Severn Records

Severn released three albums in 1998: Darrell Nulisch's The Whole Truth, Big Joe Maher's[4] I'm Still Swinging, and Benjie Porecki's Servin' It Up. The demise of Black Top Records had left the first two of these artists available to record on the new label. Subsequently, they have recorded six more albums with Severn. Porecki has recorded two more albums and provided keyboard backup on many Severn projects. In 1999, Severn reissued Steve Guyger's[5] Past Life Blues. To produce these four albums, as well as ten more early ones, Severn made use of recording, mixing and mastering facilities at several commercial studios. Eventually, all these functions were carried out at a studio in the basement of Earl's house on the Severn River in Crownsville, MD.[6]

In 2001, Severn Records moved to Severn, MD.[7] Here, its new offices were fitted out with better equipment, isolation booths, and rehearsal space. These facilities improved the production of albums and attracted new musicians to the label.[8] These include: Mike Morgan, Sugar Ray Norcia, Lou Pride,[9] and Tad Robinson. Together with the four founding artists, they have created the core albums of the Severn discography.

Soon, unaffiliated musicians came to use Severn's facilities and personnel for their own recording projects. One of these was Norwegian accordion player J. T. Lauritsen, who recorded his album Squeezboxing in 2006.[10] Another project, in 2006, was Mikey Jr's Look Inside My Pocket.[11]

In 2005, Severn sponsored the "Chicago Blues Harmonica Project", which spotlights veteran Chicago harmonica artists. From this association, came the album Diamonds in the Rough, which was followed, in 2009, by More Rare Gems. Later, Severn released another compilation, The Blind Owl, that documents the work of Alan Wilson with the band Canned Heat.[12]

On September 27, 2008, Severn celebrated its 10th anniversary with a party at the Fish Head Cantina in Arbutus, MD.[13] This event, which was co-sponsored by the Baltimore Blues Society,[14] featured Guyger, Norcia, Nulisch, Maher, Morgan, Porecki, Pride, Robinson, The All Mighty Senators, Kevin Anker, Steve Gomes, Willie Henderson, Alex Schultz, Clarence Spady, Robb Stupka, and Monster Mike Welch.

In 2010, Severn Records moved to Renard Court[15] in Annapolis, MD. Here, new offices and studios were built by Winchester Construction Company.[16]

The new facility opened in October 2011. It covers 3100 square feet devoted to offices, storage, and two studios. One of the studios incorporates a large tracking room, an isolation booth, and a control room, which is fitted out with a custom recording console. The other studio is intended as a room for editing and mastering, but it can also serve as a second isolation booth.[17]

Since it opened its new facilities, Severn has signed The Fabulous Thunderbirds,[18] The Nighthawks,[19] and Mud Morganfield, who is the eldest son of Muddy Waters. It continues to record new albums by its established artists. In particular, Norcia's Evening was released on October 18, 2011. On March 20, 2012, Severn released Morganfield's Son of the Seventh Son, and reissues of two CDs by Jimmy Earl: Jimmy Earl, and Stratosphere. That month, Severn announced the signing of New Orleans-based blues guitarist/singer Bryan Lee and Baltimore-based soul and blues singer Ursula Ricks.[20] Severn released the Nighthawk's Damn Good Time!, on May 15, 2012, the Thunderbird's On the Verge, on March 19, 2013, and Lee's Play One for Me, on September 19, 2013.[21]

On January 21, 2014, Severn released another CD by Jimmy Earl, Renewing Disguises.[22]

On June 5, 2012, Lou Pride died of natural causes while in hospice care.[23] He had just finished recording his final album, Ain't No More Love in this House, which Severn released on October 15, 2013,[24] along with My Street by Ricks.

Severn maintains a house band, whose functions are to back up recording projects and to participate in promotional appearances. Its key members are Rob Stupka (drums), Steve Gomes (bass), Benjie Porecki and Kevin Anker (both keyboards). Gomes also serves as arranger, composer, and producer on many Severn releases. Three guitarists work with the band: Alex Schultz, Monster Mike Welch, and Johnny Moeller. Schultz created the Severn release Think About It. Welch, who was featured on Sugar Ray & the Bluetones, has recorded several albums on other labels. Moeller did Bloogaloo. He is lead guitarist for The Fabulous Thunderbirds, but he participates occasionally on his own projects with Severn, as well as on those of the Thunderbirds.

Many Severn albums feature horn sections working with the Studio Band. These have included members of the Memphis Horns, who appeared on many releases by Stax Records, and of The Airmen of Note, which is the premier jazz ensemble of the US Air Force. Willie Henderson plays a key role in arranging, producing, and conducting horn passages. Along similar lines, Robinson's A New Point of View features musicians from the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra. A very important component of the label's operations is Apple's iTunes Store, for Severn's complete catalog is available there. John Monforte,[25] an electronics engineer from Miami, FL, keeps Severn's computers and audio equipment in good repair and up to date. He made a major contribution to the design and construction of the Annapolis studios.[17]

Lou Pride, Tad Robinson, and Darrell Nulisch performing with The Severn Soul Revue at the 2009 Cognac Blues Passions