Michael Case Kissel

From The Kissel Family
KMA Music
1619 Broadway Suite 600
New York, NY 10019
Phone (212) 265-1570
roz [at] kmamusic [dot] com
May 7, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,

It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of Michael’s death. Michael passed away at home yesterday, May 5 at 5:52 p.m. surrounded by his family, Elena, Siena, Lucy and Rosalie.

Michael will be laid to rest at a private ceremony in Newport, Rhode island this weekend. A funeral service for family and friends will be held on Wednesday, May 13 at 4:00 p.m. at Church of the Heavenly Rest at 90th Street and Fifth Avenue in New York.

In lieu of flowers please consider sending a donation to Advanced Medical Research Foundation, 1101 Beacon Street, Suite 2W, Brookline, MA 02446 (checks payable to Advanced Medical Research Foundation).

Following the services will be a reception at the Racket Club. (Tie and Jacket Required).

Sincerely,

Elena Kissel

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The biography and profile below were sent to us by David Rosner, KMA Music’s studio manager:

Michael Case Kissel

Michael Kissel remembers his childhood in Maryland like a sepia-toned movie reel from the early 60’s, and like any movie, his life had a soundtrack. Whether it was listening to the ancient record player salvaged from a junkyard or singing with the gospel church down the street from his house, Michael focused his life on finding and claiming an eternal melody.

Following high school, Michael went to the Yale School of Drama where he recorded a local radio hit, “Warm Spring Night,” that made him a regional star. His future in the business seemed promising, and even the famed recording producer, John Hammond, referred to the song as a work of genius. In 1977, however, Michael was involved in a tragic car accident that left him with severe whiplash that ultimately doomed his touring and live performance career.

Michael was forced to reevaluate his relationship with the music business and eventually decided to take on production and recording. Continuing to sing and record for the myriad performers and artists that came his way, he found his passion in the studio. By the early 1980’s, he had worked with Arnold Schwarzenegger on his iconic Total Body Workout, with Ringo Starr, Sting, Parliament-Funkadelic, David Bowie, and countless other pop idols. By 1988, Michael was determined to own his own studio.

Michael founded KMA music in 1988 in search of artistic freedom. He moved his new business into the famous building at 1650 Broadway, a legendary site that marks the birth of New York’s soul and early R&B revolutions. His dream was to recreate the sounds of studios like Aldon Music, where making music was a community endeavor – less a business and more a driving passion amongst musicians.

Throughout the 90’s, as the music industry changed and hip hop became a commercial goldmine, Michael began to customize KMA Music for the changing tide. The hip hop revolution at the turn of the century required less recording prowess in the studio and more production genius on the mixing boards. Michael’s location conveniently provided both with its famous sound technicians and Michael’s own recording expertise.

As the 2000’s brought artists like Nas, Jay Z, Britney Spears, and Mariah Carey into the studio, KMA music began to earn credit as a premier hip hop and R&B mixing location. By 2006, it had become the most coveted studio of its kind for urban music. KMA moved its location across the street to the newly redesigned Brill Building that year to usher in a new saga in Michael’s musical journey.

KMA’s new headquarters quickly became the dream studio Michael had always envisioned. A soothing mix of past and present, its vibe represented that community appeal that the old studios had brandished so proudly – inviting and welcoming. Yet the technological strength of the hi-tech, revolutionary sound equipment and studio design promised all clients a state-of-the-art recording experience. It had become a bastion of sound with the design traits of a luxury, penthouse loft. Overlooking Times Square, KMA resembled a piece of sonic heaven.

In June 2007, however, Michael started to get headaches that would immobilize him. At first, he assumed they were stress-related, but soon was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme, which was aggressively attacking his brain. Michael, who had been healthy his entire life, was shocked – and immediately began an exhausting chemotherapy and radiation treatment cycle.

One year after his biopsy, Michael has remained in incredible health and spirits as the medication continues to work against the cancer. In addition to the medical treatments, he has learned to attack the affliction spiritually. But his courage and faith has been built on something stronger than medicine – the music he continues to make, and helps others to create, has become his guiding force.

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MICHAEL CASE KISSEL & KMA MUSIC

A prolific producer and songwriter, Michael Case Kissel has worked with artists ranging from Rod Stewart to the Pointer Sisters, Sean Paul to Arnold Schwarzenegger. Recent years have seen Kissel writing and recording for the Backstreet Boys, The Four Tops, Nas, and Los Lobos. Current projects include co-writing a new song with Teddy Richards to be recorded by up and coming country star Sarah Lenore for a new motion picture project. This year Kissel is also set to release his first solo album, “Cast Party”, which includes guests Bobby Womack, Grover Washington, Jr. and George Clinton.

