Josanne Leonard - ProfilesArchive

About Me

You've had a little peek of my persona so here is a short blurb about me professionally. I am a media, communications and entertainment consultant with over twenty years experience regionally and internationally. Operating as a boutique consultancy, I work from concept to implementation in providing strategic advice and expertise in public relations, press and publicity, event planning, social and cultural marketing and communications, media strategies, festival management, marketing, sponsorship & branding.Clients have included a diverse mix of private sector companies, regional trade and development agencies, government ministries, cultural, media and entertainment enterprises.An experienced broadcaster, producer and media manager I'm interested in developing, branding and marketing Caribbean content in partnership with independent and other media partners and corporate Caribbean, especially in new media.Strategic alliances and collaborations with like-minded professionals in the region and beyond are a hallmark of my approach. My personal and professional philosophy is about building strong music, media and entertainment brands and industry associations to enrich our people and region. The best part is that I truly do what I love. Culture is everything...Culture is my business, Culture is we business. Now that you know, let's talk!....

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EDDY GRANT - INTERNATIONAL RECORDING ARTIST AND CARIBBEAN SUPERSTAR TO PERFORM FOR NELSON MANDELA'S 90TH. BIRTHDAY PARTY ON JUNE 27, AT LONDON'S HYDE PARK. EDDY KICKS OFF HIS LIVE NATION 'REPARATION WORLD TOUR' ON JULY 1! CHECK WWW.MYSPACE.COM/EDDYGRANT1 AND WWW.EDDYGRANT.COM

My Interests

Caribbean music and culture! Cricket (I'm a West Indian supporter first and foremost),'liming' (trini expression for hanging out) with my close friends and kindred spirits who share an affinity for making a difference and thinking outside of the box. I love to dance, enjoy long walks and talks. Did I mention 'live' music? I LOVE MUSIC!! I'm passionate about my Caribbean and making a positive difference in the world beginning at home. Sometimes that's a very lonely place to be.

I'd like to meet:

People who love and believe in Caribbean people, music and culture and are prepared to walk the talk and not scramble over crumbs. I want to meet you in media (old and new)so we can tell our own stories that are very rarely seen or heard in the main stream media.I'd like to link with artists, film, radio & TV producers and personalities, distributors, cultural practitioners, artists, technology companies, financiers, big thinkers willing to support and invest in our creative businesses and brands. I'm also very interested in stronger South-South links. Africa, India, South America and Asia are our markets too! Lets think big so that we can keep the money made by our artists and creators in the pockets of our people. Concentration of external music and media companies isn't good for creativity anywhere and certainly not for us. Let keep our stars at home! We don't exclude our friends from other places. You're welcome to our party everytime!

Music:

Good music and more good music in all genres. I was lucky growing up with many musical influences from the traditional to conscious music. No doubt I have a very special love for our calypso and reggae music and all their beautiful children. Add to that the many rhythms of the Greater Caribbean - salsa, son, zouk, meringue, Haitian roots music - they're present everywhere. Special pride of place for the steelband (pan), the only new musical instrument of the 20th century that we gave to the world. BTW, I confess to having a real soft spot for the music of the 70's - Motown & Philadelphia Records... and closer to home Eddy Grant (and the Equals), Jimmy Cliff, Third World, (de best reggae band in de world)..I need not mention Robert Nesta Marley. The list is non-exhaustive. And yes, suck yuh teeth if yuh like...Jazz - Miles, Coltrane, Gillespie, Adderly, Monk, Ella, Nancy Wilson. Hit me up with good music and you've got me hooked. My heart beats to the music of the world!

Movies:

From every era. I enjoy independent films and documentaries. Pity we don't see them in our media and cinemas. I'm a movie buff.

Television:

TV is also an occupation so I have a 'relationship' with content. For relaxation, I enjoy good stand-up comedy (satire), drama..the gamut...though I'm not into reality TV or pop culture crap! I'm known to be a sucker for a good old cry cry.

Books:

As with music, I grew surrounded by good books and was an avid reader so I feel very blessed. I love biographies, history, politics and even some inspirational works though I've been spending way too much time on reports and heavy stuff..industry and market information overload. I read good good magazines and remain open to new authors. Have been known to spend entire days in Chapters, Indigo and Barnes and Noble and love to browse second book shops especially those that have music too!

