Fowl Records
Encyclopedia
Fowl Records was co-founded in 1994
by Jimi Haha from Jimmie's Chicken Shack
, Richard James Burgess
, the band's manager (Burgess Worldco Inc.) and Chris Keith, the band's agent (Creative Booking International, Inc.) as a means to release Jimmie's Chicken Shack's first two independent CDs. Almost immediately it became the top indie label in the Mid-Atlantic region specializing in alternative rock
, punk, and jam bands. From 1998 to the closure of the label in 2002
Chris Smoker was the label manager.
cd called 2 For 1 Special. 1995 a live cd called Giving Something Back was released. In 1996 Fowl incorporated and released "An Udderly Fowl Release," a compilation featuring regional powerhouses like the Kelly Bell Band, All Mighty Senators, Mary Prankster
, and the unreleased Jimmie's Chicken Shack song, "Bongjam." There was a later compilation entitled "A Family Fowlbum."
Fowl was not focused on a particular genre of music, but regarded by its founders as a development tool for local and regional bands in the Mid-Atlantic Music Scene
to gain exposure through Fowl's substantial local, regional and national distribution network as well as their online store which was one of the first independent online music and music merchandise stores. The Fowl Records business model was built around grass roots and lifestyle promotion, leveraging mail and (early) email lists gleaned from the substantial fanbases the bands developed by playing as many shows as possible. Fowl sold hundreds of thousands and possibly millions of CDs through its own distribution network.
At its peak Fowl was able to leverage its success and respect in the area by launching the local band stage, which was initially called "The Fowl Stage," at the highly regarded HFStival. Several of the label's artists won Wammies
from the Washington Area Music Association
. In the days before the massive consolidation of radio properties the programming staff at WHFS were highly supportive of Fowl Records, Jimmie's Chicken Shack and the label's other artists.
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1994 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1994.-January–February:*January 25 – Alice in Chains release their Jar of Flies album which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first ever EP to do so....
by Jimi Haha from Jimmie's Chicken Shack
Jimmie's Chicken Shack
Jimmie's Chicken Shack is an American alternative rock band from Annapolis, Maryland. They emerged through MTV as one of the first Post-Grunge bands of the era...
, Richard James Burgess
Richard James Burgess
Richard James Burgess is a studio drummer, music-computer programmer, recording artist, record producer, composer, author, manager, marketer and inventor. He was the producer for Spandau Ballet's first two albums.-Education:...
, the band's manager (Burgess Worldco Inc.) and Chris Keith, the band's agent (Creative Booking International, Inc.) as a means to release Jimmie's Chicken Shack's first two independent CDs. Almost immediately it became the top indie label in the Mid-Atlantic region specializing in alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
, punk, and jam bands. From 1998 to the closure of the label in 2002
2002 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI...
Chris Smoker was the label manager.
Releases
Fowl released the first three J.C.S. recordings. the cassettes Chicken Scratch in 1993 Spit Burger Lottery in 1994 which were later put on onecd called 2 For 1 Special. 1995 a live cd called Giving Something Back was released. In 1996 Fowl incorporated and released "An Udderly Fowl Release," a compilation featuring regional powerhouses like the Kelly Bell Band, All Mighty Senators, Mary Prankster
Mary Prankster
Mary Prankster was the moniker for a U.S. singer-songwriter primarily associated with Baltimore who played a blend of alternative/indie music with extremely frank lyrics. The name is a reference to Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters...
, and the unreleased Jimmie's Chicken Shack song, "Bongjam." There was a later compilation entitled "A Family Fowlbum."
Fowl was not focused on a particular genre of music, but regarded by its founders as a development tool for local and regional bands in the Mid-Atlantic Music Scene
Mid-Atlantic Music Scene
The Mid-Atlantic music scene consists of mostly unsigned bands from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia...
to gain exposure through Fowl's substantial local, regional and national distribution network as well as their online store which was one of the first independent online music and music merchandise stores. The Fowl Records business model was built around grass roots and lifestyle promotion, leveraging mail and (early) email lists gleaned from the substantial fanbases the bands developed by playing as many shows as possible. Fowl sold hundreds of thousands and possibly millions of CDs through its own distribution network.
At its peak Fowl was able to leverage its success and respect in the area by launching the local band stage, which was initially called "The Fowl Stage," at the highly regarded HFStival. Several of the label's artists won Wammies
Washington Area Music Awards
The Washington Area Music Awards are a music award for Washington, D.C. area performers, issued by the Washington Area Music Association . The awards are issued at an annual awards program....
from the Washington Area Music Association
Washington Area Music Association
The Washington Area Music Association is a regional music industry not-for-profit organization based in Washington, D.C.. WAMA's activity centers around highlighting the area's cultural contribution by assisting regional musicians with becoming recognized on a national scale.The organization...
. In the days before the massive consolidation of radio properties the programming staff at WHFS were highly supportive of Fowl Records, Jimmie's Chicken Shack and the label's other artists.
Fowl Bands
- All Mighty Senators
- Baltic Avenue
- Cactus Patch
- .click.
- Colouring Lesson
- Cubic Feet
- Doug Segree
- FidelFidelFidel is a given name, of Latin origin and stemming from fidelis, meaning "faithful". The name is most prominently associated with Cuba's leader Fidel Castro.-Other persons:*Fidel Dávila Arrondo, Spanish army officer during Spanish Civil War...
- Imbue
- JepettoJepettoJepetto was a popular band from 1994 to 2004 from Annapolis, Maryland. The band was managed by Adam Wheatley of Funkstarr Entertainment. They got their "Big Break" when they won the HFStival Big Break contest in 1999. Disbanded in 2004, Jepetto had a reunion show in March 2006...
- Jimmie's Chicken ShackJimmie's Chicken ShackJimmie's Chicken Shack is an American alternative rock band from Annapolis, Maryland. They emerged through MTV as one of the first Post-Grunge bands of the era...
- Kelly Bell Band
- Laughing ColorsLaughing ColorsLaughing Colors is a rock band from Baltimore/Washington DC.-Members:*Dave Tieff *Will Dorsey, Jr. *Dan Welsh *Corey Hall -Band history:...
- Live Alien BroadcastLive Alien BroadcastLive Alien Broadcast is a Baltimore-based rock band that began between the Washington D.C. suburb of Gaithersburg, Maryland and Baltimore City, as a straight up heavy band and later incorporated a DJ and samples to their sound.-Biography:...
- Margret HeaterMargret Heater-Biography:Margret Heater formed in 1997 Fayetteville, North Carolina and later relocated to Baltimore, Maryland. The group had experimented with many styles in the metal and heavy metal genre. In 2000, the band toured both the East and West Coasts extensively without major label support, all...
- Mary PranksterMary PranksterMary Prankster was the moniker for a U.S. singer-songwriter primarily associated with Baltimore who played a blend of alternative/indie music with extremely frank lyrics. The name is a reference to Ken Kesey's Merry Pranksters...
- Rebel Amish Radio
- RezinRezinKing Rezin of Aram or Rasin of Syria in DRB ruled from Damascus during the 8th century BC. During his reign he was a tributary of King Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria....
- Spooky Daly Pride
- Underfoot
- Venus Sparkplug
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