Behind The Music
10 things to know about Monmouth’s student-run record label.
- Blue Hawk Records is a student club that was formed in 2013 under the guidance of Joe Rapolla ’90M, chair of Monmouth’s Department of Music and Theatre Arts and director of its Music Industry program.
- Its mission is to give students, regardless of major, hands-on experience running a current-day music label.
- The students do everything—from finding the talent and recording the songs to branding the label’s artists and marketing and distributing the final product.
- The label released its 10th studio album—aptly titled Hang Ten—in April.
- Every record release is celebrated with a student-produced concert featuring artists on the new album.
- Performers that have recorded with Blue Hawk Records include students, alumni, and even faculty. Hang Ten features a cut from The Professors, whose members include Rapolla, Specialist Professor George Wurzbach, and adjuncts Erik Romero, Mark Muller, Bob Boyd, and Jay Sweet.
- All albums are recorded at Lakehouse Recording Studios, a world class studio in Asbury Park where Monmouth students take classes.
- You can purchase and stream Hang Ten on all major digital platforms (e.g., iTunes, Amazon, Spotify) and check out past albums at bluehawkrecords.com.
- Blue Hawk Records has an international following: Its artists toured Italy in 2014 and the label has sales in seven countries.
- Former members have gone on to careers at Sony Music and Warner Music Group.