Vivian Scott Chew
Principal, TimeZone International
Philanthropist, international executive,
visionary, wife, mother and active church member, Vivian Scott
Chew has distinguished herself as an individual of integrity,
foresight and indomitable will. In an industry that ebbs and
flows like the changing tides, Chew has remained constant
- a constant source of inspiration to her colleagues, family
and friends, a constant vigilante on the lookout for talent,
and a constant reminder that hard work and dedication to duty
is still the best way to climb the ladder of success.
Vivian's career in the entertainment industry
began with a stint as executive assistant to Louise C. West,
Esq., an entertainment attorney. While maintaining her duties
for Ms. West, she was also the personal assistant of producer,
artist and author Kashif. In 1985 Chew landed a job at ASCAP
(American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and
became the first African-American woman to become a membership
representative. Recognizing the need to honor songwriters
and producers, she fought hard and was in the vanguard of
creating the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards, currently in
its 12th year, and organized several seminars and workshops
for aspiring young songwriters.
In 1987, at a time when the African American
female was an unknown species in the land of A&R, she
carved her own path, forged her own frontiers, and built a
bridge for others to follow. Joining the PolyGram family as
the Director of A&R, Chew orchestrated the signing of
Third World and platinum-selling, international Latin Hip
Hop sensation, Safire. Excited with the challenge of nurturing
new talent and watering the seeds of ambition into fruition,
Chew accepted the position of Director of A&R at Epic
Records in 1990. Not missing a beat, she followed the drums
to the island of Jamaica and signed Shabba Ranks. It was a
royal union - the "natty" king of dancehall and
the "nubian" queen of A&R - that spawned one
platinum and gold album and back-to-back Grammys. She had
proven her point and a promotion was not only well deserved
but inevitable. When reggae music was considered a "hard-to-understand"
entity, it was Vivian's vision that made it popular and platinum.
In 1992 she became the Vice President of A&R, and in 1993,
she was named Vice President of the Urban Music Division.
She yielded to temptation and returned to
Jamaica to sign Patra, laid a gift of "gold" at
her feet and crowned her "dancehall queen." In 1995,
the position of Head of the Urban Music Department for the
newly created 550 Music/Sony label was tailored specifically
for her. During her tenure, Chew personally signed George
Clinton and was responsible for overseeing all of the urban
acts. Two years later, she returned to Epic to head the A&R/Urban
Music Division.
Today, Vivian is Founder/ Principal of TimeZone
International - an international marketing and promotions
firm in the U.S., with a mission to market urban culture globally.
She is also co-founder of Chew Entertainment, along with her
husband Ray Chew, writer/musician/arranger/producer and musical
director of "It's Showtime At The Apollo" and the
Apollo Theatre Foundation. She provides entertainment services
in coordinating bands for live shows, concerts, special events
presentation and tour schedules for performing artists and
entertainers from all musical genres.
In 1993, Vivian founded the Juvenile Diabetes
Foundation Music Industry Dinner, which over the past five
years has raised close to two million dollars for research
to find the cure for juvenile diabetes. As the mother of a
diabetic daughter, she, along with Jerry Ade, President of
Famous Artist Agency, recognized the need for education and
information about a disease that could go easily undetected
in many households. Chew also serves on the Board of Directors
of the Black Rock Coalition and the Winston Prepatory School.
We salute Vivian Scott Chew... a NABFEME
Shero!
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