We are proud to announce Torae, Skyzoo and Sha Stimuli are nominated for Best Lyricist in the 2008 Underground Music Awards! To vote for them go to: http://hiphoppalace.ning.com/ The awards take place on August 10th at BB Kings in Times Square, NYC.
Rissi Palmer
Over the past year Rissi Palmer has established herself as one of country music's most promising young stars. She recently recorded her own version of "No Air," co-written by Erik"Bluetooth" Griggs, which currently holds the #52 spot on the Billboard country singles chart, rising from it's debut last week at #58. Rissi's version of "No Air," currently holds on strong at #16 on Heatseekers.
Dwele
R&B/Soul singer Dwele is releasing his new single "I'm Cheating," co- produced by Joe Archie, on Koch Records mid June.
Chalmers "Spanky" Alford
Alabama-based guitarist Chalmers "Spanky" Alford passed away on March 24, 2008. He was an extraordinarily talented and humble musician whose musical range spans many different styles from Gospel and Blues to Rock and Soul and R&B. Chalmers toured and collaborated with a slew of well-know acts including D'Angelo, Angie Stone, Eric Benet, RH Factor, Tony Toni Tone, Ali Shaheed Muhamad, and Raphael Saadiq. He also co-wrote the song "Proper Nice" on Joss Stone's album "Introducing Joss Stone" that went to Number 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart.
Chalmers "Spanky" Alford's credits include:
Angie Stone - "Bone 2 Pic With U"
Eric Benet - "Why You Follow Me"
Eric Benet - "That's Just My Way"
RH Factor - "How I Know..."
Tony Toni Tone - "Let Me Know";
Eric Benet - "Loving The Day Away"
Joss Stone - "Proper Nice"
Chalmers signed with Missing Link Music in 1997. He was a valuable member of the Missing Link Music family. He had an optimistic outlook on life and toward his music. "One of the most amazing things about 'Spanky' is how he can have a phone conversation while playing the most intricate and melodic guitar licks. Pure talent!", remembers a staff memeber.
Chalmers "Spanky" Alford was a tremendous example of a dedicated musician who was always striving to improve and never failed to impress his fellow musicians and admirers. Missing Link Music continues to celebrate Chalmers' life and legacy through his timeless music.
SCI Fidelity Records signed a deal with Missing Link Music! SCI Fidelity Records is a label based in both Boulder, CO and New York, NY that features a mind-blowing roster of artists who thrive on immense musicianship, incessant touring, and a lifelong dedication to the live music experience.
Artists on SCI Fidelity Records include The String Cheese Incident, Keller Williams, Umphrey's McGee, Railroad Earth, Tea Leaf Green, The Disco Biscuits, The Greyboy Allstars, Brothers Past, Steve Kimock Band, Kyle Hollingsworth, DJ Harry, New Monsoon, and Ben Arnold.
Mudville signed a deal with Missing Link Music. Mudville's retro-futuristic excursions are a stirring and soulful sonic brew of weighty old-school grooves, sultry avant-blues, sweeping orchestral flourishes and soaring, jazzy laments in a futuristic soundscape. The timeless yet unmistakably forward music of songwriter/vocalist Marilyn Carino and multi-instrumentalist/producer Benny Cha Cha has been hailed by Nylon as “Enchanting…a testament to the healing powers of rhythm” and called “poetic” and “other-worldly” by the New York Post.
Carino has also loaned her strange, fearless voice and "serious chops" (Time Out New York) to projects with Billy Talbot of Neil Young and Crazy Horse and Sly and Robbie. Cha Cha (aka Ben Rubin) is also acclaimed as a remixer, producing tracks for Wu-Tang Clan's Killah Priest, Brazilian Girls, Karsh Kale, Marshall Crenshaw and others.
Keith Murray signed an administration deal with Missing Link Music. Long Island-native Keith Murray collaborated with Erick Sermon (of EPMD) in 1994. The two worked on Keith's debut single, "The Most Beautifullest Thing in This World," and the song became a hit by the end of the year. After appearing on Sermon's album, "Double or Nothing," Murray released his first album in 1995, and titled it after his hit single. The album hit gold, and "It's a Beautiful Thing" followed in 1999. His next album, "He's Keith Murray," appeared in 2003 on Def Jam. He released his album Rap-Murr-Phobia on Koch.
NYC-based soul singer Stephanie McKay signed an administration deal with Missing Link Music. Stephanie is a former member of Brooklyn Funk Essentials, who has also collaborated with Tricky, Soulive, Talib Kweli, and Chocolate Genius. Stephanie McKay debuted as a solo artist with 2003's, "McKay," an album which featured Portishead members Geoff Barrow and Adrian Utley. "Tell It Like It Is," her second album, followed on the same label in early 2007.
Guitarist, bassist, and vocalist Pete Francis signed a deal with Missing Link Music. He was one-third of the group Dispatch. Between 1995 and 2001, Dispatch put out five releases and toured the East Coast and Midwest, regularly sold out shows (Dispatch recently became the first independent band to headline and sell out three nights at Madison Square Garden), and developed a strong following. After six-odd years of touring, the group decided to take an extended hiatus and Pete Francis seized the opportunity by cutting his first solo record, "Untold," which received positive reviews in 2003.
Pete and J signed a deal with Missing Link Music! Pete and J have performed in the UK, including all corners of the U.S. from Philadelphia to San Francisco. They perform regularly in NYC (The Living Room, Cutting Room, Knitting Factory). "Drawing regular comparisons to Simon & Garfunkel, but rising well above simply sounding like someone else, Pete and J are seasoned live performers, consummate entertainers, and offer a simple but unique twist that somehow bridges young and old, shy and wild." (Chesire FM, during latest 15-show UK Tour)
Songwriter and composer Bernard Fowler signed an administration deal with Missing Link Music. Fowler's experience has spanned all genres of music ranging from Gospel, Rock, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, Funk to Latin. He has appeared on tours and albums, singing and displaying his versatile and eclectic talents with some of the best-known artists of the 20th Century: The Rolling Stones, Herbie Hancock, Bootsy Collins, Sly & Robbie, Gil Scott Heron, Herb Alpert, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Material, Tackhead, Nicklebag, as well as his own Peech Boys, and many others!
