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Rowdy Records is an independent record label, distributed through Motown Records.

History[link]

Formed in 1992 by producers Dallas Austin and L.A. Reid, Rowdy was initially distributed through Arista Records. At the time, Austin had gained notoriety for writing and producing hits for acts like Monica, Another Bad Creation, Boyz II Men, Joi, For Real, Da King & I and TLC. Reid, meanwhile, was also running the fledging LaFace Records. In 1993, Reid stepped down to continue focusing his energies on LaFace, leaving Dallas to run the Atlanta-based company on his own.

Rowdy shot to success in 1995 with the release of the triple platinum debut album from fourteen year old R&B singer Monica entitled Miss Thang. Other acts on the label included: Illegal, Fishbone, Caron Wheeler. The label also released the soundtrack to the motion-picture Fled.

In spite of the labels strong buzz in the industry (mainly due to Austin's name being attached to it), by 1997 Rowdy began to flounder, as Monica's debut album had been its biggest release to date—and arguably the company's only success. Creative differences with Arista subsequently caused Rowdy to vacate its fold, while Monica (its most notable star) remained at Arista. Without a major distributor, Rowdy briefly went the independent route before stalling completely. Austin's career, meanwhile, continued to thrive as he remained a highly sought after producer, which led to him stepping down as CEO. In 1998, Rowdy closed its doors.

In 2005, when a fledgling Decatur, Georgia based hip-hop group called Da BackWudz caught Austin's attention, he decided to reactivate Rowdy (after seven years of dormancy) in order to sign them. Upon its reactivation, Rowdy took up distribution with Motown Records.

Current artists[link]

• Da BackWudz
• Sy Scott
• Vonzell Solomon
• Colin Munroe ^[1]

References:

1. ^ http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Lowdown/2007/12/04/4707194-ca.html

Former artists[link]

• Q-PID (1995)
• Y'all So Stupid
• Sammie
• GSR (formerly known as Gangstir Rock)
• Muzza Chunka
• Monica
• Da King & I
• Stick
• Illegal
• Rampage the last boy scout

See also[link]

• List of record labels

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (April 2008)

Dallas Austin (born December 29, 1970) is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Some of his most notable clients include Michael Jackson, TLC, Boyz II Men, Pink, Monica, Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Stacie Orrico, Another Bad Creation, Fishbone, Sugababes, Anastacia, Namie Amuro, Kim Zolciak from the Real Housewives of Atlanta and McFly.

Career[link]

Austin was a member of Highland Place Mobsters on the influential hip hop label LaFace in the early 1990s before embarking on a career as a full-time producer. Highland Place Mobsters, a derivative of MCA Records 80's group "Glasswurk", contributed to the soundtracks for the movies White Men Can't Jump and Boomerang.^{[citation needed]}

As a producer and songwriter, Austin was first noticed in the mid 80's when his childhood manager, producer/drummer William "Vybe Chyle" Burke introduced him to Joyce Irby ('80s all-girl band Klymaxx) who signed him to Diva One Music. Since then Austin has crafted hits for LaFace and TLC (with which he won two Grammys for co-producing CrazySexyCool and FanMail), including the hit singles "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg", "What About Your Friends", "Creep", "Silly Ho" and "Unpretty". As a teenager, Irby took Austin to Sylvia Rhone, Motown head Jheryl Busby, L.A. Reid, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, asking them to give him a shot as a producer. Other credits of Austin's include the number-two single "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)" recorded by Blu Cantrell, "Don't Let Me Get Me" and "Just Like a Pill" by Pink, and the hit "Secret" by Madonna. In more recent times, Austin's work has returned him to the charts, writing and producing the successful "Trick Me" for Kelis as well as "Left Outside Alone" and "Sick and Tired" for Anastacia.^{[citation needed]}

Austin has tried his hand at remixing for other artists, most notably "They Don't Care About Us" for Michael Jackson and "The Power of Good-Bye" for Madonna.^{[citation needed]} In addition to American artists, Austin has produced songs for international artists. In 1999 Austin and Japanese pop singer Namie Amuro began a professional relationship in which he produced many of her songs until present.^{[citation needed]}

