NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire-iReach/ — On December 17, 2016 Hit Country Music Producer and Record Label Executive, Tony Brown and World-Renowned Entertainment Attorney, John Mason celebrated their joint 70th birthday and the launch of their latest business venture, Velvet Stone Management.
Tony Brown is best known for his revolutionary music production work with Reba McEntire, George Strait, Trisha Yearwood, Jimmy Buffet, Brooks and Dunn, Steve Earle and Lyle Lovett, amongst being at the helm of all creative endeavors at MCA Records for 25 years, where he served as the Vice President for a solid decade, eventually becoming President of the label. Within those 25 years at MCA Records, Brown launched the careers of several of Country music’s A-List recording artists and has been presented with 10 CMA Awards and 7 ACMs. Brown has also worked with Patty Loveless, Marty Stuart, The Mavericks, Lionel Ritchie, Pat Green, Joe Ely and has been the Producer on 9 GRAMMY Award winning songs, and took the GRAMMY home for Country Album of the Year with George Strait, the same year he was honored by the Americana Music Association with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
“Velvet Stone is where art marries commerce… A Brain-Trust of experience, style, taste and enough blind faith to take on any challenge. Four partners who compliment each other like no other team before.” -Tony Brown
John Mason’s unshakable stance in the entertainment industry is well deserved with the high profile deals he has executed including the movie Grease and the talent he has represented such as Reba McEntire, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons (Jersey Boys), Smokey Robinson, Travis Tritt, Olivia Newton-John, Shakira, and Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys). John is recognized throughout the world as a leader in the fields of entertainment law and intellectual property; He has represented directly or through their heirs six Oscar winners as well as recording artists whose worldwide sales exceed 100,000,000 units. John has been named “Entertainment Lawyer of the Year,” by Billboard Magazine and has been the recipient of the pre-eminent and coveted A/V national attorney rating in the Martindale Hubbell Law Directory for more than 30 years.
“The opportunity to help artists in a new and unique way where I can combine my decades of business and legal experience with the creative genius of Tony Brownand the branding and marketing expertise of Melissa Core and Rick Caballo was irresistible – and here we are!” -John Mason
Velvet Stone is a management company with a unique and powerful branding foundation. Tony and John partnered with Melissa Core and Rick Caballo of Dead Horse Branding – a full service branding company based out of Nashville, TN. Melissa and Rick bring a strong creative & management side to Velvet Stone. Core is known for her management work with many Australian Idols and is the business mind behind Dead Horse Branding, which has helped to develop and manage several National and International Brands such as Calvary Fashion by Jep and Jessica Roberson of A&E’s Duck Dynasty and Australia’s Leading Lifestyle Doctor, Dr Karen Phillip.
“Tony Brown brings the velvet…a plush, stylish, gentle, risk-taking and distinctive feel. John Mason is as strong as stone, he is a heavy hitter with a rock solid business mind. This is a home of loyalty and authenticity.” -Melissa Core
As Head of Creative at Dead Horse Branding, Rick Caballo is known as the “Brandmaker”. Caballo is the creative force behind Dead Horse’s cutting edge branding style and his strategic art direction has built many National and International Brands from scratch including The Loving Mary Band, who also tours as Steven Tyler’s solo band, and Corello Rock Fashion, which was inducted into the Tennessee State Museum. Most recently, Caballo signed Tacklebox Films and represents their Music Division.
“The entertainment industry is not what it used to be, today it requires streamlined revenue plans and strategic brand building. The team that makes up Velvet Stonecomes together to bring a broad spectrum that encompasses everything an entertainment brand needs today. This is a perfect marriage where creativity meets business” -Rick Caballo
Both Mason and Brown have had a huge impact on shaping the music and entertainment industry. Their undeniable track record and ground breaking leadership proves to be the perfect ingredients when mixed with young gun, cutting edge brand builders. Velvet Stonehas signed the O’Connor Band featuring legendary Mark O’Connor whose latest album ‘Coming Home’ has just received a 2017 Grammy Nomination for Bluegrass Album of the Year. This is another testament of where integrity, quality and respect for the craft comes first.
