YOUTH & MUSIC

Contributed by Donna Michele Ramos

Fueled with passion to create his own youth music foundation is music industry executive and entrepreneur, James Jackson, who is a pioneer in this own right. Since his time as an A&R rep back in the late 90’s for several major labels, Capital and Bellmark Records (sister company of Stax Records), he has helped drive the success of several recording artists. THE HUB is quite familiar with James’ inspirational music career from producing all genres of music and gospel shows in Sacramento, Bay Area and Atlanta. His latest project, iSound Performing Arts is providing life skills to children through several artistic activities.

THE HUB: What inspired you to create your own youth music foundation?

JACKSON: On February 22, 2015 my son James Jackson, Jr. was killed, here in Sacramento in a drive–by shooting. It was tragic for my family. I was in the middle of touring and my recording contract with Capitol Records for my gospel album. My son was a producer, this is in his honor. I wanted to save our youth as music is a universal language. I came from Watts - music saved me when I was young.

THE HUB: How are children chosen to participate?

JACKSON: Through social media and marketing. The parents find out about us and bring their kids, ages 10 – 18 years old. We see if they are into art or music. We have serviced over 200 kids. They constantly come back. We get numerous calls to do events. I started iSound Performing Arts two years ago in Atlanta, Georgia and here in Sacramento, June 2019.

THE HUB: The summer music camp runs for two weeks, ideally how long would you like it to run? What are the dates for this summer?

JACKSON: This year it will run for three weeks from July 6 – July 26, 2020. We were going to have a Spring break session but we had to cancel it because of the Coronavirus. For our classes we brought in instructors and got instruments donated. Our instructors teach piano, dance, vocal, drums

and guitar. Everyone has to attend life skills classes as well. We feed the kids nightly with food donated by restaurants like Dominos and ChickFil-A. The City of Sacramento is giving us grants to help. The first week we wrote songs and formed bands. The second week we went into a $1 million recording studio where I brought in my producers. They recorded music and the kids sang. We have some real talented kids - so we started the iSound Chorus. If the funding is right we’d like to do an after school program. We’re trying to get our own space with looking for districts to help us with space at closed schools 3 days a week. Arden Church of the Nazarene offered us space to use.

THE HUB: What are your goals for your foundation’s future? How can people and organizations help iSound Music Performing Arts?

JACKSON: We welcome help in obtaining a standalone building so we can spread out and have designated area for different activities. What we want to do is teach life skills that include: giving advice on bullying, drug prevention, how money and debt works, how to protect themselves, virus protection, and gender equality. It’s important for us to get more kids involved. In the future we want to get more grants for arts because it’s not in schools anymore. There are principals approaching me for our program. This year we’re doing a video shoot on the Tower Bridge for our song “Stand Up.” One of my kids wrote the song years ago. We performed it this year at the annual MLK March celebration event; we won a grant. Everyone is welcome to come to our video shoot. There will be an appearance by the Mayor of Sacramento. Two weeks before the video shoot we’ll have an open casting call. The video will be funded by a donor. We are tentatively scheduled for the Ellen Show in August or September for the kids to perform. We’re waiting for the associate producers to call us back with a confirmation. We need volunteers and always could use donations. n

For more information about the iSound Music Foundation call (678) 507-6971 or visit isoundmusic.com

The Arts Bring Us Hope

The Arts Bring Us Joy

The Arts Connect Us

Let us bring the arts to you: Stay connected to the arts and artists you love by joining us online.

@mondavicenter #artsconnectus

gofundme.com/f/EverybodyPitchIn

California Black Chamber of Commerce is building a small business grant fund. Help fund black-owned businesses with grants.

COVID CONVOS — WE MAY FEEL TRAPPED, BUT THE GENIE’S OUT OF THE BOTTLE

By Contributing Writer, Michael P Coleman

International superstar Andrea Bocelli ended his bravura 30-minute live Easter Sunday performance from Italy’s Duomo Cathedral standing just outside of it, where he delivered a stunning version of “Amazing Grace” while showing equally striking footage of largely empty locales all over the globe. He soothed a battered planet, drawing more than 22 million viewers before the end of the day.

In many ways, Bocelli’s musical prayer was just what the doctor ordered, as we connect remotely and grapple with the global coronavirus pandemic. As I watched Bocelli’s performance, I pondered an Easter holiday when worship services were banned all over the world, families weren’t together, and that elusive light at the tunnel’s end seemed disturbingly beyond sight.

As spring turns to summer, I am also questioning our collective path forward, as I am certain that, in many regards, the genie’s out of the bottle with regard to the novel coronavirus — even as many of us feel trapped and isolated, adjusting to maintaining a necessary distance from each other.

And I believe the new “working from home” reality that many of us have embraced will be a game-changer! n Photo courtesy of Disney

Read MPC’s full Spring 2020 column, and other awardwinning features of his, at: https://michaelpcoleman. wordpress.com/2020/04/12/covid-convos-we-may-feeltrapped-but-the-genies-out-of-the-bottle/

Connect with freelance writer Michael P Coleman at MichaelPColeman.com

As we remember those who succumb to COVID-19, I wonder whether many industries — like live concerts and sporting events, retail, higher education, and theatrical film distribution — will ever return to what we used to call “normal.”