We were lucky to catch up with Deon Generette recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Deon thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

My parents, as I always tell the story of 7Sunday, are a big reason why 7Sunday exist. Sundays were a day of bliss. My father was a pastor and my mother was head of the music ministry. We enjoy service and come home to a cooked meal. We’d enjoy family time and I would always find myself at the end of the night listening to the Big DM’s Quiet Storm of all the classic R&B music like Prince, LTD, Anita Baker, Earth, Wind, and Fire, Chaka Khan, Isley Brothers, Ojays, Micheal Jackson, Aretha Franklin, and many others. Unlike many holiness pastors, he and my mother afforded me the freedom to be able to enjoy secular music and the arts in other forms. Being from a small town called Johnsonville, South Carolina and from a religious background, that was big. There weren’t any programs for performing arts in the area. We only had church and sports, so luckily, we were fortune to have a TV to watch. Lol, Behold, there was this syndicated show entitled, “Soul Train!” That being said, many adults dread returning to work on Monday, so 7Sunday, much as I feel it did for me in my youth, gives a refresher before heading the work week. We’ve also made it a way to support independent and national recording artists in their journey as well. Being raised by parents who were leaders in church and the community helped to foster the vision. They also taught me the benefits of collaboration. 7Sunday is a collaboration amongst entrepreneurs to make this platform what it is and will be!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am Deon Generette, curator, founder, and executive producer of the veteran led, 7Sunday. My life has been interesting to say the least. I graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Theatre degree. I had no intent to use this. I then served time in Iraq and returned home. I loss my father in 2009. I later got my MBA in HR/Small Business Mgmt. I was retired from the military and trying to figure out “what next?”

I was attending this church at the time where I was asked to be in this play. I was a father to a kid athlete. This local theatre owner and play writer, Tangie Beaty of WOW Production, saw me. Apparently, she saw something in me. I auditioned to be in this play entitled, “Yesterday is Still Gone!” Initially, I was an understudy, but I ended up getting a lead role. The play was later distributed across the entire US. I pursued a few other acting opportunities, stage plays, and extra work. Later, I had the opportunity to be on Mary Mary for like 8 episodes for one season. This experience was very profound. It was where I found my love or passion to create. Later, I proceeded to do extra work and I landed the opportunity to be stand in for Forrest Whitaker’s character Zuri on Black Panther. This was Everything!!!! I got to meet Angela Bassett, Lupita Nuong’o, and the late Chadwick Boseman who was a South Carolina native as well.

Although I enjoyed these experiences, I still wanted to produce my own and I wanted it to be something of familiarity. The shows and things I had grown up on, you know, the Showtime at The Apollo, In Living Color, Jeopardy, Soul Train, and shows with live music. In 2019, we decided to begin 7Sunday. South Carolina has a great deal of talent, however, a lot of independent artists do not have the funding or backing to get the exposure necessary. 7Sunday along with its themes and remnants of childhood shows, gives the artists opportunity to share their art before a live audience and over 100k viewers on tv in 5 different US markets (South Carolina, North Carolina, DMV, and parts of Florida).

7Sunday’s mission is to provide performing artists educational opportunities in branding, networking, and showcasing their talents to a multitude of individuals through television, live events, and social media, while enhancing relationships between small businesses & communities! Along with this, we’ve produced commercials for small businesses, the City of Columbia with Market Highlight films during the pandemic to assist small businesses, we’ve produced a documentary about the Historic Black Business District that thrives downtown Columbia during Jim Crow Era, we’ve produced sizzle reels for Pepsi in the DMV area, and currently assisting Emmy Nominated Strategic Films on their documentary on South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus 50th Anniversary entitled “Giants For Justice.” 7Sunday will be producing the soundtrack for this film. We’ve also received 2 proclamations declaring January 16-23 as 7Sunday week and our production team 7Sunday Live has been highlighted as a small business.

We’ve been operating nonstop through the entire pandemic and we intend to continue for decades to come as we continue to grow. Our next goal is to become nationally syndicated as we continue to highlight great independent and national recording artists through themes.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

A story from our journey that illustrates resilience?? Well, we’re only approaching 4 years of existence. With being a new business, nonprofit, etc that’s a struggle alone. Most businesses don’t make it past the 3 year mark and we’ve been fortunate. Inspite of obvious new business growth pains, we have found a way to thrive even through the pandemic. When most were throwing in the towel, we started doing virtual shows reaching 8-10k viewers, and then we, on March 6, 2021, expanded to tv with Sinclair station WACH FOX locally in Columbia, SC and later for Season 3 moved on to other markets across the US. We are now approaching Season 4.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Earlier on, I wish I had known about resources available through local government, small businesses, and grants. Sometimes, it’s difficult starting something new and juggling so many hats. I’ve learned fundraising and the cash flow area of a business is a job within itself. Also, many want to “get it out the mud.” Please do not do it this way. Find someone to partner with who equally has resources and influence so there is support. Remove all pride concerning asking for what you need but be mindful of who you connect with as peoples intentions aren’t always pure.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.7Sunday.live
• Instagram: 7SundayLive
• Facebook: 7Sunday
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deon-generette-716b191b1
• Twitter: 7SundayLive
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/7SundayLive

Image Credits
MPov Media