Koch Records

GRAMMY-WINNING/HALL OF FAMER -- SOLOMON BURKE - A TRUE SOUL PIONEER, RELEASE'S 70TH BIRTHDAY MILESTONE ALBUM "NOTHING'S IMPOSSIBLE" APRIL 6 ON E1 MUSIC; PROJECT ALSO MARKS LAST WORK OF MEMPHIS SOUL LEGEND, PRODUCER WILLIE MITCHELL

By E1 Entertainment March 5th 2009

GRAMMY-winning, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer - SOLOMON BURKE, a true soul pioneer and a major architect of American music, debuts his much-anticipated 70th birthday release NOTHING'S IMPOSSIBLE - April 6 on E1 Music. It's a very special, yet bittersweet occasion, marking one of the final projects produced by Willie Mitchell, Burke's musical soul brother and key collaborator, who passed away on January 5, 2010. NOTHING'S IMPOSSIBLE was 35-years in the making, with "King" Burke finally arriving at Mitchell's storied Royal Studio in Memphis, trademark Throne and all, for five weeks. Mitchell's blueprint and spirit canvas these musical stories, in a partnership that stands proudly with the classics he produced with Al Green, Ann Peebles, and others for the immortal Hi Records imprint. Something spiritual and beyond a mere recording session has manifested.

Comments Burke: "If I could turn back the hands of time, I would freeze frame every second of it. It hurts so much to know I won't get that chance again...You know when God's in it, because everything works. No matter how hard you try for it not to work; it works. It was the last great shot (with Mitchell)..."

NOTHING'S IMPOSSIBLE is a musical conversation between two brothers, one minute teasing, the next sharing intimate war stories on the battlefield of love. Background vocals and Mitchell's legendary orchestra subtly enhance and embellish twelve classic tracks of pure heart and soul.

The project's title "Nothing's Impossible," was not only Mitchell's intended CD title, but also Burke's personal mantra. At nearly 70 years of age, he remains musically active and relevant, while continuing to resonate with a widening demographic, both nationally and internationally. To date, Burke has sold more than 17 million records. His soul standard "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love" has been covered by everyone from the Rolling Stones to Wilson Pickett to the Blues Brothers. His 2002 GRAMMY for "Best Contemporary Blues Album" (Don't Give Up On Me) has introduced his genius to a whole new generation, while one of his best known hits "Cry To Me," was used in the seduction scene of the major motion picture "Dirty Dancing." His biggest fan, however, was the late Pope John Paul II, who invited Burke to perform at the Vatican's Christmas celebration in 2000, that he organized with the present Pope Benedict XVI.

Burke first broke through in 1961 with a cover of the country standard "Just Out Of Reach Of My Two Empty Arms" that was a hit on the R&B and Pop charts. He released 32 singles on Atlantic over the next several years, producing six Top Ten R&B hits, four of which crossed over to the Top 40: "Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Empty Arms)," "Cry To Me," "Got To Get You Off Of My Mind," "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love," "You're Good For Me," "Tonight's The Night" and "If You Need Me" (written by Wilson Pickett).

Burke has long been championed by his peers, music critics and celebrity fans. Ahmet Ertegun called him "probably the greatest soul singer" while Mick Jagger openly admitted trying to imitate the phrasing of Burke's inimitable voice, and contemporaries such as Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty have performed his songs in concert. Now, with the release of the magnificent NOTHING'S IMPOSSIBLE, audiences can once again hear why they call Solomon Burke, the "King" of Rock & Soul.

GET ON YOUR FEET WITH THE WIGGLES AND "HOT POPPIN' POPCORN" THIS MARCH ON E1 MUSIC!

By E1 Entertainment March 1st 2009

E1 Music is excited to announce the much anticipated release of Devin The Dude's appropriately titled new album, Suite 420, on April 20th, 2010. Suite 420 features The Odd Squad (Jugg Mugg, Devin & Rob), Smit D (originally from the Facemob), 14K, Tony Mac, Ced-B, Kory-B, School-Boy, Alpha-Bet-D with production by Mirawge & Big Baby, Mike Dean, Rob Quest, Luster Baker, C-Ray, Q-Stone, Reggie Coby, and Devin The Dude himself.

