*Huntsville, AL – Because the 12 months 2023 got here to an finish, the leisure world was jolted by tragic information of the surprising passing of music, enterprise, and social justice icon, Arthur Leon Burnette, affectionately recognized by many as “Mr. B.”
The beloved visionary, occasion producer, and impresario who helped ignite the careers of famend figures reminiscent of Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, The Brothers Johnson, L.A. Reid, Eric “ET” Thomas, and others, departed on Christmas Day at age 72. Household, associates, and business leaders will collect to honor his life and legacy on Sunday, January 7 at Oakwood College Church, 5500 Adventist Blvd. NW in Huntsville, Alabama.
Born in South Central Los Angeles in 1951, Burnette led a unprecedented lifetime of innovation and a dedication to service. Whereas a lot of his work was behind the scenes, his impression on the ascension of a few of black leisure’s most famous and celebrated abilities was plain. After learning at Lengthy Seashore State College and Oakwood Faculty (now Oakwood College) in Huntsville, his profession within the music enterprise took off in 1975 when he toured with the funk band Mandrill.
A grasp at constructing relationships and recognizing expertise, all through the Nineteen Seventies and Eighties he would work with a legendary lineup of artists, together with Rick James, Kenny Rogers, Midnight Star, The Deele, Heatwave, The Commodores, and lots of extra. Burnette was a protégé of Quincy Jones and was answerable for taking essentially the most embellished vocal group in historical past, Take 6, to fulfill Jones at his residence, establishing a relationship that birthed the multi-Grammy Award-winning album “Again on the Block.”
In 1984, he served because the manufacturing supervisor for the Summer time Olympics on the LA Memorial Coliseum, which featured Stevie Surprise, Etta James, and a tribute to George Gershwin. He would later orchestrate the primary ever dwell video streaming for the twenty eighth annual Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Convention in 1998, and government produce the Nationwide Baptist Conference. As his manufacturing prowess grew, he returned to Oakwood for 15 years to government produce the church’s nationwide conventions in addition to live shows that includes headlining gospel artists like Fred Hammond, Donnie McClurkin, and Kirk Franklin. Throughout that point, he took Oakwood College college students, in addition to his three sons, Monualdai, Miles, and Marques underneath his wing to show them to the world of enterprise. He had a ardour for youth and sharing precious life classes.
“My father was a person of goal, a visionary, and a household man. He confirmed us that with God all issues are potential, and he instilled in us the significance of leaving a legacy for future generations,” stated Monualdai Burnette, the eldest son.
“To others, he was a person that made issues occur. He had a eager potential to see expertise in individuals earlier than they noticed it in themselves. He wished solely one of the best for these round him, he wished them to win and he wasn’t involved in regards to the credit score and recognition. He simply wished to win!”
Talking of legacy, Burnette’s affect expanded far past leisure. A civil rights champion with a ardour for historical past, exploration, and storytelling, “Mr. B.” orchestrated different impactful packages and initiatives that may now proceed underneath the steering and management of his sons, together with Civil Rights Path Excursions, a journey firm that gives schooling and cultural immersion excursions of the south to show individuals to the wealthy points of black historical past and music. Additionally, as a tour director, Burnette based The Pathways Undertaking, a coalition of organizations that’s targeted on exposing inequalities and eliminating boundaries to entry into the journey and tourism business for Black, Indigenous, Individuals of Coloration (BIPOC) and minority girls.
Burnette left such an indelible mark on so many individuals from all walks of life that his supporters are adamant about making certain his identify lives on. He’s survived by his 95-year-old mom Ruth Mildred Burnette, his spouse Marcia Adams-Burnette, his three sons Monualdai, Miles, and Marques, and his grandchildren Xavier Marques Burnette, Monualdai Ethan Burnette, and Xaria Mariea Burnette.
The funeral service, scheduled for 11:00 AM on Sunday, can have remarks from Burnette’s household, his godson Eric “ET” Thomas (famend motivational speaker), and others, together with a strong video tribute from the TreadRight Basis, performances by Joey Kibble (of Take 6), reflections from Reggie Calloway (of R&B Teams Calloway and Midnight Star), Maureen Wright-Evans and Omar Evans, co-founders of Wanderlust Adventures Group of Jamaica, and different feedback of remembrance. Viewers can watch a dwell stream of the service at ww.LongLiveMrB.com. Two extra companies will happen in Los Angeles and Jamaica at dates to be decided.
