News
Lauren Sheehan: "Rose City Ramble" CD
Lauren’s new CD, “Rose City Ramble,” recorded in 2010, takes another step forward and is a wonderful collection of blues, ballads, country and new folk. It also features a compelling live track from her concert at the 2009 The Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival.
Lauren’s strong voice and guitar playing are joined, on different tracks, by some of her favorite Portland musicians: Terry Robb, Johnnie Ward, Dean Meuller, Greg Clarke, Laura Quigley, Betsy Branch, Elizabeth Nicholson, Michael Ballash and Zoe Carpenter. Release parties will be in April, 2011 followed by touring.
Her website is: LaurenSheehanMusic.com
David Rovics with Big Red Rhythm
Political singer-songwriter David Rovics spent most of February recording his new CD titled “Big Red Sessions.” You can download the project and read liner notes at Big Red Sessions Liner Notes
We brought in Big Red Rhythm as well as Nick Angelo and Tim Murphy on electric guitars.
Click here for D. Rovics: “Tunisia” MP3
Photo: Nick Angelo, Arcellus Sykes, Demitrius Keller and David Rovics
How to Be Famous! Part 1
Want to be famous? It’s easy—to be famous, USE only ONE NAME!
It has worked well for Sting, Bono, and those below.
| Name | Notoriety | *Real Name |
| Gaga (Lady) | Singer-Fashionista | Stefani Joanne Germanotta |
| Fabio | drum and bass DJ | Fitzroy Heslop |
| Byork | Islandic Singer | Björk Guðmundsdóttir |
| Plato | Philosopher | * |
| Gabriel | Gatekeeper | Angel Gabriel |
| Nero | Fiddler | Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus AKA Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus |
| Socrates | History Teacher | * |
| Paul, Mark, Et Al | Saint, Disciple | * |
| Madonna | Singer | Madonna Ciccone |
| Cher | Singer/Actress | Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPierre |
| Enya | Singer | Eithne Patricia Ní Bhraonáin |
| Sting | Singer | Gordon Sumner |
| Bono | Singer/U2 | Paul Hewson |
| Morris | Advertising | Morris Cat |
| Tut | King Of Egypt | Tutankhamen |
| T (Mr.) | Wrestler, Actor | Laurence Tureaud |
| Dumbo | Elephant | * |
| Zeus, Apollo, Athena, et al | Greek Gods | Pallas Athena |
| Jesus | Son Of God | * |
| Shankar | Musician/Violin | Lakshminorayana |
| George (Boy) | Culture Club | George Alan O’dowd |
| Yanni | Musician | Yiannis Chrysomallis |
| Slash | Guitar/Guns’n Roses | Saul Hudson |
| Donovan | Singer | Philips Leitch |
| Gallagher | Comedian | Leo Anthony Gallagher |
| Tonto | Sidekick/Lone Ranger | * |
| Thuycides | * | No One Can Remember |
| Superman, Spiderman, Ironman, Mighty-Mouse, Et Al | Super Heroes | Clark Kent, Peter Parker, Tony Stark |
| Lulu | Singer | Marie McDonald McLaughlin Lawrie |
| Liberace | Flaming Pianist | Wladziu Valentino Liberace |
| Hammer | Rapper | Mc Hammer |
| Vangelis | Musician | Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou |
| Barney | Reincarnations Of | * |
| Lucifer | Satan | * |
| Dracula | Count, of Transylvania | * |
| Goofy | Goofiness | * |
| Casper | Being Friendly | The Ghost |
| Piggy, Kermit, et al | Sesame Street | * |
| Prince | Singer | Prince Rogers Nelson |
| Popeye | Spinach Advocate | * |
| Bozo | Clown | * |
| Dante | Author | Dante Aligheri |
| Babe | That’ll Do | * |
How to be Famous: Part 2
Do you REALLY want to be Famous? It’s easy: — USE TWO (or more) FIRST NAMES!
