Rock Soul Productions, the entertainment company formed by CEO Fantasia Barrino Taylor and president Yvonne McNair, is bolstering its ranks.
It’s tapped Teddy Riley for management, music production for film/TV soundtrack scoring and producing on Broadway. It has also partnered with Adam Blackstone for musical supervision, creative direction and development for scripted and non-scripted content, and Dennis Reed for management, music direction, songwriting, and vocal coaching.
Riley, a Grammy-winning, multi-platinum producer, is credited with creating new jack swing, a fusion genre of music incorporating contemporary R&B, hip-hop, gospel, soul and pop. With over 1,000 credits to his name, Ripley has been inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame and was recently awarded the Soul Train Legend award for his works in creating the new jack swing era.
“I have worked with Yvonne for many years, and we have already created some historic moments. It is an honor to now work with Rock Soul Productions to bring projects to life,” Riley said. “My goal is to continue to create timeless music and build on my legacy. I am looking forward to stepping into the TV/film and Broadway world. People have been trying to get me to do this for years, but I have always declined. When I had the opportunity to work with Fantasia and Yvonne, it was a no brainer. I’m always down to work with our queens in this space because they get it done. New jack swing will be going down in history, and the projects that we will work on together will leave a lasting legacy.”
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Grammy-nominated artist Blackstone is the musical mastermind behind live shows for many of today’s biggest acts. Most recently, Blackstone received a Tony Nomination for Best Orchestration on “Hell’s Kitchen.” He has served as the musical director for acts such as Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson, Alicia Keys and Maroon 5, and recently cultivated the Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show featuring Rihanna. Blackstone sits at the helm of BASSic Black Entertainment, a broad-based music service company that specializes in live music production, connecting musicians and studio production.
“I’m excited to work with the Rock Soul family as this team will push the boundaries of collaboration within family, music and entertainment,” Blackstone said. “There are no limits to the endless possibilities we will dive into as creatives. Rock Soul Productions is definitely a forward moving machine and I’m excited to rock with them.”
Reed is an award-winning songwriter, recording artist, and CEO of Inspire the Fire Inc., a nonprofit organization serving hundreds of youth in the Carolinas and surrounding areas. His Sainted Trap Choir became finalists on “America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League,” under the direct mentorship of Simon Cowell. Earlier this year, Reed performed alongside Andra Day at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas.
“Sometimes what can seem like random opportunities can open other unexpected doors. As I like to call it, a creative collision. The collaboration with Rock Soul Productions is both a creative collision and divine alignment,” said Reed. “I have worked with Fantasia for 10+ years and watched her growth in all aspects of her life, as a woman, a brand, and an entrepreneur. It has been inspiring, motivating and humbling to watch. To know that I have a role to play in this next chapter and to be amongst industry giants, like Teddy Riley, Adam Blackstone and Fantasia is a true blessing. As an artist you can feel unseen, but this new journey allows me to be seen while aligning with some of my biggest influences and musical heroes. I look forward to working with Fantasia and Yvonne to build Rock Soul Productions.”
Rock Soul Productions is a management, production, and entertainment company founded by Fantasia Taylor and Yvonne McNair earlier this year with the goal of empowering artists to reach their full potential by providing comprehensive management, innovative production and immersive entertainment experiences.
“When I was a little girl, I would sit in the middle of the floor in our living room and watch Teddy Riley hit the stage and move a room full of other entertainers,” Barrino said. “His music was and still is ‘Electrifying’ and the impact he has had on so many musicians and myself makes me so honored to even be in the presence of a great like him and the rest of my Rock Soul family.”
McNair added, “By partnering with the unparalleled talent and experience that Teddy Riley, Adam Blackstone and Dennis Reed have to offer, we are proud to showcase our commitment to developing and elevating the careers of remarkable artists to new heights!”
