Támar Talks About Edutainment and More...It's a Music Business 4 a Reason!

Ashley Támar met Gretchen while performing the Broadway classic "Motown the Musical." Enjoy this long-awaited conversation (they haven't spoken since 2017) between the ladies about solving problems and finding your niché by being the 1st to curate a path while following your passion.Gretchen has been working as a wig maker since 2005.  While attending school at the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music (UC/CCM), Gretchen spent her summer building wigs for the Utah Shakespearean Festival (USF) in Cedar City, UT.  After receiving her MFA in Wig and Makeup Design from UC/CCM in 2007, she spent two years as the wig master at the Cincinnati Playhouse and 3 summers as wig master at USF before moving to New York City.  While in NYC, she spent 8 years in the studio of Charles Lapointe and Tom Watson.  As studio manager, she oversaw wig production, taught new employees how to make wigs, and built wigs for various Broadway shows and films, including Memphis, Motown, and Hamilton.  In 2017, she moved to the Atlanta area where she continues to build wigs for film, as well as private clients.  Gretchen has built wigs for American Horror Story, Marvel, Netflix, Nat Geo and many other production companies.  She started teaching her own wig making workshops in 2019 where she has the opportunity to share her passion for wig making with others.

Zakiya Larry redefines the power of pivoting while loving what she does in telling stories through journaling. As a Strategic Journalist, Zakiya uses story-telling in a poignant way while helping others tell their narrative. Listen and learn how these women explore topics such as how to take care of your mental while following your passion to knowing when to take care of you, by removing yourself from any and every toxic career path while trying to advance and keep a healthy, productive lifestyle.

I met Daniel Meyer while performing with the Stewart Copeland Orchestra in Erie, PA. From the very first song, his energy gave me chills. To watch a conductor use every morsel of his body into a new body of work, is quite jaw-dropping. As soon as I asked Daniel to be a guest on my podcast, he immediately said yes. And what's crazy? I've always wanted to know how a conductor secures such a niché profession.   As Music Director of the Erie Philharmonic, Artistic Director of the Westmoreland Symphony and Cleveland’s BlueWater Chamber Orchestra, Daniel Meyer has reinvigorated orchestras with his innovative programs, engaging presence and keen musical intellect.  Named Music Director of the Lakeside Symphony Orchestra, Meyer took the helm of the historic summer music festival in July 2019.    A native of Cleveland, Meyer studied conducting at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, and is a graduate of Denison University and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He composed and conducted works for ensembles at both schools, including a Stabat Mater for soprano, chorus and orchestra. At Boston University, Meyer received the Orchestral Conducting Honors Award and was awarded the prestigious Aspen Conducting Prize from David Zinman.

R & B will never be dead if Kenyon Dixon's pen game and vocals have anything associated with it. Besides writing hits for Justin Timerberlake and Tyrese, Mr. Kenyon's faith is un-matched and un-wavering. He walks in a musical freedom that has a tempo of its own. Discover how he got his start and how he remains level-headed in a commercially-driven industry while staying true to his musical roots.

🎙️ On this weeks Tamar Talks Podcast (Season 5, Episode #3), we get gritty about Elijah's journey, how we met, discuss what it takes to perform 8 shows a week and solutions to todays inequalities as a performer in various shows.  We also shoutout and give accolades to important creatives who have inspired him to keep going.  If you're desiring to perform, whether in your local theatre or the main stage(s), this is the podcast to listen too. 

