Multiprises is an award-winning production company of television, video, book and digital projects. The company creates and produces projects and programming broadcast on TV and the web; distributed to all corners of the globe. Many of the company's TV projects include video, book and music tie-ins financed via co-production deals with domestic and international partners.
Current projects include digital ebooks, “Searching for Robert Johnson," “Michael Bloomfield: The Rise and Fall of An American Guitar Hero" and "Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday".
Toby Byron, the company's president, has recently produced Blue Note Records' CD, DVD and vinyl releases, “Thelonious Monk–Paris 1969" (2013); and Executive Produced David Leaf’s award-winning film, “The Night James Brown Saved Boston," broadcast on VH1, 2009 and released as part of a 3-DVD deluxe box set, "James Brown: I Got The Feelin'" (Shout! Factory).
The company's many productions have received global critical acclaim, particularly, as the producer of a string of unsurpassed documentaries; part of the Masters of American Music series, which include the definitive “Satchmo: Louis Armstrong"; the Cable Ace-winning “Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday"; “Ray Charles: The Genius of Soul"; and “The World According to John Coltrane." The 10-part Masters series was the first television and video series dedicated to Jazz’s greatest masters.
Masters series tie-ins include award-winning books that have appeared in dozens of international editions: “Celebrating Bird: The Triumph of Charlie Parker" (Gary Giddins); “Satchmo: Louis Armstrong" (Gary Giddins); “Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday" (Robert O’Meally); and “Bluesland: Portraits of Twelve Major American Blues Masters" (edited by Pete Welding and Mr. Byron). Mr. Byron produced Peter Guralnick’s best-selling and now classic book, “Searching for Robert Johnson."
Other production highlights include the live HD special “The Kennedy Center Presents–A Tribute to Muddy Waters-King of the Blues" with Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy, Gregg Allman, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Charlie Musselwhite, Keith Richards and Bob Dylan (1997); the superb 90-minute histories, “Bluesland," and the “Story of Jazz"; and “Nine Hundred Nights: Big Brother and the Holding Company with Janis Joplin," directed by Michael Burlingame.
The 1998 Mother's Day special, “All Star Moms" (CBS), was created by Mr. Byron and co-produced with Linda Ellerbee’s Lucky Duck Productions. Appearing with their moms were Robin Williams, Shaquille O’Neal, Ellen DeGeneres, Gloria Estefan, Dan Rather and others with Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds hosting. The Lifetime Channel broadcast the special on cable with Save the Children as a charity partner.
Prior to moving to New York City in 1975 and just after, Mr. Byron's career began in the San Francisco Bay Area as a concert promoter (Boz Scaggs, Mose Allison, Sons of Champlin, Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks), booking agent (Jerry Garcia, Maria Muldaur, Ramblin' Jack Elliott), tour manager (Van Morrison, Billy Cobham and George Duke) and personal manager (Michael Bloomfield, Lenny White and Al Di Meola). He also helped bring the Clash to America.
Current projects include digital ebooks, “Searching for Robert Johnson," “Michael Bloomfield: The Rise and Fall of An American Guitar Hero" and "Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday".
Toby Byron, the company's president, has recently produced Blue Note Records' CD, DVD and vinyl releases, “Thelonious Monk–Paris 1969" (2013); and Executive Produced David Leaf’s award-winning film, “The Night James Brown Saved Boston," broadcast on VH1, 2009 and released as part of a 3-DVD deluxe box set, "James Brown: I Got The Feelin'" (Shout! Factory).
The company's many productions have received global critical acclaim, particularly, as the producer of a string of unsurpassed documentaries; part of the Masters of American Music series, which include the definitive “Satchmo: Louis Armstrong"; the Cable Ace-winning “Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday"; “Ray Charles: The Genius of Soul"; and “The World According to John Coltrane." The 10-part Masters series was the first television and video series dedicated to Jazz’s greatest masters.
Masters series tie-ins include award-winning books that have appeared in dozens of international editions: “Celebrating Bird: The Triumph of Charlie Parker" (Gary Giddins); “Satchmo: Louis Armstrong" (Gary Giddins); “Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday" (Robert O’Meally); and “Bluesland: Portraits of Twelve Major American Blues Masters" (edited by Pete Welding and Mr. Byron). Mr. Byron produced Peter Guralnick’s best-selling and now classic book, “Searching for Robert Johnson."
Other production highlights include the live HD special “The Kennedy Center Presents–A Tribute to Muddy Waters-King of the Blues" with Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy, Gregg Allman, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Charlie Musselwhite, Keith Richards and Bob Dylan (1997); the superb 90-minute histories, “Bluesland," and the “Story of Jazz"; and “Nine Hundred Nights: Big Brother and the Holding Company with Janis Joplin," directed by Michael Burlingame.
The 1998 Mother's Day special, “All Star Moms" (CBS), was created by Mr. Byron and co-produced with Linda Ellerbee’s Lucky Duck Productions. Appearing with their moms were Robin Williams, Shaquille O’Neal, Ellen DeGeneres, Gloria Estefan, Dan Rather and others with Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds hosting. The Lifetime Channel broadcast the special on cable with Save the Children as a charity partner.
Prior to moving to New York City in 1975 and just after, Mr. Byron's career began in the San Francisco Bay Area as a concert promoter (Boz Scaggs, Mose Allison, Sons of Champlin, Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks), booking agent (Jerry Garcia, Maria Muldaur, Ramblin' Jack Elliott), tour manager (Van Morrison, Billy Cobham and George Duke) and personal manager (Michael Bloomfield, Lenny White and Al Di Meola). He also helped bring the Clash to America.