Italian Actor, Motivational Speaker, and Life Coach Walter Nudo to Give Talk in Smyrna on March 20

  SMYRNA -- The "Famous Communicator Speakers Series" is going global with a special talk on March 20 by highly acclaimed Italian actor, motivational speaker, and life coach Walter Nudo.

The multi-talented performer will speak to students, faculty and others from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday in AJW 124 (with overflow seating in AJW 122). Admission is free and open to all members of the Motlow family. 

Individuals may join Nudo's presentation on Zoom at https://mscc.zoom.us/j/82120631732?pwd=MgVqfVNGUMZ166aakWf9wYUhSq2zWA.1 (Passcode: 004064). His talk also will be recorded. 

Nudo's career spans more than 25 years. Known primarily in Italy, he has achieved success as an award-winning actor, singer and television personality. He is also the only person in the world to have won both "Survivor VIP" ("The Island of the Famous") and "Big Brother VIP," showcasing his resilience, adaptability and charisma. Other TV appearances include the "Maurizio Costanzo Show," the Italian soap opera "A Place in the Sun," the series "The Enchantment," and the series "Carabinieri" (seasons 6 and 7). 

In 2013, he took on a lead acting role in"Hopeful Notes," a film about a young violinist with leukemia who brings hope and life into a desolate Russian hospital for children. The film aimed to raise awareness and funds to end childhood cancer, and is part of the project "Let's Make a Difference." Watch a clip from the movie at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1508669/ .

Beyond entertainment, Nudo is a former professional athlete, excelling as a boxer, karate, and race car driver. He has embodied discipline and determination in every field he has  pursued. His life took a transformative turn after surviving a near-death experience, which deepened his mission to inspire others to awaken their inner hero. 

Drawing from decades of personal growth, spiritual exploration, and training with global leaders like Tony Robbins, Nudo has developed a unique approach to empowering individuals to overcome challenges and live with purpose. Through his seminars, coaching programs, and now this book, “Awaken the Hero Within,” he empowers readers to transform their struggles into strength and live a life of purpose, passion and fulfillment. 

His story is proof that no matter how deep the challenges, the power to rise stronger lies within us all.

"Never give up," the actor, speaker and life coach says. "Listen, remember, learn, speak, practice, and then teach."

The "Famous Communicator Speakers Series" serves as a mentoring program for students, introducing them to successful communicators and providing hands-on experiences through High Impact Practices in Technology Enhanced Learning, Global Awareness, and other certified areas of instruction. To learn more, contact Professor Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu. 

MUSIC INDUSTRY VETERAN VINNY RIBAS TO SPEAK AT MOTLOW SMYRNA

 

            SMYRNA — Music industry veteran Vinny Ribas will speak Nov. 12 (Tuesday) on the Motlow Smyrna campus as part of the ongoing “Famous Communicator Speakers Series.”

 

            Ribas, an author and artist manager who serves as the founder of Indie Connect, will present the talk “20 Ways to Best Support Your Favorite Indie Artist.” His talk will occur from 2-3 p.m. in HSC 323. The free activity is open to students, faculty and staff with seating available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

            “I will talk about the struggles of being an artist these days, then share 20 ways to help support them,” said Ribas, who developed Cartne, an e-learning platform for indie artists and songwriters.

 

            The Nashville music industry professional will share stories, videos and a PowerPoint to help bring the reality of artist challenges and successes to life. He noted that the world of music has drastically changed since the 1990s because of the Digital Revolution. CD sales have dropped sharply from around $13 billion in 2000 to an anticipated $500 million in 2024, with streaming and downloads generating the most income.

 

            Meanwhile, artists and songwriters face lower royalties in a profession that requires more paid performances with merchandise sales at entertainment venues. The days of knocking on record company and music publisher doors have ended. Fan followings are mostly built online through social media, including Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.

            Ribas also serves as the assistant business manager for Razzy Baily Music Enterprises, managing a catalog of 1,000 songs and executive producing recording and film projects. He co-authored the books “Leverage: Achieve a Lot with the Little You’ve Got” and “CEO Secrets.” Hundreds of his business and music industry articles have been published worldwide.

