NEAL FAISON
Neal Faison - Vice President of Tribal Records
Early on I always knew I’d somehow be involved with this music thing...especially when I discovered magic was involved.
The magic appeared in my Grandmother’s church through the sophisticated Black older women who would suddenly transform when the music started. Initially frightening, subsequent experiences made me realize the power that music, when used with pure intentions, could have over the human species. My musical addiction started by being a voracious listener as a child. Gospel via my Grandmother (a Protestant Bishop), Jazz from my Dad's excellent record collection, vocal Pop from my Mother's radio selections and from my own devotion to Pop/R&B/Free Form Rock radio and forays into various ethnic neighborhoods around Brooklyn, NY (Puerto Rican, Italian, Jewish, Irish, Caribbean, etc).
One birthday I received a small transistor radio. I'd listen to it every available moment during the day. And every evening, instead of getting the required sleep for an adolescent, I’d have it on all night under my pillow. While in Junior High School, determined to become a participant as well as a listener, I convinced my Mother to get me a set of drums. I could play any Hendrix, Cream, Doors, Rascals tune you could name and did so in a few local bands. However it was the innovative Hendrix guitar sounds that made me switch from drums to guitar at 17.
My eye opening experience with the realities of the record industry came during my tenure with one of L.A.'s all Black Rock groups in the 80s (pre Living Colour). It was there that I actually saw how the sausage is made. Without going into detail, it was not a pretty picture. That experience made me "fall back on" my technical background and go to work for an historic manufacturer of recording equipment. The musician and technical life paths have allowed me to come in contact with past, present and possibly future icons of the music industry. I can be heard on the releases of many of the Tribal Records artists.