The debut album of Gino Matteo, "I've Been Thinkin'", came about through the effort and hard work of many devoted people: family, friends, fellow musicians, fans..... the list goes on.
After Gino went to Chicago to compete in the Guitar Center "King of the Blues" final competition, his sister Kelly, brother-in-law Ron and friend Liz decided to pursue his music career full force. Together, all four of them formed a company, Iridium Music Group LLC to act as an all-inclusive record label, promotion, management, merchandise, publishing and anything else they could think of company for all things Gino. Iridium has future plans to sign and record more music from various artists, but is currently focused mainly on Gino.
Due to the changing nature of the music industry they decided to keep it all in house and not look for major label support. What followed was an unbelievable series of fortuitous events - everything seemed to come together with a will of it's own. The project took on an unexpected life.
Kelly & Ron have been landscape contractors for many years and just happened to get a customer, who turned out to be a producer (Chris Desmond), who's wife is a photographer and graphic designer (Katina Desmond). Well, that got the ball rolling. Gino and Chris worked out the arrangements and selection of the songs for the record in just 2 months. Fortunately, Chris knew an engineer, Mark Curry, who just happened to be between movies and looking for a different kind of project.
Gino had been working on a band line-up for a while, but the guys he most wanted to play with just happened to all be available for rehearsal and studio time to put the project together.
The record was recorded at Stagg Street Studios in Van Nuys California and mastered at the Mastering Lab in Hollywood by Grammy winner, Robert Hadley. The staff at Stagg was awesome and recording there was fun and a pleasure for the whole 10 days that it took. Oddly, they just happened to get a Hammond B3 available during those 10 days. Robert did an awesome job with the mastering, plus, he just happened to have a really cool idea for the track, 'Drinkin' Stright Tequila".
Special thanks go out to Chris Cain, Tom Waits and Robbie Robertson for writing the songs the Gino wanted to cover, and then letting him do it!
Everybody who was asked, participated in the record and added to the overall great production result. Magic Li did a phenomenal job on harmonica and backing vocals. Morris "Mo" Beeks showed everybody what it means to really be able to sing. LaChelle came in and added her sweet and sweaty vocals for a whole new dimension of sound. Michael Fell just rocked "Drinkin' Straight Tequila" on harmonica. One of the best and most bizarre "just happened" moments was that Tom Saviano, Steve Madaio and Nick Lane were all in town and willing to help out with their horns. What a fortunate event! Liz Greenwood supplied tap dancing, singing back-up and providing myriad special effects. Everybody who happened to be in the studio (who could keep time) got dragged in as "Saucy Hand Clappers" one day! Fun was had by all!
When "I've Been Thinkin'" finally got to post production, Mark Curry and Chris Desmond displayed an unmeasurable worth in putting it all together. Just take a listen and the love can be heard. Thanks guys!