Severn Records is an American independent record label that concentrates on blues music. Its motto is "Roots Music for the 21st Century".
History On July 11, 1997, a company named Echo Records was incorporated in Maryland by David Earl. By the time of its founding and first releases in 1998, the new company had changed its name to Severn Records. This change eliminated any possibility of confusion with Ecko Records.
Founding in Crownsville, Maryland Severn released three albums in 1998: Darrell Nulisch's The Whole Truth, Big Joe Maher's I'm Still Swinging, and Benjie Porecki's Servin' It Up. The demise of Black Top Records had left the first two of these artists available to record on the new label. Subsequently, they have recorded six more albums with Severn. Porecki has recorded two more albums and provided keyboard backup on many Severn projects. In 1999, Severn reissued Steve Guyger's Past Life Blues. To produce these four albums, as well as ten more early ones, Severn made use of recording, mixing and mastering facilities at several commercial studios. Eventually, all these functions were carried out at a studio in the basement of Earl's house on the Severn River in Crownsville, Maryland.
Growth in Severn, Maryland In 2001, Severn Records moved to Severn, Maryland. Here, its new offices were fitted out with better equipment, isolation booths, and rehearsal space. These facilities improved the production of albums and attracted new musicians to the label. These include: Mike Morgan, Sugar Ray Norcia, Lou Pride, and Tad Robinson. Together with the four founding artists, they have created the core albums of the Severn discography.
Soon, unaffiliated musicians came to use Severn's facilities and personnel for their own recording projects. One of these was Norwegian accordion player J. T. Lauritsen, who recorded his album Squeezboxing in 2006. Another project, in 2006, was Mikey Jr's Look Inside My Pocket.
In 2005, Severn sponsored the "Chicago Blues Harmonica Project", which spotlights veteran Chicago harmonica artists. From this association, came the album Diamonds in the Rough, which was followed, in 2009, by More Rare Gems. Later, Severn released another compilation, The Blind Owl, that documents the work of Alan Wilson with the band Canned Heat.
Tenth anniversary celebration On September 27, 2008, Severn celebrated its 10th anniversary with a party at the Fish Head Cantina in Arbutus, Maryland. This event, which was co-sponsored by the Baltimore Blues Society, featured Guyger, Norcia, Nulisch, Maher, Morgan, Porecki, Pride, Robinson, The All Mighty Senators, Kevin Anker, Steve Gomes, Willie Henderson, Alex Schultz, Clarence Spady, Robb Stupka, and Monster Mike Welch.
Annapolis, Maryland In 2010, Severn Records moved to Renard Court in Annapolis, Maryland. Here, new offices and studios were built by Winchester Construction Company.
The new facility opened in October 2011. It covers 3100 square feet devoted to offices, storage, and two studios. One of the studios incorporates a large tracking room, an isolation booth, and a control room, which is fitted out with a custom recording console. The other studio is intended as a room for editing and mastering, but it can also serve as a second isolation booth.
Since it opened its new facilities, Severn has signed The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Nighthawks, and Mud Morganfield. It continues to record new albums by its established artists. In particular, Norcia's Evening was released on October 18, 2011. On March 20, 2012, Severn released Morganfield's Son of the Seventh Son, and reissues of two CDs by Jimmy Earl: Jimmy Earl, and Stratosphere. That month, Severn announced the signing of New Orleans–based blues guitarist/singer Bryan Lee and Baltimore-based soul and blues singer Ursula Ricks. Severn released the Nighthawk's Damn Good Time!, on May 15, 2012, the Thunderbird's On the Verge, on March 19, 2013, and Lee's Play One for Me, on September 19, 2013.
On January 21, 2014, Severn released another CD by Jimmy Earl, Renewing Disguises.
On June 5, 2012, Lou Pride died of natural causes while in hospice care. He had just finished recording his final album, Ain't No More Love in this House, which Severn released on October 15, 2013, along with My Street by Ricks.
"That Severn Sound" The title of this section quotes what J. T. Lauritsen said he wanted when he came to Severn. The paragraphs that follow describe some aspects of Severn's operations that contribute to its distinctive sound.
The Severn Studio Band
Severn maintains a house band, whose functions are to back up recording projects and to participate in promotional appearances. Its key members are Rob Stupka (drums), Steve Gomes (bass), Benjie Porecki and Kevin Anker (both keyboards). Gomes also serves as arranger, composer, and producer on many Severn releases. Three guitarists work with the band: Alex Schultz, Monster Mike Welch, and Johnny Moeller. Schultz created the Severn release Think About It. Welch, who was featured on Sugar Ray & the Bluetones, has recorded several albums on other labels. Moeller did Bloogaloo. He is lead guitarist for The Fabulous Thunderbirds, but he participates occasionally on his own projects with Severn, as well as on those of the Thunderbirds.
