DarioleMechele Jackson Gordy – Founder & Chief Executive Officer
DarioleMechele Jackson-Gordy born in Los Angeles, CA October 15th learned work ethics early through her family. She began her love for the arts early singing in church and taking dance with the Great Eartha Kitt, at the MaFundi Insitute, in Watts. She performed with Patrice Rushen at Henry Clay Jr High School. She attended and graduated from Los Angeles High School, where she excelled in Leadership as the President of her Class, and Secretary of Leadership. She attended “Lee Strasberg”, for acting in Hollywood. She studied Production at University of WA, where she excelled in Production classes and on stage. From childhood she began writing, singing dancing, costuming, and painting. She is a writer of, melodies, arrangements and lyrics. She became co-owner of Luba Gallery in Beverly Hills, where she met many industry individuals, who procured art from her.
She became Executive Assistant for Motown Records Executive Prod Harold E. Davis Jr. While working with Hal, she worked production with, Mary Wilson, Carl Weathers, Jose Feliciano, Pam Sawyer, Angelo Bond, David T. Walker, WahWah Watson, Junior Walker, Gerald Albright, James Gadson, Rick James, and Gloria Jones, who are just a few of the many artist that she worked production Dariole became a songwriter for MOTOWN’S JOBETE PUBLISHING, writing several single song contracted songs “Unless You Got Love On Your Mind” “Total Entertainer”, “Show Live Energy”, “Special Part Of Me”, “Make-Up”, “I’m Parking”. While at Motown Dariole began writing her favorite genre of music Country, “Close Your Eyes(If You Must Lie TO Me)”, “All that Glitter Aint Gold”, “My Clock Is Ticking”, “Country Remedy”. After leaving Motown Dariole went back to nursing, yet still working with entertainment individuals. She was Executive Assistant to former President of Paramount Picture. Jack Ballard. She became Personal Assistant to the Oscar winner writer of Deer Hunter Louis Garfinkle.
Dariole began teaching drama and choir at Raymond Ave Elementary School. She wrote and directed several productions that she costumed, staged, and produced. She wrote for Black History Month “Waiting On The Bus”, as well as a Black History educational radio program aired over the intercom , and a Holiday Production “Holiday Food Fight”, as well Hispanic Heritage Month “Que Es Cinco De Mayo”.
She has worked with the legendary Writer/Producer/Conductor/Arranger Hb Barnum. Dariole later in 1992, became a member of the HB Barnum LIFE Choir, making public appearances singing and or performing on a multitude of Network/Cable Programmed shows including, recording at Capital Records for the79th Academy Award. Most recently Hb Barnum and Dariole wrote the theme song “You Are A Star” for “You Are A Star Entertainment”. Dariole began working with cousin and daughter of Berry Gordy Jr., Sherry Gordy of “Sherry Gordy Presents”, first assisting with production, stylist, Quality Control, then, Operations. While working in the capacity of Operations, Dariole became Creator and Founder of the “CYBER PARTY”, with the assistance of a strong team. “Sherry Gordy Presents”, was streamed globally viaustream.com,.then streamed on livestream.com, to expand the visibility of the show and build viewers
Dariole Gordy is creator of YOU ARE A STAR Entertainment and Productions. A Network/Cable Media LIVE Entertainment LLC This show has performances, by musical Soloist, Groups, Bands, Spoken-Word, Poetry, Comedy, and Dance, a variety segment show.
Tanya Rice George – Chief Financial Officer
Recently moved to Las Vegas, NV from her hometown of New York City. Tanya Rice George is graduate of NYU where majored in Finance. Tanya was employed for the Phillip Morris Inc, Ltd for 15 years and is has join the Executive Team of “You Are A Entertainment and Productions”.
Bernard Coleman – Legal Counsel
Attorney Bernard Coleman a cum laude graduate of Harvard University and graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, Attorney Bernard Coleman began his legal career in Atlanta, Georgia in 1996 at one of Atlanta’s premiere law firms, Troutman Sanders. As an Associate at Troutman Sanders, he focused on representing businesses and financial institutions in multi-million dollar lending transactions and mergers/acquisitions.
Attorney Coleman went on to become a Partner with two of America’s top law firms (Morris, Manning & Martin and Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice) where he served as legal counsel to entrepreneurs and fast-growth middle market companies in a variety of industries including, manufacturing and distribution, technology, franchising, personal care, staffing, hospitality, and entertainment. Under the tutelage of his mentor John F. Sandy Smith, Esq. (one of the top Corporate and Securities Attorneys in the country) , he served an integral part in and has been the lead attorney for more than $1 Billion Dollars in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and other business transactions.
