About Out The Box Records

Music is the heartbeat we share

Born out of frustration with the big box record labels, with their egos, their tired "formulas", their impersonal and political environments, Out The Box Records is the future model —

We find talented artists, embrace them and help them achieve their dreams through support from our entrepreneurial management team of rock solid music industry icons.

The internet and the digital platform have changed how consumers listen to their music. Radio and to cd's endure, yet fans increasingly enjoy an interactive, one to one music experience that builds even deeper relationships with their favorite artists. OTB is leveraging the trend—for the artists, for the music, for the world.

We are "Out The Box"

About Our Team

As a lifelong musician and accomplished bass player, Timm's passion for music and strong people skills combined with his entrepreneurial spirit has put Out The Box Records on the leading edge of independent record labels.

Timm was a touring musician in the late seventies in Harvey Mandel's band shortly after Harvey's stint with Canned Heat and the Rolling Stones and continued playing through the next decade. This gives him a musician's perspective, and the foundation for his drive to form new, positive artist relationships, blending his feeling for the music and its' creators.

A nimble entrepreneur, Timm, has successfully established multiple companies and managed them from start up, through growth to consistent profitability. Armed with solid business experience and a new vision for the music industry, Timm is developing Out The Box Records as the new model for the music industry.

RED is widely recognized as the industry leader in independent distribution and artist development. A division of Sony BMG Music Entertainment, RED handles sales and marketing for 47 independent record labels, as well as repertoire from parent company Sony BMG. Recent RED success stories have included many RIAA Certified Gold and Platinum artists, including Matisyahu, Jason Aldean, Elliott Yamin, and Hawthorne Heights. RED has been named Distributor of the Year/Medium Division two of the past three years by the National Association of Retail Merchandisers (NARM). RED's marketing outreach, including online lifestyle network www.GEN79.com, is unsurpassed in generating fan excitement an building awareness for artists and marketing partners.

Red Distribution
79 Fifth Avenue, 15th Fl.
New York, NY 10003
Telephone: (212) 404-0600

Joel Weinstein represents a broad spectrum of high-profile clients successful in all areas of the music industry, including recording artists, songwriters, record producers, and both independent and major record companies and music publishers.

Mr. Weinstein provides transactional and advisory services concerning business development, the creation of new enterprises, music publishing, distribution, talent management, merchandising, licensing, financing, and copyright acquisition. In offering counsel on all matters related to performing, Mr. Weinstein also advises on all aspects of show production and touring.

A Web pioneer, Steve has earned great success online, building new methods and bringing new teams together to make it happen. He was co-founder of one of the first Web development firms in Chicago, launching Webs for the Fortune 100. Online since 1985, Hausheer developed a special expertise in online market development and now helps guide OTB's digital marketing direction.

Mr. Hausheer has two decades of experience earned on both the client and agency sides of marketing. He is a veteran of several leading direct marketing agencies and companies, as well as former owner of his own dm agency.

Steve is an active volunteer in the direct and interactive marketing communities as a speaker, teacher, and author. Since 1997, he has been an Adjunct faculty member of DePaul University College of Commerce teaching Internet Marketing Strategy.

Out The Box Artists

Chicago Blues Reunion Band

CHICAGO BLUES REUNION is a collaboration of Chicago music legends who defined the sound of their generation in the 1960's. The band is a who's who of blues lovers' household names: Barry Goldberg, Nick "The Greek" Gravenites, Harvey "The Snake" Mandel, Marcy Levy, Sam Lay, Corky Siegel, with backing by band of top flight pros including Gary Malaber, Rick Reed and Zach Wagner. These legends have joined forces to produce BURIED ALIVE IN THE BLUES, a two disc set (audio CD & 60 minute DVD) from Out The Box Records. This set is a lasting document of their musical and cultural legacy showcased in a kick ass performance recorded live! Check out CBR's site at http://ChicagoBluesReunionBand.com/

