We recently connected with Luis La Porte and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Luis thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?
I started singing at the age of 5. I sang at any event that was presented to me including at church, school and communities, events throughout my childhood. I knew I wanted to go into the music field however I had no idea how to begin. No one in my family was a professional musician and couldn’t help me. In my freshmen year of college, a family friend came to visit his daughters on campus. He was a pastor and he asked me what I was studying. I told him that I was studying elementary education and taking several music classes. When he heard this, he invited me to his church in Kansas City, Missouri to give a concert. I gave my first concert at his church in 2011. From there, I started calling different churches and organizations and booking concerts. I made my television debut in 2012 and recorded my first album in 2018. I had to learn how to write contracts, negotiate deals, promote events, operate social media and a website, produce albums, and so many other elements of running a business. I reached out to other experienced professional musicians to help teach and mentor me on how to run my music ministry. It takes time but you have to be dedicated to learning. You also have to be persistent and focused because this field is very hard.
Luis, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a Christian Recording Artist. I have been in concert ministry for 12 years. I provide concerts and performances for churches, community events, retreats, revival meetings, and seminars. I have recorded 2 albums and am releasing my third album this year. I have had the privilege of singing on various programs on Christian television networks. I sing in both English & Spanish. My music style includes Contemporary Christian, R&B, Pop, and traditional.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I love what I do. I love to sing, perform, and connect with people through my music. I love to meet people after events and hear their stories. While I love what I do, the field is VERY HARD. The music business is saturated with entertainers and artists. It is very hard to get in the business and stay in. You have to be very consistent, dedicated, and determined. You will get knocked down but you have to get up and keep going. I am an independent artist that started with zero financial support. I had to make hundreds of phone calls and persist with people to give me a chance to come and sing for them. As a musician, many people don’t want to pay you and you are underappreciated. I consistently looked for opportunities and sang as often as I could until people began to notice. I recorded my first album 8 years after I started doing concerts. I was interviewed for the first time on television 11 years after I began in the business. You have to be consistent and persevere.
Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?
Producing and manufacturing an album is something I had to learn how to do. I have 2 albums [1 in English and 1 in Spanish]. I am releasing my 3rd album this year. When I first started, I reached out to a singer friend of mine that gave me several recommendations on where to record and how to produce the album. I researched how to handle paying songwriters royalties, hiring a band, and general production. I chose a reputable record company that would handle the recording, photography, and manufacturing on my album. I also had to learn how to distribute my albums on digital platforms like Itunes, Amazon, and Spotify. It has gotten easier each time I have done it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.luislaporte.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luislaportemusic/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luislaportemusic
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-la-porte-119a442a7/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LsPorte
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLp9TBA9Q1HJZVDq5kVLrfg