A move from Mississippi to Alaska has helped one local musician realize his dreams

Alaska is many things to many people, but to Josh Fryfogle, the state proved to be just the change in scenery he needed to realize his dreams.

Fryfogle moved to Wasilla nearly two years ago, and his dream of producing his own album has just been realized. Now, he is in the process of forming the 212 Music Group and helping develop a growing music scene in the Valley.

"With or without me, the music scene here will continue to grow, and that's why I want to be a contributing factor," he said. "Alaskans have no problems being different than everyone else, and I think we can really develop a music scene that is just as different. It's an amazing thing to see Alaskans being so different, but so together."

Fryfogle is celebrating the release of his first CD, "No Previous Record," with a release party tonight at the Palmer Depot. Growing up in Mississippi, music was always a part of his life, but he said the move to Alaska was a turning point for him as a musician.

"The first week we were up here, my wife and I were at the Great Bear and it was open mike night. Marty Rainey was playing, and he always engages the crowd, and he talked to my wife and I between songs," Fryfogle said. "He asked what I do, and I said I was a musician and he asked me to come up and play with him. I did, and everyone got into it.

"I remember thinking, 'Here I am, with people responding to me rather than ignoring me. What's different from me now than last week in Mississippi?'" Fryfogle said.

The chance meeting with Rainey was the first of many coincidences that have panned out for Fryfogle in his rise in the music scene. The biggest break for him came out of a cold telephone call.

"Whenever I'm in a new town, I like to see the local studios. I picked up a copy of the phone book and saw that there was only one here, Frozen Lakes Studios, so I called Jeff Morgan and asked if I could come take a tour and check it out," Fryfogle said. "I told him that I was looking for work, and he asked what I did. I told him I layed flooring, and -- this is amazing -- he told me had just tore up some Linoleum and was staring at a new roll that he needed to put down. I did it and got some studio time and made a nice little demo that was professional quality. We talked a lot about my ideas and views for the future, and we really clicked.

"That was the biggest turning point for me, meeting Jeff. He is very easy to work with and really knows his stuff," Fryfogle said. "He has put a lot of faith in me with this project."

Fryfogle met up with Jeremy Strunk, who plays guitar on "No Previous Record," and Mike Grimes, who plays drums on the album. Morgan provides bass for the new album as well.

"I've met some of the most creative, talented musicians, and they have all contributed to bringing this together," he said. "When you all work together, the results can be amazing."

Another coincidence involved the mastering of the album. Fryfogle said he didn't have anyone to master the album after he and Morgan were unable to do it together. He was at his father's store talking about the disappointment when a new employee mentioned that his father had mastered music years ago for big-name artists, and still did it at his Eagle River home. That night Fryfogle met Jim Zeuhsow and the result is a very clean, professional sounding album.

The release of "No Previous Record" is the first for Fryfogle, and marks another first in the young man's life -- the first production from 212 Music Group, which he has helped found along with Joe and Rachel Cardella of Mississippi.

"I had a childhood friend from Mississippi give me a call and ask if I'd help get it started, and we've really put a lot of work into it," he said. "They have invested a lot of time into my project, and we are really excited about moving forward from here."

One idea, Fryfogle said, is to put together a 212 Music Group sample CD, with local groups contributing a song or two. The company would then handle the distribution and publicity for the CD as a whole, with the local groups sharing in their individual promotion.

"Our goal is to provide a fertile environment for local musicians to show their individual talents, and to give everyone an opportunity -- regardless of their personal musical style -- to succeed," Fryfogle said.