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What musical instrument do you use to exemplify gargantuan structures and other magnificent marvels of man’s architectural imagination? Electric guitar, of course. And that’s exactly what Ed Grenga employed as his musical main ingredient, when Powderhouse Productions called on HB to create the theme for Discovery Channel’s program, Extreme Engineering.
After several creative sessions with executive producer, Joel Olicker and editor/cameraman Rob Kirwan, Ed decided on a thunderous drum kit, a pumping keyboard sequencer, vocal shouts and finally, a huge orchestra to fortify the melodic theme. Grenga programmed and played all the keyboards, sequencers, drums and percussion. Kook Lawry contributed crunching guitar chords throughout.
Extreme Engineering unveils some of the most ambitious architectural plans of our times. Some are theoretical; others are in the works. But all must face challenges that stretch the definition of what's possible. Some of them are projects that have already been completed, like Honk Kong's airport. Others talk about projects that are currently under construction, like Tunneling Under the Alps or more futuristic projects that may never be done, like the Transatlantic Tunnel. Extreme Engineering tells the stories of the big builds that are changing the world we live in!
Check your local listings for program schedule (Discovery).
Director/Producer David Vos of This Old House Productions wanted a fresh, acid jazz music theme for his new television program on PBS called Find!. Find! explores the worlds of collecting and antiques, interior design, and style. The hit show features popular antiques experts Leigh and Leslie Keno (of Antique Roadshow fame) and interior designer Alexa Hampton.
Each episode begins with the Kenos visiting viewers' homes around the country, searching for unexpected treasures.
HB composer, Ed Grenga dusted off his Hammond organ and created an infectious, hip-hop, hippety hop, jazz groove that is both sparkly and full of zest.
To get the desired effect, Ed assembled an all-star rhythm section comprised of Joe Davis on drums, Webster Roach on bass and, of course, himself on organ. His signature melody was performed on trumpet (muted and unmuted) by Keishi Hashimoto.
Check your local listings for program schedule (PBS).
Handsome Brothers has completed production of a new promotional song called, “It’s Great To Be Here” for Boston’s WB 56.
HB composer/producer Kook Lawry, teamed up on acoustic guitar with promotion director Steve Ratner and producer/director Andy Deal (also the song’s lyricist) to create a heartfelt, folk rock anthem to the great life in Boston.
Tone Cool/Artemis Records recording artist and singer/songwriter, Todd Thibaud sang the various versions of the tune. Ed Grenga contributed piano and Mike McMahon played electric guitar.
Handsome Brothers kicked off 2003 on a high note creating and producing the national radio campaigns for Robert Burton Associates’ brands, E-Z Wider Cigarette Rolling Papers and Joker Cigarette Rolling Papers. HB Executive Producer, Douglas Stevens worked with RBA Marketing Director, Kevin Dunn developing the music and comedy concepts, writing and creating the scripts.
For E-Z Wider, Handsome Brothers extended their series of ‘fly on a wall’ views of singers and bands, in a variety of genres, auditioning for the chance to be in an E-Z Wider radio commercial. The song, “Roll Your Own”, sung to the public domain melody of “Row Your Boat”, is parodied by a geriatric rock group called The Early Birds, an angry alternative singer named Anita Biggin, a foul mouth rapper named Potty Mouth and a boy band called The Special Class Boys. Red Peters reprised his role as the smart aleck producer on the talkback mic and Kook Lawry as the wry engineer introducing the acts and slating the takes. Ed Grenga arranged and produced the rock, alternative, rap and pop songs and vocals and Herb Ross engineered the audio mix. John Lisanti is the announcer.
For Joker, Handsome Brothers created and produced fresh episodes of the “He’s Joe King” series, where the main character, Joe King talks to whomever is nearest to him wherever he goes and only speaks in short joke bursts. In the new campaign, Joe meets a girl in a bar, Shirley Hughjest, who goes head to head, matching him joke for joke, story for story. Los Angeles comic, Chris Maguire delivers the voice of Joe King, while Shirly Hughjest is played by Gigi Abraham. Ed Grenga composed the cartoon like background music theme. Herb Ross engineered the mix and Mike McNally is the announcer.
The campaigns begin airing in March on rock and alternative radio.
Worcester based bottler, Polar Beverages is hitting the radio airwaves this summer with a new radio campaign and song that asks the question, “What’s Your Favorite Flavor?” The tune was written and produced by Handsome Brothers Music, Inc. of Somerville and features the vocals of popular singer and North Shore native Brian Maes.
“Our message is to remind people that Polar has more than 50 great flavors.” explained the spot’s writer/producer and announcer, John Stimpson of John Stimpson Productions. “Polar has been a family owned business since 1882 and was looking for a song that would have a friendly, feel-good quality and be upbeat enough to set-up and support lots of enthusiastic customer reactions.”
The song was co-written by Handsome Brothers’ Douglas Stevens and Ed Grenga. Grenga arranged and produced the music and enlisted Kook Lawry to play electric guitar on the spots.
“I thought a lighthearted, Randy Newman-like approach was a good way to go with the song.” reveals Stevens. “Once we established the hook, we created a weave so the announcer and the testimonials could be dropped in and around the vocals, sort of in a question and answer style.”
The spots are currently airing on WSRS, WTAG, WXLO, WWFX, WORC, WODS, WTKK, WBZ and WMJX. And Polar is planning promotional events throughout the summer where people can sample their products and weigh in on their favorite flavor.
