Hopie "Tony" Jones - Class of 1965

Artist manager

Entertainment Business Summary

My music business career officially started in 1974.  I signed a personal management contract with the jazz fusion group, “Pleasure”.  The group was signed to Fantasy Records in Berkley, California and was produced by Wayne Henderson of the “Jazz Crusaders”.   In 1975, I was introduced to legendary Motown producers/songwriter, Norman Whitfield and later was asked to join his newly acquired Warner Brothers label, Whitfield Records, as Director of Artist Relations.  That same year we released the MCA Universal soundtrack album “Car Wash”, which became the biggest selling single record in MCA Universal company history.  We produced the soundtrack albums for two additional Richard Pryor movies and two songs on the soundtrack album, “Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, featuring the Bee Gees and Peter Frampton.  Over the next five years, I organized and managed over 850 live concert appearances throughout the United States, England, Holland, Scotland, Japan and West Africa.  In 1977, I produced/directed the 90 minute weekly radio show “The Soul Sound Countdown” that aired on KDAY-1580 in Los Angeles, California. The show featured Billboard magazine’s top 20 soul singles, with surprise information about the artist and live interviews. The show was sponsored by United Vintners Wine Company, San Francisco, California.   I also produced three national radio commercials and a variety of music video productions.

In 1982, I became Director of Artist Development for Pretty Pearl Records in New York City.  The label was owned by Hall of Fame basketball player, Earl Monroe.  In 1983, I re-directed my music focus from pop/r & b music to gospel music and signed a personal management contract with the Clark Sisters.  Over the next five years, I would work with a wide range of contemporary and traditional gospel artists, including The Williams Brothers, Douglass Miller, Little Richard, Shirley Caesar and the late Mattie Moss Clark.

During my fifteen years in the music business, my skills and talents were focused on building bridges between business and the creativity of the arts.  After earning nine (9) RIAA Certified Gold and Platinum Sales Awards and two (2) trips to the Grammy Awards, with one nomination for Best Gospel Album, I left the music business to pursue other marketing and business opportunities.

Education

Hampton University                                           Bachelor of Science – Marketing

Hampton, Virginia 1969

UCLA                                                                   This Business of Music

Los Angeles, California 1975

“Great art can communicate before it’s understood”