Rickey Minor: the man behind the music

You may not know his name, but you can hear his work practically everywhere. And when asked to recap what he's working on at the moment, you quickly realize just how much music maestro Rickey Minor is in demand. "I was music director for the Grammy's this year. I produced the Atlantis Hotel phase-three opening in the Bahamas, and I produced the Tobago Jazz Festival. I have a new TV show coming, Don't Forget the Lyrics, on Fox, and then I'm doing America's Got Talcut for NBC, the United Negro College Fund Tribute to Smokey Robinson in September, along with working with Jennifer Hudson, Heather Headley, Whitney Houston and Celine [Dion]," says the composer, producer and music director. "So I'm pretty busy, a little bit."

Minor also has been the musical director for American Idol since 2005. But he's used to working with new talent. "Brandy was 12 when I first started working with her; Christina [Aguilera] was 14, Usher was 15, Beyonce was 15, Whitney was 18--so I have a history of working with artists who are kind of fresh and new to the scene," be says.

The music dynamo also serves as musical director for the NAACP Image Awards, Clive Davis' annual Grammy Eve party and Disney's High School Musical Tour. He's worked on all the VH1 Divas shows and seven NFL Super Bowls, in addition to working with other star-studded recording artists, including Mary J. Blige, the Dixie Chicks, Jamie Foxx, Justin Timberlake, Aretha Franklin, Sting and Ray Charles. "I see myself more or less following the blueprint from Quincy [Jones], where it's producing film, television, records and all of that," be says.

Minor's big break came when be walked away from a full scholarship at UCLA to tour with Gladys Knight and the Pips. "It was either stay in school or go on this three-month tour to Europe. I did the tour and never looked back," be says.

Pursuing his passion and love for music was critical in the decision. "I say, 'Life is really short; pursue what makes you happy and what you are passionate about ...,"' he says.

While pursuing his passion is important, Minor says you must have a plan. "You have to provide for yourself," he says, "so some things you do may not be what you want to do, but it's what you need to do in order to get to the next step.

"Figure out your passion and start trying to work it to the position that one day maybe you can connect your job and your passion so that they become one."

ABOUT RICKEY

Considers himself a "jazz head"

Loves the outdoors, particularly working in his flower garden

Produced a weekend-long concert festival in Tobago, featuring Elton John, Al Green, Diana Ross and Mary J. Blige

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COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning