Welcome to MONSTER TRACKS eNOTES, the fast and easy way to get "tuned in" to the latest in original music production at Baker Sound Studios.
May 10, 2007
OUR 20th ANNIVERSARY MOTHER-OF-ALL-NEWSLETTERS NEWSLETTER
It’s been almost a year since our last edition of eNotes (sorry, but we’ve been too busy to produce a newsletter)! Things remain busy here, but with our 20th anniversary coming up next month, and with lots of exciting projects to tell you about (including the premiere of the film Revelation), we couldn’t put it off any longer.
IN OTHER NEWS…
Next month marks the 20th anniversary of MONSTER TRACKS Original Music, and we’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all of the clients, agencies, producers, and directors who have made it possible for us to do what we love. From Principal Composer & Music Director Chuck Butler, to the staff at Baker Sound, to the many talented musicians who have been part of our productions, we offer a most sincere thank you.
For those who may not be aware of our origins, MONSTER TRACKS began when composer Chuck Butler, fresh out of Berklee College of Music, met with writer/producer/radio personality Gene Shay at Baker Sound in June of 1987. Gene introduced Chuck to (then Baker Sound Studios owner) Gary Moskowitz, and the three agreed that an original music production division was a logical extension of Baker’s services.
Former Philadelphia radio personality and ad agency president Peter Tilden (now working in LA) was the first to give MONSTER TRACKS a chance, producing a jingle for Wick’s Ski and Sport (Feel the Difference at Wick’s). Peter also brought in our first national account, Fashion Bug (Styles to Fit Every You). Another early supporter was Philadelphia advertising legend Allan Kalish, who gave us the opportunity to work on high-profile regional accounts including I Goldberg (I Got It!—I Goldberg). That jingle aired between 1987-1990, featured lyrics by Gene Shay, and marked Chuck’s only lead vocal performance ever on one of his productions! Former Kalish & Rice partner Howard Rice also provided early opportunities and advice. Thanks also go to producer/writer Tom Hemphill, formerly with Earl Palmer Brown and currently with Red Dot Radio. With Tom’s help we built a strong relationship with EPB, and many EPB alumni number among our best clients to this day. And we certainly owe a debt of gratitude to other early and long-time supporters of MONSTER TRACKS like Dave Blazek of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Ron Cohen of Out of the Blue Productions, as well as directors Chris Mottola of CMI and Mark Moskowitz of The Campaign Group, who introduced us to the world of political advertising.
Most of all, it was the vision and support of Gary Moskowitz that allowed MONSTER TRACKS to succeed. Gary invested an enormous amount of time, money, and energy in Baker’s music division, and his friendship was a constant through the years. Finally, no music would have been possible without the many talented performers who have brought their talents to MONSTER TRACKS productions over the years, including singers Denise NeJame, Gina Catinella, Patty Balbo, Yvette Myles, Chet Brown, Bugsy, Paul Jost, and Byron Smith, and musicians including Ron Kerber, Rick Kerber (who we lost to cancer in 1999), Dennis Wasko, Tony Pirollo, and most importantly, guitarist and collaborator Jeff Kay. Thanks to all those who have made MONSTER TRACKS possible!
For our 20th anniversary we’ve produced a new DVD demo reel for MONSTER TRACKS. This reel has been updated with recent advertising, film, and corporate work, and includes a Special Features section that includes a short film on Chuck’s background, and featurettes on some of MONSTER TRACKS productions. The package also includes a new Audio CD focusing on jingle work, scoring for radio productions, and corporate songwriting projects. The new reel is available now: call Ellen Kancher at Baker Sound (215-567-0400), or email Chuck to request your free copy!
In the fall of 2006, director Mike Giletto of Siberian Productions approached us to score the independent feature Revelation. This film was shot in and around Philadelphia, with a cast consisting entirely of local talent. In this mind-bending psychological thriller, co-writer Andy LaQuintano stars as Dr. Peter Maxwell, a psychologist who struggles with drug and alcohol abuse as he attempts to cope with the death of his wife. “It’s tremendous to have an opportunity to stretch out musically,” comments composer Chuck Butler. “The emotional themes of the film allowed me to incorporate sound design and contemporary rock elements, along with traditional orchestration in creating the score. It’s a fun ride, and I think a remarkable achievement in guerilla-style filmmaking.”
The film premieres at International House on Monday, May 14th at 7pm. This screening is sold out, but we’ll update you as other dates are announced. The film will appear in various film festivals throughout the year in anticipation of an eventual DVD release.
Recent MONSTER TRACKS ad work includes a spot for Thomas Jefferson University Hospital featuring the Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. This spot combines the now-familiar musical themes that Chuck composed for Jefferson with sound design elements reflecting Trotter’s tough workouts in the gym. The spot was created by Caspari McCormick, and edited and mixed at NFL Films with Pat Cannon producing. Taking a different approach with a healthcare provider, LevLane Advertising produced a series of spots for Kennedy Health System in New Jersey. The spots feature a fun and distinctive music score, with acoustic guitar and piano themes supported by a rhythm track comprised entirely of percussion sounds created by the human voice. Other recent TV spots include scores for Siemens Hearing Aids produced by Mangos, an anti-smoking campaign for the State of Pennsylvania for Brown Partners, and music-driven spots for The Scooter Store by iBox Films. In political advertising, you may have noticed MONSTER TRACKS music last year on spots for Governor Rendell, and we are currently working on Councilman Mike Nutter’s bid for the Democratic nomination for Mayor of Philadelphia.
For those of you who are using your DVR to skip ads (shame on you), there’s still plenty of MONSTER TRACKS music for you to catch! For example, we created the theme and incidental music for the PBS series Healthy Flavors with Chef Jim Coleman, which airs nationally on PBS and CN8, and can currently be seen in the Philadelphia market on WHYY TV12, Saturdays at 1pm. Our music has also been featured regularly on shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Wedding Story and Dating Story on The Learning Channel, Top Ten Travel, World’s Best, and Food Crazy on The Travel Channel, Primetime Glick on Comedy Central, and Zoom on PBS.
