Jeff Blue

Last updated

Jeffrey Blue
Born (1967-11-21) November 21, 1967 (age 56)
Origin Los Angeles
Genres
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • A&R executive
  • songwriter
  • lawyer
  • author
  • music supervisor
Instruments
Labels
Website jeffbluemedia.com

Jeffrey Blue (born November 21, 1967) is a A&R executive, record producer, and songwriter who is currently an A&R consultant for Atlantic Records. He has worked as the Senior Vice President of A&R and staff producer for Warner Bros. Records, Interscope Records, Virgin Records, Capitol Records, Sony BMG, Jive Records, RCA Records, and J Records. He specializes in discovering, developing, and signing unsigned artists. Blue most notably discovered Linkin Park, Macy Gray, Daniel Powter, and The Last Goodnight. In addition to signing Limp Bizkit and Korn to publishing deals, he has also written singles for artists such as Hoobastank, Macy Gray, Syndicate, and The Last Goodnight.

Contents

Biography

Blue attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he studied Communications focusing on Media Law. [1] Blue played drums while in college. [1] He interned for TMZ host Harvey Levin who was the legal reporter at the local CBS TV News Department and convinced Blue to go to law school. [1] Blue then attended Loyola Law School in Los Angeles to pursue a career as an attorney. [1] Blue passed the bar exam and found work as a lawyer, but lost passion for the profession. [1] Blue became a music journalist for Billboard , HITS, and Entertainment Weekly , and eventually published his own magazine, Crossroads, which focused on discovering unsigned artists. [1] He also pursued a career in acting and appeared in television commercials. [1]

Blue joined Zomba Music Publishing in 1995 and became the label's vice president of A&R while also teaching classes at UCLA. [2] He met Brad Delson at UCLA, then a student, who became his intern. [2] Blue mentored Delson and took interest in his band, XERO, which he had just cofounded with Mike Shinoda. Blue signed a publishing development deal with Xero and played a pivotal role in Linkin Park's early history. [3] He helped the band find vocalist Chester Bennington. [4] After Blue left Zomba and joined Warner Records, he signed Linkin Park to their first record deal and executive produced the band's debut album Hybrid Theory. [5]

Blue also developed and co-wrote with Macy Gray. [5] After recording Gray's demos, Blue secured a deal for the artist with Epic Records and led to him co-writing the top-10 hit "Still" for Gray. [6] During this time, Blue also signed rock bands Korn and Limp Bizkit to publishing deals.

Beyond A&R, he has directly collaborated with artists to write and produce music. Blue wrote Hoobastank's "So Close, So Far", while also producing Better Than Ezra's album Before the Robots. [7] He was also the executive producer and co-writer for Queen of the Damned's soundtrack. [7] In 2007, Blue collaborated with The Last Goodnight to co-write the song Pictures of You, which won a BMI Pop Award. [7] He also performed all the drums and percussion on the band's debut album, Poison Kiss . [7] In 2008, he developed, co-wrote, and co-produced the debut album for Steadlür. [8]

In 2012, Blue signed, co-wrote, and developed WERM after discovering the band on Music Xray. [9] In 2020, Blue released, One Step Closer, From Xero to #1; Becoming Linkin Park, a book detailing his early work with Linkin Park. [10] He also worked on a docu-series covering the history of A&R through and in conjunction with Mark Wahlberg's production company Unrealistic Ideas. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linkin Park</span> American rock band

Linkin Park is an American rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist/rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Mike Shinoda, lead guitarist Brad Delson, DJ/turntablist Joe Hahn, bassist Dave Farrell, co-lead vocalist Emily Armstrong, and drummer Colin Brittain. The lineup for the band's first seven studio albums included lead vocalist Chester Bennington and drummer Rob Bourdon until Bennington's death by suicide in July 2017 when the band entered an indefinite hiatus. In September 2024, Linkin Park's reformation was announced along with the addition of Armstrong and Brittain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chester Bennington</span> American singer (1976–2017)

Chester Charles Bennington was an American singer who was the lead vocalist of the rock band Linkin Park. He was also the lead vocalist of Grey Daze, Dead by Sunrise, and Stone Temple Pilots at various points.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Shinoda</span> American musician (born 1977)

Michael Kenji Shinoda is an American musician, songwriter, rapper, singer, record producer and graphic designer. He co-founded the rock band Linkin Park in 1996 and is the band's co-lead vocalist, as well as rhythm guitarist, keyboardist, primary songwriter and producer. Shinoda later created a hip-hop-driven side project, Fort Minor, in 2004. He has also served as a producer for tracks and albums by artists such as Lupe Fiasco, Styles of Beyond, and the X-Ecutioners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Delson</span> American guitarist

Bradford Philip Delson is an American musician. He is best known as the lead guitarist and one of the founding members of the rock band Linkin Park.

