Nashville, TN (July 28, 2022) - The 615 Hideaway Records is proud to announce the signing of a multi-album deal with Bluegrass emerging band Rock Hearts.
Sammy 3, owner of the label, has been friends with the band for over a year helping them distribute their videos through Bluegrass Music-TV with great success. As they say, one thing leads to another, and the conversation turned from helping the group with their video distribution to this exciting signing announcement. “It was clear after our very first get-together with Sammy3 that he understood us as a group and could relate to our goals and vision for what we want to achieve. What started as a friendly conversation about our band’s dreams, has developed into a mutual respect and admiration between us and Sammy3, with a commitment to working together to accomplish big things! From its inception, Rock Hearts has always felt like family, speaking the same “musical language” and it’s evident that Sammy3 speaks that same language as well. Rock Hearts believes Sammy3 has an exciting vision for 615 Hideaway Entertainment, and we’re honored to be a part of journey with him as we join The 615 Hideaway Records! “ – Alex MacLeod – Rock Hearts
Rock Hearts are currently finishing up their debut album on 615 Hideaway Records with Neb Luberecki producing, and Stephen Mougin engineer extraordinaire at Dark Shadow Recording Studio. It was a winning formula for the band’s first album Starry Southern Nights and the band felt that their second album would again be the right place with these incredible musicians, professionals and all around great human beings. Formed in 2013, Rock Hearts brings together five veteran musicians from Southern New England who love to sing and pick bluegrass, old Country tunes, and seek out new tunes from other genres to “Bluegrass-ify”. Watch for news on their first single on 615 Hideaway Records coming soon.
Bluegrass Today Reports on the Rock Hearts New Label Signing
Joe Deetz’s career on banjo spans over 40 years. A New England Bluegrass Boy with Joe Val, Joey has also worked with Frank Wakefield, John Herald, Back Eddy and many others. He has recorded with John Herald, Will Scarlet, the Beach Boys and Carol King. Joey was also featured on the Sesame Street recording of The Garbage Man Blues. His passion for bluegrass is evident in his tasteful yet driving banjo and harmony singing. He lives in Mendon, MA with his wife.
Alex MacLeod grew up in bluegrass. His father and mother, Sandy and Geri, exposed him to the music early on. While his dad Sandy played in the band, his mom clogged with the Ralph Case Cloggers in Maryland. With a classic leading voice and rock-solid rhythm guitar, Alex has served as front man for several bands in the region including Northern Lights, Southern Rhode, Back Eddy, and the Iron Skillet Band. He lives in Charlestown, RI with his wife and four daughters, Raechel, Maicey, Grace, and Piper.
Billy “BT” Thibodeau boasts an undeniable bluegrass pedigree, and he brings his high tenor and lead vocals, along with his fastidious mandolin and splendiferous guitar playing to Rock Hearts. A multi-instrumentalist, Billy has been picking and singing bluegrass for several decades. Cutting his teeth with his Dad, Sam Tidwell and Uncle Bob in the Kennebec Valley Boys, he would later lead his own band, The Bill Thibodeau Band. He has also played with the Descendants of Bluegrass, Bluegrass Supply Company, and Union River Band, just to name a few. Billy currently teaches music and works at Rick’s Music in Cumberland, RI. He lives in Cumberland, RI.
Austin Scelzo was introduced to various fiddle traditions at Mark O'Connor's early Berklee String Camps, learning from powerhouse players like Billy Contreras, Jason Anick, Casey Dreissen, Jeremy Kittel, Andy Reiner, Bruce Molsky, Mark O'Connor, and Christian Howes. Austin's Bluegrass journey began with the Western CT based group the "Angry O'Haras", then later "On the Trail", with which he recorded fiddle and vocals. Austin is also an active bluegrass community advocate, teaching Wernick Method Jam classes, creating and maintaining the performance venue "Bluegrass Coffeehouse" and launching the Connecticut Bluegrass Music Association.
Rick Brodsky is a multi-instrumentalist who has played within numerous musical genres over the past 35 years. Rick is a regular on the Connecticut/New York bluegrass scene and has played bass for numerous regional and national artists including Jonathan Edwards, Jeff Scroggins & Colorado, The Korey Brodsky Band, Stacy Phillips & His Bluegrass Characters, and Laura Orshaw & The New Velvet. You can hear Rick’s bass playing on several of Ben Freed’s highly acclaimed banjo albums and more recently on Korey Brodsky’s 2015 album.
ABOUT THE (615) HIDEAWAY RECORDS: When Sammy Passamano, III founded (615) HIDEAWAY RECORDS he was carrying on a very long line of tradition both in family and music history. The Passamano name has had an impact in the music community for over three generations, starting in the 50’s when Sam Passamano, Sr. began his celebrated career as a top Executive at MCA (Universal) Distribution. Sam, Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps in a top marketing post at MCA Records and later brought Rural Rhythm Records to international recognition as one of the today’s top producers of Bluegrass music. As the third generation in the long family line, Sammy, III was an integral part of the development and success of Rural Rhythm Records, now forging his own path in the steeply rich family and music tradition. In 2019 Sammy III hit the ground running with his (615) HIDEAWAY RECORDS with the release of Bluegrass veteran Audie Blaylock’s debut album “Originalist”, which yielded two #1 hit Bluegrass singles. This immediate label success was followed up with Top 10 Bluegrass hit singles from Nick Chandler and Delivered, the Crowe Brothers and Banjo master Bill Emerson which also yielded a #1 hit Bluegrass single. 2021 promises to be a big year for (615) HIDEAWAY RECORDS as it continues its quickly developing rise in the Bluegrass community. In addition to new releases by the Bluegrass hitmakers mentioned above, the label will be releasing eight albums from the vastly rich catalog from the legendary Ronnie Reno and his Reno’s Old-Time Music library…and look forward to some exciting new artist additions to the label roster. In addition, his commitment in keeping traditional Bluegrass music alive, under the banner of BLUEGRASS MUSIC FOREVER!…Old School, Always Cool” motto, Sammy III created BLUEGRASS MUSIC TV in 2020. In January 2021, partnered with Ronnie Reno, BLUEGRASS MUSIC TV launched its subscription service, Bluegrass Music TV-PRIME, to Bluegrass and Old-Time Country fans including four separate channels; Reno’s Old Time Music, The (615) Hideaway, WoodSongs and Stan Hitchcock’s Heart to Heart. Several Seasons are now available with more Seasons becoming available throughout the year. Performances include Bluegrass legends along with today’s Bluegrass hitmakers and fresh new talent from the rising stars in Bluegrass. Sammy III, has a strong vison for the future as he combines his family and music traditions in both audio and video formats and new media to provide great entertainment for today’s generations and beyond..
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