Key personnel and organizations Many Severn albums feature horn sections working with the Studio Band. These have included members of the Memphis Horns, who appeared on many releases by Stax Records, and of The Airmen of Note, which is the premier jazz ensemble of the US Air Force. Willie Henderson plays a key role in arranging, producing, and conducting horn passages. Along similar lines, Robinson's A New Point of View features musicians from the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra. A very important component of the label's operations is Apple's iTunes Store, for Severn's complete catalog is available there. John Monforte, an electronics engineer from Miami, Florida, keeps Severn's computers and audio equipment in good repair and up to date. He made a major contribution to the design and construction of the Annapolis studios.
Touring with the Severn Soul Review The Severn Soul Review refers to one or more Severn artists backed up by the Studio Band. Its main purpose is to promote Severn releases. It does this not only by performing locally and regionally, but also by touring the United States and Europe. In this role, it has appeared at many festivals. In particular, the Review appeared at the Lucerne Blues Festival (Switzerland) in 2010, 2008, and 2004. Lou Pride's appearance here in 2010 was a significant comeback, because he came to the festival in 2004, but had a heart attack before he could perform. The Severn Soul Review also appeared at the 2006 Beaches International Jazz Festival (Canada), the 2008 King Biscuit Blues Festival (Arkansas), the 2009 Cognac Blues Passions (France), and the 2009 Piazza Blues Festival (Switzerland).
Awards On November 1, 2011, the Blues Foundation announced that Severn had been chosen for one of its 2012 "Keeping the Blues Alive" awards. Over the years, the foundation has nominated Severn artists and albums for more than thirty five awards. The Washington Area Music Association has recognized Big Joe Maher with three "Wammie" awards as a vocalist and fifteen nominations, some of which were for his band, The Dynaflows.
Discography
Steve Guyger 1999 – Past Life Blues, Reissue 2008 – Radio Blues
Darrell Nulisch 1998 – The Whole Truth 2000 – I Like It That Way 2003 – Times Like These 2007 – Goin' Back To Dallas 2009 – Just For You
Sugar Ray And The Bluetones 2001 – Rockin' Sugar Daddy 2003 – Sugar Ray & the Bluetones featuring Monster Mike Welch 2005 – Hands Across The Table 2007 – My Life, My Friends, My Music 2011 – Evening
Lou Pride 2002 – Words Of Caution 2003 – The Memphis / El Paso Sessions 2005 – Keep On Believing 2013 – Ain't No More Love In This House
Big Joe & The Dynaflows 1998 – I'm Still Swingin''' 2000 – All Night Long 2011 – You Can't Keep A Big Man DownBenjie Porecki 1998 – Servin' It Up 2001 – The Rest Of My Life 2001 – Small-Medium-Large, with the WPG Trio
Mike Morgan & The Crawl 2002 – Texas Man 2004 – Live In Dallas 2008 – Stronger Every DayTad Robinson 2004 – Did You Ever Wonder 2007 – A New Point Of View 2010 – Back In StyleKen Clark Organ Trio 2003 – Eternal Funk 2005 – Mutual RespectJimmy Earl 2012 – Jimmy Earl, Reissue 2012 – Stratosphere, Reissue 2014 – Renewing DisguisesCompilation albums 2005 – Chicago Blues Harmonica Project, Diamonds in the Rough 2005 – Various artists, Roots Music for the 21st Century 2006 – All Mighty Senators, Checkered Past, New Tomorrow: Essential AMS 2009 – Chicago Blues Harmonica Project, More Rare Gems 2013 – Alan Wilson, The Blind OwlVarious artists 1999 – Ola Dixon, Labor Of Love 2000 – Roy Gaines, New Frontier Lover 2002 – Bruce Conte, Bullet Proof 2002 – Louisiana Red, A Different Shade Of Red 2003 – J Street Jumpers, Good For Stompin' 2003 – The Rockin' Highliners, Sputnik Café 2004 – Nora Jean Bruso, Going Back To Mississippi 2004 – Roy Carrier And The Night Rockers, Living Legend 2004 – Jelly Roll All-Stars, Must Be Jelly 2004 – The Bruce Katz Band, A Deeper Blue 2004 – The Joe Kap Organ Trio, Street Noise 2004 – Roy Tyler and New Directions. Three Way Calling 2004 – Alex Schultz, Think About It 2006 – Buck Hill, Relax 2008 – Clarence Spady, Just Between Us 2009 – Charles Wilson, Troubled Child 2010 – Johnny Moeller, Bloogaloo 2012 – Mud Morganfield, Son of the Seventh Son 2012 – The Nighthawks, Damn Good Time! 2013 – The Fabulous Thunderbirds, On the Verge 2013 – Bryan Lee, Play One for Me 2013 – Ursula Ricks, My Street''
References
External links Official Website Lou Pride with the Severn Soul Review at Cognac, 2009 YouTube; Severn Records Channel Monica Yasher interviews David Earl Matt Kacar interviews Mud Morganfield