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It must be at least a bit intimidating to be in the music business today — here where the King swiveled and snarled, where the Killer shook, rattled, and rolled, where soul got hot and buttered by Black Moses, and where Roy Orbison dreamed sweet dreams, baby. But these music industry movers and shakers are keeping the dream alive with styles as distinct as the music the city spawned. Memphis wouldn’t be Memphis without the music, and so to these industry keepers-of-the-flame, we say rock on.
WARD ARCHER
Owner/Founder, Archer Records and Music + Arts Studio. B.A. Rhodes College. Did recording and mixing for films Losers Take All, The Poor & Hungry Remastered, $5 Cover, Savage County, and N-Secure, film music for Heartbreak Kid, Friday Night Lights, and Hellcats. Studio was home to mixing of Kirk Whalum’s 2011 Grammy-winning It’s What I Do. Releasing Amy LaVere’s album, Stranger Me, in July 2011. Member and former Trustee, NARAS. Member, Americana Music Association, Folk Alliance International, and Audio Engineering Society.
SCOTT BOMAR
Producer and Owner, Electraphonic Recording. Composed score for Hustle & Flow. Executive Music Producer and Composer, Black Snake Moan. Producer and Composer, $5 Cover. Received Emmy Award for musical contribution for the documentary I Am a Man: From Memphis, A Lesson in Life. Producer and Engineer, Cyndi Lauper’s Grammy-nominated Memphis Blues album. Leader of the group the Bo-Keys. President, Memphis Chapter of the Recording Academy.
PAUL CHANDLER
Founder, Resource Entertainment Group (REG). Client list includes Target, Cox Communications, Pearl River Resort, Silver Star Casino, ALSAC/ St. Jude, Golden Moon Casino, and The Peabody hotel. REG books over 1,300 events a year. Worked with Memphis Botanic Garden to create Live at the Garden. Co-producer, The Neelys Live!. Former Board Member, Memphis and Shelby County Film Commission, the Memphis Music Foundation, Memphis Chapter of the Recording Academy, Beale Street Caravan, and Wolf River Conservancy.
J. DE DEHART
President, DeHart Group; Manager, Minglewood Hall. Opened in 2009, Minglewood Plaza is a Midtown mixed-use development at the site of the former Strings & Things that includes Minglewood Hall. The 1,500-person-capacity venue has hosted such acts as Lucinda Williams, Ryan Adams, Of Montreal, Gogol Bordello, Girl Talk, and MGMT. DeHart calls himself a “sixth-generation entrepreneur,” and the DeHart Group is a family business dating back to the 1800s.
DEAN DEYO
President, Memphis Music Foundation. B.S., Broadcast Journalism, Northern Illinois University. Heads the Memphis Music Resource Center. Members include the BarKays, Alexis Grace, and Teflon Don. Former President, Time Warner Communications. Named Corporate Volunteer of the Year, Volunteer Memphis, MPACT Memphis Role Model of the Year, NCTA Vanguard Award. Member, NARAS, Tennessee Film and Music Commission, the Blues Foundation, and Folk Alliance International.
ERIC FRIEDL
Co-Owner and Founder, Goner Records. B.A., English, Pomona College. Has been with Goner Records for 18 years. In charge of record label, physical record store, online record store, and Gonerfest. Has produced music of Harlan T. Bobo and the late Jay Reatard. Other bands on the label include Magic Kids, Cococoma, Jack O. and the Tennessee Tearjerkers, Ross Johnson, Box Elders, and Ty Segall. Founding member of Memphis rock legends the Oblivians.
JOHN FRY
CEO and Founder, Ardent Music, LLC. Former National President, Society of Professional Audio Recording Services. Former Chairman, Tennessee Film, Entertainment, and Music Commission; Memphis Film Commission; and Memphis & Shelby County Music Commission. Former President and National Trustee, Memphis Chapter of the Recording Academy. Board Member, Memphis Music Foundation, Stax/Soulsville Foundation, and Visible School. Ardent Studio has recorded Sam & Dave, Led Zeppelin, and R.E.M.
MIKE GLENN
Owner and General Manager, The New Daisy Theatre. Has been with the Beale Street club for 27 years and took over its operation 20 years ago. First came to Beale Street as a boxing promoter. Honored with Brass Note on Beale Street in December 2010. Received a Keeping the Blues Alive Award from The Blues Foundation in 2008. Member, Memphis Music Commission. Has worked with and put on concerts for Jim Dickinson, John Lee Hooker, Keith Richards, Bonnie Raitt, Nirvana, and the North Mississippi Allstars.
