John Breen
Genre: Celtic/World/Folk/Country/Bluegrass
Hailing from the "Garden of Ireland" County Wicklow, where
he still resides, John Breen is intensely passionate, deeply
evocative, with pure powerful singing of traditional Irish and
original songs, combined with an intriguing blend of
contemporary Celtic music. John Breen is, The Irish Voice.
Live on stage, John Breen and his band Finan connect with
their audience and their audience with them. Bringing to the
stage personality and a culmination of his many musical
experiences from touring the EU with Finan, to touring the
U.S.A., to sharing the stage with artists such as Boru, The
Dublin Rogues, The Dublin City Ramblers, Liam O' Faoilin,
Ronnie Ellams and Kieran Brennan, Francie Conway, to name a few,
John Breen & Finan know how to get the party started!
From traditional favorites to original songs, John Breen
impels young and old alike to follow him on a wonderful musical
journey.
Stevie Hawkins
Genre: Blues/Soul/Funk/R&B/Jazz/Classic Rock/Southern
Rock
A vocalist, drummer, producer, engineer and composer, Stevie
Hawkins is a very diverse talent and touring recording artist.
Stevie's recent accolades include: 2012 Artists In Music Awards
"Best Jazz Artist", 2012 Indie Music Channel "Best Blues Male
Artist", 2012 Los Angeles Music Awards "Male Singer/Songwriter"
and "Record of the Year". 2013 brought home the Los Angeles
Music Awards "Urban Artist" award. All awards were presented at
red carpet events in Hollywood, California.
Over the years, Stevie has worked with major recording
artists: Daryle Singletary, Percy Sledge, Albert King, John Lee
Hooker, Rufus Thomas, Glen Campbell, Tanya Tucker, Bertie
Higgins, Johnny Rodriguez, Doug Stone, Jeff Carson, Ed Bruce,
Razzy Bailey, among others.
Stevie has released three exciting and popular albums on
Emphasis Records, "Georgia Jam - Live" (Jam Band), "High Time"
(Blues/Soul/R&B), and the critically acclaimed multi-award
winning "What The Funk?" (Funk/Soul/Jazz/Blues/Latin). He
released a single cover of the Ray Charles classic "Georgia On
My Mind" in mid 2014.
He also serves as the primary producer, engineer and A&R for
Emphasis artists and their releases. Look for more great music
from Stevie Hawkins in the future.
The founding members of Eric Quincy Tate are Tommy Carlisle
and Donnie McCormick. Tommy and Donnie met in 1963 when Tommy
joined Donnie's band "The Kings." The band had several regional
hits cutting for the Jox label in San Antonio, Texas.
While playing in Texas, Eric Quincy Tate made a strong
impression on songwriter/artist/producer Tony Joe White. White
played an important role in getting the band heard by Capricorn
Records in Macon, GA. Demos were recorded at Capricorn which
caught the ear of legendary Atlantic Records producer Jerry
Wexler. In late 1969 EQT inked a management deal with Phil
Walden. They recorded their first album for Cotillion Records
(subsidiary of Atlantic Records) with producers Tony Joe White,
Jerry Wexler and Tom Dowd. In 1970, their first album titled
"Eric Quincy Tate" was released on Cotillion.
In the early 1970s, EQT performed concerts in Atlanta with
The Allman Brothers Band. EQT also performed with, among
others, Little Walter, Ted Nugent, B.B. King, Johnny Winter,
Wet Willie, Dr. John, Tony Joe White, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Papa John
Creach, REO Speedwagon and Yes.
In 1976 EQT released "Can't Keep A Good Band Down" recorded
live at The Whipping Post in Augusta, GA, with Sonny Limbo
producing in association with Atlanta music icon Bill
Lowery.
On September 9, 2006, the original EQT band members Donnie
McCormick, Tommy Carlisle, David Cantonwine, and Wayne "Bear"
Sauls, reunited for a 37th Anniversary reunion show at Northside
Tavern in Atlanta, GA. Producer/Engineer Stevie Hawkins recorded
and mixed the historic performance for Emphasis Records, and the
album titled "Thirty-Seven" is the results of show. This album is
the last live recording made of Eric Quincy Tate, as Donnie McCormick
and guitarist Wayne Sauls have both since passed away.
A founding member of Eric Quincy Tate, Donnie McCormick was
one of the early pioneers of blues-based Southern Rock, and a
global blues music legend. Donnie had a vocal and drumming
style all his own not to be emulated. He was a teacher, a
mentor, and had an impact and positive influence on musicians
and fans alike throughout his life and career.
