Services Offered
Wil Freebody
Chief Executive Officer
As the old man of the L-team, Wil started assembling the team in 1986. With over fifty years experience in the music business, Wil has worked with too many professional acts to list here. It will suffice to use this allegory to explain our boss: Most people see the world as a half glass of water. They see it either half full or half empty. In Wil's world the glass is always overflowing. He is fond of stating “our team is the stength is the studio business”.
Carolyn Austin
Photography and Web Designer
Carolyn has been with the Long Island Recording Company since 1999. She has documented our progress with pictures, video and internet. If you are reading this you have seen some of her work. Carolyn also handles much of the day to day business of the studio. Wil calls her the MVP of the staff. For those of you that do not follow baseball, Most Valuable Player.
Willy Freebody
Drummer and Camera Operator
Willy grew up in and around the studio. He can be heard playing drums in the studio several times per week. Whenever there is an important shoot he is usually on camera 3 adding his unique way of seeing things to the project. Willy is also is part of the marketing team that helps spread the word about us, you may have already seen him online or around town in one of our labeled Sprinters.
Steve Nall
Head Engineer
Steve has been with the company since its inception. As head engineer, he is the "go to guy" whenever anyone needs assistance. Not only an engineer, Steve is quite a prolific musician and producer in his own right. . Steve and Wil have been connected musically since 1986. His thirty years experience in recording and live sound aid him when overcoming situational sonic obstacles that inevitably show up in any musical endeavor.
Amber Sloan-Barlow
Chief Operating Officer
Amber originally comes from an orchestral background. She attended Otterbein College in Westerville, OH - graduated 2004 B.A. Music Business with a Concentration in Sound Production. As a graduate of LSRA, Amber is also a Certified Master Engineer.Her organizational skills coupled with the traditional music education prepared her well for her position as Chief Operations Officer. Nothing goes on in the studio without her approval.
Frank Messina
Television and Video
Doc’s expertise is in the broadcast and video realm. Frank is also an accomplished pianist, arranger and vocalist. Wil feels that Doc brings a very important aspect to the LIRCo complex, he keeps Wil from being the oldest guy in the room. Seriously, Frank adds six decades of experience in the audio visual business. Oh, by the way, he like our boss is also from Long Island!
Michael Thomas
Producer and Engineer
Michael has been with LIRCo since 1995. Prolific songwriter, accomplished engineer, superb musician, all part of the persona that makes up MT. However there is more. Michael is our most versatile producer. He captures the Nashville sound when called upon and is equally at home with both Southern Gospel and Contemporary Christian. The Heart of Rock n Roll is in Cleveland, and the heart of Michael Thomas is in Rock. Perhaps Michael's finest asset is his ability to get the most out of anyone he works with. We feel fortunate to have Michael as part of the L- Team.
Patrick Hairston
Producer and Engineer
Patrick has been around the halls of LIRCo for a few years now, first as a student in the recording school and as an intern in the studio. Patrick is now a valued member of the production staff. He is a utility player that is equally comfortable behind the Audient 8024, or a 4K cinema camera.He handles all the flying boom shots needed for music video production as well the man that lights the stage.Versatility is the word used to describe Mr. Hairston.
Donna Johnstone
Administration and Customer Service
Donna is the newest member of the LIRCo staff. Her nurturing and supportive nature compliments our staff. She is especially helpful with younger acts. Donna moved from Nashville to be part of the studio complex.
Erin Cheeks
Producer and Engineer
Erin Cheeks – Drop a rock…. let it bounce…. Erin will find a harmony for the ensuing sound. She has a flawless sense of pitch (extremely handy when producing ). Erin’s penchant for perfection truly is at home during the entire production experience. Whether it’s in preproduction, tracking, mix down or post production, she is the paragon of perfection in and around the studio. Nearly 20 years on the job and counting, we are fortunate to have her in our arsenal of production tools.
Eric Rolph
Director and Camera Operator
Eric currently has a music video he directed playing on CMT. He is a one stop shop, cameraman, editor, sound engineer and director. He also is the guy that constantly walks around singing. You don’t have to say too much more about a man that sings while he works. It speaks for itself.
Keith Caudill
Chief Creative Officer
Keith Caudill is the former Director of the Mountain Arts Center. He has been a leader in the music industry in Eastern Kentucky for over 30 years. As a lifelong musician, Keith has been part of thousands of shows. Former TV proprietor, producer and engineer are just a few of his many credentials that makes him uniquely qualified to be the Chief Creative Officer for the LIRCo. Keith is also on the Board of Trustees for The Lexington School for Recording Arts. We are indeed fortunate to have him as the hub for the entire studio.
GALLERY
ABOUT
There are several mantras associated with the LIRCo Complex, first and foremost is “We always do our best”. That starts with preparation.
The crew is always prepared...”It wasn’t raining when Noah built the Ark”. -Unknown
Commitment to follow through..."Those who are blessed with the most talent don't necessarily outperform everyone else. It's the people with follow-through who excel." - Unknown
Overcoming failure: "I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” —Michael Jordan
Innovation: “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” - Henry Ford
This is the Long Island Recording Experience!
Contact Info
Clients
Kory CaudillNashville Recording Artist
Grammy Nominated Pianist
Touring Artist - Justin Moore Band
Sir Mack RiceGrammy Award Winning Composer
Mustang Sally, Respect Yourself
Published over 400 songs
I have recorded at Long Island Studios a dozen times or more.
You can’t find a better bunch of people to work with. It is always worth the trip from Detroit to go down to Lexington, I love Lexington. And I love Wil. He is the hardest working man in the music business."
Josh MartinStudio Musician
Sony Music- Staff song writer
Ryne BrashearNashville Recording Artist
Singer/songwriter
Playing on Broadway, Nashville TN
Jaii Gilkey
Songwriter, Producer
Atlanta, Ga
Tee Dee YoungAward-winning Blues
Recording Artist
Songwriter