These pages were initially created to transfer photos from traditional scrapbooks to the internet in order to both preserve and make the pictures and history available to family and friends. It has become more extensive than I intended. However, I see it as a way to save the details before they slip away.
1984 - This
was a cool year, as Martin met Chris and she joined the music business
on the first date with dinner and then an evening with Peter Butcher at "Rollingwood
Recording" an Austin recording studio.
Peter Butcher taught at ACC's Commercial Music Program
Chris
and Martin initiated the creation of the Commercial Music degree program
at Austin Community College. Beginning in 1986 proposals and surveys were
continually provided to ACC to convince the college of the need. It took several
years and lots of help from others. It became a reality in the Summer of 1988
(regular classes began in 1989. ACC said if ten students showed up for the
first class, they would continue the program. Thirty-eight showed and additional
classes had to be created. Later Peter would become an instructor for the program.
ACC News Interview with ACC President Dan Angel and Martin
Chris and Martin toured the Highland ACC campus and completed an interview with Tim Ditmar and Kurtis Machler on October 18,2021. View Austin Chronicle article.
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The Austin Music Industry Council Chaired by Ernie Gammage evolved into the Austin Music Business Association Chaired (AMBA) by Martin Theophilus. Later AMBA merged with the revitalized Texas Music Association (TMA) under Carlyne Majer and eventually became the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS) Texas Chapter.
Shammy included James Mikulinka, Larry and
Wayne Gathright (previous Austin Music Lane Recording Studio owner).
Phantom Trademark approved January 27,1989
Phantom Productions, Inc. video editing
Phantom
to this point was primarily providing on-location recording to musicians.
We realized that one of the ways we could be more helpful to the musicians
with whom we were working, was to begin handling the day to day tasks that enabled
the artist to pursue their music. This evolved into a role as Artist Manager
(although we soon found the role was more accurately described as "investor").
Video had already become a dominant media for promotion and it was expensive
for the musicians to buy production. We decided to also invest in video
production to see if it might give our artists an edge. We choose SVHS as
it provided a higher resolution and was much less expensive than Beta SP.
07/31/87 Martin videotaping at Austin's Aqua-fest
07/31/87 Chris Videotaping Debra & Ron at 1987 Aqua Fest
Chris videotaping Ron Rogers at Austin's Aqua-fest
Chris videotaping promo at Austin Centre Tower where Phantom Productions, Inc. originally officed. Note the PHANTM license plates and Phantom logo on door.
Phantom's 4 track mobile console & Mix Listing
Cayce Cage at Rich Michael's Office
Deborah, Ron Cayce and Martin
Phantom Productions, Inc.
Deborah Giles and Ron Rogers - early history
Deborah & Ron "Love Beyond the Stars" video shoot at Marble Falls January 3, 1988
In 1986 Deborah
and Ron created several groups including: Private Lives, Cautious
Dreams & Ron Rogers and the The White Slave Boys and the Deborah
Giles Band. Picture above is of Ron and Deborah signing a management contract with Phantom Productions in 1986. Midem Promo Video
As
Chris' home was in the UK, the Director of Phantom (Chris and Martin) decided
to try promoting Deborah and Ron to record companies and publishers in England.
In an effort to be unique, Phantom produced videos on the band, then took NTSC
(the US video standard) equipment to England. What this created was an opportunity
to actually play and let the music companies see the band performing. It worked
and we were able to play the video for both Island Records and Chelsea Music
(publishers of "Curiosity Killed the Cat.").
When
we were asked to leave the tape, they were told that it was on NTSC, not PAL
(the UK video standard). Chelsea Music's Eddie Levy asked what Phantom got out of a deal
if we found interest in the UK. Chris and Martin said "nothing" as
Deborah and Ron are friends. The publisher said that Phantom's representation
was so good, we should negotiate a management contract.
On
the fight home Chris and Martin discussed ways to approach Deborah and Ron with
a business proposition. As it turned out Deborah and Ron had been having the
same thought. So when they met at the Austin airport, everyone turned out to
be on the same page and Phantom's artist management services were launched.
Over time Chris and Martin worked to promote Debra and Ron through PR efforts and producing videos to promote their music.
