Meet Antwon Smith-brown | Recording Artist & Entrepreneure
We had the good fortune of connecting with Antwon Smith-brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Antwon, what do you attribute your success to?
As a professional actor for over 20 years, I have had longevity in the industry. Just recently, in the past 7 to 8 years, I started to develop my music and brand. I had the opportunity to enjoy reaching back in my memory to when I had a very young passion for recording and touring. As a preteen, I was asked to sing the National Anthem and perform at show fundraisers. Because I love to be upfront and perform. The school and some of the church art programs I attended as a young artist allowed me to travel through the state and tri-state area, back in my high school days in choir competitions and church performances. I loved to sing and I still do. The most important factor for me has been my relationship with God, and my higher self. Another important factor behind my success has been to whom I am directing my gifts. I want to and have always wanted to heal the world in whatever way possible. My music, art, brand, and voice are my way of healing as much of the world as possible. By sharing who I am because of God. I plan to change the world one gift at a time.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I got to where I am today professionally by being myself and keeping up with the current moves in the entertainment industry. It was very easy at times because when I was booked, I was booked because of just my essence. But at times it was very challenging to overcome many biases and preferences that filtered casting for so many years. I think stigmas have gotten so much better, but why we create art and publish it is becoming clearer to the big corporations. I made sure to always meet up with my KIKI Prayer Dance Group on Tuesdays in NYC at Starbucks. We’d meet and talk about issues in the industry and audition world, take them to prayer, and refuel ourselves for more auditions. It gave me so much strength to connect and believe with my peers and good friends. Along the way, I learned that I can’t trust that everyone will treat me the same as I will treat them. I learned that business is about RELATIONSHIPS. Make them very important. My brand and story are about giving back to the people and community who have supported me for over 20 years through my art and SUDUKUU, Serving Uniqueness, Daring Unity, and Kindly Uplifting Us.
I want the world to know my stage name is Blaquestar. I love to sing about LOVE, HUMANITY, GOD, DANCE, RESILIENCE, FREEDOM & LIFE. My shows will feature me and my band, The Constellations, and we will perform nightly as Blaquestar & The Constellations. The name of my show will be “ALL MY LOVE”. While on tour, my show cast will be costumed in designs by me and my design team from my fashion label. My label will be a part of a Dual Label of Music & Film Production and Design. Focusing on fashion art and fashion design reconstruction. I have always felt that music, fashion, art, film, and giving back has always been a great combo of creative fusion. I almost can’t think of one without thinking of two others simultaneously. The Music & Film Production Label will be called Blaquestar + ALSB Productions and the design label will be called SUDUKUU. They will be equipped to work on projects separately or together. Together they will be independent and under the name LeMonte Love Productions.
My label, brand, shows, and tour will be dedicated to my part of The Project 2025 Movement, continued. I have always believed that civic engagement is critical, a part of our society; Especially in capitalism. Voting along with participating in the selections of job positions in our cabinets is important, but also true democracy is a very important part of our nature as humans. We can do and be better only together. We have to represent everyone. And we all have a voice. We just have to use it. So I have chosen to use mine because God has chosen me to sing and share the gifts He’s given me. Gifts as a sentiment to those artists, figures, and leaders, who’ve inspired me to never stop believing in what is good for every human. Gifts created from my heart with the encouragement of civic engagement in movements that benefit our communities of black, brown, and other minority groups within our country.
I am still working on everything, but while I am in school at LAFS + LARS, I can work on everything with a faculty of working professionals looking over me.
