Document text
MONDAY February 23, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels December 9, 2003 Urban Hope to open locally By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings Southern Oregon youth and young adults will have a chance to learn first-hand about the music industry thanks to a Portland-area record producer. Tyrone Davis, a musician, producer, co-manager of rap artist MC Hammer and founder and CEO of Urban Hope International, based in Tigard, is bringing the organization to the region, it was announced at a kick-off meeting at the Lithia Springs Inn in Ashland on Monday morning. Urban Hope, which operates programs in Portland and cities such as San Jose and Chicago, plans to begin a 13-week music program in Medford starting in April for artists 14 to 24 years old. Students will be educated on the technical phases of recording, artistic development, manufacturing and marketing, Davis said. The goal of the program is to expose participants to professional and nationally known artists, producers and songwriters, community leaders and drug-alcohol abuse educators. "I think our state has a void in assisting youth to fulfill their dreams," Davis said. "We want to bring people together to have an opportunity to succeed. But we also want to teach them life is more than just about music. It's teaching them life skills and how to head in the right direction." The course will educate participants on the power of music, history of music, music business, how the media affect music, and the social ills relating to music, Davis said. Participants will also have an opportunity to work on a compilation CD produced by the organization, which will include collaborations with nationally known artists and producers. Those in the Urban Hope program will also have the chance to be involved in internships with Urban Hope and business affiliates. Board members for Urban Hope include MC Hammer and former Portland Trail Blazers player Jerome Kersey. Tiger Singleton, director of Urban Hope, Southern Oregon Development, which is running the program locally, said Urban Hope will give aspiring youths and young adults the chance to express themselves. It doesn't matter what type of music they're interested in - all types of musical interest are welcome, he said. "Music is art, no matter how you express yourself, be it hip hop, country or alternative," he said. Urban Hope will give young people a chance to pursue their goals without going to larger cities like New York or Los Angeles, Singleton said. "It's going to present opportunities they normally wouldn't have," he said. "They can strengthen their voice right here with different entrepreneurial endeavors." Members of local business were invited on Monday to hear about how they could volunteer and sponsor the program locally. Alma Spicer, community marketing director of Two Pine Smokehouse and Carlotta's Catering in Shady Cove, was impressed by what Urban Hope is trying to accomplish. "They have a passion in helping young people," she said. "It gives me goose bumps thinking about it. It will be something special and influential for the youth of our community." Robert Walker, 18, of Portland, a hip-hop artist involved in Urban Hope, said it will be a great opportunity for those aspiring to be involved in the music industry. "It's taught me how to present myself as an artist," he said. "I think it's good to know these skills and build upon it. It's about the music and how to appreciate it." For more information on Urban Hope, call 503-620-0775, call Tiger Singleton at 301-5930, or visit www.urban-hope.com on the Web. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: A new improved archive search is coming! Look for it in mid-February! .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - ODOT Road Cams