- Mark S. Berry
-
Mark S Berry: Attack Media Group and Deevel's Chairman.
Mark S. Berry is a music producer[1] who has to his credit 36 international Gold and Platinum record awards. He is also chairman of Attack Media Group[2] (a Toronto-based privately owned media and entertainment company). The Grammy and Juno nominated artists he has worked with include David Bowie, Duran Duran, Billy Idol, Boy George, Yes, Joan Jett, Cameo, Kool & The Gang to name a few. Soon to come...
His Canadian productions have included I Mother Earth, 2 Platinum albums for The Headstones, The Killjoys, Nothing In Particular, Fence, Burton Cummings (The Guess Who) Platinum solo effort, Up Close & Alone and many more.
Contents
The beginning
Originally from Brooklyn, Mark began his music career at the Institute of Audio Research (IAR) in New York City in 1972. At the young age of 17, Mark was commuting into Manhattan at night, learning the inside ropes of making records and recording up & coming basement bands. After graduating from IAR, Mark was drawn to the Brit sound and flew to London, England, where he soon arrived on the doorsteps of AIR Studios, one of the world's most popular recording facilities co-owned by Sir George Martin. "I just flew over and started walking the streets of London looking for a job, stopping in every studio that I took off the back of my favorite albums," he remembers. Mark soon met Nigel Walker, who was working as an assistant to producer, John Punter, on an Allan Clarke (lead singer of The Hollies) solo project at AIR. "That ended up being my first job in the business, working with John Punter. Getting cigarettes and coffee for the guys and just watching and listening in the background, absorbing everything." Not only did Mark gain a considerable amount of expertise in engineering and mixing records but also invaluable experience in classic rock production and orchestral techniques working as an assistant to Sir George Martin. Sir George was responsible for producing arguably the most influential band in the history of rock 'n' roll, The Beatles. Working with George started out simply recording classical records in the different cathedrals around London for the chamber choir group The Kings Singers. He soon began setting up and assisting on various George Martin and Paul McCartney sessions.
Mark's experience led to his first major assignment; Carly Simon's No Secrets album, which included the worldwide smash, “You're So Vain”, and would be his very first engineering credit. Hanging out with Mick Jagger for the background vocals on Your So Vain and then going over to Olympic studios for the mixing of their live ‘72 tour tapes was certainly the highlight of his early years, and all before the age of 19. However, this was only the beginning for Mark. "I'd say the most amazing session had to be "Live and Let Die". Performed by Paul McCartney and Wings, "They had a 63 piece orchestra in there and I felt like I had emptied every ashtray known to man before the end of that one." (In fact, Live and Let Die is one of the very few songs from the Bond films to be nominated for a Best Song Oscar.)
Mark also assisted and worked on several projects such as the groundbreaking Roll Over Beethoven for Electric Light Orchestra, Grand Hotel for Procul Harum, Climax Blues Band and Live - Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple. During his tenure at AIR studios, Mark worked under the tutelage of renowned British rock engineers/producers such as Bill Price (Sex Pistols), John Punter (Japan, Reflex, Bryan Ferry, Roxy Music), Steve Nye (Roxy Music), Alan Harris (T-Rex, Marc Bolan, Mott The Hoople), Geoff Emerick (The Beatles), Chris Thomas (Elton John, The Pretenders, Pink Floyd, INXS), Jeff Lynne (ELO, Tom Petty, Traveling Wilburys), Martin Birch (Iron Maiden, Deep Purple) and Tony Visconti (David Bowie) to name a few.
