Ken Botelho's office inside a non-descript roadside business park near the airport in Warwick is spotless. Everything, I mean everything, is in its proper place. His desk is buffed to a shine, his books and magazines are in perfect order, and the colorful array of autographed electric guitars lined up along one wall look like obedient soldiers awaiting orders. (If you wonder autographed by whom, well, the one next to me says "B.B. King.")

Anyway, for 13 years now, Ken's company, Century Productions, has been developing its reputation as a producer nonpareil of televised and recorded entertainment. They produce one-time television events like Disney's recent millennium celebration, sporting events, political conventions and such. But Ken's newest labor of love (and revenue stream) is producing musical events, either for one-time broadcast or for authoring to DVD. In fact, Century Productions has become one of the biggest and most successful of these producers. In a remarkably short time, Ken has built his small business into a multi-million dollar operation, with more than $6 million in remote gear on hand and $2 million in post-production technology right here within these offices. A quick tour of the place reveals lots and lots of high-end equipment; many pieces look complicated beyond recognition. But Ken's staff seems happy enough to be working on these great machines. If you're lucky, like I was, you'll get a sneak peak at some of the projects Century has in the works.

"We've been lucky to have worked with lots of A-list entertainment," says Ken from behind his desk. "We've worked on projects with people like Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Alanis Morissette, Tori Amos -- real top artists that we've produced."

The music connection is only half-accidental. Ken is a self-proclaimed frustrated musician from the '70s: "I started as a drummer," he laughs. "I was in a rock band called Army, but that was in my other life!" In that band, which had regional success until "fame went to their heads," Ken played the Fillmore East and cut an album.

Since leaving the business, though, Ken has found another "true" calling as president and CEO of Century. Hard work and perseverance have earned him a great reputation in the industry. A previous job enabled him to establish a close working relationship with cable giant Comcast, the same company that owns AT&T and E! Entertainment, as well as the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team and the 76ers NBA squad. Through the Comcast connection, Ken began assisting in the development of original programming and working with major record labels. After putting his time in, Ken saw an opportunity and seized it, opening his own business. Since then, Century Productions has produced dozens of concerts, many of which go straight to DVD, all of which have helped vault Botelho's company to the top of the music industry heap.

"Well," he says attempting to explain the company's success, "you can't get better technology. We have digital production capabilities, linear and nonlinear video post-production, digital audio post-production, DVD authoring and mastering. We've got two mobile units, an audio/video truck, and great post-production resources. We're doing what a lot of the industry hasn't even considered yet, and we've been doing it for a while."

Ironically, Century's mega-success has come at a time when personal video and DVD production equipment has come down to consumer pricing levels. "People still feel they can do it themselves," Botelho explains. "But they get themselves in way over their heads. Our investment in DVD authoring is over $250,000. Apple can sell something for $2000 and people can author a DVD on their home computer. I've seen people with all this personal equipment try to go out and get business for $5000, $6000, $10,000, and people think they can get a quality product out of it."

Of course, it's not the same as shooting a concert with a half-dozen fully manned cameras (10 in some cases), and that's what Botelho prides himself in -- a full-on, passionate, absorbing concert film experience. He and his staff have already done it with many clients, from Etta James to Marilyn Manson, Phoebe Snow to Zakk Wylde.

"We want to create products that truly capture the moment and the excitement of a great concert," he says. "We want to direct and produce these shows in such a way that they still feel significant when you watch them over and over. I think it's that same energy and excitement that keeps people running back to Century with their projects. It's the passion."

WANDERING EYE. What a bill -- the Blackstone Valley Sinners, Barn Burning, Jedediah Parish and the Mother Tongues, and Joel Thibodeau. It goes down Friday (the 10th) at the fabulous AS220 (115 Empire Street, Providence, 831-9327, www.AS220.org).

Congrats to Eric Fontana, who will be busy gigging in a theater setting again this winter. He'll be scoring -- or, more appropriately, underscoring -- Trinity Rep's staging of Nickel and Dimed, Joan Holden's adaptation of Barbara Ehrenreich's book. He'll be responsible for incidental acoustic music, all of which he'll write as the play is being prepared. Break a leg, E!

Over at Sal's R&B Club in Johnston, they have a sizzlin' lineup. On the 10th there's the Rockin' Soul Horns, on the 11th Greg Piccolo & Heavy Juice hit the stage, and on the 12th Rhode Island Country Hall of Famer Ray Dixon & the Country All-Stars do their thing from 4 to 9 p.m. Yee-haw!

Transparent will be playing with the Miracle of 86, Kevin Devine (singer of Miracle of 86), and Dragon String on Sunday at the Green Room (8:30 p.m. start, $6, 18-plus). The show will be Devine's last in the US before heading to Europe next week for a five-week, 36-show, nine-country tour with Vagrant recording artist Koufax. Sounds like a great send-off!

Up at Chan's on Saturday, you can catch a hot night of jazz with Greg Abate at 8 p.m.Greg will be leading a group that includes some excellent talent: Dick Johnson, Greg Wardson, Todd Baker, and Gary Johnson. You can find Chan's on Main Street in Woonsocket; call 765-1900 for reservations.

Don DiMuccio and his band Black & White are starting 2003 off right by going back into the studio to begin work on the follow-up to their last terrific opus, 45 RPM. Once again, they're tapping the talents of Joe Moody at his Danger Multitrack Studios. Catch 'em this weekend at the Wharf Tavern down in Warren. It doesn't matter when you go, chances are they'll be there. Seriously. Just ask for the "Buddy Cianci Memorial Lounge" when you arrive and they'll point you in the right direction.

Zox, a rock-reggae band, is looking for a new bassist (their current one is leaving in May, and will be holding auditions throughout the winter and spring. The ideal candidate would be an experienced, versatile, quick-learning player, age 18 to 25, with a unique style, strong backing vocal ability, comfort in front of crowds, and the capability to do the job full-time (with four to six shows a week for at least a year). Sense of humor is, of course, a must. If interested, e-mail zoxband@hotmail.com.

E-mail me with your lists, or local music news at big.daddy1@cox.net.

Issue Date: January 10 - 16, 2003