The Los Angeles Chapter and the GRAMMY Foundation hosted a GRAMMY SoundChecks event with six-time GRAMMY nominee and newly elected Chapter Governor Anthony Hamilton and 30 students from Compton High School at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, Calif., on April 21.
Our generous partners POWER 106 donated their tour bus for this SoundChecks event and transported the students to the Amphitheatre in "rock-star" style. Mike O'Neal, operations manager at the Gibson Amphitheatre, greeted the students and provided them with a firsthand history of the Amphitheatre. Having worked at the venue since 1973 when his first job was parking cars for $1.90 an hour, he was a true testament to the fact that hard work pays off. O'Neal also spoke about the configuration of the theater, including the acoustics, sound, and stage setup.
Anthony Hamilton's band then came on stage and began their sound check. The students saw how a music director works with the musicians and vocalists as well as the sound operator to achieve the sound that he wants for the concert. Hamilton then appeared and checked a few of his songs. As he sang, he waved to the students and ran into the audience to hang out with them. He was equally comfortable talking to the students as he was onstage.
After the sound check, everyone moved into the lobby to get up-close-and personal with Hamilton and his manager Eli Davis. Hamilton explained to the students that hard work and dedication to craft is essential to success. "Have your own sound. Build your craft. Build your voice, and work really hard," he said. He went on to say that success did not come early for him, but rather after many years of work and struggle. However, his perseverance and determination to do what he loved pushed him through all of his distractions, and brought him to where he is today.
"It wasn't a choice as to whether I'd make it. I had detractors the whole time, but kept doing what I loved," he said.
He also made sure that the students understood that there is a business side to the music industry that they must learn about. "You have to know about publishers, getting rights, handling money. It is your job to learn what it is you have to do."
The students were thrilled to chat with Hamilton, and he spent a generous amount of time with them conversing, signing personalized autographs for each student and taking photos. He is a real-life example that honest, hard work does pay off.