<i>Hybrid Theory</i> 2000 studio album by Linkin Park

Hybrid Theory is the debut studio album by American rock band Linkin Park, released on October 24, 2000, by Warner Bros. Records. Recorded at NRG Recordings in North Hollywood, California, and produced by Don Gilmore, the album's lyrical themes deal with problems lead vocalist Chester Bennington experienced during his adolescence, including drug abuse and the constant fighting and eventual divorce of his parents. Hybrid Theory takes its title from the previous name of the band as well as the concepts of music theory and combining different styles. It is also the band's only album on which bassist Dave "Phoenix" Farrell does not play, however, he is credited as a songwriter on some of its tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Bourdon</span> American drummer (born 1979)

Robert Gregory Bourdon is an American musician, best known as the former drummer and co-founding member of the rock band Linkin Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Farrell</span> American musician

David Michael Farrell, also known by his stage name Phoenix, is an American musician, best known as the bassist of the rock band Linkin Park. He was also a member of Tasty Snax, a ska punk band.

<i>Frat Party at the Pankake Festival</i> 2001 video by Linkin Park

Frat Party at the Pankake Festival is the first DVD by American rock band Linkin Park, released on November 20, 2001, through Warner Records. The DVD was produced by Bill Berg-Hillinger, Joe Hahn, David May and Angela Smith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rebellion (song)</span> 2014 single by Linkin Park featuring Daron Malakian

"Rebellion" is a song by American rock band Linkin Park. The song was originally recorded by the band for their sixth studio album, The Hunting Party, where it appears as the eighth track on the album. The song features Armenian-American multi-instrumentalist Daron Malakian from heavy metal band System of a Down, who plays additional guitar on the track. The track was released as the fourth official single from The Hunting Party on June 4, 2014 and was later released on American rock radio on October 13, 2014.

"Points of Authority" is a song by American rock band Linkin Park. It is the fourth track on their first studio album, Hybrid Theory. The song was released in 2001 as a promo release. A CD single for the song was set to be released in the UK in September 2001, but instead, "Papercut" was released as the third single from the album. It was later planned as the fifth official single from the album, planned for a January 2002 release but was cancelled for unknown reasons. In its place, the song's remix version was released. Mike Shinoda's verses originally had different lyrics, and Chester Bennington's parts became no different from the Hybrid Theory version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darryl Swann</span> Musical artist

Darryl Swann is an American record producer, songwriter, educator and musician. Triple platinum award winner, and produced the vocal performance for the Grammy Award-winning Best Female Pop Vocal in 2001. He has worked with prominent artists including, John Frusciante, Macy Gray, The Black Eyed Peas, Greg Hetson, Ryatt, and Mos Def, among others. He has also done substantial work for Atlantic Records, Sony Records, and Universal Records. Darryl also recorded, produced, and mixed the first Linkin Park record that got them signed to Warner Bros. Records. This was recorded at Paramount Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. Darryl was hired by then Zomba Music publisher Jeff Blue to work with the band "Xero", who then changed their name to Linkin Park once signed to Warner Music. Jeff Blue then went on to become an A&R executive at Warner Music. The entire process is chronicled in Jeff Blue's best-selling book "One Step Closer". Swann also produced Montell Jordan's first material via LA insider Paul Stewart.

<i>Mall</i> (soundtrack) 2014 soundtrack album by Chester Bennington, Dave Farrell, Joe Hahn, Mike Shinoda and Alec Puro

Mall: Music from the Motion Picture is the original motion picture soundtrack for the 2014 American drama film Mall, consisting of songs written, recorded and performed by Chester Bennington, Dave Farrell, Joe Hahn and Mike Shinoda with Alec Puro, drummer of American industrial rock band Deadsy. It was released through Warner Bros. and Machine Shop on December 12, 2014. The soundtrack was produced by Mike Shinoda and Brad Delson, along with Rob Cavallo and Bill Boyd, who both served as executive producers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heavy (Linkin Park song)</span> 2017 single by Linkin Park

"Heavy" is a song by American rock band Linkin Park, featuring guest vocals from American singer Kiiara. The song is the first single from their seventh studio album, One More Light. The song was written by Linkin Park members Chester Bennington, Brad Delson, and Mike Shinoda, alongside Julia Michaels and Justin Tranter. The single was released for download on February 16, 2017, and was premiered on radio on February 21. It is the band's last single to be released during Bennington's lifetime.

