BRIAN'S FAVORITE LINK
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From the first note at the Hartford Civic Center Stage in the early 70’s, sharing the bill with Don McLean you knew Brian MacDonald was ready for the big bang. Soon after appearing with the likes of James Taylor, Southside Johnny, James Montgomery, Ben E. King, Al Anderson and countless others, Brian was poised for a successful career.
Through a career which has included, music for the Planet of the Apes television show, singing jingles for Mattel Hot Wheels or Weebles, music supervisor for a Smokin Joe Frazier record, co-producer for Jazz legend Larry Young, to performing his own music for over the past 25 years, Brian has kept the dream alive.
Keeping the dream alive is what Brian is all about. Having played 200 nights a year, for 25 years, while writing a steady stream of original music, Brian is now ready for the next chapter in his career. " I see it differently than I did when I was younger. I didn’t partake in the deal America was offering. I didn’t do the day job thing and pursue my dream some other time. I lived and played it everyday and never let the dream freeze."
The drive instilled within him gave him the conviction his time would come.
It was Brian’s father, Jim, that first sparked the interest in music in the first place. There was a set of drums in the basement, remnants from the 40’s jazz band that Jim played in. It was there in the basement where the dream may have started.
While working on the music tracks for the Pistol Pete Marovich film, Pistol, Brian started to collaborate with Grammy Award winning producer Rick Jarrard ( Jefferson Airplanes, Michael MacDonald, Jose Feliciano.) At the time Jarrard and Brian talked about recording at Jarrard’s studio ranch in Granada Hills, California. The session’s that were about to unfold would change Brian forever. Brian was focused on recording his music and refining the message, and producer Jarrard was focused on recording Brian’s music and capturing the soul as well as the story. Several tracks were recorded over 3 months resulting in a style that put Brian’s story telling ability in the forefront. Each song had its own story to tell and Brian’s experience forever changed him.
" If you don’t grow over the years what your're left with is nostalgia. You can be successful as an artist in two ways, you can jump on a trend or fad and hope it sticks, or you do what you do naturally and hope it becomes a trend. I really think I have something that is worth people’s time right now. When the spotlight comes around I know what I’m doing is honest and soulful. This is who I am, I seem to have a common story that reaches that place in someone’s heart through what I do." MacDonald explains.
"At the time this record was being made no one was listening, no one cared, this is how I sound, lets’ record it that way we want instead of sounding like something else."
Longtime friend and keyboardist Bruce MacPherson helped out by offering a state of the art New York City based recording facility and co-produced the remaining tracks. "With Bruce’s help we were able to keep the high standards set by Rick Jarrard on the westcoast sessions, without draining the production budget flying back and forth to LA. The record was finished in May of 2000. Midnight In Nowhere is a themed-based compilation. Each story has it’s own little message and is derived from true stories I hear all the time. This was one particular night between Midnight and 3:00 AM."
The CD was released on July 1st 2000 on an Independent label called SkyTranz Records. Since the release of the CD Midnight In Nowhere, Brian has been writing and collaborating with Rick Jarrard for the next CD entitled Heartbreak Street, which is slated for release in the summer of 2001. Brian has also been playing many venues throughout the Northeast and will play some dates later this year in the UK and possibly Belgium, France and California. " The radio airplay in Europe has been phenomenal and we are planning a short European tour." Steve Sloat, President, of SkyTranz Records.
" We are also planning to evolve the website to include movie clips, interviews, and live performances. A strong web presence is essential in achieving a worldwide fan base."
For those who have been so patient, for those who have believed, the time has come.
Through a career which has included, music for the Planet of the Apes television show, singing jingles for Mattel Hot Wheels or Weebles, music supervisor for a Smokin Joe Frazier record, co-producer for Jazz legend Larry Young, to performing his own music for over the past 25 years, Brian has kept the dream alive.
Keeping the dream alive is what Brian is all about. Having played 200 nights a year, for 25 years, while writing a steady stream of original music, Brian is now ready for the next chapter in his career. " I see it differently than I did when I was younger. I didn’t partake in the deal America was offering. I didn’t do the day job thing and pursue my dream some other time. I lived and played it everyday and never let the dream freeze."
The drive instilled within him gave him the conviction his time would come.
It was Brian’s father, Jim, that first sparked the interest in music in the first place. There was a set of drums in the basement, remnants from the 40’s jazz band that Jim played in. It was there in the basement where the dream may have started.
While working on the music tracks for the Pistol Pete Marovich film, Pistol, Brian started to collaborate with Grammy Award winning producer Rick Jarrard ( Jefferson Airplanes, Michael MacDonald, Jose Feliciano.) At the time Jarrard and Brian talked about recording at Jarrard’s studio ranch in Granada Hills, California. The session’s that were about to unfold would change Brian forever. Brian was focused on recording his music and refining the message, and producer Jarrard was focused on recording Brian’s music and capturing the soul as well as the story. Several tracks were recorded over 3 months resulting in a style that put Brian’s story telling ability in the forefront. Each song had its own story to tell and Brian’s experience forever changed him.
" If you don’t grow over the years what your're left with is nostalgia. You can be successful as an artist in two ways, you can jump on a trend or fad and hope it sticks, or you do what you do naturally and hope it becomes a trend. I really think I have something that is worth people’s time right now. When the spotlight comes around I know what I’m doing is honest and soulful. This is who I am, I seem to have a common story that reaches that place in someone’s heart through what I do." MacDonald explains.
"At the time this record was being made no one was listening, no one cared, this is how I sound, lets’ record it that way we want instead of sounding like something else."
Longtime friend and keyboardist Bruce MacPherson helped out by offering a state of the art New York City based recording facility and co-produced the remaining tracks. "With Bruce’s help we were able to keep the high standards set by Rick Jarrard on the westcoast sessions, without draining the production budget flying back and forth to LA. The record was finished in May of 2000. Midnight In Nowhere is a themed-based compilation. Each story has it’s own little message and is derived from true stories I hear all the time. This was one particular night between Midnight and 3:00 AM."
The CD was released on July 1st 2000 on an Independent label called SkyTranz Records. Since the release of the CD Midnight In Nowhere, Brian has been writing and collaborating with Rick Jarrard for the next CD entitled Heartbreak Street, which is slated for release in the summer of 2001. Brian has also been playing many venues throughout the Northeast and will play some dates later this year in the UK and possibly Belgium, France and California. " The radio airplay in Europe has been phenomenal and we are planning a short European tour." Steve Sloat, President, of SkyTranz Records.
" We are also planning to evolve the website to include movie clips, interviews, and live performances. A strong web presence is essential in achieving a worldwide fan base."
For those who have been so patient, for those who have believed, the time has come.