Hello! My name is Joel S. Turtle. Born and raised in New York City, and a product of the 60's; the baby boomers; free love; and free spirits.
After graduating from American University (B.S. Business Administration) and George Washington University Law School (Juris Doctor), my college buddy enticed me to move from New York to Los Angeles to get into the music business. I took the California Bar Exam and started work as a Los Angeles entertainment attorney. My firm represented film, television and music clients. I worked for the senior litigation partner, representing major Record Companies, Recording Artists, Film Studios, Actors, Directors, Writers, Producers, Agents, Managers, among others.
My college buddy moved to Berkeley, California and after a short while we started Beserkley Records "The Home of the Hits," and signed bands from the local scene ("Earth Quake" and the "Rubinoos") and from the east coast (Greg Kihn/Baltimore; Jonathan Richman/Boston: and "the Modern Lovers"/Boston).
While an L.A. entertainment attorney, i represented (and was a corporate officer of) a famous backgammon club (PIPS), whose chairman of the Board was Hugh Hefner and whose President was the Playboy President (Yes we had our meetings at the Playboy mansion). As a result we were able to ink a distribution deal with Playboy/Columbia. Beserkely Records was a successful eclectic pop punk rock label with offices in Berkeley, California and London UK and a distribution/publishing network around the world.
After Beserkeley Records I started Riot Media/Management with promotion man extraordinaire, Ralph Tashjian. Riot is in current operation as a partnership with my son Skyler Turtle, in Berkeley California. Riot manages a few artists (Greg Kihn [Band]; Ry Kihn; Jay Gordon [Orgy]; among others. We also own and/or administer various publishing companies and a multitude of master recordings.
Along the way I've been an attorney, manager, producer, executive producer, publisher, administrator, trustee, professor (UC Berkeley, and San Francisco State University), husband and father. Every day is a new adventure. I love it!
Currently, Greg Kihn and I are partners in syndicating "The Greg Kihn Show,"a national radio show by Standard Amerikihn Broadcasting, distributed through Jones Radio Network. First air date is February 4, 2008 (Greg has a morning drive time radio show on kfox san jose/san francisco - clear channel).
Concurrently greg and I are working on a major project in the Livermore Valley, California. Amerikihn Wine and Brew is slated to open in 2010. It will be comprised of a winery, brewery, event center, restaurant, tasting rooms, vip private club for wine and cigar lounges and storage, radio studio for the nationally syndicated radio show, live studio, wedding chapel and 1500 seat amphitheater.
