We were lucky to catch up with Derek McKeith recently and have shared our conversation below.

Derek, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I took a night to think about the risks I’ve taken in my life, and none amount or mean more to me, than the risk I took on myself to succeed.

I came from a family steeped in the entertainment business. My Mother, Sheila Frazier a famous actress, and my Father, Sam McKeith, was the 2nd black music agent at William Morris Agency, which is now Endeavor. Both of my parents were and are known as pioneers in their fields. All of their friends were and are celebrities, or the people behind the success of them. It was this type of upbringing and environment that shaped my perspective and how I approached life choices.

The one common trait that all of these people had was that they took a risk on themselves. Witnessing this first hand, and understanding the possibilities and what it takes inspired me to do the same. So I pursued my music career with the same intensity.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

My name is Derek McKeith. I’m a singer songwriter, music producer, philanthropist, and entrepreneur.

I started my professional career when I was 15 singing background behind Tevin Campbell on the Quincy Jones Album “Back On The Block”. I’ve also had the privilege of singing background for Sisqo, Jon B., Avant, Tamar Braxton and many others before I went solo.

I’m a multi-instrumentalist. I play piano, drums, guitar, bass and the cowbell, but my first instrument is my voice.

I released my first album independently back in 2003, under my own label imprint. Despite having multiple record contracts offered to me at a time when that was the thing that every artist aspired to attain, I was coming from a different mindset, and had a very different viewpoint when it came to record labels and their relevance.

Growing up in the industry, I was taught to learn the business first, because artist come a dime a dozen, but if you know the business then you have staying power. That education gave me a clear understanding early on who actually had the power of negotiation. If these labels didn’t have us artist, they’d go out of business. They needed us more than we needed them. They were essentially a bank. I just had to choose if I was going to take out a loan, and be a slave to their system, or be independent. I chose the later.

Although it definitely was and has been the road less traveled for most artist, it was the best thing professionally for my career. It’s allowed me to OWN myself, my music and artistry 100% without any red tape as we like to say.

I’ve been touring for years, but more recently I’ve been focused on writing and producing music for TV/Film.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Most non-creatives see creatives as flighty. aloof and not to be taken as seriously as those who travel the everyday beaten path. We’re seen sometimes as people who live in their heads and aren’t in touch with everyday “reality”. The idea that we can imagine something and bring it to life is sometimes baffling to those who don’t do what we do, but the “reality” of it all, is that we create realities.

That being said, serious creatives have an unwavering continual belief in what is possible. For us, everything is possible. It starts with action.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

NFTs are cool. I await to see the future growth of that technology.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.derekmckeith.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/derekmckeith
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/derekmckeithofficial
• Other: https://linktr.ee/derekmckeith