Mike Corrado, (USMC, Ret.)
Director, AHERO Records
Mike Corrado retired from active duty with the Marine Corps in 2020 upon completion of 28 years as an Infantry Officer. He retired at the rank of Colonel/O-6 from his last assignment as Commanding Officer, Deployment Processing Command, Reserve Support Unit East, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. His background in planning, operations and personnel management and warrior care coupled with his songwriting, touring and performance background made him the perfect fit to lead AHERO Records.
Throughout grade school, music was always front and center until he attended The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina. Upon graduation, he attended USMC Officer Candidate School, followed by The Basic School and Infantry Officer Course. During his time as an Infantry Platoon Commander, Corrado would bring a guitar on deployments and entertain the Marines. In 1997, after five years on active duty, Corrado set aside his rifle and HUMVEE for a guitar and a 15-passenger van and set out for four years of life on the road performing 200-250 shows a year both as a headliner and in support of numerous national acts. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, Mike was mobilized back to active duty with the Marine Corps and later deployed to Fallujah, Iraq from 2005 to 2006. Upon his return from the yearlong deployment he returned to active duty full time and despite a demanding military schedule and multiple moves, he continued to write and perform. Mike used his songwriting skills to communicate and advocate for fellow service members and wounded warriors with visible and invisible wounds. From 2011-2014, Mike served as the Executive Officer for the United States Marine Corps’ Wounded Warrior Regiment, Quantico, VA.
Despite being on active duty at the time, Mike shared the stage with national acts from multiple genres to include: Toby Keith, Bon Jovi, Black Eyed Peas, John Mayer, Edwin McCain, Darryl Worley, Travis Tritt, and Aaron Tippin among others. Several of his’s songs have received national attention and been featured on Great American Country (GAC), CMT, CMT Pure, Armed Forces Television and Radio Network, and more.
Corrado now leads AHERO Records, a veteran owned and operated record label where the artists are all active military, veterans, first responders or a direct family member thereof. AHERO Records serves those who have served our country and our communities. Our genres include rock, country, singer-songwriter and Americana. "It's not patriotic music, it's music made by patriots!"
Rusty Tabor
Songwriter, A&R
Kentucky born singer/songwriter Rusty Tabor has been performing on stage since the ripe young age of 14. After a short lived college football career he packed up and moved to Nashville in 2001 to chase yet another dream… that of signing a record deal. Shortly after arriving in Music City Rusty found himself enamored by Nashville’s songwriting community. He says, “I’d always loved performing, but it wasn’t until I got here that I truly understood what “songs” are…they’re the most beautiful picture someone can paint without a brush. They’re the most basic thoughts, the deepest emotions, stories of skeletons in closets or lighthearted love. I HAD to figure out a way to do that for a living.”
Within his first year in Nashville Rusty had landed his first publishing deal with Skidaddy Music. Billy Ray Cyrus quickly took a liking to Rusty’s songwriting style and recorded 2 songs out of that first catalog. “Back to Memphis”, a single off of Cyrus’ TIME FLIES album and soon after “Wouldn’t You Do This For Me” on his THE OTHER SIDE album. While performing at a private event one summer Rusty got a call to be the host of a nationally aired outdoors television program on the Outdoor Channel called W.F.O. Penning songs on the road while filming for the show was trying to say the least. After 3 years of television it was time to say goodbye to the camera and put all of his efforts back into the microphone. “I really hated parting with so many friends that I’d met through the show. However, I knew it was the right thing to do if I was ever going to get where I wanted to be musically.” says Tabor.
He soon found another writing home with Plus Spins Music. From that catalog came “All I’ve Got Left” that was recorded by Russell Hitchcock (formerly of Air Supply) on his TENNESSEE:THE NASHVILLE SESSIONS double cd project and IBMA male vocalist of the year winner Bradley Walker recorded “One Paragraph” for his upcoming Rounder Records album.
The future is brighter than bright for Rusty nowadays. In January of 2011 he was offered a chance to be a part of legendary songwriter Earl Bud Lee’s publishing company. “I JUMPED at that opportunity!”, he says, “Bud Lee is one of the most successful writers in the business with hits like ‘Friends in Low Places’, ‘One Night at a Time’ and ‘Who Are You When I’m Not Looking’. He’s not only a master at what he does, he’s one of my favorite people in this world.” Rusty is currently in the studio working on his own album with some of the best in the business. Tabor says “It took me a little time, some hills and valleys and a lot of living to figure out who I really am. Thanks to all of my friends and associates on Music Row I finally have the opportunity to record what I want to record, how I want to record it and with whom I want to record it with. Life isn’t good….. it’s GREAT!”
Kevin Adair
Songwriter, AHERO Brand Ambassador
Growing up in Tuskegee, Al., Kevin Adair was introduced to all kinds of music. He said "I can remember lying in bed, listening to everything from Alabama to Johnnie Taylor. I love those old blues licks on top of classic country sounds. That influenced my songwriting and guitar a lot."
