Jawn Murray

• Interviews
• December 21st

I actually have a nickname and theme song for the man I am HONORED to call my mentor in this business, “HOLLYWOOD!” (Thanks Jay-Z & Beyonce!)

Entertainment journalist guru Jawn Murray – despite living in Washington, DC – is truly Tinseltown’s finest!  It’s one thing to meet one of the people you admire, but to be able to call them a friend is a dream come true.

Jawn is more than an entertainment personality you hear on the radio or read on the internet.  Jawn is a shrewd business man that has strategically, successfully and prayerfully climbed to the top with all the integrity in the world.  There are not too many people in this business who are genuine, real and not threatened by someone else’s success.  But that’s why he stands out among the crowd and why God continues to bless his ever-growing empire!

What exactly do you do? What does your job entail?

I do a bunch of stuff. Most people kind of surmise that I’m a celebrity journalist. But I have my deal with AOL for the column BV Buzz under their Black Voices division.  My other deal is my twice-weekly spots on the Tom Joyner Morning Show.  I also make television appearances as an entertainment and pop culture subject matter expert.  I also do a lot of consulting for record companies, corporate brands, artists and other entities.  I’m my own CEO, which was unconventional when I first started out.  Luckily the way I structured my business, I haven’t been affected by the recession and the changing business.  It’s been 10 years as of May ’09 that I’ve been in this business.

What was your first real gig in the business?

I took a year off from school in ’99 and I started interning at a local Washington, DC radio station, WPGC.  I didn’t necessarily want to be in radio at the time, but I wanted to be diverse.  One of the mid-day radio hosts,Michel Wright, took a liking to me and she started letting me produce entertainment news segments on her show.  When I left the station to go back to school, she kept me on retainer and I continued to produce entertainment segments.  Michel really encouraged me to brand myself and get aggressive about making a name for myself.  At the time the internet was taking off real big and I created this e-zine called Garek News.It was basically an entertainment newsletter that was patterned after a popular news wire called EUR, which now only exists as an online website.  I used to send out emails to a small database of people in the business and it just grew from a few hundred to several thousand in a short time.

How did you get all your information since you were new to the scene?

In a matter of three or four months from working at the radio station, I had established a lot of relationships with industry people.  Then I started traveling doing all kinds of press junkets right from my dorm room.  By the time I had left Norfolk State, I had a meeting with EUR.  I disbanded my Garek News e-zine and adapted it into a column called Jawn’s Juice. The reason I called it Jawn’s Juice is because I had been doing local radio show in Norfolk with my good friend Phil Thornton, who now is a television and music mogul in Hollywood.  So the column was birthed from the radio segment.  EUR took my career to a whole new level.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

The most challenging part is dealing with crazy celebrities. The reality is celebrities can be temperamental, sensitive, manipulative and controlling.  They want to have their cake and eat it too.  They want the press, but they also want to dictate and control how it’s told.  In addition, the ex-wives, the entourage and all those extra “hanger-ons” who are trying to be famous or live vicariously through the celebrities are even crazier.

Do you remember the story that put you on the map?

The first big story I ever broke was with my column Garek News and it was that Destiny’s Child was breaking up.  I had done a radio event where original D.C. member LaTavia Roberson had expressed some concerns with things going on behind the scenes.  For whatever reason she connected to me and I knew the breakup was coming even before Mathew Knowles knew.  That was the first story I ever broke and people started doing pickups on it and really crediting me for getting that exclusive.  Honey magazine interviewed me about it and everything. That’s when I realized my voice carried legs.

Why do you think so many celebrities respect you and treat you differently than other entertainment journalists?

That used to be a question I asked myself all the time because I didn’t understand why celebrities took to me the way they did.  When I started in this business, there were all these misnomers about journalists like; nothing was ever truly off the record.  But, I would interact with an entertainer or celebrity and literally after one or two conversations they would tell me all their business.  But it wouldn’t just stop there, they would give me their home number to stay in touch and just deal with me on a personal level.  I think they found it comforting to talk to me.  It was really just the favor of God that people took such a strong liking to me.  People would be surprised at some of the conversations that I’ve had.  I’ve been part of some celebrities’ major life-changing decisions.  They know when I’m not working and my tape recorder isn’t on, I’m just their friend.  I’m not a name-dropper.  I’m a real dude who happens to work as a journalist.  I know the difference between having real time and operating in industry time.

How do you maintain a spiritual relationship with such a demanding career?

