“Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. A song makes you feel a thought.” - E. Y. Harburg

November 20, 2006

NAMES & FACES: Aretha's new tune!

Detroit's Harmonie Park Music recorded Aretha Franklin's vocals for the uplifting rendition of "Never Gonna Break My Faith," written by Bryan Adams for the "Bobby" movie soundtrack.

"Bobby" focuses on the day in 1968 when presidential hopeful Sen. Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated. The song is a duet with Mary J. Blige.

Michael J. Powell and Mark Pastoria recorded Franklin's vocals at the Harmonie Park studios downtown two weeks ago. Brian Pastoria, Mark's bro, says the hope is that the only major music award Franklin has never been associated with -- a best song Oscar -- might come with the new tune.

The movie's soundtrack album, which hits stores Tuesday, has a heavy Motown leaning with tunes from Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, the Supremes, and Marvin Gaye.

DETROIT’S OWN MARK PASTORIA WINS GRAMMY FOR WORK WITH ARETHA FRANKLIN…AFTER THE FACT.

- May 5, 2006
They say “GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT”…in Mark Pastoria’s case you can add “EVEN WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT!”

For the past 25 years Detroit’s own Mark Pastoria has been behind the scenes doing brilliant work with legendary artists like Aretha Franklin and writing and producing music branding campaigns for major corporations like McDonald’s for his company Harmonie Park. He is a Songwriter, Producer, Engineer, Entrepreneur, and now… Grammy Award Winner!

Mark’s work with legendary producer Arif Mardin on Aretha Franklin’s“A House is not a Home” turned out to be the biggest surprise of his career. The song, from the Luther Vandross tribute album, was recorded by Mark at the Harmonie Park Studio via an ISDN connection to Arif Mardin in a New York studio.

It wasn’t until 2 months after the Grammy Ceremony, where Ms. Franklin won for “Best R&B Vocal Performance”, did he find out that he too shared in the award. The Grammy office in L.A. tracked Mark down at his studio and offices in Harmonie Park to let him know that he and Mr. Mardin, also were given a Grammy for their work with Ms. Franklin. According NARAS, the society for the Grammy Awards, the engineer and producer are also awarded Grammy’s for their contribution in the “Best Vocal” categories.

“It was a complete and total surprise when the call came from the Grammy office and I was very excited to hear the great news” Mark said. “I have been blessed to work with some great people in our business, and working with such legendary artists like Ms. Franklin and Arif Mardin is an incredible opportunity that I will never forget. This was totally unexpected and I am grateful to have played a role on some legendary work with great people.

”It brings validation for someone who has done so much great work with so many people in his career, and it is an honor long over due and well deserved. Duke Fakir of The Four Tops who has worked with Mark over the years comments, “Mark Pastoria is one of the great undiscovered writers and producers around. Hopefully this award will be the first of many for this incredibly talented young man AND good friend of ours!

”Congratulations to Mark Pastoria, another great music success story from a city that has one of the greatest music legacy’s on the planet…DETROIT! “GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT…EVEN WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT”…and you can add “GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE!!”

Mark Pastoria validates that!!

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