MP3 KING KARMA - King Karma

"A WORLD CLASS RELEASE from a WORLD CLASS BAND." "This Album ROCKS, it's all good." "A must-buy hard rock album." (HIGHLY Recommended)

12 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Hard Rock, ROCK: Classic Rock



Details:
Rock and roll used to be about plugging in, turning up and letting go, but as rock has aged and changed that simple formula seems to have been forgotten for the most part. Unless you ask KING KARMA, a band fast becoming one of the most talked about new groups in the current resurgence of rock music!

Built upon the solid foundations provided by rhythm section TODD RONNING (bass) and RICK FEDYK (drums), KING KARMA's music is a gorgeous amalgamation of hard rock guitar riffs and introspective acoustic passages. Guitarist, MARKUS WOLFE succeeds, where many more famous names have failed, in that he plays with true feel and purely for the song, rather than simply to show his undoubted technical ability. To round out the line-up there's vocalist SHAUN WILLIAMSON, a man with more soul and raw emotion in his voice than a recording studio full of Boy Band Wannabes and Pop Idol hopefuls.

The group's fresh approach to rock music's most influential time in history garnered the attention of legendary producer, JIMMY JOHNSON, who flew the boys from the west coast of Canada to Muscle Shoals, Alabama and recorded the quartet's awe-inspiring debut. Johnson even goes so far as to say that KING KARMA is the best rock product he's worked on since Lynyrd Skynyrd back in the 70's.

After the recording sessions were complete, the band released "Into the Everlast" as a single to Garageband.com listeners. The single shot up GBâs charts and was voted "TRACK OF THE DAY" over thousands of other hard rock hopefuls, as well as winning awards, "MOST ROCKING TRACK", "BEST GUITARS", "BEST VOCALS", "BEST BASS", "BEST LYRICS", "BEST MOOD" and more... Within only a few months KING KARMA's disc began receiving major exposure, generating rave reviews and winning over new fans from around the world. New York State college stations were among the first to spin KKâs CD calling it one of the best debuts in years. The College Music Journal reported KING KARMA was among the top 10 most added artists to college radio in North America.

Here's what critics from around the world are saying about KING KARMA's debut:

"This album rocks... It's all good. Rock radio, are you listening? Hello? This is the band you've been looking for. Kick ass!"
GRITZ MAGAZINE - Atlanta, GA

"This is a world class release from a world class band."
ROCK N ROLL UNIVERSE - Los Angeles, CA

"King Karma is making ears twitch with piercing vocals and soaring guitar riffs."
METAL EDGE MAGAZINE - New York , NY

"A must buy hard rock album."
KANGAR RADIO - South Africa

"Make no mistake; this is one band that is going to carve their own niche with their own sound that will revolutionize rock music as we know it."
ALL ACCESS MAGAZINE - Los Angeles, CA

"King Karma occupies that timeless twilight inhabited by the likes of Badlands, Bad Company, Zeppelin and more recently Audioslave."
AOR DREAMZONES - Liverpool, UK

"King Karma rips at the soul of rock and roll with crunchy guitars, groove laced vocals and a diversity of great rock songs!"
HAIRBALL JOHN RADIO SHOW - Detroit , MI

"This release takes you back to a time when you actually needed talent to be considered a 'musician' and not simply an image."
SLEAZE ROXX MAGAZINE - Winnipeg, MB

"Every song stands out on this release. There's no filler material here! I can't stress enough how good King Karma's debut is."
CLEVELAND ROCK NETWORK - Cleveland , OH

"Stunning... can I stop there please... King Karma has produced one of the albums of the year!"
HARD ROCK HOUSE - London, UK

In May 2005, while the groupâs official web site surpassed one million hits, KING KARMA signed with CENTURION RECORDS (a division of Centurion Music Group Inc.). As the label prepared for the upcoming release, KK songs âDevilâs Roadâ and âIâm Listeningâ were featured in the Lions Gate Films sci-fi movie "BLOODSUCKERS". Soon after, CENTURION released KING KARMAâs debut to North America through UNIVERSAL and RYKO. The following summer KK performed at select music festivals opening for such rock legends as, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Cheap Trick. The groupâs successful string of shows would include a trip to the World Famous Sturgis Bike Rally in South Dakota, where KK opened for Kid Rock, the reunited James Gang and Blue Oyster Cult to name a few...

THE STORY...

For the story of KING KARMA, we need to go back to the early 90s. Canadian bass player Todd Ronning loves heavy riffs and is searching for a suitable guitar player to write songs with. During auditions a riff caught on tape catches Ronningâs ear and soon after heâs put in touch with Markus Wolfe. They start writing songs and a little later theyâre asked to join Paul Rodgers of Bad Company for a show. Rodgers enjoys the co-operation and more gigs follow...

At the end of the 90âs a lot of material has been written by the pair and they start thinking about forming a band. Ronningâs search for the âperfectâ vocalist brings him to Nashville, where he meets songwriter/producer Josh Leo, (21 number 1 Records in the US) who is impressed by their talent and vision. Wolfe joins Ronning in Nashville and with Leoâs guidance they begin recording a demo with the help of a local rock singer. As soon as itâs ready, itâs played to John Briggs (VP of ASCAP) who suggests Jimmy Johnson of Muscle Shoals fame as producer. A meeting is soon scheduled and Johnson is thrilled with the prospect of producing the bandâs debut album...

