Photo credit: Whitney Thomas
With a career that spans over 50 years in the music industry, Dyana Williams has a clientele roster that reads like an invitation list to your favorite award shows. 30 years of her illustrious career has been as a strategic media consultant while simultaneously becoming one of NewsOne’s “Top 20 Black Radio Jockeys of All Time” for her achievements in broadcasting. She is an avid supporter and prolific activist for the arts, who is heralded as The Mother of Black Music Month. Because of her legacy and superlative connections to the legendary “Sound of Philly” (she spent her early broadcasting years at WDAS-FM), I needed to know her thoughts on how today’s Philly Sound compares. “I am excited about what I am hearing today” she said, expressing great admiration for the new generation of Philly artists. In her observation, she can feel and hear the influences of yesteryear in today’s Philly sound.
As CEO of her company Influence Entertainment, Dyana Williams has coached plenty of superstars from the beginning stages of their careers. Williams offers this bit of key advice to newer artists on how to continue Philadelphia’s musical legacy. “A Philadelphia newer artist should learn their Philadelphia music history. There are legendary artists from Philly who are still making music and touring globally. Forming alliances with veteran artists could be beneficial and educational for a newer artist.”
Williams then shared her experience of witnessing one of Philly’s most beloved veteran artists Frankie Beverly’s final show at the Dell Music Center. Her description of that day was quoted as, “An out of body experience.” She expressed extreme honor having been in his presence during the monumental moment. “Frankie Beverly is a textbook example of a Philadelphia artist with a full fruitful career.” As a staple in Philadelphia and a documentarian of Black Music, it was only fitting that Ms. Williams was there to bear witness.
For more on Dyana Williams and Influence Entertainment, visit www.influence entertainment.com.