Today we’d like to introduce you to Tamura Billups.
Hi Tamura, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been in the music industry for many years now. My journey began when I used to hear my mom beautifully singing around the house, I wanted to sound just like her, so I began mimicking her sound. She told me she wanted to be a singer many years ago, but she didn’t have that opportunity to pursue a singing career like she wanted. Listening to my mom’s story inspired me to take up where she left off. So I joined the choir in junior high school. Afterwards from there, I began joining the choir every year in high school as an elective.
After many years of being a part of a choir or two, I decided to venture out in another part of the music scene. This happened when I decided to go on to college. When I was accepted at the University of Tennessee, I had to select a major, take general education courses, and select some electives. So I decided to major in Engineering and minor in Music at that time. I knew back then that music was always going to be a part of my development as a student. One of the courses that I decided to take was “Jazz Band”. I decided to take this course, after one of my roommates heard me singing in the shower, she told me I should join for the “Jazz Band” because they were looking for a singer. I had never been a part of a big band before. So out of curiosity, I wanted to see if I could get in. In order for you to be able to get a performance spot with the “Jazz Band”, you would have to audition for the part in front of the instructor. The instructor determined if you were good enough to get the part. I auditioned and made it. I became the Jazz Band’s soloist (singer). Our performances were all taking place in the “Roland Hayes Concert Hall” located on the very edge of the university’s campus. The information on the event was posted and advertised everywhere, which included our local newspaper.
I remember our show like it was yesterday, walking onto the stage after I was introduced to the audience by my band director. Saying to myself, “here goes nothing” ..LOL. The performance of my band turned out great! I will never forget the unforgettable night. The next day the news spread around campus, I was now a star and people literally wanted my autograph that day. It was an amazing feeling. I will never forget that moment in time because after that concert, it was definitely the beginning of my music career in the music industry.
Now that I had that experience under my belt, it actually opened up more opportunities for me to perform with other bands. Some of the people who attended the Jazz band concert, later on after the show wanted me to work with them and their bands that they were promoting. Once I had developed my musical experience and had established myself as being a participant of the local musicians’ scene, this is where the ball begins really started rolling for me. I had now developed a reputation of being one of the faces to look for when you are looking for a local experience singer. My hard work was now paying off. My skills and I were now in demand.
After many years of performing on stage with several different bands to which I was a member of, I came to realize that I was now a local celebrity. I and my band-mates began to appear on many radio and television spots. We begin to also have a lot of newspapers write ups about us and our performances. One of our amazing write ups was done by an international newspaper located in Africa. Our music was now in rotation on several radio stations. Boy we were all over the place. Not only did I do live performances with my band, I also had another job as part of the group, which including help managing it. Being with this group gave me a more favorable opportunity and circumstance to broaden my horizons and not just as a performer but as a manager of other people and groups.
As time went on, I adventured into running a couple of record labels, one with my partner Finley (Fee) of “Limo Demo Production Inc” and another founded by yours truly “YTHBG Studios/Records”. We both were working as record executives, meeting all kinds of talented young people wanting to break into the music industry. I loved it and decided to open and set up a studio, so we could record and lay down tracks for all artists that walked through that door. As we begin to grow and evolve into a different entity, we were able to eventually sign artists to the label growing our repertoire. Later on, we in joint collaborating forces decided we wanted to take the label to the next level of the game, so we begin to work out a deal with a major label.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As a performing artist being in the music business, I don’t care how much you think you are prepared for whatever it is; there is always something new that pops up that you have to deal with, especially preparing for a show. Now being a business owner, I feel that is never a smooth or easy ride. There is so much to do in such a short period of time that it never seems like your work is ever done. I think at times my business career was a bit challenging, but that didn’t stop me. Challenges are a part of life, without challenges there would not be a such thing as growth. We as human beings need challenges in life in order to develop to our fullest potential and capacity.
As you know, we’re big fans of YTHBG Studios/Records (YTHBG Entertainment). For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I got to where I am business-wise because I have always wanted to go into business for myself. I got there by taking small steps to gradually building up to bigger steps to reach my goals that I have set forth for myself. I even got my BS degree in Business Administration graduating at the top of my class with honors, many years ago and currently pursuing my MBA. I saw it as a way in and a way to express who I really am as a person career-wise.
In pursuit of the music business career, I happen to run across one of the members of the renowned group “Sons of Funk” the formal group of “No Limit Records. After checking out my credentials, he wanted me to work with him and his group. Of course I said yes, I would love to, therefore becoming part of the groups management team. Since my specialty in business is marketing and management, I took on the task of managing and creating promotional and marketing campaigns to market the musical group “SOF” around the world. I marketed them on two of my Facebook platforms which are “YTHBG Studios/Records” and “Ms. Tamura B” (YTHBG Entertainment) and many other social media platforms. My duties also included: getting them gigs, setting up radio interviews, setting up and creating their events for the public to examine, creating websites, helping them level up on different music charts, getting awards, and everything else in between. I help them with all kinds of tasks, basically whatever it took or was needed to take the group to that next level of success.
Because of my experience, I’m known for being part of the music business for many years now and a good person to work with others in the music industry. I would estimate my music business career to be approximately a little over thirty something years of continual pursuit of it. I think that having thirty plus years of experience would qualify me as an expert now. So that in itself would set me apart or ahead of many people in this industry.
I am most proud and excited brand-wise about my business being nomination for small business of the year and getting an award for working in partnership with the “Sons of Funk”. I’m also excited about my viability to be able to grow my following to the level that it is right now.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters to me is to keep going, keep pursuing my dreams even if it takes many more years. Keep going and keep growing and never give up on my dreams. All the struggle and input is worth it in the end. These struggles and challenges are inputs that will later produce a great output, which is a finished product, that is my goal. Why I continue because I seen positive results of being persistent in the end for many years.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ythbgstudiosrecords.blogspot.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iam.yeah.tamurah.bgigging/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yeahtamurahbgigging
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnQckZA2k3OKGLsmmOuDHzg
- Other: https://sofnmembers2.blogspot.com/2020/05/blog-post_7.html