Ronning and Wolfe fly back to Vancouver and start working on the songs. In the meantime they recruit top Canadian session drummer, Rick Fedyk. However, as the recording sessions approach, theyâre still hunting for that âperfectâ vocalist. Thanks to sound engineer Steve Melton, a long-time associate of Johnsonâs, they finally locate Shaun Williamson, the perfect voice for KING KARMA. Williamson had just moved back to the Southern US from Germany, where he had been living and touring throughout Europe with German bands, Backbone Slide and Sunnyland Blues Band... Williamson joins Ronning, Wolfe and Fedyk in August 2002 and together they begin shaping the songs that would later become the bandâs critically acclaimed debut!

THE BAND...

SHAUN WILLIAMSON - lead vocals

American born Shaun Williamson, hailing from Pensacola, Florida, was first introduced to the music world like a scene out of the movie "Rock Star". His vocal talents were discovered early by the late Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist, Leon Wilkeson. When frontman, Ronnie Hammond, left Atlanta Rhythm Section it was Leon's endorsement that got Shaun the audition. Shaun, barely out of his teens, found himself thrusted in front of 70,000 people at Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium as the new lead singer of ARS.

Next, Shaun headed overseas to Germany where he formed the band "Backbone Slide". The band was managed by legendary Rolling Stones' manager, Andrew Loog Oldham. They released two albums on Mausoleum Records and toured Europe opening for the Rob Lamothe lead Riverdogs and Canadian star, Alana Myles. Shaun remained in Germany after Backbone Slide where he was featured on a Moody Blues multi-artist recording with full symphony. Later he came back to his blues roots and joined Sunnyland Blues Band playing European music festivals from Spain to Sweden.

On his return to the United States, Shaun was approached by KING KARMA bassist, Todd Ronning. Not long after their first phone call, Shaun flew north from Atlanta to Vancouver, Canada to join the band. The group immediately began writing the songs for what would later become their critically acclaimed debut album!

MARKUS WOLFE - guitar

Markus, born in Vancouver and a founding member of KING KARMA, began his musical career in Los Angeles where he attended the world renowned guitar institute, GIT. The faculty at GIT convinced Markus to lengthen his stay as a GIT instructor.

Upon his return to Vancouver Markus joined musical forces with bassist, Todd Ronning. The pair formed a songwriting partnership and would later play with Paul Rodgers of Bad Company in Rodgers' solo band. Shortly after Markus caught up with Todd in Nashville where the two began shaping the sound that would ultimately be recorded on KK's critically acclaimed debut.

Here's the rundown of the gear Markus used during the making of KING KARMA's self-titled debut album:
Wizard Vintage Classic 100 Watt Head
Wizard Rock Classic 100 Watt Head
Wizard Metal 50 Watt Head
Wizard Classic 4x12 & 2x12 speaker cabinets
Custom Les Paul on all tracks
Gibson Les Paul Custom Shop 60' Reissue on tracks 8, 9 & 12
Gibson Les Paul Historic Custom Shop 57' Reissue on track 5
Gibson EDS 1275 on tracks 2, 4 & 6
Fender 57' Reissue Stratocaster on tracks 8 & 10
Gibson J50 Acoustic on tracks 4, 6 & 8
Martin D28 Acoustic on tracks 6 & 8
Yamaki 12 String Acoustic on tracks 4 & 6

TODD RONNING - bass

Todd, born in Vancouver and founding member of the group, began laying the groundwork and vision of what was to become KING KARMA while playing bass for rock icon, Paul Rodgers of Bad Company. Soon after, Todd and guitarist, Markus Wolfe decided to form their own band, a band that would emanate the quality and integrity found in rock music's heydays.

In search of the ideal singer, Todd left Canada and replanted himself in Nashville, Tennessee where he was introduced to legendary Muscle Shoals producer, Jimmy Johnson. Together with the help of many music industry insiders and Todd's unrelenting perseverance the band was formed. Todd moved back to Vancouver and pre-production of KK's debut began.

Here's the rundown of the gear Todd used during the making of KING KARMA's self-titled debut album:
Ampeg SVT Amplifier (1981c.)
Avalon U5
Wizard Big "B" & Classic 4x12 speaker cabinets
Fender Precision Bass on tracks 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 11 & 12
Fender 51' Reissue Precision Bass on track 10
Rickenbacker 4001 Bass (1973c.) on tracks 1, 3 & 7

RICK FEDYK - drums

Canadian born Rick Fedyk has been behind the drums of several major recording artists such as, BTO, Annihilator, Billy Butcher, Double Dealer, Nick Gilder and Chrissy Steele where Rick found himself touring with Bryan Adams and Jethro Tull.

Rick's solid and bold "Bonhamesque" drum style attracted the attention of KING KARMA's founding members, Todd Ronning & Markus Wolfe long before the band was formed. Rick was approached by Todd and Markus while the two were searching the globe for the perfect singer to complete the band's line-up.

Here's the list of drums & percussion Rick used during the making of KING KARMA's self-titled debut album:
Ludwig 26"x16" Bass drum
Ludwig Black Beauty 6.5" & 8" Snare drums
Milestone 12"x12" Rack tom
Milestone 16"x16" Floor tom
Milestone 18"x16" Floor tom
Paiste 15" Hi hat
Paiste 17", 18" & 19" Crash cymbals
Paiste 20" Pang cymbal
Paiste 22" Ride cymbal
Vic Firth "Rock Classic" Drum sticks
Fire bell on track 3
Maracas on track 9

GUEST MUSICIANS...

GERALDO DOMINELLI - Electric Piano on track 4
RANDY McCORMICK - B3 Organ on track 10
MARK WILLCUTT - Congas on track 6
KOZMIC MAMA - Backing vocals on tracks 9 & 10
JAY JOHNSON - Gang vocals on track 4
JIMMY FARRAR - Gang vocals on track 4

This CD is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!