Starting Five Media Expands Services Beyond Music Clearances by Partnering with Ray Andersen to Record Custom Cover Versions

SHORT HILLS, NJ— Harris Sterling, Co-Founder of Starting Five Media, announced this week, it will now have the ability to produce custom versions of hit songs by joining with multi-talented composer, producer and musician, Ray Andersen. Andersen will be joining the team as an executive producer and primary recording artist for Starting Five Media’s custom recording business. 

“I’ve had the privilege of knowing Ray for many years, working with him on numerous recording projects for Starting Five Media, and growing up with Ray in West Orange, New Jersey,” said Harris Sterling, Co-Founder. “He’s an extraordinarily talented musician, who time and again has delivered quality recordings for our affiliated companies and more recently our major clients.”

Sterling adds, “Ray is uniquely able to take a client’s musical vision for a song and within the context of a specific project, create a custom version of a hit song that resonates with the client’s intended audience.”

Andersen has recorded and produced cover versions for Starting Five Media clients, including classic songs; “This Magic Moment”, “How Sweet It Is”,  “You Make My Dreams Come True”, “Gonna Fly Now - Rocky Theme” and Jackson 5's “I Want You Back.” Links to each commercial are available below.

About Starting Five Media

Based in Short Hills, New Jersey, Starting Five Media is a boutique music production company. Founded in 2011, Starting Five Media offers custom commercial and long-form composition, cover versions and full music supervision services including licensing from third party publishers and record labels. In addition, Starting Five Media licenses master recordings from it’s own back catalogue and the catalogues of San Juan Music Group and NewBourne Media.

About Ray Andersen

Former Meatloaf band member, Ray Andersen grew up in West Orange, New Jersey in the house that legendary songwriters, Carole King and Gerry Goffin lived in the late 60s. For much of the 80s, Ray was a member of the notable Asbury Park NJ, Stone Pony house-band, Cats On A Smooth Surface. 

In 1994, his wife at the time, who was part-timing at a pre-school, asked Ray to come in and perform some songs for the kids. In no time, he became known as "mr. RAY," holding an eye-catching, colorfully-stickered guitar. The kids (and Ray) were quickly hooked.  www.mrray.com

On December 6th 2006, the first-ever Ray commercial advertising his kids music and videos, aired on NICKELODEON & CARTOON NETWORK in the US. In September 2008, Ray partnered with a hip indoor playground in Chelsea, NYC, called Appleseed’s, by writing & licensing original songs for their music for kids program called Songs for Seeds. Classes launched in January 2009.

As a part-time member of Bob Bandiera's Jersey Rock n' Soul Revue, Ray performs from time to time with fellow New Jerseyans’, Bruce Springsteen & Jon Bon Jovi. Sonoma Entertainment commissioned Ray to record 150 songs, which are currently available in music retail stores nationwide. http://mrray.com/rayandersen_bio