By KATHY DESALVO
Catfish Music, Chicago, was officially launched as a music house by composers/ producers Joel Raney and Jeff Boyle on New Year’s Day, 1999. But the pair had been collaborating closely for three years, working out of Raney’s recording studio, also called Catfish, while they were both represented by Chicago-based Com/ track.
Raney says that he and Boyle realized they worked very well together, which-besides the fact that "it was time"-prompted them to break away from Com/track in late ’98 to go solo. "Our relationship evolved during the time we were at Com/track," explains Raney. "We just fit. We’re two opposites that make a nice complete pie.
"I’m classically trained and good at orchestral scoring and piano tracks," he continues, "and Jeff is a self-taught rocker and a fantastic songwriter. Those elements combined give you a lot of leverage in the commercial music business."
"[Raney] is this mad professor and I’m this sort of auto mechanic," adds Boyle, "but it works."
It clearly works for the clients who have supplied Catfish with a steady stream of work. Among its recent jobs are spots for Subaru, J.C. Penney, Bank of America, and Nationwide Insurance, all via Temerlin McClain, Irving, Texas; and a spate of projects for Foote, Cone & Belding (FCB), Chicago, for clients including Kraft, Sara Lee, Coors Light, Keebler, Tombstone Pizza, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Shout and Illinois Tourism. Additional credits include spots for Bud Light via DDB Chicago; McDonald’s and Dryel, both out of Leo Burnett Co., Chicago, and the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) via Fusion Idea Lab, Chicago.
In early January, Boyle and Raney were reunited with another former Com/track colleague-composer/ producer Gary Fry, who joined Catfish just as he is celebrating his 20th year in the commercial business. In addition to completing recent jobs for Kellogg’s and Nintendo, both via Leo Burnett, Fry composed 14 commissioned works for the Chicago Symphony and Chorus. He has also composed and produced six albums of children’s music for Warner Bros. and Kid Rhino Records.
Franklin Leonard and The Black List To Receive 2024 Gotham Awards Anniversary Tribute
Franklin Leonard and his company, the Black List, the platform dedicated to nurturing written storytelling and empowering writers to maximize their professional potential, will receive The Gotham Anniversary Tribute at the 34th annual Gotham Awards ceremony, taking place on Monday, December 2, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.
The Anniversary Tribute was created by The Gotham Film & Media Institute in order to recognize the major milestones and storied commitments of entertainmentโs most influential individuals. With the Anniversary Tribute, The Gotham will honor the 20th anniversary of the Black List, which has been dedicated to identifying and celebrating exceptional storytelling since it was first established by Leonard in 2005. Most recently, Mariska Hargitay received the Anniversary Tribute at the inaugural Gotham TV awards for her outstanding run on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
โWith the Black List, Franklin Leonard has undeniably reshaped Hollywood by elevating talented writers and remarkable projects. His commitment to nurturing emerging screenwriters and lowering barriers to entry for talent is one that resonates deeply with The Gotham and our values,โ said Jeffrey Sharp, executive director of The Gotham Film & Media Institute. โSo many of Hollywoodโs most beloved films, such as Juno, Slumdog Millionaire, and The Kingโs Speech, were all given a singular platform by the annual Black List that helped them get made. We are honored to present Franklin and the Black List with the Anniversary Tribute.โ
First established as an annual survey of Hollywoodโs most-liked unproduced screenplays, the Black List has since grown into a comprehensive resource for the film, TV,... Read More