"Everyone Is Entitled To Fifteen Minutes Of Fame"
Andy Warhol
For Angelo Ellerbee It Has Been Thirty Years.
New York, NY - Double XXPosure, one of New York's premier publicity and marketing firms is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this coming year. Founded by the multitalented visionary Angelo Ellerbee, the prestigious firm has been featured in The New York Times, Essence, CNN and others for its groundbreaking initiatives, hands-on approach and extensive industry experience with artists ranging from Mary J. Blige to DMX to Destiny's Child to Dionne Warwick. To commemorate three decades of exposing excellence, Ellerbee is taking this message to artist, labels and businesses across the Country. Beginning on November 15th - December 11th, you can see Ellerbee in the following cities:
Minneapolis, MN - Nov. 15-16
Chicago, IL - Nov. 18-20
Austin, TX - Nov. 23-24
Columbia, SC - Nov. 26-27
Camden, SC - Nov. 28
Rock Hill, SC - Nov. 29
Charlotte, NC - Nov. 30 - Dec. 1
Winston-Salem / Greensboro, NC - Dec. 3-6
Raleigh-Durham, NC - Dec. 7-9
Hartford, CT - Dec. 10-11
At the 30-year benchmark, Double XXPosure hopes to find its greatest successes yet with a plethora of new clients and several budding brands. Among the developments, a Latino division that will serve as an extension to the niche that Double XXPosure has carved in other genres. "We want to allow Hispanics to come in and get the treatment that other artists have been getting. We'll take them from their successful places in the Latin market and help them crossover into the Mainstream market," says Carlethal Bonfante, who will be working heavily with the Latino Division. Angelo Ellerbee adds, "I think Latino music is underrated. This is universal music and it should be marketed that way. Double XXPosure really sets the example, bridging the gap between the Latino community and the world."
Another component of the thirtieth anniversary will be the opening of a Minneapolis, Minnesota recording studio in conjunction with Double XXPosure's record label. "The studio is not just going to be a vehicle for artists to record, but it's going to be a school within a school," tells Ellerbee. The state-of-the-art home for recording will be breaking ground in March 2008. The operation will be partnered with Minneapolis Executive Brett Thielen, "The label and studio will be involved with all genres. I believe in multicultural understanding. I want to see Double Xxposure strengthen Gospel, Hip Hop, R&B and Pop." The yet unnamed label is poised to further the Double XXPosure name and brand.
With a strong reputation in Hip Hop, R&B and other genres, Double XXPosure will focus upon Gospel as the next genre to deliver to the masses. "I think our greatest singers come from Gospel music," begins Ellerbee, an admitted 50-year dependent of the genre. Like Kirk Franklin's crossover a decade ago, Double XXPosure will place this much-needed musical message and strong talents of several Gospel acts into the hands of mainstream audiences.
Artist development will remain something that the firm specializes in, taking raw talent and giving them the personality, the poise and the polish to cope with the media and public eye. "I think that young people in this day and time are getting a clear understanding of the importance of artist development. Young people need to be aware of their conversations, appearances and mannerisms. I look at everything in life as acting, and we're all actors and actresses. You need to understand your role, and be dressed for the role you are going after," says Ellerbee, who gained great acclaim for his life-changing development with Mary J. Blige over a decade ago. "Ten years ago, I saw a reel of one of the members of Wu-Tang Clan criticizing me for trying to make Hip Hop conform to another style. Now I see the same man in a suit and a tie, and he understands."
As his company reinvents itself - yet again, in the thirtieth year, Angelo Ellerbee has personal plans that will only take his brand further. A book is forthcoming, chronicling the life of the actor, stylist, entrepreneur and PR guru's life.
"It's a newness, a new energy. I love to work with the young, the contemporary, and the ambitious. I'm doing this for the purposes of motivating young people who may be less fortunate than I was," says the son of a waitress who was unable to attend high school. "I'm not anyone's judge and jury. I can't tell someone that they can't make it. I can give you the experience and the education to make it, but you've got to be motivated to get yourself to the next level."