THE MUSICIANS FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS FEATURE: SHEILA E

In celebration of our 10th anniversary, we’re featuring the achievements, exploits and adventures of our illustrious Board of Directors across the music industry.  

For the ninth (and final installment) in our ongoing series of weekly snapshots, we catch up with the legendary Sheila E!

“Live your life. Live it beautifully and bravely, knowing that nothing can leave you broken forever. Follow the beat of your own drum, your own heart, and you’ll be happy.”- Sheila E

Known worldwide as a Grammy® and Emmy® Award-nominated singer/songwriter (including mega-hits: “The Glamorous Life” and “A Love Bizarre”) dynamic drummer/percussionist, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and Pop, Latin and R&B superstar …Sheila E. is also an actress, mentor, and philanthropist.

She continues to build upon her well deserved status as a music legend and role model with the upcoming release of her new autobiography on Sept. 2nd  “The Beat of My Own Drum” :

Upcoming book release and signing events: New York: 9/7 – Hollywood: 9/10 – Boston: 9/27

Sheila E’s extraordinary career has spanned 7 album releases, countless appearances on A-list recordings, tours, TV and film appearances.

In 2014, she also released a brand new CD: “ICON”:

Whether chosen by Prince to join his band…

With The Purple One

Or, to perform at the White House…

Or to perform for the 2012 Academy Awards (with Pharrell Williams and composer Hans Zimmer)… 

Sheila E, Hans Zimmer, Esperanza Spalding, Pharrell Williams

Or serving on behalf of The Recording Academy (The Grammys®) Board as a Governor and Trustee…

With Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy

Or getting a standing ovation at the 2013 Kennedy Center Honors…

Being surrounded by many friends and collaborators…

Stevie Wonder and Sheila E. onstage during the International Jazz Day Concert @United Nations General Assembly Hall 2012

Or performing (one of many times) at the Hollywood Bowl…

With Pete Escovedo at The Playboy Jazz Festival 2012 at The Hollywood Bowl

She credits her father Pete (and her godfather Tito Puente) as tremendous influences…

Or by ringing in 2014 performing with Sergio Mendes on New Year’s Eve at Disney Hall…

With Sergio Mendes at Disney Hall New Years Eve 2014

Or being known at Musicians Institute as “Dr. E”…

Honorary Doctor of Music 2010

It’s CLEAR to all that Sheila E. has not only lived “the glamorous life”, she’s lived the life of an incredibly inspirational role model. When away from the spotlight, music doubles as a source of healing and giving back for Sheila E.  Between gigs, she crisscrosses the country speaking at schools and colleges, shelters, church organizations, music classes and clinics about music’s effect on her life and career.

In 2001, she founded The Elevate Hope Foundation, which has supported numerous programs (thru its grant awards) that provide abused and abandoned children an alternative method of therapy through music and the arts.

Most recently, (in tandem with the city of Oakland), Sheila and Elevate Hope staged the very successful first annual “Elevate Oakland” benefit concert in February of 2014.   The goal: to raise funds to improve student academic achievement and attendance through music and arts programming, and bringing new opportunities and supporting the creative potential of Oakland youth. 

We are deeply honored and immensely proud to have Sheila E. serve as a member of the Board of Directors for The Musicians Foundation.

 We’re extremely proud of our board, and their dedication in support of music education!

 

THE MUSICIANS FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS FEATURE: DAN KIMPEL

In celebration of our 10th anniversary, we’re featuring the achievements, exploits and adventures of our illustrious Board of Directors across the music industry.

For the eighth in our ongoing series of weekly snapshots, we catch up with our Chairman of the Board and music industry veteran: Dan Kimpel.

“I don’t describe myself by what I do, but rather what others might need me to accomplish on their behalf.”

Dan Kimpel is widely acknowledged as a foremost authority on popular music and songwriters, who contributes to books, interactive CDs, magazines, websites, documentary films, television programming, videos and new media.

Dan Kimpel (Panel Moderator), Tony Van Veen (CEO, Discmakers and CD Baby), Ariel Hyatt (President, Ariel Publicity), Debra Russell (Life coach), Bob Baker (Author) @TAXI’s Road Rally

His recent interview subjects include Maroon 5, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, Ne-Yo, Mary J. Blige, Green Day, David Guetta, Usher, Alicia Keys, Jason Mraz, Ringo Starr, Black Eyed Peas.  Some of his favorite subjects include: Leonard Cohen, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Clint Eastwood, Maya Angelou, Metallica, Sasha Baron-Cohen and many more.

Moderating BMI Panel at Content Copyright Conference

Mr. Kimpel is a highly respected (and in-demand) interviewer, panelist, moderator, Master of Ceremonies, journalist, teacher, public speaker, liaison and networker extraordinaire.

At DMI Music Marketing’s Grammy party.

 If there is a music conference, a songwriters conference, an awards show, TV appearance, or MI event- then Dan Kimpel will be on the scene.

SESAC’s Trevor Gale and Pat Rogers; Dan Kimpel (Music Connection)

Here, Dan shares some excellent tips for success in the music business:

In July 2014, Dan conducted an onstage interview for The Recording Academy/Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL) for Transformers: Age of Extinction screening at Paramount Pictures with composer Steve Jablonsky.  His recent television appearances include panelist and on screen music commentary for AXS Live, and Inside Edition.

