GEMSTAR RECORDS
Gemstar Records started in 2012 featuring Artists such as Jean McClain who toured with Hugh Laurie and won the American Underground Dance Song Contest with Body and Soul. Another song "All I Want for Christmas Is You" was sent out to American Troops abroad. Jean McClain has also co-written the original gospel song "Standing In The Light" with Gemstar Records President Cathy CC Carlson, and our newly signed artist Rick Jones. She will also be singing backup vocals on Rick Jones' re-imagined version of the Dobie Gray classic "Drift Away", which is currently being recorded for the new album! The label also featured Clive Kennedy who had a #1 hit on UK Records in France with an upcoming documentary film, Clive also won CCMA Song of the Year for " Dear John"!
More on Gemstar Records, the latest news and more is coming soon!
For more information or questions, please feel free to send us an email by clicking on our "Contact Us" Button below, and be sure to follow us on all of our Social Media outlets.
President OF GEMSTAR RECORDS
Cathy "CC" Carlson (On Left) & Colleen Carlson
Cathy “CC” Carlson has had over 25 years in the Music Industry with co-written songs placed on NBC, CBS, CMT (Country Music Television) and GAC (Great American Country). She also owns Independent Music Publishing companies and a Record Label. Cathy has worked for non-profits for concerts and events which included music celebrities David Foster, LeAnn Rhimes, Gary Allen and television celebrities Paul Newman, Jacqueline Smith, Stephen Segal, Eric Estrada (“Chips”), and Baywatch stars which included Carmen Electra. Sports celebrities included Sugar Ray Leonard, Evander Hollyfield and Race Car Driver Mario Andretti. CC’s Music Background also includes a TV Co-Host for a talent and variety show with over 2 million viewers and working as a Los Angeles Radio Co-Host with KCLA Radio and a Meryl Haggard radio program in Los Angeles. She was an Event Coordinator for NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International), SGA (Songwriters Guild of America) and other Los Angeles and International Songwriter Organizations including IMRO (Irish Music Rights Organization). Cathy worked with Bob Diamond (son of the famous Leo Diamond) who was the chief harmonica soloist or virtuoso in the “high fidelity” LP era. Bob was the partner of Midnight Music in Los Angeles which managed song catalogs and recordings by Tiffany, Irene Cara (Flash Dance) among many other artists and songwriters.
Cathy toured with her twin sister Colleen with the Min-On International Concert Association in Japan (the 2nd largest concert association in the world) with the “Route 66 Band” to packed concert halls through Japan which was managed by Seymour Heller, Manager to Liberace. “CC” also worked for Celtic Harmony/Music Bridge with American Recording Artists including Rodney Crowell, the Go Go’s, Delbert McClinton, Jeff Healey, Montell Jordan and Irish Recording Artists including Brian Kennedy, Liam Reilly (of popular Irish Band “Bagatelle”) Keith Donald, Jimmy MacCarthy, Marian Bradfield (founder of “Celtic Women”), Mick Hanly, and IMRO (Irish Music Rights Organization) Songwriters in Ireland. American Writers included Brenda Russell, Gordon Kennedy (co-writer of “Change The World” with Eric Clapton), Gary Nicholson, Jill Sobule. Songwriter Organizations included ASCAP, BMI, SESAC. Record Labels included Putumayo World Musiz, Polygram, EMI Music Publishing. “CC” has co-written songs with Roger La Rocque who managed “Celine Dion” and Joel Hirschhorn (Grammy winning theme song for “Poseidon Adventure”, Jan Buckingham (co-writer Pam Tillis “Queen of Denial”), Montell Jordan, Def Jam Recording Artist of song “This is How We Do It”. Studio work included recordings with Artist Theresa James, 2019 Grammy Award winner of “Contemporary Blues Album”. Patrick Swayze danced to CC’s co-written song “Desire” in a HBO film “Letters From A Killer” which featured another one of CC’s co-written songs “Daddy Tried” a take-off of “Mama Tried” by Merle Haggard.
