Hoot/Wisdom Recordings 20th Anniversary Concert

Monday, Mar 25, 2024

Image: Jane and Michael Zager

Florida Atlantic University’s Hoot/Wisdom Recordings in the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters is celebrating its 20^th anniversary with a concert on Saturday, April 6 at 7 pm. The concert will take place in the University Theatre on FAU’s Boca Raton campus. Tickets are $10 at fauevents.com or 561-297-6124.

The concert will include students, faculty and guest artists who have recorded for the label, performing a variety of musical styles. This includes Jamie Cunningham and Glen Gillis, Jose Leon, Irena Kofman, Courtney Jones, Vocalis, First Akarcali, Avanguardia, The Matt Joy Trio, Dani Prieto and Aidan Vela, Jacob Kahn, Cami Liz and the Hoot/Wisdom House Band.

Hoot/Wisdom Recordings was founded in 2004 as the first full-service student operated record label. It was founded and is currently directed by Michael Zager, who joined FAU in 2002 as the Dorothy F. Schmidt Eminent Scholar in the Performing Arts. He also developed the commercial music major, which was voted Best New Major by Florida Leader magazine. Zager brought a wealth of experience to the position.

With more than 40 records and singles to his credit, Zager has worked with such Grammy Award winners as Whitney Houston, Cissy Houston, Peabo Bryson, Luther Vandross, Deniece Williams, Jennifer Holliday, Herb Albert and Arturo Sandoval.
The Michael Zager Band has sold millions of records including “Let’s All Chant,” which went to No. 1 in the U.K. Dance Chart in the 1970s.
Zager recorded Whitney Houston’s very first hit “Life’s a Party” with the Michael Zager Band. Houston was 14 at the time. Zager donated that recording to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Zager received a Clio award, a Daytime Emmy award, the Mobius Advertising award and two BMI Citations of Achievement Awards, and was nominated for a Grammy and a Golden Music Award.
Zager has made 13 gold or platinum recordings.
Zager composed source music for several major motion pictures including “The Last Days of Disco,” “Summer of Sam,” “Donnie Brasco,” and “The Eyes of Laura Mars.”
Zager wrote the music for more than 400 commercials, with clients including Dr. Pepper, Buick, IBM, Crystal Light, Budweiser, Kodak, Maxwell House and Burger King.

For more information about Hoot/Wisdom Recordings, visit fau.edu/music