Production Team
Scott Francis
Producer / Engineer
Native of Williamsport, Scott Francis has been in the music industry for almost 20 years. He has toured North America as a vocalist and guitar player, performing in nearly every major city in America. After receiving tutelage from local guitarist Dave Brumbaugh and then attending Berklee College of Music in the early ’90’s, Scott created Mind’s Eye Music Studios, and shortly after moved to VA.
As owner & operator of Mind’s Eye, Scott has done session work as a musician, arranger, engineer & producer for countless local and regional artists in multiple genres including bands, orchestras, choirs, vocal groups. In addition, Scott has worked with numerous film makers including Oscar nominated Dana Adam Shapiro, and Ben Mandell.
Upon returning to Williamsport in 2003, Scott built his state-of-the-art studio, and opened its doors to the local recording community. In addition, Scott was Assistant Director of the Uptown Music Collective (www.uptownmusic.org) from 2003 through October 2008 where he also taught guitar, bass and music & video technology until August 2009, when he left to focus on Mind’s Eye full time.
Personal Statement:
“I believe in music.” I know that may sound a bit cliche, so let me explain myself a little better. Music has been one of the few constants throughout my life. It has been there through the good times and the bad, and always seems to have the right thing to say.
Perhaps I look at music as more of an entity than something less tangible. With that said, I feel that music and the arts can touch everyone in one way or another. I feel that it is my life’s work to help people to express themselves creatively through music and video arts, be it through performing, writing, recording, producing or development.
It is my deepest desire to share the knowledge and gifts that I have of music and art with others, and to help cultivate their creativeness and expression through these wonderful gifts.
Johnny J. Blair
Producer/Marketing
For over twenty years, “Singer at Large” Johnny J. Blair has issued acclaimed recordings that have reached a global audience –from the “new wave concept album” Door in the Water to the soulful masterwork Fire to the bare-knuckled acoustic “agitpop” of Treadmarks to the “Ziggy Stardust meets Pet Sounds” of Grateful. Rock legend Brian Wilson called Blair “a virtuoso.”
Since 1993, Blair has toured and continues to produce recordings with Davy Jones (www.davyjones.net), former singer from one of pop/rock’s most enduring acts, The Monkees (Blair was also involved in the 1996 Monkees’ reunion album JUSTUS with all four original members).
Blair issues most of his recordings through Wampus Multimedia http://www.wampus.com/, starting with the 2003 Lou Reed-endorsed tribute album, After Hours; Blair’s cover of Reed’s Sunday Morning was backed by members of The Badlees and was cited by Shellybay.com in their “Top 40 best cover versions of any song ever.”
Based in Williamsport, Blair is also a multi-instrumentalist and producer whose recording resume includes projects with Nico (Velvet Underground) and Michael Roe (The 77s). He is also a partner with the Word2Soul Project http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/word2soul, a production and publishing company (BMI). His other skills include music media/marketing and music history/journalism.
Blair’s Mind’s Eye roster includes Ron Fleeger & the Stranger, Davy Jones, Hugh Ross, Allie Weiler, and Word2Soul.
Hunter Wentzler
Producer / Songwriter
Hunter Wentzler graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2002, with degrees in Music Production and Music Business. Since Boston, Hunter has lived and worked in Florida and Los Angeles before returning to Williamsport to develop his crafts as a songwriter, guitarist, and producer.
In 2004 Hunter started his own production company, SilverSound Productions and teamed up with Mind’s Eye Recording Studios to give artists an outlet for recording quality music.
Hunter’s Credits include:
Mallory Scoppa Band, Silenus, Emily Hulslander, Lauren Johns, Maesyn Strite, and the Boston-based artists Sinapse and Mark Noseworthy.
Personal Statement:
“Mind’s Eye is the areas most creative and up-to-date recording environment. I love to work there.”- Hunter Wentzler