KENT ANDERSON
Kent Anderson’s passion for music began in elementary school, where he developed a love for the piano, trumpet, and eventually the bass. This early enthusiasm led to a lifelong career in the music industry as a musician, producer, published author, consultant, and educator. He is the author of It’s All About The Music Marketing Stupid (Second Edition) and serves as an adjunct professor at Columbia College Chicago, where he teaches courses in the Business of Music, Entertainment Marketing, and Music Business: Decision Making.
Kent’s professional journey in the music industry began with managing record stores for Trans World Music Corp., the nation’s largest music retailer. His career took him across multiple cities, including Quad Cities, Chicago, Short Hills, NJ, and Greenwich, CT. It was during this time that he was introduced to the founder of GRP Records, leading to a position as the Midwest Regional Sales Manager. After five years, Kent returned to New York to oversee the sales and marketing for GRP Records, working closely with legendary producer Tommy LiPuma. Under his leadership, GRP was named the #1 Jazz Label in the world for five consecutive years, with more than 30 Grammy nominations and annual domestic sales exceeding $25 million.
At N2K, Inc., Kent embraced the integration of music and technology. As Vice President under the mentorship of Phil Ramone, he played a pivotal role in the company’s innovations, including the first-ever digital music download with David Bowie, one of the first e-commerce sites for music, and the development of the first online music player and 5.1 surround sound DVD. During his time at N2K, the company earned Billboard‘s title of #1 Independent Jazz Label of the Year, along with the top-selling contemporary and traditional jazz recordings.
While at Virgin Records, Kent was responsible for all sales and marketing for Virgin Associated Labels, including Narada, Real World, Luaka Bop, and Higher Octave. He collaborated with the Music Business Association to produce four consecutive #1 Billboard Jazz & Blues chart compilation albums.
As President and Executive Producer of A440 Music Group, Kent led the label to numerous accolades, including a Grammy nomination and award for Best 5.1 Surround Sound Mix. A440 also earned praise from the press, including recognition in Chicago Tribune’s Top 10 Jazz Albums of the Year and L.A. Times Best Female Jazz Vocalist of the Year. Kent managed and produced recordings for a diverse range of artists, including Jackie Allen, Alice Peacock, Henry Johnson, New Soul Cowboys, Steve Cole, and Carrie McDowell.
Kent holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from the University of Northern Iowa, where he studied Double Bass and performed with ensembles and orchestras. He also completed additional studies at the University of Iowa. Kent played professionally for ten years with big bands, jazz ensembles, orchestras, pit orchestras, and rock and R&B bands.
A member of The Recording Academy (The Grammys), Kent is also an Eagle Scout and the founder of C Sharp Consulting, LLC. He resides in Chicago, where he continues to practice and perform on both upright and electric bass.
GEREY JOHNSON
Gerey Johnson’s journey into music is as inspiring as it is unique. Armed with a political science degree from Northwestern University, he began his career in the banking sector. Eventually, he was promoted to an Assistant Vice-President, managing IRAs and retirement plans for a bank on the North Shore of Chicago. He left banking and became licensed as a money manager, working for a national investment firm, a boutique private investment company and a family-owned investment firm managing corporate clients in Chicago.
While holding down a nine to five as an investment banker, he continued to play guitar, gig, and write music. During this time, he was next made aware of the unfortunate news; his brother was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Gerey took his brother in and supported him until his passing. However, before his passing, Gerey’s brother convinced him he should forgo his successful career in the investment banking sector and pursue his true passion- to dedicate himself to music full-time. Honoring that wish, Gerey made the bold decision to walk away from banking and dedicate himself entirely to music—a choice that has defined his extraordinary career.
Growing up on Chicago’s South Side, Gerey was surrounded by music, from the jazz and R&B records his family played at home to the drum kit his parents first bought him. After experimenting with drums and keyboards, Gerey found his true calling in the guitar. Inspired by legends like Pat Metheny and Larry Coryell, he began gigging around Chicago, eventually upgrading to a vintage ’72 Thinline Fender Telecaster that remains in his collection today.
As the leader of his own fusion band, Cool World, Gerey became a fixture in Chicago’s music scene. His entrepreneurial spirit flourished when he began booking national acts for venues like The Jazz Bulls, where he also performed and became a minority partner. His ability to connect with other musicians and his growing reputation attracted major names like Brian Culbertson, Kirk Whalum, and Darryl Jones, solidifying Chicago’s place in contemporary jazz.
Gerey’s career expanded as he took on roles like Studio Manager at 35th Street Studios and A&R representative for Sony Records, refining his skills in artist development, composition, and music direction. He also garnered success as a songwriter, and music producer for several R&B acts, and jingles for a number of ad agencies. During this time, he reunited with his longtime friend Kent Anderson, joining A440 Music Group and further immersing himself in the world of contemporary jazz.
A pivotal moment came when Brian Culbertson invited Gerey to join his tour. Since that time and over the next couple of decades, Gerey Johnson has recorded or performed with Brian, Marcus Miller, Boney James, George Duke, Kirk Whalum, Sheila E and Richard Elliot and many others. Gerey has also produced and written music for major labels such Atlantic, Jive, Sony, RCA, and Warner Brothers.
Today, Gerey is a sought-after guitarist, producer, and music director. He balances a packed schedule of jazz festivals, cruises, and concerts while serving as MD for long-running smooth jazz series in Chicago, Louisville, and Lexington, Kentucky. With over 20 years of success as a musician, songwriter, producer, artist manager, and record label executive, Gerey brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and an expansive network of industry contacts to help artists achieve their goals.
