Joon Walker

After 2 years of diligent work, Rodney Stepp and Joon Walker have put the finishing touches on Joon's debut album JOON. After listening to it, we believe that this is Rodney's best production work to-date. The album features nine tracks which include a nice range of moods with a couple stepping tracks, a few sultry ballads, a few production masterpieces and an inspirational song that transcends religious boundaries.

Promotion will start with the lead single "Watch You Walk Away" which is a fun playful song about the view of beautiful women as she walks out of grasp. We plan on dropping this tune in early October 2012 with a music video coming soon after the songs release.

The album will drop in the Summer of 2013 so stay tuned to all the updates and promotional material to follow. DJReggi D. caught up with Joon recently in Indianapolis to talk about his latest release. - IC Indy Magazine

Joon Walker releases the first single When I Watch You Walk Away off of his self-titled debut album JOON. “When I Watch You Walk Away” is an up-tempo, sexy groove about the pleasure-filled experience of seeing a beautiful woman walking out of view.
Song Link: http://bit.ly/WhenIWatchYouWalkAway
Joon Walker has recorded an adult-contemporary classic executive produced by award-winning former Spinners musical director Rodney Stepp. He has assembled a band of some of the most renowned musicians in the nation, creating a live show experience reminiscent of the Greats.
THE BAND

Hollis Yogi Ford (Drummer for the OJays)

Jon Wood (Bass for Teena Marie)

Orlando Jones (Guitar for Ray Charles)

Kenny Simms (Keys for Aretha Franklin)
Joons album displays his artful range with a nice balance of stepping-tunes, sultry ballads, and inspirational songs. He even leads guitar solos on a few tracks, rounding out this production masterpiece.
I would say my music is about falling in love, staying in love, being in a love that goes bad, and falling in love all over again. Joon
The 60-year old performer has been on the stage his entire life performing other artists material, but now he is expressing his own feelings and has his own stories to tell. Now retired from his day job and 12-year long cover band career, Joon is primed to step out on his own and pursue his musical dreams.
Download When I Watch You Walk Away now at https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/joonwalker
Joon Walker’s debut album is anticipated for release in Summer 2013. - Cover The Cover

Joon Walker releases the first single When I Watch You Walk Away off of his self-titled debut album JOON. “When I Watch You Walk Away” is an up-tempo, sexy groove about the pleasure-filled experience of seeing a beautiful woman walking out of view.
Song Link: http://bit.ly/WhenIWatchYouWalkAway
Joon Walker has recorded an adult-contemporary classic executive produced by award-winning former Spinners musical director Rodney Stepp. He has assembled a band of some of the most renowned musicians in the nation, creating a live show experience reminiscent of the Greats.
THE BAND

Hollis Yogi Ford (Drummer for the OJays)

Jon Wood (Bass for Teena Marie)

Orlando Jones (Guitar for Ray Charles)

Kenny Simms (Keys for Aretha Franklin)
Joons album displays his artful range with a nice balance of stepping-tunes, sultry ballads, and inspirational songs. He even leads guitar solos on a few tracks, rounding out this production masterpiece.
I would say my music is about falling in love, staying in love, being in a love that goes bad, and falling in love all over again. Joon
The 60-year old performer has been on the stage his entire life performing other artists material, but now he is expressing his own feelings and has his own stories to tell. Now retired from his day job and 12-year long cover band career, Joon is primed to step out on his own and pursue his musical dreams.
Download When I Watch You Walk Away now at https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/joonwalker
Joon Walker’s debut album is anticipated for release in Summer 2013. - Cover The Cover

On schedule next year to release his first album since 1997, Rodney Stepp, 58, is ready to take his contemporary jazz sound wherever there’s a demand.

He retired from his spokesman job with the U.S. Postal Service at the end of 2008, opening his calendar for music. Stepp’s 2011 also includes albums he’s producing for male R&B vocalist Joon and female pop singer Abri Mills.

“The timing is perfect,” Stepp said. “I can go promote my music, where I couldn’t before.”

He’s aiming for visits to Europe and Japan, places he performed during the 1970s as part of the backing band for chart-topping vocal group the Spinners. Stepp traveled the world with the group known for hits “I’ll Be Around” and “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love.” Today, he refers to the Spinners’ participation in Zaire 74, a music festival in conjunction with the Muhammad Ali-George Foreman “Rumble in the Jungle” title fight, as the “biggest thrill.”

The Jackson 5 offered Stepp a spot in its touring band in the mid-’70s, and he says it was a mistake to not make the jump.

“My work ethic was phenomenal,” Stepp said. “I breathed, ate and slept music. I just believe Michael and I would have clicked creatively.”

Similar to the late King of Pop, Stepp started his music career at as a young age. He began piano lessons before he entered kindergarten, and he was a teen when he recorded a single as a member of the Diplomatics.

He grew up west of Crispus Attucks High School on Brooks Street, which now serves as the name of Stepp’s recording studio on the Northside. While attending Attucks, he played saxophone under the guidance of noted instructor Russell Brown.

“Even as kids, people would tell us, ‘You’ll never make it,’ ” Stepp said. “But my mother and father were my two biggest fans. They really believed in what I was doing.”

