Closenuf Brooklyn’s Premier Rock Band Wreckords Records Inc Brooklyn New York Indie Rock Band

Wreckords Records, Inc. was created in Brooklyn, NY in 1994 by Anthony J. Foti and Eric Blackwood (New York City singer/songwriters) to feature and track local New York musicians' releases. About a year after the company's inception, Eric left the firm to pursue other interests, leaving Anthony to run the company since. Wreckords Records is a recognized publishing firm of ASCAP and Anthony is a member both as a songwriter and the record company's president.

As President of Wreckords Records, Anthony studied at Pace University for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Studies (class of 1989, Summa Cum Laude, Valedictory graduate) receiving a Concentration in Musical Studies from its Dyson School of Arts and Sciences with a 4.0 G.P.A. This study included: history of jazz, history of rock and roll, music theory, songwriting and classical appreciation. Anthony has worked as a morning DJ for WPUB, 640 AM, guest starred on Manhattan College Radio, and formed the professional disc-jockey service, Skyline Sounds. He has been the President of TEMPO, Pace's music club, producing shows for charities including the United Way, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy and the Lighthouse for the Blind while performing for four years at the Schimmel Center for the Arts in Manhattan (home of James Lipton’s Inside the Actors Studio). As the president of TEMPO, he organized all musical events for the university: recruiting its talents, public relations, publicity, rehearsal and performance.

Personally, he has played the Village scene from the New Music Cafe to Kenny's Castaways, been featured on WWOR-TV UPN 9, had articles spotlighting his writing and performance appear in newspapers and magazines from New York to Switzerland, has been commissioned to sing the National Anthem at varied political fundraisers, including accompaniment by renown New York Yankees/Rangers organist Eddie Layton, has sat in, performing jazz classics, with Louie Prima's and Sammy Davis, Jr.'s legendary guitarist/mandolinist/trombonist Joe "Matty" Maranzino, and has worked with Terry King of Drifters and Temptations fame.

After graduation from college, the concentration of crafting this smaller Indie Label to produce independent albums for New York based acts went forward. Historically, the label has released work by the progressive acoustic duo “Blackwood & Foti,” Anthony's pop solo work, as well as the New York based singer/songwriter rock band, “CLOSENUF.”

The recordings of Wreckords Records have been offered solicitation by noted entertainment attorneys Eve Nelson (sister of Judd Nelson) and the firm of Jacobson & Colfin (attorneys for Toni Braxton and Johnny Winter), as well as CPI Talent Exposure Services, Amerecord Records, Rodell Records, Wright Stuff Records, Sexy Killer Records, ANTV, North Coast Stars, Nextposure, Octobertunes, Black Rose Productions, Bill Jerome Promotions, Pic Hitz Entertainment, and Big Noise Promotions, granting the label the opportunity to showcase for major labels.

Appearing on Wreckords Records releases are: Drummer Vinny Conigliaro (who has toured with Joe Lynn Turner and Joe Satriani), Guitarist Al Pitrelli (most noted for his work with Asia and Alice Cooper), Guitarist Jeff Munzert (from Jim Messina's troupe), Saxophonist 'Screamin' Steve Barlotta (musical director for Gary U.S. Bonds), Producer Dave Greenberg (background vocalist for Van Morrison and the leader of the Woodstock band Sly Boots), Producer Al Greenwood (keyboardist for Foreigner), Producer John Abbott (whose credits include Dionne Warwick and Jim Stafford), Producer Steve Jerome (whose credits include Neil Diamond, Simon and Garfunkel, The SugarHill Gang, The Left Banke, and many others), and Producer Steve 'Woody' La Cerra (EQ Magazine editor, and soundman for Blue Oyster Cult).

Noted accomplishments for this Indie Label include: on 9/14/94, Blackwood & Foti's version of Anthony's composition "In the Eyes of the Rose (The Jerome Mix)," was released through Bill Jerome Promotions as a single through the Gavin Report. For six weeks, against works by Eric Clapton, Richard Marx and Gloria Estefan, radio stations in Missouri, Wyoming, Kentucky, Georgia, South Dakota and Texas played it on their top 40 play list rotation; on 7/15/99, Anthony's solo version of his composition, "Music Man (The Barlotta Mix)," won Honorable Mention in the 9th Annual Billboard World Songwriting Contest; and in September 2004, Anthony was named a Semi-finalist in Disc Makers' Northeast Independent Music World Series.