Austin is also known for socially conscious productions such as TLC's "Unpretty" and "Damaged" and more recently "Ugly" for UK act Sugababes. For the Sugababes, Austin produced several other tracks on their number-one album Taller in More Ways, including the single "Push the Button", which spent three weeks at the top of the UK charts. He also produced the Girls Aloud' Comic Relief collaboration with Sugababes on "Walk This Way". He is also responsible for producing Gwen Stefani's single "Cool" from her Love.Angel. Music.Baby. album.^{[citation needed]}

In 1992, Austin formed Rowdy Records with fellow producer L.A. Reid, though Reid left the following year. Austin branched out into cinema as well, becoming the executive producer of Drumline (2002) for 20th Century Fox. He also served as the film's musical director. Austin is currently working with Warner Bros. studios on another music-driven film set in Atlanta.^{[citation needed]}

Drumline cast member Orlando Jones also chose Austin to be the music director, alongside DJ Rukus, for his short-lived The Orlando Jones Show, a live talk show that aired on F/X.^{[citation needed]}

Dallas has more recently co-written/produced the will.i.am single, T.H.E or The Hardest Ever. He had originally written the song for another artist, Alex 242, but Jimmy Iovine, upon hearing the song asked for it to be played for will.i.am - who agreed it should be his first single off his latest album.

United Arab Emirates incident[link]

In July, 2006, Austin was arrested and held in a United Arab Emirates prison on drug charges. After fellow songwriter U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch interceded on Austin's behalf, the UAE consulate in Washington D.C. placed calls to Lionel Richie for a character reference.^[1][2]

Richie recounts for the New York Times:

It was, 'Tell me what kind of guy is Dallas Austin.' I said, 'Listen, this is a great guy. He's done a great job for the community. A gangster, a hoodlum, a thug, he's not.'^[1][2]

Austin pleaded guilty in court, apologized for his actions, and was subsequently granted a royal pardon by Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.^[1][2]

Discography[link]

..

References[link]

External links[link]

• Dallas Austin on music.com
• Dallas Austin's myspace
• Dallas Austin's beatbuggy
• Dallas Austin biography on VH1.com
• Rowdy.tv is a social networking site for Rowdy Records
• EMI biography of Dallas Austin.

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Rowdy Gaines

Personal information
Full name	Ambrose Gaines IV
Nationality	United States
Born	(1959-02-17) February 17, 1959 (age 53) Winter Haven, FL, U.S.
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Stroke(s)	freestyle
College team	Auburn Tigers
Medal record Men's swimming Competitor for the  United States Olympic Games Gold 1984 Los Angeles 100 m freestyle Gold 1984 Los Angeles 4×100 m freestyle Gold 1984 Los Angeles 4×100 m medley World Championships (LC) Gold 1978 Berlin 4×100 m freestyle Gold 1978 Berlin 4×200 m freestyle Gold 1982 Guayaquil 4×100 m freestyle Gold 1982 Guayaquil 4×200 m freestyle Gold 1982 Guayaquil 4×100 m medley Silver 1978 Berlin 200 m freestyle Silver 1982 Guayaquil 100 m freestyle Silver 1982 Guayaquil 200 m freestyle Pan American Games Gold 1979 San Juan 200 m freestyle Gold 1979 San Juan 4×100 m freestyle Gold 1979 San Juan 4×200 m freestyle Gold 1983 Caracas 100 m freestyle Gold 1983 Caracas 4×100 m freestyle Gold 1983 Caracas 4×200 m freestyle Gold 1983 Caracas 4×100 m medley Bronze 1983 Caracas 200 m freestyle

Ambrose ("Rowdy") Gaines IV (born February 17, 1959 in Winter Haven, Florida) is a former American swimmer, U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame member, Olympic three-time gold medalist, and member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame. He is currently the chief fundraiser for USA Swimming as well as a swimming analyst for television networks ESPN and NBC including coverage of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics, his fourth as a TV commentator.^[1]

Biography[link]

Born in Winter Haven, Florida, Rowdy unsuccessfully tried other sports during his teen-age years but turned to swimming as a Winter Haven High School junior where he improved quickly and was offered a swimming scholarship to Auburn University. At Auburn he became a five-time NCAA champion under the training of former Stanford University and Auburn head swimming coach Richard Quick. During one four-year period, Gaines held eleven World Records and, had the United States not boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, he would have been a favorite to win multiple medals at the event. After graduating from Auburn in 1981, where he is often cited as the most famous and intelligent student athlete to ever attend Auburn University, he stopped swimming for several months, thinking he had missed his opportunity to be an Olympic medalist, but was urged to resume swimming by his father. When Gaines qualified at the 1984 Olympic trials, his times were not particularly impressive and he was not expected to place at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. He won the 100 meter freestyle off a very good start and swam the anchor leg for both the US gold medal-winning 4 × 100-meter freestyle and 4 × 100-meter medley teams.

