Hogrock Mountain Music: Videos & Reviews

ME & THE BOYS - Promotional Video
This was shot by our friend Lee Johnson during our performance at The Blue Ridge Performing Arts Center on November 3, 2007

ARTICLE IN BOLD LIFE MAGAZINE
ABOUT TERRY'S RECORDING SERVICES AND PRODUCTION EXPERIENCE

MUSIC TO HIS EARS:
How Record Producer Terry Wetton Turns Music into Magic

“Behind every …” We all know the phrase. To give it traction, we simply fill in the blanks. For those in the music industry, the undeniable force behind most everything — artists, musicians, recording session quality and production — is the record producer. Bold Life’s Marshall Gordon found one such individual — Terry Wetton — right here in Hendersonville.

HOW DID YOU BECOME A RECORD PRODUCER?
I was in a rock ‘n roll band in England — Joker — and when we made our first recording, the whole idea became really interesting. I started to enjoy working in the studio more than I did going out and performing. Being able to take something and make something better out of it in the recording studio was very appealing to me.

HOW AND WHERE DO YOU PRODUCE YOUR RECORDS?
In my home studio or I can do mobile recording. These days, with computer technology, you can do it just about anywhere. There’s a lot of work that can be done through editing these days. Small tempo changes and pitch concerns can typically be fixed on the computer. Sometimes I hire the side men. On the Tyler Carson album, we needed some vocal harmonies so I used the Lonesome Road Band. If we need a fiddle, we’ll get a local fiddler to come in and play. I produce a full package. I do all the mixing. Depending on the project, I either master it myself or send it out. I also do all the liner notes, album covers and photography.

HOW DO YOU SET UP A RECORDING SESSION FOR OPTIMUM REPRODUCTION?
It’s very important that you use the right microphone and mike placement. If we’re recording a live session, we try to reduce the amount of bleed over from different instruments. You have to use the right mike for the right job.

HOW MUCH OF YOUR OWN “VOICE” IS ON A CD?
Hopefully, an awful lot. I like to think that people can tell when I produce something. Understanding what the artist wants to get from the recording. Understanding what kind of sound they want is very important. There are certain types of music that I can add something to. There are other kinds of music that I know I can’t. I’m not going to get involved with a rap session. That’s something I just don’t understand. I tend to choose the music that I feel I can influence, that I can enhance and make better.

HOW DO YOU DETERMINE IF AN ARTIST HAS THE RIGHT STUFF?
Experience. I think there are a lot of talented people around, but I look for that special factor, which usually is something people are passionate about. If someone really enjoys what they do and are passionate, that usually comes through.

WHAT RECORDS HAVE YOU PRODUCED?
Tony Guerrero, a flugelhorn player. We produced his first CD, Tiara, in 1988, a jazz fusion record. We used some pretty famous people on that record — Phil Keaggy and Grant Geissman on guitar, Max Bennett on bass and Merry Clayton, vocals. That album did quite well. I’ve produced several CDs for local artists. Most notably, Larry Keith. We produced his Travelin’ Angel CD and one for his Lonesome Road Band called Sweet Release. Both CDs have been very successful. I recorded and produced a Christmas CD with Larry Keith — Cold December Morn’. I’ve also produced a CD — Simplicity — for Angela Heatherly. We did a CD for the Mills River Methodist Church — their Christmas Cantata. I’ve done a CD for Michele Skeele who plays Native American flutes. I’m currently working on a CD for a young man, Tyler Carson, a country artist. Because of the area, I’ve produced mostly blue grass, country and folk music.

HOW DO YOU FINANCE YOUR PROJECTS?
Anyway I can. The initial outlay is not too bad because I have the equipment. I charge people up front for a little bit and we pay as we go. It’s better for me, it’s better for them.

EVER MEET THE BEATLES?
No. Saw them play twice. I went to school with a couple members of The Who. Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey. I was acquaintances with them. We came from the same town — Acton in West London. We met at local music shops quite a lot. They were older and way ahead of me.