Andy Newton is a singer-songwriter. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Andy first began to compose tunes in college as a means, in the great tradition of songwriters before him, to whine about girls. Now whining about girls is […]
For over 20 years, Merrimack Records, LLC (formerly Merrimack Records) has been home to some of the most exciting names today in Jazz, Blues, Country, Rock, and Folk. Featuring original music by such artists as Michael O’Neill, notable Jazz guitarist and vocalist, and Kathi McDonald – celebrated backup singer for Ike & Tina Turner, the Rolling Stones, Leon Russell, and Joe Cocker – Merrimack Records is a label started by artists for artists, a grassroots creative collective for musicians and songwriters to come together, explore, and celebrate the roots of the American musical tradition.
The tale of Merrimack Records begins with Founder Joe Melnikas’s father, who lived by the Merrimack River. Joe’s father started playing the harmonica as a child, and, when he had children of his own, he instilled in them his deep love of music.
In the ‘70s, Joe – now a young man – began hanging around rehearsal halls and recording studios, chatting and swapping ideas with friends and musicians, and from there soon sparked a passion of his own for songwriting. As he started arranging recordings of tracks he had written and co-written, however, Joe struggled to find a way to let his music be heard, until, finally, inspiration struck: how better to get your songs out into the world, and to ensure that the true integrity of the work is protected against commercial interests, than to start your own label?
With that simple idea, Merrimack Records was born. Joe sought out musicians and artists throughout Washington and California and eventually found a group of passionate, accomplished individuals who shared in his dream – Jazz and Blues greats like trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, flautist and saxophonist Hubert Laws, and guitarist Robben Ford – to help craft the sort of timeless music that will continue to resonate with listeners the world over.
The Merrimack label first made waves in 1994 with the album Regatta Maritime, featuring original songs by C. Bussinger, Michael Martin, and Founder Joe Melnikas, as well as swinging performances by David Such and Calypso legend Sir Lancelot Pinard. This was shortly followed by acclaimed music scholar and Jazz trumpeter Steve Loza’s remarkable Red Car Blues and Rebel with a Cause later in the same year. In 1998, Merrimack Records astounded audiences once again with the album by famed Jazz vocalist Michael Martin, Odyssey, many of the songs for which were written by Joe Melnikas and featuring unforgettable performances by countless other illustrious musicians of the genre, like Hubert Laws, Freddie Hubbard, and Ralph Penland. These records were soon followed by the 2001 album, For the Record, by renowned tenor saxophonist Hollis Gentry III.
Merrimack Records, though, is perhaps best known for its two albums by the immortal Kathi McDonald. Featuring the usual crew of Jazz and Blues masters – including Brian Auger on piano and organ, Nathan East on bass, Robben Ford on guitar, and Ralph Penland on drums – Kathi McDonald and Nick Vigarino’s 1997 album The Ghost of Time, followed by Kathi’s 1999 work, Above & Beyond etched the artist, as well as the Merrimack name, forever in the pantheon of classic American music.
Now, after all these years, Merrimack Records, LLC is still dedicated to providing listeners with the very heart and soul of American roots music: everything from the backcountry sounds of Blues, Folk, and Country, to the city-inspired vitality of Jazz and Rock ‘n’ Roll, showcasing some of the most exciting musical artists today.
Merrimack Records has proven time and again that quality music isn’t born from market reports and commercial interests, but from profound, everlasting trust and passion. It is more than just a music label. Merrimack Records is a creative collective where some of the most thrilling and gifted artists and musicians come together to share ideas, explore sound, and see their visions become a reality.
Andy Newton is a singer-songwriter. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Andy first began to compose tunes in college as a means, in the great tradition of songwriters before him, to whine about girls. Now whining about girls is […]
From Merrimack Records comes the debut album by The Vatican Space Program, A Cobble of Songs. Reflecting the band’s diverse set of musical backgrounds, this eclectic compilation offers a fresh, fun-loving tour of the traditions that have inspired this ragtag […]
This funky, playful and rambunctious all-star group of songwriters and first-call sidemen (guitarist Travis Wammack, fiddler Donny Carpenter, pianist S.E. Willis and singer/ multi-instrumentalist Shane Rollo) pay sweet homage to a wide swath of indigenous music—from swampy Depression era folk […]
Written over the past 33 years, produced by Joe Melnikas and Donnie Gullett at Muscle Shoals Music in Alabama, On the Road features such legendary musicians as long-time Southern Rock veteran Travis Wammack, fiddle player Donny Carpenter, guitarist and singer […]
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