The self proclaimed studio brat.
"I was born into the business"
And Here (Credits Are Not Perfect)
My Father, Jimmy Capps was one of the "A Team" studio musicians in Nashville, in the 1960’s through the 2000’s.
Currently "The Sherriff" on the RFD show "Larry's Country Diner".
Playing on hits like "Stand By Your Man" / "Easy Lovin'" / "The Gambler" / "Elvira" and "Nobody", so I grew up in recording studios and backstage at "The Grand Ole Opry". I played in Rock-N-Roll bands through most of my teen years, but I was the one with the access to a multi-track, so I got to record a lot of local talent at home. That's when I realized that my true passion was "On the Other Side of the Glass"
After finishing classes at "The Recording Workshop" in Chillicothe, Ohio in 1987, I started as an intern at Sony/Tree Music Publishing in the tape room and the studio. I was there for six months, making tape copies and working for "The Soundshop Studios", also owned by Sony/Tree, at night, cataloging tapes and making copies of Jingles and Masters.
After leaving Sony/Tree in 1988, I worked for "Masterlink Studios" for a year and a half, mostly as an assistant, but there under engineer "Glen Reiuf" I cut my teeth as an engineer doing song publishing demos and custom recording sessions.
In late 1989 a position came available at "The Soundshop Studios" and I was the logical choice for replacement because I continued to work there as a freelance engineer, and I knew the rooms better than anyone.
1989 to date.
I continue to work as a Producer, Engineer and Mixer.
Blending the best of Digital and Analog Recording and Mixing Formats,
including:
AVID / Digidesign Pro Tools
24-48 Track Analog (Studer A800 MkII),
Sony 3348 Digital Multitracks
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Nuendo / Apple Logic / Sony ACID Pro / Ableton Live
Alesis ADAT / Tascam DA-88 Formats
Conway Twitty, John Hagee, Sandy Parker, Tanya Goodman-Sykes, Charlotte Ritchie, Jonathan & Jordan Wilburn, The Whisnants, The Boggs Family, The Oak Ridge Boys, Matt Hagee, The Caither Vocal Band, Larry Gatlin, Chris Collins, Steve Yancey, The Boggs Family, Tanya Tucker, Gaither Vocal Band, The Cherryholmes, SterlingY, Jared Tyler, Tobias Rene', Con Hunley, Mack Bailey & Rachael Levy, BUCKSTONE, Darren Warren, Lantana, Brittany Lane, Kylee Epp, The Telestials, Lewis Tradition, Aaron & Amanda Crabb, Adam Crabb, William Lee Golden, Woody Wright, The Hall Sisters, Andy Ross, The Red Roots, True Gospel, Crimson River, Tommy Boyce, Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Loggins, Sorensen, Curley Surles, Hello Dave, The Rhythm Angels, Wyatt Easterling, Ana Dininno, Madison Kozak, Anna Garrett, Brad Caswell. Kyle Parker, Harvest, Lauren Lucas, Mark Knopfler, Emmylou Harris, Larry Kirkland, Boot Hill Express, Jerry Skeen, Lee Greenwood, Davey Smith, Beau Braswell, Ashley Bowers, Windswept Publishing, Gail Bliss, Chris Fox, Jim Horn, Graeme Connors, Kyle Jennings, Aaron Loy, Advocare, Ron Williams, Vincente Fusco, Tara Gess, Matt Jenkins, The Isaacs, Kenny Chesney, Reba McEntire, Barbara Mandrell, Eighth Day, Monty Allen, Lindsey Hardy, Brooks and Dunn, The Mavericks, Raul Malo (solo), Ford in Texas, Alabama, Mark Collie, James House, Joe Diffie, Tall Pony Productions, Aaron Tippin, Lonestar, Billy Gilman, Donna Summer, Olivia Newton-John, Neil Diamond, Jimmy Sturr, Dolly Parton, The Dixie Chicks, Megadeth, Kim Mitchell, Loretta Lynn, Luis Migul, Dreve, N'Sync, Sons of the Desert, Larry Carlton, Shenandoah, The Statler Brothers, Porter Wagoneer, The Singing Senator Charlie Albertson, Randy Travis, Highway 101, Michael W. Smith, Little Texas, The Kentucky Headhunters, John Rich, Take 6, Steve Wariner, Larry Stewart, Rick Trevino, Buddy Jewell, Lee Roy Parnell, Gary Morris, K.T. Oslin, Ty Herndon, Doug Stone, John Michael Montgomery, The Larkins, Wilbur Lee Tucker, Wayne Newton, Daryl Singletary, Alison Krauss, Larry Franklin, Jewel, Gary Burr, Victoria Shaw, Amy Grant, Hilljack, Robbie Cheuvront, Drew Womack, Brother Phelps, Paul Jefferson, Ronnie McDowell, Dreve, Maura Fogerty, Bruce Springsteen, Wade Hayes, Deborah Allen, Brian Austin (Austin/Shore), Trace Adkins, Kathyrn Blake, Michael Hughes, Vinnie Vincent (ex-Kiss/Vinnie Vincent Invasion), Wayd Battle, Kenny Rogers and Barry Manilow.
