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A New York University grad, Billy began his music career in Los Angeles’ live music venues and after-hours clubs. He served as Talent Coordinator for the pioneering MTV alternative music series, "The Cutting Edge” and was label manager of Sire Records, where he worked for and with artists such as Lou Reed, The Ramones, Throwing Muses, The Smiths, and Talking Heads. He went on to found Virtuous Ticketing, the world's first fair-trade ticket agency, as an artist-owned alternative to Ticketmaster. Virtuous generated thousands for food banks nationwide and did several million dollars in business while offering the industry's lowest fees and world class customer service. Recognized as a leader in issues of artist sustainability and all aspects of the creative economy, he co-founded the Coalition of Artists & Stakeholders (CASHMusic) as an open-source project creating tech tools for sustainable music business practices. In addition to leading Santa Barbara Records, Billy continues to manage artists and is full-time faculty in the School of the Music Industry at Loyola University, New Orleans.
Santa Barbara native and San Marcos H.S. Alum, Tariqh has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry. From Leanne Rimes to Josh Groban; from superproducer David Foster to legends such as Bette Midler and Stevie Wonder; to pop stars like Christina Aguilera, Weezer and Huey Lewis and the News among dozens of others, Tariqh has amassed an extensive and eclectic resume. A perpetual student of the art, he is a composer, producer, songwriter, studio musician, educator, musical director, multi-instrumentalist, and international clinician. After briefly studying jazz improvisation at SBCC, Tariqh went on to study Contemporary Classical Composition at UCSD and Professional Music at the Berklee College of Music. Tariqh served as Chairman of the Guitar Department at the LA College of Music for five years where he wrote ten books and continues to be active in speaking engagements, master classes and clinics around the world. In 2011 he returned to Santa Barbara and has since partnered with Teen Star, The Alcazar Theater, KTYD, The Lobero and Kenny Loggins, among others, on initiatives to uplift the local music community. In 2018, in partnership with Lisa Conn Akoni, Tariqh founded Red Wagon Music to develop sustainable business models that benefit both artists and venues alike. In addition to overseeing the artists at Santa Barbara Records, Tariqh continues to serve as Musical Director for Josh Groban.
Best known in Santa Barbara as the founder of Plum Goods, Amy has spent three decades in brand management and the past twelve years specializing in design, merchandising and establishing successful, commercial environments. She began her career in San Francisco in public relations and corporate communications and after moving to Santa Barbara she expanded her work in brand management and content creation. In 2010 she opened Plum Goods, offering handcrafted, upcycled and fair trade goods and winning Best Gift Store in SB every year it was in operation. As her business grew, Amy began consulting on how to successfully brand, design and curate commercial concepts. She has become one of the strongest advocates for downtown and community revitalization efforts including serving on the Executive Committee of Downtown Santa Barbara and as a board member of the Sustainable Change Alliance. A resident of Santa Barbara for over 25 years, Amy raised her daughter Olivia here and currently lives and works downtown.
John is a music marketing strategist, community builder, and trusted advisor to artists and entrepreneurs. Prior to Co-Founding Santa Barbara Records, John founded Green Room Strategy and served as VP of Client Partnerships at Oniracom. He has had the pleasure to work with clients such The Santa Barbara Bowl, The Lobero Theater, Warner Music Group, Philip Lassiter, AEG, Jack Johnson, Johnny Irion, SONOS, Shelterbox, Bishop Lamont, Sony Music, UCSB, Martin Sexton, Rudresh Mahanthappa, and many more. Along with SBR GM Billy O’Connell, John currently manages the legendary musician and producer Alan Parsons. John studied Jazz Guitar at The University of North Texas and University of Utah, studied Ethnomusicology in Ghana, and has optimized his life around seeing as much great live music as possible. He serves on the Board of Advisors for Girls Rock SB and is Past-President of the Rotary Club of Montecito, and is raising his family here in Santa Barbara.
Marko is a Santa Barbara raised marketing manager, musician, and avid supporter of local music. An alumni of Santa Barbara’s Music and Arts Conservatory, Marko got involved in the local music scene at a very early age. From playing in classical piano competitions and recording original music, to gigging locally and across the country, he has always had a deep connection to the creative economy in Santa Barbara. In 2012, Marko and co-founder Erland Wanberg joined forces to form ERLAND, a touring alt-folk rock group that opened for acts such as Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness, The White Buffalo, and HAIM. Through these creative collaborations they discovered a shared passion for advancing the careers of local musicians and artists, ultimately giving rise to the idea and concept of Santa Barbara Records.
Davis is a Denver-based community investor and music aficionado with strong ties to Santa Barbara, where he and his wife have a home. His forty-year professional career, from which he’s mostly retired, has been entirely in the business of healthcare, including commercial banking, ambulatory care management, asset development, strategic advisory services and venture capital. Davis has a long history of community service including serving as a governor-appointed member of the Connect for Health Colorado health exchange board and on the boards of the Telluride Hospital District, Telluride R-1 School District, Telluride Ski and Snowboard Club and the Telluride Foundation. He was also the former mayor of Telluride Mountain Village and a former certified firefighter with the Telluride Volunteer Fire Department. His love of Folk and Americana music along with his desire to make an impact in a community he cares deeply about led to the mission and vision at the heart of Santa Barbara Records.