My mentor is EPIC. If you desire to be in the Film and Television business, you will have a front row seat listening to Dawn Solers' journey. Previously at ABC Signature, Dawn was responsible for all music at ABC Signature overseeing the music content for shows in the "-ish" family series: "black-ish," "grown-ish" and "mixed-ish." Her helming of the music for Hulu's "Little Fires Everywhere" has currently garnered two Emmy® Award nominations. And my favorite? Dawn worked closely with some of your favorite actors on the musical drama "Godfather of Harlem" (EPIX). Throughout her tenure, Solér created and produced 64 digital specials, in addition to producing the premiere series "On the Record" and the three on-air music specials, "Nashville: On the Record."  In November 2019, she served as the co-creator and internal Executive Producer of the live musical event "The Little Mermaid Live," honoring the 30th Anniversary of one of the most beloved Disney Films of all time. Some of Dawn's other credits include, but not limited to: "Being John Malkovich," "The Princess Diaries," "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement," "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." She also completed Disney's "Enchanted," which garnered three Academy Award nominations as well as one GRAMMY nomination. Dawn's initiatives include: Disney's Women's Multicultural Network, currently developing her own mentorship, "Lift Up," a speaker for female empowerment and completing her first book, "The BeAGirl Principles."

Thanks to my Sorority Sister Benita, I had the pleasure of meeting Monique Greenwood while living in New York for a short stint.  Mrs. Greenwood is an award winning entrepreneur, native Washingtonian who built her business one bed and breakfast at a time. A dear mentor, friend and big sister to me, Mrs. Greenwood is the owner and chief enjoyment officer of Akwaaba Bed and Breakfast Inns. She says, “The key to running a successful bed and breakfast is having a love for people and wanting to make sure that they had a great experience.” After graduating from Howard University, she began her career as a journalist, eventually becoming the editor-in-chief of Essence Magazine.  “It was the magazine on the coffee table of my home that proclaimed me beautiful as a Black woman,” she said.  And who succeeds the iconic Susan Taylor as editor-in-chief? Monique Greenwood. So one day, Monique decided that she wanted to really grow her bed and breakfast, and left Essence after six years. Though Greenwood didn’t sleep in a bed of her own until she was 22 years old, she has plenty of beds to choose from now with Akwaaba Inns having five locations and close to 40 guest rooms. How did Akwaaba start? Greenwood and her husband of 31 years, Glenn Pogue, opened the first Akwaaba Mansion in Brooklyn, New York, in 1995. Akwaaba by the Sea in Cape May, New Jersey, launched in 2002. After returning home to Washington, D.C. in 2003, she opened Akwaaba D.C., located in Dupont Circle.  The elegant inn is decorated with a literary theme, highlighting her love of books with guest-rooms named after great African American authors like Langston Hughes and Toni Morrison. It was at their Poconos location, now known as The Mansion at Noble Lane, that I was in awe of Moniques' stature, her education, her hospitality and her story. They purchased this location in the Spring of 2006: the first inn they ever visited in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 2012, they launched a boutique spa resort in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains called The Mansion at Noble Lane, which is the former estate of F.W. Woolworth. She calls it the jewel in their crown.

It's not often that you befriend another black woman in the Entertainment business and history is made in an instance. That's what happened between Nikki Grier and myself. I was filming a pilot and she and I were seated next to each other. Somehow, she got my number, I auditioned for her and her team, unbeknownst to me, for the Sunday Service Collective spearheaded by Kanye West. Her story is powerful. Her pen is award wining and her melodies make you want to cry. Its International Women's month. And there's no better way than to kick it off with this conversation amongst women, by women and for women. If you are a career-driven mom, wife and entrepreneur and want to learn how to juggle it all? Grab a pen and let's lean in.

I sing opera because of David Brewer. But growing up, I hated going to voice lessons. I never understood why, if I had a natural God-given gift, my parents were excited to take me to a black male opera coach. But @dlbopera changed my life so much, that I knew I could one day pursue a career in it. Of course over time, black women weren’t often encouraged to pursue that genre. And through the journey I’d realized some of the slight hindrances and unexpected blindside-ness of the industry, came from people very close to me. I’m so excited to truly walk in freedom to share this podcast. When you tune in, you will learn that I have not seen nor spoken with Mr. Brewer in almost a decade. So everything in this podcast I, too, am hearing for the 1st time.  Be inspired to forgive and love through the pain. I now understand why parents protect their children from so much that they have to endure for what they believe. A special shoutout to all parents who are raising aspiring creatives and those who are hands-on with protecting their children's innocence at all costs. Grab a 🖊 and let’s go in.  #podcast #podcastlife #blackwomenpodcasts #blackwomen #destinyschild #ashley #tamar #opera #vocalcoach #vocalcoaching #davidbrewer

