GoFundMe Campaign Launches to Save Bill Laswell’s Orange Music Studio
If you were influenced in any way, shape or form by bassist/producer/musical genie Bill Laswell – and chances are you were whether you know it or not – NOW is the moment to give a little extra something back.
Keep the bass in this place: Bill Laswell’s Orange Music Studio.
Buying 100 albums with his name on it would be good, but the even more direct route would be to contribute to the GoFundMe campaign to benefit his prolific New Jersey studio, Orange Music, and help it to remain open.
SonicScoop had the honor of interviewing Laswell a few years back for his terrific Deliverance solo bass guitar record. An inspiration to us starting from his production of the landmark record “Rockit” by Herbie Hancock, Laswell told us about the major role Orange Music has had in realizing his vision. And this is a historic room – as the GoFundMe page says:
Supposedly built in the late 60s for Franki Valli and the Four Seasons, it was originally called Vantone Studio. In the 70s, groups like Jethro Tull, Humble Pie, Brooklyn Bridge, and Carole King recorded there. In the 80s, the studio was renamed Grand Slam Studios and hosted such luminaries as Aerosmith and George Benson. When Laswell took over the studio, he brought with him his international cast of colorful characters, producing such artists as Tabla Beat Science, Sly & Robbie, Matisyahu, Bernie Worrell, and the inimitable Lee “Scratch” Perry.
Health challenges and the overall economic landscape for studios has made this a tough time for Laswell and Orange Music. The good news: the campaign is close to its goal. Laswell is offering up some groovy goodies to all who can pitch in to help meet the monetary mark, and hopefully surpass it.
Visit the GoFundMe page to go DI on helping this stellar independent to make music his way – which is a very wonderful way indeed.
— David Weiss
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