Donnie was very charismatic, loved to entertain, and he
worked very hard to capture his audience. Besides playing a
regular drum set, he loved to play his signature instrument, a
wooden chicken coop.
Throughout his career, Donnie was also sought after to work
with some of the greatest artists and producers of of all time
including: Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers Band, B.B. King,
Dr. John, Wet Willie, William Bell, Tony Joe White, Tom Dowd,
Stevie Hawkins and Jerry Wexler.
Donnie recorded with Eric Quincy Tate and as a solo artist.
His last live solo album "Donnie McCormick & Friends - 1st Set"
was recorded and produced by Stevie Hawkins, and released by
Emphasis Records.
He always put his heart and soul into the music, whether
there were ten people in the audience or a ten-thousand. Donnie
is greatly missed, but his legacy lives on.
Wayne "Bear" Sauls
Genre: Electric Blues/Southern Rock/Soul
Guitarist Wayne "Bear" Sauls' career found him having the
opportunity to share the stage with such greats as the Allman
Brothers, Charlie Daniels, Warren Haynes, David Allan Coe, the
Nighthawks, and many more. Bear was one of those fortunate
musicians who lived, played, and contributed to the birthing of
Southern Rock music. Throughout the years, Bear established a
style that has been copied but never duplicated.
As lead guitarist for Eric Quincy Tate, Bear rode the wave
of some of the greatest years of rock and roll. He joined the
band in 1973 and performed nationally as well as recording on
such labels as Atlantic, Cotillion, Capricorn, GRC Records, SLI
Records, and Chikin Scratch Records.
In the early eighties he formed the Stone Mountain Band with
long time friends Lou Thorpe and Ray Jarrell. The band played
southeastern venues opening for artists such as Bo Diddly,
Johnny Winter and Frank Zappa.
Through the remainder of the eighties, he played lead guitar
for one of the hottest country bands of the day, David Allan
Coe. Bear traveled internationally with Coe's band until the
late eighties when he formed The Bear Facts Band.
For the remainder of his life, Bear continued to play and
tour with The Bear Facts Band, becoming a mainstay at Daytona's
annual Bike Week. Wayne Sauls lived an exceptionally rich life
and overcame the odds many times, more than ever expected. He
was, and still is, loved by all who knew him, and even by a few
who only knew of him. Musicians who had the opportunity to
share the stage with him will remember his fierce, undiluted
stage presence. He had a way of looking at fellow musicians
that would inspire them to explore their instruments in ways
that they never imagined. His performance onstage was like his
performance in life: unrehearsed and yet perfect every
time.
Justin Hawkins
Genre: Jam Band/Blues/Jazz Rock/Soul/Reggae
Justin Hawkins is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee. He
lived in Atlanta, Georgia for several years where
he began honing his music skills by performing at
night clubs, concert venues, recording sessions,
and practice. He currently resides in Columbus, Ohio where he
regularly performs concerts and clubs on guitar and
vocals with the stellar rock band "Travelers By Dawn",
while continuing his personal musical quests.
Justin was born into a music family. At a very young age,
he was exposed to vast variety of music and artists
in the recording studio environment where he spent
many hours watching, listening, and learning the
ropes of music and its production. By the age of
seven, he had learned how to navigate a recording
console, utilize rack components, basic midi
programming, and operate a multi-track tape
machine. Around the age of eight, Justin began
creating and recording his own music to multi-track
tape using a sequenced midi keyboard workstation, playing drums,
and singing.
As the years progressed, he developed into a gifted
songwriter, producer, and a extraordinary wailing guitarist fueled
with energy, creativity and spontaneity. His inborn
natural sense of feel and musical abilities are
truly amazing. When Justin hits the stage or
studio, it is no holds barred scenario.
Justin has a wide mix of influences ranging from Blues,
Rock, Jazz, Funk and Soul, Singer/Songwriter,
Alternative, Hip-Hop, among others. He fuses
those influences with outcomes of his own unique
brand, style, and sound.
He has performed shows with Blues and Rock music legends,
Wayne Sauls & The Bear Facts Band, Eddie
Tigner, Little Brother, Sean Costello, Buddy
Miles, among others.
Musicians who have the opportunity to perform with
Justin experience his fiery "on the edge"
musical passion. He has a unique way of inspiring
those who perform with him to explore their
instruments, elevating them to
higher spiritual planes of performance and
execution, in ways that they would have never
before imagined possible. Justin's onstage
performances are like his performance in life:
unrehearsed and yet exceptional every time.
