Blue Night Records Staff

Steven Briggs
President
His early interests included Burl Ives, the Kingston Trio, Peter, Paul & Mary, The Limelighters, and even Rick Nelson. Then one fateful night on a date with Linda Spinelli (hello Linda, if you’re out there somewhere) at the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach, he heard The Greenbriar Boys. It only took about two John Herald G-runs and the hook was set.
A short time later (somewhere in the 1960s — who remembers those years precisely?) Steven met Ron LeGrand, banjo player with “The Fly-By-Night Fleabags.” Ron sold him his first Martin D-28, and the two of them “commenced to pickin.” They soon formed “Wild Oats,” which played regularly at Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Magic Mountain, and other large venues — even opening the televised Country Music Awards in the mid-70s. Their acclaimed (well, er, “noticed” anyway) long play album (that’s right, an LP) “Country + Bluegrass = Wild Oats” on Alshire Records (the famous “101 Strings” label) may still be found in dusty record bins nationwide. Along the way he met legendary fiddler Byron Berline, who took him on the road for some state fair gigs with banjoist Herb Pedersen (Desert Rose Band) and bassist Roger Bush (Kentucky Colonels).
Fast forward to the 1980s. Steven was lead singer and guitarist in “Pickaway,” a busy Milwaukee bluegrass band. One of his most popular vocals in those years was “Blue Night,” a soaring lament made popular by “His Billness,” the “Father of Bluegrass,” Bill Monroe.
On the non-musical side, Steven earned a few degrees, including a Ph.D. in Industrial Relations from U.C.L.A. He was a university professor for 40 years, specializing in conflict management and negotiation skills. He has served as a labor arbitrator since 1977, and has been a member of the National Academy of Arbitrators since 1984.
Most importantly, Steven is married to the lovely Barbara, is the proud father of Amy Brown, and is the adoptive parent of Peek-A-Boo, Jackson, and Cooper, the best cats in the world.

Randy LeRoy
Engineer

BEN McAMIS
Engineer

BILLY OSKAY
Engineer

STEVE RASHID
Engineer

JOHN SAYLOR
Engineer

ERIC UGLUM
Engineer

VICKIE SPURGIN
Graphic Designer

BILL WHITACRE
Legal Services Director
Like most of the Blue Night Records family, Bill is also a picker. He plays guitar and mandolin, and has performed in various Nashville establishments, at The Florida Folk Festival and at MerleFest, among many other events and venues. Welcome to the family, Bill. For more information about Bill, go to http://www.showbizlaw.net.