Leah Bernstein

Leah Bernstein is president of The Mountain Apple Company, where she has worked for 29 years.

She started in the record business at age 11, in Los Angeles, helping out her sister at Dunhill Records-being the coffee runner for Top 40 artists Jan and Dean, the Grassroots, and the Turtles, among others.

In her twenties, she did recording studio work for ABC/Dunhill, and for Kendun, where she was general manager, working with world-class artists and producers such as Quincy Jones, Frank Zappa, Jefferson Airplane, Michael Jackson, George Benson and others.

She came to Hawai'i in 1972. One of her earliest jobs in Honolulu was with Tom Moffatt at KPOI, the legendary rock station.

Having sworn off the record business, in 1980 she changed her mind and joined Jon de Mello and Mountain Apple. For three decades, she has been an integral part of the company's continued growth, in publishing, recording, distributing, licensing, talent management, concert promotion, marketing, and public relations. She has also developed markets for Hawaiian music throughout the world.At the time she came on board at Mountain Apple, as she says, "Hawaiian music was relegated to a budget line in retail around the world." She says her most satisfying accomplishment with the company has been "getting the music from the mountains to the sea and beyond the reef into the world's hands (and ears)."

Manu Boyd

Manu Boyd is the leader of Ho'okena, a Hawaiian music group that has recorded nine CDs since 1986. Their "Cool Elevation" was nominated for a Grammy in the Hawaiian Category in 2005. Boyd composes for the band and plays 'ukulele. A kumu hula with his own school, Halau o ke 'A'ali'i Ku Makani, Boyd is a recognized Hawaiian language and cultural resource, composer, arranger, chanter, choreographer, producer and writer. He is cultural director at Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki.

Brother Noland

Brother Noland is an impact player and innovator in Hawai'i's music scene, as a composer and performer. His distinctive sound ranges from traditional to contemporary to Jawaiian.

Noland was born and raised in Kalihi-Palama, a low-income neighborhood in Honolulu. He found his way out through his art and culture. His music, rooted in the realities of life in Hawai'i today, always carries a message of positive reflection. He helps at-risk youth define their choices and make a quality connection with the community. He has set up arts programs in public parks. He cares for land on Moloka'i, preserving indigenous plants and animals species within Hawaiian cultural traditions. He teaches ukulele, guitar, and composition. He does everything as a Hawaiian, the Hawaiian way.

Jon De Mello

Jon de Mello founded The Mountain Apple Company as a local label in Honolulu in 1977, when he was in his late twenties. Now, as CEO, he runs a record business that distributes globally in 88 countries. Mountain Apple Company has the most extensive collection of Hawaiian and Polynesian music in the world. Billboard Magazine has recognized Mountain Apple Company as one of the top 5 World Music labels multiple times, most recently in their year-end charts for 2008.

In 2002, de Mello became the first Hawai'i-based producer to have a record certified gold by the RIAA. In 2002, he became the first producer with an RIAA-certified Gold CD- "Facing Future" by Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo'ole, certified platinum in 2005. IZ and de Mello went on to receive another Gold record for "Alone In IZ World" in 2005 as well.

De Mello worked closely with IZ as producer, musical mentor and confidant. The albums they made together have collectively been on Billboard charts for more than 1150 weeks. The most celebrated hit of their collaboration is IZ's version of "Over The Rainbow," which has been featured worldwide in films, television and commercials.

As a hands-on producer of Hawaiian music, de Mello has made more than 150 albums, from traditional to contemporary artists, including the Beamer Brothers, Don Ho, Amy Hanaiali'I, Willie K, Rap Reiplinger, Booga Booga, Emma Veary, Brother Noland and many more. The first act he ever signed was The Brothers Cazimero. He still records and manages them-a working relationship of more than 35 years.

This kind of long-term relationship with artists is a trademark of Mountain Apple, and the company's success in the Hawai'i music community over the years is measured by more than 100 Na Hoku Hanohano awards (the local Grammy).

At Mountain Apple, de Mello wears many hats-CEO, producer, manager. As well, he composes and arranges music, designs album covers and point-of-purchase display materials, edits video, explores the Web for all kinds of multimedia inspiration and applications, and does entertainment consulting in the Hawai'i-Pacific region.

