PITTSFIELD - Keith Hannaleck's love affair with music began at an early age. He remembers the excitement of the Beatles taking the stage on "The Ed Sullivan Show" when he was 5. He listened to his brother's Steppenwolf and Rolling Stones albums - and to his sister's Monkees records.
One day, the 1976 Hoosac Valley High graduate decided to put his feelings about a particular album in words and, on a whim, shot the review off to the artist's label. Not only did the label like his review - it wanted more.
That's how Hannaleck found a way to combine his passion for music with his cyber skills and, in 1998, he launched a Web site offering up music reviews for labels and independent artists. It's had various incarnations over the years and was rebuilt and relaunched earlier this year after being acquired by his employer, TalentFusion.
Along the way, MuzikReviews.com has transformed into a leading indie music site offering reviews for fans and publicist services for independent artists around the world.
"If I look back on how my life unfolded...," said Hannaleck, shaking his head slightly as he sat in the conference room of TalentFusion last week. Wearing a Led Zeppelin T-shirt, he recalled the zigzagging path through schools, the Navy and careers before landing at the Internet-based recruitment business. "That was a steppingstone to where I'm going."
The Adams native had headed off to broadcast journalism school after high school but left to join the Navy, then went to California. Six months after returning from California, his mother died. He wrote the eulogy and people "made a big fuss about it."
He describes that as a turning point, a seed planted by his mother that led him to begin writing. He continued his education through Chadwick University, an Alabama school that offers long-distance learning. He worked full time while pursuing two degrees - in business and environmental management - hoping to advance his career at New England Power Co. But it just couldn't hold his interest.
"Working with TalentFusion is the best thing that's ever happened to me," said Hannaleck, who joined the sales division of the Merrill Road recruitment outsourcing company three years ago. "My success is dependent on their success."
Discussion on acquiring the site began nearly a year ago between Hannaleck and TalentFusion owner and founder David Pollard. MuzikReviews became part of TalentFusion in February.
The new Web site allows Hannaleck to efficiently distribute reviews and press releases and offer recommendations to Internet radio sites. He features artists in his "Pick of the Week" with front-page views and Google ad marketing. Services range from a professional reviews to a complete press kit with biography and distribution.
Hannaleck said he takes advantage of the viral nature of the Web by using RSS (Really Simple Syndication) to disperse information from his site, garnering up to 10,000 hits.
Though a paid service, Hannaleck said his reviews reveal his true feelings about an artist's work. If he really doesn't like the music, he doesn't take the artist or band on as a client. But he will offer some constructive criticism.
"It's too easy to be negative," he said. "These artists put their soul and sweat into their music - I respect that fact."
An initial appraisal - and recommendation - is offered freely for musicians uncertain about the use of Internet advertising.
The site has more than 120 current album reviews plus guest commentaries, links, partner sites, videos, press releases and more, with plans to continually add reviews dating back to 2000. Hannaleck does the bulk of the reviews but he's open to other music enthusiasts interested in writing. He's also hoping to raise awareness of the site with local bands.
"They don't seem to understand what I have to offer," he said, despite the fact he has clients from around the globe. He's hoping more of them will see how the Internet can expand their career horizons. "The music industry is changing so fast nobody knows what's happening next."
For Hannaleck, life has sort of come full circle: He's living in the house he grew up, listening to his favorite tunes. Only now, he's with his wife, Lisa, and two children, Morgan, 11, and Austin, 14, and the music more often is digital, not vinyl.
Oddly enough, his passion has never been conveyed through making music, though his wife plays the piano and his brother makes guitars.
"I'm very cerebral. I find writing is the best way to express myself."
Hannaleck's "Pick of the Week" will be available on iBerkshires.com.
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Two Men Found Guilty of Marijuana Trafficking
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — On Monday, May 6, Yebin Mai, 32 of Staten Island, NY and Dem Wu, age 52 of Staten Island, NY, were found guilty by jury of their peers in Berkshire Superior Court.
Yebin Mai was found guilty of two charges: Marijuana Trafficking in 100 pounds or more but less than 2,000 pounds and Witness Intimidation. Dem Wu was found guilty of Marijuana Trafficking in 100 pounds or more but less than 2,000 pounds.
According to a report, on July 30, 2020, State Police responded to a request for assistance from the Eversource Electric Company. The emergency dispatcher stated that two Eversource linemen were attempting to fix an electrical problem when they had a confrontation with individuals at 72 Jackson Road, Savoy. The residence belonged to Bin Huang after he purchased it in 2017 for $200,000 cash.
When state troopers arrived, the linemen stated that they responded to a report from a resident at 72 Jackson Road, Savoy claiming that power was fluctuating. When the linemen arrived at the house, they observed severely damaged wires and insulators leading from the roadside poles to the residence. When the Eversource linemen approached the house a man came out to meet them. The man, later identified as Yebin Mai, spoke limited English; therefore, communication between the Eversource linemen and resident became difficult. The linemen tried to explain that they would need to turn the power off to conduct a safety check of the electric meter and surrounding electrical connections. Mai became agitated. He handed the linemen an envelope filled with money later determined to be $600. The linemen attempted to return the envelope multiple times, but Mai would not take it. The linemen decided to leave the property. They called the police and waited for them to arrive, stated a report.
A trooper and Eversource supervisor arrived on the road at the end of 72 Jackson Road's driveway. A short time later, Mai drove down the driveway and attempted to leave in a pick-up truck with New York plates. There were two other passengers in the truck, including Dem Wu.
The trooper instructed Mai to stop and turn off the truck which he obeyed. All the individuals returned to the residence so the linemen could complete their inspection.
In a police report, the following items were observed at and around the house:
4 separate electrical meters in poorly constructed boxes on the side of the house
Some melted wires and metal around the meter boxes (believed to be due to an excessive amount of energy being drawn through the wires)
Evidence of a small fire around one of the meter boxes
A smell of fresh grown marijuana (which grew once power was cut to the house and fans in the residence stopped running)
The sound of multiple fans inside the residence with no visible air ventilation system on the outside of the house
Windows with curtains drawn and boarded shut
A backyard covered in debris from a renovation, green planning pots, and large florescent light fixtures
Ring door cameras
A small path in the woods that ended in a pile of used potting soil and roots and stalks of freshly harvested marijuana plants
Additionally, Eversource reported that the monthly electric bill for 72 Jackson Road was approximately $10,000 per month, much higher than the average homeowner's bill.
The individuals on the property were questioned and ultimately allowed to leave. On July 31, 2020, Massachusetts State Police, including the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the District Attorney's Office, and a member of the DEA arrived at 72 Jackson Road to execute a search warrant.
Voters approved all but one of the 22 articles on the warrant at the annual town meeting on Monday night at Wahconah Regional High School. click for more
The seasonal road closed because of flooding caused by what was initially thought to be from a beaver dam that was located on the Pittsfield stretch.
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The Traffic Commission OK'd additional bus stops and multiple items in the former General Electric neighborhood at its first meeting of the year. click for more
Voters at the annual town meeting on Monday, May 6, will decide 22 articles, including articles on sidewalks and the authorization of a number of spending articles, including an approximate $22 million budget. click for more
Ken Sagendorph, a former firefighter and emergency technician, says his goal is to improve communication between the Fire District, residents, town, and department if elected to the Board of Water Commissioners. click for more
