BIG NEAL is the founder of the
Independent record label 4th25 Music
Group (pronounced 4th Quarter Music
Group)… which is responsible for, the
music event of a lifetime, “LIVE FROM IRAQ”, the first and only
album ever written and recorded at war, about war. And,
his latest release, “SOLDIER MUSIC”.
While serving in Baghdad, Iraq between March 12, 2004
and March 12, 2005, Neal built a studio in his barracks room
and began telling the story of a country at war by musically
documenting his first hand experiences as a soldier on the
battlefield. 15 tracks in all, this album vividly and more
accurately than any media coverage, captured the essence of
war… the fear, the anger, and the overall transformation
from a peacetime soldier, not knowing what to expect, or
what hardships there were to be faced, into a combat warrior,
knowing, ready and willing to face whatever odds lay ahead.
His love of music started as a child, taking private lessons and
competing on the violin for several years, before switching to drums,
bass, and ultimately, around the age of 12, setting music to the side all
together. For the next 16 years, music was just something he had done…
yet, something that he could not escape… because, upon his deployment to IRAQ
In 2004, music thrust itself back into the forefront of his life. And, with no knowledge of how or what he needed to produce an album 6,000 miles away from home, Neal accomplished, what at the time, was thought to be impossible.
Since the release of “LIVE FROM IRAQ”, Neal’s work has been featured in ROLLING STONE, NEWSWEEK, SPIN, BLACKBOOK, and on NPR, the BBC, MTV, CURRENT TV, MSNBC, and FOX NEWS THE O’REILLY FACTOR to name a few. His music has also been licensed by
LIONS GATE FILMS for “STIR OF ECHOES 2”, and PARAMOUNT for “STOP LOSS”.
Currently, Neal is in the process of forming FOUR25dotORG, a nonprofit organization providing soldiers and their families music education, lessons, workshops, instruments and
more. Officially kicking things off in JUNE of 2008 by holding the first annual ARMY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FUNDRAISER.
Download the BIO in .doc format