My relationship with God is everything to me.  It’s the reason why I’m in this business and why people have taken to me.  My relationship is so emanate with God, I think people naturally gravitate to that.  They recognize something different about me.  I’m a bonafide church boy and I’m very comfortable dwelling in a church setting, but I can also be in L.A. at an industry party and be comfortable there too.  I just may not be doing everything everyone else is doing.  Sometimes you deal with these crazy people in the industry and you want to fight back.  So there is a big battle between the spiritual me and the flesh in me who wants to just cuss some people out.  But my relationship with God has helped me make a lot of mature, imperative decisions.

How much of what we see and hear in the media is true?

It’s hard to tell. I tell most people to consider the source. A lot of what we see and hear about celebrities is fabricated to sell a product. We’ve heard countless stories of rappers saying they’re a gangster and they’re from the hood, but they really went to prep schools in the suburbs.  There are a lot of actors and actresses who on the surface look like millionaires, but really they are living with four other people or moved their parents in to help pay their rent.  So it’s a lot of smoke and mirrors.  With blogs being an intricate part of where people get information now, it compromises the traditionally journalism rules.  But as a rule of thumb, I tell most people that if the blog isn’t written by a respected journalist or attached to a credible news source, then the news should be processed accordingly.

I know you love music. Who are some of your favorites?

I’m a church boy, so I like singer-singers. They are currently joking me on my morning show because I am NOT a Sade fan!  But I do love real vocalists like Ledisi, Coko, Jennifer Hudson, Dave Hollister (really happy he’s doing R&B again), Lalah Hathaway, Shanice, Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child, Gladys Knight, Beyonce, Kelly Price, Ann Nesby, Kierra Sheard, Eric Benet, Ruben Studdard, Deitrick Haddon, Rahsaan Patterson, Anthony Hamilton, Johnny Gill, Nikki Ross, Tank, The Clark Sisters, Kim Burrell, Charlie Wilson, New Edition and so many more.  I could go on all day about singers.  But recently I’ve really gotten into U.K. artists too so I’m digging singers like Mica Paris, Beverly Knight and Lemar. I’m a Brit at heart!

How do you feel about artists who go back and forth between R&B and Gospel?

I don’t have a problem with it. As long as the lifestyle is intact, I don’t have a problem with what you sing. You can’t have vulgar lyrics and sing inappropriate songs on Saturday night and then sing sacred songs on Sunday. That’s just inconsistent. I’m a big champion of PJ Morton right now because I like the fact that he stepped out and said it is ok to sing about love. You can have integrity, be saved, go to church and sing about love. Just because you’re sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost doesn’t mean you’re called to sing gospel music. I think it’s a misnomer that you should only do one thing. There is a market for clean music and I think people who are saved can also sing that music. A lot of times I find mainstream artists are way more effective than some of the full-time Gospel artists because they are coming from a sincere place about their issues and struggles. That’s why there’s a connectivity that you may not get from a Gospel artist. A Gospel singer will sing and shout you into the ground and then get backstage and cuss you out because the offering isn’t what it’s supposed to be. I know many secular artists who tithe and actually belong to a church where they are not on staff as minister of music, unlike many Gospel artists. Some of the same Gospel singers, who complain about artists singing both, if given the opportunity, would sing “secular” music themselves in a New York minute. The very ones protesting the loudest are living the worst; having babies out of wedlock, cheating and everything else under the sun.  I get real passionate when I talk about this because there is so much judgment in this area and most of it is unwarranted.

What advice would you give to up and comers who want to do what you do?

I get emails all the time from people saying they want to do what I do. I tell them you see the glory, but you don’t know my story.  I love what I do, but there is and was a lot of sacrifice and heartache that went into this.  Let’s not mention the countless hours of prayer.  I’ve made some good decisions and some bad ones; but in the end it’s about being the tortoise and not the hare.  I’ve been blessed for it and it’s earned me longevity.

JAWN’S 10 RANDOM TRUTHS

1. Favorite TV show? “The View”
2. Favorite SWV song? “Weak.”
3. Would you ever bungee jump. Yes and I want my best friend VaShawn Mitchell to do it with me.  Plus, I’m afraid of heights!
4. How many kids do you want? Zero. I don’t like kids.
5. Favorite American Idol. Both Fantasia and Ruben Studdard.
6. Favorite award show to attend? The NAACP Image Awards.
7. Mac or PC? PC.
8. Favorite male R&B group? New Edition.
9. First car? Mazda 323.
10. Mary Mary or BeBe & CeCe? Mary Mary

For more information on Jawn, check out his column at www.BVBuzz.com.

