Broken Joey Records was born
from the long friendship and working relationship that exists between
Paul “Broke” Brokaw and Joe Refano…the culmination of lives spent
making music.
Early in 2006,
Brokaw said to Refano, “Hey! Maybe we should create our own indie
label to make all of these great artists and music available to
everyone!” Refano tells us, “I was immediately intriqued by the
idea. I think it could be the best one he’s ever had, right after
marrying his wife Nancy.” Brokaw does his best Monty Python and
says, "We tend to think of ourselves as “Renaissance Men”
and fortunately we’ve been in situations where we get to take full
advantage of all of our many talents..ah-hem, anyone need a nice
shrubbery?" Adds Refano, “It may be only a flesh wound, but
it can be very very hard when there's no bandages around. There
are creative differences and the inevitable personality clashes. Fortunately we only want to kill each other about once a month!” Broken
Joey Records is an eclectic group of musical artists spanning two
generations…a collection of musical personalities and genres.
Refano says, "We're looking for new artists with different points of
view....people who don't mind trying something a little
different". So enjoy your visit and stop by regularly because
you'll never know what you might hear ;-)
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY
Their
musical journeys have taken them around the world. Paul Brokaw
began his trip within the 60’s garage band movement having played both
guitar and keyboards with THE CELLAR DWELLERS…THE OUTCASTS…and Long
Island’s popular rock band, NO SOAP..where he met Refano. After a 6
year run, Brokaw moved on and joined the folk-rock quartet VARELA and
appeared on their two albums. In recent years he has appeared on the
keyboards with the folk-flavored jam band DAMAGED GOODS, on a
regular basis.
When
Joe Refano was only 16, his power trio "MAGIC" opened for JAY AND THE
AMERICANS and THE ILLUSION at a rock show in Brooklyn hosted by the
legendary DJ "Murray The K". He followed that with stints in rock bands
WATER..TINDER and NO SOAP. In recent years he has appeared around the
New York Tri-State area as both a soloist and member of various musical
combinations including the popular DENICE GIVEN BAND (where he first
met Vance Brescia) and the duet of JOE & AL, working with
well-known Long Island BLUES artist Al Santoriello of THE LITTLE WILSON
BAND. During the last five years he has toured the US,
Canada and Caribbean with HERMAN'S HERMITS STARRING PETER NOONE.
During the summer of 2006 he performed with MICKY DOLENZ ,
formerly of THE MONKEES.
Paul Brokaw and Joe
Refano have written and produced hundreds of songs that have appeared
in TV shows and movies. Their work has appeared on The
Sopranos; Saturday Night Live; The Young & Restless;
Northern Exposure; Ed; Third Rock From The Sun; Montel; Inside The
NFL; Oprah; Chris Issak Show; Passions; All My Children;
The Beach Boys:An American Family; Summerland and a host of
others. Their instrumental music finds it’s
way into TV, movies and advertising projects in the US, Canada and
around the world.
They also own a production boutique in
Centerport New York that produces Radio & TV Commercials, various
Video projects and Jingles for advertising. The company, MEDIA
MECHANIX, (www.media-mechanix.com) has won BEST ON LONG ISLAND nearly 30 times. Busy
fellows indeed!