<i>One More Light</i> 2017 studio album by Linkin Park

One More Light is the seventh studio album by American rock band Linkin Park. It was released on May 19, 2017, through Warner Bros. Records and Machine Shop. It is the band's first album to have a title track, as they felt that the song "One More Light" was the heart of the album. It is also the band's final album to feature their lineup that included co-lead vocalist Chester Bennington, who died from suicide by hanging two months after the album's release, and drummer and band co-founder Rob Bourdon, who opted to not return for the band's reformation in 2024.

"Battle Symphony" is a promotional single by American rock band Linkin Park. The song was recorded by the band for their seventh studio album, titled One More Light. The song appears on the album as the fourth track. The song was written by Linkin Park members Brad Delson and Mike Shinoda. The song was released on March 16, 2017, but it was leaked some days before.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invisible (Linkin Park song)</span> 2017 promotional single by Linkin Park

"Invisible" is a song by American rock band Linkin Park. It was released from their seventh studio album, One More Light. The song was written by Mike Shinoda and Justin Parker. The song is sung by Mike Shinoda with Chester Bennington on backing vocals. The song premiered on May 10, 2017, at Zane Lowe's World Record show on Beats 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One More Light (song)</span> 2017 single by Linkin Park

"One More Light" is a ballad by American rock band Linkin Park from their seventh studio album, One More Light, as well as their last major single with longtime lead vocalist Chester Bennington. The song was co-written with Eg White and was released to US contemporary hit radio on October 3, 2017, as the album's third and final single. It is Bennington's second posthumously released single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friendly Fire (song)</span> 2024 single by Linkin Park

"Friendly Fire" is a song by American rock band Linkin Park. Originally recorded during sessions for their seventh studio album, One More Light (2017), it was later officially released on February 23, 2024, as the lead single from the greatest hits album Papercuts and features vocals from Chester Bennington that were recorded before his death in 2017. It appears as the 20th and final track on the album itself.

<i>From Zero</i> Upcoming 2024 studio album by Linkin Park

From Zero is the upcoming eighth studio album by American rock band Linkin Park, set to be released on November 15, 2024, through Warner Records and Machine Shop. It is Linkin Park's first studio album since One More Light (2017), and their first to feature new singer Emily Armstrong of Dead Sara on vocals, as well as the band's new drummer Colin Brittain. It is the band's first album without vocalist Chester Bennington due to his death in 2017 as well as drummer Rob Bourdon due to his departure from the band the same year. The album's title has a double meaning; it is a reference to the band's original name of Xero and also refers to the band's new era with Armstrong and Brittain after the death of Chester Bennington.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mean, Jean-Francois (February 10, 2002). "Jeff Blue - VP of A&R at Warner Bros, CA". HitQuarters . Archived from the original on February 10, 2002. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Perez Hollingsworth, Ashley (February 16, 2021). "Interview: Jeff Blue Reflects On The Struggles, Frustrations, And Joys Of Working With Linkin Park". Genre Is Dead. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  3. ↑ FINTECH.TV (December 14, 2023). "Jeff Blue: Remembering Chester Bennington and Linkin Park's early days". FINTECH.TV. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  4. ↑ Morton, Luke (October 9, 2020). "Chester Bennington Left His Own Birthday Party To Record Linkin Park's Lost Track, Pictureboard". Kerrang!. Retrieved December 31, 2021.
  5. 1 2 David, Fricke (March 14, 2002). "Linkin Park: David Fricke Talks to Chester Bennington About 'Hybrid Theory' Success". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  6. ↑ Llopis, Glenn (December 4, 2020). "Authenticity Fuels Greatness: 4 Lessons From Jeff Blue And Linkin Park's 'Hybrid Theory'". Forbes. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "For Jeff Blue, the Artist is King". BMI. October 2, 2009. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  8. ↑ Oken, Ashley (March 7, 2021). "Multi-platinum producer and author Jeff Blue on his new book". Highwire Magazine. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Music Xray Artist Development Program". Music Xray. June 15, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  10. ↑ Powell, Scott (November 7, 2023). "Skyline Corporate Communications Group, LLC Secures Exclusive CNBC TV Interview for Multi-Platinum Music Producer & Legendary A&R Executive Jeff Blue at the New York Stock Exchange". Skyline Corporate. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  11. ↑ Stories, Local (April 10, 2023). "Daily Inspiration: Meet Jeff Blue". Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.