King Crush Thursday - The Interviews

EP 155 LAMAR BAYLOR

LaMar Baylor is a native of Camden, NJ and is a proud gay black man! LaMar found his passion for the arts, specifically dance, where he graduated from the Creative Arts High School and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He has danced for Eleone Dance Theatre, Rebecca Davis Dance Company, PHILADANCO, and The Lion King on Broadway as a Swing. LaMar is not only a dancer but an Educator, Choreographer, Dance Enthusiast, Consultant, a Nonprofit Director and an Artist Manager.
See the Video Interview HERE

EP 154 AKIL PARKER

Akil Parker is the founder and CEO of All This Math, LLC, an educational services company aimed at drastically improving the relationship between Mathematics and the Black Community. The company offers math tutoring as well as educational consulting and professional development for schools. All This Math also maintains a free YouTube channel where viewers can get simplified math instruction infused with Black History and culture. 
More recently, Mr. Parker has begun offering parent workshops to help parents understand “New Math” and be able to help their children with math homework assignments. He is currently a math professor at Cheyney University and has taught high school math for a total of 19 years throughout Philadelphia. He is the author of 'How To Use All This Math, Volume 1' published in June 2023, a guidebook instructing parents/guardians in how to use everyday activities to develop arithmetic and algebra skills.
His greatest achievement is being a father of three children. Lastly, Akil Parker is a firm believer that math should be used as a tool of liberation for people of African descent globally.
See the Video Interview HERE

EP 75 GERALD VEASLEY

Gerald Veasley’s creative life has taken him into two mutually supportive roles: artist and arts leader. As a bassist, Veasley has performed and recorded with a wide array of celebrated jazz artists and has released nine recordings as an artist in his own right. In his role as President of Jazz Philadelphia, he is driven to help the next generation of artists thrive in his hometown. This organization is dedicated to unifying Philadelphia’s vibrant jazz community, celebrating its rich musical history and positioning it as an international destination for jazz. . “Philadelphia based legends from Coltrane, to Grover, from Sun Ra to Christian McBride have made major contributions to the world of jazz – I’m excited to see what the chapter brings.”
Veasley’s extensive musical resume includes work with many seminal artists in Jazz, R&B, and Gospel: Grover Washington, Jr., Joe Zawinul, Nnenna Freelon, McCoy Tyner, Pat Martino, Kirk Whalum, The Jaco Pastorius Big Band, Pieces of a Dream, Special EFX, Will Downing, Maysa, Gerald Levert, Teddy Pendergrass, Special EFX, Philip Bailey, and the Dixie Hummingbirds.
Veasley has expanded his creative portfolio as a curator of the Unscripted Jazz Series at SOUTH Jazz Club in Philadelphia. Launched in October 2015, the series has presented over 250 nights of music featuring top-name contemporary jazz artists.
His passion for educating and motivating other musicians led Veasley to co-found the Bass BootCamp in 2002. The annual event has informed and inspired hundreds of bass players of all levels and ages. Veasley has also served on the faculty of Philadelphia’s University of the Arts as a Master Lecturer.  
Gerald Veasley’s contribution to arts advocacy includes a long-standing relationship with the Recording Academy, where he has served in a number of volunteer leadership roles, including Chapter President, National Trustee, and National Advocacy Chair. He is an active member of the board of the Philadelphia Music Alliance. Veasley has also been recently selected to serve on the board of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance.
Musician. Arts Leader. Educator. Curator. Gerald Veasley’s life as a creative professional is multifaceted. Indeed, he wears various hats, yet he is motivated by a singular purpose - to translate his joy of music to the world - music without boundaries.
 
See the Video Interview HERE

EP 74 DANIEL JACKSON

Daniel Jackson  is a skilled multimedia creative specializing in videography and photography. He began his professional artistic career in the world of music promotion, playing multiple positions in the field as a mixtape DJ, graphic designer, editor and producer.
Founded in 2011, Embassy: Interactive, LLC was created as a platform to promote a curated group of musical artists that were not in the spotlight of mainstream media. The creation of original content for Embassy: Interactive to aid in the promotion of featured artists garnered the awareness and demand for Daniel’s work within the industry and he began to produce exclusive content for multiple artists. Today, Embassy: Interactive is a growing brand, working with talented independent artists who are fulfilling their passions, organizations making impact in their communities, and individuals sharing their personal moments and professional accomplishments.
 
See the Video Interview HERE

EP 73 - CLAYTON CAROTHERS IV

Clayton Carothers IV @tattedfoodtherapist @dawgondrums7 - Teacher (science), musician (drummer), creator of plant-based foods (Tatted Food Therapist). Clayton was born and raised in North Jersey. Grew up in a tight family and went to college in Daytona Beach, Florida to the great Bethune -Cookman University. Graduated and moved right to Philly to begin teaching. He enjoys health and wellness. Clayton says: “We all get one body and we should care for it as best as we ought to. I am a firm believer that one's gifts and talents make way for life's journey.”
 
See the Video Interview HERE

EP 72 - TY BROOKS

Ty Brooks - Fashion Designer/ Creative / Son of God & Baldwin … has been designing over 20 yrs and recently showed at New York Fashion Week Winter 2022. Ty has dressed Jill Scott/ Erykah Badu, He’s a lover of the written word, color, amber hues and mahogany muses, and serious jazz: Betty Carter, Monk, Gregory Porter, Getz etc, it’s all inspirational to him, gifted to gift, blessed to be a blessing. Here to bear witness to the miracle that we are.
 
See the Video Interview HERE

EP 153 KIRVEN DOUTHIT-BOYD

Kirven Douthit-Boyd @swervin_and_kirven Dancer, choreographer, director from Boston, MA. Trained at the Boston Arts Academy and Boston Youth moves. Spent summers training at The Boston Conservatory and The Ailey School. Received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Hollins University in Roanoke, VA. Was a member of Ailey II and performed with Battleworks Dance Company at Jacob’s Pillow before joining the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2004. Since leaving the company in 2015, he has performed as a guest artist with Evidence, a Dance Company, and served as Co-Artistic Director of Dance at the Center of Creative Arts in St. Louis, MO. In 2022, he became the Artistic Director of St Louis Dance Theatre. He has choreographed works for Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Ailey II, The Repertory Theatre of St Louis, and the Black Repertory Theater of St Louis. He has also choreographed summer workshops at the Ailey school and the Juilliard school. He is also on faculty at Webster University and Washington University in St Louis.
See the Video Interview HERE

EP 71 MR. G MASTERMINE

Mr. G  was born in Port Au Prince Haiti. He came to the U.S at the age of 5. With the help of his siblings and his first-grade teacher, who happened to be black and Haitian, he was able to pick up English very quickly. Throughout high school Mr, G excelled in Track and Field. After graduating high school Mr. G pursued a degree in Education. He obtained his degree and graduated as Student Teacher of The Year at LIU Post. Since then, he has been teaching Middle School and High School in New York for about 10 years. Through the school system he has been involved in teaching, coaching, and creating programs that promotes life skills, personal growth, and a vision of the future for young adults. Mr. G started his MasterMine Podcast in 2020. MasterMine  aims to educate, motivate, and inspire black people globally. The program promotes black excellence and self-mastery.
See the Video Interview HERE