On this page, A&R and Production  credits of Andreas Hellingh - he also currently serve as assistant manager to recording artists James D-Train Williams and Mykah Montgomery

For DJ bookings, Voice over (Jingles/Commercials) and/or Live performances, Interviews, Studio sessions, Songwriting, Music production or general information re. James "D-Train" Williams and Mykah Montgomery, please visit our contact page.

James ‘D-Train’ Williams – Miracles of The Heart
”My music is a combination of dynamics, honesty, and a down-to-earth creative approach,” notes James “D-Train” Williams, who made an impressive debut on Columbia Records with MIRACLES OF THE HEART, a multi-faceted album laced with sensitive soul and powerhouse grooves, his trademark.

MIRACLES OF THE HEART, co-produced by D-Train and his long-time friend and co-writer Hubert Eaves III, is a ubiquitous blend of funk, street rock and rhythm and blues. “We took our time selecting each song,” says the Brooklyn-born and bred performer. “At the time we wanted to give the album a cohesive texture and I think we succeeded.”

D-Train’s track record speaks for itself, both here and abroad. His long string of R&B/Dance-Disco crossover hits, spanning 1981-1984, established him as a definitive force on the urban contemporary front: “You’re The One for Me,” “Keep On,” “Walk on By,” “Music,” “Keep Giving Me Love,” and “Something on Your Mind.” In fact, in the early ‘80s when dance music got sidetracked by over-produced disco fluff, D-Train’s meaty hooks and diverse changes, augmented by his vibrant baritone, broke new ground in black sound. Since then he’s been constantly imitated, but none comes close to the original.

”You Are Everything,” the opening track and first single from MIRACLES OF THE HEART, starts out in a pop/funk overdrive, never losing momentum. D-Train’s strong vocal soars as the song’s dance-oriented arrangement reaches peak after peak. “It’s one of my favourite cuts from that project,” he insists. “I like its flat-out pace and the singing/rap style. Of all the songs, it’s the closest to what people recognize as the D-Train sound.”

“Misunderstanding” is an intense, up-tempo, full-blown production. Here again, D-Train’s distinctive vocal technique elevates the material to A+ status. Then the D-Train musical express goes from the beat to the ballad with seamless ease. “Miracle of the Heart,” an exceptionally beautiful love track, highlights the singer/producer/musician’s sensitive side. “Oh How I Love You (Girl),” which is delivered with a raw, romantic flavour, reinforces his unique ability to tug lyrically at the listener’s heartstrings. Both ballads have become classics.

The continuing success story of James “D-Train” Williams began at age three when, like so many other black artists, he started singing in the church choir. At age ten the guitar was introduced to him, an instrument at which he’s become expert. Until he reached high school music was an obsession; but sports, especially football, also attracted him.

Playing varsity at Erasmus Hall, the Brooklyn high school that boasts such celebrated alumni as Barbra Streisand and Will Downing, James Williams nicknamed himself after the New York subway system’s “D-Train” because of his locomotive style of moving down opposing players, and subsequently broke many school records on the gridiron. He dreamed of playing college ball and eventually turning pro, but music remained a love he couldn’t get over.

D-Train met Hubert Eaves in 1981, at a Manhattan recording studio, and found they had mutual creative interests. They teamed up, pooling ideas, making demo tapes and frequently performing together. “Hubert had written a little of ‘You’re The One For Me’ ,” recalls D-Train. Once we sat down and worked out the lyrics and the arrangement, we knew we had something special.”

The independent Prelude Records agreed and signed D-Train, releasing his first big hit in late-1981, “You’re The One For Me.” The D-Train phenomenon had officially begun. A long list of hits followed, paving the way for numerous D-Train tours throughout the U.S. and Europe, where he is considered a legend!

The D-Train hit machine wound down for a year or so starting in 1985. D-Train and Hubert Eaves kept writing new materials together, however, and then Columbia Records entered the picture. “When I signed with Columbia in March ’86,” says D-Train, “I felt secure knowing that finally I was with a major company that was behind me all the way.”

MIRACLES OF THE HEART was followed by IN YOUR EYES in 1988, both albums becoming classics over time, while James and Hubert have continued an association which lasts through to this day.

© Andreas Hellingh - 2006
for The Soul of Amsterdam
www.thesoulofamsterdam.com

© Andreas Hellingh - 2005
for The Soul of Amsterdam
www.thesoulofamsterdam.com

In The Land of Smooth
Ladies and gentleman, it’s here. It’s finally here. After being in the business for more than 25 years, Byron Woods has released his debut effort.

The Woods story began in 1972, the year in which he got his first glints of the limelight. Along with Trina Foster, Pamela Batchman and Johnny Foster, he collaborated to sing in a vocal quartet called the Celestrials. The group won fourth place in a talent contest. That was his first professional on-stage experience.