Film and Television Song Placements:
Cathy’s co-written song “A Woman In Charge” will be featured in a Sci-Fi film starring Barry Bostwick who starred in the cult classic “Rocky Horror Picture Show” with Susan Sarandon back in 1975. Cathy’s dedication continued as Southwest Coast A/R, Representative for a Film/TV Placement company in Nashville where she submitted over 110 Artist Packages which totaled 3,500 songs in just 6 months.
Current Projects: Cathy will soon host a Music Radio Show to promote singer/songwriters and musicians at KURU (89.1 FM) and on the web GMCR.org located in Silver City, New Mexico which is the 2nd largest radio station in the County. “CC” is currently locating venues for Songwriter Workshops and Singer/Songwriter Showcases in Silver City, New Mexico and throughout the state to educate and promote the craft of songwriting and to help songwriters connect locally and internationally with music industry professionals to develop and promote their songs and craft.
Cathy currently works as “Music Publishing, Director” at Big Fish Music Group with Chuck Tennin, President & CEO. Chuck has worked on recording projects with “Legendary” Artists such as Neil Young, Aretha Franklin, Steppenwolf, Elvis Presley, Jim Hendrix, Peter Frampton, Rolling Stones, Ike and Tina Turner, Neil Diamond and many others. Big Fish Music Group is an Independent Music Publishing Company located in N. Hollywood, CA which maintains one of the largest independent unpublished catalogues of all types of music available for use.
OUR NEW ARTIST
We are very proud to announce that we have signed Rick Jones & The Wayward Sons!
Rick will be busy recording his new southern/country rock album over the next several months, which will aslo include an original gospel roots tune in Nashville Tennessee, soon to be released later this year!
Gemstar Records will be making his new album available for listening and for purchase soon !
...Check out Rick Jones's bio, new band, new music & more Below...
Sharing the same birthday as John Lennon..
Rick Jones has been a musician, front-man, performer & vocalist for over 30 years! Having come from a musical family that performed gospel music in churches, bowling alley's & coffee shops up and down the West Cost during the height of the "Jesus Hippie Movement" of the 1970's, Rick started classical piano lessons at the age of four, & moved into more contemporary genres of music during his teenage years. Playing his first real gig at the age of 18 at a local spot called "The Candlelight Lounge" in Portland Oregon, it was there that he felt right at home sittin' behind an old Rhodes & Hammond B3, playing to the crowd, feeling the energy of the music, and the chemistry with the band, he knew this was what he was meant to do!
Ricks background includes session work on multiple recording projects, and has performed at clubs, festivals and concerts all over the country fronting his own bands & opening for main-line acts such as Three Dog Night, Grand Funk Railroad, Foghat & more. Rick has also performed as Guest Keyboardist/Organist for many local & national recording artists including: Devon Allman (Son of music legend Gregg Allman), the late Eugene Fodor (World Renowned Violinist), Grammy winner Billy Sprague, and many more. Flash forward to 2021... New Album & New Band! Rick Jones will be coming out with his very first album later this year, and is exrtemely excited about this new endeavor! An incredible collection of A-list songwriters, collaborators and producers have joined him on this new project, including Gemstar Records President Cathy CC Carlson, Jean McClain, Loni Specter, John Heinrich & many more great songwriters & collaborators. This new album will feature several brand new originals, and re-imagined version of the classic song "Drift Away" originally sung by Dobie Gray!
Introducing Rick Jones & The Wayward Sons! With a tip of the hat to many of their musical influences, Wayward Son delivers an uncommonly greasy, gritty, soulful sound by blending country and southern rock music, and giving it a massive kick in the pants!
For more on this exciting new americana/country rock band, follow them here at https://waywardsonmusic.com
Stay tuned for more updates, new music & where to catch them live!
NEW MUSIC & MEDIA
Check Out Our Interview With Host "Plastic EP" Gemstar Records President Cathy CC Carlson, & Our Newly Signed Artist Rick Jones!
Just Click On The Image Below To See The Interview
Here's our first rough studio sample cut of "Drift Away" from Rick Jones & The Wayward Sons, featuring the lovely "Sista Jean - Jean McClain" on backing vocals. Ricks new album will have all new original tunes, including a bonus track of this re-imagined classic song, honoring the legendary artist Dobie Gray.