Meet The Team

​

In 1998, Leigh Shockey became the Chairman & CEO of Drexel Chemical Company, a successful manufacturer and international distributor of agricultural chemical products.

 

In 2018, expanding her lifelong love of music and the recording industry, Leigh founded Melody Place LLC, a record label & music publishing company headquartered in Nashville, TN.  She has since spearheaded numerous projects spanning multiple genres, with an ever-growing roster of established and emerging artists.

With a deep knowledge of all sides of the industry, Leigh studied live show production and studio engineering, working alongside her dear friend and music mentor, David Gest, as he produced shows with some of Motown’s brightest stars: The Stylistics, Dennis Edwards and the Temptations, Peabo Bryson, and Lamont Dozier… As well as, assisting on ‘Soulicious’ an album, recorded in Memphis, by the great Cliff Richard.
 

Leigh is also actively involved in her Memphis, TN community at every level, through appointments and board positions. Locally including, ‘Memphis in May International Festival’ (Serving her 2nd time as Chairman in 2023) and supporting the ‘Beale Street Music Festival’ for over 20 years, ‘AutoZone Liberty Bowl’, and the ‘Greater Memphis Chamber.’ Leigh also started the ‘Regional One Med Gala’ over 10 years ago… which continues today, to sell-out crowds every year!

In support of her State, she is a board member of the ‘TN Chamber of Commerce’, is Chairman of the ‘West Tennessee District Export Council’ and served on the ‘Tennessee Board of Regents’… Internationally, Leigh proudly served as Honorary Consul to Canada in Tennessee 2014-2022.

​

Sanborn "Sandy" McGraw began his professional career at age 16, as an Archivist and Social Media Manager for the famed Whiting music family; through his work developing catalog projects for the estate, Sanborn was recruited by Woodward Avenue Records to executive produce a series of albums for the boutique jazz / R&B label, beginning with Wendy Moten’s salute to the songs of Richard A. Whiting.

By the age of 18 Sanborn was elevated to Assistant Vice President and headed the company’s booking division, representing an eclectic roster of contemporary jazz, pop and musical theater entertainers.

 

While on tour with Broadway star Carol Woods, Sanborn was invited to take on the role of Tour Manager / Executive Assistant to Michael Feinstein and consequently, Liza Minnelli.

As TM / day-to-day Manager, McGraw handled operations of every aspect of Feinstein’s career, touring internationally, spearheading recording and television projects, liaising for the Great American Songbook Foundation / Museum, as well as taking an active role in the show operations of Feinstein’s chain of successful Supper-Clubs in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

 

In 2019 after relocating to Nashville, Sanborn and his longtime mentor, Tony Gottlieb founded Upper M.G.T an Artist Management / Music Admin firm handling the estates of “England” Dan Seals, Lou Busch, Richard and Margaret Whiting and active clients Cheryl Wheeler and Garrett Clayton.

Following a 2-year, part-time role, as Administrative Assistant and Marketing Advisor for Melody Place LLC, Leigh Shockey tapped Sanborn to take over as President / General Manager of the label, where he is currently retooling the long-term goals and overall direction of the label, focusing on artist development and international expansion.

​

Tony Gottlieb is a lifelong veteran of the entertainment industry specializing in artist management and music publishing. While still a teenager living in Los Angeles, Tony worked for Henry Mancini’s Northridge Music Group, the international publishing operation for Henry Mancini, Marvin Hamlisch, Livingston & Evans, Bobby Gentry, etc.  After leaving Mancini’s office, Tony worked as a studio engineer and assistant on a wide range of artist album projects that have included Iggy Pop to Chuck Berry, to Waylon Jennings to Bobby Caldwell.

 

In 1979, Tony relocated to Nashville and set up the operations of Morningstar Management with business partner, Kyle Lehning. The partnership comprised independent publishing administration, record production, artist management, music direct marketing and in-house data systems development. Tony and Kyle were responsible for the careers of “England” Dan Seals, Randy Travis, Kathy Baillie, Cheryl Wheeler, Walter Hyatt and numerous independent songwriters over the course of their 13-year partnership.

 

Throughout the 1990’s and 2000’s, Tony continued to operate Morningstar, working as personal manager for Dan Seals and Cheryl Wheeler… After Dan Seals’ death in 2009, Tony started to devote more time advocating for the protection of intellectual property rights and copyright reform, regularly working as an expert witness and litigation consultant for royalty and copyright infringement matters.

 

As of 2019, Tony joined forces with Sanborn “Sandy” McGraw, forming Upper M.G.T an Artist Management / Music Admin firm handling the estates of “England” Dan Seals, Lou Busch, Richard and Margaret Whiting and active clients Cheryl Wheeler and Garrett Clayton.

 

As of 2023, Tony and Sanborn have expanded their partnership, operating the boutique record label, Melody Place LLC, alongside Chairman / founder, Leigh Shockey.