Judges

Festival4stars

International Songwriting Judges

Robin Gibb (Guest Celebrity Judge)

Robin Gibb CBE has become the first official ambassador of The Outward Bound Trust which Festival4stars is supporting this year. We are delighted to welcome him as a guest judge at the International Songwriting Finals & Awards Dinner. Robin started performing with his brothers Barry and Maurice at the age of 6. At 16 he also started writing songs and singing lead. With a unique voice, his vibrato is a trademark of the Bee Gees sound. He sings lead on many Bee Gees songs such as ‘I started a joke,’ ‘Massachusetts,’ ‘I’ve gotta get a message to you’, ‘And the sun will shine’, ‘Run to me,’ ‘For whom the bell tolls,’ just to name a few. Apart from working with the Bee Gees, Robin has released six solo albums and a dvd, and is the only Bee Gee who has had No 1 Hits singing solo

John McLaughlin (Guest Celebrity Judge)

Has written and produced for artists such as Westlife (No.1), Busted (No.1), Sandi Thom (No.1, Pro), Blue, Five (BMI million airplay award, USA ‘When the Lights Go Out’), Mark Owen (Take That), 911 (5 Top 5 hits), ITV ‘Ministry of Mayhem’ (Theme Tune), Ian McCulloch (Solo Album), Echo & the Bunnymen new album (The Fountain) and Shane MacGowan (The Pogues). John also had a very successful run as songwriting mentor on the BBC’s Fame Academy in 2002 & 2003 coaching both winners, David Sneddon and Alex Parks. As well as his BMI award, John also holds a European Airplay ward for David Charvet’s ‘Leap of Faith’, a Great Scot Award for contributions to Music and a Radio Clyde Award in recognition for his huge success in pop music over the years.

Erika Lee

A freelance music industry professional, working with topline production companies and publishers such as . . Galtline Studio’s LA, currently producing multi platinum artists such as Kate Voegele . . Interscope, Matt Natheson, Marc Broussard, Elliot Yarmin. Stargate/ Dsign Trondheim Norway, Robin Jenssen produced hits for artists like Blue, Atomic Kitten, Jessica Simpson, Rhianna, Beyonce. Ruffhouse Platinum Island Entertainment, San Diego Steven Stone The Fugees, Lauren Hill, Kriss Kross, Phantom4music Ontario Canada working with tv shows such as MTV, Laguna Beach, with song placements in many blockbuster movies and popular tv shows. En2go Entertainments Las Vegas and LA Tolga Katas, Ted Cohen, Paul Fishkin Nokia Music Steven Stewart Music Supervisor Jason Nevins Globally revered hit producer with many multi platinum hit record remixes Stevie Lange & Wicked Music . . top London based Rock School and production company www.myspace.com/leeandco

Stuart Newton

A successful publisher who has created hits in the UK, Europe and the USA, with such artists as the Sugarbabes, Emma Bunton, Rod Stewart, Zuchero plus he created the successful international recording group Mike and the Mechanics. Stuart has worked with Chris Neil producer of Celine Dion and Mike and the Mechanics and more recently with Steve Mac who has written and produced tracks for Westlife, Ronan Keating, Kelly Clarkson and the this year’s (2007) first No1 with Leona Lewis. In all cases these acts have HITS, because of the quality of the songs they write and record, good promotion and “a little bit of luck”…

Jonathan Shalit

Jonathan Shalit, 44, is regarded as one of the most exciting impresarios in the UK – working in all areas of the entertainment industry as both a highly regarded Manager of talent in Music and Television, and running his own Music Production and Publishing company. Jonathan has recorded some of the greatest artists in the world. The pivotal moment of Jonathan’s entertainment career was when he re-discovered the late legendary harmonica player Larry Adler, with who he produced a huge selling Gershwin tribute album with Sir George ‘Beatles’ Martin recording artists such Cher, Chris de Burgh, Elton John, Jon Bon Jovi, Peter Gabriel, Sinead O’Connor and Sting. Charlotte Church is the artist Jonathan is best known for discovering in 1997, from where he guided her to being the biggest selling British singer in the world, selling over 7 million CDs. Jonathan’s association with Charlotte took her from local school concerts to starring at the Hollywood Bowl, TV shows across America, the world and into the Guinness Book of Records Picture: Judge Jonathan Shalit with winner Martin Goddard.