And Producers as:
Phil Johnson, Ron Chancey, Kyle Stallon, Tom Kirk, Casey Marshall, Bob Ezrin, Jerry Kimbrough, Brian Spears, Michael Sykes, Aaron Minick, Johnny Minick, Gary Bridges, Justin Peters, Randy Carson, Vic Clay, CT United (Joni & Kathy Twitty), Allen Cash, Chris Nole, Michael Spriggs, Rick Holt, Rogers, Don Cook, Ben Isaacs, John Bowman, Aubrey Haynie, Russ Titelman, Clyde Brooks, Bruce Bouton, Monty Allen, Mark Knopfler, Chuck Ainlay, Jim Horn, Johnny Slate, Wyatt Easterling, Larry Kirkland, Beau Braswell, Randy Mason, Scott Sanders, Doug Howard, Gabriel Lee, James Stroud, Scott Hendricks, Buddy Cannon, Norro Wilson, Tony Brown, Lonnie Wilson, John Hampton, Michael Spriggs, Biff Watson, Mike Bradley, Humberto Gatica, Del Gray, Michael Omartian, Desmond Child, Porter Howell, John Burtche, John Kunz, Drew Womack, Brent Rowan, Blake Chancey, Doug Johnson, Paul Worley, Mark Wright, Jim Ed Norman, Dick Beechem, Buddy Killen, Doug Grau, Jeff Gordon, David & Howard Bellamy, Christy Dinapoli, Aaron Loy, Chris Luizinger, Vinnie Vincent, Gary Burr, Chris Leuzinger, Joe Dinafrio, Tom Pick, Larry Carlton, Pat McMakin, Jack Jackson, Brian Austin, Dann Huff, Sandy Linzer, Charles Calello, Mark Lambert and Tommy Simms.
In Nashvillle:
The engineers and producers that have influenced me in Nashville:
Mike Bradley, Ed Seay, John Kunz
Scott Hendricks, Billy Sherrill, and Ernie Winfrey
And the
"GODS Of THUNDER"
(AC/DC, Aerosmith, Poison, Thunder, Metallica)
Nashville Gets
Click here for Mike's Video Interview on
(STP, Pearl Jam, King's X, Jackyl, Black Crowes)
(Jellyfish, Tonic, Big Wreck, No Doubt, Black Crowes)
(Metallica, Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, The Cult, Michael Buble')
(Night Ranger, Heart, Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner, Sammy Hagar, Ozzy, Whitesnake)
and
(with John Kalodner)
(Bryan Adams, Simple Minds, Bruce Springsteen)
Bryan Adams' "Into The Fire" Album
Mixed By: Bob Clearmountain features the song "Victim Of Love"
Which in my opinion is "THE PERFECTLY MIXED SONG, EVER"!!!
(How I got here and why I do what I do)
Growing up there was always music in the house.
Because my dad is a studio musician,
I was exposed to all sorts and styles of music.
Everything from country to swing to jazz to rock-n-roll.
But I think the first album that I ever got excited about was
Now coming from my background, this kinda was a mistake.
Well he didn't want it so he gave it to my brother and I, and it was all over,
I was hooked on the raw energy of music and made me aware of Eddie Kramer.
The next albums that had an impact were
Steve Miller Band's Book of Dreams & TOTO IV.
This is where I first became aware of great songs.
How can you deny great songs like:
"Jet Airliner" "Swing Town" & "Jungle Love"
"Rosanna" "Africa" & "I Won't Hold You Back".
TOTO IV also features Jim Horn playing some great:
Sax, Flute & Recorder parts.
Then a couple of albums that would make a lot more sense
once that I started engineering.
AC/DC's "Back in Black" and "For Those About To Rock"
Both Produced by Mutt Lange.
Then my dad bought me another great jazz album.
Larry Carlton's / Friends
I've always enjoyed Larry's work and finally got to work with him and Jim Horn in 2003 recording the horns on his "Sapphire Blue" album.
See "Gallery"
"The High School Years"
Kim Mitchell / Pink Floyd / Led Zepplin / Weather Report
Queen / Night Ranger / John Mellencamp / Foreigner / Rush
The Beatles / Willie Nelson's Stardust
And a lot more.
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The three albums that really kick-started my interest in being an engineer were
Bon Jovi / Slippery When Wet (Mixed by Bob Rock)
AC/DC The Razors Edge (Mixed By Mike Fraser)
&
Aerosmith / Pump (Mixed by Mike Fraser)
"All three albums were produced by the late Bruce Fairbairn"
When I started working as an engineer two of my favorite country albums from both songs and sound perspective were:
Gene Watson's Back In The Fire & Kevin Welch's S/T First Album
Both mixed by Ed Seay
When I started working at The Soundshop Studios,
a couple of the first albums that I had a part in were:
The Kentucky Headhunters / Pickin' On Nashville
&
Mark Collie's / Self Titled Album
Both were Recorded and Mixed by Mike Bradley,
They set the tone for Nashville drum sounds in the 90's.
The rest are just my introductions
to some of the best
engineers & producers in the world!!!
As well as required listening for up and coming engineers & producers!!!
(This Means You)