In August 1991, Gaines was temporarily paralyzed with Guillain-Barré syndrome. After a two-month hospitalization, he experienced a surprising full recovery attributed largely to his superb physical condition as a competitive swimmer. He eventually regained world-class times and, at the age of 35, became the oldest swimmer to qualify for the trials for the 1996 Summer Olympics. Ultimately, he chose not to compete in the trials for Atlanta but rather continue his career as a television commentator, covering swimming for NBC at the Games.

Gaines was Outreach Director for the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in Birmingham, Alabama from 1997 until 2003 when he moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado to become the Chief Fund-raising and Alumni Officer for USA Swimming. In December 2007, Gaines became a spokesperson for LIMU, The Company, a Direct Sales Company that manufactures LIMU ORIGINAL, BLU FROG, LIMU LEAN, and LIMU ORIGINAL SHOTS.

Gaines still holds Masters long course world records in several freestyle events. At the 2011 Short Course Masters Nationals, Gaines broke his own national record in the 50-54 division 50 yard freestyle (21.36),^[2] notable in that he did the swim without the use of a technical suit (now banned). On July 16, 2011, Gaines broke the 50-54 Age Group record in the long course 100m freestyle with a time of 54.6^[3]. Gaines currently resides in Lake Mary, Florida where he is Executive Director of Rowdy's Kidz, a charitable program sponsored by LIMU, The Company. His wife, Judy, and he have four daughters: Emily, Madison, Savanna and Isabelle.

Awards[link]

• International Swimming Hall of Fame
• U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
• Alabama Sports Hall of Fame
• Florida Sports Hall of Fame^[4]
• 1982 McDonalds Spirit Award^[4]
• 2007 NCAA Silver Anniversary Award^[4]

See also[link]

• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games
• World Fit
• World record progression 50 metres freestyle
• World record progression 100 metres freestyle
• World record progression 200 metres freestyle

References[link]

External links[link]

• Rowdy Gaines Official Bio
• Rowdy Gaines At The Limu Company
• FINA Men's Long Course Masters Records
• Gaines' Sports Illustrated 50th Anniversary essay

Records
Preceded by Chris Cavanaugh	Men's 50 metre freestyle world record holder (long course) April 10, 1980 – April 10, 1980	Succeeded by Bruce Stahl
Preceded by Jonty Skinner	Men's 100 metre freestyle world record holder (long course) 3 April 1981 – 6 August 1985	Succeeded by Matt Biondi
Awards
Preceded by None	World Swimmer of the Year 1980	Succeeded by Alex Baumann
Preceded by Darrell Griffith Mark D. Herrmann Donald J. Paige Ronald K. Perry Randy Lee Schleusener	NCAA Top Five Award Class of 1982 Par J. Arvidsson Rowdy Gaines Oliver Luck Kenneth W. Sims Lynette Woodard	Succeeded by Bruce Baumgartner John Elway Richard J. Giusto Charles F. Kiraly David R. Rimington
Preceded by Valerie Ackerman Danny Ainge Charles Davis Terry Schroeder Mike Singletary Susan Wellington	Silver Anniversary Awards (NCAA) Class of 2007 Gail Koziara Boudreaux Ambrose “Rowdy” Gaines Steve Jordan Patricia Melton Ann Woods Smith William Stetson, M.D.	Succeeded by Class of 2008

v t e 1980 USA Olympic Swimming Team Men's Team Steve Barnicoat Bill Barrett Craig Beardsley Mike Bottom Mike Bruner Rick Carey Chris Cavanaugh Jeff Float Billy Forrester Rowdy Gaines Brian Goodell Matt Gribble John Hencken Bob Jackson Kris Kirchner David Larson Steve Lundquist Glenn Mills John Moffet Ron Neugent William Paulus Peter Rocca Brian Roney John Simons Dave Sims Dave Thornton Jesse Vassallo Women's Team Terri Baxter Lisa Buese Linda Burton Kim Carlisle Tracy Caulkins Stephanie Elkins Nancy Hogshead Linda Jezek Libby Kinkead Karin LaBerge Kim Linehan Marybeth Linzmeier Mary T. Meagher Joan Pennington Susan Rapp Jill Sterkel Susie Thayer Sue Walsh Sippy Woodhead Coaches Paul Bergen Don Gambril George Haines Denny Pursley Randy Reese Mark Schubert