 

            In his 60 years in the music business, Ribas has also been a full-time performing artist, a booking agent, the entertainment director of the Nevada State Fair, a producer, a studio owner, a band leader, and a songwriter.

 

            Outside of the music business, he has served as an executive coach, strategic business consultant, and business plan writer. He has advised entrepreneurs and small business owners on how to set up their businesses to grow without limits. This has included clarifying and solidifying success strategies with the writing and execution of business plans.

 

            The "Famous Communicators Speakers Series" is staged by the Mass Communications program and sponsored by the Smyrna Entertainment, Arts & Media Club. For more information, contact Professor Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu .

‘Famous Communicator’ Dr. Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton to Speak at Motlow Smyrna on Feb. 27

  SMYRNA -- Author Dr. Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton will bring the history of the Negro Baseball League to life during a special talk from 12:30-1:30 p.m. Feb. 27 (Tuesday) in HSC 331 on the Motlow Smyrna campus.

Hamilton, who is the daughter of late Black baseball legend Henry Kimbro, recently penned the book, “Home Plate: Henry Kimbro and Other Negro Leaguers of Nashville, Tennessee.” The former Tennessee State University professor will honor the memories of 18 Black baseball heroes who called Nashville their home. Students and others can learn about Nashville legends such as James "Junior" Gilliam (Baltimore Elite Giants); Henry Kimbro (Nashville/Baltimore Elite Giants); Bruce Franklin "Buddy" Petway (Leland Giants); and Norman "Turkey" Stearnes (Nashville Elite Giants/Detroit Stars).

The event, which is free and open to everyone, is part of Motlow’s “Famous Communicator Speakers Series.” Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, contact Professor Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu. 

"I released my new book just in time for the 100th anniversary of the Negro Baseball League," said Hamilton, who published a book about her father in 2015. "I wanted the other families of those Negro Leaguers to have their loved ones documented and remembered as my father was in my first book. "'Home Plate' is a book that can be passed down through generations, so their legacies are never forgotten." 

Hamilton was thrilled when Major League Baseball announced it was correcting a longtime oversight in the game's history by elevating the Negro Leagues from 1920 through 1948 to major-league status.

According to the History Channel, the league was launched in 1920, with Black baseball enjoying periods of success in the early 1920s and again after the Great Depression. The Nashville White Sox/Nashville Elite Giants, which were members of the Southern Negro League, made history by introducing some of the greatest baseball players of all time. The integration of major league baseball began with Jackie Robinson in 1947. After that, there was a slow but irreversible influx of talent to the majors, with the remaining Negro League teams generally folding by the 1960s. 

"When the announcement from Major League Baseball came, I received so many texts and calls," said Harriet. "I felt like a kid at Christmas who was so excited about the present. What a great present to be given to all of the families of those Negro Leaguers."

Also featured in Harriet's book (and re-classified as Major Leaguers) are the late baseball legends Robert "James" Abernathy, Daniel Black, William "Soo" Bridgeforth, Sidney Bunch, Elliot Coleman, Wesley "Doc" Dennis, Edward Lee "Lefty" Derrick, Edward Martin, Clinton "Butch" McCord, Taylor Smith, Thomas "Tom" Wilson, and Jim Zapp. 

The book features a foreword by Henry Kimbro's great-granddaughter (Harriet's great-niece) Jada Scott, and a chapter titled "My Adventures with Grandpa" that documents the unforgettable experiences of Harriet's son, Patrick Hamilton. A photo in "Home Plate" shows Harriet's great-niece, Brooklyn Scruggs, visiting the street sign of Junior Gilliam Way in front of the Nashville Sounds Baseball Stadium with her dog Blossom. 

The Nashville Sounds donated the book to Metro Nashville Public Schools. 

