Hidden Beach Recordings Explained

Founded:	1998
Founder:	Steven McKeever
Status:	Active
Distributor:	Epic Records (2000–06) Universal Music Distribution (2007—)
Url:	hiddenbeach.com

Hidden Beach is an American independent record label known for R&B, soul, inspirational, and contemporary jazz genres. Hidden Beach was formed in 1998 by Steve McKeever^[1] and has a distribution deal with Universal Music Group.

History

Steven McKeever, a former lawyer and producer, founded Hidden Beach Recordings (HBR) in 1998.^[2]

On September 18, 2008 Hidden Beach released the compilation "Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement", with proceeds benefitting the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign. The compilation included Kanye West, Stevie Wonder, and Sheryl Crow.^[3]

Compilations

• Cornel West & BMWMB
• Hidden Hits
• Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement (for the 2008 Obama Presidential Campaign)
• Change Is Now: Renewing America's Promise (for the 2012 President Obama campaign)

Unwrapped music series

An ongoing series of albums, Unwrapped, has at least eight volumes. The series features instrumental versions of rap/hip-hop hits by contemporary jazz artists.

• Unwrapped, Vol. 1
• Unwrapped, Vol. 2
• Unwrapped, Vol. 3; features 50 Cent's "In Da Club" and Eminem's "Lose Yourself" as interpreted by keyboardists Jeff Lorber and former Earth, Wind & Fire member Larry Dunn, Hidden Beach saxophonist Mike Phillips and others. It debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart and No. 4 on the jazz chart.
• Unwrapped: Vol 4 (released June 24, 2006) peaked at number 3 on the Top Contemporary Jazz charts
• Unwrapped Vol. 5: the Collipark Cafe Sessions (released June 24, 2008); includes Southern hip-hop hits^{[4] [5]}

Box sets of volumes 1 through 4 and volumes 5 through 7 have been produced.

List of artists

listed alphabetically

• Bent Fabric (licensed only)
• John Densmore - Tribaljazz
• Kindred the Family Soul
• Ramsey Lewis (licensed only)
• Lina
• Onitsha
• Darius Rucker
• Brenda Russell
• Jill Scott
• Al B. Sure!
• The Tony Rich Project
• Dr. Cornel West & BMWMB
• BeBe Winans
• Gene Noble

External links

• Hidden Beach official website

Notes and References

1. Web site: My name is bond, Candace Bond . 2023-01-12 . Trinidad Express . My amazing husband of 27 years, Steve McKeever, is a highly accomplished music executive, entertainment attorney and founder of Hidden Beach Recordings..
2. Web site: Steve McKeever. thehistorymakers.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20090330183926/http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/biography.asp?bioindex=901&category=MusicMakers&occupation=Music+Executive&name=Steve+McKeever . March 30, 2009 . dead .
3. Web site: NME News Barack Obama releases album with Kanye West . NME. nme.com . 2008-09-23 . 2015-03-17.
4. Mitchell, Gail (October 2, 2004). "Rap, Jazz Mingling More Than Ever." Billboard.com
5. Web site: Hidden Beach, Collipark Package New 'Unwrapped' . Billboard.com . 2015-03-17.