It has worked well for those below.
| Name | Notoriety | *Real Name? |
| Steve Allen | Tv Personality | * |
| Woody Allen | Director, Writer, Actor | Allan Stewart Konigsberg |
| Tori Amos | Singer/Songwriter | Myra Ellen Amos |
| Eddie Arnold | Actor | * |
| Rosanne Arnold | Tv | * |
| Tom Arnold | Tv | * |
| Benidict Arnold | Traitor | * |
| Mohammed Ali | Boxer | * |
| William Blake | Writer | * |
| Jack Bruce | Musician (Cream) | * |
| Lenny Bruce | Comedian, Satirist | Leonard Alfred Schneider |
| John Candy | Actor | * |
| Juius & All Caesars | Roman Caesars | * |
| Sean Cassidy | Canadian Illustrator | * |
| Sean Cassidy | Male Stripper | * |
| Shaun Cassidy | Writer/Actor/Producer | * |
| Ray Charles | Musician | Ray Charles Robinson |
| Dick Clark | First Dj | * |
| Montgomery Clift | Stage/Film Actor | * |
| Jamie Lee Curtis | Actress | * |
| Tony Curtis | Actor | * |
| James Dean | Actor | * |
| Michael/Kirk Douglas | Actors | * |
| Bob Dylan | Singer/Songwriter | Robert Allen Zimmerman |
| Blake Edwards | Producer | * |
| Percy Faith | Orchestra Leader | * |
| Whitaker Forest | Actor | * |
| Anne Frank | Diary | * |
| Ben Franklin | Statesman, Patriot | * |
| Peter Gabriel | Singer/Musician | * |
| Carey Grant | Actor | * |
| Hugh Grant | Actor | * |
| Ulysses S. Grant | 18Th Us President | * |
| Paul Harvey | Radio Commentator | * |
| Peewee Herman | Adventures | * |
| Woody Herman | Big Band Leader | * |
| Buddy Holly | 50’S Rocker | * |
| Bob Hope | Comedian | * |
| Washington Irving | Author | * |
| Michael Jackson | Pop Star | * |
| Harry James | Trumpeter, Band Leader | * |
| Jessie James | Outlaw | * |
| Henry James | 19Th Cent. Author | * |
| Et Al James | * | * |
| Jerome Jerome | English Author | * |
| Billy Joel | Pop Singer | * |
| Elton John | Pop Singer | * |
| James Joyce | Irish Author | * |
| David Kelley | Tv Writer/Producer | * |
| All The Kennedys | Politicians | * |
| Clark Kent | Superman | * |
| Vacslav Klaus | President Czech Rep. | * |
| Bruce Lee | Kung Fu Actor | * |
| Peggy Lee | Singer | Norma Deloris Egstrom |
| Robert E. Lee | General | * |
| Other Lees | * | * |
| Huey Lewis | Rock Musician | Hugh Anthony Cregg II |
| Jerry Lewis | Comic Actor | Joseph Levitch |
| Juliet Lewis | Tv Producer | * |
| Juliette Lewis | Rock Singer | * |
| Richard Lewis (1) | Politician | * |
| Richard Lewis (2) | Bishop | * |
| Richard Lewis (3) | Comedian | * |
| Richard Lewis (4) | Baseball Player | * |
| Richard Lewis (5) | Tenor | * |
| Richard Lewis (6) | Musician “Cass” | * |
| Richard Lewis (7) | Welsh Martyr | * |
| Richard Lewis (8) | Literary Critic | * |
| Sherri Lewis | “Lamb Chop” Ventriloq. | * |
| Et Al Lewis | * | * |
| Richard Little | Comedian | * |
| Little Richard | Wild Man Rock N’ Roll | Richard Wayne Penniman |
| Christopher Lloyd | Character Actor | * |
| Harold Lloyd | Silent Film Star | |
| Martin Luther | Early Protestor | * |
| Marky Mark | Musician/Actor | Mark Wahlberg |
| Dean Martin | Crooner | Dino Paul Crocetti |
| Mary Martin | Actress | * |
| Steve Martin | Actor | * |
| Et Al Martins | * | * |
| James Mason | English Actor | * |
| Perry Mason | Lawyer | * |
| James Maxwell (1) | Scottish Math/Physics | * |
| James Maxwell (2) | Tv Actor | * |
| George Michael | Pop Singer | Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou |
| George Mitchell (1-12) | See En.Wikipedia.Org | * |
| Elizabeth Montgomery | Actress | * |
| Philip Morris | Smoker | * |
| Sam Neil | Actor | * |