In 1977 de Mello was named the Hawai'i Small Business Person of the Year, and in 2006 he was inducted into the Hawai'i Business Hall of Fame.

Dan Keen

ASCAP Vice President Dan Keen has enjoyed a multifaceted career in Nashville's music industry. In publishing, he has award-winning stints at Meadowgreen Music and Sparrow Publishing/EMI to his credit. His songwriting has resulted in an ASCAP Award and songs on Grammy-nominated albums. He has also recorded two albums as an artist. In 1994, Keen was appointed to the Adjunct faculty at Belmont University and serves on the Board of Advisors of Belmont University's Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business.

He received his Masters Degree in Education from Belmont in 2007. Dan also serves on the Gospel Music Association's Board of Directors and is the Chairman of the GMA Academy Council. Keen was recently elected as Secretary of the International Bluegrass Association's Board of Directors. He is a Vice-President with the American Society of Authors Composers and Publishers (ASCAP). In 1997 Keen received ASCAP's Award of Excellence. He is a member of the GMA, IBMA, CMA, ACM, NARAS, and an alumnus of Leadership Music and Leadership Bluegrass. Dan lives in Franklin, Tennessee with his wife and children.

Eric Lagrimas

Eric Lagrimas is one of Hawai'i's rising music professionals. He graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, with a degree in Music Business/Management, and spent his early professional career in New York City with Billboard Magazine, Cherry Lane Publishing, and as a recording studio assistant for a Top 40 record producer. He returned to Hawai'i in 2004. Lagrimas has worked on award-winning projects and done product distribution to Japan through his companies, Pass Out Records and Pass Out Music Publishing. He is an instructor of Music Business in the MELE program at Honolulu Community College and plays drums in two local bands. He recently performed at the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas.

Dennis Matkosky

Award-winning songwriter/producer Dennis Matkosky's work can be found in almost every genre of music and film. From "Flashdance" to Rascal Flatts, it's quite a leap for a classically-trained guy from Philly. A versatile virtuoso responsible for such iconic radio smash hits such as "Maniac" (Number 1 in 18 countries and 20 million records sold), LeAnn Rimes' "I Need You," Keith Urban's pop-crossover number one smash hit "You'll Think of Me," Matkosky has been credited for production and songwriting for more than 60 million records sold. He has been in the Top 10 of the Billboard charts in the categories of Jazz, R&B, Adult Contemporary, Country, Rock, Pop, Christian and Gospel. He has seen Number 1 on the Adult Contemporary charts with "Heat of Mine" by Boz Scaggs and "We've Saved the Best for Last" by Kenny G and Smokey Robinson.

He has also penned hits for Diana Ross, Sara Brightman, James Ingram, Eddie Money, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Sheena Easton, Reba McEntire, Bo Bice, Clay Aiken, Kimberley Locke, and a host of other singing sensations.

In addition to numerous American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Awards, Matkosky has been nominated an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and two Grammys-one for Best Song of the Year and the other for Best Soundtrack, which he won.

Never resting on his laurels, Matkosky juggles writing appointments from Nashville to Los Angeles to London and back again, all while nurturing and developing the careers of young artists/writers like Travis Howard and The Daylights. Matkosky has recently collaborated on new releases with sensation Martina McBride with her new smash single "I Just Call You Mine." Recent cuts include Rascal Flatts, Sara Evans and Reba McEntire. He is currently on the charts with David Nail's "Red Light."

Matkosky lives in Nashville with his fabulous wife Leslie, and two children, Karen and Jesse.

Puakea Nogelmeier

Raised in Minnesota, Puakea Nogelmeier, a self-described "haole maoli"-a native white person-came to Hawai'i in the early 1980s and immersed himself in Hawaiian culture, language and music. He composes songs in Hawaiian for award-winning performer Keali'i Reichel. Through his translations and publications and his continued advocacy, he has been a major force in the preservation and expanded use of the Hawaiian language. He teaches Hawaiian language at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, where he earned his PhD.