Nicky Graham

Songwriter / Music Producer / Publisher / Artist Manager/ and A&R Executive.

Born in Durban South Africa, the son of a renowned Ballet Teacher Nancy Graham, who was involved in many theatrical Productions throughout Nicky’s formative years. The family returned to the UK in 1960, where he finished his education at Kingston School of Art, a hot bed of musical activity.

Nicky’s career started in the 1965 when his band The End was discovered by Bill Wyman and subsequently toured with the Stones.  He progressed through cult band Tucky Buzzard, who toured America with the likes of the Grand Funk Railroad and Deep Purple.  Before giving up life on the road, Nicky played keyboards with David Bowie’s Spiders from Mars during the Ziggy Stardust UK tour.                                   

Nicky then began a successful career as Staff Producer/A&R Manager first at Polydor Records, then a 10 year run at CBS Records where he Produced, among others, The Nolans ( 2 million album sales), David Essex, Barbara Dickson and Bonnie Tyler. He also Produced the cast albums of many musicals including the Original London Cast Recording of ‘Annie’.

In 1984 he went freelance, producing and writing albums for such varied artistes as Andy Williams (USA), Pedrito Fernandez (Mexico) and Matt Moffitt (Australia). In 1986 he discovered BROS for whom he wrote When Will I Be Famous, the No 1 single I Owe You Nothing and 2 albums which sold over 5 million copies.  All of their singles were multi-platinum world-wide.

More successes were Let Loose, whose single Crazy for You was double platinum as well as their Platinum Debut Album ‘Let Loose’.  Nicky also put Ant & Dec on the map by taking them from Byker Grove and on to the Pop Stage, writing and producing the double platinum selling Psyche album ( PJ & Duncan aka), including the hit singles Let’s Get Ready to Rhumble / Eternal Love / Why Me / If I Give You My number and Our Radio Rocks.

In 2001 Nicky became a Consultant to Sony Music where he was Director of A&R whilst retaining his Publishing and Production companies and continuing to serve the pop writing community for the past 12 years by his directorship of the PRS. During his return to A&R he signed platinum act The OperaBabes, Dame Shirley Bassey for her 50th Anniversary Album. He Produced Andy Williams duet with Denise Van Outen ‘Can’t Take My Eyes off You’ and   the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Album from the Hit BBC Series featuring Bruce Forsyth. He also Produced Shakin’ Stevens latest album  and Wrote and Produced Julio Iglesias for his latest English Language album.

Other recent projects outside of Sony have been Darius ( Pop Idol ) No 1 Single ‘Colourblind’ and platinum album ‘Dive In’ as well as Sinead Quinn ( Fame Academy ) No 2 single ‘ I Can’t Breakdown ‘ all for Mercury Records, Triple 8 for Polydor and Katie Price and Peter Andre’s album ‘A Whole New World’.

Nicky has been the A&R Consultant to the BBC on Eurovision for 2003 to 2005 and 2008 working with Jessica Garlick/ James Fox / Javine and Andy Abraham.

Nicky is currently working on a new Act called ‘Punch+Judys’ with Tom Watkins ( Pet Shop Boys/Bros/ E17) for release Autumn 2009.

20th Century Boy – The Musical, about the Life of Marc Bolan is complete and Nicky has written the Libretto. The Show begins a UK Tour in Feb 2010 and It is hoped to stage the musical in the West End in the Autumn of 2010.

Other projects include recording an album with Lee Mead Autumn 2009.

Stevie Vann Lange

Stevie Vann Lange is a famous vocalcoach. Stevie has worked with KT Tunstall, Blue, Joe Elliot (Def Leopard) Girls Aloud, Pharrell Williams, Robbie Williams, Sugababes, Justin Hawkins, Steps, Lulu, Paul Young, Jamie Cullen, Paolo Nutini, and many many more. She also works with Audio Engineer husband ‘Alan’ in their Recording Studios in London.

Robin Jenssen

Robin lives in HUNDHAMAREN in Norway. He is the Manager & CEO of the companies Dsign Music / Dsign Management He manages several IDOL winners and international producers and songwriters and has vast experience in the music Industry regularly putting songs forward for publishing from the U.K. and Norway.He will be travelling to London from Norway to join the Finals judging panel on Saturday 1st November.