Episode Description
Documentary producer and creator of everyone’s favorite Hip-Hop “Video Music Box”. He talks about creating it, the artists, and his hit documentary.
Guest Biography
McDaniels approached a local TV station with an idea to host a music-video show in 1982. The station was not enthusiastic about McDaniels idea at first, because the concept didn’t exist. After about a year, McDaniels founded a show he called Video Music Box (VMB). It was not long before VMB’s 6-day, 60-minute public television viewership began to grow. The show was #2 in it’s time slot, second to Oprah. In 1985, McDaniels became the first to broadcast a hip-hop concert called Fresh Fest, on VMB. It featured many of today’s hip-hop icons such as Run D.M.C., LL Cool J, Whodini, and many others. In 1995, Billboard magazine recognized the show and awarded VMB as the Best Local R&B/Hip-hop Regional Show. Additionally, the show was also notably voted as the Top-10 Greatest Hip Hop TV Moments by VH1 in 2003. By 2005, over 192,000 households per week were regularly viewing VMB. McDaniels had shined a light on an under-tapped urban audience and literally answered its outcries against mainstream media’s disregard of its favorite artists with VMB. Film and Production Video Music Box started to and so did McDaniels.He believed he could do a better job of producing videos for some of these emerging artists, McDaniels partnered with childhood friend Lionel C. Martin (The Vid Kid) and co-founded Classic Concepts Productions, a film- and video production company that produced over 300 music videos, commercials, films, and documentaries between 1987 and 1997.
Host – G. Keith Alexander
Born and raised in Chicago, G. Keith Alexander as a young boy had dreams of becoming a disc jockey and eventually became music director, afternoon jock, and leader of the launch team for his native city’s new station WGCI. His baritone delivery has also resounded over the airwaves of Disco 92 WKTU, 98.7 KISS-FM, former jazz station WRVR, Inner City Broadcasting’s WBLS in the Big Apple, Clear Channel’s Jammin’ 105, and Infinity’s New MIX 102.7.
G. Keith is also the host of “What’s Hot! HarlemAmerica with G. Keith Alexander”, the first podcast hosted on the HarlemAmerica Digital Network. He talks with a great variety of influential black voices in the entertainment industry like Gloria Gaynor, Keith David, Dionne Warwick, Darrin Henson, Phylicia Rashad, and more.
Episode Description
Documentary producer and creator of everyone’s favorite Hip-Hop “Video Music Box”. He talks about creating it, the artists, and his hit documentary.
Host – G. Keith Alexander
Born and raised in Chicago, G. Keith Alexander as a young boy had dreams of becoming a disc jockey and eventually became music director, afternoon jock, and leader of the launch team for his native city’s new station WGCI. His baritone delivery has also resounded over the airwaves of Disco 92 WKTU, 98.7 KISS-FM, former jazz station WRVR, Inner City Broadcasting’s WBLS in the Big Apple, Clear Channel’s Jammin’ 105, and Infinity’s New MIX 102.7.
G. Keith is also the host of “What’s Hot! HarlemAmerica with G. Keith Alexander”, the first podcast hosted on the HarlemAmerica Digital Network. He talks with a great variety of influential black voices in the entertainment industry like Gloria Gaynor, Keith David, Dionne Warwick, Darrin Henson, Phylicia Rashad, and more.
Guest Biography
McDaniels approached a local TV station with an idea to host a music-video show in 1982. The station was not enthusiastic about McDaniels idea at first, because the concept didn’t exist. After about a year, McDaniels founded a show he called Video Music Box (VMB). It was not long before VMB’s 6-day, 60-minute public television viewership began to grow. The show was #2 in it’s time slot, second to Oprah. In 1985, McDaniels became the first to broadcast a hip-hop concert called Fresh Fest, on VMB. It featured many of today’s hip-hop icons such as Run D.M.C., LL Cool J, Whodini, and many others. In 1995, Billboard magazine recognized the show and awarded VMB as the Best Local R&B/Hip-hop Regional Show. Additionally, the show was also notably voted as the Top-10 Greatest Hip Hop TV Moments by VH1 in 2003. By 2005, over 192,000 households per week were regularly viewing VMB. McDaniels had shined a light on an under-tapped urban audience and literally answered its outcries against mainstream media’s disregard of its favorite artists with VMB. Film and Production Video Music Box started to and so did McDaniels.He believed he could do a better job of producing videos for some of these emerging artists, McDaniels partnered with childhood friend Lionel C. Martin (The Vid Kid) and co-founded Classic Concepts Productions, a film- and video production company that produced over 300 music videos, commercials, films, and documentaries between 1987 and 1997.
