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Vernon Neilly - G Fire II PDF Print E-mail
If Vernon Neilly was in the business of “dropping names,” he could drop many of the most legendary names in the business and quickly pave his way to greater stardom, because he has the connections and relationships to do just that. BUT, Vernon doesn’t have to “play that game” because his ‘for real’ track record speaks for him.
Vernon Neilly is the first jazz artist to grace the cover of the Chittlin’ Circuit and we are so glad we waited for this first. This guy is a tremendously talented and gifted musician, artist and businessman. And to top it all off Vernon Neilly has his own guitars named after him. Let’s start with his music. Vernon has just taken his career to the “stratosphere" with the release of his latest CD effort “G-Fire,” which garnered a prestigious jazz award called the “Smoothie Award,” This award was given for having a top 20 most played jazz release at commercial radio 2003-2004. The success of “G-Fire” has been so substantial that it has allowed Vernon to sign a multi-year national retail deal for his label Boosweet Records, which is distributed by Synergy Distribution. “G-Fire” is a blend of smooth jazz, jazz fusion and blues with just a dip of Salsa and Samba.

Vernon has followed up on the success of “G-Fire,” with “G-Fire II” currently playing nationally and internationally on commercial, college, cable, satellite, and Internet radio. Now, “G-Fire II” also recently won the distinguished “Smoothie Award” making Vernon a two time consecutive winner. This project features as well, the award winning, and critically acclaimed jazz guitar master Mark Whitfield.
“G-Fire II” is a smooth blend of sounds and tempos. The first selection titled “LFO,” for example, starts on a fast track, then glides through the track, a la Wes Montgomery. With “For Mi Amor,” Vernon tones down the bass, in exchange for a “brush on the drums.” The background vocals add a pleasant touch and Vernon picks up the pace with “Afternoon Drive.”
Vernon also adds to his credits some experience on the big screen in two major film company releases: Universal’s “Along Came Polly” and Warner Brother’s “ Starsky and Hutch.” He recently appeared in the UPN Network’s hit television sitcom “One on One.”
So let’s go back and see when and where all of this started. The old adage, “The fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree” applies to Vernon Neilly. He is a native of Nassau, Bahamas and his mother is an accomplished pianist and violinist. Vernon studied piano and started
playing around with guitars at an early age. Later, he moved to Miami, Florida and this move put him in the company of people who would eventually be legends in the music business, such as Jaco Pastorious, Pat Metheny, ‘Narada’ Michael Walden and many others.
It was in Miami where Vernon began to play with a locally based group called “Unit III.” The group produced a regional hit single, and this was the launching pad for Vernon’s professional career as a musician, producer and artist and now label owner of his own company, Boosweet Records, a well known independent label based in Los Angeles, California.

At this point Vernon has recorded with, toured with and produced for some of the most legendary names in the music business such as the late blues legend Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson, ‘Pee Wee’ Crayton, ZZ Hill, Charles ‘Merry Christmas’ Brown, Mary Wells, ‘The Dramatics,’ Motown hit producer Norman Whitfield, rap star ‘Warren G,’ and contemporary artists George Clinton, Billy Paul, Howard Hewitt, Teena Marie, Cuba Gooding, Sr. (Main Ingredient) and many more. Recently he produced and mastered the 18 artist compilation disc “United by Tone” in conjunction with the worlds leading pickup manufacturer, Seymour Duncan. This highly acclaimed limited edition disc features some of the most notable names in the guitar world such as, Slash, Jerry Horton (Pap Roach), Jennifer Batten (Jeff Beck, Michael Jackson), Gary Hoey, Jimmy Bruno, Seymour Duncan and Vernon who’s track “Nassau Nights” is the first song on the disc.



 
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