Heroes:

My dad, Winston Leonard, and so many others throughout our history who have contributed to the development of the Caribbean and a more humane social order in the world. I"m blessed to have met and known some wonderful men and women whose lives have been about making this world a fairer and better place. I met Nelson Mandela and he cupped my face in his hands as he let me kiss him, a moment I will never forget. I'm so grateful to my dad for instilling in me a sense of belonging and pride in our humanity, in being West Indian and for encouraging his children to stand up against injustice and inequality of any kind, anywhere. Tick Che Guevara!

My Blog

Eddy Grant 'Gimme Hope Joanna' Nelson Concert

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlHkOM8jqv8 Eddy Grant performs for Madiba at Hyde Park on June 27, 2008. Awesome!...
Posted by Josanne Leonard on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:51:00 PST

SAYING THANKS and LIVING in LOVE and LIGHT

THANK YOU EVERYONE.........ALL OF YOU WHO TOOK A MOMENT TO SEND LITTLE THOUGHTS MY WAY! I COUNT THEM ALL AS MY BLESSINGS. I'M BY NATURE ONE WHO CONTEMPLATES MUCH...FOR WITHOUT IT WE ...
Posted by Josanne Leonard on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:46:00 PST

WWW.LONDONCALLING2008.COM!

SALUD EVERYONE CARIBBEAN PRODUCERS,ARTISTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FOLKS, WE ARE HOSTING A CARIBBEAN PAVILION AT LONDON CALLING2008. DATES: JUNE 19-20; VENUE: EARL'S COURT IN BUZZING LONDON! LINK US ...
Posted by Josanne Leonard on Thu, 08 May 2008 09:28:00 PST

ANOTHER CARIBBEAN CULTURAL ICON, WORDSWORTH MC ANDREW PASSES!

As with all things, we must all go on. Sadly though in the Caribbean filled and overflowing as we are with pop culture that is 'manufactured' at the drop of a sample or music video, our cultura...
Posted by Josanne Leonard on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 04:51:00 PST

Famous Martiniquan Poet AIME CEZAIRE has passed.

BASSE-POINTE, Martinique, Fri. April 18, 2008: The man who was celebrated as the founding father of the ..negritude.. movement has died from a heart attack.Aime Cesaire died in his native Martinique y...
Posted by Josanne Leonard on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 06:28:00 PST

THE CARIBBEAN @ LONDON CALLING 2008

Music ReceptionLondon Calling will host music industry receptions for the following countries:Chinese Music Industry Reception:A must attend session for any delegates wishing to access the Chinese mu...
Posted by Josanne Leonard on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 05:33:00 PST

INTERNATIONAL CARIBBEAN SUPERSTAR EDDY GRANT KICKS OFF HIS REPARATION WORLD TOUR IN EUROPE!

EUROPE 2008:JUNE: 29 Sun UK Glastonbury Jazz World Stage30 Mon UK Bournemouth Opera HouseJULY: *1 Tues UK Brighton Concorde 2*2 Wed UK Cambridge Junction*3 Thurs UK Nor...
Posted by Josanne Leonard on Sun, 13 Apr 2008 02:34:00 PST

FAREWELL MAMA MARLEY

MAY THE ANCESTRAL SPIRITS TAKE YOU HOME, MAMA. WE ALL GIVE THANKS AND PRAISE FOR YOUR LIFE AND FOR THE GIFT OF YOUR SON WHOSE MUSIC LIVES FOREVER!BLESSINGS MOTHER.
Posted by Josanne Leonard on Fri, 11 Apr 2008 08:00:00 PST

UPDATE ON THE CARIBBEAN@LONDON CALLING2008

Salud Everyone,Here’s a quick update after yesterday’s meeting (26/3) at the Ministry of Trade in T&T with a big thanks to all who attended and participated as well as the Ministry Of...
Posted by Josanne Leonard on Fri, 28 Mar 2008 05:06:00 PST

THE CARIBBEAN@ LONDON CALLING 2008

If you’re a Caribbean artist, producer, music/entertainment industry professional interested in particpating at one the premier music industry events for the independent music community, please ...
Posted by Josanne Leonard on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:18:00 PST