Gerry Granahan and Lyn Roman – Hall of Fame

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Rick Bellaire

Vice Chair, Archive Director

Rhode Island Music Hall Of Fame

Lyn Roman had begun her major label recording career under her own name, Linda Griner. In 1963, she released one single for Motown which was written and produced by Smokey Robinson. “Good-By Cruel Love” and “Envious” are two of the greatest sides ever recorded by the label and it should have been obvious to all that Smokey had made a major discovery. But, somehow, Motown dropped the ball with this record and Griner was let go from the label despite the fact that Smokey had already cut an entire album on her which remains unreleased to this day. Adopting the stage name of “Lyn Roman,” she reappeared the following year as a Columbia Records artist for one album, “The Many Faces of Lyn Roman.” Although a fine effort, it is more in the style of Aretha’s Columbia albums – standards and pop tunes sung in a jazzy style – and was not a truly befitting setting for one of the greatest soul voices of all time. Following her departure from Columbia, she had become successful on the nightclub scene and was touring extensively with comedian Redd Foxx when she was re-discovered by Gerry. Recognizing her incredible potential, he signed her to Dot and produced what today are considered two of the finest soul albums by a female artist ever recorded, “The Greatest Roman Of Them All” and “A Girl For All Reasons.” Gerry and Linda came up with a combination of down-home soul, uptown production and perfect material which should have done for Griner what the switch from Columbia Records to Atlantic had done for Aretha Franklin, but Dot’s promotional machine failed and the LPs were relegated to the cutout bins in short order. When combined with the disappointing performance of the promo department in regards to some of the other great talents he’d discovered but the label had ignored (such as soul man Phil Flowers, composer-conductor John Williams and future country giant Lee Greenwood), it was just too much for him to take and Gerry gave his notice in late 1969.

(Update, May, 2013: As Lyn Roman, Griner continued on recording singles for Mercury with the legendary Ed Townsend and Brunswick, and became a major star in Europe. She eventually recorded another fine album, “Wanted,” for Ichiban Records in 1987. In the 1990s, she returned to using her real name and released a truly great album for Motorcity/Charly called “Bitter End.” Her 1960s and ’70s records are now considered some of the finest soul music ever recorded and original pressings can fetch hundreds of dollars. In the 2000s, her career has been undergoing a remarkable resurgence. She is still performing and recording and has new album available on her website: www.lindagrinermusic.com/)

LYN-ROMAN-AT-BUCKINGHAM-PALACE

So great was Linda’s fame in England in the late ’60s/early ’70s that she could not only interrupt the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, but she could get these normally staid bobbies to crack a smile!

To those that tirelessly worked and shaped my recording career

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I dedicate this page to those that tirelessly worked and shaped my recording career.

I felt compelled to honor those that worked so hard in one of the hardest businesses to achieve in. The great writers , composers, mentors and friends THANK YOU!

Theses are people that gave their all and those that are still on the planet still do!

Thank you Freddie Gershon and Myrna for always being there I love you! I want you all to know I appreciate everything going forward.

Gerry Granthan my mentor, producer, and one of the best the industry has to offer Dot Records subsidiary Paramount Pictures.

John Williams one of our great composers arrangers in the world thanks to Gerry I was provided the opportunity to perform one of my greatest efforts in the film “Daddy’s gone a Hunting” singing opening and throught the film and Sound track.

Also the Kirk Douglass opportunity perfoming The Brotherhood and the film and The Penthouse film song. None of that would have happened without Gerry Granahan.

Some of the people here were not all household names when we began but I always felt in my heart they were to become some of the treasures of our industry.

Artie Butler did many of the great arrangements on my albums.

Through the years, Artie Butler has been involved in every phase of the music industry: composing, arranging, conducting, producing, supervising and playing. His credits are literally and figuratively too numerous to mention.

