Motown Records

Born in LA, Gartner gave up his dream to be an entertainer at the age of 20 after a few years of singing at the Whisky A-Go-Go led only to an unfulfilled contract with Motown Records. Instead, he went to work with his Dad, building a chain of retail fabric stores. When the business was sold, Gartner moved to New York where, anxious to find an outlet for his singing, he began hanging out at ?open mike? piano bars. In 2000, he volunteered to perform for free at a senior center in Queens. One center led to another, and the rest is history. Gartner?s ?Act 2? life story has been featured on PBS? affiliate WLIW, CBS Eye on the DesertThe New York Times, The LA Times, and the Miami Herald. High profile engagements in 2006 included star turns at Odettes Cabaret in New Hope, the Rainbow Room in NYC, and PNC Bank (Garden State) Arts Center in NJ before an audience of 4000 fans. In January of 2007, Ron heads out to Harrahs Casino in Louisiana, where he and his 18 piece orchestra will entertain a group of ?high rollers?.

Samm Brown was The Jacksons' arranger and musical director for their Emmy-nominated CBS musical variety show, and musical director/ arranger/conductor for several major stars on their domestic and/or world tours, including: The Jacksons, Donna Summer, Lola Folana, Al Wilson, Peaches & Herb, and Maxine Nightingale. A recipient of numerous RIAA certified gold and platinum awards for songwriting, arranging, and/or producing, Samm has also received several ASCAP awards, including awards from the U.K., Brazil, and Japan. Samm Brown is also a former staff writer and producer for Motown Records; a staff writer at Chappell, Almo-Irving, and Jobete music publishing companies. A past chairman of the N.A.R.A.S. Institute, Samm has served on the N.A.R.A.S. Board of Governors (Chicago Chapter), was a member of the 1983 Producers Grammy Screening Committee, and is a frequently requested guest speaker on songwriting at the Los Angeles Songwriters Showcase. Samm also teaches a songwriting workshop twice a month at the National Academy of Songwriters. Samm Brown was formerly a prominent ABC-TV newsman in Chicago before switching careers to the record business.