Dr. Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton served as an associate professor for Tennessee State University in Nashville until her retirement in 2020. During her athletic career, she served as head coach in various sports and athletic director of Fisk University. She also has served as a professor for Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The author also chaired the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Committee and served on the ABA-USA Committee that selected the 1984 USA Olympic Gold Medal Women's Basketball Team. In 2016, she received the Robert Peterson Recognition Award for her book, "Daddy's Scrapbook: Henry Kimbro of the Negro Baseball League, A Daughter's Perspective." She also has received awards from the Women's Sports Foundation; the National Association of Girls and Women in Sports (the Dr. Nell C. Jackson Award); Fisk University (Women of Prominence Award); and the Temple University League for Entrepreneurial Women (Hall of Fame inductee). She was inducted into the Fisk University Sports Hall of Fame in 2017.

"Home Plate," which retails for $12, is available exclusively at www.Amazon.com. For more information, contact Harriet Kimbro-Hamilton at HenryKimbro14@gmail.com. To learn more about Nashville's important role in Negro League baseball, visit www.Facebook.com/HenryKimbro or www.Twitter.com/KimbroNlb. 

Hit Songwriter/Author/Playwright Austin Gary to Speak at Motlow Smyrna on Oct. 17

      SMYRNA — Hit Songwriter/Author/Playwright Austin Gary will share insights on the inner workings of the Nashville music industry during a special presentation for students and faculty at 2 p.m. Oct. 17 (Tuesday) on the Motlow Smyrna campus.

Gary’s talk, “The Ride to Number One: The Long, Bumpy, Winding Road to Music Success,” is part of the College’s “Famous Communicator Speakers Series.” The tunesmith gained international success in the 1997 by co-writing country star Jeff Carson’s number one hit, “The Car.” The tune was listed among Broadcast Music Incorporated’s top played songs of the year. 

“One of the most important attributes a person can have is curiosity,” said Gary, who currently works and lives in Lincoln, Nebraska. “Curiosity has led me from one interesting pursuit to another. To all Motlow students attending, I wish you endless curiosity... in pursuit of your authentic selves!”

Austin Gary

Other Gary-penned songs include “One Stone at a Time” (for Tammy Wynette); “Every Time My Heart Calls Your Name” (for John Berry); “The Letter” (for Ronna Reeves); “Dixie’s Bar & Grill” (for Brent Lamb); “A Love Like This” (for Cleve Francis); and “If Dreams Have Wings” (for James T. Horn). 

Gary also is an award-winning author and playwright. His novels include “A Delicate Dance,” “The Queerling,” “Miss Madeira,” “Ask No Secrets,” and “Genius.” He has received literary awards such as Indiefab Book of the Year (“A Delicate Dance”); Finalist in the Faulkner-Wisdom Literary Competition (“The Queerling,” “Miss Madeira,” and “Genius”); and Finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Competition (“Ask Me No Secrets”).

His novels “Miss Madeira” and “Genius” have been adapted into plays. His latest staged effort is a two-man Walt Whitman play titled “Song of Myself.” 

Also a documentarian, Gary filmed a moving and thought-provoking YouTube video about Marty Luther King Jr. titled “They Killed Martin: 3 Lives Forever Changed.” He has appeared on Seattle Public Radio to share personal stories about Thornton Wilder, Martin Luther King Jr., and his experiences on stage. 

Gary has served as an educator, advertising creative director, radio/television jingle composer, and newspaper editor. He is a member of PEN Canada. 

He is the father of the late stage director Rachel Rockwell and music industry professional Jeremy Spencer, a former drummer for the heavy rock band Five Finger Death Punch.

Gary’s talk will occur in HSC 323. Limited seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Students and faculty can watch his presentation on Zoom at https://mscc.zoom.us/j/8195274640?pwd=UkF3UjRIYTFpdXltNEtvSjduVkRtdz09. For more information about the “Famous Communicator Speakers Series,” contact Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu. 

Award-Winning Singer/Songwriter/Visual Artist Laura Powers to Speak on Oct. 27

  SMYRNA -- Award-winning singer/songwriter/visual artist Laura Powers will kick off the fall installment of the “Famous Communicator Speakers Series” with a talk at Motlow Smyrna from 2-3 p.m. Oct. 27 (Thursday).

  Powers’ presentation, “Journey into the Arts and Beyond,” will provide insight on how creativity of any kind can spur one’s opportunities for personal growth and success. Her session, which will occur in HSC 323, will feature original music and fine art, as well as stories from the artist’s career journey. Please contact Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu if you are interested in attending. 