| Peter Parker | Spiderman | * |
| Jason Patric | Actor | * |
| Sandi Patty | Christian Singer | * |
| Simon Peter | Apostle, Fisherman | * |
| Sally Jesse Rafael | Tv Talk Show | * |
| James Earl Ray | King Assassin | * |
| Man Ray | Photographer | * |
| Pat Riley | Basketball Coach | * |
| Lionel Richie | R&B Singer | * |
| Christopher Robin | Winnie The Pooh | * |
| Axl Rose | Bassist, Guns N’ Roses | William Bruce Rose Jr. |
| Diana Ross | Singer | |
| Bertrand Russel | Writer, Philosopher | |
| Babe Ruth | Baseball Player | |
| Walter Scott (1) | Novelist, Poet | |
| Walter Scott (2) | Singer | |
| Molly Shannon | Snl | |
| Carly Simon | Singer | |
| Paul Simon | Singer/Songwriter | |
| Sirhan Sirhan | Kennedy Assassin | |
| Elizabeth Taylor | Actress | |
| James Taylor | Singer | |
| Mick Taylor | Guitarist, R. Stones | |
| Zachary Taylor | 12Th Us President | |
| Tiny Tim (1) | Character Fr. Dickens | |
| Tiny Tim (2) | Musician | Herbert Khaury |
| Clarence Thomas | Supreme Ct. Justice | |
| Dylan Thomas | Poet | |
| Sophie Tucker | Singer, Comedian | Sophia Kalish |
| Tanya Tucker | C/W Singer | |
| George Washington | 1St Us President | * |
Jimmy Free and his 7-string violin
Jimmy Free creates dynamic spontaneous compositions with live looping of a custom-made 7 string violin.
He recorded his fourth CD, “Where Saints and Angels Tread,” at Big Red in December of 2010. Compelling stuff.
Cary Ray took this video of Jimmy Free playing and singing the lead-off track. Jimmy Free on YouTube
The March, 2011 release will include a DVD of Jimmy playing in nature.
His website: Jimmy Free
2010 Projects at Big Red Studio
It was a busy year 2010 at Big Red!
• Eclectic folk-fusion ensemble Kendálin recorded their debut CD “Opening” Great original instrumentals! Kendalin
• Caleb Klauder’s new CD “Western Country,” CalebKlauder was recorded live in Spring, 2010 (with no separation, overdubs or headphones!) is presently #5 and climbing on the Roots Music Report.
• Amazing Irish Fiddler Brongaene Griffin just released “Three Colours Ginger” , Brongaene Griffin features fiddling and poetry readings by Kevin Burke, guitar wizardry by Gerry O’Beirne, and contributions from several others.
• The modern bluegrass trio Wayward Vessel Wayward Vessel recorded their self titled CD at Big Red and are gigging regularly.
• Gypsy balladeer Spruce Baugher recorded and released his solo CD: “Ruby.”
• New Orleans Singer-Songwriter Jessey Lee Young, with Demy Andre, created a wonderful EP: “Sapphire Sky.” He made an iphone video looking out the studio windows while recording. You can see it and hear the tracks under The “Sapphire Sky Sessions” at: Jesse Lee Young-The Duo
• Flatpicking legend Dan Crary was in for a few sessions working on two projects for 2011 releases.
• Mistral, a multi-instrumental Portland-based trio plays and sings music from Breton, France featuring octave mandolin, guitar, hurdy-gurdy, accordian, fiddle, & more! Their just released CD: “Promontory” has the COOLEST, elegant graphics you’ll ever see, and as you open it up you’ll find that it is packaged in a brown paper lunch bag! Genius. Check them out at: Mistral website
•Singer-songwriters Rodolfo Lopez and Stella Garcia recorded their epic CD: “Brille Tu Luz” with full orchestral arrangements. We had a great time recording 10-piece string sections, 12-voice choirs, brass, guitars, vihuelas, and even concert harp. Some of the songs ran into 40+ tracks so the mixing was really fun.
