Counselors

Peter Buck is the guitarist for R.E.M., arguably the most important and influential American rock band of the post-punk era. Born December 6, 1956, in Berkeley, CA, he was managing the Athens, GA-based Wuxtry record shop when he met University of Georgia student Michael Stipe, and with bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry, they formed R.E.M. in the spring of 1980. Distinguished by Buck’s chiming guitar riffs, the group honed an atmospheric, jangly pop sound often reminiscent of the Byrds, touring relentlessly prior to issuing their debut single, “Radio Free Europe,” on the tiny Hib-Tone label in mid-1981; after the record’s success on college radio attracted the attention of IRS Records, they released the Chronic Town EP a year later. R.E.M.’s first full-length album, 1983′s Murmur, cemented their reputation as critics’ darlings; despite little mainstream airplay, 1984′s Reckoning reached the Top 30 and with the darkly beautiful follow-up Fables of the Reconstruction, the band earned increasing MTV visibility for the videos “Can’t Get There From Here” and “Driver 8.”While 1986′s Lifes Rich Pageant revealed a growing awareness with sociopolitical concerns (among them environmental issues and American foreign policy), the following year’s Document was R.E.M.’s commercial breakthrough, buoyed by the Top Ten hit “The One I Love.” Released on Election Day 1988, the Warner Bros. label debut Green was R.E.M.’s most pointedly polemic effort to date, although the hits “Stand” and “Pop Song 89″ also reflected the band’s wry sense of humor. Following the Green tour, R.E.M. took an extended break, during which time, Buck, Mills, and Berry teamed with singer/songwriter Warren Zevon to record an LP as the Hindu Love Gods. Buck, who earlier produced the Feelies’ 1986 comeback LP The Good Earth, also helmed sessions for Kevn Kinney (MacDougal Blues), Run Westy Run (Green Cat Island), and Uncle Tupelo (March 16-20, 1992); a comic book written and drawn by then-unknown singer/songwriter Jack Logan even depicted the guitarist as a superhero.

MARK VOLMAN: Wednesday, July 25th
Mark Volman founding member, lead singer and manager of “The Turtles,” who continue to tour over 50 concerts a year.  Their song “Happy Together” has just received a BMI award for 9 million radio air performances and was placed in to the Grammy Hall of Fame. In the 70′s, Mark joined up with Frank Zappa & the Mother’s of Invention where he made 10 albums and wrote and starred in the United Artist’s feature film, “200 Motels.”  Mark has also sung with such notable artists as John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, T.Rex, Todd Rundgren, Stephen Stills, The Ramones, Lou Reed, U2 and many more.  He has written songs for children’s television , such as the Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake and received a Grammy nomination for these works.  Markhas survived in the music business for over 38 years as an on-air radio personality, radio syndication, record producer and writer for national music magazines and network television.  ”The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie” continue to be one of America’s most successful touring groups, performing 40 to 60 concerts around the world every year. He is an Assistant Professor and Chair of the Entertainment Industry Studies program in the Mike Curb School for Entertainment and Music Business and before that was a member of the Loyola Marymount University faculty from 1997 – 2003.  Areas of specialization: music business, Entertainment Industry Studies and popular music history.  Mark is a member and conference attendee of the College Music Society, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association, as well as consultant for professional musicians.  He is a member of AFTRA/SAG and Local 47 of the musician’s union.  He is on the Board of Director’s of Leadership Music in Nashville. Mark and has a Bachelor Degree in Communication Arts and Masters of Fine Arts.

PAUL FISHKIN: Thursday, July 26th

Paul began his music career managing Todd Rundgren’s first band, Woody’s Truck Stop, inPhiladelphia, and then moved toNew York at the urging of Todd who was by then being managed by the legendary Albert Grossman, Bearsville Records founder, and manager of Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, The Band, etc. Paul was instrumental in making the Runt song “We Gotta Get You A Woman,” (a song penned and recorded by Todd, about Paul), the first hit for Bearsville. Within two years he was elevated to President and Co-Owner of the label, a joint venture with Warner Bros.  He oversaw development of Todd, Foghat, and others who achieved multi-platinum success.

After Bearsville, Fishkin co-founded Modern Records, (a joint venture with Atlantic Records), with Danny Goldberg (Nirvana, Bonnie Raitt, etc). At Modern, he exclusively signed and oversaw the solo recording career of multi-platinum legend, Stevie Nicks, resurrected the recording career of  Natalie Cole, and developed the gold artist, Poe.

After Modern, Paul and Mark Puma co-managed Twisted Sister and Kix, who under their aegis each went from selling 100,000 units to multi-platinum.  He also co-managed Rosie O’Donnell early in her career, and was a partner with Jimmy Iovine, (current Chairman of Interscope and American Idol mentor), in a production deal through A & M Records.  Fishkin has also been A & R Consultant for Doug Morris (current Chairman of Sony Music Group), and Tom Shadyac (director of Ace Ventura, Liar Liar, Bruce Almighty, etc.) for his record label, 333 Music. Paul also managed Hush, a hip hop  Geffen Records artist who had a CD partially produced by Eminem.

Most recently Fishkin was Chairman and co-founder of en2go, a tech media hybrid which had Tolga Katas, Steve Wozniak, and Ted Cohen on its Board of Directors. Paul is currently co-managing  with Scott Ross, recording artist/award winning writer, Laura Warshauer.

Paul has had the unique honor of having had three songs written and recorded about him by two of the great icons of Rock & Roll. In addition to the aforementioned “We Gotta Get You a Woman,” Todd wrote and recorded “Hang On Paul” for the Nazz Nazz album, and Stevie Nicks wrote and recorded “Sleeping Angel”  which was on the “Fast Times At Ridgemont High” soundtrack as well as her “Enchanted” compilation CD.