A WORD ABOUT LEGACY

It seemed a shame to have so much music lying around not going anywhere. I’d been making recordings for thirty years, stuff I’d either written, arranged, produced or performed. And much of it lay in state.

Could start a label. Time was when that was a soul-destroyer. It’s still not a walk in the park given the to-dos: the compositions, the arrangements, the productions, the musicians, the studio sessions. All that can be challenge enough. Add financing, presentation and promotion to the mix, the treacherous tech to face down, the things that mess with the art, and it’s an uphill experience.

Still, there was one big green-light factor. Distribution. That was now accessible to everyone via the Internet where before it had only been for the privileged few, the ones who had woken up on the right side of a major label’s bed. Now we could all be at the party. Well, at least we could be less invisible, more discoverable. And I don’t mean by the “biz” necessarily. Just by anyone who was interested enough to type a name into a search box.

So what kind of label would it be? Rock, pop, folk, soul, jazz, dance....? The material in my archive done in collaboration with a wide variety of artists crossed the board and much of it felt prime. Simple: go for a multi-genre affair, a truly eclectic music label. And that is what Legacy is, a genuine reflection of my years spent as a producer working with music of every character and kind.

The first release went up on this website beginning April 2010, the plan being to put out one new work every week making up a four-track EP by each month-end. The tracks can be streamed or downloaded. Paying isn’t essential but of course it helps.

Much praise goes to others: the clever advisers who tolerated my bleating; my gifted colleague who came up with the art design and logo; and not least the artists and musicians themselves who have graciously given their talent and time, as much of it as I could use. You all know who you are. Thanks.

CLARK SORLEY   

May, 2010