In 2007, after more than a decade of toil Garfield Mayor figured his time had finally come... Picked up by stellar US artist Rob Thomas he was immediately signed to Thomas' new label RTEL Records (Sony BMG). Mayor's debut album 'Take and Take' was subsequently made in between London, New York and his home facility in Coventry, UK.
Whilst written and produced by himself, to bring the finishing touches to his vision Mayor called upon the mixing talents of Mike Spencer (Jamiroquai, Kylie, Newton Faulkner), as well as inviting some cameo performances from top session players Frank Romano (Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Joss Stone), Clifford Carter (James Taylor/Bette Midler/Paul Simon) and Abe Fogle (Kelis, D'Angelo, Kool and the Gang).
Rob Thomas describes the album...
"Take and Take is an example of a songwriter, singer and producer firing on all cylinders. The melodies are lush and sophisticated and it's full of 'I wish I'd written that' songs"
Upon finding another passionate fan in manager-to-the-stars Merck Mercuriadis (Elton John/Joss Stone/Guns 'N' Roses), it seemed that after over 10 years of struggling for attention the stars were finally aligning for Garfield Mayor. Mercuriadis commented "Take and Take is loaded with songs that belong on every radio and in every house".
However disaster struck when MD of Epic Records Charlie Walk was ousted, and with him went RTELs champion in the Sony BMG fold. In the wake of this the Sony team behind Mayor went into self-destruct... Mayor was forced to cut his losses, and his ties to the major label.
Two years on Garfield Mayor surveys the new musical horizon with sense of optimism. His debut album back under his control, and amongst the nominees for the is year's prestigious UK Emerging Talent Awards, he is stronger, wiser, and as certain as ever of his place in the business. And with his ever growing fanbase, amongst which can be included some of the most significant players in the game, it would seem he has every right to be. Merck Mercuriadis seems to sum up the still untapped potential for this talented and driven new artist:
"Bottom line is Take and Take is still a smash and deserves to be a #1"