TED WINN

• Interviews
• September 22nd

I want to start off by saying Ted Winn is a very smart man. He’s well read, articulate and knows what he’s talking about! But what can you expect from a Morehouse graduate with a degree in English?!? I hope one day I will be able to sit down with him and pick his brain on a business level.  I’ve always respected him as a singer/songwriter, but now I respect him even more for being a man who is using his mind to further his success and God’s purpose for his life.

In your teens you went into the service. What branch were you in?

I was in the Air Force and I served for two years.

Was it always something you wanted to do or were you kind of forced to join?

It was something I wanted to do. It was an honor to serve my country. I joined right out of high school and it was good for me because I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life yet. I only did two years because at the time they had early outs and it was at that time the musical side of me started to develop. I was 18 when I joined and I can say that it definitely made an adult out of me. The service really instilled community values. I still take that with me. The fact that everything you did impacted someone else’s life was big. You do one thing wrong and that could cause hundreds of people to get killed. We need more of that community spirit here in the U.S. My grandmother was in the paper at one time because she had 5 kids in the military at the same time all with the same last name.

While we’re on the subject of politics, what is your opinion on the war?

I’m very sensitive to anyone who serves, but I’m not in support of the war. I thought George Bush was using the war as a scare tactic. But, I knew once we went into Iraq it was going to be like a 10-year obligation. I just think that the whole thing in one word is “inappropriate.” I’m supportive of the troops and their efforts, but sending someone’s husband, friend, mother, daughter or father and they never comeback, that’s a problem. And then you ask what was it for?

What was the hardest thing about breaking up as Ted & Sheri?

The hardest thing was probably just not having the support on stage and in the creative process. Creatively we always bounced ideas off of each other. A lot of times I would call Sheri and tell her to write a verse for one of the songs. It was a partnership. That was the biggest transition for me. And you know when you’re on stage and your voice may not be up to par that night your partner can pick up the slack. But when you’re on your own you have to make it happen. Interestingly enough all of my influences are virtually solo artists like; Donald Lawrence, Andrae Crouch, Walter Hawkins, Edwin Hawkins, Richard Smallwood and Karen Clark Sheard. Watching Karen break away from The Clark Sisters to do her first solo album was amazing. I was in college when “Finally Karen” was released and it was incredible.

Will Ted & Sheri ever do another album together?

We plan to. We’ve talked about it.

What’s the best aspect of being on your own now?

Well I’ve matured more and it makes you become more focused. It makes you think about things more introspectively because it’s just you.

What are some sacrifices you make when you are in a group or a duo?

Sheri and I are family, so I don’t have that crazy story like I’ve heard about other groups. We never had any fallouts or fights. We knew it was ordained. When you sing with someone for such a long time you just have a connection. When God calls something into existence and you’re aware of that and sensitive to it, you handle things differently. Maybe you don’t get to stay in a 5 star hotel, maybe you fly coach sometimes or your payment is a little smaller than what it would be, but you know there is a bigger purpose.

What advice would you give to new artists or producers trying to break into the industry?

LEARN THE BUSINESS!!! That’s the best advice I can give. I’m not going to give you vocal techniques or image advice…I’m going to tell you to LEARN THE BUSINESS! I have friends in the business who seemingly fly under the radar because they don’t have an album out or they don’t have a household name, but they are doing really well because their business is straight. Being spiritual is great, but at the end of the day it’s a business.

Do you like to work with new and upcoming producers or do you strictly work with well-known producers?

I love working with new people. Daniel Moore was 23 when I first met him. He was phenomenal. I saw him at my church and that’s how he ended up becoming Ted & Sheri’s musical director. His style was so advanced that it was like being at a musical concert at church. And at that time I was really seeking out someone new.

Your new solo album “Balance” hits stores September 29, 2009. What was the most difficult thing about recording this new album?

I’m really excited about this project. I recorded the whole album on my own label “Teddys Jamz” and partnered with Shanachie Records. I am totally humble and very clear that this is my purpose. But probably the most difficult part was the scheduling. It was a nightmare. All of my songs were done with a live band and singers so we cut everything live. I produced all the vocals myself and I was there and hands on when the band was recording their parts.

Do you read critiques?

