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Classically Trained Records was the brain child of Richard D. Sharefield. It began as a showcase for classical music performers. In 1987, Richard Sharefield held bi-weekly shows on the week-ends where on Saturday, singers came and sung, showcasing their talents, and on Sunday, musicians came and played, showcasing their talents. Mr. Sharefield had each day recorded and the sessions were sold to help pay for the showcases. The showcases were successful. After awhile, some of the artists who were participating in the showcases began to complain because they were not receiving any of the money from the sale of the recordings. The artists received compensation from the admissions proceeds. The grumbling among the artists became so great, that Mr. Sharefield canceled the showcases all together. This action caused even more problems for Mr. Sharefield. People began saying that he had been stealing money from the participants and fans of the showcases. Mr. Sharefield became so despondent about the situation that he locked himself in his house for six months, refusing to speak to even his family. On 4/12/1989, Mr. Sharefield allowed Dover West, a 19-year old classical music sensation to set-up a meeting with him. In the meeting, Mr. West wanted to work with Mr. Sharefield to get the showcases back up and running. Mr. West had a presentation prepared and was full of innovative ideas. After the presentation, Mr. Sharefield was still reluctant to go back into the showcase business. Dover was not discouraged. He continued talking to Mr. Sharefield. Mr. West left with Mr. Sharefield's consent to seek financial backing and promotion for the showcase. Mr. West also was allowed to have a meeting with all the people who wanted to participate in the showcases. After 2 weeks, Mr. West had the financial backing he needed. He even had the promotion necessary. The promoter wanted to do quad-state wide showcases, with prizes and compensation for the performers. The next step was a meeting with the people of his home city. Mr. Sharefield was weary of this meeting. Mr. West told him not to worry. Mr. Sharefield believed in Mr. West and let him be in charge of the meeting. The meeting went well, although not all of the participants were happy. A small fraction thought that they were owed money for the past showcases and promised to ruin the showcases every chance they got. Mr. West took the ring leaders of the group aside and talked to them. They refused to co-operate. Mr. West made a deal with them. He said that they could enter the first showcase. If they won, he would sign them to a record deal on the label that he was forming. If they lost, they had to go away and leave the showcase alone. Part of the deal wasn't even in place. There was no record label in the works at the time. The leaders of the trouble makers agreed to the deal. A few weeks after that, Mr. West put together a plan to establish a classical music record label. By the first showcase, the grand prize was a record deal on Classically Trained Records. The showcases began on 7/1/1989. The trouble makers did not win the showcase. As agreed upon, the trouble makers left the showcases alone. One of the group members was later signed to a deal after apologizing. The first person signed to Classically Trained Records (CTR) was Lucius Fields, a violinist. He won the first showcase that was held in Youngstown, Maddocha. All winners of the showcases agreed to go to music school, if they had not already been to school so that all of the artists would be classically trained as the label's name suggested. The showcases continued for six months, resulting in 20 artists being signed to the label. CTR continues to grow and produce excellent music. From its humble beginnings as a showcase to now, a popular record label, CTR had amassed a great roster of artists and a large following of devoted fans. CTR remains faithful to requiring its artists to be classically trained and producing the best music around. |
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