About Me
I have been in the music business as a musician, artist, promoter, A&R executive, artist manager, and producer/DJ for more than 20 years.It all started with the drums. I began taking lessons in 2nd grade, and by Jr. Hi I was reading/playing snare solos that I couldn't begin to play today. Moved on to piano...more specifically -synthesizers -woo!...and was the first person to bring one into the exciting realm of the High School pep-band. Rocked the massive Gym with Centerfold, by J. Geils band...something the old folks still talk about.Went on the road right out of high-school -Freedom Jam...a band from Florida. 3 shows a day for 9 months...it was Rock & Roll boot-camp! Moved to Philadelphia to play keys for Bash ‘N the Code, a ground-breaking, hit-making new wave act on Myrhh/Word Records. ...wearing make-up every day...whether there was a show or not. My heart was always drawn to LA/Hollywood...(to fulfill my rockstar dreams, of course) so ...after a short stint putting a band together back in the hometown of Indiana...we packed up the trucks (and my sweet '83 Camaro Z-28) and moved to Beverly. This time I was the front man...I say that to insinuate that I was way more the visually entertaining guy -hyping the crowd- than I was a SINGER. We came, we saw, we played all the usual dives on the Sunset strip. Fun stuff....but we were otherwise clueless.Got a call from my buddy Judson Spence, who had just signed a huge deal with Atlantic Records...and asked me to join the fun as hype-man percussionist. It was based out of Nashville, so bye-bye LA for about 13 years. (except for my many regular trips there). It was the big time...with Limo's and all. Recorded the record in LA's famous A&M studios (right after U2 finished Rattle & Hum - I have sweet memorabilia), with major players like Jeff Porcaro, Billy Preston, and Mick Jones. We had the music video AND played live on MTV several times, partied with superstars like Julian Lennon (well, he was at the time) and of course -we toured the world...and toured U.S. as the opening act for Debbie Gibson's Electric Youth tour (the equivalent of Britney....w/out all the nasty). Single broke the top 40, but it all ended about as quick as it began.Thankfully, I got picked, (along with our guitarist Will Owsley), to go do more of the same for Christian music icon, Michael W. Smith. That started a long relationship of tours and more, and sealed the deal for my Nashville residency.
Always into the funk and hip-hop junk...I was called upon to do a solo rap record for Starsong/EMI Records. The deal was we could do anything we wanted, as crazy/wierd as we could push it...and be incognito! ie: not use reveal our real names. It was produced by my old pal Brian Tankersley...oops...he wanted to remain anonymous forever. I mean -Mix Master Mighty White. I was known as The Dean. The "group" name was Say What?, and the CD was called Fresh Fish. It's no rules formula was ground-breaking for that market, and included a number 1 CCM/CHR single -"I Can Sing Higher".Continuing my sights into the secular (real) market, of course, ....I was summoned by Scott Siman (now manager of Tim McGraw) to write/record some "hit's"..."and get a deal". He hooked me up with his buddy Simon Renshaw to be my manager. I was Renshaw's first artist, his daily focus (used to drive me nuts.."Trent baby!!" ..every day) BUT...that's how he got it done. We made a video (to showcase my best assets -everything visual) and within 3 months had offers from 5 major labels. I signed with Chrysalis/EMI (then headed by John Sykes of VH1 fame), and Sony Music as a songwriter. Released a single to radio and hit a brick wall, as they say, my expensive label-made video was played on MTV, but it wasn't enough to break the nation-wide disdain for the other white rapper ---Vanilla Ice. and so...this new white rapper went away quietly. However, my manager Simon Renshaw went on to fame and fortune by managing the Dixie Chicks. wow...some chicks have all the luck.I went into a tail-spin...did another Say What? rap record for Starsong -Nuclear Fishin', then resurfaced as a club promoter. I rented a warehouse in downtown Nashville....and created the now infamous Fogg Station. Summer nights in Nashville were never cooler. Needing to be legal, and have a regular paycheck (what's that?) I parlayed into a gig as director/designer of Rocketown, (known as Michael W. Smith’s teen-club...but he'll give me credit if you ask him). It's now in it’s 12th year of operation.After a couple fun years doing random jobs (all part of the fun, for those of us in "the biz") I became A&R Director for Reunion Records/Zomba as the ONLY A&R guy at the label. whew! ....what a way to start. But now, as the guy on "the other side" of the desk...I could see things in a whole new light. Our roster included Michael W. Smith, Third Day, and my pals...the super-cool All Star United. I went to London (perc of the job) and signed one of the top-5 voted bands by Kerrang magazine -Fono. Fun with corporate downsizing ended that adventure....but I soon got a call from multi-platinum/Grammy winning producer -Mark Heimermann. To help start up, and be VP of A&R for his Gravity Records. We signed current Curb Records artist –Nate Sallie, who I discovered while rescuing a batch of music headed for the trash bin. After a couple years of great wining & dining... it all ended as many label start-ups do...but hey....we learned alot. Having experienced Nashville (and it's "bubble" qualities) to the fullest extent, we moved to Los Angeles in 2001.We arrived in LA on the eve of 9/11. Which only increased the "twilight zone" level of disarray we all felt...having uprooted the whole family to move cross-country into the madness of LA. I was managing an artist at the time who had an indie deal offer on the table. I partnered up with my old friend Dennis Rider to co-manage said artist....and see if we could get a major label deal. In little time we had a deal "hold" from A&M....which we rode out for 6 months waiting for label-head - Ron Fair to finish with Vanessa Carlton. When he finally came out of the cave...he evidently was having a bad day, and decided to nix the deal. --6 months of potential productiveness....or shopping to other interested parties...down the tubes. sweet.So...meanwhile our artist decides he wants out of the co-manage deal. So we split from Rider. And would'nt ya know...bout that time his fledging band -Evanesence takes off...to the tune of about 8 million records! Another boat missed. wow. My Re-mix production/DJ business had been bubbling under the surface....with stints on syndicated radio show -Open House Party as "DJ to the stars" (because of regular gigs as DJ for Gwen Stefani, and other Hollywood celeb's and clubs) and some charting remixes. The No Doubt single -"It's my Life" -done with my friend -supa producer -Mike Linney -climbed to 16 on Billboard Dance/club charts. Through the entire maze of schmoozing, networking, and "hyping" in the big city...I began to get clarity for my real passion. simply HELPING artists, and others who have the right heart and potential to be positive role models in music.The WAYS I began to formulate this mission was as a multi-artist live show/review -called the GreenLightGo show.
The basic concept was to get artists to work together to make the SHOW better for the audience...as opposed to self-indulging...(with only their own interests in mind). Using a big chunk of my own funding....the 27-piece cast of singers,rappers,dancers,musicians,DJ...etc. performed some mind-boggling shows in Hollywood...to some select....and very entertained audiences. We filmed it -and promptly ran out of funds. Quite the cliche' ending of most developing bright ideas.So...I set out to make GreenLightGo -the artist supporting program- a reality. This included spending time in the mighty mid-west....with big meetings and plans to raise funding through a foundation in Ohio....and more time in Indiana and Nashville...all in hopes of raising awareness....and building a team to provide solutions.Recent days are spent juggling numerous projects (everyone in LA...and/or in the biz knows what I'm talking about)...and seeking to find the holy grail of provision for the cause....TO PROVIDE SUPPORT,TRAINING,AND PRACTICAL RESOURCES FOR YOUNG ARTISTS, MUSICIANS, AND OTHERS WHO COULD IMPACT THE WORLD IN POSITIVE WAYS. GreenLightGo. We can rebuild it!!
