*The CEO of Young Millennium Records, Lena Jenkins-Smith, to speak on the “Industry Panel” Saturday, November 7, 2020 at the 21st annual Los Angeles “Uplifting Minds II” Entertainment Conference from 1-3pmPT via Zoom video conferencing.
Lena makes a total of 10 entertainment industry professionals that include three record label heads, three artist management heads, a music producer, a law Consul, a popular television host, and two award winning artists (singer and actor) to speak on the panel.
The entertainment conference starts with a panel “Q and A Session,” then the “professional talent showcase” with performances by some of the label’s artists, and ends with a “national talent competition” of aspiring singers, songwriters, dancers and/or actors. One winner from each category will be selected to receive the 2020 ‘ULMII Best Artist” Award and over $15,000 valued in prizes.
Lena started in the entertainment business, from her career as a teacher, as assistant to comedian/actor Katt Williams and went on to be his tour manager and then his film producer (HBO, Showtime, Netflix). Today, Jenkins-Smith not only runs Young Millennium Records, which has three artists to its roster, but is executive producer of “The Young Hustle” television show, and an author with the publication of her book “Uncolored” which addresses racism in America. The label’s current artists include her son Atlanta rapper Cyrus (17 years old), Vegas R&B singer Camryn Levert (22 years-old), and Orlando Pop singer Kallie Rock (26 years-old).
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Through the years talent who performed at “ULMII” has credited that appearance for helping to launch their careers in the entertainment business. Los Angeles “ULMII” competitor Miguel was signed by one of the “ULMII” panelists Jimmy Maynes then Sr. V.P. at Jive Records – today he is a Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter. Mom/manager of Baltimore “ULMII” competitor Naturi Naughton said she was scouted by Broadway at the “ULMII” event. From her Broadway run she joined the R&B group 3LW and from there Naturi landed a starring role on the STARZ dramatic series “Power”. Los Angeles “ULMII” competitor RoShon Fegan’s manager said what he learned from the panelist helped him take RoShon to “the next level.” That next level led to a co-starring role on Disney’s “Shake It Up”, then a starring role on Disney’s “Camp Rock”, which led to him starring on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars”. In Baltimore the Featherstone Brothers said in an interview with the City Paper that it was their performance at “ULMII” that resulted in their success. The original song they performed at “ULMII” was heard by SisQo (Dru Hill), who was there to support “ULMII” panelist Jazz (Dru Hill), and he placed the song on the third Dru Hill album as “I Should Be (Your Boyfriend).” The song was released as the first single and music video from the album. The song went platinum and today, the Featherstone brothers went on to write and produce songs many heavy-hitters, such as Chris Brown.
Panelists, through its 21 year history, have been many that have included Grammy winning Brenda Russell (“Piano in the Dark”); Hip-Hop legend MCLyte; Jazz and Woody of Dru Hill; comedian/actor Kel Mitchell (The GoodBurger), and actress/singer KeKe Palmer (“True Jackson, VP”) – to name a few.
Log onto www.UpliftingMinds2.com for more information about Zoom video conferencing access or email [email protected].
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