As a former aspiring singer and former football player (his father was drafted to the New England Patriots), Attorney Coleman never lost his love and passion for sports and entertainment. While at Womble Carlyle, he founded and led the firm’s Sports and Entertainment Practice in Atlanta. While there, he built a solid roster of sports and entertainment clients, including Atlanta Falcon’s Pro Bowl Wide Receiver Roddy White, Five-Time Heavyweight Champion of the World Evander Holyfield, Former New Orleans Saints Defensive End Charles Grant, Former Boston Red Sox Pitcher Paul Byrd and NBA Legends Dale Davis and Dominique Wilkins (among others). He also counseled up-and-coming film producers, actors and other entertainment industry professionals on how to protect and grow their money and careers.
Attorney Coleman decided to branch out to create The Coleman Law Firm so that he could serve a wider range of entrepreneurs, small businesses and sports and entertainment professionals who desire world-class business counsel without the high large law firm rates. Attorney Coleman maintains a powerful network of financial, legal, tax and business professionals who he leverages for the benefit of his clients. His mission is to work with clients to help them make money, make history and make a difference
Ron Carter – Publicist – Productions
Ron Carter is Managing Director of The Carter Agency, (TCA), a media relations firm. The Carter Agency’s mission has been to provide it’s clients with the most comprehensive, exceptional and results-oriented public relations campaigns TCA’s clients have included sports legend Evil Knievel, Grammy nominated guitarist/producer Doc Powell, Four Time Grammy nominated artist Tevin Campell, singer/songwriter Rhian Benson, Theatrical Production Company Playhouse Theatre Players, actress Gwen McGee, among others.
He is former executive of Qwest Records, He joined Quincy Jones Qwest Records as Senior Director of Media Relations in 1995 He left Qwest Records in 1997 to form his own agency, TCA (The Carter Agency), a media relations and advertising consulting firm. In 1998 he was lured back to Qwest Records to continue as the company’s press agent, While at Qwest Records, he represented Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Tamia, Tevin Campbell, The Cayton Brothers, Milt Jackson, Saafir, ShanDozia and Youth Asylum to name a few.
Prior to joining Qwest Records, Carter was Manager of Publicity for Warner Bros Records. His clients for the label included Chaka Khan, George Benson, Joshua Redman, Wallace Roney, MeShell NdegeOcello, Ice-T, Al B Sure, and Earth, Wind and Fire, among others. He began his entertainment career in 1985 at Gene Shelton & Associates.
His music industry career began at Motown Records in 1985 where he worked for two years as Assistant to the Executive Director of Press & Publicity. He subsequently moved to Michael Jackson’s MJJ Productions where he served as Executive /assistant to the Vice President of Communications and Media Relations until 1989. He was then named Publicist for Polygram Records and thereafter Director of Publicity for Mercury Records, a Polygram Holding Company subsidiary.
While working for Polygram and Mercury Records, he a=was the publicist for Tony Toni Tone!, Angela Winbush, Oleta Adams, Third World, Black Sheep, and Cameo among others. In 1992 he joined Warner Bros Records and finished his tenure there as Artist Development Manager.
Prior to his career in the music business, Carter was Trust Administrator for Bank of /America in Los Angeles. He also served as an Internal Auditor for Chase Manhattan Bank in New York. He graduated from California University at Fullerton with Bachelors of Arts Degree in Communications, emphasis Public Relations.
He is Former President of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Life Members’ A former Alternate Altadena Town Councilmember, immediate past Treasurer for Pasadena Chamber of Commerce; presently serving as Treasurer of National Association of Black Journalist – Los Angeles; /vice president of the Distinguished Service Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and he is a member of West Angeles Church of God In Christ. Ron is a native of Georgetown, Guyana, South America.
HB Barnum – Music Director/Arranger/Productions
Producer, arranger, composer, performer, H.B. Barnum remains on of the unsung giants of musical, collaborating with a who’s who of acts spanning from Frank Sinatra to Puff Daddy.
Born Hilde Brown Barnum, Jr., in Houston, Texas. When he was three years old, H.B. and his mother left Houston hitchhiking west. They got as far as Phoenix, Arizona. There he was entered and won a nationwide amateur talent contest resulting in a trip to Hollywood and an appearance in the feature film, “The Valley of the Sun Marches On”. Within a year he was a regular on the children’s television program “Broom Stick Buckaroos” as well as radio shows “Amos ‘n Andy”, “The Jack Benny Show: and CBS Playhouse. He was also the opening act for many of Johnny Grant’s USO shows.
