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Eddie Mugavero: biography

50s - "Song...where will you take me..?"

Born in New Castle, Delaware on January 24th, 1954 to Nick and Anita. Thanks for the lift home, folks. My home was always filled with music, mostly classical, as my Mom loved Beethoven. I used to sing (hummm?) along with these beautiful melodies as early as 4 years old, according to Mom.

60s - "Yeah, yeah, yeah..."

February 9th, 1964, I was 10 years old & saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan. They opened with "ALL MY LOVING", and I was mesmerized, especially by Paul. I began "secretly" learning chords & theory on an Emenee organ in my basement, then on a Harmony guitar in my bedroom til my fingers bled learning an "F" chord. I bought every hit '45', and fell asleep every night with my 6 transistor radio earplug in my ear, only to wake up with dead batteries. I knew I'd find my way into this business somehow. I guess I accomplished that dream.

70s & 80s - Nashville bound

In the mid 70's, I traded in several acoustic guitars and acquired a Hofner and Fender bass and began playing the NY, NJ, CT & PA club circuit throughout the 70's & 80's.

I began writing songs for my band HORSE OPRA, and toured the US and Europe opening for such acts as Gregg Allman, Pure Prairie League, The New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Commander Cody And His Lost Planet Airmen, Shelley West, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Four Seasons, Merle Haggard and the Marshall Tucker Band.

I was also bass player and P/T songwriter for the following bands in the 70's & 80's: The Tim Ryan Band, Easy St., Uncle Skunk, The Wyatt Brothers Band, The Dave Saunders Band, The Smokey Warren Band, Possum Pie, The Renegade Band..and several that the names unfortunately escape me.

I soon began performing my own compositions at several college coffeehouses and local establishments. Demo'ing them at a local NJ studio and mailing them to publishers across the US, I received enough positive feedback to seriously consider a move to Nashville.

Finally, with a briefcase full of single song contracts from Nashville publishers, I made the move to Music City from New Jersey in 1987, where I immediately began working at NSAI (NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL) as a Thursday night workshop moderator and song critiquer. My first publishing deal was secured with Ron Cornelius ($75/weekly!), famed guitarist with Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen among others. I soon got my first cut on a song written with friend and veteran writer/producer, Bob Dellaposta, by rock and roll legend, BOBBY VINTON (THERE AIN'T ENOUGH ROSES IN TEXAS), on his album, COLLECTOR SERIES, VOLUME IV.

90s - Getting my foot in the door

After a brief publishing partnership (SILVER SPRING MUSIC BMI) with friends and writers Bob Dellaposta, Susie Stephens and Stan Scherr, I formed my own publishing company, Ed Mugavero Music (BMI), and began writing for various up and coming artists and projects, and landed a song in the CBS TV Movie, THE CONVICTION OF KITTY DODDS(UNDENIABLE LOVE), starring Veronica Hammel & Kevin Dobson. A partnership with fabulous session singer Cathryn Craig garnered much critical praise and several “near miss” developmental deals with major labels in town. After Cathryn moved to England to pursue a solo career, I was taken under the wing of hit songwriter, producer & Monument Records founder Fred Foster (Roy Orbison & Kris Kristofferson). Through my association with Fred, I became a regular talent judge on TNN's original "BE A STAR!". The show was co-hosted by Bobby Randall (SAWYER BROWN) and Lisa Foster. Several Nashville singers sang my songs on the show (before I became a judge! lol), and several won! These include amazing session singer, Lenaye Stanfield (AT THE SAME TIME), Cathryn Craig (TAKEN, AIN'T AFRAID TO MESS UP MY HAIR), Brenda Kay (TAKEN-Brenda is one of the Jugg Sisters!) & Bill Young (AT THE SAME TIME & BRAND NEW OLD FRIENDS). Bill was actually the show's first $10,000 grand prize winner!! LISA FOSTER, the show's co-host, subsequently recorded 3 of my songs, including SHINE ON YOU.

In 1994 I teamed with NY cabaret singer, David Spear (DaVido, "Java Jitter"), and wrote a very successful pop project, working with legendary producers such as Roy Thomas Baker (Queen, Journey, Bad Co.), Peter Sullivan (Tom Jones, Lulu, Engelbert), and Rob Galbraith (Ronnie Milsap); and collaborating with hit songwriters Felix Cavaliere (Rascals), Tommy Boyce (Monkees), Bev Ross (Leslie Gore) and Larry Weiss (Glenn Campbell's Rhinestone Cowboy) among others. Our management team consisted of author/concert promoter Scott Faragher (MUSIC CITY BABYLON), Peter Sullivan, famed EMI producer (LULU, TOM JONES), Sherrie Montgomery (WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY) and Dr. Doug Parker (Investor)...along with drummer Jennie Hoeft and various bassists, we played to packed houses from Nashville to NYC.

Mid 90s to present - Gigging, writing, producing

After several staff writing publishing deals, I founded the eclectic original swing band BadaBing BadaBoom in 1995, amassed a large and loyal following for 7 years, and recorded 4 albums of my original material. To my delight, my song, “THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE NORTH” was recorded by the multi-talented 3-time Grammy nominated Polka artist LynnMarie on her album, ONE LOOK, and rereleased in 2006 on her Grammy nominated record, PARTY DRESS. It continues to be one of the most requested songs on morning shows across the country.

In 2000, I appeared as Patsy Cline's guitarist with MARTINA MCBRIDE and several other country icons in the IMAX feature, "COUNTRY MUSIC: THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA".