Somerville, MA - It’s not too often that the writer of a popular standard chips in and helps you re-write the words for your store’s advertising jingle. But that’s exactly what veteran Hollywood songwriter Milton DeLugg did with his song, “Orange Colored Sky” for the new Filene’s Basement spots. The still active 82 year old, best known for his role as bandleader on Chuck Barris’ notorious game show, “The Gong Show” (Milton Delugg and the Band with a Thug) and “The Tonight Show with Jack Paar”, actually punched up the agency lyrics and crafted a version that maintained the magic of his original song. And at no extra charge!
It was then up to Handsome Brothers Producer and Music Director, Ed Grenga to create a big band jazz arrangement for radio and television. With the help of some of Boston’s finest session players, including Dave Stefanelli on drums, Bob Gay and Joe Cunningham on saxophones, Keiichi Hashimoto on trumpet and Mike McMahon on acoustic guitar, Grenga successfully re-created the sounds of a time gone by.
Next up was Hyde Park’s Darcel Wilson on vocals. Wilson flew in fresh from LA after working on a new album for George Duke, and being familiar with Natalie Cole’s recording of the song, nailed the lead with flair, delivering a crisp, bright performance.
The no voice-over, all singing ads broke this week in Boston and will also play in the Chicago and Washington, DC markets.
For more information, contact Douglas Stevens at 617.666.1200.
With Music By Handsome Brothers
Z-Media of Framingham, MA celebrated the PBS premiere of Digital Duo, an independent and irreverent new guide to software, hardware, the Internet and all things digital. The show is hosted by Steve Manes and Susan Gregory Thomas with music composed by Ed Grenga and Kook Lawry.
The program opening sequence slowly pans, dreamy antique images of a feather pen and ink, type and old-time printing devices that dramatically flash, and transform into high speed digital images. Grenga used violins and cellos to accent the old imagary and relied on hard edged, industrial sounds and electric guitar to support the faster modern section.
Executive Producer worked closely with Grenga on refining the main music theme. Series Producer, Dan Frank worked with Ed and Kook on all the incidental underbeds and sub-themes.
Consult your local listings or check directly with your public television station for broadcast times in your area.
Composer/producer Ed Grenga has finished composing music for a series of promotional TV spots called “Moments Of Decision” for WCVB-TV NewsChannel 5 in Boston. The spots, produced and directed by station Director of Creative Services Patrick Baldwin, feature Natalie Jacobsen, Chet Curtis and Dick Albert and the whole news operation in action. It dramatizes and focuses on that exact moment when a viewer, remote in hand, chooses which news station he will tune into for the latest on a local story, the “big” story or the latest weather. Grenga subtly underscored the action adding tension with orchestral sweeps and kettle drums. At the payoff, when we learn the station of choice is NewsCenter 5, Grenga states the news theme melody with french horn and piano.
For all you dog lovers, check out the new training and obedience show on Animal Planet. The show is produced by Dennis Allen of Z-Media and is hosted by Joel Silverman, dog trainer of the stars, and his trusty dog, Duke. Dennis came to Handsome Brothers looking for a funky, 70s quirky musical feel for the show, but still it had to help Joel come across as being a cool guy. Ed and Doug suggested a War (the group), “Lowrider” feel for a direction. Dennis said “Go on. Sic ‘em!” and off they scampered. You can hear the results by either tuning in each week to Animal Planet or go to our music sample page and hear it in Real Audio. Ed plays all the keys, Kook plays rhythm guitar and Mike plays lead guitar. Can you guess whose rich, deep voice delivers the “You Good Dog U., Good Dog U.” spoken line at the end? That’s right! It’s Kook Lawry.
A promotion for Fox Sports New England’s show “Midday Replay” has won a Silver Medallion at the PROMAXX International Awards competition in Toronto. The spot called, “Missed The Game Blues” features close-ups of perspiring soul singer, Buck Taylor singing his heart out about missing the big game the night before. It’s later revealed that you won’t have that problem any longer because Fox repeats the game at noon the following day. Drew Penziner, On-Air Promotion Manager, came up with the concept and developed the lyrics with Doug. Then Kook came in and got down and dirty on the guitar with a melody and blues arrangement.
Not only has the American Baby Show changed networks, they have also changed their music theme. Formerly on The Family Channel, the show has moved to the FX Channel with a new look and an all new music package. Producer Tom Yaroschuk of Hearst Argyle Television worked closely with Ed and Doug developing the opening theme, all the in and out bumps and the close. The bright and lively melody is accented with Bob Gay playing saxophone. Check your local listings for days and times.
The nationally syndicated gardening show, “Rebecca’s Garden”, produced by Katie Toulmin of Hearst Argyle Television is enjoying its third season. Kook, Ed, Mike and Brian all have contributed compositions to the program with a variety of music styles and instrumentation. It’s a very cool show. Check your local listings for days and times.
It’s not too often that you get asked to produce a CD compilation of your original music, compose a hip score to a video wall and then actually perform it live at the event. And the event is taking place in Madrid. As in Spain. That’s exactly what we did in June of this year for CMI and their client Compaq Computers at “Sapphire ‘98”. Mike Raggianni of CMI contacted Doug and presented the whole package. We would compose a soundtrack for the event, travel to Spain with a four piece band, and perform the score at the location where the CD would be given out to Compaq customers as a momento of the performance. After Kook and Ed wrote and recorded the theme for the videowall, Doug began assembling and mastering it and four other recordings for the 25 minute CD called “Plug In”. The group was named The Union Square Project and comprised of Ed Grenga on piano and organ, Kook Lawry on guitar, Dave Stefanelli on drums and Tim Archibald on Bass guitar.
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