Mederith Beal is the President of the Soto Koto Music label and recording studio. He has held positions ranging from chemist and chemical engineer to editor-in-chief of major magazines and trade journals, reporter for media giants like the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times and a Motown Records company executive.

"Meredith, who brought Oko Drammeh to the attention of Higher Octave Music said that the label is making any earnest effort to reorrient it's promotional machinery to expose the music to the urban marketplace. In addition to pushing the music of Africa through the outlets that helped the company take the music of Ottmar Leibert to a grammy nomination. What's unique about soto koto is the authenticity and the depth of the recourses, that Oko brings on the table." - Cash Box, june 27 1992