The Producers Tickets

The Producers
In the 1980s, the Producers emerged as a new wave and power pop band from Atlanta, Georgia. The original members of the band included Van Temple on guitar and vocals, former Whiteface member Kyle Henderson on bass and vocals, former Billy Joe Royal sideman Wayne Famous on keyboards, and Brian Holmes on drums. The band was originally formed as a Beatles cover band named Cartoon. They were successful in changing musical directions and entertained the audience in nightclubs around the Atlanta by performing their own material.

They received very encouraging response to their music and became very much popular. They were quickly signed to CBS subsidiary Portrait Records by Cheap Trick, REO Speedwagon and Mother's Finest producer Tom Werman. The Producers (1981) and You Make the Heat (1982) were two albums that were released by the Producers for the Portrait label.

The popularity of the Producers went on increasing. They quickly became a regional favorite in the southeastern United States, propelling What She Does to Me onto the national Billboard Magazine singles charts. They toured extensively opening for Cheap Trick, and The Motels. She Sheila from their second album was a popular MTV video. In 1982. they headlined MTV's New Year's Rockin Eve.

After only two albums the band was dropped by the Portrait Records. Even their successes could not helpful in continuing with Portrait Records. Kyle Henderson left the band shortly after they were dropped to record a solo album for Kerry Livgren's Christian rock label, Kerygma Records. He was replaced by future Jellyfish and Umajets bassist Tim Smith.

Run For Your Life, was the next album of the Producers which was released in 1985 on a small Atlanta-based independent label. The album featured a collaboration between The Producers and Kansas, Can't Cry Anymore, a song which appeared on both Run For Your Life and the 1986 Kansas album Power.

In the late 1980s, the Producers were successful in regaining a major label contract with MCA Records. They recorded their fourth album, Coelacanth, with MCA Records. But the band was one of several dropped in a 1989 label purge at MCA before the album could be released. Coelacanth was finally released in 2001. The band retired as a going concern in 1989 but still plays reunion shows around the Atlanta area from time to time.

Two other projects are also done by the Producers. One is a promotion for Miller Beer in the early 80s. One of their songs (the drum riffs from Chinatown, I'm told) was used for the music in a Miller ad.

'The Producers' and 'You Make The Heat' were reissued on CD as a single 2 LPs on 1 CD. These CDs are available from long-time Producers supporter Criminal Records in Atlanta.