In 2003, family members Bill and Jesse King launched the recording enterprise – 7 Arts Entertainment with their first collection of female jazz singers from across Canada - Real Divas Vol.1 Torchlight. The album became an instant success aiding in the signing of a national distribution deal with Distribution Fusion 111 in Montreal.
The sole purpose behind 7Arts was to channel Bill and Jesse’s music through their own label and select other artists just as committed to their craft. It’s not about pop music or middle of the road or rock recordings. It’s about musicians with something to say. 7Arts is also an entry point for artists not yet ready for major attention. Vocalist Sophie Milman began as one of the Real Divas who got her start working with producer/arranger Bill King. Her first title produced mainly by King has sold over 100,000 worldwide for Linus Entertainment.
With years of experience and a worldwide network the 7 Arts family is moving into the digital realm with an eye to the future.
Recordings that reside on 7 Arts aren’t designed to satisfy a market or a particular fad but reflect the ongoing growth of the artists.
Since 2003, label acts – The Rockit 88 Band – Too Much Fun’ was honored with a Maple Blues Award – New Artist – The Saturday Night Fish Fry – Rhythm & Soul – Best Soul Recording and Soul Singer – Shakura S’Aida – Real Blues Magazine. The Rockit 88 were also nominated for a Juno - Best Blues Recording. The trio – King. Alleyne. Roth –“It Might As Well Be Spring” – was nominated for Acoustic Jazz Recording of the Year by the NJAs in 2004. Singer June Garber scored a critical success with ‘Smile’ and 16 year old newcomer vocalist Sophie Berkal-Sarbit is one of the top played and critically received jazz records of 2007 with ‘ Gypsy In My Soul.’
Jesse King has turned his electronica reggae sessions - Dubmatix: Champion Sound Clash and Atomic Subsonic - into two European tours and tremendous international recognition.
Quebec artist Chantal Chamberland was one of the top selling domestic jazz recordings of 2006.
The Saturday Nite Fish Fry returned with a collection of classic blues songs from Bob Dylan and Eddie Hinton – “Dirt Road Blues” –July 2007 to critical acclaim.
7 Arts is moving the way of the world connecting by country to country – continent to continent – person to person - spreading our music through the new digital pipeline. The future is no longer light years ahead or miles in between.
