About Studio 43
After years of making his mark in the music world, Kenny Burns "The Lifestyle Specialist" gears up for his biggest music challenge to date, "My goal is to make Washington DC the next music MECCA!"
Growing up in DC loving ALL types of music, one thing in particular stood out to Mr. Burns, and that was the sound of the city...GO-GO!
Although through the years, at various labels, Mr. Burns wanted and attempted to sign a Go-Go band, but the powers that be didn't see his vision.
"Figuring out a way to make everyone see what I saw was VERY difficult. I mean if you ever been to DC you know what GoGo music is, or if you've ever been to a Go-Go, you couldn't help but FEEL IT, but most of the executives never experienced it or say they hadn't, or if they did they really didn't understand it.
But then It's kind of CRAZY how for years industry cats would come to DC and take pieces of our sound, our swagg, the way we dress and implement it into there sound, lifestyle, etc, but we NEVER have gotten credit for it."
ABOUT KENNY BURNS
Few people in the entertainment industry are passionate, entrepreneurial and forward-thinking as the multi-faceted executive Kenny Burns. In less than ten years he has left an undeniable mark on the music industry that only begins with chart-topping hit records. Kenny Burns has played the role of party promoter, the street team rep, the promotions guy, the marketing man, the A&R executive and the artist’s manager. He has his pulse on what is hot and what is next in popular culture, and he has the business savvy to communicate his vision to the masses.
A Washington DC native, Kenny Burns began giving parties while attending Woodrow Wilson High School in the DC area. After graduation he went on to attend Morris Brown University, a Historically Black University in Atlanta, and founded 2620 Music—a company that amassed major success on the party circuit in the early 90’s in Atlanta with the not-to-be missed Friday night Funk Clinic which was a mecca for breaking new talent like the Notorious B.I.G. and Outkast to name a few.
In 1995, after building a solid reputation as a man who makes things happen, Claude Austin, then president of Rowdy Records and brother of proven hit-maker Dallas Austin, recruited Kenny as the man to help break their artist Monica. When it was all said and done, Monica had her first gold single and went to sell over two million records on her debut album "Miss Thand". Simultaneously, Kenny worked with Jay-Z and Damon Dash promoting the single “Dead Presidents†off the “Reasonable Doubt†album, which became a Hip Hop CLASSIC.
After spending some time on the road with noted industry producer and DJ Clark Kent, in 1996 Kenny went on to secure a position at Motown Records under the tutelage of Andre Harrell and Barbara Seltzer. A key figure in the re-vamping of the Motown brand, Kenny became well versed in the promotions and marketing aspect of the industry and made R&B trio 702 a staple at pop radio with their break-out hit “Get it Together.†Morehouse College honored him in 1996 for bringing and updating the Motown Revue to their campus, which featured 702, Miss “Misdemeanor†Elliot, Shades, Horace Brown and Ladae.
Between 1996 and 1998, Kenny broadened his business savvy and produced a remix for the smash Dru Hill single “In My Bed†and managed super producer Mario Winans. Also in 1998 Kenny created the 2620 Black College Tour (Crowd Control), which travels to 18 prominent Historically Black Colleges & Universities.
In 1999, the culmination of Kenny’s promotions/marketing/A&R/artist management skills were displayed to the masses with the success of Pop/R&B group Dream. Kenny functioned as the brainchild behind the group’s ascent to the top from naming the group to handling the day-to-day responsibilities as their manager. In January 2001, Dream made the highest debut in modern Billboard Chart history at #6. “It was All a Dream†sold over 2 million copies.
Kenny has been seen on MTV, BET, Fox, Vh1 and been featured in dozens of magazines Giant, Complex, Vibe, The Source to name a few. Burns also has been featured in major newspapers including The New York Post, Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post.
Kenny Burns also served as Vice President of MonarC Music (IDJ) which is home to Mariah Carey. In 2001, her first studio album in four years is now multi platinum.
Burns was then recruited by his friend Damon Dash to serve as Vice President of Roc-A-Fella Records/Roc Music Division, where he mentored Kanye West, Young Gunz and Nicole Wray.
Since his departure from Roc-A-Fella Records, Kenny Burns along with long time music industry affiliates, Derek Dudley and Ryan Glover, joined forces in launching Ryan Kenny, a fashion forward clothing line dedicated to style and detail. 2004 was an amazing year for Ryan Kenny, when they became the first African American designers to be sold in Saks Fifth Avenue, since Willie Wear in the early 80's.
Fully educated through experience, Kenny Burns has worked with music industry legend Quincy Jones, CEO of Island - Def Jam Records L.A. Reid, Sean “P. Diddy†Combs, Damon Dash, and manager extraordinaire Johnny Wright. He is the next generation of heavy-hitting, well connected industry moguls positioned to take on worlds of music, fashion and film.
