Artist description Acoustic singer/songwriter Ned Massey is "the finest talent since Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen"(John Hammond, The Columbia Records A&R man who signed both of them), who has "a poet's way with words"(The St. Louis Riverfront Times). "A gutsy artist who isn't afraid to add edge to his acoustic based music."(The Album Network) "An evocative singer-songwriter with vision."(FMQB) "Massey refreshingly avoids rock ciches, instead striking genuiene and resonant emotional chords...an honest, literate, non-prete ntious rocker."(The Nashville Scene)@Î

Music Style Acoustic Singer/Songwriter

Musical Influences Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits

Similar Artists Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Neil Young

Artist History Accidents, missteps and coincidents. It was no accident that Ned Massey, a young singer/songwriter from the Midwest, moved to New York city in the mid-eighties. His goal was to have his music heard by the famous producer and talent scout, John Hammond, t he Columbia Records A&R man responsible for signing and recording such acts as Billie Holliday, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. By coincidence, while working his first week in a downtown restaurant, one of M a ssey's customers--who just happened to be reading John Hammond's autobiography--turned out to be a recording engineer who had just worked with Hammond on Stevie Ray Vaughn's album, "Texas Flood." The two struck up a conversation and the engineer gave Ma ssey Hammond's office number. Massey, after months of phone calls and letters, finally got to play his music for Hammond who promptly announced in the national press(L.A. Times, Wall Street Journal, CBS Morning News) that he had found "the next Dylan, th e next Springsteen." Hammond took Massey in the studio and began recording what was to be Massey's debut release for Epic Records. Then, one day, while in the studio with Massey, the elderly Hammond suffered a serious stroke from which he never recovered. With Hammond no longer championing the project, Massey's deal disappeared. Then came the missteps: a disastrous management deal; development deals with major labels that fall apart because of politics; a label closing immediately following the release of his first album. And so on. the kind of stories that are unfortunately the norm in the music business. Over the years, Massey's performances have drawn rave reviews and a devoted following(a solo acoustic performance in St. Louis by Massey for a crowd o f over ten thousand was ranked as one of the top ten concerts of the year by the Riverfront Times -- St. Louis's version of The Village Voice). And, finally, we have Ned Massey's new album, "A Brief Appearance," a mere eighteen years afterJohn Hammond di scovered Massey. The album is an at times fiery, at times meditative, examination into the mystery of faith, hope and love in a trobled world. Anchored by Massey's rich, evocative voice, "A Brief Appearance" is a collection of songs that doesn't turn a blind eye tot eh darder side of the human condition, yet ends with a hard-won optimism born from the wisdom of experience. If you like powerful lyrics sung by a great voice, this is your kind of music, and it's no accident that you're here. So listen. ∞µ

Group Members Ned Massey

Additional Info e mail: ned@nedmassey.com

Location brooklyn, ny - USA

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