Return to New York: The birth of hip hop to independent producer
With some celebrated credits in hand, Mark returned to the states in the mid 70’s. He began freelancing around New York at some of the top recording studios like Electric Lady, Record Plant and the Hit Factory. In 1977, Mark was approached with the position of Staff Engineer and in-house A&R/producer for Vanguard Records (Joan Baez, Buffy Saint-Marie, Country Joe & the Fish) where he worked for over nine years. While at Vanguard Studios, Mark continued to engineer and mix projects for several of New York's top dance/pop producers and became heavily involved in the early 80’s New York hip-hop movement working with artists and producers such as Soul Sonic Force (Looking For The Perfect Beat), Planet Patrol (Play At Your Own Risk), Awesome Foursome (Funky Soul Makosa), New Edition (Candy Girl), Jellybean, Arthur Baker, Freeze (AEIOU), Eddie O’Loughlin (Next Plateau), John Robie, C-Bank (One More Shot), Tommy Silverman (Tommy Boy Records), Importe 12 Records, Man Parrish (the groundbreaking Hip Hop Be Bop) and many more.
During this time Mark felt the explosive pulse of New York City street rhythms and his A&R skills directed him to discovering and producing up & coming dance acts such as Alisha, who after enormous success with Vanguard Records went onto sign with multi-national labels RCA and MCA/Universal, respectively. Deals that Mark put together for her. Mark's hit productions for Alisha included the #1 dance singles “All Night Passion” and “Too Turned On” along with the international pop smash “Baby Talk,” which went on to become a worldwide chart-topping hit, remaining on the Billboard pop charts for over four months. Alisha became the most successful Pop/Dance act on Vanguard, selling in excess of 2M units worldwide. The 80's: Dance Re-mixes & Rock Productions Mid 80's.
Mark moved into the area of 7" & 12" dance and rock mixing and re-mixing for major multi-platinum artists such as David Bowie, Duran Duran, Talk Talk, Toto, Yes, Billy Idol, Boy George, Kool & The Gang, Stephanie Mills, Jimmy Barnes, Animotion, Joan Jett, to name a few. During this time, Mark's “ahead of the times” engineering and mixing skills contributed significantly to the international success of these acts. Mark’s New York entertainment attorney and longtime friend, Paul Schindler (Madonna, Joan Jett, Kiss, Rick Rubin, Russell Simmons, Def Jam Records) of Grubman, Indursky & Schindler put a meeting together with Michael Gudinski. At that time Michael was president of Australia’s largest independent record company, Mushroom Records. Mark went onto produce and mix multi-platinum records for some of Australia’s biggest acts including; Kids In The Kitchen, Pseudo Echo, Jimmy Barnes, Indecent Obsession, Eurogliders, Machinations, The Chantoozies and many, many more.
New horizons: the 90s
In 1991, Mark moved further towards rock production and signed with Steve Scharf for producer management in NYC and relocated to Toronto. In that same year, Mark re-mixed Glass Tiger (EMI) and produced the hit album Get Off for multi-platinum Canadian act Haywire (Attic Records). Mark also discovered and produced I Mother Earth (EMI) and was the man behind their instant signing buzz that brought 11 international A&R people to Toronto in the fall of 1991 in a bid to sign the emerging band, all based upon a little 5-song master that Mark produced at Metalwork’s Studios. IME went onto become one of the biggest alternative bands in Canadian rock history. This rock production brought him to a chance meeting with Hugh Dillon, lead singer for Canadian rock outfit, The Headstones and Mark went onto produce 2 platinum albums, Picture of Health and Teeth & Tissue for the band through MCA/Universal. Burton Cummings, lead singer for the Guess Who then tapped Mark to produce and mix his live solo unplugged effort for Universal, Up Close & Alone, another multi-platinum awarded production.
Mega Canadian rock manager Pierre Paradis from Montreal tapped Mark to produce & engineer the critically acclaimed Outer Limits (MCA/Universal) for Voivod recorded entirely in Los Angeles. Arguably one of Mark’s most compelling productions with the 17 minute opus Jack Luminous. The mid 90’s saw the advent of the Internet. This got Mark to thinking that it was control of media content that would determine the future of the entertainment industry. I guess he was right… With start up capital from a small publishing company controlled by Canadian media giant Alliance Atlantis, he went on to release, via Attack, some of the very records he was hired to produce, along with securing them insertions in some of the biggest TV shows and feature length films in the entertainment business. While creating quite a buzz with his new talent (that the majors were as usual ignoring) Mark was putting together international licensing and insertion deals for masters that he was involved with either as a producer, co-publisher or master owner. Present Day – Having a lot of fun building his own company.
