It’s a Family Affair

The power of a creative network based on friendships and relationships, all forged through the Berklee experience, is on full display at Family Affair Productions. In 2001, producer/drummer Peter Bunetta launched the company as a family production and songwriting business with sons Julian and Damon, both of whom are drummers. From modest beginnings, the team has grown with multiple layers of Berklee alumni collaborators making key contributions along the way.

Peter has been active in the music business for 40-plus years playing, producing, writing, and publishing. His production credits include albums for Smokey Robinson, the Temptations, Michael Bolton, Kenny G, Robbie Dupree, Matthew Wilder, and New Edition. As a drummer, he has recorded with Ringo Starr, John Prine, Judy Collins, and Airto Moreira.

Julian Bunetta ’01, who studied with Joe Porcaro, entered Berklee as a talented drummer with the goal of studying composition and production. After just a year in Boston, Warner/Chappell Music made him an offer that he couldn’t refuse, and he returned to Los Angeles to launch his career.

With a natural feel for the music business, Damon is the team’s manager, visionary, and talent coordinator. As well as managing Family Affair Productions, Damon is the general manager for Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment where he is involved in all aspects of the company’s music, film, and TV ventures.

Since 2001, this company has provided opportunities to a growing number of Berklee interns and graduates. John Ryan ’10 joined the team immediately after graduation, having met Damon through Adam Moskowitz ’07, who was interning at Family Affair at the time. The team of John Ryan and Julian Bunetta has flourished since then, garnering cowriting and production credits on 30 One Direction songs, including “Story of My Life,” “Best Song Ever,” “Midnight Memories,” “Steal My Girl,” “Night Changes,” as well as the Chris Brown single “Five More Hours.” They have have been the music producers for the American and British versions of X Factor and are currently writing with the Dixie Chicks and Charli XCX. Ryan has also cowritten and coproduced the hits “Wiggle” for Jason Derulo and “Fireball” for Pitbull. He is currently in the studio with Usher.

Family Affair Productions and Berklee continue to be connected by a stream of talented alumni. The newest writer/producer to be signed is Andrew Haas ’12.

Other regular contributors on recording sessions at the Family Affair studios are the Regiment Horns (Kevin Williams ’07, Leon Silva Jr. ’08, and Sean Erick), Ron Feemster ’99 (aka “Nephu”), Mateo Laboriel ’03, David “DQ” Quinones ’99, and pianist Jordan Seigel ’06. Berklee professor Bill Elliott has also been a longtime musical collaborator and was John Ryan’s arranging teacher at Berklee.

In Peter Bunetta’s words, “Berklee prepares its students for the big leagues. It has provided our company with a very talented arsenal of musical ammunition for the everyday battles we face to make a living at what we love to do: make music.”

—Peter Gordon ’78

Director of the Berklee Center in L.A.