From 1975 until 1977 he performed locally in and around Chicago with a group called Heet. The group consisted of Byron himself, Billy Hartfield, Anthony Dockery, Johnny Beard, Gail Pierce, and Julie Dominguez. Some time later the group Heet changed its name into Brandi getting a fresh start and they continued to perform up until 1981. Though they gained notoriety and mass appeal, and did recordings, unfortunately like Heet, Brandi never officially released any music.

While performing with Brandi, in 1979 he shared his talents by teaming up with Onstage, another Chicago-based group. The band consisted of, Mike Logan (vocals, keyboard), Larry Kimpel (bass), Dana Goodman (drums), Marsha Miller (vocals, songwriter), Willie Simmons (vocals, guitar), Thurman Morgan (guitar) and Chippito Hardy (Percussionist). After Brandi disbanded he became a full member of Onstage as a lead singer.

While the sounds of Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean took the world by storm, Onstage accordingly did the same with their first release for the Sock label titled, Who You Really Are with on the flip-side, Hooked On Your Love. In 1984 they joined Jessie Saunders’, Jessey Records and released She’s A Lady Of The Night. Two years later they parted and found fortune at Omnibus Records, ran by Karl Peteet (who eventually became Byron’s manager). For Omnibus they released two more hit singles. The first one titled, I Give My Best, with the b-side being, Why, which featured Byron Woods on lead vocals. Alibi, which was co-written by Byron Woods and Mike Logan was there final release in 1987.

Onstage opened up for such artists as Ruby Jackson and Smoke City, to name a couple, and received widespread airplay. Onstage disbanded in 1989 and Byron continued to be active with some of his long-standing jazz collaborators The Kenchaney Xperience, and arranged vocals for Corky McClerckin. While with McClerkin, Byron sang lead on Searching For The Soul and his brilliance was displayed with the songs Love Is Your Name, Everything Must Change, and Passion, which featured Theresa Davis, of the Emotions.

A former member of Brandi, Marshall Titus, introduced Byron to the UK record label, Zing.
While artists such as Teddy Pendergrass, Phil Perry, Marva Hicks, Victoria Wilson-James, and Caron Wheeler were soaring high in the UK charts, so was Byron, with his releases of
I’ve Been In Love (But Not Like this) and You Don’t Even Know.

In 1991 his UK success continued with the UK label Ardent. Nanette Frank, another of Byron’s friends and long-standing collaborator arranged the vocals for Look To Me For Love, a song he wrote with his dear friend, the late Garry Glenn, singer-songwriter of Motown Records.

Byron founded his group VocalPoynt, which consists of Byron himself, Dan Porter, Mae Koen, and Dianne Madison. The group’s musical influence covers a wide range of styles from Jazz to Pop to R&B, and Broadway. Vocalpoynt has performed as an opening act for The Temptations, Gerald Levert, Aretha Franklin, and Miki Howard. The group is currently in the studio working on their debut release.

Byron Woods has done background vocals for such greats as Phil Perry, who performed as an opening act for Patti Austin and he has shared the stage with Ben E King, Vesta Williams, and The Staple Singers. As a footnote, Byron’s then road manager John Abbey was the founder of the worlds No1 Blues & Soul magazine, B&S. Byron continues to perform today with his own group and artists such as Nanette Frank and Dee Alexander.

Byron Woods’ debut has a multi-faceted sound quality, which expresses his unique vocal range from his own natural tones to falsetto. This can be heard on songs such as You Are Here Tonight and Work Of Art, which showcases how he is able to effortlessly give what the song demands no matter what it takes. In The Land Of Smooth is a musical snapshot of one of the world’s most gifted singer-songwriters. Other highlights are Fly Away, which was co-written by the late Garry Glenn, and Payback Is A Dog, a cover version of The Stylistics classic. Mike Logan co-produced the album and can be heard on the duet He’ll Never Love You. This release will become a treasured addition to your music collection for years to come, for Byron Woods is the Tiger Woods of Soul!

© Andreas Hellingh - 2004
for The Soul of Amsterdam
www.thesoulofamsterdam.com

Read My Lips
While driving around with a friend one day, Felicia had a chance meeting with Edward “Eddie F” Ferrell of the Untouchables. Felicia playfully recorded a few tracks at a music arcade in a mall and unbeknownst to her, her friend handed the tape over to Eddie and it caught his attention. That was the beginning.

