Guy Eckstine
Guy Eckstine | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1956 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of California, Los Angeles[1] |
| Occupations | |
| Parent | Billy Eckstine |
Guy Eckstine is an artist manager and record producer, also known for his tenure as A&R executive at Columbia Records, and Verve Records.[2][3] Eckstine's work as a music producer has earned 4 Grammy Awards and 7 nominations, including with jazz keyboardist Herbie Hancock, on the Grammy winning Hancock album The New Standard.
In 2007 he co-founded Iconique Music Group, an artist management, creative development, and record production company, representing Grammy nominees, Mike Stern, Simon Phillips, House Of Waters, Thana Alexa, Nir Felder, and Tiempo Libre. In 2024 Eckstine Produced, House Of Waters album, On Becoming which earned a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Instrumental Album Category.[1] Iconique Music Group[4]
Family
Eckstine was born in 1956 to American jazz/pop singer Billy Eckstine and his wife Carolle Drake, an actress and model. Eckstine's siblings include four older brothers and two younger sisters. The family eventually settled in Encino, California, where Eckstine was raised.[2] His brother Ed later served as president of Mercury Records.
Music industry
Eckstine's early career was as a freelance/touring and session drummer involved in various musical projects for his father, Quincy Jones, James Ingram, Michael Henderson, Eddy Grant and more.[5] As a music executive in the late 1980s, he was a creative manager for Virgin Music Label & Artist Services, developing staff songwriters. He worked for Columbia Records starting in 1989, leading their West Coast Urban and Jazz A&R, developing artists, Shawn Smith, Sananda Maitreya, Regina Belle, and Philip Bailey, among others.[6] In 1991 as VP, A&R Verve Records,[1] fostered a period when Verve was praised for its creativity. For Verve Forecast Records, among others, Eckstine signed, Herbie Hancock, saxophonist Wayne Shorter, and keyboardist Jeff Lorber. Trumpeter Chris Botti credited Eckstine for his decision to sign with Verve.[7] Eckstine also signed an American record deal for British acid jazz group Incognito.[8] After Verve, from 1999-2002, Eckstine was Senior Vice President, Creative Development at MP3.com.
References
- ^ a b c "Guy Eckstine". LinkedIn. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ a b "Big Eckstine Family Shares Eleven-Room California Home". Ebony. July 1961. p. 48.
- ^ "Billy ('Mr. B') Eckstine, A Stroke Victim, Dies of Cardiac Arrest at Age 78". Jet. March 22, 1993. pp. 14–16, 54–57.
- ^ "Staff". Iconique Music Group. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ "Wilson, Eckstine Take Columbia West Coast Black Music Posts". Radio & Records. February 16, 1990. p. 36.
- ^ "Executive Turntable". Billboard. Vol. 102, no. 8. February 24, 1990. p. 6.
- ^ Bessman, Jim (February 4, 1995). "Verve Forecasting Botti Will Blow Away Pop, Jazz Fans". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 5. p. 131.
- ^ Milkowski, Bill (July 4, 1992). "In Search of the New Fusion". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 27 (Jazz at the Crossroads ed.). pp. J-2, J-18.