Tom Willett Email & Phone Number

LinkedIn profile for Musician, Entertainment Industry Executive, Educator and Author, Tom Willett.

Franklin, Tennessee, Us

Franklin, Tennessee, Us

At Dark Horse Institute, our mission is to create the most compelling educational model of the 21st century. By accelerating the learning process in an affordable, experiential learning environment, we are changing the way education is conducted. Our award-winning Audio Engineering and Music Business faculty have collaborated on Grammy Award-winning and platinum-selling albums. We have invested millions in studios, labs and classrooms, creating an engaging learning environment that encourages students to excel. We are committed to delivering a transformative educational experience that will give our students the tools and resources needed to make a difference in their lives, and in our world.

Author of five books plus dozens of articles encouraging creativity in the arts and everyday life.

Scholarship & Christianity in Oxford (SCIO), the UK subsidiary of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, is a research and educational institute in Oxford, England. As part of their Bridging the Two Cultures of Science and the Humanities project, SCIO, with funding from Templeton Religion Trust, will sponsor the 2016 North American college tour of the acclaimed British one-man play, Mr. Darwin's Tree. Written by noted playwright Murray Watts, and starring leading British film, TV and theatre actor Andrew Harrison, the play presents the life and work of Charles Darwin and provides fresh opportunity for a more in depth conversation regarding the relationship of science and religion. Visit www.mrdarwinstree.com.

Us

Nashville, Tn, Us

Adjunct faculty, Music Business Department

In 2000, Willett was asked to spearhead a feasibility study for the creation of a fully-accredited, 4-month long off-campus study experience for college students interested in careers in the music industry. In conjunction with CCCU’s Dr. Richard Gathro and a committee of college presidents, deans and music department chairs, he created a business plan and curriculum that offered developing artists classes and hands-on experience in songwriting, recording and performance, while training young entrepreneurs in artist management, booking, publishing, record company operations and marketing. Established on the Island of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts in the Fall of 2001, and relocated to Nashville in 2010, Willett and the faculty and staff of the Contemporary Music Center have helped launch the careers of more than 1,000 students from nearly 100 colleges and universities.

In 1998, Willett founded Creative Development Network to provide career support for Grammy-winning Artist/Producer T Bone Burnett (Counting Crows, Wallflowers), recording artist Sam Phillips (Virgin, Nonesuch), and Internet sensation, Boondogs, the first band signed to a major recording contract based solely on consumer voting during the first wave of downloadable .mp3s.

In 1995 Willett moved to Williamsburg, Virginia, and later, Vero Beach, Florida, to pursue writing and independent marketing. He published more than 50 articles in music and arts journals while helping manage the literary estate of Dr. Richard C. Halverson, former Chaplain of the U.S. Senate. With former Sr. VP of Marketing at Sony Music, Dan Beck, he formed ADi, a property development and marketing organization focused on creating unique entertainment, character and lifestyle properties. In conjunction with Peacock Papers, ADi’s products found distribution in Hallmark and other leading card and gift shops. Their recording and touring project, The American Soul and Rock & Roll Choir (www.soulandrockandroll.com), went on to tour performing arts centers throughout the U.S. Willett and Beck later co-managed Hip-Hop duo, Scratch Track, and artist/writer/filmmaker, Will Gray.

In 1990, Willett and Epic Record’s Roger Klein brokered a new marketing and distribution relationship for Word Entertainment with Epic Records and Sony Music Entertainment. After relocating to New York, he, along with Dan Beck (Michael Jackson, Pearl Jam, Indigo Girls, Sade), coordinated the release and marketing of over 250 albums that generated more than $50,000,000.00 in revenues. While serving as Vice President of Marketing for Word/Epic, Willett and his team spear-headed international marketing campaigns for such artists as Al Green, Deniece Williams, Shirley Caesar, Phil Keaggy, Soul Mission, Sandi Patty, Petra, and Point of Grace. Through their efforts, Word/Epic artists found expanded audiences, while leading mainstream personalities such as Bruce Cockburn, Wynton Marsalis and Garrison Keillor crossed back over into the Gospel marketplace.

In 1984, Willett was asked to become Executive Director of Artists and Repertoire in Los Angeles for ABC’s Word Records, the world's largest distributor of inspirational music and books. Responsible for signing new artists and overseeing production, Willett managed the creation of more than 50 award-winning CDs and videos, including Grammy and Dove Award winning records by Sam Phillips, The Choir, Dion DiMucci, Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind & Fire), Randy Stonehill and Bryan Duncan. While in L.A., Willett founded What? Records, a boutique label marketed and distributed by A&M Records. Working with T Bone Burnett, David Miner, John Carter and Lynn Nichols, What? released four critically-acclaimed albums: IDeoLa’s Tribal Opera, Tonio K.’s Romeo Unchained and Notes from the Lost Civilization, and Dave Perkins’ The Innocence.Willett’s A&R work saw him in the studio with such notables as T Bone Burnett, Phil Ramone, Charlie Peacock, Booker T. Jones, Little Richard, Tchad Blake, Bill Schnee and Doug Sax.

In 1979, Willett launched the Chanan Agency to handle booking and management for Washington, DC-area talent including musician/author Brian McLaren and college-circuit favorites, Jim and Kim Thomas (the Carpenter’s Tools, SaySo).In 1980, Willett joined Dharma Artist Agency in Nashville, TN where he served as booking agent for a number of leading artists, including Leon Patillo (Santana), Maria Muldaur, and Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield, Poco). He later formed Tom Willett Artist Management to provide career direction for John Fischer (Word/A&M), Scott Wesley Brown (Sparrow/EMI), and Marty McCall (MCA Songbird).

While pursuing post-graduate studies in the mid-1970s at a commune in the Maryland suburbs, Willett helped launch both the Cornerstone Study Center (Jim and Lorraine Hiskey) and the C. S. Lewis Summer Study Institute (James Houston, John R.W. Stott, J. I. Packer).

Theological Aesthetics

B.A., Psychology

Still Crazy After All These Years., Rock 'N' Roll