Chris'
roots were in England. Also, Peter felt the response to the new musicians
we were working with was much more helpful from the European record companies
and publishers. So we kept pitching new material that direction. On our
1986 trip back to Chris' home, we decided to try to pitch some of the artists
we were working with. We came up with an idea to take US NTSC music videos
we produced and see if we could show the material in the UK (where PAL is
the standard video format) It greatly exceeded our expectations and we were
able to actually meet with the International Rep at Island Records (it was
pretty neat to sit in the waiting room and see all the mailed demos from
artists all over the world). Our pitch was that we couldn't leave the NTSC
videos for the record company to look at later, so they would need to look
at them now...AND THEY DID! - view video of Island, creole and Burne Music (Curiosity Killed the Cat) London, England
One
publisher (Chelsea Music (publishers of "Curiosity Killed the Cat."),
asked
what Phantom got out of a deal if we found interest in the UK. Chris and
Martin said "nothing" as the musicians were friends. The publisher
said that Phantom's representation was so good, we should negotiate a management
contract. He also recommended that we begin attending Midem, the International Music conference in Cannes, France. Thus began Phantom's management (investor) stint. Chris would
later move Phantom from providing resources to new artists to serious booking
contracts that brought income to the artist and Phantom. Some of the artists we originally managed toured Russia with the TIES project. view video clip
Chris
and Martin at the 1991 MIDEM & Martin, Chris, Mark Luke and Andy at the
Midem Texas stand
The Eyes & Ears publication was produced by the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. Martin served on the publishing group. This issue included Stevie Ray Vaughan's performance for the "Don't Mess With Texas" campaign and "Nadine" the movie starring Kim Bassinger and Jeff Bridges which was shot in Austin.
January 1988 Chris & Martin with Phantom Productions attended Midem in Cannes, France - picture includes the Texas delegation to Midem in 1988. Phantom also worked to represent one of Peter Knight's bands in the US.
Chris &Martin being interviewed by Austin News Channel for early Austin South by Southwest festival. Phantom Productions was the first group to bring international companies to SXSW and the first to attract international panelists to the SXSW workshops.
View Austin Cablevision interviews Chris & Martin • David Case
Chris &Martin with David Case, John Cambridge plus family and friends in pub in Milton Keynes, UK
Linden Sherwin, Folk Singer - Songwriter managed by Phantom Productions, Inc.
In one of the more unusual happenings, an impersonator of Dick Dodd showed up in Austin and was identified as a fraud by someone how happened to be at KLBJ. Subsequently the real Dodd came to Austin and APD busted the fraud on stage.
Chris' first Phantom office in 1988 with first Mac
Signing Deborah Giles and Ron Rogers
to Phantom Predictions, Inc management contract.
Tracie Lynn, Scott Newbert and Mark Luke setting up to perform for Austin's SXSW at Phantom Productions' showcase at the Headliners Club on Sixth Street - view video
Chris & Martin producing music video at Marble Falls power plant
March 16, 1989 Chris, Martin with Canadian record execs, Andy Murphy, David & Sheila case (Phantom UK Directors) and Mark Luke with friend Benny.
04/08/89 M BDay M heart skips, w/MLD Blanco
04/10/89 M Heart monitor from ARC
Chris and Martin met Gary Taylor and Peter Karroll Canada's Music Lane Records while attending MIDEM and recommended the y come to Austin for SXSW.
Martin videotaping Christine Albert being interviewed by German radio station - Chris provided bookings for Christine and Phantom produced this promo.
Intercord Records producer Jurgen Kramer asked Chris to arrange some radio interviews for German radio folks he was bringing to the US. Chris arranged numerous interviews including:
Chris, Martin with Gary P. Nunn, German radio personnel & Intercord Records producer Jurgen Kramer
Chris & Martin at Austin Arlyn recording studio studio with Intercord Records producer Jurgen Kramer visiting with Freddy Fletcher, Calvin Russell.
Stephen Fromholtz
Jerry Jeff Walker & Chris Wall
Butch Hancock & Rusty Weir were interviewed as well
Martin & Chris consulting with Jurgen Kramer of Intercord Record Records, and radio folks from Germany.
Chris with Jurgen and George
Danny White recorded Ritchie Valens "Oh Donna" for Phantom UK - London Showcase video
Chris & Martin helped David Case represent Intelligent Light Animation systems on the Apollo computers at the Hewlett Packard display booth at Alexandria Palace, London, UK. David pursued IL representation after Chris & Martin recommended he look at the Wavefront animation systems. He subsequently secured the IL account. View International space station flyer from David's company.