Laura Powers

“Throughout my career, I’ve learned and continue to learn the skills needed for the creation of music, artwork, promotional videos, and websites,” the artist said. “I enjoy collaborating with other musicians, filmmakers and marketing professionals in Nashville and other parts of the world. I hope my presentation will inspire students to believe that any dream is possible.” 

Powers grew up in a military family, spending much of her youth in Europe. She studied abroad and began singing professionally in college. The artist later landed a record deal with Carrere Records in Paris, with successful singles and international appearances on radio and television. Her songs have been covered by numerous recording artists, and she has received awards in the television, music and advertising industries. Powers has released six albums of original Celtic-infused music.

The Nashvillian also has a background in visual art (oil painting). She has taught classes and created some of the artwork for her music CDs. Her collection of original paintings “Golden Muses,” which honored female songwriters, was spotlighted in a nationally aired segment on TNN: The Nashville Network. Her landscape paintings have been chosen for several high-profile, juried art shows.  

She continues to perform with The L.A. Party Dolls, an all-female show band that belts out classic hits from the 1950s and 1960s. The trio has entertained audiences in cities such as Las Vegas; Reno, Nevada; and Palm Springs, California.

Powers also has experience with the development and marketing of a retail product. She patented a unique jewelry item and launched an Indiegogo and social media campaign for international exposure.

She has garnered numerous awards and recognition, including an Emmy nomination for a Public Television spot on “Television Worth Watching” that promoted PBS programming and membership; a regional ADDY Award for “Best Television Ad Campaign” on “Television Worth Watching”; and finalist for New Age Vocal Album of the Year (“Legends of the Goddess”) by New Age Voice magazine.   

“These projects all need marketing and promotion, which can be a time challenge when one’s passion is creating music or artwork,” Powers said. 

The “Famous Communicator Speakers Series” will continue on Nov. 17 with a talk by filmmaker Brent Backhus. Admission is free to Motlow students, faculty, administrators and staff. To learn more, contact Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu. 

Music Industry Professionals Nancy Moran and Fett to Speak on March 30

SMYRNA -- Singer-Songwriter/Artist Development Coach Nancy Moran and Producer/Recording Engineer Fett will provide insight on the Nashville music industry during a Zoom session from 12:30-1:30 p.m. March 30 (Wednesday) at Motlow State Community College.

Moran’s and Fett’s presentation, “The Ins and Outs of a Music Industry Career,” is part of Motlow’s “Famous Communicator Speakers Series.” The talk is open to all students, faculty, administrators and staff. 

Moran and Fett, who represent Azalea Music Group, are leading educators, entertainers, and decision-makers in Music City. 

“We will discuss our roles in the music industry and what students should do to prepare for full-time careers,” said Fett, who oversees a state-of-the-art recording studio in Brentwood, Tennessee. 

To access their Nashville music industry talk on Zoom, visit https://mscc.zoom.us/j/92500036184?pwd=T1BGSW44c1llNUl2MnZuRlFvNlNIUT09 Meeting ID: 925 0003 6184 Passcode: 707290 Attendees will be placed in the waiting room until the presentation begins.

Nancy Moran is an independent, folk-rock/Americana singer-songwriter who has been singing and performing professionally for more than 25 years at notable folk clubs, performing arts centers, house concerts, and festivals across the nation. With four solo albums to her credit, The Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch called her “a [modern-day] Joni Mitchell,” as well as “a major force to be reckoned with.” 

From 2005-2012, Moran also toured as a member of The Four Bitchin’ Babes, an all-female group nationally renowned for their four-part vocal harmonies and highly entertaining and comedic performances. 

As co-founder of Azalea Music Group, she teaches musicians, singer-songwriters, indie artists, and other music-moguls-in-training how to get out of their own way so they can get their music out of their basement and into the world at large where it can make a difference. She specializes in working with the not-quite-mainstream and those “second-timers” coming back to music after a long hiatus. But she’s also been known to work with actors, writers, storytellers and other creatives because the principles of pursuing a creative life are often the same regardless of the medium. Learn more by visiting her website at musicmogulcoaching.com .

