CARDINAL RELEASING Ltd.

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Jon Brewer

"Mr. Rock & Roll" as he affectionately known, Jon Brewer is the Producer/Director of the much-lauded, "The CLASSIC ARTISTS Series" and "Jimi Hendrix: The Guitar Hero". Most recently, Jon directed a 14 Camera shoot at The Royal Albert Hall of the BB KING performance, and was responsible for bringing to the show RONNIE WOOD, SLASH and MICK HUCKNALL. He continues over 30 years to play a pivotal role in the careers of some of rock's most legendary artists.

Jon is now preparing his team and scheduling for the next three years , feature films on SLASH, BB KING, and a Television special, 'DESERT RACER', the documentary film on Steve McQueen and his Metisse - the revival limited edition.

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Beginning his career in music management, Brewer quickly rose to the top of his profession and joined forces with then up-and-coming (now legendary) artists such as David Bowie, Gene Clarke of the Byrds, and Rolling Stones members Mick Taylor and Bill Wyman, Alvin Lee and 10 Years After. He was awarded the much-coveted Ivor Novello Award for "Best Publisher" and another for "Best Song" in 1979 for Gerry Rafferty's timeless hit "Baker Street" and another for the album "CITY TO CITY", which seized the number 1 position in the Billboard charts and also topped the charts in the UK and Europe.

 

He was responsible for the re-formation of the band "Yes" with Chris Squire, Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Alan White, Rick Wakeman - well known for their on-going acrimonious relationship with each other, and went on to record the  "Keys to Ascension" project with Brewer at the helm. 

 

 

In the early 1980's Jon Brewer was a pioneer of the Video Industry, and creation of the 4th largest Independent in the UK, " Avatar Film Company", forming strong associations with  CBS/FOX, and EMI, Universal/ CIC. In the first year of "Avatar Film Corp." being launched, it was responsible for 20% of the turnover for CBS/FOX. The distributions branched out to Europe, Australasia, Japan, and through Universal in America, allowed Brewer to become a Producer in his own right, of feature film. To control his own destiny, a sales company was set up and Brewer learned from the sales markets the efforts of selling to distributors around the world. This brought him into the Television business, and Television Sales.  

 

In the year 2000, Jon Brewer was responsible for bringing to the BBC "The FUGI ROCK FESTIVAL" a 69-camera shoot, shot at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan with such artists as OASIS, EMINEM, ALANIS MORISSETTE, and NEIL YOUNG, amongst others. This led to the making of the authorized documentary of Michael Hutchence of INXS, and to the documentary made on KURT COBAIN "All Apologies”, on the 10th Anniversary of his death.

 

Jon had foreseen the inevitable connection between Music and the new "DVD" with all its various capabilities, and began to formulate ideas for this new medium. He produced the 1st DVD on "Dance" Music in association with "Ministry of Sound" a DVD entitled "The Annual", incorporating 5.1 surround sound and fantastic graphic visual effects to make a home entertainment DVD, whereby the hit songs of the time could be played during a party to combine the audio and visual experience in the home. Interviews with the latest top DJ's were then placed on the DVD for more added options. This success led to the creation of the "Cream the DVD" which was of a similar nature, with the popular "Cream" brand acquired and utilized.

 

 

With a continuing participation in artists’ management, and now the worldwide acclaim with "The Classic Artists Series", for Television, DVD, IPTV and Digital, Books and all associated future Brand activity, as well as various other spin-offs relating to the many connections now well developed with Rock Music's legends and their management, Jon Brewer has created a niche in the industry which continues to flourish.   

 

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 Laura Royko

The Sales Director of Cardinal Releasing ,and responsible for all Media deals , on a worldwide basis, Laura Royko has been responsible for deals with BBC, SKY, MTV (USA), FOX, SBS, ABC, Channel 4 (UK), Channel 5 (UK), Biographyand Universal.

Upon the creation of "The Classic Artists Series", Royko brought the (Classic Artists) Series and the brand to the marketplace in a Pre-Sales capacity and signed deals for DVD Distribution in U.S.A. ,Canada, Japan, Australia, UK and Europe , setting the series on a strong footing from prior to the completion of the first Episode. The distribution in new and diverse platforms continues with Series Two and Three, as well as her involvement in development of new programming concepts.

Harriet Glynn

Assistant Producer, Harriet is the foundation of successful production work ; working closely with Jon Brewer on films such as 'Bad Company', and the in-depth BB KING project, which includes the recent organization of  a 15 camera shoot at The Royal Albert Hall, as well as extensive travel throughout America for the upcoming BB King film. Harriet liaises with artists and keeps the crew organized, all the while ensuring reserach is accurate and up to date.

