CEO/Producer Rand Chortkoff’s passion for music began at a very young age – his father was a jazz fan who used to bring Louis Armstrong and members of his band home for dinner and informal jam sessions, and young Randy soaked it all up.
As a teenager he became a regular at the legendary blues hot spot The Ash Grove in L.A., and then made his way to San Francisco just in time for the Summer of Love, where he enjoyed the heyday of the groundbreaking music scene centered around Bill Graham’s Fillmore Auditorium and The Winterland Ballroom. Beginning in the 1980s, Chortkoff was working with his own band, and honing his musical skills as a producer, which would eventually lead to his first project as an independent record producer, recording blues legend Billy Boy Arnold. These master tapes were leased by the world’s largest independent blues label, Alligator Records, and were released as Arnold’s highly acclaimed ‘comeback’ release “Back Where I Belong” in the early 1990s.
Over the next several years Chortkoff produced his own sessions featuring a number of prominent blues artists, including the late King Ernest, powerhouse vocalist Finis Tasby, and many others, leasing them to major blues labels in the US and in Europe. Finally deciding to reap the fruits of his own labors, Chortkoff created the Delta Groove Productions label and has produced and released projects by a growing number of artists including Philip Walker, Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers, The Mannish Boys, Kirk Fletcher, Mitch Kashmar, Hollywood Blue Flames, Frank Goldwasser and others.
Chortkoff has recently branched out beyond the blues genre with a new subsidiary label, Eclecto Groove Records, which is intended as a home and showcase for music that isn’t easily categorized or pigeon-holed as the blues, from genre-bending artists covering a wide spectrum of musical styles. The first release on Eclecto Groove is from the soulful young European star Ana Popovic, and with electrifying new releases by Jason Ricci & New Blood and others in the pipeline, the Eclecto Groove is poised for an exciting future.
Recognizing that his primary area of expertise was within the blues genre, Chortkoff decided to bring in an expert with a lifetime of knowledge and experience in all styles of popular music, and has brought in industry veteran Robert Fitzpatrick as the new President of Delta Groove Music and Eclecto Groove Records. Fitzpatrick has been well-known and highly respected within the music industry since the 1960s, when he was The Beatles' attorney; he also represented such high-profile artists as The Rolling Stones, The Who, and as a partner with entertainment mogul Robert Stigwood in the firm Stigwood Fitzpatrick, Inc., managed such groups as Cream and The Bee Gees and Taj Mahal , as well as actor Don Johnson and many others. Prior to joining Eclecto Groove, Fitzpatrick was President and CEO of Vista Ave Entertainment Group, a multi faceted film and music company, RFO Entertainment, a management and production company, and The Robert Fitzpatrick Organization.
Fitzpatrick was also Music Supervisor for a number of high-profile film projects including “Remember The Titans”, “Pulp Fiction” and others, and his expertise in this area will be utilized as he takes on the same role in Chortkoff’s film production enterprise, Big Sky Motion Pictures.
New Releases from Jason Ricci & The New Blood will follow later this year on Eclecto Groove Records.
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I am pleased to announce blues guitar great Frank Goldwasser will be joining me for 2 upcoming performances including the CD release party for 'Walking In Circles'. Also as a special guest for the CD release party will be harmonica master Mitch Kashmar.
Saturday, June 20th CARR WINERY 8PM 414 N. Salsipuedes Santa Barbara CA Price: free Alastair Greene Blues Band 8-10:30pm Alastair Greene- Guitar and Vocals Tom Lackner- Drums Rick Reed- Bass Special Guest Frank Goldwasser on Guitar
CD RELEASE PARTY Saturday, June 27th, WHISKEY RICHARDS 9:30pm 435 State Street Santa Barbara CA Price: $5 Alastair Greene- Guitar and Vocals Mitch Kashmar- Harmonica and Vocals Tom Lackner- Drums Rick Reed- Bass Special Guest Frank Goldwasser on Guitar CDs for $10 this night only!!!
Lotsa Eclecto Groove artists are on the newest BluzNdaBlood Show #73, Your Blues EKG! If this show doesn't get blood pumping, ya got no pulse! Check it out at: http://bluzndablood.com/Show73Details.htm
Hey Eclecto Groove fans! I finished up my interview on the latest BluzNdaBlood Show #66, Gettin' Your Eclecto Groove On! We're talking about his Spring Break '83 movie and the Eclecto Groove artists that also play on it! I play Mike, Ana, and Jason! Check it out at http:bluzndablood. com!