I don’t search them out. And for me I always consider the source. The question becomes, “Is it an informed opinion?” What resonates the most is not what the critic says, but what the public says. The public is going to have the last say.

How do you feel when your album doesn’t sell well or the public doesn’t take a liking to it?

Sometimes you just have to go back and rework some things. But if you are true to yourself and do music that is honest and heartfelt, then most likely people will get it.

What other business ventures are you involved in?

I own a publishing administration company called “Veracity Entertainment,” which means integrity and truth. I represent 30 writers at the present time. My writers work with everyone from Day 26, T-Pain and Marques Houston to Juanita Bynum. Ricky Dillard is one of the writers I represent. I love being able to be instrumental in taking someone’s career to the next level. I’m excited about my company and how well it’s been doing! I even have my first intern.

What made you cut off your dreads?

When I first locked my hair, it was a very spiritual experience for me. I’m at a new phase in my life and I had my dreads for 10 years, that’s a decade. It’s 2009 now and I’m also an executive and in the throws of writing a book, so it’s just time for a change. Prior to Sheri and I coming on the scene, nobody else had them. I honestly got some pushback too and the response to my dreads was lukewarm. Since I’ve cut them the response has been good. But, it makes me think that people are not as progressive as I thought because the inference is that my low haircut is better.

What do you like to do in your down time?

Absolutely nothing! I love to read and watch CNN and shows like “True Blood,” “Weeds,” and “Dexter.”Sometimes I’ll just go and fly away somewhere and just relax. Sometimes I’ll just get a hotel room in Atlanta and not tell anyone except my mom. You have to go away and breathe a little bit.

What is your ultimate goal of being able to share your music?

Whether I hear about it or not, if someone makes the decision to live their life differently then I’ve done my job.

TED WINN’S 20 RANDOM TRUTHS

1. Would you ever go on the reality show “Survivor?” Yes.
2. How do you feel about plastic surgery? Moderation is cool.
3. The View, Oprah, Ellen or Wendy Williams? “Oprah.”
4. Last movie you saw? “The Hangover.”
5. Oatmeal, Grits or Cream of Wheat? Oatmeal.
6. Dream Car? Infiniti.
7. Would you ever go deep-sea scuba diving? No.
8. Who’s on your iPod? Maxwell, Brandy, Lalah Hathaway
9. One female you would like to do a duet with? Brandy & Lalah
10. Favorite cartoon? I don’t like cartoons. That’s Dewayne Woods.
11. Least favorite subject in high school? Math.
12. Have you ever lied to spare someone’s feelings? Yes.
13. Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston or Patti Labelle? Beyonce.
14. Commissioned, Take 6, Men of Standard or 21:03? “Commissioned.”
15. Favorite cologne? “I Am King” by Diddy.
16. Morning or night person? Night.
17. Do you snore? Sometimes.
18. What kind of deodorant do you use? “Dove.”
19. Favorite preacher? Bishop G.E. Patterson.
20. One thing God is working with you on? Patience.

Mary Tiller-Woods former member of Anointed

• Interviews
• June 14th

I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve always wondered why Mary Tiller-Woods Anointed so abruptly. She was there and then all of a sudden she was gone! And just as Anointed was gaining momentum with their most popular release to date “The Call”.  So you know me, I had to find out what really went down and here is what Mary had to tell me…

Who came up with the name “Anointed”?

I believe Nissi came up with that name. People would always come up to us and say you guys are anointed, so it kind of just stuck!

How well did you guys know each other?

We probably didn’t know each other as well as we should have. We sang in the same youth choir in Columbus, Ohio. When the group first formed, I would say we were friendly.  As time went on we became very close. If you saw one of us, you saw all of us. Da’dra and I were even roommates at one time.

What do you remember about the recording of “Spiritual Love Affair”?

We recorded “Spiritual Love Affair” in ‘92. We were all very young still. It was a whirlwind.  Steve, Da’dra and I were all going to the same school. I remember we flew to out to California and we stayed in a house where the studio was. It all went very fast. My grandfather had a heart attack while we were recording the album, but he told me to continue you on.  We laughed a lot though. Those were some of my fondest memories of being in Anointed! It was exciting and stressful all at the same time with the anticipation of everything!

Did you guys disagree a lot in the beginning?

We didn’t argue about anything major. It was more like sibling rivalry. We had to get over who was singing the lead on a certain song that one of us may have written, but it was nothing big. We were young, so at that time that stuff was trivial.

