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I've known Teddy Bishop for a number of years. He doesn't swagger into a room, he pretty much leaves the bling bling at home
and he doesn't brand his records as do a lot of today's producers. But he continues to make his mark on the charts. Bishop
has penned and produced hits for Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, Aaliyah and 112, just to name a few. Now he is stepping into
the entrepreneurial arena with his own label, One Recordings. His first artist is Sterling, an R&B singer that is at once
hip hop and R&B, at the same time he is suave and humble. Starpoynt had a chance to chat with TB from his studio base
in Atlanta about his new venture and his star-making strategies.
Star - How did you get started as a producer? What was the first song you got paid for?
TB - I have always been into music since I was 4. My mom says I was banging the drums at age 4. I started hanging around
people when I was in high school that were into music. I had a friend who had a deal with Arista... he was part of Kiara...
they had a hit with Shanice, "This Time." He was a little older than me, but I went on tour with him and his partner
and started producing with them. I met Brian Reid in 1991 when I moved down here [Atlanta]. Dallas Austin was also interested
in working with me. I chose to work with Brian and his brother, L.A. Reid, who was of course was running LaFace at the time.
First song I got paid for? My first big record was Toni Braxton... I did "Love Affair" on her debut album and
I did remixes later for that
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| Teddy is in the studio with Latoya Luckette, formerly of Destiny's Child. |
song and "Breathe Again." Then I worked with Usher on his first album with LaFace. That developed into me working
with a lot of LaFace acts. I left LaFace after two years and went through a period without representation and management.
In 1995, I bumped into the folks at Noontime and then started being managed by Chris Hicks. That led to tracks with Aaliyah,
Whitney Houston, Montel Jordan, Usher again, 112, Toni Braxton Again - I produced "Just Be a Man About It," one
of her biggest hits. Another big hit of mine was Aaliyah's "I Miss You," which blew up after she passed.
Star - And who have you been in the studio with lately?
TB - Currently, Kelly Rowland, Sterling, Xcel (rap artist). I'm very versatile. I'm not just an R&B producer.
Star - What do you think are the key elements to a good song? And are those elements the same that would make a hit today?
TB - The keys are melody, structure and lyrics. Of course, there must be great composition as part of the package. Today,
street records are dictating what's on the radio. Those are all key elements, but no one knows what a hit record is. Those
are the foundations that can manifest a hit. However, if the artist is not the selling point, it's not going to work. For
example, Ciara articulates Jazze Pha... she gets out there and makes his music look good.
Star - So what do you look for in an artist?
TB - Definitely vocal skills. How that artist is going to articulate in a performance. How that artist is studio literate.
They need to also have hunger and drive, the passion for his or her craft.
Star - Studio literate means...
TB - ... they can get into the studio and do
| Cumulus programming guru Ken Johnson with Teddy |
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| Kenny Burns (RyanKenny fashions), Teddy, Ryan Glover (RyanKenny) and Cashius |
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the job. It's a different world behind the microphone than singing in front of me in person. Working in the studio takes a
lot of patience and other skills that are different than performing live. You gotta learn how to do just bits and pieces of
a song, or just a line. It's different and some who do grat live aren't so hot in the studio.
Star - Have you ever turned a project down because the artist wasn't "good enough" to you?
TB _ No. I have been fortunate enough to work with artists that were willing to tough it out in the studio until the record
got right.
Star - Who have been your favorites to work with?
TB - Whitney Houston. Aaliyah. Usher is always fun to work with. Montel Jordan. Ginuwine - I love working with him. Jagged
Edge. Whitney (laughs). She has a great voice. She was just fun and funny. That's what made it a good session. She was really
down to earth.
Star - When you are working on a track, a song, what's your favorite piece of equipment?
TB - A program called Logic. Some people use MPC 2000. My studio is software based and I use a program called Logic. I
do play piano, drums and guitar, in that order. Self taught.
Star - Second career choice?
TB - I have an interior design business. A lot of my clients in that area of business come from friends in real estate.
Star - Talk about Sterling... what was it about him that made you step out with your own label?
TB - He didn't make me want to step out on my own label. I did that before I met him. He was just the artist I wanted
to work first with my label. I loved his energy, his swagger and
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| Teddy, Hot 107.9's Ramona DeBreaux and "Marvelous" Marvin McIntyre |
his vocals were just awesome. He's very marketable.
Star - What inspires you?
TB - Life. Everyday things that go on in life. A relationship can inspire can inspire me. Someone else's problems or joys
can inspire me.
Star - Do you write the song and then pick the artist, or do you write for the artist?
TB - A little bit of both.
Star - Who is out there right now you'd love to do a song with that you haven't?
Coldplay. Gwen Stefani. Jay-Z. Fantasia.
Star - So what-s in your CD player right now?
TB - Sterling. I listen to a lot of older stuff. Jodece's Diary of a Mad Band. 50 Cent. I have been keeping my ears to
the street real heavy, so I can produce Sterling to the young set.
I want people to know where I come from and have done in the past, but I want people to know what's coming up for me.
One Recordings is the name of my new label. I'm also a partner of it as well as I am servicing Sterling and Groove Factor,
my production company, through the label. It is an independent label, backed by a billionaire out of Texas. We are getting
ready to get a distribution deal. There are already three major labels interested.
Producers on Sterling's debut beside me include: Bryan Michael Cox, The Corner Boyz, Adonis, Mike City, Destro, Eddie
Hustle, Dre & Vadal, Big Oak, Walter Milsap, Big Duke and Lil Ronnie.
Visit Teddy Bishop's Website at www.groovefactoronline.com
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