In addition to being a producer, arranger, and songwriter he is a sought after musical director and performer. Kissel is the founder and front man of the KMA AllStars. A true “All-star” band comprised of the most sought after session players, singers and performers of our time. With weekly notable guest artists such as Carlos Alamar, Bernard Purdie, Jimmy Norman, Miki Howard, Gary Lucas, Donald Harrison and more. The KMA AllStar-Monday Night Jam has become a coveted invitation for musicians and industry guests alike.

Michael Case Kissel along with his company KMA Music have just moved into the legendary Brill Building in New York City. With a strong reputation for being a company and recording studio built to facilitate Songwriters, it is only fitting that Kissel and the KMA studio have made their home in a location with such a renowned musical history of being a writers building. The studio, which is being renovated under the careful eye of famed studio designer Fran Manzella, already yields a stunning panoramic view of Times Square. The state-of-the-art facility is scheduled to be complete in June of 2006.

KMA has completed projects for BMG, Motown, EMI, Elektra, David Foster, PBS and many others. The studio has been awarded a Triple-Platinum Record as well as a Billboard #1 Dance Record. The KMA staff has also won numerous awards and accolades as producers, engineers, arrangers, and performers.

Mike Kissel – Press Highlights & Quotes

Billboard:
Pumping Iron II: The Women
“Outstanding tracks…one of the year’s best singles”

Variety:
In The Blood
“a wonderful soundtrack…musically mesmerizing”

NY Post:
Concert Performance
“regally purple…prime chart material”

People:
Surrender
“Indisputably powerful…quite alluring”

“If you go on like this for the next ten years, you will someday have a body like Mike Kissel – he is the king of kings, stud of studs.”
– Arnold Schwarzenegger

Studio Client Highlights

Record Labels
CBS Records * EMI Music * Island Records * Rykodisc * Island Records
Roulette Records * Tangent Records * Hall of Fame/Epic * RCA Records

Television/Film/Game/Media
ABC TV * Atari * The Disney Channel * White Mountain Films * Sandhill Cinema
Sage Films * Cinecom * PBS * Channel 13/WNET * Andy Warhol’s TV * BET
Business Week Times * Mirror Magazines

ARTISTS
Kurt Vonnegut * Otis Rush * Sting * The Pointer Sisters * Ernie Isley (the Isley Brother!)
Gloria Gaynor * Arnold Schwarzenegger * Harlem All-Star Gospel Choir * Toots and the Maytals * The David Bowie Band * Sisters With Voices / “SWV” * Sarah Lenore
John Hammond* Jimmy Norman * Sean Paul * George Clinton/Parliament-Funkadelic
Bobby Womack * Shirley Horn * Marcus Printup * Donald Harrison * Papa Mobb
Grover Washington, Jr.* George Carver* The Midnight Movers/Wilson Pickett –
Kevin Rafferty* Sean Harkness* Capone/Capone & Noriega

Michael Case Kissel Artist Highlights

In The Blood with Olatunji, Toure Kunda, David Torn, Solomon Linda’s Original Evening Birds
Steal This Disc, Vol. 3 with Frank Zappa, Ringo Starr, Devo, David Bowie
Best of Both Worlds – with Airto, Ali Farka Toure, Cedella Marley Booker
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Total Body Workout with Journey, Gladys Knight, Blue Oyster Cult, Eddie Money
Naked/Sacred- with Bobby Womack, Shirley Horn, Marcus Printup, Donald Harrison, Grover Washington, Jr.

Producer Highlights

Surrender Robin Clark and The David Bowie Band – (album)
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Total Body Workout (album) Aronold Schwarzenegger
Peace Is The World Smiling Olantunji, Pete Seeger, Sweet Honey In The Rock, Taj Mahal (album)
Pumping Iron II: The Women (film score and soundtrack album)
The Hocus Pocus Laundromat with Kurt Vonnegut (requiem and album)
In The Blood (film score and soundtrack album)
Best Shots (film score)
Naked/Sacred with Bobby Womack, Shirley Horn, Marcus Printup, Donald Harrison, Grover Washington, Jr. (album)
Healing Session with Michael Babatunde Olatunji

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

ASCAP/NARAS/Songwriter’s Guild Of America, NAPM, American Federation Of Musicians

AWARDS

GOLD MEDAL Information Film Producers of America
BRONZE MEDAL International Film and TV Festival of New York
TRIPLE-PLATINUM Recording Industry Association of America

The KMA Studio

KMA is a state of the art writing and recording environment conveniently located in the heart of midtown Manhattan. With a panoramic view of Times Square on the 6th floor of the historic Brill Building, KMA is a one of a kind studio environment. KMA offers a unique mix of audio and music professionalism with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere that fosters creativity. We are songwriters, and think of ourselves as “The Writer’s Studio”. At KMA, the vibe is everything. And our vibe is great for writing and producing hits.