Please introduce yourself. What do you do? Why? What do you want people to know about you?
My name is Jere B. I am a Composer/Producer/Musician. I formed The EntreMusician four years ago as a platform to share valuable resources and information with my fellow creatives to encourage them to think of their music careers as entrepreneurs. I also advise them to learn as much as they can about this ever-changing industry.
Eventually, The EM developed into a podcast to teach our core principles of Mindset, Discipline & Focus and to interview Artists & Musicians of every caliber from Grammy Winners to the novice just releasing their first EP.
What qualities make you different and unique from everyone else in the industry?
Recently, we began honing in on a core audience of the 50+ age group, most notably because as I am aging, I connect closely with those in this demographic who are still swinging hard for the fences, but have trouble navigating the new methods of marketing expected to keep their artistry relevant.
Additionally, there are many talented people in this age range who, for various reasons, have settled into believing that, due to their age, the time has passed them by. The EntreMusician addresses these false narratives by introducing concepts and courses which help redirect their thinking and move them forward toward success.
Describe THAT moment when you realized you’re doing what you were born to do.
I remember the moment vividly. I am 57 years old. I was either 5 or 6. True story. No embellishments. I would drag my grandfather’s trashcans around in the backyard and position them like a drum set. They were made out of galvanized steel but light enough to drag when empty. I would beat on them with my hands pretending I was playing the drums.
Two of the girls I knew from across and down the street – Kelly Stewart and Patti Hammond would always come down to sing and dance while I played. It would always be something by The Jackson 5. One day Kelly’s family had a party across the street and she told Patti and me to come over and sing. I couldn’t bring my trashcans, but I could beat on her mom’s coffee table and we sang and beat that table as our lives depended on it!
Her family applauded and applauded and someone somewhere passed around a hat. I made about $0.84 cents that day – I’m sure the girls made more (!) but I was hooked! I went to the corner store and spent it all on candy (tootsie rolls) and that’s all I have ever wanted to do since!!
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve had to go through and how did you grow through it?
I have faced many – but the most impactful was being a minister in a church that would not embrace the type of music I was pursuing. This specific denomination held to the rather strict beliefs that unless music sounded a certain way or held to a specific genre, then God would not be pleased with me. It was a grueling couple of years.
I never lost my faith, I just stopped trying to convince them and continued to create the music in my heart – the music GOD was downloading into my spirit and eventually was able to tour and travel internationally, hit the Billboard Top 10 in Contemporary Jazz and work with some incredibly talented musicians of various genres while promoting my band, SounDoctrine. But it took standing up and standing against some ideas that were not in alignment with my purpose to persevere.
Who are the TOP 3 people you’d want to meet that could elevate your career or business? Why these specific individuals?
Stevie Wonder. I know he would would feel my music and understand my quest in leaving a musical legacy.
Danny Elfman. I have my heart for writing for Film & TV and I appreciate how he, as a non-traditional composer was able to bring his transparency into a very strict medium and do some serious damage.
Quincy Jones. He’s My Hero. From Frank Sinatra to Miles Davis to Michael Jackson to everyone in between and doing it all excellently!
I know you only asked for 3 but I can’t leave out Berry Gordy – for creating his own genre of music and producing it through 25 different legends. Motown will Never Die!