susie tallman
Singer Susie Tallman graduated UCLA with a BA in voice performance. She further evolved her voice in France, singing with the Choeur International and the American Chorus in Paris. Upon her return to the states, Tallman honed her classical training at the New England Conservatory Workshop in Boston. She has sung backup for such acts as Ronnie Spector, Darlene Love and Cheap Trick, and has performed at Carnegie Hall, The Rose Bowl, The Los Angeles Forum and Pauley Pavilion as well as in commercials for Taco Bell, The Coca-Cola Reunion Commercial and the movie Beaches. She is a former member of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus.
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kathleen clawson
American mezzo-soprano Kathleen Clawson is consistently praised for the burnished, bronze beauty of her voice enhanced by an innate musicality and a persuasive, sensuous manner of communication. She has appeared throughout the United States in opera, on the concert stage and recital platform in a wide range of repertoire from Bach and Janacek to Verdi and Wagner.
Highlights of the current (2004-2005) season include her Carnegie Hall debut with the New England Symphonic Ensemble in a Haydn/Mozart program and debut appearances with the Annapolis Symphony in El Amor Brujo and the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony in Mahler's Symphony No. 2. During the summer she rejoined The Santa Fe Opera (where she was recently heard in Eugene Onegin), this time as Stage Director for their Apprentice Program.
richard pleasance
Producer, musician, songwriter Richard Pleasance displays his talents most especially on Lullabies for Sleepy Eyes, in which he produced 12 of the 16 songs. Richard lives in Melbourne, Australia where he has a successful solo career signed to Gotham Records as well as produces cutting edge rock bands, including Augie March for which he was nominated for an ARIA award (highest honors in Australia) as well Jon Stevens & Kate Ceberano.
Richard was a member of the Top 10 Australian band Boom Crash Opera as a musician, songwriter and co-producer. The bands' album These Here Are Crazy Times achieved double Platinum status. Richard has been nominated for the ARIA awards several times and won Best Producer for Deborah Conway's brilliant debut album, String of Pearls. He has toured in support of Elvis Costello in Australia as well as recorded with Suzanne Vega in the States. In addition, Richard has been the composer for 3 seasons of the popular abc Australian drama, SEACHANGE, in which he received the prestigious award for best song composed for television.
mark o'connor
Best known for his piano and keyboard chops, Mark O'Connor also hails from Australia where he produces, performs and composes for various artists and soundtracks including James Reyne, Wendy Matthews and The Seekers. Mark has toured with many Australian bands in Australia as well as abroad. Mark produced the bulk of Classic Nursery Rhymes for Rock Me Baby Records and has signed up to produce the next CD of children's music.
merrie amsterburg
Merrie Amsterburg is an artist in the truest sense of the word. We are so lucky that she contributed to our first release, Lullaby Themes for Sleepy Dreams. Merrie sings in her beautiful, ethereal voice, and also plays guitar on 4 songs. Merrie lives in Boston and has several CDs out on Q Division/Zoe/Rounder Records. Merrie has won 2 Boston Music Awards, been voted the Best Local Folk Act by the Boston Phoenix, Best Female Vocalist of the Year by the readers of Jam Magazine, she's been on NPR, sings the national anthem for the Boston Red Sox every year, and has opened for Paula Cole among other performers. You can buy her cd at your local store or through qdivision.com, she's amazing. Here's one of her reviews: "Haunting and pretty, Amsterburg's songs are like miniature worlds into which one may escape for three minutes at a time. The textures and word-pictures she creates let you fall as deeply into each tune as your soul requires. As if it isn't enough that Amsterburg sings like an angelic demon and writes poetic (yet accessible) lyrics with seductive melodies, she also plays acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, trumpet, banjo, harmonium, piano and organ. A classic over-achiever; I'd hate her if her work didn't make me feel so good."
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scott duncan
Scottie co-produced our first CD, Lullaby Themes for Sleepy Dreams in San Francisco while on a break from touring with various international acts including Linda Perry of Four Non Blondes fame and Kula Shaker. Scottie was signed to a major label in his younger days and recorded and toured in London. He then went on to tour with The Pogues as a road manager and harmonica player. Scottie is a great musician and friend and now lives back home in Auckland, New Zealand with his fiance Sarah.
peter 'maz' maslen
Voted Australia's best drummer, Peter Maslen is an extraordinary musician. A member of the rock band Boom Crash Opera, not only has Maz played on all of the Boom Crash Opera records, Maz is one of the most sought after session and touring drummers in the world. Maz has played and toured the world with such musical acts as Natalie Imbruglia, Men At Work and The Seekers to name a few. Maz performs his rendition of Hickory Dickory Dock most kids' favorite track on Classic Nursery Rhymes.
greg 'spock' o'connor
Also a member of Boom Crash Opera, Spock also wears the multi-talented hat of musician, song-writer and graphic artist. Spock provided many of the unique voices on Classic Nursery Rhymes, as well as lending his guitar and yukelele talents. Spock works as a graphic artist for his company Lone Wolf Design and designs many of the album covers you might see around Australia. ian 'tilso' tilley
Tilso is an incredibly talented bass player, singer and computer/multi-media champ. You guessed it, also a member of Boom Crash Opera, Ian plays bass and is the voice on Hey Diddle Diddle, This Old Man and Wynkyn, Blynkyn & Nod.
peter 'bungie' farnan
Bungie, a founding member and one of the primary song-writers of Boom Crash Opera, Bungie contributes to several of Rock Me Baby Records' CDs. He is the producer, arranger, composer & musician on "A Child's Christmas-Holiday Songs & Carols" and one of the two producers, arrangers for "Let's Go! Travel, Camp & Car Songs." Bungie also co-wrote the title song "Let's Go" with Susie Tallman and Greg O'Connor.
jayne bayley
A talented Australian actress, musician and mother of Maudie Farnan who is featured on I'm A Little Teapot, Jane recites a lovely rendition (with American accent) on Three Little Kittens.
josh lattanzi
Josh is a successful touring and session musician splitting his time between Boston, New York City and the road. Josh has toured and performed with the likes of Julianna Hatfield, Kristin Hersh, Ben Kweller among others, and played guitar on the first CD, Lullaby Themes for Sleepy Dreams.
ed valauskas
Ed, also from Boston and Josh's roomate, is a member of the infamous Boston band, The Gravel Pit and has recently formed the already popular band The Gentlemen. The Gravel Pit won the Boston Music Award for Best Indie Band and one of Ed's highlights opening for Guided By Voices and Cheap Trick in DC. Ed also plays on the first CD, Lullaby Themes for Sleepy Dreams. |