For Immediate Release
MUSIC BUSINESS EXECUTIVE TED JOSEPH EXTENDS HIS HOT STREAK WITH KALIMBA SIGNEE ADAM HAWLEY, WHOSE LATEST SINGLE “CAN YOU FEEL IT” IS THE GUITARIST’S FOURTH CONSECUTIVE #1 ON THE BILLBOARD SMOOTH JAZZ NATIONAL AIRPLAY CHART
Former Longtime Warner Bros. Executive Is The Driving Force for the Genre’s New Generation of Artists
And then there were four!
Continuing to cultivate and break a fresh new generation of groundbreaking smooth jazz artists, longtime music industry consultant Ted Joseph is the multi-faceted driving force behind the ongoing phenomenon of Adam Hawley – whose latest single “Can You Feel It” (feat. saxophonist Marcus Anderson) from the recently released Double Vision album is his fourth consecutive #1 hit on the Billboard Smooth Jazz National Airplay chart and Billboard Smooth Jazz Songs chart.
Under the guidance of Joseph, who consults for the guitarist’s label, the Maurice White founded Kalimba Music, the guitarist achieved one of the genre’s biggest hits of 2016 with his debut single “35th Street” (feat. saxophonist Eric Darius), which enjoyed a three week run in the pole position. Hawley followed up with the #1 singles “Joy Ride” and “I Don’t Mind.” All three tracks were from his hit debut album Just the Beginning.
“Just two and a half years ago, no one had heard of Adam, and now he’s one of the genre’s fastest rising stars, with an incredible string of #1 hits,” says Joseph, who signed Hawley to Kalimba, spearheaded his distribution agreement with Entertainment One and has helmed his marketing campaign, including radio promotion and PR. “His meteoric rise in the format has been so exciting to experience and be a part of.”
“Besides being a truly humble man and a pure joy to work with, Adam is an incredibly versatile artist and, while charting among the greats, represents the next generation and future of the smooth jazz genres. With infectious songs like ’35th Street,’ ‘Joy Ride,’ ‘I Don’t Mind,’ ‘Can You Feel It’ and many more to come, Adam has unlimited potential. To quote the title of his debut album, the most exciting part of all this is that it’s Just the Beginning.”
Under Joseph’s fresh and innovative guidance, Ted has developed Kalimba into a powerful independent force in the genre, with an approach that blends dynamic traditional and contemporary strategies. His trademark eye for great talent, strong business acumen and visionary leadership have continued with the label’s signing of two other top emerging smooth jazz artists, keyboardist Greg Manning and saxophonist Paula Atherton.
Each of their debut singles has risen on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart alongside many superstar artists. Manning’s single “Cruisin’ Down The Road” hit the Top 5, while Atherton’s “Remember When” made the Top 10. Manning followed up that initial success earlier in 2017 with his Top 10 hit “Round and Round.”
Joseph adds that there are plans in the works to bring more artists into the Kalimba fold in the near future.
Under his leadership as the longtime Senior VP of Marketing for Warner Bros., the Detroit bred, L.A. based Joseph developed a deep personal and professional affinity for contemporary jazz, developing overall marketing campaigns for many legendary and influential artists, including George Benson, Al Jarreau, David Sanborn, Joe Sample, Earl Klugh, Bob James and Boney James.
Throughout his multi-faceted career, Joseph has contributed to and been associated with over 100 gold and platinum status recordings for artists in a wide range of genres, from pop and urban to contemporary jazz and country. Over the years, he has directed overall marketing campaigns for Madonna, Van Halen, Rod Stewart, Trace Adkins, Seal, Prince, Quincy Jones, Earth Wind & Fire, Jennifer Lopez, R Kelly, Nelly, Usher, Kenny Chesney, Norah Jones, Katy Perry, Green Day, Linkin Park, Kanye West and many others.