Harvey Mandel

Harvey "TheSnake" Mandel is among the most innovative guitarists to emerge from the Chicago blues scene of the late 1960s. His career began at Twist City and other local hotspots, sharing stages with Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and Buddy Guy. He came up in that scene alongside Charlie Musselwhite, Mike Bloomfield, Barry Goldberg and Steve Miller, leading to an invitation from Bill Graham to open for Cream at San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium in August 1967. Mandel was a member of Canned Heat, appearing with them at Woodstock. He played on numerous John Mayall albums, and on the Rolling Stones' 1975 LP Black and Blue ("Hot Stuff", "Memory Motel"), having auditioned for Mick Taylor's job, which ultimately went to Ron Wood. Known for his "tapping" technique and sinewy, sustain-driven phrasing (thus his nickname, "The Snake"), Mandel's solo albums such as Cristo Redentor, Baby Batter and Righteous have been sampled and drooled over by guitar geeks, DJ's, and fans of funky, soulful, otherworldly composition. Check out Harvey's sige at https://harveymandel.com/

Barry Goldberg

Along with Mike Bloomfield, Paul Butterfield and Harvey Mandel, Barry was one of the young white Chicago blues players that came up in the wake of Gravenites. Primarily an organ player, he played in twist bands, rival band to Butterfield and Bloomfield's, formed the Goldberg Miller (Steve) Blues Band in 1965 and was part of Charlie Musselwhites's South Side Sound System debut "Stand Back." His funky organ is heard on Mitch Ryder's "Devil with a Blue Dress" and with Dylan at Newport, the day he went electric, in 1965. He helped Bloomfield form the Electric Flag in 1967 with Gravenites and an unknown Buddy Miles. Over the year Goldberg has recorded a ton of sessions with everyone from Duane Allman and Phil Spector to Neil Young and Bob Dylan. Check out Barry's site http://www.barrygoldbergmusic.com/

Nick Gravenites

Nick Gravenites Nicholas George Gravenites (with stage names like Nick "The Greek" Gravenites and Gravy) is a blues, rock and folk singer–songwriter, and is best known for his work with Janis Joplin, Mike Bloomfield and several influential bands and names of the generation springing from the 1960s and 1970s. Gravenites was also a songwriter for the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, which consisted of Elvin Bishop, Paul Butterfield, Sam Lay and Michael Bloomfield, then formed The Electric Flag with Butterfield guitarist Mike Bloomfield. Gravenites wrote the score for The Trip, produced the music for the movie Steelyard Blues. He produced the pop hit "One Toke Over the Line" for Brewer & Shipley and the album Right Place, Wrong Time for Otis Rush, for which he was nominated for a Grammy Award. Gravenites was inducted to the Blues Hall of Fame in 2003 for his song "Born In Chicago". He recently toured with the Chicago Blues Reunion and a new Electric Flag Band. Check out Nick's site http://nickgravenites.com/

Corky Siegel

Mark Paul "Corky" Siegel is a singer-songwriter, and composer and plays harmonica and piano. He plays and writes blues and blues-rock music, and has worked extensively on combining blues and classical music. He is best known as the co-leader of the Siegel-Schwall Band, and Chamber Blues group. Corky's music career began in 1964, when he met guitarist Jim Schwall while attending Roosevelt University in Chicago. The two landed a regular gig at Pepper's Lounge, where Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy and Sam Lay would often sit in. The duo became a quartet, the Siegel-Schwall Band, touring nationally and releasing twelve albums. In 1968 classical conductor Seiji Ozawa brought the Siegel-Schwall Band and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra together to perform "Three Pieces for Blues Band and Symphony Orchestra", by William Russo. Two recordings with the San Francisco Symphony were released. Corky formed Chamber Blues in 1988, and since has released four critically acclaimed albums. Siegel still tours nationally and internationally, working on numerous projects including the Chicago Blues Reunion Band. Check out Corky's site at https://CorkyMusic.com

