|
|
|
|
Keith Stewart, Dick Fowler and the close friends and associates; |
|
|
 |
| KC Lee, Marshell Titus, Dick Fowler, Mistah LLou Johnson, Keith Stewart, Dean Williams, and Marzette Griffith |
|
Songwriter/Producers Burton "Dick" Fowler and Keith Stewart have been involved in the music industry for over 30 years drawing on their respective skills as singers, writers, arrangers, and producers for countless musical endeavors in the business. Always in demand because of their versatility, the duo has recently been climbing the ladder of "hot producers" for the last several years attesting to their abilities as session singers, outstanding songwriters, and more recently their smooth yet commercially accessible production style.
Reared on the music of the 60’s and 70's, Fowler and Stewart met during
the late 70's when both were members of rival singing groups in Chicago.
Years later after both groups had run their course the singers turned their
sights on staying in the music business by writing songs. Having
already done several songs for their respective groups, the two bonded
quickly and began a collaboration in 1985 that has lasted to date. The
twosome has written for a variety of acts both new and old over the past
two decades with varying degrees of success. Additionally, the technological
explosion of the last 2 decades has not been lost on the duo either. Both
individuals are adroit in the current technological advances and the two
have developed and maintained recording studios over the years in their
hometown of Chicago.
|
| Currently, the duo is developing new talent for their independent label DaMan Records. In 2003, the pair released their first gospel artist Jesse Dean Stanford on DaMan Records to favorable reviews, and they expect to release another CD on him in early 2005. Fowler and Stewart welcome the opportunity write for established artists or produce new talent at whatever occasion presents. |
|
 |
|
|
|
Interview with Keith Stewart ... |
|
-When were you born and where is your birthplace?
I was born many years ago, in IL no offense with regard to when, but I’d
like to deflect any age discrimination possibilities….
-What did you grew up listening to?
Philadelphia and Motown stuff, the singing groups primarily. The Temptations
were my idols.
-What is your musical background like?
I've been a singer, songwriter, performer, and most currently producer
since I was about 19. I've done records, jingles, theatre, studio work,
you name it, and pretty much I’ve done it.
-Who has been your biggest inspiration in music?
That's a tough question. I steal from everybody; just kidding……there’s
no one inspiration, music is such a broad ocean of creativity, you immerse
yourself and let good things happen unto you.
-When did you start singing in the Heaven & Earth?
Heaven and Earth were formed in the mid-70’s right after we graduated
from high school. Dwight Dukes, his brother James Dukes and myself began
harmonizing and there was chemistry from early on…Dean Williams joined
us in 1979 when we released on biggest record “Guess Who’s Back in Town”.
We had a run of about 8 years where we did very well on the charts in the
U.S., doing television and radio while touring with everybody in the business.
Unfortunately, around 1984 our time ran out and everybody divorced. |
|
 |
|
|
|
-Are you still contact with the members?
To some degree, yes. We’re still friends; and moreover, whether we want
to be or not we’re brothers. So while we don’t talk that often, we can
still be cool whenever we do talk. We’re talking 20 years of separation.
Wounds heal, people grow……ya feel me? Dean has been working on a project,
and I did some vocal arranging for it, but I’m not sure when it’ll be
finished. Dwight committed himself to Jesus Christ several years ago, and
his talents are used exclusively in the Contemporary Chrisitian realm of
music. He’s a wonderful writer and I expect over time we might do something
again.
-Have you ever had a memory in your career than you can't forget?
There's many; probably more than this space can provide; but maybe an appearance
on Soul Train in 1979-ish stands out. Soul Train was a huge deal at that
point in our careers, and to my good fortune, some 25+ years later a merchant
in Japan was selling videotapes of “Soul Train’s Greatest Moments” and
a friend of mine who was touring over there saw it, bought it , and now
I have the appearance on videotape to show to disbelieving friends and
to feed my starving ego when it gets hungry…..
-Please tell me your impressions about soul music scene in Chicago.