JIM GREEN
Founder and Owner, Green Machine Concerts. Co-founder, TCB Concerts. National Tour Promoter. Producer, 2008 Presidential Debate Concert, Ole Miss. Former producer, IEBA Conference; Bikes, Blues and BBQ; Stax 50th Anniversary Concert. Former talent buyer, Beale Street Music Festival, Memphis Botanic Garden Concert Series, and Mud Island Amphitheater. Named to “40 Under 40,” Memphis Business Journal. Member and served on Board of Governors, NARAS.
JON HORNYAK
Senior Executive Director, Memphis Chapter of the Recording Academy. B.A., University of Memphis. An architect of Grammy Living Histories video archives. Executive producer, Sounds of Memphis. Involved in MusiCares Hurricane Relief Fund. Co-producer, annual Grammy Salute to Gospel Music. Has received multiple Mid-South Regional Emmy Awards nominations. Voting Member, the Recording Academy. Member, the Blues Foundation.
JONATHAN KIERSKY
Managing Partner, The Hi-Tone Café. Graduated from the University of Memphis. Has brought in acts such as the Oblivians, the Hold Steady, Al Kapone, Band of Horses, and Al Bell. Club voted best place to see live music by Memphis Flyer readers for past eight years. The Hi-Tone has been covered by The New York Times, Outside magazine, and the BBC. Supports the Levitt Shell, the Church Health Center, Stax, SRVS, Harwood House, Citizens to Preserve Overton Park, WEVL, and the Books for Children State Initiative.
PRESTON LAMM
CEO, River City Management Group. B.S., Mississippi State University. Has been with company 25 years. Manages and/or owns 11 restaurants in Memphis and DeSoto County. Received Center City Commission Vision Award, Memphis Restaurant Association Pioneer Award. Past President, Beale Street Merchants Association. Certified Public Accountant. Founded Memphis Musicians Healthcare Program. Supports Palmer Home in DeSoto County and MusiCares.
DAVID LESS
Partner, Memphis International Records, Merless Publishing, LLC. B.A., Communication Arts, Rhodes College; M.A., African American Music, University of Memphis. Member, NARAS, Jazz Journalist Association. Received “Keeping the Blues Alive” award, Blues Foundation. Former Board Member, NARAS, Memphis & Shelby County Music Commission, Folklore Advisory Panel for Tennessee Arts Commission. Board Member, Levitt Shell.
LOUIS JAY MEYERS
Executive Director, Folk Alliance International. Educated, Claremore Junior College; University of Arkansas. Has been with organization five years. Advocates folk and traditional music industry and education, offers services for 2,500+ members, and produces annual International Folk Alliance Conference. Presented the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award to Bob Dylan. Organization provides over $2 million per year in economic impact for the City of Memphis.
SHERRY MISNER
Co-Director, Live at the Garden, Memphis Botanic Garden. Former Director of Marketing, Development, and Special Events for Beale Street Entertainment District. With Co-Director Jamison Totten, has helped make Live at the Garden a premier outdoor entertainment venue in the Mid-South. Has brought in acts such as Harry Connick Jr., Heart, Train, Diana Ross, Joe Cocker, Michael Buble, Michael McDonald, and Earth, Wind and Fire. Live currently hosts five concerts each summer with an annual attendance of over 30,000.
CHRISTOPHER REYES
Founder and Co-Creator, Live from Memphis. B.A., Memphis College of Art. Has been with group for nine years. Produces projects and programs to foster and grow community and to engage creativity and innovation. Received CODA Arts Leadership Award, Rhodes College; MPACT Memphis Maker Award; and two gold medals, five silver medals, and a Mosaic Award at the AAF Memphis Addy Awards. Honorary member, ArtsMemphis, Indie Memphis.
JAY SIELEMAN
Executive Director, The Blues Foundation. J.D., University of Iowa. Foundation is 2011 Governor’s Arts Award recipient. Group will soon move to recently purchased storefront at 421 South Main. Received Foundation’s President’s Award in 2010. Former Assistant General Counsel, Panama Canal Commission (1986-2000) and Peace Corps Volunteer (1983-85 Solomon Islands). Member Mayor’s Beale Street Strategic Planning Committee and Beale Street Note Committee.
JOHNNIE WALKER
Executive Director, Memphis & Shelby County Music Commission. Former VP, R&B Productions, Def Jam Recording. Founder, National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment. Island Def Jam Music Group named #1 Rap Label of the Year and #1 R&B Label by Billboard and Airplay Monitor. “Urban Promotion Executive of the Year” by Radio & Records. Received Woman of Conscience Award, Rainbow/PUSH. Osceola Award, Delta Sigma Theta.
