My interest in Rhythm and Blues began while I was in high school. I found myself at a party and after hearing “Do You Love Me?” by Patti Austin, I was hooked. From there, my interest in every aspect of R&B completely blossomed purchasing 45’s, albums and then CDs, magazines (Soul Survivor and Goldmine), and collectables such as “The Motown Story – ‘The First Decade’ and ‘The First 25 Years’” box sets. Never missed concerts from the Commodores, EWF and Gladys Knight and the Pips, to name a few.
My career in music began when I graduated from college with a temporary job at KIIS Radio in Los Angeles. From there, after praying for four years, I segued into my dream job at Warner Bros. Records, Black Music. My sincere thanks to everyone who hired a young Asian kid with a sincere interest in Black music: Belma Johnson, Tom Cossie and Graham Armstrong at The R&B Report (for the ‘R&B Legends’ column); Tina Cope, Jamie Archer, C.C. Evans, Ernie Singleton, Ray Harris and Denise Brown at Warner Bros. Records (later for the ‘WB Black Music Ol’ Skool’ label); Sylvia Davis at Impact (for my ‘Rhythm and Blues Junction’ column); and A.D. Washington and David Linton at Capitol Records. Little did I realize that this would hone my skills for the next step in my career.
Today, I’m an educator teaching senior English at a public high school just east of downtown Los Angeles, just ten miles from the new Warner Records headquarters. I’m a coach for a 130-member Speech & Debate Team as well as advisor for the 50-member competitive Dance Teams. It’s definitely a complete 180° from working in the music business, but the Lord has blessed me every step of the way. My tenure in the music business proves to be the ‘hook’ I use in order to gain the students’ interest and attention. With album covers adorning the walls of my classroom and R&B oldies sounds between periods, it definitely gives me the ‘best of both worlds’ and a bridge to my second career in life.
#BlackMusicMonth #LivingLegends