It was because of Arkansas native Morris Hayes, by way of my cousin, that I stepped and recorded in the halls of Paisley Park Studios. A talented musician, producer, band leader and keyboardist, Hayes has worked with superstars such as Prince, George Clinton, Elton John, Whitney Houston, and Stevie Wonder. He was one of the 2013 inductees into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame. But what's the most striking thing about Morris? He is one of the coolest people I know and that I have ever worked with. Grab your headphones and enjoy this conversation between two friends about the Arts, travels and working with one of the greatest musical geniuses of our lifetime. 

The Music Industry has seen its constant woes about ownership of Masters. From Sam Cooke to Michael Jackson to Prince to Ray Charles to Taylor Swift, artists have not been silent about the lack of ownership of Masters. As of this week, Mr. Kanye West has taken the conversation global, in a more vigilant way. Not only is he sounding the alarm for other artists to come to the table and talk, but some people are not understanding the totality of what owning your Masters truly means as a form of inheritance. Ashley Tamar interviews Stephanie Hay, a female entertainment lawyer who uncovers three grueling concerns: 1. Why is it important to own your Masters, 2.  What's in Kanye's contract that, to most knowledgeable attorneys, is concerning and, 3. How we can solve this re-surfacing topic and no longer overlook what's periling  artists and the creatives-to-come.

Noted for his ability to move through musical genres flawlessly, Mike Burton, a native of Jackson, Mississippi has created a path as a well-versed musician and producer. Mr. Burton received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Jazz Studies under the renown Musician and Professor David Baker at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Trained in music at an early age, his mother is a founding member of the legendary Mississippi Mass Choir and his father, a tenor saxophonist. Currently on tour with Jill Scott, Michael has toured with notable artists from Patti LaBelle to Mary J. Blige to Anita Baker and has performed with the likes of Aretha Franklin. He has appeared on the Tonight Show, Good Morning America, the Steve Harvey Show and the McDonalds 365 Black Awards, just to name a few. Enjoy this uncolored interview amongst artists about the power of banning together in the Arts!

July is Fibroid Awareness Month but not all states recognize it as such. And not all women are aware of this rising and often debilitating health issue. While these noncancerous growths can exist without symptoms, for some women they can cause heavy irregular bleeding, anemia, painful intercourse, and infertility. With over 600,000 hysterectomies performed annually in the US alone, approximately 70% of the procedures treat noncancerous conditions like fibroids. On July 21, 2018, in Pearland, Texas, Goddess Womb, a Social Enterprise Company will host its first annual 2k Wholistic Fibroid Walk. The event and the organization desires to reinvest back into the community to help women and girls receive Free Ultrasound Exams. Goddess Womb will also provide access to Natural Health Practitioners and Doctors whom will help guide women and girls on how to remove Fibroids from the Womb naturally and wholistically. Enjoy this informative interview to a better you.

There's a word that is not often used in the Entertainment Business: Loyalty. However, I can honestly say that Shep Crawford, a Grammy-Award winning musician, father, songwriter and record producer exudes loyalty. A dear friend and big brother, I was excited at Shep agreeing to share his story on my podcast. He is best known for writing mega, classic hits such as Whitney Houston's Same Script, Different Cast, Deborah Cox's Nobody's Supposed to Be Here, Tamia's Stranger in My House, Sisqó's Incomplete, and Kelly Price's As We Lay.  He is the founder and pastor of The Experience Christian Ministries in Los Angeles, California in which I was able to personally experience the presence of God, hospitality and love as soon as I walked through the front doors. If you want to hear from a young, veteran in the Music Business who has never compromised his style or his stance, this is an interview you don't want to miss. I also announce some hot topics about some new changes in the Music Modernization Act and yes, I am back on tour in the fall with Broadway's "A Night with Janis Joplin." 