Mark is presently at the helm of the Attack Group of Companies. Attack is a fully independent media company with an international mandate for signing new & emerging artists and film/DVD content on the international scene. Literally starting in his bedroom 6 years ago, Attack’s rock and urban record division has over 40 masters that are distributed in Canada, U.S. and/or internationally. Attack Filmworks has just completed post-production of its first 80 Minute feature length film, Road To Nowhere, co-starring Colin Mochrie (Whose Line Is It Anyway). DVD and soundtrack release is coming soon. Attack Filmworks recently signed Canada's up and coming producer/director team, the Butler Brothers to a 2-picture deal. Slacker classics Alive & Lubricated and Bums coming to DVD in summer, 2004. Both films have associated soundtracks from Attack artists and Attackin Tunes co-publishing clients. Ambition Withdraw DVD is slated for release this summer as a rockumentary on the Tennessee 70’s punk outfit, The Unsatisfied. An award winning film at many indie film festivals across North America.
Attack owns and controls the international audio, video and merchandising rights to 144 audio CD masters through its children’s division, KidzAttack Entertainment LLC called THE ELLERY MYSTERIES featuring the goofy dog character named Ellery and his sidekicks, guiding kids through a mystery that they must solve. Also included is a coloring book w/crayons. This series is the in-flight children’s entertainment with some of the world’s largest airlines. An animation series is currently in development.
Attack Group controls the worldwide master rights to the very first Frank Sinatra single called Our Love recorded in 1939 at the age of 19. With broad ancillary rights associated with the master, Attack Filmworks has a feature length MOW in development with one of Canada's most respected directors. Attackin Tunes, Attack Group music publishing division has a co-publishing agreement with one of the world's largest independent music publishers, Cherry Lane Music Publishing, Inc. (Black Eyed Peas, The Passion of The Christ, Dreamworks, Icon Productions [Mel Gibson], John Carpenter, Roger Corman, Elvis Presley catalog, John Denver catalog, NFL Films, NASCAR). Attack’s music can be heard in major network and cable TV programs such as Dawsons Creek, Roswell, MTV, ESPN, Fox along with the high profile features Gang Tapes (Lions Gate) featuring Coolio, Harvard Man (Lions Gate) with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Poolhall Junkies (Gold Circle) featuring Christopher Walken and many more. Attackin Tunes does the theme music along with “bumpers” and “stingers” for Girlz TV, Bang TV, Teens Dating and Health & Beauty TV, internationally. They have done an extensive amount of music insertions in the extreme sports programming area for major cable & television networks, like ESPN. Attackin Tune’s client MDM can be heard in The Making of The Matrix Reloaded in the DVD and the accompanying TV special in the Freeway Chase Scene.
Mark is the executive producer of GTV (Graffiti Television) and controls a 10 volume DVD/VHS series on the worldwide phenomenon of Graffiti. Attack TV recently partnered with a major television production network in Canada to produce this very exciting international urban lifestyle cable series coming in September ‘04.
Mark’s latest venture is AttackTrax.com, an interactive website for worldwide music supervisors and filmmakers. The entire Attackin Tunes music publishing catalog (along with joining subscribers) is available on the internet and all insertions can be handled and licensed online like the very first Frank Sinatra single ever recorded, the first Biohazard album or the entire Eddy Grant (Electric Avenue) Caribbean music publishing catalog. AttackTrax inserts hundreds of songs into feature length films, short films, documentaries, television/cable programs, extreme sports DVD’s, exercise DVD’s and many more that require music behind a client’s visual content. Some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry come to AttackTrax including ESPN, MTV, Sony, Tri-Star, Disney, FOX, Warner Brothers, WB, Alliance Atlantis, plus many more.
