Why Join the LGBT Recording Academy of the Arts?

• Be a part of the alliance of LGBT recording artists and performers who are dedicated to raising more awareness in supporting efforts to end homophobia and the stigma associated with being openly gay in the music and entertainment industry.

• Build a stronger alliance! There is strength in numbers. The Academy is dedicated to creating opportunities that offer members benefits as a collective. This year, we are embarking on attaining affordable life insurance and liability insurance as well as other services for our members.  (more information to come in September 2010)

• Support advocacy which help us to forge strategic community partnerships to offer members a better opportunity to be exposed to a broader audiences.

• Preserve the Legacy of OUTMUSIC – The LGBT Academy of Recording Arts (LARA). It is the premiere 501c3 non-profit grass root powered organization dedicated to promoting LGBT Recording Artists and Performers for 20 years. It is the ONLY organization of it’s kind in the world.

• Get your pre-sale ticket now when you join the Academy!! Participate in the biggest night in LGBT music entertainment! Receive 1 ticket to the 2010 OMAs and entry for 1 to the official 20th Anniversary after party when you join now!

• Receive collective discounts as we build our international constituency.

• Be a part of making CHANGE in building a stronger future! Support the 100% volunteer staff working towards building a bright future for openly LGBT Recording Artists and Performers. All proceeds go towards administrative costs and production of the OUTMUSIC AWARDS.

Be A Part of Giving Back Through The Gift of Music!

PAY IT FORWARD! - The OUTMUSIC Foundation will launch the ‘Sponsor A Young Person’ initiative to help combat the epidemic rate of homeless youth in America.

There are several ways in which members of the Academy can participate in community programming through the OUTMUSIC Foundation initiative.

• Join our efforts when you upload your music to be sold in the NEW! OUTMUSIC online store. The only online music store dedicated to promoting and selling the music of openly LGBT artists.
  

• As  a member of the Academy, you will have the opportunity to participate in the ‘Sponsor A Young Person’ initiative via our music store PAY IT FORWARD program. This program is designed for you to donate 50% of your music or music video download. 100% of these download proceeds will go to organizations like Hetrick-Martin Institute home of the Harvey Milk High School.

As a member of the Academy, you will have the opportunity to help in building a Community Fellowship Program to create opportunities for young people in our community to study music, vocals, performance and production. Sign up and join the Academy for more information on this amazing opportunity E-mail us at contact@outmusicawards.com

I had the best time talking with Ramon from About.com: Gay Life, and we had a great time chatting about music, feeling good, MTV and my next project.  I really admire what Ramon is doing – it was really an honor to talk with him.  Read all about it by clicking the pic above

Guyanese chart topper Nhojj climbs to the top again with his latest single, “The Gay Warrior Song.” Simultaneously #1 on both CDBaby’s “Reggae” and “Out and Proud” charts, he continues to establish himself as a fearless artist whose appeal extends to listeners across the musical spectrum.

A gay anthem grabbing the #1 spot on both charts is an unlikely phenomenon—Reggae music has unleashed much homophobia, while Out and Proud music celebrates the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community. But it is not the first time for Nhojj. His gay music video “Love” hit the #1 spot on the mainstream MTV Music Top 100 chart earlier this year. And last year BET/Centric congratulated him on being a “a gay history first!”

Nhojj first caught the attention of Reggae enthusiasts in 2003 with the release of his sophomore “Someday Peace Love & Freedom.” It addressed social ills. Many of the songs infused reggae beats. In 2005 he again embraced his Caribbean roots on his Inspirational album “John Martinborough Coming home,” recording a reggae version of the religious hymn “His Eyes are on the Sparrow.”

This time around Nhojj uses his voice to target homophobia, and donates proceeds to the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) an LGBT Rights organization in Guyana . He invokes scripture in the name “Jah” (a term for God, widely used in reggae music) as his higher authority. His lyrics offer affirmation:

Open your hearts and let Love march in
Courage will free the minds of many today
Knowing the Truth of how God made you
Just embrace your true soul
Jah said to Love one another
Even as I do Love you
Jah said Love one another
Because in Love you find the Truth
Love is the Truth

The Gay Warrior Song” is mastered by Robert Honablue, whose gold and platinum credits include Bob Marley, Santana, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, and Janis Joplin. It is based on an earlier song “Fighting for Love” that appears on “Someday Peace Love & Freedom.” Nhojj recalls, “I started writing this song 7 years ago and couldn’t complete it… but I knew I would finish it though…  one day I knew I would be strong enough to record and release this song.” Both songs are available on CDBaby, the oldest and largest distributor of independent music in the world.

Nhojj grew up in Guyana, and went to high school in Trinidad prior to coming to the United States to attend college. Before he could read or write he sang at his father’s church, and eventually on radio and television shows. Twice he sang in national stadiums – once for the President of Guyana, and once for the President of Trinidad. After graduating with honors from New York University with a Bachelors Degree in Economics, he returned to his passion—singing—and began recording. To date Nhojj has released 6 album releases, and a DVD directed by Emmy nominated Bill Cote. He is the first black male to win an OUTMusic Award.

“We are all warriors,” Nhojj explains. ”Regardless of our race, religion, nationality, sex, or sexuality, we’re all fighting to be who we are, who we’re meant to be.  That’s what this song is really about – the courage to embrace ourselves and love each other for who we are, despite the pressures the world places on us.

A big thank you to everyone at Black Gay Gossip for all the support they have given me over the past year.  Every time something special happens in my career.  Black Gay Gossip is there to cover it and share it with their readers.  I really appreciate this.   Thank you again and enjoy the stories below…

Nhojj on Pandora 8/5/2010

NYC Gay Parade 6/26/2010

Gay Warrior Song 6/17/2010

Gay Pride Tour 5/3/2010

LOGO Video Premiere 2/16/2010

Blueprint Video Release 2/15/2010

Nhojj Wins Out Music Award for “Love” 12/30/2009

New Video: Nhojj “Love” 11/30/2009

Dope Music Monday 08/09/2009

I had a great time talking with Helen & Sean from BloomingOUT – your mid west queer connection, out, loud, and proud. You can listen to the interview at BloomingOUT WFHB site by clicking the pic above:)

I had a great time talking with Tom – the Ramble Redhead about Taylor Dayne, coming out, my influences, SASOD, Indianapolis Gay Pride and cats in the background… lol.  You can listen to our conversation at http://rambleredhead.com

A big thank you to Genia and Andrea at SistersTalk Radio for inviting me to talk about my work and successes on their Radio show.  You can listen online at Blog Talk Radio.  Enjoy and have a great weekend:)

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