H.B. attended Utah Street Elementary school, Hollenbeck Jr. High School, and Manual Arts high School. He excelled in music and athletics and was offered numerous athletic scholarships. Because of financial restraint, and the advice of Mr. McDonald, the Music Professor at Los Angeles City College, who told H.B. that he would probably never make it in music, H.B. dropped out of school.
In 1955 Barnum co-founded the short-lived doo wop group “The Doo-Tones”,, at the request of family friend and Doo-tone label owner Dootsie Willliams, releasing a lone single, “Teller of /Fortune”. A year later, he replaced Bobby Numm in the “Robins” vocal group assuming production duties on records like 1958’s “Quarter to Twelve”, and “It’s Never Too Late”. He also sang with the “Medallions”, and other groups. As Pee Wee Barnum, he cut his debut single, “Blue Moon”, for “Imperial Records”. Efforts for his own Munrab Records (“Don’t Cha Know”), and Ultra Sonic (“Just Goofin”) followd. In 1959 he also notched his first major hit as a producer, reaching the U.S. #1 with Dodie Stevens’ “Tan Shoes and Pink Shoelaced”. Barnum originally cut the track with composer Micki Grant. The track wound up in the hands of Crystalette records owner who put singer Dodie Stevens on so the record could go pop.
It was during this time period that H.B. also performed as the first band singer at the newly opended Disneyland. He performed eight shows daily with the Mustangs Band for three years. H.B. also traveled with R&B shows. He traveled as a musician playing with Chuc Higgins and Big Jay McNeeley, Richard Lewis, Little Walter, Marvin & Johnny, Little Esther Phillips to name a few. In one show he had several jobs. He opened the show playing baritone sax with Choker Campbell’s big band; changed coats and played piano with Etta James (Work with me Henry); changed coats and played tenor sax with Bill Doggett (Honky Tonk); changed coats and back to the baritone chair to back up the Five Keys, the Moon Blows, The Five Satins; changed coats and played piano for Gene & Eunice (KoKoMo); changed coats and back to the baritone, There might have been a few coat changes forgotten….
In 1960 Barnum schored a Top 40 pop hit of his own with the instrumental “Lost Love”. He was signed to RCA later that year and released his debut LP, “The Big Voice of Barnum” “Everybody Loves H.B.—Barnum, That Is” trailed in 1961, and while a handful of solo records followed, his performing career gradually took a backseat to his work as a studio arranger and producer.
His Ultra-Sonic, and Little Star Record labels, apawned the careers of such artist as, “The OJays, Jimmy Norman, Dorothy Berry, The Marathons, The Mighty Hannibal, Judy Street, Jack Nitzsche, and others. His Mother’s Record label introduced Keisa Brown, Spanky Wilson, Sharon Cash and Terri Bryant.
He worked with Capital and Motown, records as his reputation flourished. At Capital he worked mainly in collaborations with producer and longtime friend David Axelrod, and together the forged an innovative orchestral jazz-funk sensibility much copied and sampled in the decades to come. At Motown he was mentored and worked with the legendary producers and composers, Holland- Dozier-Holland, Johnny Bristol, Frank Wilson and Hal Davis.
Beginning in 1967, Barnum has held an annual Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless in the Los Angeles community. In 1981, he founded and began directing the H.B. Barnum LIFE choir, a large well known gospel group that assists him in helping feed ad entertaining nearly one thousand needy people every Thanksgiving. Barnum has also served as minister of music at St. Paul’s Baptist Church of Los Angeles.
Barnum’s list of production, arranging and writing acts credits is remarkably long and distinguished,. The list includes, but is not limited to Aretha Franklin, Lou Rawls, Don Ho, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Ojays, The Supremes, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Wilson, O.C. Smith, The Jackson’s, The Marvelettes, Martha & The Vandella, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Phil Collins, P-Diddy (Puff Daddy-Sean Combs) Freda Payne and many others for which the list monumental
Joe Pep Harris – Talent Coordinator
Joe Harris was born in 1944 in Detroit, Michigan, in an area called the Black Bottom, an area made famous for top Black musicians and entertainers. At the age of 9, his Mother took him with her to the Castle, a theater on Hastings Street in Detroit to see the Little Willie John Show. “It was my first R&B Show ever! I felt something from the energy in that room: The band blasting! the MC screaming Little Willie John over and over again! and the screaming and cheering from the audience, That moment in my life, I’ll never forget!”
