WEED, Calif. (CN) - A Boston-based rock band claims a record producer used her "big name" to lure them to her Northern California studio, took $33,000 to produce an album and then "completely disassociated herself" from the process.
A Raven's Sorrow claims Sylvia Massy-Shivy also provided session players who did not have the right instruments, and an engineer who threatened to hurt their lead singer.
A Raven's Sorrow claims Massy-Shivy contacted its lead singer and offered to produce the band's album, "Chrysalis" at her Radiostar Studios in Weed.
"Massy-Shivy has produced albums for several major name rock bands," according to the complaint in Siskiyou County Court.
"Furthermore, Sylvia Massy-Shivy represented to Mr. [Jeffrey] Glazier that as part of her services to produce the 'Chrysalis' album, and based on her name recognition within the recording industry in America, she would promote the business interests of A Raven's Sorrow, including making introductions to record labels, promoters and other individuals in the music industry."
The band says it paid Massy-Shivy $33,000 for 35 days of studio time, including "preproduction services, and lodging, with twenty-four (24) hour access to the studio," plus engineering and musical arrangement services.
Her studio, co-defendant Radiostar Studios, agreed to book session players, the band says.
But no. "Immediately after Radiostar Studios received payment from A Raven's Sorrow, Radiostar Studios essentially and effectively ceased all pre-production work on the Chrysalis album," and Sylvia Massy-Shivy "disengaged in communication with the entire A Raven's Sorrow band for approximately three (3) months," according to the complaint.
"Sylvia Massy-Shivy completely disassociated herself with the production of the Chrysalis album, materially breaching her obligations under the production agreement," the band says. It claims that "the session players Radiostar Studios arranged were not prepared, had not adequately practiced," and did not even have "the requisite instruments required to play the parts."
A Raven's Sorrow claims that the engineer the studio provided acknowledged that "his engineering skills were lacking and not at a high level, as was required." And it claims that the engineer "threatened physical violence on Mr. Glazier, while Mr. Glazier was walking in the streets of Weed, California."
Glazier is band's the lead singer and principal songwriter.
The band adds: "Sylvia Massy-Shivy actively refused to listen to most of the recorded material, stating that she would hear it during the mixing process."
In sum, the band says: "Sylvia Massy-Shivy lured recording artists into her recording studio, based on her name, and 'big name' reputation in the music industry, obtained substantial sums of monies from bands, and then immediately proceeded to the next band, breaching her contractual obligations and promises."
The band seeks at least $500,000 in damages for breach of contract, fraud, and negligence. Defendants include Sylvia Massy-Shivy, her husband and business partner Gregory Shivy, and their company Radiostar Studios.
A Raven's Sorrow is represented by Sacramento attorney Richard Margarita.
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