Space V

Pursuing The Dream... There once was a big dream by a young black kid to start a record label called "Cleveland Unlimited" whose owner dreamed would be a new generation music version of Motown. The idea was to record original music from creative people right out of the community and have a major label distribute our music to the world. If Berry Gordy found all that great talent in his neighborhood in Detroit, Why could'nt we do that here in Cleveland? Back in 1976, that was considered bold,crazy- ambitious. Now, with a bevy of boutique P&D labels like "Badboy","Aftermath",and "Doghouse", I'ts now the norm as the major labels scramble for a piece of the Hip hop market. This CD project was a total labor of love and a lot of hope, orginally recorded with the involvement of a lot of like dreamers-very young & talented people at the beginning of their careers, looking for an opportunity to make something out of nothing. Christopher Spraggins, an immensely talented aspiring songwriter/preformer at the time, believed in my dream and was one of my first signed artists. Since then Christopher has performed and worked with such major artists as Herbie Hancock,The Ohio Players,and the Commodores, amoung many others. Chris is now an in demand Las Vegas style master showman & entertainer with his own original shows, well known in sold out venues around the country as "Christopher Jay". Guest musicians that helped out on the lp included keyboardist John Siroky, who now resides in Cali and has gone on to release 5 jazz/blues CDs under his moniker "The John Siroky Project" Mike Fisher, the consumate trumpet player now preforms with the acclaimed "Jerry Bruno Orchestra". Saxophonist Ricky Bell subsequently worked with the Micheal Stanley Band of EMI America Records and with well known rocker Lou Reed. Engineer Kirk Yano, who recorded & mixed this album while just starting out in his first small converted 8 Track garage studio, is now owner of 48 track Planet 2 Planet Studios in New York City. Kirk has worked with such well known artists as Miles Davis, TLC, Flavor Flav & Public Enemy, Mariah Carey,and Chris Rock. The theme song for the T.V. show "Martin" was done in his studio. His studio has produced a total of 12 Platinum / Gold records. In between a long stint in the U.S Army by the executive producer, The well traveled Strange master tapes received some additional postproduction help from Engineer R.Jose Williams who owned a state of the art recording studio near the U.S. Army post Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. Jose helped me mix the special dance club version of "You" that is featured on the CD.,and by the Columbus, Ohio Owl Recording Chief Engineer Robin Jenney who subsequently went on to engineer a Christmas album by Teddy Pendergrass and platinum releases by R&b funkmasters Roger Troutman & Zapp. Due to the age of the original analog master tapes, they had to be baked for over 8 hours in a special restorative procedure in order to even begin the mastering/CD manufacturing process. This CD release is dedicated to all those with true & enduring entreprenurial spirit and to my dear mother Grace Beasley, who always believed in all of my dreams and who departed this life this past February. It is being officially released to the world on her birthday, April 15th. Sometimes dreams take a while. Never give up.