Dave Mason

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dave Mason's career spans nearly half a century and encompasses producing, performing and writing. Fans and critics alike hail Dave as one of the most talented songwriters and guitarists in the world - which is why he is still performing over 100 shows a year to sold-out crowds. Mason has been playing guitar most of his life. By 15, Dave had founded two bands. At 18, he teamed up with Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood to form the legendary band Traffic. At 19, Mason penned the rock anthem "Feelin' Alright", first recorded by Traffic and then covered by dozens of other artists (including Joe Cocker), cemented both Dave's and Traffic's legacy. Mason left Traffic in 1969 to pursue a solo career in the US. Dave has penned over 100 songs, has 3 gold albums: Alone Together, Dave Mason and Mariposa De Oro and a platinum album Let it Flow, which contained the top-ten single "We Just Disagree". In 2008 he released 26 Letters, 12 Notes on Out The Box Records. Dave, a prolific artist in his own right, has collaborated with an enviable list of the who's who in the music industry… Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, Rita Coolidge, Delaney & Bonnie, Leon Russell, Ron Wood, Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, and Jim Capaldi. When Dave is not touring, he spends his time writing and producing music in his home studio, as well as tirelessly supporting philanthropic efforts for Rock Our Vets, a non-profit he co-founded. Check out Dave's site https://www.davemasonmusic.com/

Freddy Jones Band

One of America's premier roots rock acts, Freddy Jones Band (named after a cartoon figure) is fronted by the founding member, guitarist, Marty Lloyd, and joined by an all-star lineup of well known veteran musicians, bassist - Rich Ross, guitarist - Stu Miller and drummer -Goose LaPoint. This long-running act brings a mix of Southern rock and blues producing number-one singles such as "In a Daydream", "Take the Time", and "Those Diamonds". From 1993-1999, they had 5 major label releases including Waiting for the Night (1993), self-titled independent release The Freddy Jones Band (1993), North Avenue Wake Up Call (1995), Lucid (1997), and Mile High Live (1999). The band played nearly 200-250 shows annually for about 8 years. The band returned in 2005 with Time Well Wasted. The thirteen track album on Out The Box Records. In 2019 released "Never Change", an album described as "euphoric" by the band's lead singer/songwriter Marty Lloyd. Currently, Freddy Jones Band is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of, "In a Daydream." Check out their site https://www.freddyjonesbandofficial.com/

Music is the heartbeat we share

Out The Box Photo Gallery

OTB News

"Born In Chicago" feature-length documentary film , ten years in the making, to be released soon

July 24, 2019: OTB Editor
Includes fascinating archival footage mixed with contemporary performances

Born In Chicago is the soulful documentary film that tells the story of middle class white kids who learned to play and live the blues directly from its most legendary practitioners. Icons of the blues, including Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, passed the musical torch to a coterie of unlikely next generation admirers, among whom were Paul Butterfield and Michael Bloomfield, who, in turn, spread the music most closely identified with Chicago around the world and back again. These young acolytes' journey in the early 1960s from suburbs and well-to-do neighborhoods into the ghetto, seeking the blues at its source, truly launched thousands of bands over the years and kept the blues a vital musical force into the current century.

Born In Chicago includes performance and interview footage, vintage and current including on screen appearances from by Elvin Bishop, Michael Bloomfield, Eric Burdon, Paul Butterfield, Marshall Chess, Bob Dylan, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Harvey Mandel, Steve Miller, Charlie Musselwhite, Keith Richards, Jim Schwall, Hubert Sumlin and Jack White. The film includes blazing performances by Chicago Blues Reunion, Goldberg, Mandel Gravenites, Mandel and Siegel's touring group, the latter day embodiment of the "bluesquake" movement begat by the intersection of those young kids and first generation blues masters almost fifty years earlier.

Music is the heartbeat we share