v t e 1984 USA Olympic Swimming Team Men's Team Matt Biondi Rick Carey Chris Cavanaugh George DiCarlo Jeff Float Geoffrey Gaberino Rowdy Gaines Matt Gribble Bruce Hayes Mike Heath Tom Jager Patrick Kennedy Jeff Kostoff David Larson Robin Leamy Steve Lundquist John Moffet Pablo Morales John Mykkanen Mike O'Brien Richard Saeger Rich Schroeder Jesse Vassallo Dave Wilson Women's Team Theresa Andrews Tracy Caulkins Tiffany Cohen Sue Heon Nancy Hogshead Jenna Johnson Kim Linehan Mary T. Meagher Betsy Mitchell Susan Rapp Kim Rhodenbaugh Michele Richardson Carrie Steinseifer Jill Sterkel Dara Torres Tori Trees Mary Wayte Amy White Sippy Woodhead Coaches Ron Ballatore Ray Bussard Don Gambril George Haines Charlie Hodgson Doug Ingram Frank Keefe Skip Kenney Richard Quick Randy Reese Mark Schubert

• http://www.rowdyskidz.com/news.shtml

Kris Kross was an American rap duo of the 1990s comprising Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly and Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith. The duo are best known for their hit 1992 song "Jump", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and was certified double platinum as a single. Kris Kross was also noted for their fashion style, which consisted of wearing their clothing backwards. The duo sung the Rugrats Rap for Nickelodeon in 1993.

Career[link]

Atlanta natives Kelly (born August 11, 1978) and Smith (born January 10, 1979) were discovered in 1990 by 18-year-old Jermaine Dupri at an Atlanta shopping mall.^[1][2] Along with Dupri they signed a deal with Ruffhouse Records, and recorded their debut album Totally Krossed Out. Entirely produced by Dupri, Totally Krossed Out, was released March 31, 1992 and sold four million copies in the U.S. It included the hit single "Jump", which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks.

The duo landed a spot on Michael Jackson's 1992 Dangerous World Tour, as well as a cameo appearance on Jackson's "Jam" music video. The music videos from their own album also experienced major success. The video for "Jump", directed by filmmaker Rich Murray went to No. 1 on MTV and sold over 100,000 copies as a VHS 'video single' and the video for their followup single "Warm It Up", also directed by Murray won a Billboard video award for "Best New Artist". In addition to this, they also made appearances in the music videos for Run-D.M.C.'s "Down with the King" and TLC's "Hat 2 Da Back". They were also featured in an episode of A Different World, and the closing musical act on May 29, 1992 episode of In Living Color.

In 1992, a video game was released starring the pair titled Kris Kross: Make My Video. It was released on the Sega CD system, and consisted of the player editing together the group's music videos to a few of their hit songs—using portions of the original music videos, stock footage, and general video animation effects. Players were prompted before each edit session to make sure to have certain footage compiled into the video. The game was released only in the United States to poor sales figures and dismal reviews. It was ranked 18th on Electronic Gaming Monthly's list of the "20 Worst Games of All Time".^[3]

Kris Kross recorded the Rugrats Rap for Rugrats ( A Nickelodeon cartoon) for Nickelodeon in 1993. The song is available on the Rugrats Chuckie the Brave VHS and The Best of Nicktoons CD which is a compilation album of theme songs and other material from several Nicktoons that was released by Nickelodeon and Rhino Records in 1998.

Kris Kross made a cameo appearance in Ted Demme's 1993 film Who's the Man?, which starred Ed Lover and Doctor Dré of Yo! MTV Raps fame.

Their second album, Da Bomb (1993), was certified platinum, and spawned the hit "Alright", although it failed to match their earlier success. Most of their songs had been directed at rivals Da Youngstas, Illegal and Another Bad Creation. A third album, Young, Rich & Dangerous, was released in early 1996 and was certified gold. It spawned the two hits "Tonite's tha Night" and "Live and Die for Hip Hop".

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

Remix albums[link]

Compilation albums[link]

Singles[link]

• US: Gold^[18]

References[link]