15 Years In the Business
By Shane Conklin

		Billy Cohen has been a powerful presence in the music scenes of New York City and San Francisco for over fifteen years. His work as an entrepreneur agent, manager, promoter, and lyricist on both coasts has earned him the respect and notoriety achieved by very few. He got his start while earning his literature degree at Columbia University in New York, class of 1988. While booking gigs at the 712 Club in Harlem, he managed and wrote lyrics for a band called Dreamspeak, part of the "jam band" movement of the late 1980's and
early 1990's which spawned such acts as Blues Traveler and the Spin Doctors. "That was a magical time," smiled Cohen. "We were at the center of things."

At Columbia he developed a life-long friendship with David Graham, son of rock impresario Bill Graham. Graham senior saw something he liked in the young Cohen and invited him to shift his operations to the west coast, where he remained from May 1990 through May 1991.

In May 1991, Billy began work with David Graham's management company, Music Unlimited. He was head of production for a festival series in the Catskills, headlining acts such as Phish, The Band, and Ziggy Marley. In the summer of 1992 Cohen helped produce the first H.O.R.D.E. Tour. The death of Bill Graham in October 1991, however, led to son David's eventual exit from the music industry in January 1993.

Cohen's next move was to begin his own management company. In February 1993, he partnered with Colleen Kennedy, a 12-year veteran of Bill Graham Presents, to create Labyrynth. With Kennedy's 7-year stint as the head of box office for the Grateful Dead providing Labyrynth instant clout, they were in search of that special band.

Colleen Gallagher, a mutual friend, invited Cohen and Kennedy to the I-Beam in San Francisco to see "this band from Chico" called Mother Hips. "They sounded like the perfect combination of the Beatles and the Grateful Dead," reminisced Cohen. "I had never heard anything like them before. Still haven't." After a three-hour meeting a week later, Labyrynth agreed to manage Mother Hips.

Things began to take off for Mother Hips and Labyrynth in the summer of 1993. Their tour radius, once confined to northern California, stretched from Mexico to Canada, and from the Bay Area to Colorado. Their mailing list numbered in the thousands and spanned the entire country. In December, they sold out the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, garnering the attention of A & R reps. from several major recording companies. In 1994, after considering many offers, they signed with American Recordings.

With their undeniable momentum, Labyrynth added several bands to its roster. Their reputation of generating personal connections with their acts, as well as their proven track records, made Cohen and Kennedy the center of an extremely close-knit group of musicians and music people. "That was pure," said Kennedy. "We were surrounded by creativity, we felt like a family, and we were paying our rent. A very special time for everyone."

Since 1999, Cohen has been the booking agent for perennial rockers NRBQ. A tribute album featuring Bonnie Raitt, Widespread Panic, Los Lobos, and Mike Mills of R.E.M. will be released later this year commemorating their 35 th anniversary. They have a new album in the works, and should be supporting it with live shows in 2004 and 2005.

The Midwest Music Magazine persuaded Cohen to sit down for some Q & A to get the perspective of a seasoned veteran.

Question:What would you say to that young person thinking about a life in the music industry?

Cohen: don't buy the hype. This business is full of energy and life, but It's also full of mundane tasks and thankless jobs. Everyone becomes intoxicated with the fantasy impression of the business. don't expect limos and private jets. You have to look at it from a nuts-and-bolts perspective.

Question:So there's no such thing as an over-night success?

Cohen: A wise man once told me, "Every over-night success is 7 years in the making." That's about right, too. Even the young stars you see these days have been at it since they were ten. It's a long, hard, slow process, no matter what side of the curtain you're on.

Question: How is life as a father? (Cohen and Kennedy were married in 2001 and now have a 2 1/2 –year old son, Daniel.)

Cohen: I love it. Best thing that's ever happened to me.

Q: Does it get in the way of business?

Cohen: Truthfully, no. I guess I feel sorry for everyone with a 'normal setup". Our office is adjacent to our home, so I've seen Daniel more in the first two years of his life than most fathers see their sons in their first ten (years).

Question: So who are some acts for us to be listening for?

Cohen: There's an all-female power trio called Sistas in the Pit which will blow

people away. Kofy Brown is extremely impressive. Chris Brown and Kate Fenner have a moving sound, too. We have a great roster right now, We're very excited about all of our acts.

Question: Any final thoughts?

Cohen: I'm very happy with life. My wife, my son, the business- looking back, I wouldn't trade where I am for anything.

You can contact Billy Cohen at Labyrynth Management at (415) 753-0910.