You can find everything current on me here: www.blaquestar.org
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
West Hollywood is the place to make all your disco music dance dreams come true. So I couldn’t host anyone in Los Angeles without attending Rocco’s and Tropicana dance parties. I would also take them to The Abby for dinner and drinks, then dance next door at Chapel. During the day, for fun, we would go to The Academy Museum, The Grammys Museum, The Grove, and DTLA. Later, in the week, after a nice introduction to the city, the parks, and Hollywood. We would explore more by taking a small trip for a weekend at Disneyland. The Theatre District. We would catch as many shows of new artists as possible. I would also plan a show so that they can see me perform.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
God is so GOOD! I can’t say anyone but after Him! My source and my rock. He has placed so many good people into my life. All of these wonderful people who support and love me through so much, and I am so eternally grateful to have them in my life. I’m connected on almost every social platform, and I figured the best way to show everyone I love is to tag them on their pages.
My family and friends back home in Ohio, Indiana, and all over:
Rev. Andrew Wayne Brown (Dad)
Cecilia Edwards-Brown (Stepmom)
Fragina Brown (Mom)
Leslie Yvonne Bell (Big Sister)
My Brothers and Sisters: Robert Smith, Charles Smith, Andrew Smith, Ashley Brown, and Aaron Brown.
My entire family! Nieces and nephews as well!
Zena Seawright (Godmother)
Sharron Webster (Family Friend & Singing Partner)
Mark Manley (High School Theatre Director)
Tracey Fergeson ( High School Cheerleading Coach)
Van Cleve Elementary School for The Arts (My first ever ARTS School in Dayton, Ohio)
Jim Inman & Vianna Inman ( My very first pastors, I worked as a singer and stagehand for Sunday services)
Tyree Sanders- Best Friend From Home
Jerry O’Boyle (Mentor)
I also want to say a special thank you to Ms. Iryna Rothberg and The Liberty Fund for mentoring and counseling me over the last two years, throughout my career transition and relocation from New York to Los Angeles. #libertyfundnyc
Besties, Friends, Movers, and Shakers! HUNTIES and Everyone!
Jason Bush- @j.donphotography
Charity Dawson- @whotyrnagetaplate
Jerome Lewis- @jeromefosterlewis
Lindsay Aster- @lindsayaster
Donald King- @drkingnyc
Christian Danté White- @christiandante
Jennifer J. Jones- @i_am_jennifer_jones
Jay Knowles- @princessjayknowels
Manoj Nair- @manojnyc
Terry Lavell- @thebodythatbooks
Dwayne Milan Cooper- @itsdwaynecooper
Deja Smith- @theladydeja
Dee Trannybear- @deetrannybear
Misha Josephs- @mishajosephs
Lee Summers- @leesummers2
Brenda Braxton- @pausebybbraxton_
Gregory Clifton Smith- @smith.the.educator
Lee Soulja + Black Pride NYC- @NYCBlackPride
Mother Juan Aviance- @motherjuanaviance
Kevin Aviance- @kevinavianceofficial
Mani De Osu- @manideosu_writes
Nii Lartey De Osu- @neodandi
Karl & Michael: @manilaluzon & @micjrez
SUPERSTAR FRIENDS AND FAMILY (NAMES & SOCIALS):
Geronimo Frias: @geronimo.ambert
Acid Betty: @acidbetty
Bebe Zahara Bennet: @bebezahara
Brandon Voss: @vossevents
Calen Epiphany Getpaid: @epiphanygetpaid
Kenny Kenny: @kennykennyphotos
Candis Cayne: @candiscayne
R0zegold + Torch NYC: @torchnyc
Paul Alexander + Trinkets!: @24_bond_arts_center
Nora Burns + The Village A Disco Daydream: @thevillage_play
Soni Withaneye: @soniwithaneye, Jada Valenciaga: @jadavalenciaga, Honey Davenport: @honeydavenportofficial