Eddie F, co-founder of Heavy D and the Boyz, is known for producing mega R&B/Hip-Hop hits. From 1989, the year in which he founded Untouchables Entertainment Group, together with the talents of Dave “Jam” Hall, Maurice “Nevell” Hodge, and Kenny “Smoove” Kornegay, all of which were producers, artists and songwriters, they forged hits for artists such as Mariah Carey, En Vogue, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Mary J. Blige, Al B. Sure, Stephanie Mills, Tevin Campbell, Robert Palmer and many more. With the 1991 success of Intro, (Innovative New Talent Reaching Out), the way was made so that the Untouchables could expand their horizons to develop, groom, and manage new talent for the future. Being the super-producers that they are, they attracted more phenomenal talent which included the likes of Kenny Tonge, Darin “Piano Man” Whittington, Anthony “Spunk Bigga” Blagmon, and William “Willie Gunz” Morris. Felicia Adams was soon to be part of the music gang.

Just as with many of her contemporaries, Felicia had her humble beginnings singing in church choirs. Her talent was showcased at many local events in New York. From those moments in the spotlight, it was clear to see that her future would shine brightly as a vocalist and songwriter extraordinaire. In the 90’s she dabbled with several girl groups. Through her already established friendship with Eddie F, Antonio “L.A” Reid, co-founder of LaFace Records became aware of her singing talents and 3-weeks later she was offered a deal. Artists like Toni Braxton, TLC, Usher, Damian Dame and Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds were among the greats on their roster. After Eddie F played Felicia’s demo to L.A Reid (which was originally presented to him as a “group”), Felicia (along with Maxie, from the group Brownstone) then met with Reid and Reid and his wife at the time Pebbles, showed great interest in Felicia. At the same time Motown Records showed interest in her but Felicia made a choice to sign with LaFace/Untouchables.

Felicia’s first song under the LaFace label was titled, “Thinking About You”, which in 1994 reached the Nº 52 spot on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Chart, and was licensed to Motown Records as well. Not only that, though it didn’t received widespread promoting, the single was popular from coast to coast and in Europe. While at LaFace/Untouchables, Felicia‘s song, “Thinking About You”, was featured on a compilation album called “Let’s Get It On”.

That same year, Felicia immediately went on to record her first 12-track, self-titled solo project. Her album contained heartfelt songs such as “Change Of Heart”, “I’m Going Down”, “Your Place Or Mine” (co-written by, Donell Jones), “Baby Hold Me” and “You’re The One I Need”, a duet with JoJo of Jodeci. The album featured recognized producers like Darin Whittington and Chris “CL” Liggio (from Dave “Jam” Halls camp), who worked with several artists like, Ghostface, Next, Allure, Tweet, Case and Musiq Soulchild. Liggio is also the producer of Felicia’s current project.

Though it is a gem of an album, and with the set ready for Hype Williams to shoot her video for “Thinking About You”, with Alan Paine as her leading man, unfortunately it was never officially promoted or released due to contractual constraints between LaFace and Motown.

During this time Felicia toured and performed with such mega stars like Ashanti and Mary J Blige on her “What’s The 411?” tour. She did background vocals for artists including Heavy D & The Boys, and on Madonna’s album, “Bedtime Stories”. Her television and video credits include performing in productions with Brownstone (“If You Love Me”), and with Marc Dorsey on his R&B Live & Unplugged set at the Soul Café.

From the mid-90’s and onwards Felicia wrote songs for several artists. Those artists are, Changing Faces (“Baby Tonight”), Soul 4 Real (“You Just Don’t Know”), Assorted Phlavors (“Patience”), André Wilson (“Had Enough”), Yvette Michelle (“Crazy”, co-written by Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff), Donell Jones (“Believe In Me”) and MissJones (“Baby Maybe”). Felicia also wrote for the likes of Ericka Yancey and Tamia. In the year 2000 she won critical acclaim for her contribution to the soundtrack of the John Singleton movie, Baby Boy, with her songs, “Baby Boy”, and, “You”.

In terms of her artistic style, Felicia is inspired by legends like, Stevie Wonder, Dionne Warwick, Patti Labelle, Kelly Price, Stephanie Mills, Teddy Pendergrass and Regina Bell among others. Their individual styles can be heard throughout Felicia’s solo debut. Felicia contemplated releasing her own album for a number of years, and eventually she went on to found her own company, LadyBoss Enterprises. From there, it was two years in the making until her labor of love had its final polish. Originally, most of the songs on this album were meant for other artists but Felicia decided to keep the songs, and lend to them her own pizzazz.

Felicia is now ready to take the world by storm. Her album features impressive material, songs of substance with good instrumentation and is very well produced under the magical musical partnership with producer Chris “CL” Liggio. Felicia Adams, songwriter, storyteller, songstress, (hence…music industry’s “best-kept secret”), with the soulfully sincere “Read My Lips”, is soul’s next true heir apparent. She’s about to do “Ashley Nytasia” and herself - Proud.

© Andreas Hellingh - 2004
for The Soul of Amsterdam
www.thesoulofamsterdam.com