I am honored to have worked with these great arrangers and producers and give them blessings for the great work they did for myself so many major Artie Butler a american Instution one of the greates talents I have worked with more accomplishments then I can mention including Louis Armstrong ‘What a wonderful world’ Barry Manilow. Dione Warwick, Joe Cocker Gladys Knight and the Pips not enogh room to name all of his accomplishments.

Artie also was nominated for a Acadamy award for Barbra Streisand’s”Here’s To Life’ which he got a Acadamy award nomination.

Arnie Golan one of my favorite people to work with on my early albums for Dot/Paramount. arranged for Johnny Mathis, Bee Gee’s multible artists , proud to have worked with him.
Artie Butler a american Instution one of the greates talents I have worked with more accomplishments then I can mention including – Louis Armstrong ‘What a wonderful world’ Barry Manilow. Dione Warwick, Joe Cocker.

Roy Glover did many Lyn Roman arrangements.He moved into the recording studios and worked as a session arranger and musical director for such top-10 performers as Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions, Connie Francis, Bobby Vinton, The Platters,”Our Day Will Come” by Ruby and the Romantics. His influence is prevalent in hit songs was remarkable.
Ashford and Simpson ,BB King ,the Drifters to mention a few.

Smoky Robinson who discovered me and wrote and produced my first releases ” Goodbye Cruel Love and ” Envious which still is a top seller , has sold on Ebay for $637 dollars and online today for over $500 if you can get a original copy.

Gene Page arranged one of my true favorite songs I recorded ” The Love a woman should give to a man” he. was an influential conductor, composer, arranger and record producer most active from the mid-1960s through the mid-1980s, worked with some of pop music’s biggest names – Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston and Lionel Ritchie among them – but the twin long-term roles which secure his place in the pantheon of soul music are as arranger for both Barry White and Motown, where he worked in the 1960s and 1970s. He was a great friend and contributed so much to my process.
Ed Townsend For your love , Marvin Gaye Sexual healing numerous hits. He brought me to Mercury records and to the attention of Irv Green and Quincy Jones I was signed immediately. today you can see on UTUBE the video “GB DAY and My life Story”.

Don Myrick of ( Earth Wind and fire gone to soon we worked on songs together and a great motivater we were working on songs together really is sorely missed.

WAH WAH WATSON a legend guitarist one if the greatest! He performed on my latest endeavor which will be released in December ‘Tribute to Redd Foxx so amazing you made it happen for me no words!

Melba Liston was my conductor one of the best in the world she was a one of a kind.. thanks to Redd Foxx he hireds her to travel with us touring ‘ The Sanford and Son road show I was Redd Foxx’s opening act.

Melba Liston was an African-American musician who became a brilliant star of the jazz world. Though best known as a composer and arranger, her incredible skill as a trombonist meant she also achieved fame as an instrumentalist, and she worked alongside some of the biggest names in music. Her unprecedented and varied career spanned five decades, seeing her become one of the industry’s extreme rarities; a successful female trombonist she worked with Quincy Jones and some of the greatest musicians in our industry her talent was something to behold.

Bernie Wayne WROTE ALL LYN ROMAN SPECIAL MARTERIAL ( ZORBA THE GREEK , MS AMERICA BEAUTY PAGENT (THERE SHE IS MISS AMERICA Elvis Presley BLUE VELVET, LAUGHING ON THE OUTSIDE CRYING ON THE INSIDE.

Pam Sawyer “DO IT AGAIN 3 OTHER SONGS” You can’t turn me off in the middle of turning me on recorded by Linda Griner aka Lyn Roman Pamela Sawyer is a British-born American lyricist and songwriter, who started writing songs in the mid-1960s and whose credits as a co-writer at Motown included “Love Child”, “If I Were Your Woman”, “My Whole World Ended”, and “Love Hangover and her writing partner Marilyn McLeod from the John Coltraine remarkable .