For extra info on Arthur Leon Burnette and his most up-to-date work, go to tourismpathways.com and civilrightstrailtours.com. Extra remarks from household and business associates and of Mr. Burnette are beneath and connected. To schedule an interview, contact Ivan Thomas of Intrigue Media Group at [email protected] or 202.904.4790.
Statements
Burnette Sons: Monualdai, Miles and MarquesDad we love you, we miss you and we thanks for instilling in us imaginative and prescient, goal, and self-discipline based in a love for journey, individuals, and progress. We’re eternally grateful for the legacy you created for the Burnette Household to hold on for generations. The Legacy Continues.
We’d to precise to our heartfelt gratitude to the household, associates, and medical professionals who offered unwavering help and luxury throughout this tough time.
Eric “ET” Thomas: world-renowned speaker and authorArthur Leon Burnette, aka Mr. B., was a father determine, mentor, and buddy. His impression on my life is immeasurable. Early in my journey as a neighborhood chief and motivational speaker, Mr. B. took a private curiosity in my improvement when he didn’t must. He took me in, mentored me, confirmed me the ropes, shared with me, and nurtured inside me form of laser-focused skilled sights and values that may take me to the subsequent stage and past. Briefly, Mr. B gave me the “sport”. His coronary heart was large, and his imaginative and prescient was transcendent. His love for individuals, particularly his three boys, was plain. He will probably be tremendously missed, however his legacy will proceed to dwell for a lot of generations to return.
Ceaselessly missed. Just like the Marathon, The Legacy Continues…
Reggie Calloway: Grammy-nominated artist, producer; Proprietor of Spiral Galaxy Leisure and Calloco Music, Inc. Hi there, I’m Reggie Calloway, Songwriter, Producer, and member of the duo Calloway previously of Midnight Star and present Director at Sound Royalties with a number of phrases about my buddy, Leon Burnette.
Job to be finished, a mountain to climb, a street to be crossed…that was the mission of Leon Burnette. Leon was a person who dreamed large. He was a visionary who was not restricted by the scenario or the instruments at hand. He was each a handyman and an inventor.
Our first encounter with this big-hearted, joyful large was when he got here aboard as street supervisor for our group, Midnight Star. He was way more than that. He was a connector to the business elite. He was a approach finder to assist navigate us from being excellent to being glorious.
He modified all of our lives and the lives of others round us when he launched us to his buddy, Quincy Jones. After a one-on-one with Quincy backstage at his live performance, I used to be made way more prepared to supply our 4th album, “No Parking On The Dance Ground,” and the remainder is historical past. Making approach for our many number-one tasks in addition to launching the careers of Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Antonio “LA” Reid, and The Deele, all culminating in Calloway with my brother Vincent and I.
Leon was a giver and a server. He tried to make everybody else a hit, constructing on their goals and objectives. Selfless, but dedicated to the duty and hand.
One night time we had been all within the stretch limousine and headed to the backstage entrance for our live performance. We had been the subsequent act approaching after the very younger New Version and earlier than the Commodores and the Isley Brothers. The guard refused to allow us to in and demanded our backstage passes. In fact, Leon explains we’re the subsequent act and our passes are ready for us on the door entrance. The clock is ticking and time is operating out as they shuttle, forwards and backwards. Lastly, Leon in his most assuring approach yells out:
Everyone hit the ground! Driver punch it! We had an ideal present that night time and lots of extra.
To all of the household and associates we ship our love. Leon would need us all to place our heads to the grindstone and go full throttle. That’s the one approach.
Steve Myers: Government Director of Operations for Civil Rights Path Excursions / Reality Retreats At some point at a time is all we ought to be coping with. We will’t return to yesterday, we are able to’t predict tomorrow, so let’s dwell for at this time and make it stunning. Might you be blessed with love in your coronary heart, happiness in your house, peace in your soul, and pleasure in your life. It will present a pathway to honoring the life and legacy of somebody you name a buddy…Arthur Leon Burnette, AKA “Mr. B. The Guru” is that buddy and mentor I think about a basket full of Pleasure, Peace, Religion, Love, Energy, and Grace as a Legacy to go on. Let’s go to work to maintain the Dream alive, Leon’s Dream of seeing the multifaceted tourism business open its arms to minorities, certified artistic individuals of coloration! Relaxation properly, my buddy!
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB: Leon Burnette’s DiversCity Tales: A Black Historical past, Tradition, and Music Journey Present Out there Now / WATCH
We Publish Information 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click on HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our E-newsletter Now!
