The Artists Way
Unlike many musicians, I wasn’t born into a musical family. My love affair with music was personal, I loved it and it loved me back. No matter what was going on in my life, I realized that I could always find a place of peace hidden in the melody of a song and that truth is the reason why I sing.
As a child, I loved to sing out loud all throughout our Parkchester apartment in the Bronx, New York where I was born and raised. During my first years of elementary school, I embraced every opportunity I was given to perform on stage. I sang in the school chorus, talent shows, school plays and even in the church choir. Being raised as a Pentecostal Christian, Gospel music became my first love, and it still is.
Today, as a believer beyond denominations, I express love through all genres of music. I am versatile in Gospel, R & B, Jazz, Pop, Hip- Hop, Soul and even a lickle Reggae if I’m feeling irie! What is consistent with me is my lyrical content. I sing my hearts song and that is always expressed through a positive vibration.
As a teenager, I attended the High School for Performing Arts in New York City and majored in Drama. After school I studied at the Mind Builders Creative Arts Center where I was a member of the acting ensemble known as, “The Positive Youth Troupe.” I performed under the musical direction of Ankh Ra, the vocal Guru featured on MTV’s “Making the Band 4”. I toured with P.Y.T. playing the lead role in an off Broadway musical all over New York City and throughout the United States. I gained real world experience, exposure and learned the discipline required to be an artist. I had the opportunity to work side by side with other talented teens like Alimi Ballard and Ron Anthony who today, have attained great success in the entertainment industry.
After high school, I worked as a studio vocalist and an aspiring R&B artist. I wrote and performed my original songs at popular NY night clubs when I opened up for notable R&B acts like Gerald Alston and Milirah. As a lover of musical theatre, in 2002, I had the pleasure of performing with Edwin Hawkins, Tony Terry, El Debarge and Robin S. in the stage play, “When a man Cries” which was produced and starring the King of Dramedy himself, J.D. Lawrence. In 2004, I toured in New York and Chicago with the gospel play, “Mama, I Want to Sing” which is the longest-running off-Broadway, Black musical in the history of American Theater.
I have focused most of my career on music but I had a thing for videography ever since my junior high school days when I was in the Audio Visual Club. I knew then that film and television production was an art form that I would want to explore again. In 2003, I re-ignited the flame and started my own company, Dubose Entertainment. I produced my own music video for the song, “Thank You” that I wrote and performed on the gospel compilation album, The Tehilla Project. I had a blast and I knew then that I truly loved being behind the camera, as much as I loved being in front of it. I then took some classes and received a certification in Field and Studio Production at Bronxnet, a public access television network. After which, I produced and directed a sketch comedy show called, “The Sala Show”, which aired on all of the public access channels within New York City.
Most recently, I have completed my first independent film. It is my personal documentary called, “Project Liberation- My Alopecia Experience”. It is an educational tool and a source of inspiration for anyone struggling with low self esteem. Proudly, it is currently available to borrow in public libraries throughout the United States and available for purchase through my website.
To accompany the film, I created a mini soundtrack of songs that I wrote and performed. I collaborated with some super talented music producers and together we created songs of empowerment, like “I’m Beautiful” and “It’s You” which are currently available for digital download on many on-line record stores including ITunes and CD Baby.com.
My personal goal is to create artistic works that will entertain, inform and inspire all people. Whether it is through the form of singing, inspirational speaking, advocating or filmmaking, my hope and prayer ultimately is for lives to be blessed.