A special thanks to Papote Varete and Sandy Rose Artman you have been amazing in every way! To much to mention!!! Sandy never met anyone so kind and thoughful you were so appreciated throughout the filming of Music.Inc.

Fred Wesley James Brown in the 60’s. great times working with these folks! we recorded several songs Lyn Roman ONE MORE DANCE FOR THE ROAD. was a favorite,

George Siravo arramged my iconic song “One Life” he was also my conductor George Siravo collaboraed with Tony Bennett and many arttsts his Frank Sinatra albums remain classics i feel so lucky to have worked with these iconic wonderderful artists that showed me so much love and care..

Not counting 135 recordings to date where did the time go!

Last but most importantly my attorney Christopher Whent no words can express the gratitue I have for you. God Bless you and all the people I mention so many I may have left out but you know my heart.

Linda Griner aka Lyn Roman teaching her tennis kids her latest release

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Linda teaching her tennis kids her latest release “Christmas Everyday” So much love!

We’re not waiting for Christmas we show our live everyday!

Because when you love someone it’s ‘Christmas Everyday!’

After practice we had a great time sharing gifts and treats for the kids!

They love that!

We love all kids from every corner of the world!

Care For Me

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She is back!

Recording artist Linda Griner AKA Lyn Roman.

Linda has done it  all!Linda Griner a.k.a. Lyn Roman

Against all odds recorded a great  CD ‘Care For Me”.

She teamed up with affluent French producer Arno Elias one of the Music Industry’s innovative producers today who also produced . Buddha bar nature one of the great  worldwide DJ’s.

True love, which was inspired and focused for a James Bond theme.is a sleeper.

“Care for me” t” Like a Stone and truly a smash hit “Running Out of Ways, which has been remixed by Chi- Town’s own DJ Baddmixx.

These songs will be recorded again and again.

Each song has a signifigent theme and quality and could easily be a single hit song on it’s own.

Linda has done movie themes for Paramount pictures and National General pictures with John Williams. Her resume is volumes.

She has worked with some if the great artist’s and musicians of our lifetime.

Look out for” True Love “it will  be a movie classic!

Sit back and relax and enjoy Linda at her best!!

 

 

Music.Inc, The Movie The Real Story ….

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The dream and story is becoming real with the creative love and direction of some of the most loving and talented people I have had the opportunity to work with!

Music, Inc. is the true story of the rise and fall of America’s greatest original export told by one of its unsung heroes. Discovered by Motown at sixteen years old, Linda Griner a.k.a. Lyn Roman. When she was finnally able to break free from her Contract with Berry Gordy she went to New York that is where th e magic began.

Music.Inc takes us on her backdoor odyssey, exposing the underbelly of greed and corruption of an entire industry.

While the public spent billions on the soundtrack of their lives, the artists were starving in the streets, many eventually disappearing into obscurity without fanfare.

Linda’s story of perseverance offers a lens into a world we were never meant to see.

Music, Inc. is a modern day Greek tragedy, ripe with villains, heroes, romance and artistry and survival of the ultimate kind.

My love admiration and gratitude to all of you folks that were a part of making this happen. We are Music.Inc,!!!

A young girl discovered on stage co starring with Smoky Robinson and the Miracles, with the makings of becoming Motown’s first female solo Super Star caught in the middle of a new company “Motown” on the heels of becoming the main stream Giant of the 21st Century.

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A Vanity Fair writer is researching a feel good piece about the humble beginnings of Motown and interviews Linda Griner before a show she’s headlining in Palm Springs. It becomes evident there is much more to her story. The journalist uncovers a side of Motown and the music industry no one has ever heard.
The powers that be catch wind of his discovery, immediately discredit Linda, pressure Vanity Fair to drop the story and threaten to ruin his career.
Music, Inc. is a modern day Greek tragedy that parallels the problems all women face.
Linda Griner a.k.a. Lyn Roman

 

Enjoy Linda singing at her best ‘Dont Worry About me Theme’ in Music.Inc