CARDINAL RELEASING Ltd.

A Production and Distribution/Sales Company of "The Classic Artists Series" and other 'Jon Brewer Productions'

 

"The Classic Artists Series" was the brainchild of Jon Brewer, who, after having tired of seeing a great deal of fictitious and inadequate programming on various artists with whom he was well acquainted, (and knew of their real back ground and history), decided to undertake to create and present a series of fine quality and detailed "rockumentaries" that honoured the legends of Rock music, and included the participation of these artists and their contemporaries, supported by the original tracks that changed the face of music to this day. This elaborate Series would be filmed all over the world on location, catching up with the artists in their homes and studios, and become the absolute go-to for rock music fans as well as those who wanted to acquaint themselves with the artists which they have known and loved for a lifetime.

The Classic Artists Series (One) commenced with "Cream", as told by the band members themselves, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, (who was filmed on location at his ranch in South Africa). This was certainly proof positive that Brewer could command the attention and co-operation of the Rock community and record companies alike, as it is a well known fact that 1) Clapton simply does not give interviews, and 2) as CREAM had announced whilst EMPEROR was in Pre-production that they were about to re-unite after 38 years for 3 concert dates at the Royal Albert Hall in London, requests for interviews came from all over the world, including The Rolling Stone magazine, were all denied access to the band - other than Warner Bros , (who had paid some estimated £2.3m for the DVD Rights), and Jon Brewer and his "Classic Artists Series".

Along with this release, Brewer had secured the rights to previously un-released recordings of "Cream" from 1967, and added a Bonus Audio CD to the package, along with live performance footage of "Cream" in rehearsal and early gigs on the DVD Extras.

The "CREAM" Episode was followed by the vastly influential band from the 60's: "The MOODY Blues". This programme was filmed largely on location, with John Lodge living in Barbados and Justin Hayward in Monaco. The coup of this Production was the locating of Denny Laine, one of the first members of "The Moody Blues" who carried on to have a successful career with Paul McCartney and Wings, but had drifted off to the deserts of Nevada , where "Classic Artists" met with him, and secured the true magic and authenticity of this Series. No one could ever claim that the programmes were not comprehensive, and since the release, CARDINAL has received an influx fan mail in appreciation.

"The Moody Blues" DVD also includes a Bonus Audio CD of early recordings of the individual members of "The Moody Blues". Episode Three of the first "Classic Artists" series was one very close to the heart of its Producer:"YES". This act has undergone a multitude of changes in its line up, so there was no shortage of ex-members and those who wanted to talk about it. The true story of YES was finally made available as never before, and this Classic Artists release is rightfully referred to as the "final word" on the world's first and greatest Progressive Rock band.

The original artist of all "YES" cover art ( Roger Dean) was located and secured, and the DVD cover harks back to the day when "YES" were releasing massive hit albums, such as "Relayer", and "Close to the Edge", "90210", ensuring the enthusiasm and the following of die-hard YES fans, an authentic product that will ultimately have unlimited shelf life, and a release that future participants of "The Classic Artists Series" will see as indisputably top-notch, and worthy of their collaboration.

Episode Four: The 40th Anniversary of "JETHRO TULL". The opportunity to create for release in 2008 the "official 40th Anniversary DVD" of, what has to hold the title for British Rock's most unique, successful and original Rock acts, did not go unnoticed by the ( shrewd) Classic Artists production team. The production in process at the time was immediately re-scheduled and Jethro Tull put in its place. Ian Anderson ( lead vocals and flute- the hallmark of this act), came on board to work closely with the team in assuring that no stone went unturned with respect to rare archive footage, access to incredible interviews from band members present and past, and also to ensure that all the greatest Jethro Tull tunes were included in the programme.

CLASSIC ARTISTS Series Two  continues to draw attention with the participation of the world's grandest rock legends: LEGENDS OF THE CANYON featuring Crosby, Stills and Nash, JIMI HENDRIX: The Guitar Hero, BAD COMPANY and Jim Morrison: ROCK POET are all slated, and the now-expanded production team are inspired by the cooperation they have encountered, as well as the weight of names involved.  "Bad Company" with "Legends of the Canyon" and "Jimi Hendrix the Guitar Hero" and "Rock Poet" having just been completed and now preparing for distribution and release.

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