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

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.

Radio Sucks. But we don't. Please enjoy this hand-picked playlist by creators of genuine music and let us know what you think.

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."

Sean Thomas kicks off Season 5 of the Tamar Talks Podcast. And guess what? He's my baby brother. Sean knows the proper steps as to how props should be used and what props should be set for some of your favorite shows and films. He's a true testament that though you may not know what path you'd like to pursue post college graduation, there's some thing waiting for you worth exploring. After countless trial and error, Sean landed a non-traditional job, climbing the ranks as a prop master: learning about lighting, set design, wardrobe, and my favorite, how to govern a team. Press play to hear Sean's inspiring story!

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.

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.

#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.