Laney Stewart

Early life

Laney had a mother, Mary Ann Stewart, who was a successful singer in her own right, having sung backgrounds for the Ohio Players, Curtis Mayfield and Aretha Franklin. His uncle, Morris "Butch" Stewart was a successful musician and producer. By age nine, Laney had taught himself how to play piano and drums. With the advertising business booming in Chicago, Laney started singing on jingles at the age of 12. As a teenager, he made the transition to writing and composing with a career doing his own jingles. By 15, he had his first commercially released songs on CBS Records with Ramsey Lewis' "This Ain't No Fantasy." At the age of 16, he became a regular in the burgeoning Chicago underground house music scene, and became one of the early house producers, producing songs for Arrogance such as, "Crazy," [1] which was released on DJ International Records in 1986. Eventually, Laney began working as a session musician with his uncle, Wayne Stewart, Tony Brown and Patrick Leonard. Laney's most significant keyboard influence was Leonard, who was known for his work with Madonna, "Like a Prayer" etc. By 18, Stewart and partner Kenneth Hale formed their own jingle company, Minute Men, composing popular spots for Bud Light, McDonald's and Coca-Cola. They became the "go to" guys for urban based spots for advertising juggernauts like the Burrell ad agency and DDB Needham. They even won an award for their work on the California Lottery ad campaign. He was doing House clubs at night, jingle sessions and meetings with ad executives by day.

1988 to 1998

In 1988, with the help of ad executive and acclaimed author, Michelle Mckinney, Laney signed his first publishing deal with Famous Music (now Sony/ATV Music Publishing). Within the first couple years of his deal, Laney had linked up with songwriting partner, Tony Haynes, for a string of placements and would wisely upgrade his deal to a joint venture with Famous Music. With a publishing deal and a machine behind him, he decided to focus his career on working with recording artists instead of jingles. In 1990, he & Tony Haynes formed The Groove Asylum, which soon put him in the studio working with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, who had a tremendous influence on Laney's songwriting and production style. With his dual roles at Groove Asylum and Famous, he was co-producing songs with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, in addition to working with well-known recording artists. At the same time he was fine-tuning his business savvy by signing a group of young writers to his production company, including his younger brother, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart Tricky Stewart, Kuk Harrell and Sean Hall. He brought his other younger brother Mark E. Stewart and future sister in-law Judi into the company as well, on the business side.

Laney's next big influence would be legendary MCA Records executive, Louil Silas, Jr., who was won over by Laney's abilities. Before he knew it, he would be working with execs like Sylvia Rhone, Benny Medina and Quincy Jones, putting together a run of successful songs, including "Never Let Them See You Sweat"[2] by Go West, which was featured in White Men Can't Jump, and "Candlelight and You"[3] by Keith Washington featuring Chante Moore, which was featured in House Party 2.

In 1992 Stewart relocated his company from Chicago to Los Angeles, CA and would eventually become a founding partner, along with his brothers Tricky and Mark, in RedZone Entertainment in 1994.

In 1996 Laney entered into a publishing deal and writing/production relationship with Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and his Edmonds Music Publishing company. Babyface's songwriting guidance had a major influence on Laney's. This high-powered relationship led him to work with Madonna, Shanice, and Tony! Toni! Toné! in addition to writing and producing songs for the feature film Soul Food. During this time he also wrote and produced the top 10 hit "Last Nights Letter" for K-Ci & JoJo’s Quadruple platinum album Love Always .[4]

Redzone and Atlanta

In 1999 Laney relocated to Atlanta GA to join his brothers as a partner in RedZone Entertainment and Triangle Sound Studios. RedZone RedZone Entertainment helped put Atlanta on the map as a music city over the next few years with hits like Blu Cantrell's "Hit ‘Em Up Style," Sole's "4,5,6", TLC's "No Scrubs", Toni Braxton's "Love Me Some Him," and Destiny's Child's "Bills, Bills, Bills." Laney eventually took over the position of president of RedZone, which included overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company and keeping it active. Under his watch super hit songwriter, Ester Dean, was also added to Redzone on the Publishing side. With his dual role as music executive and producer, Laney continued his work penning and producing hit songs including, # 1 A.C. smash "Without You" [5] by Charlie Wilson, and "Everything" which appears on multi-platinum selling B2K’s Pandemonium and Greatest Hits albums.

Publisher

In his role as a publisher, Laney flourished amassing a huge publishing catalog that rivals anyone's. Unlike a lot of Publishers, he actually worked hands on with the writers, developing their skills and growing the catalog. Laney mentored Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Kuk Harrell, and Sean Hall, imparting on them the secrets to consistent hitmaking that had been passed down to him from Jam & Lewis and Babyface amongst others. In addition to some of Tricky's songs, Laney's publishing includes songs performed by Britney Spears, Usher, Pink, Sisqo, Toni Braxton, Tyrese, and the 1999 the ASCAP Rap song of the year, "Who Dat" by JT Money, which reached #5 on the Billboard pop charts. One of the biggest R&B tracks in the catalog is "I Love Me Some Him" off of Toni Braxton's "Secrets" album, which went 8 x Platinum. "Me Against The Music" stands out in the catalog as a duet with Britney Spears and Madonna that peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart and was recently featured on an episode of Fox's "Glee." Pink's "Can't Take Me Home" added a double platinum plaque to Laney's publishing collection along with platinum and double platinum sales worldwide as well. Other pop hits included "Case of the Ex" by Mýa, which peaked at number two in its 16th week on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and at #1 on Billboard’s R&B chart. It spent 3 weeks at number two and 29 consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was also an international success. In 1999 there was 3LW’s "No More" and in 2001 there was B2K’s premier smash "Uh-Huh," which was the number one selling Single in the U.S that year.

