bone, Thugs n Harmony/ hit singles/ "All Good" and "Ghetto Cowboyâ€, (engineered, tracked all music, vocals and co-produced 4 cuts), multi-platinum artist “The 2 Live Crewâ€, Betty Wright, Evander Holifield, multi-platinum artist “Raekwon†(Wu Tang), multi-platinum artist “Inner Circle†(Bad Boy, theme from Cops ), King Sporty (writer of Buffalo Soldier, Bob Marley), Bunny Wailer (Bob Marley and the Melody Makers) KC and the Sunshine Band, JT Money's ( featuring Krayzie Bone), 3Re The Hard a Way (WEA artist), NAT0, Disco Rick ( the Doggs ), Freak Nasty, DJ Kalid, The Joker, Honoreble, The Gubba Boyz, No Good But So Good, Nehemiah (Bahamas), Mindblowin Production, Boss Player Production, The League f (Baby Girl, Young Quest and Big Bo Dega), The Big Bossman and a host of upcoming new acts. I’ve worked as engineer, producer at the best recording facilities in Miami, Audio Vision Studio (48trk Otari RADAR, SSL G+), Circle House Studio (24trk Otari RADAR), Miracle on 38th Street, and The Studio Center (48trk 2", SSL). I've also recorded the big band jazz artist Duffy Jackson (27 piece orchestra), Joe Donato and Pete Minger. . . . .After 15 years in Miami I moved to Las Vegas, NV where I got a chance to work in some of the most famous casinos in the world. Two years of the bright lights and casinos, I was ready for a change. HERE I am today, in Beijing, China, you catch me gigging at The CJW Club.
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