After working in the entertainment industry for more than 20 years, producer, musical director and musician James Strong is packing his bags and moving from California back to his home state of Indiana. Strong is the new director of the IU Soul Revue at Indiana University Bloomington, a group that specializes in popular music styles from the 1960s, including Motown, funk, soul and R&B. Students who join the IU Soul Revue learn all aspects of the entertainment industry, from production, marketing and promotions, to performing on stage.
While working in the entertainment industry, Strong visited France, Japan and Italy and worked with famed musicians. Now, Strong has the goal of sharing his accumulated wisdom with the next generation of entertainers.
“You know all the NBA and NFL players, after their time on the field they hang their cleats up and go into coaching or to broadcasting, and a new generation comes onto the field? It feels like the natural evolution for me: to have a decent career, and now teach a new generation how to be successful,” he said.
Strong is no stranger to Indiana University. As an undergraduate, Strong was a member of the IU Soul Revue and says his time at the college taught him the skills needed for success in the entertainment industry.
“I had a certain amount of skills in me such as research, follow-through, discipline and how to fill out a job application. Some guys are surviving on raw talent; they are super talented musically but don’t have the business savvy for when the music isn’t going so well. I had education to fall back on. I will be teaching (the students) how to become successful and how to connect the arts and education,” said Strong.
Education has always been important to him. As an undergraduate, a band Strong was a member of received a record deal, so he delayed finishing his degree to tour with his group. In 2011, he returned to IU to complete his degree. Strong credits the mentorship he received from his uncle, William “Skinny” Alexander, a political activist and popular Recorder columnist, who was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 1972, for showing him what was possible through education and perseverance.
“He was a great, great man. He taught me how to tie my tie, wear a suit and shine my shoes while I was in elementary school. While I was in the eighth grade and he was a part of the Indiana State Legislature, he selected me to be his page. I put my suit on, walked down to the Statehouse and saw him in action. It really opened up my eyes to see, wow, this is actually possible knowing that he actually accomplished this.”
Beyond teaching students the ins and outs of the entertainment industry, Strong hopes to offer students a person to confide in while completing their higher education. Strong says that as an undergraduate, stepping onto campus was like entering a new world.
“I knew that what I was seeing around me in the inner city I didn’t want to take part in. I wanted to do something better with my life. In (my high school), it was pretty much just Black and white, and we didn’t have any Latinos around, or any Asians. I went to the IU-campus and I was like, wow. You get exposed to more cultures, become friends with them,” said Strong. “We have a lot of talented kids who need to be exposed to opportunities. I came from inner city Indianapolis, the environment that a lot of these kids (that I will be teaching) are in. Who wouldn’t want to pick the brain of someone who has walked the walk that you are thinking about taking?”
As the new director, Strong hopes to pass on some of the lessons he has learned throughout life, including how to conduct oneself in a professional manner and the importance of being a team player.
“I want to teach the kids about what it means to be in the entertainment environment, to be in an organization with a multi-platinum superstar artist, the things you encounter, and how to handle yourself. I’ve played all over the world, and I think it’s largely because I learned you don’t have to be Michael Jordan to be a part of a winning team. The key is to discover what role you can play.”