A few days a month Mark hits the road with his Lecture & Workshop series to speak at some of the most prestigious universities and colleges talking about his position as producer/engineer/A&R scout combined with his role as president/CEO of a fledgling media company. A must for any up and comer in the music & film business filled with unbelievable stories of becoming an entrepreneur in the business, the pitfalls along with the massive successes. He has also spoken as a panelist and moderator at many of the world’s most distinguished music conferences like NXNE (North by Northeast), CMW (Canadian Music Week), Music West and Millennium Music Conference. Since the fall of ‘98, Mark has attended the University of Toronto, Innis College, undergraduate program and is specializing in Cinema Studies to further assist him in his move towards feature length film production.
MarkBerry.com is intended as a resource guide to one of the most innovative music and film entrepreneurs around. Always opinionated and controversial, the facts speak for themselves; Mark S. Berry is a master of today’s high tech equipment with vivid stereo and vocal images, strong bass and hard direct rhythms. With an eclectic variety of indispensable skills, Mark is one of only a handful of producers who can truly take a project from concept to completion and expertly handle all of the steps along the way. His experience and artistry have combined not only to create current top chart hits all over the world, but first and foremost to create state-of-the-art MODERN MUSIC. He is currently conquering the eardrums of record executives with his latest international productions.
Discography
' ARTIST CREDIT ALBUM LABEL Burton Cummings Producer/Mixer/Platinum Up Close And Alone Universal Punch Buggy Producer/Mixer My Norwegian Cousin Sour/Sony Popgun Picnic Producer/Mixer Stinks Like Truth Independent Blasternaut Producer/Mixer Eden Pit Attack Vertical Creep Producer/Mixer Vertical Creep Attack Pop Cherry Producer/Mixer Straight Up Deevel Teenage Head Producer/Mixer Head Disorder Loudrock Headstones Producer/Mixer/Platinum Teeth and Tissue Universal Spirit Pushers Producer/Mixer Time, Light, Shine, Free a-Rabian Fence Producer/Mixer No Dumping a-Rabian Sisters Cherrie Producer/Mixer I Think Therefore I’m Fuct a-Rabian Bootsauce Remixer Bootsauce Polygram Voivod Producer/Mixer The Outer Limits Universal Headstones Producer/Mixer/Platinum Album/Double Platinum Single Picture Of Health “When Something Stands For Nothing Universal Michelin Slave Producer/Mixer Poised To Meet The Maker Magada Love Chain Producer Mixer Burn Universal Lee Aaron Producer/mixer/Double Platinum Single Emotional Rain “Odds of Love A&M Nothing In Particular Producer/Mixer Is That Right? Kinetic The Killjoys Additional Producer/Mixer Starry Warners I Mother Earth Producer/Mixer I Mother Earth Indie Joan Jett Producer/Mixer Good Music Sony Mighty Mighty Bosstones 12/7" Mixer Last Dead Mouse Polygram Talk Talk Gold LP/U.K. *Life’s What You Make It EMI David Bowie 12/7" Mixer Platinum LP/U.S *Never Let meDown EMI Duran Duran 12/7" Mixer Platinum LP/U.S *Meet El Presidente Proposition EMI Yes 12/7" Mixer Platinum LP/U.S *Rhythm Of Love – Big Generator ATCO Billy Idol 12/7" Mixer Platinum LP/U.S *Flesh For Fantasy Chrysalis Haywire Producer/mixer Get Off ATTIC Pseudo Echo Producer/Mixer 2X Platinum/Australia 1X Gold Canada Gold USA LOVE AN ADVENTURE "Love an Adventure" "Don't Go" "Living in a Dream" Also includes "Funky Town" Remixer (Top 5 U.S.) EMI Australia BMG Int. Kids in the Kitchen Mixer Platinum LP/U.S SHINE "Current Stand" (Top 10 AUS.) "Revolution Love