In 1955, in the Brewster Projects and at Garfield Junior High School, Joe formed his first singing group, “The Moroccos.” The group won contests around the City of Detroit through the Department of Parks and Recreation and sponsored by Radio Station WCHB. The three finalists for the contests were the Moroccos, the Spinners, and Willie Tyler and Lester. The winner was recorded on the Lupine and Bumble Bee record label, owned by Robert West. The first recordings were “Bubblegum” and “Trouble in the Candy Shop,” produced by Sonny Woods of Hank Ballard and the Midnighters and Joe Hunter of the now infamous Funk Brothers. In 1956, his singing was over and school was the focus. Those were Mom’s words!
In the summer of 1962, 1 month after graduating from Northeastern High School, Joe was taken by a well-known Artist named Lee Rogers, to a club in Detroit called The Village. There he met Thomas Hester, AKA, Tommy Stone, along with Richard Street, McKinley Jackson, and Ronnie Abner to form the Fabulous Peps. They were immediately signed to the, Thelma Record Label in Detroit. Their first recording was a song track which was written and produced by Norman Whitfield on Tommy Stone by Don Davis. The song was originally titled “Alone.” Don Davis and Lee Rogers rewrote the lyrics and called the song, “This Love I have for You,” and the A Side was a song called “I love You Baby.” The Peps became a very popular live act in and around the Detroit area from 1963 to 1968. The biggest recording of the Peps was titled, “I’ve Been Trying” written by Curtis Mayfield and produced by Willie Mitchell. The Peps were managed by Radio Disc Jockey Martha Jean McQueen, Ms Hazel Coleman, and Peter Hall.
Joe originally went with Robert Ward, performing as Joe Pep for 6 months until Satch, of the Ohio Players, approached him to front the Players in a two-man Sam and Dave type act, with another singer named Dutch Robinson. That relationship lasted a little over 1 year. Joe then went to Louisville, KY and formed with the Nite Lighters. Four months of performing with the Nite Lighters brought the group to the 20 Grand in Detroit for 10 nights. On the last weekend of the 20 Grand date, Joe was approached by Clay McMurray with a message from Norman Whitfield to meet the Motown Building. That meeting with Mr Whitfield resulted in the formation of the Undisputed Truth. Ironically, the Nite Lighters Band became the band for the Spinners at Motown because of our relationship with Harvey Fuqua. The Whitfield Years: “Norman Whitfield became my life. He didn’t fake. In fact my relationship with Norman forced me for the first time in my life to think about who I was and what I was trying to be. His work ethic and focus on winning became all that mattered. We worked, day and night! We went home and rushed to get back to work the next day. Norman was always teaching and always saying “Trust me!” and we did. We received a Grammy, Gold, Platinum, Double Platinum, and an Academy Award Nomination. The things that we did at Whitfield Records as a team were the best things that I got out of the record business. My Motown years were the highlight of my professional career.
Joe Harris’ Summary of Accomplishments:
1955 to 1956: Little Joe and the Moroccos on Lupine Bumble Bee Records.
1962 to 1969: Performed with The Fabulous Peps, The Ohio Untouchables, The Stone Soul Children, The Funk Brothers, and The Ohio Players.
1969 to 2016: Performed with The Ohio Players, The Nite Lighters, Undisputed Truth, The Dream Machine, and the P-Funk All Stars.
Movie Credits: “Car Wash,” starring Richard Pryor, Franklyn Ajaye, and Bill Duke (Academy Award Nomination); “Nite Before,” starring Keanu Reeves;” Butter,” starring Nia Long and Ernie Hudson.
Television: Tracey Allman Show (received an Emmy).
Grammy: Undisputed Truth 1971
Albums: Motown, “The Undisputed Truth,” “Face to Face with the Truth,” “Law of the Land”. Lineup for these Albums were, Joe Harris, Brenda Evans, and Billie Calvin, Melvin (Wah-Wah Watson) Ragin; on the Album “Law of the Land” also included Rita Harvey and Maude Thompson.
“Down to Earth,” “Higher than High,” and “Cosmic Truth” featured Joe Harris, Calvin Stephenson, Tyrone Barkley, Tyrone Douglas, and Vee McDonald
Whitfield Records-1975: “Method to the Madness” lineup Joe Harris, Tyrone Barkley, Calvin Stephenson, and Taka Boom. “Smokin” lineup Joe Harris, Lloyd Williams, Lafayette Trey Stone, Melvin Stewart, Lyrica Thomas, Herschel Happiness Kennedy, William Kennedy,
The Undisputed Truth 2008 to 2016: Joe Harris, Jaki G Fondren, and Dazee Love.