Fett is an independent music producer and engineer, author, music career coach, co-founder of the Azalea Music Group in Nashville, and recording/mixing engineer for the 2015 Australian number one album, Jason Owen’s “Friday Night.” He is the author of the popular book “Fett’s Mixing Roadmap: A Step-by-step Guide To Mixing Music In The Studio,” host of www.EmpoweringWomenInAudio.com, and teacher of hands-on recording and production clinics for women. 

Fett is the former technology editor for Performing Songwriter magazine, and occasional journalist for CMA Close Up, Drum!, and Keyboard magazines. His diverse list of clients includes Davy Jones of The Monkees, Grammy-winning songwriter Don Henry, and international guitar virtuosos Tommy Emmanuel and Muriel Anderson.

The “Famous Communicator Speakers Series” is sponsored by the Smyrna Entertainment Arts and Media Club and the Mass Communications program at Motlow State Community College. Upcoming speakers include Appalachian Photographer/Author Clark Wheeler on April 13 (Wednesday). To learn more about this event, contact Professor Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu.  

Nashville Artist/Songwriter/Recording Engineer Bryan Cumming to Headline Next ‘Famous Communicator’ Talk

By Chuck Whiting

Motlow Buzz Faculty Editor-in-Chief

 

         SMYRNA -- Bryan Cumming, an acclaimed artist, songwriter, recording engineer, and member of the Grammy-nominated group The WannaBeatles, will speak from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Oct. 20 (Tuesday) as part of Motlow’s "Famous Communicator Speakers Series."

         The musician's talk is called "Success and Failure (In and Out) of the Music Industry." He will share his fascinating story on Zoom with photos, videos and live music demonstrations. Admission is open to all members of the Motlow family. Other upcoming "Famous Communicator" speakers this fall include internationally acclaimed visual artist Camille Engel (November - TBA). Nashville author Odie Lindsey spoke on Oct. 1.

          To access Cumming's talk on Zoom, visit https://mscc.zoom.us/j/94032042039

 

Artist Bryan Cumming performs in Nashville 

         Cumming, who sings and plays guitar, sax and cornet, has recorded with popular acts such as Al Jarreau and The Pointer Sisters. He has released several solo CDs. His album "Come Out Swinging" pays tribute to the classic songs and legendary jazz artists of the Silent Generation.  

 

         In 2009, he and three fellow members of The WannaBeatles walked the Red Carpet in Hollywood after receiving a Grammy nomination for the CD "Fab Fan Memories - The Beatles Bond." Cumming also produces and records artists at Studio 23 Nashville.

 

         "Come Out Swinging" celebrates the spirit of swing with a lively mix of traditional jazz classics and originals. Highlights include covers of standards written and/or performed by legendary artists such as Nat King Cole, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Dorothy Fields, and Irving Berlin. The album, which was recorded at Java Jive Studio in Nashville, features Kelli Cox on keyboards, Adam Mormolstein on drums, and John Vogt on bass.

 

         "I grew up listening to the music my father loved, including recordings by jazz artists such as Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, and Glen Miller," he said. "As my music career has developed, I've found myself gravitating toward swing. It has a life-affirming tempo that expresses optimism, enthusiasm and energy. I hope my new album will inspire motion, inviting dancers to sway together, bounce, and enjoy the moment, just like in my daddy's day."

 

         A Georgia native, Bryan Cumming grew up in a musical family playing Dixieland and classic jazz and singing harmony on Beatles songs. After serving a year in the U.S. Army playing saxophone, he toured and recorded with Martin Mull. He moved to Los Angeles in 1976, playing sax on sessions with artists such as Al Jarreau, The Pointer Sisters, Maria Muldaur, Al Hirt, and The Ohio Players. 

 

         He later joined Billy Vera and The Beaters, performing at the Tokyo Music Festival and on the number one single "At This Moment". He performed at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion as a member of the Los Angeles Jazz Choir. He toured Japan and South America with David Soul, and toured four years as the lead guitarist for ShaNaNa. 

