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Frank Moten born in New York City
and raised in Englewood, New Jersey surrounded by neighbors like George Benson,
Wilson Pickett, Tony Bennett, The Isley Brothers and The Sugarhill Gang – which probably explains Frank’s
passion for music and his infatuation with the music industry. Even still,
growing up among a group of music legends wasn’t the most amazing thing that
ever happened to Frank Moten. Dizzy Gillespie was.
Frank’s closest
neighbor was the great jazz man known for his
cheek-puffing, horn-blowing, be-bop pioneering
influence on American music. Not only was he
Frank’s neighbor, Dizzy became Frank’s friend and
mentor. After a short-lived television career
(Frank appeared on Sesame Street when he was four)
and with encouragement from his famous neighbor,
Frank turned his attention to music. He started
taking piano lessons when he was eight, but when
he discovered that beating on a set of Tupperware
was more fun, he switched to drums. It wasn’t long
after that Dizzy gave Frank his first set of
cymbals. And so, at ten years old, Frank began his
career as a musician.
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Over the next decade and with Dizzy’s support and guidance,
Frank pursued his music career, appearing at venues like Carnegie Hall, The
Apollo, and the Beacon Theater. He grew up in jazz clubs in Greenwich Village.
His friends were some of the biggest artists, producers, and club owners in the
industry. He learned the music business inside and out And still, it wasn’t
enough. Though his love for music was as strong as ever, Frank’s passion for
performing was waning, so he traded his drums for a computer and pursued a
second career in IT management and consulting.
During his career
Frank developed and maintained software applications for
companies such as Sprint, Avon Products, Revlon,
Whirlpool and Universal Music.
Still, growing up with Dizzy Gillespie as a mentor was like
getting a PhD. And even though Frank’s IT career was going well, he was still
enamored with the music industry. What’s more, hip hop was emerging on the
scene, so he was meeting a whole new generation of aspiring musicians. That’s
when Frank decided to combine his love for music and business with his technical
expertise. He dabbled in studio work, cultivated his interests in producing and
artist development, and in the late 80s, started producing concerts and
recordings for a list of artists that included Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Rod
Stewart, Bon Jovi, Paula Abdul, Lisette Melendez, Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, AnGee Blake and The Dizzy Gillespie All Stars.
Dizzy Gillespie once said that “…music is One – and
therefore it’s just an evolution of what has gone before.” He asked Frank, and
all those who learned from him and benefited by knowing him, that they find a
way to return the favor, to continue the evolution. When Dizzy Gillespie died in
1993, the world lost a brilliant musician, and Frank lost a cherished friend.
After Dizzy’s death, Frank decided to commit his life to “returning the favor.”
Frank formed TeeTah and
recorded Still Boppin’/Night in Tunisia in 1998. During the next two
years Frank toured the US creating new relationships in music.
And still, Frank’s not satisfied. With the success of the
tribute website and recordings, Frank saw the kind of impact the internet was
having on the entertainment industry and realized that it could be a beneficial
tool for emerging entertainers as well. Frustrated by the badly designed,
over-priced websites that existed for independents at the time, Frank founded OurGig.com. Combining his professional experience with his vast knowledge of the
entertainment industry, Frank is now able to provide new artists & entertainers
with a highly visible, professional web presence.
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