Michael Dion

Michael Dion
Also known as	Mike Dion
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Record producer, Record executive
Years active	1980s, late 90s to present
Labels	ITI Records Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab Valley Vue Records

Michael Dion is notable as a record producer in the Jazz Genre and the owner of the ITI Records, a California-based record label. He also was the owner of Startup Marketing and has been connected with Valley Vue Records.

Background

In the music business, he has worked for Texas-based wholesaler Music Distributors Inc. He was the founder of Startup Marketing, a San Diego music label representation and distribution firm. It was later acquired by Paulstarr.^[1] In the early 1980s, he founded ITI Records, a Jazz record label. He also expressed interest in releasing other genres. One of them was classical.^[2] Dion also worked for well-known audiophile record label,^[3] Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab in Chatsworth, California as national sales director. In December 1980, it was announced that he was made director of international sales and marketing.^[4] Towards the end of 1981 he had been promoted to the position of vice-president of international sales.^[5] In April 1985, he became vice-president of Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab, replacing Mark Wexler who relocated to the East Coast.^[6] He was vice-president and general manager of a small Californian record label Valley Vue Records,^[7][8][9] which was founded by Hillery Johnson.^[10][11]

In 1998, Dion had a break from the industry having been recalled to military service as a result of the Bosnian and Middle East wars. After he retired from military service, returned to the music industry and his record label ITI records became active again.^[12][13]

Production

Some of the albums he has produced are Blackberry Winter by Mike Campbell & Tom Garvin,^[14] Blue Sud by Marc Devine and Art Johnson.^[15] He was the executive producer for Cozzetti & Gemmill's album Soft Flower in Spring which was released in 1983.^[16]

By the time his record label ITI records had 15 albums in its catalogue, he arranged a deal for a different genre, Dance! The act was Zone Patrol and the labels fist venture into that genre.^[17]

Acts produced (selective)

• Heard Ranier Ferguson - Heard Ranier Ferguson - ITI Records JL 003 (1983) (producer)
• Mike Campbell & Tom Garvin - Blackberry Winter - ITI Records JL 009 (1984) (executive producer) ^[18][19]
• Seventh Avenue - Heads Up - ITI Records JL 022 (1984) (Executive-Producer) ^[20]
• Dwayne Smith & Art Johnson - Heartbound - Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab – CAFE L-729 (1985) (executive producer, co-producer)
• Steve Bach - Holiday - Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab / Cafe Records CAFE L-733 (1985) (executive producer) ^[21][22]
• Windows - Intima Records SJ-73219 (1987) (executive producer) ^[23]
• Heard Ranier Ferguson - Back to Back - Allegiance Records CDP 72973 (1987) (producer, executive producer) ^[24][25]
• Doug Duke & Company - The Music Room - Valley Vue Records 22013 (1994) (compilation producer, research) ^[26]
• Steve Bach - Now and Then - Valley Vue Records 220033 (1993) (research) ^[27][28]
• Marc Devine & Art Johnson - Blue Sud - ITI Records 201301 (2013/2014) ^[29][30]

Recent activity

In January 2015, he attended the Jazz Connect Conference that was held at Saint Peter's Church, New York City, located at 54th and Lexington. But because of the amount of attendees, the usual venue being the Hilton New York was changed to the Church.^[31][32]

References

1. Billboard October 11, 1997 Page 73 Merchants & Marketing Declarations of Independents by Chris Morris
2. Billboard October 15, 1983 Page 36, Jazz - Fledgling ITA Label Maps Ambitious Plans
3. hometheatre review.com January 25, 2015 Mobile Fidelity Shows Off New DSD Mastering Technology
4. Billboard Magazine 13 Dec 1980 Page 4 General News, Executive Turntable, Record Companies
5. Billboard Magazine 19 Dec 1981 Page 4 General News, Executive Turntable Record Companies
6. Billboard Magazine April 20, 1985 Page 4, Executive Turntable
7. JazzTimes April 1996 Page 105
8. Soul Train 10 of The Best Ballads of the 80s, The Manhattans, “Why You Wanna Love Me Like This” (1989)
9. PMP Network Jerry Butler Iceman
10. Soul Train 10 of The Best Ballads of the 80s, The Manhattans, Why You Wanna Love Me Like This (1989)
11. Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark Office: Trademarks, Volume 1162, Issue 2 Page 15, 138
12. All About Jazz 2012-09-05 ITI Records Resurfaces After Many Years Dormant
13. Smooth Jazz Vibes September 2012 September 30, 2012 ITI Records Resurfaces After Many Years Dormant
14. All Music Mike Campbell / Tom Garvin Blackberry Winter
15. All Music Marc Devine / Art Johnson Blue Sud
16. Music on the Web® Autobiography - Cozzetti & Gemmill
17. Billboard Magazine July 14, 1984 Jazz Blue Notes, Sweet Sounds In -Store In Chicago By Sam Sutherland and Peter Keepnews
18. Billboard Magazine 21 Jul 1984 Page 63 Billboard Album Reviews jazz/fusion
19. All Music Mike Campbell / Tom Garvin Blackberry Winter Credits
20. Discogs Michael Dion
21. Discogs Steve Bach – Holiday
22. All Music Steve Bach Holiday Credits
23. Discogs Windows (3) – Windows
24. All Music John Heard Back to Back Credits
25. Rate Your Music Back-to-Back
26. Discogs Michael Dion
27. Billboard Magazine 14 Aug 1993 Page 33 Top Contemporary Jazz Albums (23)
28. All Music Steve Back Now and Then Credits
29. Valley Public Radio The Oasis: February 3, 2013 by Vince DiCiccio
30. All Music Marc Devine / Art Johnson Blue Sud (CD - ITI #201301)
31. Jazz Connect Conference The Jazz Connect Conference January 8-9, 2015 Saint Peter's Church New York City
32. Jazz Times Jazz Connect Conference Announces 2015 Event: Jan. 8-9