The-Dream and Morningside Trail Music

Laney's next step as an entrepreneur would be entering into another publishing joint venture with Peer Music, forming Morningside Trail Music in 2003. He discovered, developed and then signed writer/producer Terius "The-Dream" Nash. A year after an unsuccessful initial meeting, The-Dream was able to impress Laney enough to get back in the studio with him. Their first night of working together resulted in the song, "Everything," which ended up on B2K's album. Laney worked hard to develop The-Dream's songwriting abilities and consistency. Under Laney’s tutelage The-Dream has developed into an award-winning super writer/producer and recording artist with hits like "Shawty is the S*^!" and "Falsetto." Laney first introduced The-Dream to his brother Tricky and that partnership lead to a list of hits, from Rihanna's "Umbrella," J. Holiday's "Bed" and "Suffocate," to Mariah Carey's "Touch My Body," Usher's "Moving Mountains," Mary J. Blige's "Just Fine," & Justin Bieber's "Baby," and Beyoncé's "Single Ladies."

2005 to present

In 2005, Laney had to take a break after learning he was suffering from kidney cancer and failure. Laney took time to evaluate the evolving music business climate and in 2009 he, along with his wife, formed Stewart Music Group, combining publishing, production and management. In 2010 was blessed to receive a transplant kidney from his wife and while still in the hospital recuperating from transplant surgery he finalized the deal for a new joint venture with Universal Music Publishing Group [6], the largest music publishing company in the world. Laney is now developing a new publishing catalog under Music Gallery and a new writing/production team called The SharpShootaz, was his first signing. Each writer in The Sharpshootaz was hand picked by Laney himself, including Alex Jacke, Romika Faniel, Derek Yopp, Andrew Kim and Sidney Miller. In late 2011, The Sharpshootaz got in the studio with Jesse McCartney and recorded several songs, including "Out Of Words," which was leaked to the internet in July 2012. On July 9, 2012, Laney and The Sharpshootaz released an Alex Jacke EP called, "D.F.M." The SharpShootaz [7] continue to work on music for more of today's hottest artists. Stewart Music Group currently consists of Music Gallery/UMPG Publishing, "The System" Management and Consulting, and LS Productions. Laney continues to be an important figure in the industry.

Personal life

Laney lives in Los Angeles, California and is married to Khaila Stewart with three children, Jordan, Clarke and Christopher. Laney and Khaila are involved in research at UCLA for kidney disease and living donor transplants.

Discography as songwriter and producer

B2K Pandemonium Epic

B2K B2K Greatest Hits Epic

Alex Jacke D.F.M.

Alex Jacke D.F.M. Deluxe

Chante Moore Millennium Collection Geffen

Shawn Desman Back For More UOMO/Sony BMG

Blu Cantrell So Blu RedZone/Arista

Snow Two Hands Clapping Virgin/Canada

Chante Moore Exposed MCA

Charlie Wilson Bridging the Gap Interscope

K-Ci & JoJo Love Always MCA

Honey (Single Only) (International)

Kandi Hey Kandi… Columbia

Ideal Ideal Virgin

Shanice Shanice Laface

Her Sanity Xclusive Universal

Billy Crawford Billy Crawford V2

Billy Crawford Big City V2

Winans We Got Next Myrrh

Coko Hot Coko RCA

Shanice Shanice LaFace/Arista

Tony, Toni, Tone Soul Food Sdtk. LaFace/Arista

Tony, Toni, Tone Greatest Hits Mercury

Sam Salter It’s On Tonight LaFaceArista

Jesse Powell All I Need Silas/MCA

IV Example IV Example MCA

Chante Moore Love Supreme MCA

Chante Moore Straight Up MCA

Chante Moore Precious MCA

Keith Washington Make Time For Love Qwest/Warner

E.V.E. E.V.E. MCA

Regina Belle Regina Belle Columbia

Darnell Owens Single MCA

Aaron Hall The Truth Silas/MCA

Jason Weaver The Jacksons: An American Dream Motown

Go West The Best of Go West Chrysalis

Go West White Men Can't Jump EMI USA

Karyn White Rituals of Love Warner Bros.

The Whispers The Whispers Capital

Nicki Richards Naked (To The World) Atlantic

Louis Price Louis Price Motown

Altitude Single Bahia Entertainment

Sue Ann Carwell Pain Killer MCA

Patrick O'hearn Mix Up Private Music

Arrogant 12" DJ International Records

Kitty Haywood Single Lance Records

Publishing highlights

Sole Skin Deep Dreamworkds

Pink Can't Take Me Home LaFace Certified 2X Platinum in US, 5X Platinum Worldwide

JT Money Pimpin On Wax Priority

Certified Gold

Mya Fear of Flying Interscope

Sisqo Unleash The Dragon Def Soul Certified Platinum

3LW 3LW Epic Records

Certified Platinum

Tyrese Tyrese RCA Certified Gold, Peaked at #6 on R&B Charts, #17 on Billboard 200

B2K B2K Epic Records

Peaked at #2 on Billboard 200

Color Me Badd Now And Forever Giant Certified Gold

Mista Mista Elektra/EastWest

Usher My Way LaFace/Arista Certified 6X Platinum

TLC Fan Mail LaFace/Arista/BMG Certified 6X Platinum

Britney Spears In The Zone Jive

Certified 2X Platinum

Britney Spears Greatest Hits: My Prerogative Jive

Certified Platinum

J. Holiday Bac Of My Lac Music Line/Capitol

Certified Gold in the U.S. and Gold Worldwide

Billy Crawford Big City Universal

Certified Gold