In the music industry, there have been many figures that have transformed the business, as we know it. Perhaps the most successful of these is Antonio ‘L.A.’ Reid. Antonio Reid has been best known for his determination to strive for success. He exhibits an array of skills both in his musical talents and managerial flair. Having been exposed to both the singer/songwriter, and behind-the-scenes work since his roots in the industry, Reid has without a doubt grasped the music business in its entirety in a way in which no other person has. Displaying musical skill in vocals, piano, and percussion (Net Industries, 2011. Para8) as well as his outstanding ability to manage and multitask, describing himself as an “overachiever”(Norment, 2003. Para 8.), Reid fits all the requirements for a successful career in the music industry. However what set’s him apart from the rest, is his infamous ability know talent when he see’s it. Despite being unable to describe exactly how he obtained such a skill in the industry, stating, “It’s something that I feel when I meet an artist”(Net Industries, 2011. Para10), it is without saying that he has proven his ability to recognise star-quality when he can see it. This is evident through his countless triumphs in his career, discovering successful artists such as Toni Braxton, TLC, Usher and Pink, just to name a few. (Net Industries, 2011. Para10&11) Reid’s unique sense of knowledge in the music industry, along with his other attributes, distinguishes him from others in the music industry, and has helped his success. His passion for all genres of music, having grasped the importance of musical diversity, has set him apart from others in his line of work. Not only is this something that I admire in Reid, but also it is something that I wish to apply to my own career in the entertainment industry, and hope to obtain enough experience and knowledge to strengthen a sense of understanding of what can be successful music. I…
Michael was a musical icon for many. He was also an innocent man in the eyes of many. His musical career was extremely inspiring and seemly rewarding. I know that along his journey he has met some great vocalist and musicians in the same. It is unfortunate the way his journey started and ended. Even as Michael Jackson is today not alive, his legacy and music still lives on for all ages to remember and…
Life after the Second World War changed for many, including the previously jolly jazzmen in Harlem. Whether through conspiracy, a search to remedy the anxieties of a ‘struggling for image’ musician, or just something that was pressed as a requirement to belong, heroin certainly made its bleak presence known. Trumpeter Red Rodney once said, “Heroin became the thing that made us different from the rest of the world. It was the thing that gave us membership in a unique club.”…
He wasn’t just some junkie that made music, he was a true artist who is appreciated and will never be forgotten. It’s evident what kind of impact that he has left on the music industry, even today in this generation you can ask people of the younger age groups about Marvin Gaye and they will know him because the music and work he put into his master pieces are timeless. “Gaye’s last public performance was on February 13, 1993 performing the “Star-Spangled Banner” at the NBA all-start game in Inglewood, California” (Grow). A day before his 45th birthday Marvin and his father got into a heated argument and his own father shot him in the heart, then in his shoulder. He was taken to the hospital and was pronounced dead the same day. This goes to show how love and hate are basically the same thing and will drive you to do things that you can’t imagine. The charges if murder were dropped on the father because they found traces of cocaine in Marvin’s system and he had a brain tumor that he didn’t he didn’t tell anyone about. Hopefully this paper has opened your eyes to the world of Marvin Gaye and his trials and tribulations to make it as…
Imagine how difficult the music industry would be like in the future? There are many celebrities in the music industry that send out inappropriate messages through their music. Some do not realize that they are role models and that their music inspires many people. Also, there are many people who are trying their hardest to be somebody in the music industry. They want to create music in order to send out positive messages, to motivate, and help out others. However, those who truly have a passion for music are not being recognized for their talent. Instead, those who set out terrible examples and provide the wrong messages are the ones being recognized. Due to all these drastic changes, people have received a different understanding of what music really is. This will cause the music industry to become more difficult in the future. Especially because the public is being exposed to negative role models, meaningless music, and talent that’s not being recognized.…
Janis Joplin once said "I always wanted to be an artist, whatever that was, like other chicks want to be stewardesses. I read. I painted. I thought." The 60's were a time that stuck with the American people, and it doesn’t seem to be leaving. It was a time for expression and success in new ways. But not everyone's success came as easy. Janis Joplin was a free spirited person, who didn’t believe in judgement but she believed in second chances. Whether that applied to her success or others. Her career finally rose above expectations in the late 1960's, as a blues vocalist. She lived a singled-minded life to keep her goals in front of her, even with her life threatening battles in the way. The purpose of this paper is to explain how a new female…
