Grammy Award-winning Monica was in Nashville Friday, June 25, for the "All That" Music & More Festival held at the First American Music Center.
The festival also included performances by 98°, B*witched, No Authority, EYC, Aaron Carter, former Fresh Prince of Bel Air star Tatyana Ali, and features from the All That cast. Amanda Bynes, Nick Cannon, Josh Server, Danny Tamberelli and Keenan Thompson make up the All That cast, Nickelodeon's popular sketch-comedy show for kids.
The First American Music Center's parking lot was tightly packed as people flocked to see their favorite singers perform.
The audience, comprised of mostly teen-agers and pre-teens, brought with them blankets and posters of their favorite artists. The All That cast added a certain energy to the festival, stealing laughs from the concert audience with humorous antecdotes in between each act.
"If only I could meet them in person," Clarskville resident Brandy Vaugn, 17, said about members of the all-male groups 98° and No Authority.
And then there was Monica.
Mouths dropped and children were silenced as Monica wooed fans with chart-topping love ballads such as “Angel of Mine” and “For You I Will,” easily winning the night’s most applause. Monica gracefully strolled around the stage while her soulful voice echoed eloquently to every corner of the Music Center. Men and women alike couldn’t help but feel moved, and Monica once again proved herself as one of R&B’s most powerful voices. It's no wonder her new album, The Boy Is Mine , went 2x Platinum.
Most, if not all, of those present appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the festival, including 14-year-old Christy Marshall of Murfreesboro and 16-year-old Patricia Carrasquillo of Smyrna.
"I think it's superb...wonderful...excellent," Marshall said. "It's the best."
"It was great," Carrasquillo added. "I've met a whole bunch of people so far."
But the concert wasn't the only attraction. The festival included a "Figure It Out" audition booth, All That national talent search, car wash for kids, (Nickelodeon's interactive "Kid Wash"), "Drencher Adventure" Theater with a 3-D water movie, Big Brothers/Big Sisters help area, Second Harvest workers and other community organizational booths and local performers.
For adults, there was a "Parent's Zone," which had a coffee bar, a café and a "TV Land" trivia game.
Monica, 18, has now completed her sophomore album titled The Boy Is Mine , which features such hit singles as "The First Night", "Angel of Mine," and "Street Symphony." Monica won the 1999 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group and won Best Video of the Year and Best R&B Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards.
Monica was discovered at age 11 by Rowdy Records executive Dallas Austin at a talent show in Atlanta while singing the remake of Whitney Houston's "The Greatest Love of All." She went on to record her first album, Miss Thang (1996), and had two No.1 hit singles in a row at age 14. Fame hasn't affected her academic performance, though. Monica graduated with a 4.0 grade point average. Born in College Park, Ga. as Monica Arnold, she ranks her mom, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin and Rachell Farrell among her greatest influences.
A group of young entrepreneurs who are involved in a business program here recorded an album last weekend as part of their quest to better understand business principles.
The group of 9 to 12-year-olds are enrolled in a program called Children's Entrepreneurial Opportunities Academy Business Basics Camp, which is funded by the McInnes Family Foundation. The program is referred to as CEO Academy.
The group recorded a compact disc last Saturday with local rock and funk band Stone Deep. The recording took place at the Poppi Studio at 527 Eighth Ave. S.
The McInnes Family Foundation, founded here in 1991, partnered with record label President John Conlon of the newly formed Irregular Records. Deep Stone is a band under Irregular Records. The kids collectively own 10 percent stock in Irregular Records, Conlon said.
The elementary and middle school students in the CEO Academy program will use some of the money earned from the CD as spending change during an upcoming trip to Disney World, a McInnes official said. The students also plan to make a music video.
"What we're trying to do is instill the entrepreneurial spirit in the kids at a young age," said Terri Chapman, executive director of the foundation. CEO Academy also partnered with David Lipscomb College of Business and Mass Media Communications.
"The kids collectively own 10 percent of the company, and they stand to profit if the company profits," Conlon said.
Conlon got involved with the kids because he wanted to help teach young people about business, he said.
"[My partner and I] thought it would be good to teach the young folks about business," said Conlon, who lives in both Nashville and New York.
Danielle Rousseau, 21, of Shackhouse Entertainment here and Irregular Records, was one of the consultants that helped teach music, train and work with the children on the project.
"Each kid owns a share of stock in this company, which reinforces the idea of leadership which the camp focuses on," said Rousseau, an Antioch resident.
Seven kids were present at the Saturday, June 26, event. They were Charles Brown, 12, Antonio Lewis, 12, Veloria Leysath, 12, James Green, 11, Reginald Wallace, 11, Jaron Edwards, 10, and Dannise Warrick, 10. There are 26 students in the program.
Throughout the year, the students participate in a 12-month program that includes Bible studies, tutorial programs, team-building projects and business classes.
The program targets students from area elementary and middle schools who want to become business owners.
One-on-one tutorial programs are also available.
For more information about fall enrollment and the tutorial programs, contact the McInnes Family Foundation at (615) 386-3066.