Kristal "Tytewriter" Oliver

Kristal Oliver is known to her peers as "Tytewriter" for the ease in which she creates her signature music. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Oliver was exposed to music by her mother who was a church choir director. She followed in her mother's footsteps as she learned to harmonize and sing at the age of three. At the age of thirteen she began to try her hand at writing by creating poetry and rapping. She quickly realized that this form of expression was the route for her. For someone who hears melodies while riding, walking, and sleeping, writing just came naturally. By the age of 17, Kristal decided to try her hand professionally at writing.

In 2006, Oliver joined the production team at the Philadelphia-based company Home Cookin. Through this relationship and a publishing deal with EMI, she had the chance to write for the artists she had listened to on the radio for so many years. She has written and loaned her vocals to artists such as Danity Kane, The Cheetah Girls, Diddy, Keri Hilson, Raheem DeVaughn, Heather Headley, Cassie, Skillz, and Blake Lewis. She is a singer, songwriter, and producer of vocals for many genres of music that include rock, pop, alternative, country, gospel and R&B. She and her partner are also lending their talents to developing a female group. Oliver once said "Music has wooed me, moved me, broken my heart and mended it all in one verse." Music has been and will continue to be the one constant in her life and she plans to give 110 percent of herself and talent until she is no longer able.

Adam Watts and Andy Dodd

Red Decibel Productions is the songwriting/production team of Adam Watts and Andy Dodd. Since coming together 10 years ago, their songs and productions have been featured on albums that have sold over 40 million copies worldwide. Their diverse list of credits includes: Kelly Clarkson, Switchfoot, Jesse McCartney, Jeremy Camp, High School Musical 1, 2, and 3, Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus 1 and 2, Aly & AJ, The Cheetah Girls, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, The Jonas Brothers Live Concert and Camp Rock. Watts and Dodd are signed to an exclusive publishing deal with Disney Music Publishing.

In 2006, Watts and Dodd received an American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Pop Award for their song, "Beautiful Soul" (Jesse McCartney). A huge international hit on radio, "Beautiful Soul" reached the top 5 on Billboard's Top 40 Mainstream chart, as well as spending 50 days in the top 10 on MTV's TRL. Also in 2006, Watts and Dodd received an ASCAP Christian Music Award for the song "What If," which they produced and co-wrote with Jadon Lavik. Other credits include producing three gold albums, including nine #1 hits, for Christian music mega-star Jeremy Camp. Watts co-wrote the single "Let it Fade," which also became a #1 hit on Christian CHR radio.

In addition to his behind the scenes work, Watts is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter. The Adam Watts Band is finishing up their debut album for a fall 2009 release. Their single "Poison Soul" hits alt/rock radio this summer.

Watts and Dodd will be honored at this year's ASCAP Film and TV Awards for their work on two of the highest grossing films of last year, High School Musical 3 and Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert in Digital 3D.

Craig Wiseman

Craig Wiseman is one of today's most celebrated songwriters and has played a significant role in shaping Country music. Wiseman has been named American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Songwriter of the Year in 2003, 2005 and 2007. In 2005, he won a Grammy for Best Country Song for Tim McGraw's 10-week number one hit, "Live Like You Were Dying." He also took home the Country Music Award (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Song Of the Year awards for "Live Like You Were Dying" and in the following year for Brooks and Dunn' s "Believe."

In the fall of 2003, Wiseman saw his dream of opening his own publishing company come true when Big Loud Shirt opened its doors. Within five short years, Big Loud Shirt has had 41 singles and eight Number 1 hits songs, with Wiseman penning six of the eight hit songs including Kenny Chesney's "Summertime," Toby Keith's "Love Me If You Can" and most recently Faith Hill's "A Baby Changes Everything." Some other major recording acts who have recorded Wiseman's songs include Lonestar, Phil Vassar, LeAnn Rimes, Trisha Yearwood and Dolly Parton.

Big Loud Shirt is staffed with nine other songwriters, including Chris Tompkins and Rodney Clawson. Tompkins penned the Grammy and ASCAP Song of the Year with Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats," while Clawson has been nominated for a Grammy, CMA and ACM for George Strait's "I Saw God Today." In 2006, Wiseman became international with opening Big Loud Shirt London, which staffs three writers.

To date, Wiseman has had well over 300 cuts, 100 singles and 17 hit songs.

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