Chicago always has been is a mixture of a lot of styles of music, so soul
music has to fight for a toehold. Hip-Hop R&B is more of the flavor
of the younger generation (not to imply I’m not young) but, we tried to
make “Longshot” as a genre of music that would have an appeal for any
generation. The artists on the CD are making waves in and around Chicago, so there’s life in
the soul music scene; I think though it’s morphed into hip-hop/R&B.
-What do you thing about the new R&B releases?
Like
anything else, there’s good and bad. But I tend to look at it as simply what I personally like and what
I don’t like, and go from there. Especially when I’m the purchaser.
-I've really enjoyed listening to the album "The Longshot Sessions."
Please tell me your impressions about it.
"The Longshot Sessions" was a labor of love; but quite frankly
it is a project to introduce myself and my partner Dick Fowler to the world
as first-rate producers. We hope to move forward and produce other acts
for labels in the U.S. and abroad as well as the ones on our roster at
DaMan Records. The CD is music we like, in a format that we found appealing,
and hopefully others will too.
-Would you like to say anything to your fans all over the world?
Thanks for all the support thus far; it's great to know that our stuff
is being received so far away. Don't sleep on the "The Longshot Sessions",
get it on Cdbaby.com cause it might be the next "big thing". Peace…
|
|
|
| Keith Stewart, Dwight Dukes, and Dean Williams (from Left to Right) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| "The LongShot Sessions: The Soul of R&B" |
|
 |
|
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15. |
|
|
|
|
|
All songs written, arranged & produced by Dick Fowler & Keith Stewart
for Musicale LTD. In association with DA-MAN Records except #3, 6, 9 &15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chicago bears a rich legacy of great songwriters and has once again established
itself with a new duo by the new release of the exciting Adult Contemporary
R&B compilation entitled "The LongShot Sessions: The Soul of R&B".
Songwriter/producers
Dick Fowler and Keith Stewart are seasoned writers, singers, musicians
and technicians of the first magnitude. "The LongShot Sessions" marks
their first endeavor into Adult Contemporary R&B, though much like the
material included in the recording, the histories of both former recording
artists are steeped in melodic vocals, memorable hooks and sweet harmonies.
During a meeting in the mid 1980's the pair were comparing the transition
both were making from singing in the stand-up groups through the 70's and
80's and discussed how to expand their careers into other areas within
the music industry. Both professed an affinity for songwriting and after
a few successful writing sessions, a partnership was struck. Soon afterward
Fowler and Stewart formed Musicale
Ltd., Inc. an all-purpose music production entity in the early 90's, combining their
skills and developing songs for movies and jingles as well. The alliance
further developed into diving head first into the technology of the time
and both artists' careers took a distinctive turn.
"In order to survive in the music business, you must be as diverse
as possible." Fowler
and Stewart took this advice to heart as the duet lent their skills as
lyricists, songwriters, arrangers, jingle session vocalists, background
singers, keyboards and drum programmers for a host of local talent in their
hometown over the next decade. These accomplishments allowed them to finance
and build their own studio, Attic Antics, and they've never looked back. Flourishing behind the scenes producing
local R&B, Gospel and Hip-Hop talent on their own label, DaMan Records, and shopping songs as independents,
Fowler and Stewart are carving out their own niche as well rounded
professionals who can write and produce a wide variety of music, wearing a
multitude of hats with relative ease.
"The LongShot Sessions: The Soul of R&B" represents an anthology of what they like to call "grown folks music".
The CD is a fusion of old school, smooth swing stepping grooves and superb
R&B performances by Fowler and Stewart themselves as well as some of
the duo's close friends and associates. The veteran producers do what good producers do, which is let the songs take center stage and the performers
to a man don't disappoint. Whether grooving to the soon to be classic stepping
anthem "Step Wit' Chu" by Mistah
Llou, or the torch ballad "Time Out for Love"
performed by the producers, this project will undoubtedly serve notice to adult
urban radio and the music industry that the production pair of Fowler and
Stewart of Musicale, Ltd. will soon be a force to be reckoned with
in whatever genre they choose.
For further information feel free to
contact the producers directly at
Look for the website, www.DaMan.com coming soon!!! |
|
|
|
