Greg Medoro, singer/songwriter records debut album, 14 Sunset Way, with record label, "Odds On Records".

Greg Medoro – Singer/Songwriter Records
Debut Album ‘14 Sunset Way’
Greg Medoro - After years serving in the Corporate World, Medoro reunites with former Central New York musical colleagues and signs with Las Vegas based record label ‘Odds On Records’ to record his emotionally compelling debut titled ’14 Sunset Way’.  

 

Greg Medoro was hanging out with his lifelong friend Dom DeRosa, enjoying a typically casual suburban conversation, when DeRosa gave it to him straight. “Why aren't you writing music anymore?” Dom DeRosa, a longtime professional teaching musician and mentor struck a nerve, urging Medoro—a successful Las Vegas business professional--to go back to his first love, music. “You haven't touched a guitar or written a single note in years…..it's a real shame.”

These words deeply inspired Medoro, who immediately thought back to the budding career he left behind years ago. Back then, the naturally gifted singer, songwriter and fledgling guitarist joined the highly sought after Rochester, New York based Mother Freedom Band while still a student in high school. For years after, Medoro's life was consumed with writing, rehearsal, recording and performing, as the group played nightclubs, television, national college tours and gigged everywhere from New York to California from Miami to Montreal.

The act demo'd some of the songs Medoro wrote as a teenager as well as collaborations with singer Jim Richmond at the suggestion of a young A&R executive with Epic Records in New York, before hastily signing with another label. The first album succeeded in providing many more lucrative national tour dates, but the band soon began to rethink its musical strategy.  Mother Freedom Band ultimately evolved into a jazz-fusion style as Medoro left, moved West and found a new life beyond the music in Las Vegas.

After more conversations with DeRosa, Medoro began writing “Lost Melody,” his first composition in years, and a handful of others. He performed them for a few friends, and their impressions and reactions were overwhelming. “I played the first few songs for Dom and he immediately urged me to get them recorded and shop them for publishing,” says Medoro. “I pulled out the Yellow pages looking for local recording studios. One of them literally hung up in my ear when I explained what I wanted to do. I thought maybe this wasn't meant to be after all. Then I remembered driving by the Ethel M Chocolate Factory and seeing a sign nearby that said ‘Recording Studios.' I checked the phone book and found Odds On Recording. They invited me to their facility, where I had the good fortune of meeting a most encouraging group of professionals.”

He titled his album 14 Sunset Way after the address of the facility where he and Bobby Ferrari, Head of Production and A&R for Odds On Records, spent many wonderfully fruitful months producing the culmination of Medoro's full-fledged musical comeback, a process the artist likens to “finally thawing the frozen poet inside.” Although the ten heartfelt, tracks of pure non-fiction, relate intimate reflections of joy, heartbreak, found and lost love, bright optimism and harsh realities, in many ways 14 Sunset Way is a celebratory return to the artist's youthful musical roots. In fact, three of the featured musicians—bassist Rafael Ortiz, keyboardist/Hammond B-3 player Michael Loman and saxophonist Jim Richmond—were all members of the Mother Freedom Band.

Medoro is paying homage to these humble beginnings by returning to Rochester to officially launch 14 Sunset Way on the radio and to rehearse for his new band's proposed upcoming tour. On April 7 at 8 a.m., the artist will be appearing on the city's most celebrated classic rock station WCMF 96.5 to introduce snippets from the collection during an on air interview. Later that day Odds On Records will host an invitation only meet and greet during live rehearsal at Rochester's High Fidelity nightclub, where he will perform “Imagining You” and many of the album's other songs for the first time.

“I'm really looking forward to playing this material live,” he says. “It is very important to me to get the ball rolling in the place where it all started for me so many years ago.”

The incredible story behind Medoro's ultimate connection with Odds On Studios and now, Odds On Records, is bound to inspire several generations of independent singer/songwriters. Young musicians can appreciate his intense persistence, while older would-be artists will be inclined to dust off their old guitar and piano, get back in touch with their musical souls and try slowly conquering the world again.

“I entered their studios for the first time and was amazed at their state of the art equipment,” he adds, “as well as the virtually mint cache of vintage equipment acquired and maintained from the classic days of recording. I met then studio manager and chief engineer, Bobby Ferrari and explained what I wanted to attempt; he later became integral to my developing from a songwriter to a full-fledged artist. From the beginning, he had me feeling like I could do this, almost like a great musical psychologist. When we finished recording some basic guide tracks, staff engineer Justin Willmon suggested that I enlist Bobby's extensive industry background in the role of producer. After days of discussion regarding concepts, organization, style, arrangement and a grueling schedule, the ground rules were set in place, Bobby agreed and the odyssey began. Ironically, Bobby mentioned that the principals of the company were developing another artist and seriously considering a label division of the company that would be called Odds On Records.

“Once I signed to the label, Odds On contributed the resources and support required to develop the entire project. The overall process took more than a year from start to finish, and I am overwhelmed with the results. The management and staff at the label made it so comfortable for me to utilize the creative side of who I am. There were times during performances and playback as the production developed, that I found myself literally at the point of tears.”

Each of the ten songs on 14 Sunset Way is a micro chronology containing intimate narrations of real relationships spanning a lifetime. From the exhilaration and anticipation of meeting someone new and exciting (“Imagining You”) to the darkness that appears when a relationship begins to crumble (“My Umbrella”), from the hope for the rebirth of passion (“Rescue Me”) to the desperate search for a (“Lost Melody”) the album captures a fresh, honest view of everyday life in a warm and familiar yet sometimes edgy musical landscape.

“It's so wonderful to finally have this opportunity to make music again, and in a way that allows me to be so upfront and uncompromising,” he says. “This is what I love, and I'm doing what I enjoy doing and saying everything I have to say in my songs. In the coming years, I'm sure new life experiences will inspire me to convey much more and I'm excited about the opportunity to express those feelings as well. It's great to experience the process of songs becoming even larger than I ever imagined. I hope by doing this project that I can inspire people who are thinking of doing something like this to stop talking about it and start making it happen.”

Greg Medoro was a featured guest on SouthwestBlend.com’s online radio show ‘Champagne Sundays’, on Sunday, June 29^th. The show aired live from 11am-1pm, Pacific Time. To listen to the entire, unedited show – Click Here. To listen to Greg's interview, please double click on the Play button below.

 

‘14 Sunset Way’ Album Review - Greg Medoro’s new album ’14 Sunset Way’ is a breath of fresh air offering a refreshing selection of songs featuring Greg’s smooth vocals and flowing harmonies, and mature melodies that stick with a light pop and a lick of soft rock influence. He’s a great story teller with lyrics that every listener can identify with, and just the right dose of emotion to get you thinking, and remembering. Review by Lisa D. Smith.

For more about Greg Medoro visit www.GregMedoro.com