Angelo Montrone (original) (raw)

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American songwriter

Angelo Montrone is an American record producer, songwriter, and talent scout (A&R). Montrone has played a key role as producer and A&R man for Grammy-winning acts including Matisyahu and Los Lonely Boys, as well as producing acts such as jam band favorite Railroad Earth, and discovering a young Jennifer Love Hewitt. Over the course of his nearly 30-year career, he has worked as an independent record producer as well as being a staff producer and A&R man for Sony, Elektra Entertainment, Atlantic Records, Or Music, Razor & Tie, and Majestic Music. Montrone had a #4 song on the Billboard Dance Charts with "Break Me". Also, his song "Free to Be a Woman" was the theme song for the Style Network's show The Modern Girl. He is the founder and CEO of the Majestic Music record label based in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire.[1]

Montrone began playing piano at the age of seven, qualified for a school violin program at 10, played trombone in his school band from ages 11 through 13, and throughout that time sang and did solo piano performances for his school. At 14 he got into his first rock band as a keyboard player, and at 16 was playing professionally as lead singer and keyboard player in the band he cofounded, Amadeus, which performed around the New England area.

During the 1990s, Montrone made forays into the music industry as protégé to producers Arif Mardin and Tommy LiPuma. It was during this time that Montrone also began his lifelong working friendship with 21-time Grammy engineer Al Schmitt, with whom he co-owned the music rental company A&A Vintage Rentals.

The 1990s also marked Montrone's start as a talent scout; he discovered both Jonatha Brooke and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Angelo went on to produce Love Hewitt's American debut album, Let's Go Bang, with Atlantic Records CEO Doug Morris, who acted as executive producer.

After working independently as a producer and engineer for a number of years, Montrone was hired by Sony music executive Michael Caplan to be Director of A&R and Staff Producer for their upstart record label, Or Music. Together with Caplan, he signed and developed the careers of Los Lonely Boys, Matisyahu, and Pitty Sing, and oversaw artists Tower of Power, John Cale, Alejandro Escovedo, and more. It was during this time that one of Montrone's songs, "Free to Be a Woman", became the theme song for the Style Network's The Modern Girl.[2]

In 2006, Montrone was hired by Sony Music as an A&R talent scout and staff producer for the Sony subsidiary, One Haven Music. Here, he discovered Tina Sugandh, for whom he produced and cowrote "Break Me" (#4 on the Billboard Dance Charts).[3] Along with production and songwriting, Montrone worked as a consultant at One Haven, providing direction for artists such as Ozzy Osbourne, Coheed and Cambria, and more.[1]

During this time, Montrone wrote an open letter to the music industry, which was featured on Bob Lefsetz's blog, "The Lefsetz Letter". Montrone challenged his fellow record executives to forgo extreme compression during the mastering process in favor of greater dynamic range.[4] The phenomenon of ever-increasing compression decried by Montrone is often referred to as the "loudness war".

Montrone's latest endeavour has brought him to the New England town of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, where he has established, Majestic Music LLC, a nontraditional record label that emphasis artist development and engages in joint ownership partnerships rather than record contracts. Located within a modified 1803 farmhouse Majestic Music combines a world class recording studio, a treasure-trove of musical instruments and bed & breakfast style accommodations. This all in one facility allows Montrone to work with artists from around the globe providing personalized artist development and recording the results with audiophile quality.[1]

  1. ^ a b c "Majestic Music". Majexticmusic.com.
  2. ^ "Jennifer Love Hewitt - Let's Go Bang". Discogs.com.
  3. ^ "The Global Leader in Music Publishing - Warner/Chappell Music". Nl.warnerchappell.com.
  4. ^ Babcock, Jay (6 October 2006). ""Everything Louder Than Everything Else" by Joe Gross". Arthurmag.com.