A chance encounter changed the direction of the lives of Matt Lopez, Brad Hull, and Tim Gates---who collectively make up the trio known as Due West. Matt remembers the night that fate brought them together. "We were all at a party," he recalls.

"Dan Truman of Diamond Rio was having a house party at his sister's house, and he had invited a bunch of people that he knew were in the music business and people who were trying to break into it. So we all happened to be at that party that night. Everybody was just sitting around playing guitar, and we started doing some Restless Heart, Shenandoah, and Diamond Rio tunes. Brad and I jumped right in there on the harmonies."

What people heard that night made quite the impression according to Matt. "People came up to us, and said 'Man, you guys are great. What's the name of your group? How long have you been together?' Little did they know that we had just met a couple hours ago. It just clicked. It was instant. We've been together ever since."

That unique style of harmony is a special ingredient of the Due West sound. As Brad explains, "It's a major part, because that's what we're all about. We love the harmonies, and those harmony bands were really our heroes."

That sound is very evident in their Top 20 hit single from last year, the moving "I Get That All The Time," which was the highest-charting single from a self-released act on the Music Row Country BreakOut chart in 2009. The video for the song, which included the members' families, also made a mark, hitting # 3 on the GAC Top 20 Countdown.

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While touring in Sweden, Michael Ruff performed 2 new songs to be included in his next cd due to the end of February called "You Are My Song". Stay Tuned...

Veteran Hard Rockers King Kobra are back with a venomous new album Frontiers Records is excited to announce the release of the Self-Titled come back album from KING KOBRA on April 15th in Europe and May 5th in North America.

Formed in 1984 by legendary drummer Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Rod Stewart, Ozzy Osbourne), Los Angeles heavy metal outfit King Kobra recorded two critically acclaimed albums for Capitol Records – the 1985 release 'Ready to Strike' and 1986's 'Thrill of a Lifetime'.

Along with Carmine, the band featured four relatively unknown musicians at the time – David Michael-Philips and Mick Sweda on guitar, Johnny Rod on bass and Mark Free on lead vocals. King Kobra toured the U.S., Canada, Europe and Mexico playing shows with Kiss, Iron Maiden, Quiet Riot, Ted Nugent, Queensryche and Autograph.

The band was featured regularly on MTV and performed the theme song for the #1 1986 motion picture "Iron Eagle". After disbanding in 1988, each member continued his career in other successful major-label groups - Carmine to Blue Murder (Geffen), Mark Free to Unruly Child (Interscope), Mick Sweda to the BulletBoys (Warner Bros.), Johnny Rod to W.A.S.P. (Capitol/EMI) and David Michael-Philips to Lizzy Borden (Metal Blade).

The year 2010 saw the band reunite the original classic '85 lineup, replacing original singer Mark Free (now Marcie Free) with veteran lead vocalist Paul Shortino (Rough Cutt, Quiet Riot). “This album captures all the great points we had in the 80's, but better” says Carmine Appice “The music is more traditional King Kobra music. Great lyrics, kick ass songs with cool hooks and really good playing. A really great hard rock/metal record with lots of energy”. David Michael-Phillips adds “It truly is an all-star album. Paul Shortino is amazing! I can honestly say he is one of the best vocalists in the business along with being one of the nicest and most generous people I have ever met”.

King Kobra is smokin' hot, back stronger than ever and "Ready to Strike" once again!

A new solo album of 10 new songs from Gerry Beckley, one of the founding members of the band America (Sister Golden Hair, I Need You, Daisy Jane).

"It gives cause to ponder how, after all this time, Beckley is still able to mine such gorgeous material in such a seemingly inexhaustible supply" - Goldmine Produced by Gerry Beckley and Matt Beckley

Larry Carlton's new album, which is a tribute to Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, is due to release on February 15th.

Larry is backed by some amazing musicians on the album including Paul Shaffer (organ), Tony DeSare (piano), Tommy Byrnes (rhythm guitar), Christopher Jackson (bass), Bill LaBounty (vocals), Andrea Valentini (drums), Vic Stevens (percussion), Mark Douthit (sax), Darcy Hepner (baritone sax), Steve Guttman (trumpet), Nick Marchione (trumpet), Dave Kirkland (trombone), and Chris Komer (french horn). This line-up brings these timeless classics back to life with a new twist that will make this unique record a must have.

"Sound Advice" is a concept that Jazz vocalist Patti Austin feels very deeply, and it shows in her music. Together with the brilliant keyboards and producer Greg Phillinganes, Patti takes on some of your all-time favorite classics and does them in ways that you never could imagine.

Very surprising... Paris will welcome, this summer, 4 great bands for the pleasure of "Westcoast music/ AOR" fans: Toto (Zenith of Paris on June 27th), Foreigner & Journey (Palais des Sports on July 7th) and Chicago (Olympia on July 4th).