Meet Our Team
Chuck Johnson
President and Founder
From a musical family, Chuck grew up belting out Broadway hits and cowboy and pop songs of the early 20th century. With roots in Fairfax, California, which was ground zero for much of the San Francisco pop sound of the 60’s and 70’s, Chuck absorbed the likes of The
Grateful Dead, Jefferson Starship, Van Morrison, Santana, Big Brother and the Holding Co., Journey, and Huey Lewis and the News. Musical influences and insights into the industry were greatly formed by spending six years as staff at all events at the newly-opened Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Marin Veterans Memorial Auditorium. Chuck worked hundreds of shows, soaking up everything from African ballet and Ravi Shankar, to 40’s swing with Duke Ellington and Buddy Rich, to the pop sounds of Boz Skaggs, Steve Miller, James Taylor, Jesse Collin Young, Joan Armatrading, bluegrass greats Doc Watson, David Grisman, Peter Rowan Vassar Clements, plus numerous symphonies, ballets and other performances.
This diverse experience in the context of all the legendary pop music of the 60’s and 70’s on the airwaves, great singer songwriters and folk rock like Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, The Eagles, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Motown, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gay, Brazilian Bossa Nova, Pink Floyd, and of course, the Beatles, was the formative influence that shaped Chuck’s perspective on what makes a great song, a great artist and a great performance.
By 1980 Johnson was playing guitar in local bands and writing songs. He studied Congolese drumming and dance, played Capoeria for over two decades, the music-movement Afro-Brazilian martial art under Bira Almeida, Mestre Accordeon, including travel to Brazil and teaching the art.
In 2008, New Vintage Studio, a professional production-recording studio was built and the New Vintage Artists music label was founded. Today Chuck enjoys bringing his musical passion to bear, working with new artists exploring both familiar vintage sounds and current forms of pop, rap, hip hop, R&B, always working to develop and deliver great authentic songs, artists and their stories to an eager audience.
He has a BA degree from Antioch University in Music, Spanish, and Somatics, and has been a renown design-build contractor of natural homes, leading Artisan Builders, in Sebastopol, California.
A fearless team builder, entrepreneur, multi-talented artist, musician and producer, in addition to running his own band, Coyote Club, Chuck has produced two albums and numerous singles from a diverse group of rising artists, most of which can be heard on this website.
Our Roots
In 1933, Viola Jasper put on her Sunday best and headed for the train. This 20-year-old farm girl from the grasslands of eastern Colorado was heading to California. On the outside, she carried a guitar. And on the inside, next to her heart, was stitched a catalog of early 20th-century songs, some she’d been singing before she could talk.
Or the bands heading up Mt. Tamalpais to jam, a keg in the back of a pickup. There was also Santana, Van Morrison, Doobie Brothers, Jessie Collin Young, Tower of Power, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Big Brother & the Holding Company, Huey Lewis & The News. This was the neighborhood.
When I discovered guitar as a teenager, Gramma Vi was there jamming with me. Where I was inspired by rock ‘n’ roll, she was a veritable jukebox of Broadway, Dixieland, folk and cowboy. As she got older — playing in a band into her seventies — I always intended to record her, and regretfully, never did
“I treasure my time with Gramma Vi as much as I treasure the many veins of music flowing together here in America. She remains my inspiration to share as much of this musical gold as possible.”
— Chuck Johnson, Founder, New Vintage Artists
Steve Weisz
Vice President
Joining the NVA team in 2016, Steve Weisz brings incredible expertise and passion to the music label! Many know Steve as the gifted entrepreneur who founded and grew In Ticketing from its organic roots into a major player in the ticketing industry. He led In Ticketing through a major brand revitalization that included tectonic shifts in fan engagement and innovative product design. Steve is also environmentally-focused and helped lead In Ticketing to be named an official Green Business by Green America.
When Vendini of Petaluma acquired In Ticketing, Steve joined Vendini’s team as Head of Business Development for the Live Music division to spearhead expansion into the live and electronic music space, grow the music venue client base, and continue to bring innovative ideas to life.
With a degree in Industrial Design from Georgia Tech in 1997 with a focus on user-centric design, Steve has been a leader in the music and digital media industries for over 20 years. Before launching In Ticketing, Steve founded and operated web development and hosting firms to service entertainment companies and independent record labels in Atlanta and Los Angeles. Good things are coming to New Vintage Artists with Steve at the helm!
Lauren Forcella
Vice President, Operations
Lauren arrived on the scene with a bang in 2016, after retiring the critically-acclaimed syndicated Straight Talk Advice column (www.straighttalkadvice.org), that she founded, wrote and marketed from 2004-2015, helping millions of young people and their families. She was recruited specifically to bring her ample tech-systems building skills to the label, building NVA’s business infrastructure and bringing its music to market.
Lauren’s ability to express organizationally, intellectually and artistically is evident in her impressive body of knowledge and accomplishments. In addition to being a successful writer, editor and online entrepreneur, Lauren is an acclaimed fine artist.
Her fine art can be seen at www.laurenforcella.com. In her spare time, she paints, sings in the Sebastopol Love Choir and is a lyricist. Several of her songs are produced by NVA, including Moonshine Girl.
David J. Alder
Marketing Advisor
David Alder is a proven leader and expert in brand strategy within the worlds of music, movies, fashion, retail and popular culture. He developed and implemented successful brand, marketing, merchandise, digital and design strategies within the Virgin Group of Companies’ primary entertainment divisions during his 21 year tenure, working in many countries including the U.S, U.K, Canada, Japan and Ireland. While at Virgin Entertainment, Alder oversaw significant revenue, inventory and capital budgets as well as personnel teams of up to 1200. He held the position of Chief Marketing Officer for seven years before his current position starting in 2007 as President of Media and Entertainment at world-class innovation boutique, Bulldog Drummond. Here he continues to lead major branding initiatives for premier media powerhouses, including Country Music Television (CMT) and MTV Networks’ EPIX movies division.Get Free Music
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