Artists & Contributors
Composer extraordinaire
Jane McNealy
Jane studied
piano at age four with the famed San Francisco teacher, Lev Shore. After college, and more interested in creative pursuits, Jane moved to Los Angeles to work in the pop music market.
« It’s because you have beauty inside that you can see the beauty in others. »
- Jane McNealy
Jane was hired as a staff writer (composer/lyricist) for Mercury records, then Liberty records and finally, Marzique Music Co. owned by Harold Battiste, of Sam Cook and Sonny & Cher fame. She has had more than 200 songs published and recorded—not counting her work in musicals.
The amazing jazz man
Harold Battiste
Harold Battiste was
a music composer, arranger and performer. In 1961, he initiated the first African American musician owned record label, All For One Records. He arranged, performed, and orchestrated Jane's music for three decades.
« What we play when we improvise are spontaneous melodies. »
- Harold Battiste
Harold’s professional contributions as a producer, arranger and writer was to introduce audiences to the New Orleans “sound“. From Sam Cooke and Dr. John to Sonny & Cher.
Northern Soul’s
Tami Lynn
Tami grew up
singing in church choirs where she perfected her voice. She began performing in local R&B clubs in New Orleans after she was discovered by a local musician on a local gospel radio station. This is where she came to meet Harold Battiste and Allen Toussaint who subsequently signed her to their label AFO.
« Like a storm-driven bird at night we fly out of the Nowhere. »
- H. Rider Haggard
She went on to be an opening act for Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and Ella Fitzgerald. Soon after, Jerry Wexler heard her sing and recorded a few songs with her for Atco Records. In 1971, "I'm Gonna Run Away From You" was released as a single, where it became a hit in the UK among fans of Northern soul.
She became a back up singer for many prominent musicians such as Dr. John, The Rolling Stones, and Sonny and Cher.
The terrific voice of
Lydia Marcelle
Growing up
singing in the streets of New Orleans, Lydia's 2+ octave range brought her to the attention of producer Wardell Quezerque who made her a singing sensation.
« The city has a B-flat hum, it’s there, you can hear it. »
- Allen Toussaint
Lydia moved to Los Angeles where she stayed in the historic Hollywood studio club. There she met songwriter, Jane McNealy, and teamed up with arranger, Harold Battiste Jr, to record with United Artists.
The enigmatic
Joyce Dunn
Joyce came into
the fold through Harold Battiste under his publishing company at the time, Marzique Music. Sadly, not much is known behind the talented voice of Joyce Dunn. She sang on one of Jane McNealy’s most beloved tracks, “Turn Away From Darkness” the first single off of Jane’s debut album, Running Around.
« This is the fragment of my broken heart scattered in the light. »
- Jane McNealy
According to a quote from Carlos Santana’s memoir The Universal Tone (2014)