When did you start having problems with the group?

At the time my issues weren’t with my group members, it was with management. I don’t want to go into a detailed account of what happened back then because it was so long ago and we have all moved on, but I just felt singled out and isolated. I felt our manager was a big part of why it was happening to me. I’m the kind of person that if you tell me I need to do something, I want an explanation. I have a voice and I speak up. I might have been a nuisance in that way. I’m not really sure. I felt like I was being retaliated against for speaking up and some other issues at the time.

How long had he been the group’s manager?

He had been managing us for about 4 years, but I had with the group for nine years at this time. It really just got to a point where enough was enough. I went to the group and basically gave them an ultimatum. I said it was him or me. I don’t regret my decision that I made at the time, but looking back I would have handled things differently. But again, we were all very young.

Do you think the other members knew what was going on?

I can only assume they didn’t know or didn’t want to believe. When I finally broke my silence, it was all out in the open then. They were understanding of me and my decision. I think they wanted me to wait and just hold out a little longer, but I just couldn’t. They eventually changed management.

Have you spoke with your former manager since everything went down?

We have talked. He apologized and it was already forgiven. I don’t talk to him everyday, but that’s in the past. He has a family now and from what I hear he is pastoring a church, so I wish him nothing but the best!

Weren’t upset at how everything turned out?

I wasn’t mad. I was more disappointed. I didn’t feel valued or appreciated. I’m married now, so if I tell my husband I don’t feel comfortable with someone in our house even if he doesn’t see anything wrong with the person, they wouldn’t be welcome in our house anymore. I don’t feel like they had my back. Again, we were young and communication was a definite problem within the group. I equate the group to a marriage and all of us came from single homes, so we didn’t know what a successful relationship looked like. The kind of structure that was needed to foster accountability and support was not there. The spiritual warfare we encountered was insane. You just wouldn’t believe!

What is your relationship like with them now?

I love all of them! They are each still dear to me. Nissi is like my sister! We had our babies on the same day with the same doctor. Steve and Da’dra sang at my wedding when I got married. And I was able to celebrate with Da’dra for the birth of her second baby. We are bonded together for life. I will cut you if you talk about any of them lol! Anointed was an amazing vehicle for God to get us to the point that we’re all at now. Even after I left the group, I still followed their careers!

Would you like to see all of you back together again as Anointed?

If someone told me the other 3 agreed to it, I would down for it. But, I’m also not trying to go backwards either. If it’s God’s will, then one day it will happen.

What did you learn from this whole experience?

God taught me that it’s not in your rising; it’s in your falling where you find your real testimony! People are much more attentive when you’re spiraling downward. We are human, so it’s natural for us to fall and have hardships. It’s the ability to grow and show others that God will renew your life, your spirit, and your situation!

So what new things are you working on now?

I am hosting a worship conference called “Worship is My Life”. I’m really excited about that! Also, I’m working on mentoring new artists to offer whatever knowledge will be beneficial in helping them be successful. I also want to learn how to play the guitar and soon I’ll be recording a live worship CD. I’ve also written a book, “Faith Confessions for the Journey”!

Mary’s 20 Random Truths

1. Favorite “Anointed” song? “Don’t Sweat It”.
2. Would you ever skydive? When the trumpet sounds, yes!
3. Favorite American Idol? Paris Bennett
4. Can you change a flat tire? Yes, but I haven’t had too.
5. What kind of deodorant do you use? Secret.
6. Favorite perfume? Laila.
7. Guilty pleasure? Ice cream. It’s gotta have nuts and caramel!
8. Favorite Bible story? The story of Abraham.
9. On time or late for church? With two kids, late!
10. Favorite TV show? Grey’s Anatomy
11. Luther Vandross, Peabo Bryson or Howard Hewett? Luther Vandross
12. 3 CD’s you can’t live without? Micah Stampley,  Mary Tiller, & Fred Hammond.
13. Favorite fruit? Cantaloupe.
14. Yolanda Adams, Crystal Lewis, Kierra Sheard or Dorinda Clark Cole? Crystal Lewis.
15. The View, Oprah, or Ellen? The View.
16. Do you workout? Yes.
17. Dream vacation? One&Only have these resorts on some incredible islands.
18. Biggest regret? I wish I would have pursued law.
19. Ever forgot to brush your teeth? Yes.
20. What if you had 8 kids like the octomom? I wouldn’t have 8 kids like her!