Liv Warfield may be from the small town of Peoria, Illinois, but her powerhouse vocals have cultivated a faith-walk journey, landing her the spotlight with legends such as Prince and the praises of David Letterman. After touring with Prince and releasing their co-produced project, "The Unexpected," Mrs. Warfield could be seen showcasing her dynamic gift on "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" and "The Arsenio Hall Show," just to name a few. Liv is also a Soul Train Music Awardee along with numerous nominations for such as the BET Best New Artist Award. Today you can hear more of her unique tones in Roadcase Royale: a band spearheaded by iconic crooner, Nancy Wilson. Liv exudes the power of living in freedom and her prayers continue to open doors she boldly conquers.

Kim Berry may be a hairstylist to some of the most notable stars. But growing up, Ms. Berry was aloof to her calling until forced to make her own income in her teenage years. As a mother and woman of integrity, Ms. Berry shares her road to discovery explaining what it means to be true to oneself and knowing your worth, regardless of who you work with. Understanding the power of being a servant first, Kim Berry, in her humility, rose to the top of her game, even when the media remained dormant to sharing her story. With a new book on the horizon and a coming-soon launch of Prince-inspired hair products, Ms. Berry does not sugar coat in her conversation: her "no's" mean 'no' and her yes always means yes.

Although I met Sarah two weeks ago at this years' SXSW in Austin, I started working with Sarah on the film "Trap Jazz" (HULU) two years ago.Sarah Iseley is a Post-Production professional and somatic storyteller who dutifully studied film, as well as Theatre and Psychology, at the University of Wilmington in North Carolina. Though she did not take any Post-Production classes, Sarah, upon graduation, landed an internship at a Post-Production house where she learned basic industry workflows. She then continued her education by moving to Atlanta as a freelance Post professional. Eventually, after finding work as a Post Production Assistant and a Dailies Technician on a few major motion pictures, the stars aligned, and Sarah joined the Motion Picture Editors Guild (MPEG) as an Assistant Editor. Her most recent project, Slanted, won the SXSW Narrative Feature Grand JuryAward. Sarah's success in Post encouraged her to launch The Let Me Play Project: a vlog  exploring Sarah's love of storytelling through her movement and her voice. Whether Sarah's sorting dailies into bins or training her swordwork, Sarah is very grateful to tell – and to help others tell – stories for a living.

"Women benefit from Colorism and Colorism is gendered." ~ Aja WittAja Witt, a former honors student at Iowa University, wrote her dissertation on topics relevant to the black community and often rarely discussed. Under the direction of Professor Michael Hill, Aja created a powerful dissertation titled: "Colorism in the Music Industry and the Women It Privileges." In Aja's thesis she focuses on the lives and careers of her childhood influences: Rihanna, Beyonce, and Nicki Minaj. Her tone is centered around gender, race and the economy of women and how women play into the male hierarchy of the dynamics it's created amongst female artists. I was inspired to invite her to Tamar Talks Podcast especially being a woman in the ever-changing Entertainment industry. What blew me away, as Aja states on my podcast, "Many people have downloaded her article but NEVER reached out to her."#vlogs #vlogging #podcast #genderstudies #blackwomen #musicbusiness #colorism #beyonce #rihanna #nickiminaj #entertainmentbusiness #knowledge #power #womeninmusicbusiness

Gretchen, though she works on some of the biggest shows, still misses the Broadway world. Learn firsthand the differences between the verticals and how she utilizes her gift in all arenas.

It's March and you know what that means? It's "Women's History Month." We are honored to kick off this month with a flashback Town Hall Meeting featuring Grammy-Nominated Artist Ashley Támar, Broadway Actress Patrice Covington, Music Executive Carolyn Owens and Council for Paramount Global, Maya Day. In this gathering, the ladies explore topics from upward mobility to how they secured prominent positions in a vast-changing industry. Grab a pen, and let's go in!