THE CELEB GROUP - Key Persons
With his songs selling more than 10 Million in sales, producer/songwriter/keyboardist Grip Smith is a known as musician's musician. He's a force to be reckoned with when it comes to pulling together and leading a band as Musical Director. It's his technical musicianship that sets him apart and his services are so sought after.
A Pittsburgh native, Grip graduated from the Beckom Freeman School of Music. He studied classical piano from the age of eight and says he always knew he'd become a musician. He sharpened his skills performing in church, community choirs, concert jazz bands, and on the road with R&B groups. Along the way he became a fan of great jazz keyboardists like Herbie Hancock and Oscar Peterson.
In fact many feel this is why his transition into producing and composing music came so easy. Having amassed an impressive list of composing and writing hit songs he secured a publishing deal with Rondor that was confirmation his skill set is on point.
He has written and produced for LSG, Keith Sweat, Xscape, Silk, TLC, Immature, Dru Hill, Ol Skool and Sera; served as Music Director for Jagged Edge, Keith Sweat, Silk, Marcia Barrett (Boney M), Athena Cage, and Xscape.
Andrew Lane is a pop-hip hop-R&B songwriter and record producer. He has worked with artists such as Backstreet Boys and Irene Cara. As a producer and songwriter, Lane has received gold and platinum accreditationsfor his work with R&B artists Speech, Keith Sweat, and Alsou. He also worked on the platinum-accredited records High School Musical, Hannah Montana, Disneymania 4, and Manny Fresh.
A 2012 Billboard Awards Winning producer Andrew Lane has teamed up with MP3 Music Awards to offer US Demo Recording contracts to the 2012 BUA Award Winner - Best Unsigned Act
In 1995, Lane relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, and formed the company Drew Right Music, Inc. In the fall of 1998, Lane received a producing-songwriting credit for three songs on Keith Sweat's Didn't See Me Coming album.
Multiplatinum selling singer/producer, award winning songwriter and GRAMMY mentor Athena Cage is proud of her Southern roots. She's performed and been a couch guest on The Tonight Show and is best known for her double platinum single, "All or Nothing" from the MTV/Paramount Pictures film "Save the Last Dance."
Her credits include three number one, multiplatinum charted hits with Keith Sweat, "Nobody," (considered an R&B classic) "Get Up On It" and "Twisted," which she co-wrote earning her the coveted BMI "Pop Song of the Year" Award.
She began as a background singer, working with Country star Amy Grant and R&B giants, the Isley Brothers. She moved from Kentucky to Atlanta where she auditioned for Keith Sweat and was immediately signed as lead singer of Kut Klose and had the chart topping single "I Like."
She performed for the GRAMMY Foundation at a Toys R Us event on Broadway with PBS' cast of "In Between the Lions." Athena spends time as a GRAMMY mentor visiting schools nationally promoting music education. She's even lobbied for it at the White House and Department of Education. "One of the highlights of my life," says Athena is when she met with the late Senator Ted Kennedy. She met also with the author of President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" Susan Sclafani.
She established The Athena Cage Scholarship Fund at her alma mater Western Kentucky University and during the first fundraiser, Warren County Judge Executive Mike Buchanon renamed Basil Griffin Park's amphitheater "The Athena Cage Outdoor Amphitheater" and within a year, the street she grew up on in Russellville was renamed, "Athena Cage Way."
Just after 9-11, Athena organized and spent two days with the famed Screaming Eagles (101st Airborne Division) at Fort Campbell. She rappelled the Rangers Wall, visited on-Fort schools, lunched with the troops, observed training and performed a free concert for the troops to let them know America appreciates their sacrifices. Commanding General Cody awarded Athena the "Screaming Eagles Award."
Job Titles:
- Senior Sound Director / Sound Engineer / Designer Extraordinaire and the Man in Charge of Overseeing Sound
Overseeing the music production projects is Darius Jones who joins The Celeb Group after a highly successful stint as Senior Director of A&R at EMI/Capitol Records. Prior to this, he was a key A&R figure at Priority Records.
With digital social networks playing a critical role in today's entertainment industry, Darius is expert at promoting music through social networking. He's a highly respected judge of talent and many feel he has a "Golden Ear" due to the huge sales successes of his projects.
While at EMI/Capitol Darius signed J Holiday who's "Back of My Lac" Album sold platinum and includes two platinum #1 R&B singles "Bed" and "Suffocate." He A&R'd Chingy's third Album "Hoodstar" which sold Gold and included the double platinum #1 single "Pulling Me Back" featuring Tyrese (#1 for seven weeks).
He oversaw LeToya Luckett's 2nd Album "Ladylove" which includes the top 5 single "Regret" featuring Ludacris and the Top 10 single "Not Anymore" written by Ne-Yo. He's worked also with Avant, Athena Cage, Mims, Dem Franchize Boyz, Lil Zane and Javier Colon; and his production credits include the popular "Coach Carter" soundtrack which sold 350,000 copies and includes the Top 5 single "Hope" featuring Faith Evans.
Job Titles:
- President
- Entertainment Manager
The personal management and touring components are run by Deanna Warrick.
The personal management and touring components of The Celeb Group are run by Deanna Warrick, a practiced entertainment manager and executive. With a diversified portfolio of experience that includes a rich background in the areas of personal management, tour management, tour support, and road management, Deanna is richly qualified to meet the unique challenges entertainment managers face today in the ever-changing landscape of personal management.
Deanna earned kudos for her services in the highly successful worldwide Sears and Levi's Jeans Present Christina Aguilera: In Concert tour and as Cast Director for the successful television series Dark Justice where she worked on 10 episodes and as Atlanta Casting Director for the motion picture Hood Rat.
Previously, Deanna served as Senior Vice President for West Coast of Celebrity Management Consultancy, a full-service entertainment personal management company that provided services to established artists and companies as well as upcoming talent in need of direction and advice on how to launch, sustain and manage a career in show business.
Her skill-set includes overseeing the artistic development of talent and the management of touring services worldwide from Asia to Europe to South America. She provided her expertise for such high profile artists as the legendary Dionne Warwick, mega-star female group Destiny's Child and multiplatinum recording artist Athena Cage.
Overseeing social network strategies, viral operations and campaigns, independent label setups, and virtual record labels is Miller London.
Working with talent and in artist development is William Word, Vice President. Before joining The Celeb Group, William honed his skills at La Cosa Nostra Management & The Mogul Group overseeing the booking of Artists and Artist showcases.