Throughout her important career, Mahalia Jackson used her powerful voice and inspiring interpretation of spirituals to move audiences around the world. Even though, her talents were rejected by many people, this didn’t stop her from reaching her dreams. In the early days, as a soloist and member of church choirs, she recognized that music was her life and later, as a world figure, her natural gift brought people…
Many people listen and like music just for the rhythm or the flow, but not many people realize what kind of a message some of these artists are trying to send to society through their lyrics. Kendrick Lamar or “K-dot”, the lyrical genius of today’s rap culture, is one of my all-time favorite artists in hip-hop and is one of the rappers that send these messages to their audience. Recently, one of K-dot’s popular new singles “swimming pools” got released rapidly throughout the world. This single impacted society positively inspiring teenagers and anyone else with a family member that has drinking problems to get through it and to never give up by relating himself in that same situation, and it also impacted older high school and college students by hazing the negative effects of alcohol and also by stating the false feelings alcohol portrays.…
Nina Simone was one of the most powerful singers of not only her time, but of all time. Her music made people think, change and copy. In her music, she made contributions to the civil rights movement. She used and touched so many genres of music from jazz all the way to modern day rap She had influenced countless artists and passed without any acknowledgment or fanfare deserving of such an amazing artist.…
They were the start of a huge piece of life today. As well as, people should know the things musicians went through to get to where they achieved. However, some musicians probably didn’t do as well as they could’ve, they did their best. Life for some of these musicians wasn’t a cake walk, many of them faced multiple troubles. Also, people should know that they were some of the people that gave people, like me, confidence, or hope that they could be special.…
The addiction led to the loss of her marriage, rejection and career. The singer battled hurt and pain of losing her father. Her additions led her to hitting rock bottom. It wasn’t until she hit rock bottom that she had to face her worse demons and fears. She had to face herself. Like many others, we fail to seek and participate in professional help. Some of us are strong enough to allow God to do the purging and restoring. Others need more. They need a program and or professional services to assist them throughout the process.…
Whitney Houston had a youthful childhood with her family. She made many memories that still remark her life throughout this day. Nonetheless, while touring for her shows, she started the act of using drugs, specifically like cocaine and marijuana. The most shocking part of all is that her older brother Michael was the one that started her on drugs. Whitney looked up to Michael since she was a young girl. She imitated everything her older brother did, and wanted to be just like him when she grew up. But little did she know, looking up to someone close to you isn’t always going to lead you the right way.…
When I was younger, I looked up to my older sister a great deal. Anything that she did, I wanted to do. She was like my hero, or that cartoon character ever child wanted to go up and be like. When my sister and I were growing up, we listened to a lot of music and watched a lot of cartoons, but only because she wanted to. My sister, Christine, had a favorite rapper and singer. Now her rapper choice I thought was great but he wasn’t my favorite. Christine, or sometimes Tine, favorite rapper was Tupac Shakur. Though we did not agree on the same rapper, we did however, agree on our favorite singer together. We both chose an artist by the name of Aaliyah Dana Haughton. The first time I heard her music I fell in love.…
As one listens to music of any genre, one typically hears but does not recognize the elegant use of poetic and literary devices used to make the music more alluring to the human ear. Different sound and literary devices are used to invoke and create different emotions within the listener. Many musicians enhance these techniques well and go on to successful careers although very few achieve fame. The Who is one such band that wrote many successful songs and was among the few, who properly utilized these techniques and went onto be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.…
There has been a war raging for thousands of years, a silent war, the war within ourselves. Depression is a serious issue, it has taken thousands of lives. Depression has caused men to soar to greatest heights just as it has crippled others. Some of the most famous people in history have secretly battled with depression, which has made them do extraordinary things. Two such people with amazing talents were Sylvia Plath and Kurt Cobain. Sylvia Plath was a great author who wrote various poems, while Kurt Cobain was a talented musician that wrote many songs in a poetic style. One of Sylvia Plath’s greatest works was a poem named “Daddy”, most scholars agree this poem was actually an autobiography of her own battle with depression. Kurt Cobain’s autobiographical song “Something In The Way” was also a reflection of his battle with depression. Both Cobain and Plath were prisoners of themselves, and their great works demonstrate how much depression had a grip on them and how their art indicates something was in the way of their becoming happy with themselves.…