The first single, "What I Be On" will be serviced shortly.

The Houston rapper has laid down five solo albums that have highlighted his impressive storytelling skills and made him one of the most respected and sought-after artists in the industry. As one of the few emcees who have worked with the best in the underground, mainstream, East, West and South, Devin is your favorite rapper's favorite rapper.

He has released five solo albums: The Dude (1998), Just Tryin' ta Live (2002), To tha X-Treme (2004), Waitin' to Inhale (2007), and Landing Gear (2008).

Born in St. Petersburg, Florida and raised in Houston, Texas, Devin literally lived next door to music as a youngster. Living in a house in front of radio station WRXB in St. Petersburg, Devin found that one man's trash was another man's treasure when he'd discover and collect old records the station threw in the trash. Before long, he and his brother started pulling out their mom's record player and throwing parties in their front lawn. When he finally stumbled across Hip Hop, Devin found his first calling as a pop-locker performing for friends, family and even his elders at the neighborhood nursing home.

After his show-stealing appearances on Scarface's 1998 "My Homies" compilation, Devin dropped his solo debut The Dude to rave reviews including a coveted 4-mics rating in The Source, a rarity for Southern Hip Hop artists at the time. Inspired by the Quincy Jones album of the same name, The Dude introduced Devin as a unique voice that made you feel at ease instead of threatened.

Though the album didn't sell through the roof, "The Dude" won the hearts of both rap fans and rappers themselves. Devin found unexpected fans in Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre who not only invited Devin to appear on "F*ck You" from Dre's Chronic 2001 album, but had him join them on their widely popular Up In Smoke Tour as well.

HOUSTON RAPPER DEVIN THE DUDE TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM, SUITE 420, ON APRIL 20TH, 2010

By E1 Entertainment March 1st 2009

E1 Music is excited to announce the much anticipated release of Devin The Dude's appropriately titled new album, Suite 420, on April 20th, 2010. Suite 420 features The Odd Squad (Jugg Mugg, Devin & Rob), Smit D (originally from the Facemob), 14K, Tony Mac, Ced-B, Kory-B, School-Boy, Alpha-Bet-D with production by Mirawge & Big Baby, Mike Dean, Rob Quest, Luster Baker, C-Ray, Q-Stone, Reggie Coby, and Devin The Dude himself.

The first single, "What I Be On" will be serviced shortly.

The Houston rapper has laid down five solo albums that have highlighted his impressive storytelling skills and made him one of the most respected and sought-after artists in the industry. As one of the few emcees who have worked with the best in the underground, mainstream, East, West and South, Devin is your favorite rapper's favorite rapper.

He has released five solo albums: The Dude (1998), Just Tryin' ta Live (2002), To tha X-Treme (2004), Waitin' to Inhale (2007), and Landing Gear (2008).

Born in St. Petersburg, Florida and raised in Houston, Texas, Devin literally lived next door to music as a youngster. Living in a house in front of radio station WRXB in St. Petersburg, Devin found that one man's trash was another man's treasure when he'd discover and collect old records the station threw in the trash. Before long, he and his brother started pulling out their mom's record player and throwing parties in their front lawn. When he finally stumbled across Hip Hop, Devin found his first calling as a pop-locker performing for friends, family and even his elders at the neighborhood nursing home.

After his show-stealing appearances on Scarface's 1998 "My Homies" compilation, Devin dropped his solo debut The Dude to rave reviews including a coveted 4-mics rating in The Source, a rarity for Southern Hip Hop artists at the time. Inspired by the Quincy Jones album of the same name, The Dude introduced Devin as a unique voice that made you feel at ease instead of threatened.

Though the album didn't sell through the roof, "The Dude" won the hearts of both rap fans and rappers themselves. Devin found unexpected fans in Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre who not only invited Devin to appear on "F*ck You" from Dre's Chronic 2001 album, but had him join them on their widely popular Up In Smoke Tour as well.

