Recording Connection Editorial Staff

The Recording Connection, part of Radio, Recording, Film Connection and CASA Schools (RRFC) established in 1984, is an educational institute known for its mentor/apprentice model of teaching audio recording and producing skills.  Students learn from music industry pros in their real-world recording studio environments at one of 250 locations throughout the U.S. The benefits of this method of education, in these media careers, are evident as witnessed by hundreds of student success stories.  All content on this website (written, audio and video) is produced and published by The Recording Connection and its staff.

James Petulla is the Founder and President of RRFC Inc., which includes Recording Connection, Radio Connection, Film Connection and CASA Schools (RRFC). James has spent over 50 years in the radio, film and music businesses. He is the Writer and Producer of two Independent Feature Films which have in total won over 30 Film Festivals. His film “Reversal” was featured and won The Tribeca Film Festival and went on to have multiple theatrical releases and then appeared on streaming channels internationally. It also sold over 15,000 DVDs. His latest Film “Trust in Love” won 20 film festivals and was picked up by Gravitas Entertainment. Additionally, he has produced 2 documentaries including the Streaming hit “The Fall of America”. He is President of Petulla Pictures and spends his family time between Malibu, CA and Amsterdam. He continues to Mentor RRFC Students on their film careers. He is the co-author of “Skip College and Get Your Dream Job: Finding Alternative Pathways to a Great Career.” He is most proud of his 4 children which he shares with his wife.

Brian Kraft has been associated with the Recording Connection since 2003 with a media career that began a decade earlier.  Brian Kraft is Chief Executive Officer of RRFC Inc, Waking Life Films and Panic on the Streets of Los Angeles Inc. and oversees a large staff and daily operations of Film Connection, Recording Connection, Radio Connection and the CASA Culinary School (RRFC). Mr. Kraft previously has acted as COO, CAO and as a Film Mentor for RRFC. Additionally, Mr. Kraft has produced and directed 2 documentary films including “The Prisoner’s Guide to Freedom” and “The Fall of America and the Western World”. He studied transpersonal psychology at the University of Santa Monica, is an avid reader of Non-Fiction, a classical guitar player and has written over 50 Electronic Music compositions. He is the co-author of “Skip College and Get Your Dream Job: Finding Alternative Pathways to a Great Career.” He studies Muy Thai and is a Home Chef. He has two children and travels extensively with his wife, Actress Laurie Fortier. He continues to Mentor RRFC students. 

Liya Swift Managing Editor of the Recording Connection, is the face under the many hats of head writer and editor for blog and newsletter content and pre Pandemic was an instrumental force behind the company’s “Connected” podcast.  A skilled interviewer, Liya plays the drums in her spare time when she is not focusing on video projects. She’s been writing and covering music and related arts for 15 years.

Donny Baker has been working in the music industry since 2003 as an audio engineer and music producer in charge of recording studio operations.  Donny has been a Recording Connection mentor, based in Glendale, CA since 2005 whose graduates include Morning Estrada, Uriel Soto and Taylor Crommie.  Clients that Donny has worked with include Brandy, Wiz Khalifa, Rick James, Alice Cooper, Anne Hathaway, Matthew McConaughy, Beyonce among many others.

Samuel Zulfer, known as BigSammyZ, has been passionate about music from an early age, mastering guitar and bass in his teens and diving into electronic music production at 16. While studying Audio Design & Production at Columbia College Chicago, Sam honed his recording, mixing, and production skills, earning a position as an Audio Production Tutor, where he guided students in mastering Pro Tools and studio techniques. Transitioning from Reason to Ableton, he collaborated with Chicago DJs who went on to perform at major festivals like EDC and Ultra Miami. After earning his degree, Sam moved to Los Angeles, where he creates music as BigSammyZ and serves as Director of Academics at Recording Connection, mentoring the next generation of audio professionals.

GW Childs is a Recording Connection mentor whose multifaceted career spans decades. A songwriter, artist, and keyboardist with Soil & Eclipse, he’s also published books on Ableton, Propellerhead’s Reason, and served as the sound designer on Reason. Additionally, G.W. enjoys a successful career as a sound designer, composer, and voice editor on an array of video games including Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic: The Sith Lords, Star Wars: Battlefront, and LucasArts’ The Force Unleashed. As a remix artist he’s remixed major acts like Gene Loves Jezebel, Ray Charles, James Brown, and more.

Joey Heier of Crystal Clear Studio has been in the music industry since the mid-1980s.  In his illustrious career he has recorded everyone from B.O.B. to Meek Mill, Chubby Checker, Chistina Aguilera, MGK and countless others.  He earned a Gold Record with B.O.B. and did the live sound for Jay-Z and Beyonce’s “On the Run” Tour.  Joey has been a much beloved Recording Connection mentor since the mid-2000s.

Lance Dean has worked with many formidable artists in his career including Lil Pump, Blac Youngsta, Fredo Bang, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Young Buck, Frank Zummo (Sum 41).  From his studio in Los Angeles, Lance, otherwise known as “Blaqout” is one of bass music’s hardest working producers, pushing the boundaries of dubstep into new territories.  As a Recording Connection mentor, he produced a mixtape featuring the work of two of his students’ work which achieved a #1 charting on SoundCloud in 2023. 

Jennifer Pyken is a music supervisor, television royalty, and Recording Connection mentor. Over the last 25 years she has overseen the music for dozens of movies and over 1,000 episodes of television. She’s a Primetime Emmy Award nominee and Guild of Music Supervisors award winner. Her credits are outstanding, and include, Just Beyond, This Is Us, Workaholics, Game Over, The Neighbors, House Party, Smallville, One Tree Hill, Felicity, Alias, Lost, Undressed, and Happy Gilmore.