Peppermint: @peppermint247
Mila Jam: @themilajam
Corey Tut: @coreytut
Adam Joseph: @adamjosephmusic
Cazwell: @cazwellofficial
Barbra Tucker: @barbratuckersings
Kelly King: @kellykingsings
Marty Thomas: @martythomaslovesyou
Marissa Rosen: @themarissarosen
Emily MacNamara: @theemilymac
Joe Mode: @mojo71
Jaqueline Dupree: @dupreejacqueline
Peter Martin: @thetriadnyc
Screaming Queens Entertainment: @screamingqueens
Shequida: @shequidahall
The Cutting Edge Elite Inc.: @cuttingedgeelite
Cocktail Caterers: @cocktailcaterers
Dalicia Glam: @deliciaglam
Lady Bunny: @official_lady_bunny
Sherry Vine: @misssherryvine
Karl Giant: @karlgiant
Kendra Kinx: @kendrakinx
Frankie Sharp: @frankiesharp
Deryck Todd: @derycktodd
Robert Oyola: @roc_solo
Richard Rikki Huff: @richard.huff1 + @
Designers I’ve worked and collaborated with check out their brands:
AFRAELI: @afraeli
Larry Underwood- The House of Underwood: @houseofunderwood_
Geoffrey Mac: @geoffreymac
Grace Edwards: @graceedwards52
Brandon David Brown: @brandondavidbrown
Photographers I have worked as a muse for over the recent years. Follow their work:
JJ Images: @j.j.images
Mari J Brooklyn: @marijbrooklyn
Wilson Models: @jwilson77
Parkin-Ross: @smileagain.photography
Steven Underhill: @steveunderhill
Tün Lîn Htet Photography: @tunphoto
Teniola Komofala – TeniKomo Photography: @tenikomo
List of organizations with which I have been affiliated and am affiliated with currently. Check out their pages!
The Los Angeles Film + Recording School: @lafilmschool + @larecordingschool
Grammy U: @grammyu
New Filmmakers Los Angeles: @nfmla
Dancer’s Resources Center: @thedancersresource
Q + MMUNITY LGBTQ+ Support Group at The LA Film School
In The MeanTime Men’s Group: @inthemeantimemen
Zumba ZIN Club & Aileen Padilla: @aileenpad
The West American Film Company- John Gutierrez & Michelle Vogle: @johngutierrez, @michellevogle, @thewestamericanfilmcompany
The Human Rights Campaign @humanrightscampaign
American Civil Liberties Union @aclu_nationwide
The Entertainment Community Fund @alifeinthearts
The Episcopal Actors Guild @actorsguildnyc
MusiCares- @musicares
The Human Resources Administration- @nyc__news
The Writers Guild of America- @wgaeast
Dixon Place Theatre- @dixonplace
The Mama Foundation- @mamafoundation
Sing Harlem- @singharlem
Broadway Connections- @bwayconnection
The Sundog Theatre- @sundog_theatre
Dancers Over 40 Organization- @dancersover40official
John Queen Mum Stella Doro Sefakis- @stellaqueenmum
Yoga To The People- @yoga_to_the_people
The LGBTQ Center – LGBT Bar Association Help Desk- @lgbtcenternyc
New York Friends and SUPERSTAR Family! Check out their work!
The American Musical & Dramatic Academy New York @amdaofficial; Elaine Pertachough
Long-time friends, dreamers, & Mentors:
Aneury Santos: RIP
Sir Ari Gold: RIP
Sahara Davenport: RIP
Joseph Bleu: RIP
Freelance network in Los Angeles:
Lemon Supreme (Clayo Hughes): www.lemonsupreme.com
Hadrian Home LLC: https://www.facebook.com/
MY SOCIALS-
Website: https://www.
Instagram: https://www.
Youtube: https://www.youtube.
Other: Links to my current demo I am working on reproducing at LARS:
Image Credits
Neo Kidd Photography: @neokiddphotography
We Are Found AU: @wearefoundau
Juan Lamus: @juan_lamus_photoworks
Flor Moya: @flordekiki
AV Brown Photography: @avbrown_photography
Mr. Don Photos Multi-Media: @mrdonphotos
Antwon LeMonte Smith-Brown: @theblaquestar + @sudukuu22
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