Our tribe is comprised of a team of professionals, entrepreneurs and artists.
Click on the photos for bios.
Will Downing
With a career that spans over 30 years and 21 albums, Will Downing is one of the most versatile and loved voices of our time. Known as The Prince of Sophisticated Soul, his repertoire consists of signature interpretations of R&B classics like “I Go Crazy,” “Wishing On A Star” and “I Try,” with original hits “A Million Ways,” “Sorry I,” and the show-stopping duet with Rachelle Ferrell, “Nothing Has Ever Felt Like This.”
His distinctive baritone voice has resonated in the hearts of women worldwide and carved a unique niche in the music marketplace. With fresh melodies and lush arrangements that satisfy all musical palates, Downing continues to serve his fan base through his own Sophisticated Soul record label and sold-out tour dates across the country. His latest release, entitled “Romantique Part,” was released on November 8, 2019. He also hosts his weekly radio show, The Wind Down, which is aired on Will Downing.com and over 20 stations worldwide in the USA, UK, Japan, and Spain.
Will Downing
Recording Artist
Mike Phillips
Contemporary jazz saxophonist Mike Phillips combines smooth, romantic riffs with a funky, hip-hop-influenced sound. Initially emerging as a sideman for Jill Scott in the 2000s, Phillips has played with a bevy of name artists, including Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Bootsy Collins. He has also distinguished himself with his albums, including 2005’s Uncommon Denominator and 2020s Pulling Off the Covers.
Mike Phillips
Recording Artist
Melvin Roane
Melvin Roane is a savvy professional with more than thirty years of business and consulting experience. Mel (as he is affectionately known) is currently the Managing Partner of the highly respected firm, Roane Consulting Group. Previously, he served as the Director of Sponsorships / Development for Alonzo Mourning Charities, executing multi-million dollar events for charitable causes.
A native of Richmond, VA, and a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, Mel honed his skills as a consultant with some of the nation’s leading enterprises before becoming Vice President for a leading Mid-Atlantic advertising and public relations firm. Mel has created successful strategic programs for organizations such as the Jazz in the Gardens music festival, AT&T, Nike, among others.
Ever the intellectual, he has an abundance of business wisdom and is continually searching for ways to enhance the visibility of his clients. Mel is passionate about his family, the community, mentoring, and golf.
Melvin Roane
Principal
Eugene Brooks
Strategic & Brand Partnerships
Eugene Brooks is a media/marketing consultant with over 20 years of experience in the entertainment and sports industry. Eugene has produced events worldwide, working with the likes of Tom Joyner, Mariah Carey, Ludacris, Jermaine Dupri, Chris Brown, only to name a few.
Eugene has always had a heart for people and currently donates his time serving on the boards of the Metro Atlanta YMCA, Jaden’s Ladder, and The Boys and Girls Club. He is a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences – The Grammy Awards and University of South Carolina Alumni Association.
A native of Florence, South Carolina, he is a southerner with flavor and full of integrity. He graduated from the South Carolina Governor’s School of the Arts and the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Art in Music and a minor in marketing.
Eugene Brooks
Principal
Rhonda Nelson
Marketing & Social Media Engagement
Rhonda is a versatile seasoned marketer with over 15 years of successful experience in building brands, connecting brands with audiences, integrated marketing, strategic partnerships, and launching high-impact marketing campaigns.
Rhonda has worked with some of the world’s most recognized brands such as Ford, Lincoln, Land Rover, Jaguar, Chevrolet, General Motors, and Proctor & Gamble, to name a few. She is known for being a strategic, creative, and visionary leader with significant expertise in analyzing business needs and deploying marketing initiatives that create a return on investment.
Rhonda earned a Master in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing from the University of Phoenix, a Master of Science in Communication from Wayne State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Merchandising from Eastern Michigan University.
Rhonda Nelson
Principal
Wills J. Felin
While studying film and television broadcasting at Miami Dade College Wills Felin earned his chops as a production assistant on the grueling sets of films, commercials and music videos. He would later land an entry-level position as the overnight tape dubber at The Box Music Network, a fledgling music video cable channel credited for being the world’s first interactive cable TV network.
Within a few short years, Felin became the network’s Manager of Production and Senior Producer of BoxTalks, (4-minute segments featuring popular artists) where he produced, interviewed and edited segments featuring such diverse artist as Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Gwen Stefani, Black-Eyed Peas, Britney Spears, Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., P-Diddy, Eminem, Justin Timberlake and many more. The virality of BoxTalks propelled the segment to become one of the major core revenue-producing segment for the cable network.
Today Felin runs Jitterflix a full-scale digital media production company that produces content for non-profits, cable networks, major record labels, government municipalities and more.
Wills J. Felin
Principal
Myra Taylor
A creative services professional known for crafting meticulous, energetic, and inspired copy, Myra is a seasoned educator and administrator whose specialties are writing, rhetoric, curriculum, and instruction. She is passionate about writing and is always on top of trends and industry news.