In the heart of Hollywood's Sunset Strip, the legendary United Recording Studios was the place to be on Saturday, January 21, as United hosted the exclusive VIP screening of the award-winning documentary Immediate Family, directed by Denny Tedesco (The Wrecking Crew). Attended by the music industry's elite, the evening began with a star-studded red carpet and VIP reception before guests were ushered into United's famed Studio A for the screening of the documentary and a Q&A conversation with members of The Immediate Family band — Waddy Wachtel, Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel, Steve Postell, and director Denny Tedesco. Founding Band member Danny Kortchmar, unfortunately, was unable to attend due to illness. After the screening and Q&A, the band performed a rousing thirty-minute set in United's renowned Studio B, followed by the after-party.
The full-capacity crowd included Jackson Browne and Peter Asher (both of whom appear in the film), musicians Nathan East and Franklin Vanderbilt, producer/engineers Val Garay, Ross Hogarth, Rafa Sardina, Nathaniel Kunkel, Steve Genewick, and Jordan Zevon (Warren Zevon's son). Industry executives Rick Sales and Bruce Quarto, President of Quarto Valley Records, Ron Japinga, CEO of Guitar Center, and veteran talent agent/ICM Joel Roman.
"There is nothing better than being in a room with some of the greatest musicians in the world watching this movie," stated Denny Tedesco. "The Immediate Family is the story of every musician's dream. It resonates with the audience, and I give that credit to the guys. They're the greatest storytellers."
United Recording Studios' Steve Jaffe, added, "It was an honor to host this prestigious event and to welcome The Immediate Family, and the entertainment industry's elite, back home to United. United Recording's legendary Studios A and B continue to reign as the studios of choice for the world's most celebrated recording artists, who, in collaboration with the members of The Immediate Family, have recorded the most acclaimed studio albums of all time."
One of the film's executive producers and the co-manager of the band, David A. Helfant, said, "After working for several years on the documentary, it is so exciting to be able to share the story of these incredible musicians and the enormous impact they have had on so many artists and fans throughout the years. It's also wonderful to see the amazing reaction that the film has received to date."
Photos by Alex Kluft
