Noun: taste-maker [tast-mak(r)] 1. Someone who popularizes a new fashion. 2. Someone worthy of imitation. 3. A person who rules or guides or inspires others.
Ladies and Gentlemen meet Mr. “Impeccable tastemaker” himself Kenny Burns
THE MUSIC MAN “I’m always going to do music. It’s in my blood.”
A Washington DC native, Kenny Burns started promoting parties while still in high school. When he moved to Atlanta to attend Morris Brown University, he started his own company, 2620 Music, and monopolized Atlanta’s party scene in the mid 90’s. Based on his track record of breaking unknown talent in the Atlanta market, like Notorious Big and Black Moon to name a few, Claude Austin, then president of Rowdy Records hired him to promote Monica’s debut album. With Kenny’s help, Monica went on to sell two million copies of her debut album “Miss Thang”.
For his next feat, Kenny helped promote Jay-Z’s “Reasonable Doubt” album to its initial certified gold success.
Soon after, Kenny found himself moving to NYC and learning the music business from Andre Harrell at Motown Records. “Dre taught me how to take my creative vision and make it tangible.”
In 1999, Kenny moved to LA and was the brainchild behind the girl group Dream. There debut album, “It Was All A DREAM”, went on to debut at #2 on the billboard charts and sold over 2million copies to date.
Eventually Kenny rose to the ranks of executive, serving as a Vice President at Mariah Carey’s Monarc Music (Maroon Entertainment) and later at Roc-A-Fella records, where he mentored Kanye West, Young Gunz, Allen Anthony, Samantha Ronson and Nicole Wray. “Damon Dash and I were friends from way back in the Reasonable Doubt days. I gave him the script Paid In Full as well. It was a no brainer when he asked me to join the team.”
In 2005, Burns founded his own boutique label: Studio 43, and landed Wale as his first signing, which has brought national attention to the Washington DC Metropolitan Area in the Hip Hop arena. “I’ve always wanted to give my city an identity in music.”
Now he is gearing up for what he calls the future, 18yr old multi-talented artist MARKY!
CHANGE CLOTHES “I am a fashion whore.”
In 2004, while still working at Roc-A-Fella Records, Kenny along with friends Derek Dudley and Ryan Glover teamed to launch Ryan Kenny, an upscale men’s fashion line. In just over a year the Ryan Kenny brand became a necessity for fashion icons like Jay-Z, Usher and Common. The brand also earned the distinction of becoming the first black designers featured in Saks Fifth Avenue since Wille Wear had in the 1980’s. Arguably their greatest accomplishment was successfully inspiring a nation of throwback wearers to trade in their mesh nylon basketball jerseys for tailored French cuffed button downs.
LIFESTYLE SPECIALIST “I am the flawless relationship man.”
Meanwhile Kenny has proved his success isn’t limited to music and fashion. Through a partnership with Alloy Media and Marketing, the official “Lifestyle Specialist,” has lent his savvy marketing prowess to a host of clients including AXE/Unilever and Heineken. As in his other endeavors, the results have been successful. During what has now been a four-year relationship with AXE, the brand has become the number one grooming product in the world. Heineken has also benefited from Kenny’s vision. He helped revitalize the Red Star moniker and also organized the immensely successful Heineken Red Star Soul Tour. Which he also host.
RENAISSANCE MAN “I want to inspire the world”
…And now for Kenny’s most grand achievement: The Kenny Burns Show. Part Saturday Night Live, part Entertainment Tonight and part Arsenio Hall Show. The show will feature the lights, camera, action style that has been synonymous with Kenny’s personality and career to date. “They call me the Black Robin Leach.”
For Kenny though, the show will provide a platform to share his life lessons and experiences with the world. “This is a culmination of who I am as a person,” he says. “Our generation needs a more relevant role model…. Kenny Burns gives his all. He is who he says he is. And what he says he’s going to do, he does. Bottom line!”
www.myspace.com/thekennyburnsshow
www.myspace.com/studio43
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