Mack Damon
Encyclopedia
Mack Damon is a successful record producer
and recording engineer based in San Antonio, Texas
. Originally a musician
at an early age, his career has guided him to through the following successful endeavors:
Touring Musician, Session musician
, Grammy nominated recording engineer, Radio DJ, Arranger
, Studio Manager,
Record Producer
, VP of Label Operations, Recording Studio
Designer, and Recording Studio Owner.
Damon, the youngest of two siblings, attended the University of North Texas
in the early nineties where he was re-introduced to the technology of recording and computers. The transition between the two was becoming seamless in modern production, and Damon was "hooked". He eventually assisted teaching MUAG1217, an introductory course in Electronic music
, while at the University. After a few semesters at UNT, Mack continued performing with bands, and eventually ended up with a recording job at Oh So Good! productions. The small facility put him in touch with many up and coming artists that he would produce, and then leave to perform and tour with.
In 1995, Mack and his boss, Dub Hankins, built the Rhapsody Street Studios facility, and Mack produced and engineered 11 full-length releases in the first 2 years. After a renovation and expansion, Mack moved into urban/rap/hip hop
production and completed 14 releases in the following 18 month period.
In 1999, Damon started teaching audio engineering part-time, and worked with local school districts to offer high-school students a chance to work in a real recording studio environment. In addition, adult community-ed programs have been built around his lectures.
Also in 1999, Mack Damon began showing his photography
to other artists, and eventually became a prolific photographer of musicians, documenting the recording process, and preparing images for marketing materials. His photography work has appeared in national print publications, on the web, and on TV.
Mack Damon served as the president of the Texas Music Coalition for two terms, starting in 2004.
In 2003, Mack put together a group of investors and bought Rhapsody Street Studios.
In 2003 Damon's production and engineering work on the Frijoles Romanticos
self-titled CD was nominated twice (on two separate albums) for Tejano Album of the year (category 63) in the American Grammy awards, and once for Tejano album of the year in the Latin Grammy awards.
Mack has produced, recorded, or engineered a number of commercially successful names: Vicki Carr, Bun B
, Stone Cold Steve Austin
, Mystikal
, Lil Wayne
, the Broadway cast of Jesus Christ Superstar
, Baby Bash
, Laura Canales
, Bobby Pulido
, and more.
His client list includes: Priority Records
, MTV
, Universal Records
, EMI
, Warner Music Group
, WWE
, Microsoft
(Xbox
Division), General Motors, GlaxoSmithKline
, Chrysler, National Association of Broadcasters
(NAB), Augsburg Fortress
Publishing, and more.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and recording engineer based in San Antonio, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Originally a musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
at an early age, his career has guided him to through the following successful endeavors:
Touring Musician, Session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
, Grammy nominated recording engineer, Radio DJ, Arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
, Studio Manager,
Record Producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, VP of Label Operations, Recording Studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
Designer, and Recording Studio Owner.
Damon, the youngest of two siblings, attended the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
in the early nineties where he was re-introduced to the technology of recording and computers. The transition between the two was becoming seamless in modern production, and Damon was "hooked". He eventually assisted teaching MUAG1217, an introductory course in Electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
, while at the University. After a few semesters at UNT, Mack continued performing with bands, and eventually ended up with a recording job at Oh So Good! productions. The small facility put him in touch with many up and coming artists that he would produce, and then leave to perform and tour with.
In 1995, Mack and his boss, Dub Hankins, built the Rhapsody Street Studios facility, and Mack produced and engineered 11 full-length releases in the first 2 years. After a renovation and expansion, Mack moved into urban/rap/hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
production and completed 14 releases in the following 18 month period.
In 1999, Damon started teaching audio engineering part-time, and worked with local school districts to offer high-school students a chance to work in a real recording studio environment. In addition, adult community-ed programs have been built around his lectures.
Also in 1999, Mack Damon began showing his photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
to other artists, and eventually became a prolific photographer of musicians, documenting the recording process, and preparing images for marketing materials. His photography work has appeared in national print publications, on the web, and on TV.
Mack Damon served as the president of the Texas Music Coalition for two terms, starting in 2004.
Commercial Success
In 1996, Damon's production and engineering work on "Dr. Maggie's Play and Discover Language" was recognized with a Grammy nomination for "Best Musical Album for Children". In 17 successive releases with Dr. Maggie under a series of major educational publishers, Damon's work has sold more than 500,000 copies.In 2003, Mack put together a group of investors and bought Rhapsody Street Studios.
In 2003 Damon's production and engineering work on the Frijoles Romanticos
Frijoles Romanticos
Frijoles Romanticos, a primarily Latin-themed band, which originated in McAllen, Texas, blends rock, cumbia, Latin Funk, and ballad styles.-Members:...
self-titled CD was nominated twice (on two separate albums) for Tejano Album of the year (category 63) in the American Grammy awards, and once for Tejano album of the year in the Latin Grammy awards.
Mack has produced, recorded, or engineered a number of commercially successful names: Vicki Carr, Bun B
Bun B
Bernard Freeman better known by his stage name Bun B, is an American rapper and was one half of the southern hip hop duo UGK . He is also a guest lecturer at Rice University located in Houston, Texas...
, Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
, Mystikal
Mystikal
Michael Lawrence Tyler , better known by his stage name Mystikal, is an American rapper, and actor from New Orleans.-1993-1994: Early career:...
, Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
, the Broadway cast of Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
, Baby Bash
Baby Bash
Ronnie Ray Bryant , better known by his stage name Baby Bash , is a Mexican-American rapper. From 1995 to 1998, he performed under the stage name Baby Beesh, as part of the Vallejo, California group Potna Duece, after which he changed the last part of the name to Bash...
, Laura Canales
Laura Canales
Laura Canales was an American Tejano musician and an original inductee in the Tejano Roots Hall of Fame. Canales was born in Kingsville, Texas.-Early years:...
, Bobby Pulido
Bobby Pulido
Roberto Pulido Jr. , better known as Bobby Pulido, is a Mexican-American Tejano music performer who was born in Edinburg, Texas.-Family:...
, and more.
His client list includes: Priority Records
Priority Records
Priority Records is an American record label, owned and operated by EMI, which has made a name for itself dealing primarily in hip hop, pop and world...
, MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, Universal Records
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
, EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
, WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
, Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
(Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
Division), General Motors, GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline plc is a global pharmaceutical, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare company headquartered in London, United Kingdom...
, Chrysler, National Association of Broadcasters
National Association of Broadcasters
The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association, workers union, and lobby group representing the interests of for-profit, over-the-air radio and television broadcasters in the United States...
(NAB), Augsburg Fortress
Augsburg Fortress
Augsburg Fortress is the official publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and also publishes for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada as Augsburg Fortress Canada...
Publishing, and more.