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Wepecket (wee-PECK-it) Island Records is dedicated to keeping American traditional music alive by recording living masters of the music and encouraging emerging artists to reflect the qualities of traditional music in their original work.

In keeping with our motto, all the performers in our family are true "masters" of their craft. They are also involved with the process of finding, learning and promulgating songs of our heritage.

Our artists also have interests and careers outside of music ranging from early childhood development, outdoor leadership, and social justice to the environment, ancient languages, anthropology and goldsmithing.

In addition, they are much more interested in connecting with their audiences than achieving stardom. In fact, most of them feel strongly that the star system of modern show business is antithetical to making good, honest music.

The company

Wepecket started out as an expensive hobby for Jack in 2004. Several friends made investments in the company over the succeeding years. In 2009, Wepecket was restructured as a Subchapter S corporation. The board of directors comprises Jack, Don Barry, Deborah Anne Fisher, Dale Robin Goodman, and Sherman Lee Dillon.
   A few opportunities remain to join our company as an investor. For investment information, please E-mail Jack.

Everyone at Wepecket is committed to making the best music possible available to as wide an audience as we can find for our artists. Each of us cares deeply about the music and our community of musicians, technicians, marketers, artists and researchers. As a measure of that commitment, everyone on our staff is also an owner of shares in the company.


Jim Bennett succumbed to cancer on Nov. 30, 2011, after a long and fierce battle, at the age of 65. He was Wepecket's semi-official Folklorist. A terrific banjo, mandolin and guitar player, Jim's knowledge, understanding and love of traditional music ran deep and true. He was the company's first investor. His playing on several Wepecket records as a back-up musician only scratches the surface of the value he brought to our day-to-day and long-term operations.


Don Barry brings a wide and deep range of talents to Wepecket. Don was the force behind making Wepecket a functioning business, and serves on Wepecket's Board of Directors. On any give day you might find him operating the PA system, producing a recording session, playing bass with a bluegrass band or guiding the company through a difficult business decision. He's also that guy you see in traffic delays playing his ukulele.


Sherman Lee Dillon has recorded four full-length albums for Wepecket and also contributed to our recent Pete Seeger tribute record, "For Pete's Sake." Only Jack and Don have more time on the road as members of the Rolling Roots Revue. Sherman has a deep and thorough understanding of the music industry: He owned and operated a music store for many years, and helps out nowadays at the Jackson, Mississippi nightclub of which his son is half-owner. Sherman helps with booking Rolling Roots tours and is a valuable contributor to decisions about new recording projects.


Peter Elwell is responsible for tour direction and booking Wepecket artists. A widely talented musician himself (He's proficient on guitar, drums, mandolin and trombone, among other instruments), Pete is also on the lookout for additional artists to join the Wepecket family. He spent five years working in and around the alternative club scene in Brooklyn and lower Manhattan. His other deep interest is sailing, and Pete now lives on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans.


Deborah Anne Fisher is not only a wonderfully talented singer and song writer, she has an amazing capacity for organization and enthusiasm for promotion. Debbie has only been with Wepecket as an artist for a year, but we quickly decided to tap her boundless energy and bring her onto our board of directors. With five boys, two still at home, a full-time teaching job, a music career and volunteering at her church she has a demonstrated ability to handle a lot of jobs simultaneously and effectively. She is primarily responsible for tour direction and fan relations.


Dale Robin Goodman is also a Wepecket recording artist, and has sat on our board since 2009. Her experience as Development Director for WMPG, a community radio station in Portland, Maine, is only a small part of what makes her invaluable to the company. It is her wisdom and careful thinking that help us shape decisions so the outcomes are as good as they can be. She also keeps us mindful of the pleasure in tracking down good songs (she calls herself a "song hunter") and singing and recording them.


Eric Higgins is our graphic design artist. His work can be seen on our most recent CDs, including "Hamilton County," "Just A Few Old Memories," "For Pete's Sake," and "The Lazy Farmer." Eric is also a musician, and sings under the stage name "Lewn." He previously worked as the designer for Strange Music, a leading producer of Hip-Hop music, during which tenure he designed online marketing and point-of-sale graphics for that label.


Goldie Radcliffe is our mascot. She claims to be a golden retriever, but we're really not sure, as there were no papers for her at the adoption agency when we got her. She can most often be found perched atop a monitor speaker during a Rolling Roots performance, and loves to sit up on the dashboard of the van when we're traveling. She has her own Facebook page, as well. Give her a poke.


 
About our name ...

Wepecket is a tiny island (maybe two acres) and two even smaller piles of rocks 500 yards off the northwestern shore of Naushon Island in Buzzards Bay off the coast of Massachusetts. The name is derived from the Wampanoag word "Wepu" for "narrow," hence "Wepu-ket:" "narrow strait." Some geographers consider Wepecket the smallest of eight islands in the Elizabeth archipelago. Others consider it an anomalous outcropping that is really part of Naushon Island.

Fishermen have always been attracted to the spot because its combination of shoal and deep water, tumbling rocks and abundant sea vegetation and shellfish makes it a great feeding and breeding ground for bass, bluefish, scup and other species of cold water fish. Fishing birds, as well, like to hunt the waters surrounding the little chunks of glacial debris.

The Great Black-backed Gull is among the birds that nest there, and ospreys, once almost extinct in this region, include the pickings on and around Wepecket in their mealtime rounds. You'll also see piping plovers, cormorants, black ducks, Mergansers and several varieties of terns, including the endangered Roseate (whose principal breeding ground is West by Northwest about 10 miles away on Ram Island, off the coast of Mattapoisett Neck).

Since the performers and the music we record are themselves an endangered species, when it was time to name our fledgling label back in 2004, it seemed an appropriate choice. Our mission remains the same: Preserving traditional American music and spreading its message through the recordings of modern masters of the craft.

We also find an affinity between traditional music's homemade approach and the more gentle way of getting into the outdoors exemplified by sail and paddle power.



Jack Radcliffe,
President, Packer/Shipper and Dishwasher,
Wepecket Island Records, Inc.



For more information call me at 508-292-5632.

 
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Wepecket Island Records
P. O. Box 109, Raynham, MA 02767
p: 508.292.5632 e-mail: info@wepecket.com
© Copyright 2003-, Wepecket Island Records, Inc. All rights reserved.

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