1. I FELL OUT OF A CLEAR BLUE SKY
I have always since childhood been under the influence of a style of music that
struck a nerve……
All through my schooldays and early teens music was the striving force, these
memories are so important to me, to remember how music affects each new
generation….
The bolt out of the blue really started when I bumped into Tom Davies who back then
was writing the Pendennis column in the Sunday Observer, ( A wonderful chapter
about these times was included in Tom’s book ‘ Testament ‘ We met at the Cannes
Film Festival and I was in town to go to The Who’s Premier of ‘ Quadrophenia. This
became an epic few days as I also went to the most exclusive after party at the Villia
Francia in the foothills outside Cannes. With my german girlfriend Regina we danced
the night away amongst powerful Industry guests and in the gardens members of The
Who, The Rolling Stones and David Essex….
Back in London at The Who’s London premier I met Steve Margo who enjoyed the
same high charged energy as me. Some time later Steve joined EMI Records and then
the fun really started….
To condense a mad few years, I gained the most intimate and insightful knowledge of
the music industry. At EMI you had the young lions who I used to mix with, Nick
Gatfield came to see one of my bands, Nigel Elderton then at EMI Publishing, Charles
Law…music lawyer and Steve Margo who would eventually move to Warner Bros in
L.A. Some major highlights; driving to Connecticut with Capitol Records Bruce
Garfield to see Billy Squiers in concert, meeting Carol Weston who was still working
with George Martin, which led me and Carol standing with The Beatles, George &
their wives at a pre movie reception for Paul’s film ‘ Give My Regards To
Broadway .Meeting legendary Mo Ostin backstage at Baton Rouge with The Who.
Travelling across America, Europe and the U.K. with Guest Passes for The Who.
Sitting with Steve following a personal invite from Roger Daltry to watch a private
screening with him at Pinewood of his new film McVicar. ( We drove there Roger
landed in his personal helicopter.) Going to the grand re-opening of Liverpools ‘ The
Cavern. And what a lot of people would have died for, Backstage Pass and special
seats for Live Aid at Wembley.
2. While all this ballyhoo was unfolding, guys started coming up to me who were in
young bands and asking me to check them out and this led me into my early days of
artist management….
With an action packed journey to the stars and back I wanted to use this experience to
create an artist that was a natural talent and could create a lifelong impact…
Enter the new world of Hip Hop.
If you read up and look into the histories of so many legendary acts, one thing they all
have in common is that success never comes overnight. That is why I so much love
finding raw talent and developing young artist’s. Also as a visionary I am comfortable
with future fashions and trends, I’ve always kept close to the ground and have some
tremendous talent that I am nurturing…
My very first band The Keytones are still performing in different guises 25 years
later. D.J. Destruction who I took from day one to become an outstanding hip hop
producer who worked on the entire Adam F album for EMI ‘ Kaos ‘
The artist I have also worked with from day one has learnt to go through all the hoops,
the moving staircase that is the music industry. I turned my back on the easy
formulated route as an music manager, when the top man at EMI made a public
statement that he expected 9 out of 10 acts they signed to fail, I thought okay I’m
going to put all my experience to one act that will stand the test of time…….
Harry Shotta a name that is a twist on Harry Potter, the difference being that our
Harry is fact not fiction and delivers magical rhymes.
Harry’s career grows daily totally taking advantage of the Digital Age and Social
Media Marketing. This led us to working with the founder of Channel AKA Darren
Platt, sadly Darren had a life threatening illness and is taking a very long restorative
break.
For more on Harry you can read his own Bio and keep up to date on his Twitter page.
When I stood chatting to Annie Nightingale at the bar minutes before The Who’s
comeback performance following the tragic death of Keith Moon, little did I know
what an amazing journey the Gods had in store!
David Ross Invisiblemeans Management ( Nothing happens by accident )