The Formula

The Formula, Darius Good and Luke Paterna, is a Connecticut based production team, on their way to becoming a major force in the music industry. With their minds set on becoming the go-to producers of their generation, they were given an unimaginative opportunity. Under the tutelage of GRAMMY award winning producer Troy Taylor, they co-produced their first song with the legendary Whitney Houston.

Darius Good

Darius' parents, who Pastor a church in the New Haven area, felt the need to have their children learn music. At the age of five Darius and his sister began taking piano lessons at the Dixwell Creative Arts Center in New Haven. He learned piano from Ms. Martha Gonzalez and with the lessons lasting only a half-hour, Mrs. Good suggested he learn a second instrument to occupy his time. This is when Darius became fascinated with learning music. Every instrument donated to the center eventually found its way into his hands. Under the instruction of Mr. William Bowie, Darius learned to play the drums, trumpet, flugel horn, coronet, French horn, and the harp.

As a student at Davis Street Elementary School, Darius was a member of the recorder team. His love for music also found him a place in the schools Orf Program where he played every xylophone as well as the timpani. At Sheridan Middle School Darius quickly found his way to the band room where he learned and played every available instrument. He also played the drums and sang with school's Gospel Choir, also featured on Showtime at the Apollo as a special guest choir, traveling to various places up and down the East Coast. When Darius entered James Hillhouse High School, (also the high school of Troy Taylor and Troy Oliver (Ginuwine, J Lo)) Darius's interest in music began to wean. He withdrew from the band scene but maintained his piano lessons as well as his position as a musician for his father's church.

In 1995 Darius entered the University of New Haven as an Engineering Major. However, in 1997 music once again became a driving force in his life. Darius switched to a dual major, Music Business and Communications. Concurrently Darius began playing the organ for his church and taking lessons from Mr. Howard Taylor, uncle of Troy Taylor. In spring of 1998 after producing his first track for a class project, Darius was introduced to a UNH senior, Darrell "Digga" Branch (Jay Z, J Lo, 50 Cent). This sparked a two-year partnership, which included session work and co-producing tracks.

Luke Paterna

Luke began to explore music at the age of 8. After his brother began taking guitar lessons, he also wanted to learn an instrument. He took piano lessons for a year and a half. While attending Ponus Ridge Middle School Luke once again became involved with music. For the next three years Luke played piano for the jazz band where he was invited to the Western Regionals. Luke also played the baritone as a member of the Band as well as sang with the Chorus.

While attending Brian McMahon High School, hiphop began to play a more influential role in Luke's life. After meeting Rod Bookhart as a freshman, Luke went from being a fan of hiphop to becoming more of an active participant. Rod encouraged Luke to write and in time he became a member of the Underground Nation. The Underground Nation consisted of 12-15 rappers and producers from both Norwalk and Bridgeport, Connecticut. It was during one of their many visits to Funkyard Studios in Bridgeport when Day Money introduced Luke to the MPC 2000. Luke began visiting the studio on his own paying for studio time to make beats.

The Formula

In 1998 Luke entered University of New Haven as a Music Business major after being recruited by his baseball team. Luke quickly found the music scene becoming friends with Saarndupellar Kamanda, a student and rapper from New Jersey, and Jamar Thomas, a DJ at WNHU, UNH's radio station. During this time Darius, classmate Jason Darwell, and two other classmates started a student-run independent label, Prelude Records, to fulfill their senior internship requirement. They produced two albums, which featured students from the university both as engineers and artists, as well as non-student artist. Darius and Jason, heading up the urban department. Darius found himself playing the role of A&R for over 20 artists from 4 different states. With only 2 college semesters to finish the project, Darius found himself under extreme pressure, having limited studio time, meeting with the press generated by UNH's Public Relations Department, and being reluctantly the only producer on the project. In addition, Darius and Jason were recording a documentary of the homeless dilemma in the greater New Haven area for a communication class requirement. However, relief came after Saarndupellar, who happened to be Jason's roommate, invited Luke to the studio. Luke asked to be apart of the project and produced 4 of the 12 songs on the album.

In 1999 Luke continued to run Prelude Records, acting as executive producer for Saardupellar's album entitled "Annual." Luke and Darius produced and co-produced every song on the album. It was during this time the production team, Thurobred, was birthed. Their production chemistry was immediately noticed from their first track. During that time Darius wrote, directed, edited and scored a short film entitled "Wishes," which caught the eye of Award winning documentary director Reece Auguiste. Thurobred recorded a sound track for the film.

In October 2000, Darius was introduced to Troy Taylor through his cousin, a childhood friend of Troy's, during one of Troy's rare home visits. After speaking briefly on the phone, Troy agreed to meet Thurobred. In June of 2001, The CHARACTERS, a production company owned by Troy Taylor and Charles Farrar, offered Thurobred a production deal. In January 2002 Troy Taylor branched out to create SONGBOOK Entertainment. During this time Troy renamed Thurobred to, The Formula. The Formula made their debut on Whitney Houston's latest platinum-selling album, JUST WHITNEY, co-producing the song "Unashamed." They were featured on Ginuwine's latest album entitled THE SENIOR, producing along with Troy the song "Beddah to Have Loved." They also produced with Troy, Def Jam's debut artist Ethane's first single "Hold Up, Wait a Minute."

The Formula

The Formula's collective experience has created a unique production blend. "Because of our background we don't feel there's anything we can't do. Whether you want something for Celine Deon or for Mobb Deep, we can cover the spectrum. We're about longevity. This is a business. This is the career we've chosen and we plan on being in the game a long time."

They credit their influence to such producers as Neptunes, Timbaland, Tim & Bob, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, P Diddy, Just Blaze, David Foster, RZA, Premier, R. Kelly, Kanye West, Dr. Dre, Touch of Jazz, Jay Dilla and their mentor and friend Troy Taylor.