Mushroom/Aus. SIRE/USA Animotion Mixer Platinum LP/U.S. *Obsession Polygram Indecent Obsession Producer/Mixer Gold Single/Australia Platinum/Australia SPOKEN WORDS "Say Goodbye" "Come Back to Me" (Top 5 Australia) Universal The Chantoozies Producer/Mixer/Platinum Australia Wanna Be Up (Top 5 Australia) "Kiss and Tell" (Top 10 Australia) Mushroom Joan Jett 12“/Mixer *Cherry Bomb Universal Jimmy Barnes 12"/Mixer Platinum/Australia Seven Days Mushroom/Greffen The Black Sorrows 12"/Mixer Platinum/Australia Never Let Me Go Sony Australia Jaki Graham 12"/Mixer *Set Me Free EMI U.K. The Eurogliders Producer/mixer Dreamin – If You Don’t Know Sony Australia Kool & The Gang 12/7”/mixer Platinum LP *Fresh-*Emergency-Mislead Polygram Love & Money 12”/Mixer River of People Phonogram Machinations Producer/Mixer 12" Mixer Cars & Planes-Do to you Mushroom Jayne Reyne 12"/Mixer *Inside a Dream EMI Boy George 12"/Mixer Rip It Up EMI Australia Until December Producer/Mixer *Secrets I Won't Tell 415/CBS The Kane Gang 12/7" Mixer Gold LP *Respect Yourself London/UK Scarlett & Black 12/7" Mixer * "You Don't Know Virgin Anabella (BowWowWow) 12/Mixer War Boys RCA/UK Ian Dury & the Blockheads 12"/Mixer Sex & Drugs" "Hit Me" "Wake Up donnée L4-D Nick Heyward 12/7" Mixer Warning Sign Arista/UK Mink Deville 12"/Mixer Italian Shoes Polygram Nona Hendryx 12/7" Mixer *Baby-Go-Go EMI Cameo 12" Mixer LP *She's Strange Polygram Stephanie Mills 12/7" Mixer Gold LP * Medicine Song Polygram Gwen Guthrie 12/7" Mixer Gold LP Nothin' Goin on but the Rent Polygram Rene & Angela 12/7" Mixer *I'll be Good Polygram The Bar-kays 12/7" Mixer *Sexomatic- *Your Place or Mine-*Dance your body Polygram Confunkshun 12/7" Mixer *Burnin' Love-*She's Sweet-*Tell me what I'm Gonna Do Epic Marilyn 12”Mixer "Sprit in the Sky" Epic Loose Ends 12”Mixer Gotta Get your Body Movin' Virgin/UK Freeze Producer Mixer 2-LP Cuts Beggars/Banquet UK " * " = Top Ten Billboard Dance
THEME FROM DUNE - TOTO (Polygram) Mixed the title theme from this David Lynch film; performed by the pop-rock band TOTO and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. MANNEQUIN - "Do You Dream About Me" -ALISHA (BMG) Produced and Mixed this Dianne Warren song for the main dance sequence in this blockbuster film. KNIGHTS OF THE CITY (New World) - Musical Supervisor and soundtrack producer for this feature length film. Soundtrack included artists such as Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder. GOTCHA - JOAN JETT (Sony) Mixed the title theme for this feature length film. Co-mixed with song producers Jimmy Iovine (Interscope Records - CEO) and Kenny Laguna.
Executive producer discography
ARTIST CREDIT TITLE LABEL Mr.Spike Executive Producer Beer Can Alley ATTACK The Clockhouse Executive Producer Every Android That I Know ATTACK Adam & Eve (Feature Film) Soundtrack Executive Producer Original Motion Picture Soundtrack ATTACK/Lions Gate Echoface Executive Producer Echoface ATTACK References
- ^ Mark S. Berry discography at Discogs
- ^ http://www.attackmediagroup.com/ Attack Media Group
External links
- Official website
- Interview, HitQuarters Jul 2007
- Mark S. Berry discography at Discogs
- Celebrity access
- Hitquarters
- Paul Schindler Legal Representation BIO
- (English) Attack Records
- (English) Attack Trax
- (English) Deevel
- Mark S Berry on Soundcloud
- Mark S Berry on Reverb Nation
- Mark S Berry on Facebook
- Mark S Berry on Twitter
- Mark S. Berry on Myspace
- Deevel on Myspace
Categories:- American record producers
- Living people
- American entertainment industry businesspeople
- People from Brooklyn
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