E1 MUSIC AND PURPOSE MUSIC GROUP ENTER NEW DEAL TO RELEASE NEW ALBUMS BY R&B STARS ELISABETH WITHERS AND ANTHONY DAVID

By KOCH Records March 1st 2009

E1 Entertainment U.S. and Purpose Music Group LLC are pleased to announce exclusive licensing deals for R& recording artists Elisabeth Withers and Anthony David. This new deal covers all territories excluding Europe, Australia, the U.K. and South Africa. The labels will collaborate in the artists' development and marketing. Withers, a Tony award nominee for her role as Shug Avery in the hit Broadway musical The Color Purple, is a dynamic singer/songwriter who trained at the prestigious Berklee School of Music. She released her first album, the critically acclaimed "It Can Happen to Anyone," on Blue Note Records in 2007. Her first release for E1/Purpose is targeted for June 2010. David, a Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter, hails from Atlanta and was featured last year on Urban AC radio on the powerful duet "Words" with India.Arie from his album "Acey Duecy," a Universal release. He also has released two earlier, highly-regarded independent albums, "Three Chords and the Truth" and "Red Clay Chronicles." E1/Purpose plans to release his new album in Summer 2010.

Other R&B artists on the E1 roster include Faith Evans, Brian McKnight, Dwele and Vivian Green. Purpose is also the home of Grammy Award winner Maya Azucena, DJ Spinna, Angela Johnson, Monet and Shae Fiol and is co-owned by Russell Johnson and George Littlejohn.

R&B SENSATION VIVIAN GREEN TO RELEASE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW STUDIO ALBUM "BEAUTIFUL" ON APRIL 6TH, 2010

By KOCH Records February 23rd 2009

R&B singer and songwriter Vivian Green is set to release her long-awaited new album, Beautiful on Tuesday, April 6th, 2010 on E1 Music.

The title track, "Beautiful" was #1 most added at Urban AC radio last week with over 32 stations adding the record (beating out Mariah Carey and Chrisette Michelle). The track is just outside the Urban AC top 20 and climbing fast.

In contrast to her first two albums, which were recorded in a variety of studios with multiple producers, Vivian approached the recording of Beautiful in a more intimate, organic manner. With the exception of "Save Me," which she cut with Jason Farmer (Keyshia Cole, Rihanna, Wyclef Jean) in the producer's seat, Vivian recorded the entire album with Grammy-nominated producer Anthony Bell, a longtime friend and collaborator who made key production contributions to her first two albums, and whose extensive resume also includes work with Jazmine Sullivan, Jewel, Musiq, Raheem DeVaughn and Jill Scott.

"It's the most fun I've ever had making a record," Vivian says of Beautiful's birth cycle. "We worked in Anthony's studio, which is in his home, and it was a very relaxed, creative environment. If I wanted to sit down at the piano and start writing a song from scratch, like I did with 'Somewhere,' I could. The whole experience was very natural and comfortable, and I hope that you can hear that in the music."

Co-writing with Vivian on four of Beautiful's songs was her younger brother Solomon Green, a budding rapper whom she'd been urging to branch out into songwriting. "I always felt he should diversify," she explains. "One day I brought him to the studio to write with me, and it was like, wow. It was awesome and rewarding to watch my baby brother blossom that way, and I'm really proud of him."

Green released her debut album, A Love Story, in 2002. The album was certified Gold and featured the hits "Emotional Rollercoaster" and "Fanatic." She followed it up with her sophomore album, in 2005, Vivian, which featured the hit singles, "Gotta Go, Gotta Leave (Tired)" and "I Like it But I Don't Need It." Green sold close to 800,000 between the two releases. Ms. Green also has a well-earned reputation as a riveting live performer, and has shared stages with such artists as Maxwell, Teena Marie, Betty Wright, Chaka Khan, Q-Tip, Anthony Hamilton, and Common.

Vivian portrayed Billie Holiday in the Cole Porter biopic Delovely, and appeared in the ABC series "American Dreams" as Brenda Holloway, and performed Holloway's classic Motown song "Every Little Bit Hurts."

She also wrote "Dear God" for Boyz II Men for their platinum-selling album Evolution and wrote the music for David E. Talbert's popular all-star stage play Love in the Nick of Tyme, which debuted in 2007.