Don Was upped at Blue Note Records

Don Was continues to be marketed to leader at EMI Music's Blue Note Records. The Grammy-winning producer became a member of the venerable jazz and pop label as chief creative officer in August (Daily Variety, August. 10).Elevation lifts Was in to the ranks of top producers holding label reins he joins a top-notch group which includes Verve Group chairman David Promote and Columbia Records co-leader Ron Rubin.Move was introduced internally in The month of january. EMI Music The United States COO Colin Finkelstein and Capitol and Virgin label group prexy Serta McCarroll stated inside a joint memo to staffers that Was' "commitment and adoration for Blue Note and it is artists - current and future - is inspiring, and consequently we've requested him to consider full leadership from the label."Was continues to are accountable to McCarroll.Ian Ralfini, formerly Blue Note-Manhattan Records prexy, remains at the organization as GM of EMI adult contemporary music, confirming to Finkelstein and concentrating on the label's global music privileges deals for adult music. Manhattan is presently taking pleasure in success using its act Celtic Lady, whose new album "Believe" joined the U.S. album chart at No. 13 now.At the same time, former EMI Group senior vice president of strategy and research Hank Forsyth moves towards the recently produced position of senior vice president-GM for Blue Note, billed with controlling day-to-day procedures from the label.Was (n Don Fagenson) received a Grammy as producer of the season in 1995. He helmed Bonnie Raitt's multiple Grammy champion "Nick of your timeInch (1989) and it has offered because the Moving Stones' producer since "Voodoo Lounge" (1994). He co-founded the Detroit group Was (Not Was) with David Weiss (also known as David Was) in 1979.It remains to appear if Was will continue doing outdoors projects together with his promotion at Blue Note. He's presently wrapping production on the new album by singer-guitarist John Mayer, who's signed to Columbia.Blue Note's next major release is really a new album by Grammy-winninng singer-songwriter Norah Johnson, "Little Damaged Hearts." The Risk Mouse-created set will arrive this spring. Label's pop roster includes Jones' country project the small Willies, Amos Lee, Priscilla Ahn and Shaun Bridges.The label - founded like a jazz imprint in 1939 by Francis Wolff and Alfred Lion - remains participating in the jazz front, and can release stylish-hop-friendly keyboardist Robert Glasper's "Black Radio" on February. 28.Based on one source, Was is considering restored growth of Blue Note's jazz roster, and may re-sign saxophonist Wayne Shorter and trumpeter-screen composer Terence Blanchard towards the label. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com