Thegatewaynews.com - Local family to start teen-focused record label

RPC Photo / Michael K. Dakota Streetsboro High School teacher Jim Boardwine officially launched his new record label, Gateway Records, June 27 with a concert at the Kent Stage.

RPC Photo / Michael K. Dakota Streetsboro High School teacher Jim Boardwine performs with Marie Engle.

by Miles Jung-Kilbreath

Reporter

Streetsboro -- Appearing on CBS's "The Morning Show" in March with his family band was just the start for high school teacher Jim Boardwine, as he launched his new record label Gateway Records focusing on teen artists June 27.

The label kicked off with a launch party at the Kent Stage and featured 11 regional bands. Boardwine said a sampler CD of some of the label's musical acts was also available at the show.

Boardwine said he has been thinking about starting a label for the last few years. With contacts he made while on "The Morning Show" in February when his family band, The Boardwines made it to the semi-finals of the Singing Family Faceoff contest, he said was able to get things moving.

"On the CBS thing, we could only do cover songs from a list given to us. Now it feels much better for our family to show people the songs we've been writing and working on," Boardwine said.

Among the artists at the show and working with Gateway Records include Maxx, the former lead singer of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra who has appeared in numerous Broadway productions, Red Reign, Chyene-Stokeds, Simion Soul Charger and The Boardwines.

Boardwine said it's "the teacher in me" that makes him want to focus the label on teen artists. He said that he has been teaching a songwriting class at the high school and found many of his students have a lot of talent.

"It can be hard for teenagers to be able to work at writing songs, but I think that I can help guide them and help them find their voice," he said.

Maxx said he has met plenty of people who say they can write a song, but it didn't take him long to know Boardwine had talent. He said he is currently writing songs with Boardwine and feels like he has become part of the family.

"It's kind of like a throw back where everyone works and helps each other on different songs. They are working like Motown using each other for the backup band. It's really something that hasn't happened since then," he said.

Boardwine's daughter Desiree, who will be a freshman at Kent State in the fall, said she is helping with the label while being a member of the bands Red Reign and The Boardwines. She said that she helps other artists write their songs, which she said is difficult sometimes, but she enjoys being hands on with the other artists.

"Teen artists can be looked down upon and are seen as being not as good as older artists. Now they have a chance to let their music be heard," she said.

Desiree said it's been really fun working with her dad and believes it helps them communicate better.

"I love being able to do this with my family," she said.

Boardwine said he doesn't know if the label would become a full-time job down the line, saying that he loves working as a teacher.

"I'll just keep working at it and see what happens," Boardwine said.

E-mail:
mjung-kilbreath@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3942