Gene Shelton: Music Publicist Legend; Using Passion to Obtain a Dream Career
KENT, OH- Passion is something that for some is hard to find, and for others helps drive their success. Gene Shelton, currently a Kent State University professor in the College of Communication & Information has structured his entire professional career around being passionate about what he is involved with.
His current passion is to use his knowledge and experience in hopes to help his students excel in their current endeavors. The 1972 graduate of Kent State most recently was awarded the 2017 Diversity in Media Distinguished Leadership Award given to one individual in the College of Communication & Information who had demonstrated excellence in diversity and media on a local level. His background comes with over 30 years of experience as a music publicist with most of his work being with Motown and Warner Bros. Records. He also spent time working for Columbia and Epic Records as well.
Shelton had the unique opportunity to represent and work with some of the music industries biggest household names such as Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Seal, Rick James, The Beach Boys, Ray Charles, and Michael Jackson during his Off the Wall and Thriller albums as well as countless others. At Motown, Shelton eventually served as manager of press and talent relations and later became the vice president of media relations for Warner Bros. Records. To work with highly notable people and have as unique of a career as Shelton takes the right attitude. It takes focus, a work ethic, a high level of character and strong passion. “It is one thing to want to do something, and it’s another thing to actually do it,” said Shelton. “A lot of people have a fear of success and failure, but sometimes failure is the best thing and you shouldn’t fear it.”
To achieve anything that is extraordinary, or may seem difficult to others as well as extremely unique may just take a specific kind of thought process and Shelton alluded to that notion. “I think it is okay to invest and believe in yourself,” stated Shelton. “Other people might not have the same vision or direction that you have but you have to make a commitment to yourself, have some tunnel vision, do what you want to do and just make it happen.” Shelton made a lot of his dreams come true which derived from an interview he conducted with notable singer Roberta Flack during Shelton's time at the Milwaukee Sentinel in the 1970’s. Soon after this interview with Flack, he discovered his passion and was willing to take some major risks to reach his goals.
Shelton discussed that “Risk taking is something in which you have to be prepared to fail while doing. You don’t want to take the safe route and I would not have lived the life I lived without risk taking. My life was never work to me, I had fun everyday on the job and got to see and travel the world.”
Their are many proponents involved to becoming successful, one of which is your relationships with others and ability to network in your chosen profession. This is a vital step to becoming a confident and successful professional which Shelton believes strongly in.
“Networking is very powerful,” said Shelton. “It's not always about who you know but who knows you and who sees something in you that can open a door for you. Once the door is open, it will then be your duty to make sure that door doesn’t close.”
Word of mouth travels fast and creating a brand for yourself as a professional, lasting relationships and the confidence to approach those in the industry can be instrumental to the level of success you have. It is one thing to have a good job, it is another thing to have a long lasting and enjoyable career. “I was fortunate enough to have 30 years in the record business and to go work everyday and do something I enjoyed and those are the types of careers you should go for to any professional reading this,” said Shelton.
Shelton now uses everything he learned in the record business and life and channels it into his current passion which is teaching the students of Kent State University. “I thrive on coming to work, teaching students and sharing my knowledge and life experience with them,” Shelton stated. The Kent State community is lucky to have someone like Shelton teaching its students and his story serves as an inspiration to students on what the possibilities are for a career in the entertainment industry.