• Jazz piano great Gordon Lee recorded his unique and original “This Path” CD on OA2 Records with an all-star cast including two different rhythm sections: One with Dave Captein on bass & Carlton Jackson on drums, and the other with Kevin Deitz on bass, and Ron Steen on drums. It also has a duo cut with Cuban cajon master Miguel Bernal.
•Tortune, a very talented Dad/daughter Duo won a day of recording at Big Red Studio by rising above the competition at the Thirsty Lion singer-songwriter showcase. And recorded some memorable tracks. Thirsty Lion Singer-Songwriter showcase
Philip Glass "Orphee" recorded by Billy Oskay
Portland Opera’s Nov. 2009 production of “Orphee” by Philip Glass was recorded live by Billy Oskay and staff from Big Red Studio.
It was released June 30, 2010 and has received great reviews in the NY Times and elsewhere.
Anne Weiss CD release
Nick Moon and Big Red’s Billy Oskay were happy to attend Anne Weiss’s CD release concert, performed to a sold out audience April 26th at Portland’s Clinton Street Theater. She gathered almost all the musicians who played on her project and it was wonderful to hear the arrangements (carefully brought to focus in the studio) come alive!
Check out Anne’s website at: AnneWeiss.com
Tom May and Blue Roads Red Wine CD
Tom May worked over the Winter with Billy Oskay at Big Red, recording, mixing and mastering his 13th CD (second at Big Red): “Blue Roads Red Wine.”
We usually do not profile artists who record at Big Red, but singer-songwriter Tom May is such an amazing human being that we felt compelled here to tell a bit about him.
Tom May, in addition to being a fine musician, is a radio personality, a writer, and a concert promoter. He is a gracious, caring person who treats all he meets with warmth and humor.
For over 20 years Tom has hosted the radio show “River City Folk” which is broadcast weekly to over 200 stations on the WFMT Fine Arts Radio Network.
Tom also created and promoted Winterfolk, one of the Northwest’s premier concerts that each year brings together some of the finest musicians from the folk tradition to raise money to support “Sisters of the Road Cafe.” Sisters of the Road Cafe.
Fall-Winter 2008 at Big Red
Days grow shorter and the fog rolls in as Big Red stays busy tracking and mixing projects for Anne Weiss, HannaH’s Field, Tom May, Brian Hall, Rudy Lopez and OCP, Cam Newton, Philip Boulding, Johnny Martin, Shoehorn and Jody Peterson.
Clients often take breaks to enjoy the sights from the hill behind Big Red Studio and frequently see deer right outside the windows while recording.
Top photo: Sunrise at Mt. Hood as seen from hill behind Big Red
Foggy morn looking south from Big Red campus
Doe with her yearlings in the rain
“One of my fave places in the world to record!”
Bob Stark
Producer / Recordist / Mixer (Universal, Sony, Windham Hill, Everclear, Esperanza Spalding + many others)
“Thank you for your patience, great ears & hard work! Look forward to the next time.”
Enion Pelta
“It is always a good time, capturing sound in a place that is so Amazing.”
Linda Vigil
“Hey! Awesome sounds, great feeling recording at your wonderful facility!”
Graham Lear
“This place is a temple for music. Thank you.”
Belinda (Beliss) Underwood
“Thank you for your sensitivity and good sound. Great studio!”
Airto Moreira
“We are all smiling!! Amazing work, you are a genius.”
Pam Boulding
“Billy Oskay you are truly one of the finest producers of acoustic music there is.”
John Doan
“Unf***ing believable microphones! Thanks for the vibe, the sound, the great room & your ears”
Tom Bergeron
“Billy, you are a fine master of your art and it is a pleasure working with you.”
James Whiton