Stepp, who also plays keyboards in popular cover band the Flying Toasters, is onstage Thursday through Saturday most weeks. Not unlike his tenure with the Spinners, he isn’t front and center with the Toasters — who spotlight 20-year-old vocalist Paige Richie.

“I’ve always said, ‘I don’t care who knows me, as long as my banker knows me,’ ” Stepp said. - Indianapolis Metromix

Jamaican born guitarist, composer and producer Perry Tole, has just completed the final touches on his new album “ Flight of the Eagle.” The CD showcases Tole’s considerable abilities as a guitarist and composer. Tole’s sound is a unique blend of reggae, with subtle undertones of soft rock and dub fusion supported by staccato rhythms and haunting melodies.

The captivating instrumentals on the album originate from the Caribbean culture of his Jamaican homeland. As a child, his first musical experiences came from the jukebox at his mother’s restaurant. Inspired by fellow lefty Jimi Hendrix, Perry picked up the guitar at age 16. He completed formal studies at the Jamaica School of Music and went on to join noted Jamaican reggae/rock fusion band “ Native” whose seminal album “ Black Tracks” received critical acclaim.

On ‘Flight of the Eagle” Tole demonstrates the full range of his compositional skills and his devotion to melody. “A song is a picture and I want the picture to portray a certain feeling, a certain mood. I pay attention to how everything fits into that picture.”

Tole’s music is not easily compartmentalized. While some of his songs fit into the smooth Jazz mold, many of his compositions escape convention flavored with the reggae-rock energy that is a feature of his sound. An ingredient he calls “danceability”

The aggressive title track provides evidence of Tole’s technical skills and signature tone. The mood shifts dramatically in the hauntingly beautiful track” Don’t Walk Away” that could almost be described as a "Lovers Rock" instrumental. The pulsating Ska tempo heard on the track “Summer Nights” adds another twist to this wonderfully refreshing work. Throughout it all, Tole’s signature guitar work is in evidence, filled with energy and passion.

Perry plays and writes solo but performs live as a duo with drummer, Patrick Guynn.

The South Florida music scene is hoping that Perry will be performing here in the not too distant future. The CD will be released on November 23 and will be published by the company Simple Life Soul (BMI) .The singles “ Flight of the Eagle” and “Don’t Walk Away” are already available on iTunes and amazon.com.Lovers of good instrumental music will not be disappointed in this passionate and creative work. - The Examiner

His passionate, rich instrumentals originate from the Caribbean culture of his Jamaican homeland. Perry Tole’s sound is a unique mix of reggae with undertones of rock and dub fusion supported by staccato drum beats and captivating melodies. It is a sound that is truly his own.

Growing up in Jamaica, Perry was surrounded by music starting at a young age. As a child, his first musical influences came from the jukebox at his mother’s restaurant. The sounds of reggae, R&B and country music were familiar to him, and in high school he began exploring the range of the rock genre. Inspired by Jimi Hendrix and Cat Stevens, Perry first picked up the guitar at age 16.

Perry's love for making music led him to the Jamaica School of Music, where he became part of the progressive rock-reggae band, Native. Perry was with Native for four years and in that time recorded three albums with the group as lead guitarist: Native, Native – In a Strange Land, and Native – New World.

After separating from the group, Perry started a jingle production company and a few years later after being stifled by the politics in his home country, Perry came to the United States. He settled in Indiana near close friends and has been writing and producing his own music since.

As a solo instrumentalist, Perry Tole adeptly plays a wide variety of instruments but his instrument of choice, his love, his forte is the electric guitar. Perry is a musical visionary. “I am driven by melody,” Perry says. “A song is a picture, and I want that picture to portray a certain feeling, a certain mood. I pay attention to how everything fits into that picture.” While some of Perry’s songs easily fit within the smooth jazz and easy listening model, many of his songs escape convention, with the reggae-rock energy that give his sound, as he calls it, “dancability.”

Perry currently plays and writes solo, but performs live as a duo with drummer, Patrick Guynn. Perry hopes to see his music reach as many people as possible. Perry Tole’s debut album “Flight of the Eagle” is set to release on November 22, 2010. - IndyStyle.TV

NEW YORK—Simple Life Records hosted a music showcase, "Emerge," this Wednesday at the Taj Lounge in Manhattan to launch their latest label division Simple Life Soul.

The Indianapolis-based label added a branch consisting of jazz, adult contemporary, and world to its established repertoire of Hip Hop and R&B.

“We found that there was a brand disconnect, so we created a new division,” said Courtney Stepp, the communication and events manager for Simple Life.

Stepp says that Simple Life Records is about creating music that “mentors the soul. Music you can relate to, that speaks to everybody’s life.”

“The ambiance is different,” says Stepp. She says there’s a friendly energy.

“We’re very family oriented, and down to earth.”

The hip hop on the Simple Life label has a unique Midwestern vibe, offering a sound that is not typical on the radio.

Stepp says they chose to have the new branch launch in New York to really reach the market. “We want to get more people aware, build networks and let them know about the fantastic music we have. New York has a lot to offer.”

The next step for Simple Life Records will be to take the label back to Indianapolis. They will be busy preparing for the Indiana Black Expo at the end of July and planning album releases for artists in the fall.
- The Epoc Times