Kevin has played music all his life. He started out playing piano, then guitar, dabbled in drums, now playing nearly every instrument you can put in his hands.....all self taught. "I started mimicking what my friends were doing on piano. I had a pretty good memory, and would go home on a little Casio keyboard and play stuff like 'phantom of the opera'.....still can!!(haha!). I was later introduced to guitar, around 12 years old. Still didn't know what a note or chord was, I just knew if I moved my finger on that string, it made a different sound. From that point, until now, I play the same.......but just a tad bit better!"
Kevin has graced the stage with many talented bands and individuals throughout his career, and along the way has written songs with timeless lyrics. Bringing his blend of soulful roots, screaming bluesy guitar and the storytelling of classic country, he mesmerizes any audience.
"I LOVE playing from the hip, ya know? Unrehearsed stuff. That's where the magic happens. That note.....that one lick you can listen to over and over again........yep. That was cool."
Stacey Lamont Sydnor (USMC)
Staff Studio Drummer
A U.S. Marine from rural Crystal Hill, Virginia, Stacey Lamont Sydnor was fascinated by rhythm from the time he could use his hands to beat on his mother's pots and pans. At the age of eleven, his grandmother bought him his first "gold sparkle" snare drum and he has never stopped playing since.
Early on, he was influenced by the sounds of Traditional (Quartet) Gospel and his father's love of old school soul and R&B (Johnny Taylor, James Brown, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes). While in elementary school, he joined the band, became classically trained, and learned to appreciate Big Band Jazz.
Under the tutelage of mentor, Damon Brown, he went on to win multiple awards around the state of Virginia and became well known, becoming popular with local Gospel Quartet groups in Southern Virginia and North Carolina. He also excelled in his newfound love of Jazz, Theatre and Southern Rock.
He started touring professionally at the age of fifteen with Gospel artists, the Heavenly Five and the Pilgrim Jubilees of Chicago. He also performed as a drummer/percussionist for a variety of musicals to include: "Anything Goes, "Cowboys" and "Westside Story". From there he went on to perform in the US Marine Corps Band, attaining the position of Principal Percussionist in a little under two years. While in the Marine Corps, he teamed up with fellow Marine, Mike Corrado to form The Mike Corrado Band (www.mikecorrado.com). The band toured for eleven years now and has sold over 100,000 albums independently.
His resume runs like a Who's Who of, well, every possible genre of music. He's performed with:
* Pop/Country/Rock Stars: Seal, Trisha Yearwood, Jason Aldean, Daughtry, Starship, Hillary Duff, Robbie Williams, Michelle Williams (Destiny's Child), Taylor Dayne, Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray), Bobby Brown, The Rembrandts, and Daniel Powter & Macy Gray.
* Hip Hop artists Sean "Diddy" Combs, Missy Elliot, Timbaland, Flo Rida, Busta Rhymes and Ice Cube.
* R&B and Soul artists Alicia Keys, Jermaine Jackson, Philip Bailey, Chrisette Michell, Keri Hilson, Layla Hathaway, Jamie Foxx, Bobby, Brown, Gladys Knight, Jill Scott, Melanie Fiona, Teedra Moses, Faith Evans, Stevie Wonder, Michelle Williams (Destiny's Child), Macy Gray, Denise Williams, Shirley Murdoch, Tank, Avant.
* Motown/Funk/Soul Legends: The Jacksons, Earth Wind & Fire, George Clinton, Sly Stone, The Temptations, Heatwave, Bloodstone, Malo, The Delphonics, The Floaters, The Deele, Billy Paul, Percy Sledge, Peaches & Herb, The Intruders, the S.O.S. Band and Mandrill.
* Gospel Recording Artists: Deitrick Haddon, Donnie McClurkin, Fred Hammond, Ann Nesby, Damita Haddon, Tammi Haddon, The Soul Seekers and Yolanda Adams while serving in the music ministry of Bishop Noel Jones.
* Smooth Jazz Artists: Jonathan Butler, Keiko Matsui, The Late George Duke, Marcus Johnson, Althea Rene, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Mike Phillips and the late Wayman Tisdale.
He is currently still working with The Jacksons & Philip Bailey of Earth Wind & Fire as well as a member of The Myron McKinley Trio!
His television composition/performance credits include: The Tonight Show w/ Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Ellen, Tyra Banks Show, College Hill, The Black Stars of Poker, The NBA Channel, First In and the upcoming episodes of Dr. Phil, Orange is The New Black, Suddenly Single, A Fool & His Money, Arsenio Hall Show!
Movie Performance Credits Include: Kaider Reboot, Avengers, Captain America, Thor 2, Notorious (Soundtrack/Trailer), Inception (Trailer), The Green Hornet (Trailer), Sabetour (Video Game Trailer), Bridesmaid (Trailer), Mummy 3 (Trailer), Yes Man (Trailer), Avatar (Trailer), Beouwolf (Trailer), Wall Street (DVD Promo), Sorcerer's Apprentice (Trailer), Final Destination 5, What Goes Around comes Around, What My Husband Doesn't Know and Inception (Trailer).
"The person who makes a success of living is the one who see his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly. That is dedication." Cecil B. DeMille