In 2005, popular rockabilly artist LINDA GAIL LEWIS, (Jerry Lee’s sister), cut my song “ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GO WANDER” on her CD, BOOGIE WOOGIE COUNTRY GAL. The song received extensive airplay in England.

In 2004, BadaBing BadaBoom appeared in the major motion picture, HIGH ROLLER: THE STU UNGAR STORY, where we perform my song, “MARTINI TIME”. We are playing in a nightclub, circa 1960. The film stars Michael Imperioli (The Sopranos, Goodfellas), Pat Morita (Karate Kid, Happy Days), & Michael Nouri (Flashdance).

Since 2005, I've been writing lyrics to the melodies of good friend, Rebecca Sayre. Rebecca, an acclaimed artist and former BadaBing BadaBoom vocalist, is putting the finishing touches on her latest CD, which will feature several Sayre/Mugavero songs. In April 2007, several of my songs were featured on the A & E reality series, SONS OF HOLLYWOOD, which followed the exploits of Rod Stewart's son, Aaron Spelling's son, and others. The show aired Sunday nights at 10PM EST.

As of November 2007, I am negotiating a major distribution deal with SONY/BMG for a BadaBing BadaBoom compilation to be released in Europe. Presently, 2 of my songs (MARTINI TIME & JONESIN' TO SWING) are on a SONY/BMG 4 CD BOX SET(featuring several jazz icons), recently released in Europe"2ND SMOOTH JAZZ AVENUE". This set is approaching Triple Platinum status. In early February '08, my song I DO LOVE YOU, I DO will be included on an European Valentine's Day release, "IN LOVE WITH JAZZ" (also SONY/BMG).

In April of '08, my song "CRAZY BOUT BASEBALL", has been chosen to be included on the latest edition of the baseball themed compilation CD, DIAMOND CUTS, and will be on sale at the BASEBALL HALL OF FAME, in Cooperstown, NY! Proceeds will benefit underprivileged children, with gifts of musical instruments and instruction.

BadaBing BadaBoom landed in Poland in February 2009 with 3 songs on the 3-disc "IN LOVE WITH JAZZ VOL III"; Cloud Dancin', Romance Is A Verb & Everybody Wants What They Ain't Got- on the UNIVERSAL MUSIC label. We look forward to more releases in the European market.

nfluences - to all the songs I've loved before

Unlike most writers in Nashville, I rarely co-write face to face. I do, however, love writing lyrics to someone else's great melody, or melodies to lyrics. My favorite song of all time is "TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME" by Jack Norworth & Albert Von Tilzer, (Carly Simon's version) My writing influences include John and Paul, John Fogerty, Dave Edmunds, Roger Miller, Cat Stevens, Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond, Joey Ramone, George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Paul Williams, Richard Rogers, Lorenz Hart, Oscar Hammerstein, Irving Berlin, Paul Overstreet, Don Schlitz, Bacharach/David, Holland/Dozier/Holland, Fats Waller, Jimmy Webb, Barry Mann, Chuck Berry, Hugh Prestwood, Jim Steinman, Paul Simon, Stephan Foster, Hoagy Carmichael, Don Henley/Glen Frey, Dan Baird, Brad Paisley, Shania Twain, Toby Keith, Tom Johnston, The Bryants, Freddie Mercury, Felix Cavalierre, Curly Putnam, Kris Kristofferson, Stevie Wonder, Barry Gibb, Goffin/King, Boyce/Hart, Pete Ham/Tom Evans, Lieber/Stoller, Bob Gaudio, Tony Arata, Jim Weatherly, Dennis Linde, Billie Joe Armstrong, Dolly Parton, Richard Leigh, Smokey Robinson, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim...I could go on and on. If I had a nickel for every major artist “hold” I’ve had (Faith Hill, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Forrester Sisters to name a few), I’d have about a dollar. I have about a hundred cuts, mostly indys, and I continue to pitch my catalogue looking for the "big one" to retire on. I write whenever I can't stand not to, and lately, that has been quite often.

Home Sweet Home

I reside in Nashville, TN with my best girls...my cats, Yankee & Rebel. I continue to be a ridiculously feverish NY Yankee & NY Giant fan, amateur chef, and lover of singers & songwriting.

Production

I have produced projects ranging from simple songwriter demos to mastered artist CDs in all genres. I have access to Nashville's best studios, musicians and songs. We can discuss your budget, and I will do the rest. I can't promise you a record deal, but will present you with a cost effective, state of the art product. Contact me for details.

Dedication - Thanks for putting up with me

This website is dedicated to all the singers, writers, musicians & studio personnel I've had the honor to work with in my career. To the singers who have poured their hearts out into my demos..Cathryn Craig, Ron Wallace, John Wesley Ryles, Ronnie Godfrey, Bill Young, Billy Bob Shane, Donna Ullise, Tim Boone, Dawn Carter, Mark White, Rebecca Sayre, Maureen Mohr, David Spear, Billy Yates, Don and Darryl Ellis, Wil Nance, Tim Bupert..and others...Musicians Jay Vern, Danny Parks, Eddie Bedford, Jonathon Yudkin & others ..God bless you and may you find the success you deserve... While you're all just a phone call away from fame & fortune, you've already enriched the songs that are my life...to all the artists, song pluggers, publishers, club owners, A & R departments and management teams who believed in my talent, here's hoping that someday I prove you right!
To Lana, my forever BG and trusty co-ad... & to all my friends, family & colleagues along this whacky road who have encouraged, supported or inspired me, I say a sincere "thanks". I hope I've also touched you in some way.

Peace-
Eddie

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