Jeff Blue
 |
This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (December 2010) |
| Jeffrey Blue | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 21, 1967 |
| Origin | Los Angeles |
| Occupations | Senior Vice president of Artists and Repertoire Music producer Song writer Lawyer |
| Labels | Zomba Music Publishing Warner Bros. Records Interscope Records RCA/J Records Virgin Records Atlantic Records |
| Notable instruments | |
| drums Piano |
|
Jeff Blue is a multi-platinum music producer, A&R executive, songwriter, and lawyer who is currently Artists and Repertoire consultant for Atlantic Records. He has worked as Sr. VP A&R/Staff Producer for Warner Bros. Records|Warner California, Interscope Records, Virgin/Capitol Music Group, Sony/BMG/Jive Records, and RCA/J Records. He has dedicated his entire career to discovering and recruiting unsigned artists and is most notably known for "discovering" and signing Linkin Park, Macy Gray, and The Last Goodnight. In addition to signing Limp Bizkit and Korn, he has written hit singles for artists such as Hoobastank, Syndicate, TLG and has produced numerous platinum movie soundtracks & major label albums resulting in more than 130 Million record sales worldwide.
[edit] Biography
Blue graduated from the University of California (UCLA) and Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. He was a Communications Major focusing on Media Law and after passing the Bar, Blue worked as a music journalist for Billboard, HITS and Entertainment Weekly, and eventually published his own magazine, Crossroads, which focused on discovering unsigned artists while he simultaneously managed, produced, and played drums in two signed major label bands while also working as an attorney for the law offices of Ross Schwartz. During this time he also pursued a career in acting which led to him featuring in many national television commercials.
Zomba Music Publishing was impressed by Blue’s versatility, and hired him. He cites that the combined experience from his professions gave him the insights and thoughts he needed to succeed in the Artists and Repertoire division. During his career with Zomba, Blue taught "Songwriting" and "Artist Development” classes at UCLA, Blue hired guitarist Brad Delson as his intern and signed his band, Xero to a publishing deal on the night of their first performance. After developing Xero for two years, and changing the band name to Hybrid Theory, Blue met Chester Bennington, a singer from Arizona. Blue arranged for Bennington to become a member of the band, which later changed its name to Linkin Park. Blue shopped the band for three years and showcased them forty-four times. Unable to get them a deal, Blue negotiated his employment contract with Warner Bros. Records to include the signing of Linkin Park. Months later, they released their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which has since sold over 60 million albums worldwide.
Blue also developed and co-wrote with an artist named Macy Gray. After recording Gray's demos, Blue secured a deal for the artist with Epic Records and which led to him co-writing the top ten hit "Still" for Gray. During this time Blue also signed rock bands Korn and Limp Bizkit. Blue's discoveries and signings have helped shape popular culture for the last 15 years.
Blue personally signed as a writer to Warner Chappell Music Publishing and in addition to signing [Linkin Park] he worked, signed and developed and wrote for releases such as Queen of the Damned Soundtrack, Beautiful Creatures', several compilations, and co-developed the artist Daniel Powter.
Blue co-produced the 2005 Better than Ezra album, "Before the Robots" which spawned two top ten singles. In 2008 he developed, co-wrote, and co-produced the debut album for Roadrunner artist, Steadlur.
Blue is currently signed as a songwriter to Universal Music Publishing where he co-wrote the 2009 hit single "So Close, So Far" for multi-Platinum artist Hoobastank. Blue won a BMI Award for his songwriting on "Pictures of You" for The Last Goodnight. He additionally produced, A&R'd, and performed on the Virgin Records album which also spawned Australia's #1 song of the year, and "Stay Beautiful"
In December 2009, Blue secured a deal for his development band Shoreline's End with Mercury/Island Def Jam.
Blue currently co-manages, co-A&R's, and co-writes for Omaha rock band Emphatic, who signed to Atlantic Records in December 2009. Emphatic finished recording their major-label debut in Los Angeles with Howard Benson which is set for release early 2011.
His company Rock Shop Music Group focuses on writing and producing for major artists as well as artist development and management. Rock Shop has already yielded three major label signings. Emphatic to Atlantic Records, Shorelines End to Island Def Jam, and Syndicate to Sony. In addition, Blue Developed writers Shawn Hlookoff (EMI), Jared Lee (Universal)
[edit] References
- Mean, Jean-Francois. Jeff Blue - A&R at Warner Bros, CA:, hitquarters.com. Retrieved on August 20, 2007.
- Rolling Stone Magazine, Linkin Park - Biography (March 14, 2002), The Linkin Park Times, Retrieved on June 24, 2007.