Chris and Martin working with Phantom's UK Director David Case at London Alexandria's Palace for HP Apollo demonstrations - view video clip
Chris and Martin working with Phantom's UK Director David Case in Bristol, UK - David's Phantom intro
UK Phantom Director David Case received an offer to brand this auto with the Phantom logo and name. Proposalvideo
Billboard's 1989 profile of Austin
Housewives Choice recording in Chris & Martin's living room - view video clip - Note: this was one of the last sessions with the Teac/Tascam A-3440 as Phantom moved more to video for promotional work.
Phantom produced a promotional video Disney for Rotel and the Hot Tomatoes at Steamboat
On 05/06/89 Phantom produced a video for Rusty Weir's birthday at the Backyard
Tracie Lynn recording demos at Phantom Productions
Rick Trevino won a San Antonio competition where Tracie Lynn & Pam also competed
Tracie Lynn at Broken Spoke
Tracie Lynn at Broken Spoke • video 12/26/21
James Hinkle working on Tracie Lynn's recording at Cedar Creek Studio
Tracy, Martin and Chris during Tracy's recording session at Cedar Creek Studio, backed by Marcia Ball's band, produced by James Hinkle - view video clip
Tracie with her Aunts during session & Cedar Creek tape recorders - view video
Fred Remmert at Cedar Creek during Tracie Lynn's session.
Champ Hood playing for Tracie's session at Cedar Creek
James at Cedar Creek producing Tracie's session
James & Tracie
Pam, Fred & Tracie
Brad, Tracie, Pam & Fred
Tracy & Mike Kanda (Tokyo, Japan) at Gruene Hall. During Mike's visit, Chris & Martin took him to San Antonio and visited Sonny and Mitchell's studio, Emerald Sound. Sonny & Mitchell decided to produce an album of Tracie based on the cassette demo we left for them during Mike's visit.
Tracy & Mitchell at Emerald recording studios in San Antonio
Martin, Sonny, Chris Tracie Lynn & Mitchell at Emerald recording studios in San Antonio
Phantom's video suite
08/04/89 Tracie Lynn played Austin Aqua Fest's and was interviewed by Nashville's Crook & Chase show - view clip
Phantom Productions shot promotional video for Rotel and the Hot Tomatoes. The video was submitted to Disney - view video
Tracie Lynn playing for Ann Richards
Tracie Lynn played for Gov. George Bush's Inauguration in Austin, Texas
Laura & Jeff watching Tracie Lynn play at Gruene Hall
Chris and Martin in England with Phantom UK's artists, staff & families
Tracie Lynn and Pam Boenig opening as the Boenig Sisters for Steve Warner in Corpus Christi - view video clip
08/14/89 - Tracie to Nashville
Bruce Newlin, Judy & Martin
Judy worked in the same office building where Martin worked for the TxDHS on Burnet Road in Austin.
Debbie & Rollie were friends of Judy's who introduced Martin to the band Housewives Choice. Thus began a long relationship with James Hinkle who headed Housewives Choice.
Martin with James Hinkle at Cedar Creek Studio, Austin, Texas during session James produced for Tracie Lynn. James was in Marcia Ball's band and the bands other players were used on Tracie's cuts. view video
Martin's ID at Midem
Chris & Martin at Midem, Cannes, France representing Texas music. Phantom produced video of bands and presented the material to publishers and record company reps from around the world.
Austin Music Business Association Board Members: Steve Thompson, Roy Woodrum, Ed Cantu, Robert Strait, Tamera Baldwin, Dick Walker, Rodney Herman, Martin Theophilus (Board Chairman), Joel Block, Sandy Edwards and Larry Quick
Other members not shown: Bill Britton, Cindy Fisher, Beverly griffin, Jazz Jones, Layne Lauritzen, Bill Shea, and French Smith
Martin Theophilus (AMBA Board Chairman) with Dick Walker
Toni price and Tracie Lynn playing for AMBA reception 1991. View more
Phantom Video suite
09/14/89, 09/19/89 & 09/26/21 Chris and Martin in Austin recording Studios producing Skull Duggery
Phantom audio suite
Chris and Martin attended the float contest on Town Lake
07/22/89 K98 River raft race
Phantom developed promotional materials and video shot at Austin's Continental Club for Austin's Train wreck Ghost
romo video
Click here to see more about MIDEM
