Legendary bass player Tony Newton will be featured in new sample library, covering styles from his early days at Motown in Detroit up to his late fusion and rock recordings.

Saturday, January 17, 2009 -- NAMM, Anaheim, California -- At a press conference today, Art Vista Productions is to announce GrooveMaster – the Tony Newton Bass Recordings – an extensive groove loop sample library featuring the legendary bass player, whose career spans the golden years of American R&B, fusion and rock era, including the early blues years with John Lee Hooker and Little Walter (whose life’s story recently was chronicled in the movie "Cadillac Records"), the Motown years in Detroit, his tenure as Musical Director for Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, and his later recordings with The Tony Williams Lifetime and guitarist Gary Moore.

All media is invited to meet Tony Newton at the press conference which will be held at the press room at Anaheim’s convention center today, Saturday, January 17, at 1pm. The Press Room is located in the lobby outside Halls A & B.

Newton was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and began his professional career at the tender age of thirteen, playing bass guitar with blues legends John Lee Hooker, T-Bone Walker, Little Walter and other classic artists on the urban blues circuit. Newton was discovered by Motown executive Hank Cosby while playing in Detroit blues clubs at the age of 18. He was asked to replace James Jamerson as touring bassist with Smokey Robinson and the Miracles so that Jamerson could concentrate on studio recording exclusively. Within two years, Newton became Music Director. He also toured with other Motown artists such as Diana Ross and the Supremes, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Four Tops, Temptations, Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, Spinners, and others. While at Motown playing from time to time with the "Funk Brothers", he left his trademark of solid, hard driving, and deftly clever grooves on such timeless hits as "Where Did Our Love Go", "Baby Love", "Stop In The Name Of Love", "Nowhere to Run", "ABC", "Never Can Say Goodbye", "Don't Leave Me This Way", and many others. A little known fact is that Newton and James Jamerson played together as two basses on these Motown hits. Newton was also the bassist for the famed 1965 European Motown Review tour.

Newton recorded and toured with rock, pop and R&B's most celebrated figures in and outside of Motown -- Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Little Richard and many others. As staff bassist for the talented songwriting-producing team Holland-Dozier-Holland and their Invictus-Hotwax label, Newton played on several hits for artists, Freda Payne, 100 Proof, 8th Day, and others. He also played on the classic hits of other Detroit recording labels, including Stax Records’ "The Dramatics, What You See is What You Get," "Johnny Taylor's, Part Time Lover", and more. Later, he gained recognition as one of the founding fathers of fusion, as bassist-composer-vocalist in the acclaimed jazz-rock fusion group: "The Tony Williams Lifetime", penning the fusion classics "Snake Oil", and "Red Alert". He was also a member of the British hard rock group "G-Force" with veteran guitarist Gary Moore.

ART VISTA PRODUCTIONS is known for Virtual Grand Piano 2, a stand-alone piano software which emulates the sounds of famous piano recordings of all genres from the 1950’s up until today. Art Vista is also known for its sampled instrument, Malmsjö Acoustic Grand, which can be heard on film scores throughout the world. Art Vista’s Cool Vibes is the only sampled instrument to truthfully capture a vibraphone with the motor engaged.

Hans Adamson, developer and co-founder of Art Vista Productions says, "We don’t know the price point yet for GrooveMaster, but we hope to deliver a product in line with Art Vista’s philosophy of producing the highest quality and value for a price affordable and accessible to all segments of the market."

For more information, please visit: http://www.artvista.net/

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