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 In
October 1984, San Diego music producer Tim Coffman opened a small
studio in his home and began a recording career that has showcased
numerous artists and many great recordings.
“It
is kind of funny to look back now, Coffman mused, because when we
first started, the studio had an 8-track machine and a 10-channel
recording console and more business than we knew what to do with.
Home studios were not that common yet and it was big stuff at the
time. Now the only place you would probably find that gear today
is in a museum.”
But
to really tell the story we need to go back a few years to Coffman’s
roots in a four-decade career that has taken him from sharing the
stage with rock music luminaries Steppenwolf and the Dave Clark
Five to country legends Roy Clark and Jimmy Dean. During this time,
Coffman performed as a front man and bassist for several West Coast
bands and worked as a freelance songwriter and producer.
Coffman’s
natural progression from performer to producer began in earnest
in 1981 as he began building a solid reputation as a music producer and engineer.
During the years that followed, Coffman produced hundreds of projects
including local and national commercials, and CDs for Classical,
Jazz, Rock, Blues, Latin and Contemporary Gospel artists.
In
1986, Coffman founded Rolltop Records as a way to promote the artists
he was recording. Rolltop, named for the huge desk in which the
studio mixing board was set, became the epicenter for many recording
artists in San Diego.
Coffman
started the Christian Music Association in 1987 and with the help
of many dedicated volunteers published a monthly music magazine
called Prime Focus, which promoted national and local artists in
the San Diego area. He also enjoyed a stint in the 80s as a successful
concert promoter, working with many leading Christian artists, including
Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and others.
After
seven years of promoting Christian music locally, Coffman began
to sense a change of direction in the Rolltop ministry, “So
much of the church at that time, was focused on song leading and
special music.” Coffman said, “and there was a great
need for genuine congregational worship music.” So in 1993,
he launched a series of CDs that eventually grew to six volumes
of praise and worship music. Drawing almost solely on hometown talent,
the Adventures In God’s Presence worship series was born.
Local artists included Holland Davis, Vivien Schmuki, Don Fredricks,
Steve Van Belle, Rob Mehl, Leigh Taylor, Adam Kemp and Deven Berryhill.
With
the release of the second Adventures worship CD in 1994 the requests
were mounting for the group to perform the music live and the Adventures
Worship Band was formed. The band traveled nationally for 5 years,
sharing the music through nights of worship and worship seminars.
“That was a real blessing for all of us, Coffman concluded,
we had the privilege of spending time with worship leaders in a
number of different cities, encouraging them and sharing the Adventures
worship songs with their congregations.” The Adventures worship
series has also enjoyed national airplay on many Christian radio
stations.
Another
very special San Diego worship CD was the 2003 release of Worship
Remixes which featured local worship leaders Carl Deese, Julie Coffman,
Leigh Taylor, Toby Walters, Will and Brenda Fejeran, Josh Wagner
and Nathan Robinson. Each artist recorded an Adventures song in
their own unique style. Over the last several years Rolltop Music
has release 3 CDs of all instrumental music. The CDs included, Beach
& Guitar (Surf and Hawaiian music) Nonstop To Paris (Smooth
Jazz and Cool Jazz) and This Is Fun (Vintage Soundtracks). “There
is a very loyal audience that enjoys instrumentals and it was a
natural progression to add instrumental music to our catalogue,”
Coffman added.
What
are the greatest accomplishment of Rolltop Music and what are the
plans for the future? “We have had the great privilege of
serving the music community, “ Coffman said. “Every
artist wants their music to be presented in the best possible way
and when you can help them record a CD that makes them sound great,
you have accomplished that goal. We have a new worship CD in the
works and several more instrumental projects already in the pipeline.”
For
more information on Rolltop Music visit www.rolltopmusic.com or
call Pam at (858) 571-1645.
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