 

         Among the covers on the CD are "Sunny Side of the Street," a standard recorded by Tommy Dorsey and The Sentimentalists in 1944. Other covers include "Straighten Up and Fly Right," "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," "It Had to Be You," and "Blue Skies." 

 

         The album's title track, "Come Out Swinging," swings to life with the sounds and lyrical images of the '30s, '40s and '50s.

 

         "I wrote the song in 2008 to honor the classic swing music I learned from my parents," said Cumming. "'Come Out Swinging' is a nostalgic look at yesterday. It is presented as an imaginary epiphany, where the singer hears the phone ring and mysteriously hears the sounds of old swing tunes. He gets inspired and preaches the message 'it's time to play' to his listeners."

 

         Hit songwriter and author Jason Blume says the project "offers a refreshing blend of original and traditional swing tunes that are both fun and exhilarating."

 

         Since moving to Nashville in 1988, he has performed and/or recorded with artists such as K.T. Oslin, Cleve Francis, and the Grammy-nominated Beatles tribute band The WannaBeatles.

 

         For more information about Bryan Cumming and his new album, "Come Out Swinging," visit http://www.BryanCumming.com. 

 

Nashville Author Odie Lindsey to Kick Off Fall ‘Famous Communicator Speakers Series’ on Oct. 1

           SMYRNA -- Vanderbilt University Writer-in-Residence Odie Lindsey will discuss the creative and publishing process behind his new novel, “Some Go Home” (W.W. Norton, 2020), during a Zoom session from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 1 (Thursday). 

         Lindsey will be the first featured speaker for this fall’s “Famous Communicator Speakers Series” at Motlow State Community College. The U.S. Army veteran is calling his talk “War, Research and Writing the Novel ‘Some Go Home.’”

          

         “I will explain how my combat deployment has influenced the writing process,” said Lindsey, who served the country during Desert Storm in the early 1990s. 

 

         Lindsey’s talk is open to Motlow students, faculty, administrators and staff. To attend the Zoom session (9:30 a.m. on Oct. 1), visit https://mscc.zoom.us/j/94032042039. For more information about the “Famous Communicator Speakers Series,” contact Professor Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu.

 

         Lindsey wrote his novel while balancing a busy teaching schedule at Vanderbilt with tedious research and a writing sabbatical in Italy. His book is receiving praise from fellow authors and critics across the nation. Students and others will have the opportunity to learn how a book is written, edited, pitched, published and promoted. 

 

         “I’ll also share some of the challenges I’ve had promoting a creative work during a pandemic," the Nashville author said.

 

         Lindsey, who visited a host of independent bookstores for his first book, “We Come to Our Senses,” is finding creative ways to use Zoom and other virtual platforms to share his story. 

 

         “Some Go Home” is a searing story that follows three generations fractured by murder in fictional Pitchlynn, Mississippi, that complicates notions of race, class, history and identity.

 

         His book of short stories, “We Come to Our Senses,” was included on Best of 2016 lists at Electric Literature and Military Times, and the New York Times Book Review noted that it “captures our culture now.” 

 

         Lindsey’s fiction has appeared in Best American Short Stories, Iowa Review, Guernica, Fourteen Hills, Electric Literature’s Recommended Reading, and elsewhere, and his nonfiction publications include Oxford American, The Millions, Columbia, LitHub, and the Southwest Review.

 

         He received an NEA-funded fellowship for veterans to the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and a Tennessee Arts Commission fellowship in Literature. A Writer-in-Residence at Vanderbilt University’s Center for Medicine, Health, and Society, Lindsey holds a Master of Fine Arts in writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and a Master of Arts in southern studies from the University of Mississippi. He served as associate editor of “The Mississippi Encyclopedia” (University Press of Mississippi).

 

         The “Famous Communicators Speakers Series” was launched at Motlow several years ago to give students the opportunity to learn from some of the most successful communication professionals in Middle Tennessee. Other upcoming speakers include singer-songwriter-musician-recording engineer Bryan Cumming (Oct. 20) and internationally known visual artist Camille Engel (November - date TBA).