Influential music executive and Cincinnati native Antonio “L.A.” Reid will be at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center on Sunday, February 21, to participate in a discussion on how his entrepreneurial success is connected to the African American rise from slavery to freedom. His appearance, at 1:30 in the Harriet Tubman Theater, is free and open to the public.
Forgoing the typical speech format, Reid will engage in a discussion with 101.1 The WIZ’s Jade West, and then answer questions from the audience. Seating is limited to 300, and reservations are required. To RSVP send an e-mail to FreedomCenterRSVP@gmail.com.
Reid is Chairman of Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJMG), which has one of the music industry’s leading rosters of artists, including Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Rihanna, Young Jeezy, The Killers, Ludacris and dozens of others. He first came to prominence in Cincinnati in the 1980’s with the Deele, whose string of three LPs and nearly a dozen chart singles helped establish the Solar label. Teaming with Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Reid co-founded LaFace Records in 1989 and the duo produced many chart-topping acts, including Bobby Brown, Paula Abdul, and Whitney Houston. Reid and Edmonds earned 33 Number 1 singles, three Grammy Awards and numerous Producer Of the Year and Songwriter of the Year Awards.
He became President and Chief Executive Officer of Arista Records in 2000 where, in addition to artists under the LaFace label, he took over management direction of Arista’s lineup of music superstars, including Dido, Santana, Sarah McLachlan, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and Kenny G, along with new young artists such as Pink, Avril Lavigne, Bone Crusher, Ciara, Anthony Hamilton, J-Kwon, Youngbloodz, Kelis and others.
Over his career, Reid has received numerous awards and honors, including the 2006 Music Visionary of the Year Award from UJA-Federation of New York and the Music for Youth Foundation. The award was given by MFY’s Officers and Board of Trustees in recognition of their mutual objectives of making quality music education available to underprivileged young people.
Story via: freedomcenter.org