Q&A with film composer Steve Jablonsky, moderated by Dan Kimpel.

 Over six years, passengers on United Airlines heard Kimpel’s incisive interviews with hit songwriters and recording artists on The United Entertainment Network and Delta Airlines worldwide.

Dan gives a lecture on Networking Strategies for Songwriters at ASCAP Expo:

As a journalist, Dan contributes cover features to the West Coast trade publication Music Connection magazine, plus a regular column, “Song Biz,” that profiles writers and composers in each issue. Other publications that feature his writing have included BMI World, ASCAP Playback, Grammy, SESAC Magazine, Film Music and American Songwriter.

Recently, Dan’s interviews and cover stories include: Lily Allen, Ricky Reed, Florida-Georgia Line, Tom Petty and Jackson Browne.

Dan has several successful book titles to his credit:

It All Begins with the Music: Developing Successful Artists & Careers for the New Music Business, co-authored with legendary A&R executive, Don Grierson is his most recent title.  Dan’s book on maximizing personal relationships, Networking Strategies For The New Music Business (ArtistPro/Thomson) is the follow up to his best-selling title, Networking in the Music Business.  How They Made It: True Stories of How Music’s Biggest Stars Went From Start to Stardom, was released in 2006.  Electrify My Soul: Songwriters and the Spiritual Source followed in 2008.

With Dorian Holley (American Idol, Michael Jackson +)

An expert teacher, Dan conducted week-long master classes on networking at Sir Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) in the UK over a five-year period. He is currently on the faculty of Musicians Institute in Hollywood where he is three-time Music Business Program Teacher of the Year.  He also is very active on the lecture circuit at colleges, universities and conferences across the U.S., Canada and Japan.

Jan 2014: Musicians Institute Career Development NAMM Networking Seminar

Here, Dan speaks to MUBUTV’s Rich Ezra about the skills needed for effective networking:

Since 2010, Dan has taught a series of courses on behalf of Musicians Institute and co-sponsored by The-Musicians Foundation-Org  for LAUSD High School students at The Grammy Museum.  

May 2014: class on music business with gurus Dan Kimpel and Aaron Meza (MI faculty) at The Grammy Museum

We are honored to have Dan serve as Chairman of the Board for The Musicians Foundation!

Beth Marlis (Exec. Director), Dan Kimpel (Board Chair) at 2012 MI Alumni Event

 To keep up with all the exciting music industry goings-on of Dan Kimpel, follow him on Facebook, Twitter or his website.

We’re extremely proud of our board, and their dedication in support of music education!

THE MUSICIANS FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS FEATURE: Casey Robison

In celebration of our 10th anniversary, we’re featuring the achievements, exploits and adventures of our illustrious Board of Directors across the music industry.

For the seventh in our ongoing series of weekly snapshots, we catch up with board member and music industry veteran: Casey Robison, Vice President of Publishing, Big Deal Music.

Casey Robison, Big Deal Music

In 2013, Casey joined Big Deal Music: a dynamic, broad-based rights organization and independent publishing company with offices in LA, New York and Nashville.

Casey was formerly the Director of Writer/Publisher Relations at BMI LA (2007-2012).  Prior to his stint with BMI,  he worked in publishing at Chrysalis Music Publishing.  That’s a fantastic string of cool industry gigs!

Here we find Casey (he’s the guy in plaid) with several of the principles and staff at Big Deal Music. The company is dedicated to finding and nurturing unique talent, helping truly special artists and songwriters create lasting businesses for themselves.

To date, the Big Deal Music artist roster includes: My Morning Jacket, Annie Clark, (AKA St Vincent), Jim James, The Black Angels, Ethan Johns, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Missy Higgins, FIDLAR, Wye Oak, Korey Dane and songwriters Brett Beavers, Tim James, Brad Tursi.   They also have a cool You Tube channel with many of their artists.

Casey is very well connected and he knows A LOT of important folks in the industry…

(L-R): Kenny MacPherson (Big Deal President), Damon Bunetta, (BMG Chrysalis) Zach Katz (Family Affair Productions), John Ryan (songwriter), Laurent Hubert (BMG, ASCAP), Casey Robison.

Casey Robison, Beth Laird (Creative Nation), friend, Mike O’Neill (BMI) at SXSW 2012

Casey is also known in biz as a great, personable guy who is very generous and supportive.  Evidenced here, as he lets “the other guy” rock the plaid shirt!:

BMI’s Jake Simon (l)  and Casey Robison (rt) w/ Beast Patrol front woman,VBley in 2012

Myles Lewis (BMI), Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan, Joe Maggini (BMI), Casey Robison

With Gary Clark Jr. et al At SXSW 2011

We know the music industry is a “small world after all”, so we wanted to share this article (where Casey is mentioned) written for Music Connection by fellow Musicians Foundation board member (and Chairman) Dan Kimpel HERE.

We’ve also heard (on very good authority) that Casey was recently married on July 9th.  Congratulations are in order from your extended family at The Musicians Foundation!  We’re honored to have Casey Robison serving on our board.

 

We’re extremely proud of our board, and their dedication in support of music education!