In September 2001, Wreckords Records' latest effort, the New York based Singer/Songwriter Rock Band, CLOSENUF, was launched by the label performing live throughout the New York City area attracting a fan base from The Beatles to The Stones, from Dan Fogelberg to Billy Joel (aka “The CLOSENUF Corps”); a multigenerational love-fest of melody & good clean stage oriented Rock & Roll. In April 2005, they released their all original self-titled debut CD to appeal to all from the college kids to the baby boomers. This work was guided in the studio by EQ Magazine editor, and soundman for Blue Oyster Cult, Steve 'Woody' La Cerra, with whom the band continues to collaborate. Anthony penned 8 tracks including all new versions of his Fourword work, a New Age instrumental he plays all keyboards on, a spoken word track and 2 new tunes - one hard rock and one classic rockabilly. With this release, the band has become a staple on the New York City music scene being featured in publications from The Village Voice to 20th Century Guitar Magazine, has appeared on the Joey Reynolds Show on WWOR 710 AM national radio, and received a number of Garageband.com Reviewer Awards. On October 21st , 2005, CLOSENUF's version of “Music Man (The La Cerra Mix)” was placed on the ballot for nomination for a 2006 GRAMMY AWARD for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists! And on July 26th, 2006, CLOSENUF's music video was nominated by The Independent Music Conference Committee for the 2006 IMMIE Award (Independent Music Award) for Best Indie Music Video of the Year, and on August 17th 2006, by DigiFestival for an Absolute Winner 2006 Edition Award (ranking 7th overall in International Voting – in the top 6%), which Anthony conceptualized, story boarded and co-produced! Also in September 2006, members of CLOSENUF appeared on Philadelphia Radio on The Dr. Lou's House of Blues Radio Show on WNJC 1360 AM.

On November 6th , 2006, Wreckords Records & Pic Hitz Entertainment jointly released CLOSENUF music for U.S. National CHR/Pop (Contemporary Hit Radio) & AAA (Adult Album Alternative) airplay to radio stations coast to coast, with 3rd quarter 2006 and 1st quarter 2007 airplay resulting across New Mexico, Texas, Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia! On December 4th, 2006, CLOSENUF was asked to perform in The Original Sessions National Band Search Series Competition in NYC competing for 3 rounds! On February 10th, 2007, CLOSENUF was chosen to perform in The 2007 Goodstock Festival in July 2007 in Summersville, WV promoted by Artie Kornfeld of Woodstock fame. On March 12th, 2007, members of CLOSENUF filmed an interview to be aired summer 2007 on The Media Factory Show on PATV, Ch 15 in Enfield, CT. On May 25th, 2007, CLOSENUF was chosen to perform in The 14th Annual Long Island Music Festival run by Good Times Magazine. On July 2nd, 2007, CLOSENUF was asked to perform in the 2007 M.E.A.N.Y. Fest in NYC. During 2007, Wreckords Records with CLOSENUF proudly participated in (and in some instances coordinated) fundraisers to benefit Katrina Victims, & Cerebral Palsy & Organ Transplant Awareness raising thousands of dollars for the various causes.

In January 2008, Wreckords Records signed rights & clearances for usage of various CLOSENUF compositions from their Album for the Soundtrack Score, in the Spring 2008 Independent Film Festival Documentary Entry “American Pop Culture: Going Against the Grain.” On April 1st , 2008, CLOSENUF proudly co-sponsored (along with Prudential Insurance Co., and more) The 2008 Bay Currents Newspaper – YourNews.com Brooklyn Cutest Kid Contest. On May 1st, 2008, CLOSENUF was requested to participate in The 2008 Make Music New York Festival co-sponsored by Time Out New York Magazine; and on May 26th, 2008, Wreckords Records proudly co-sponsored with RockCanRoll (a hunger relief organization collaborating with rock concerts to collect canned and non-perishable food for local food pantries) an outdoor CLOSENUF Concert at The Woodstock Trading Company's Great Lawn in Cherry Hill, NJ to benefit local agencies that assist families who live with hunger or in poverty. And on July 23rd, 2008, CLOSENUF was chosen as Semi-Finalists in Disc Makers' Northeast Independent Music World Series making Anthony's second appearance in this competition at this level!

Like most projects of such extended life, some member shifts are inevitable, but on the 15th anniversary of the record label, we celebrate with its latest June 2009 LP release, “CLOSENUF…to a new beginning,” it captures all of Anthony’s writing & lead vocals from the band’s established repertoire, as well as new selections with the fresh sounds of the current line-up (as always, all talented NY Musicians in their own right), as well as alternate mixes of fan favorites with special guest players. In August 2009, Mojo Alt 94.1FM Radio 2 in Macedonia, Europe started spinning tracks regularly from the release, and on September 27th, 2009, through promotional efforts with an over 10 year relationship with Big Noise Promotions, 2 cuts “Alive Forever (The Jerome Mix)” and “At Night (The La Cerra Mix)” were both simultaneously Placed on the Ballot for Nomination for a 2010 GRAMMY AWARD for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals, the project's second & third placement as Grammy Ballot Entrants in under 4 years! Check out the EPK to end all EPKs, www.closenuf.com for info on the latest line-up, photos, news & appearance schedules.

They write it, they play it, they rock it! Musical Perfection? CLOSENUF!

Wreckords Records, Brooklyn's own label, awaits the investment and backing of the majors to launch its current artists into a future both fiscally and musically beneficial to all parties involved.