don_mizell-coolBIOGRAPHY

Don Mizell was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree from Swarthmore College and a JD from Harvard Law School. Mr. Mizell has been active in the music and entertainment industry for two decades. A few of Mr. Mizell’s accomplishments include:

  • Development of the successful marketing strategy for creation of the Martin Luther King, Jr. national holiday;
  • Author of Stevie Wonder’s speech launching the Martin Luther King, Jr. national holiday;
  • The first NAACP Image Award for Broadcasting (1981);
  • Served as Interim Head of Business Development/Consumer Products Division of the Walt Disney Company, responsible for marketing the Little Mermaid music products line;
  • Wrote and narrated a documentary film entitled “Ghana, Land of the Gold Coast,” a MonuMint Films Production;
  • Produced and directed a documentary, “Black Across the Tracks: Old Black Fort Lauderdale,” Broward County Florida Library, African American Research Library, Oral History Preservation Project, 2002.

Mr. Mizell has lectured at various colleges, including the University of California at Berkeley, University of Rhode Island, Wellesley College, and Rutgers University. He is the father of two daughters. In 2005 an album that Mr. Mizell participated in producing, “Genius Loves Company”, won the Grammy for Best Album of the Year (2004).

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: DON MIZELL, ESQ.

EDUCATION

  • Harvard Law School – J.D., 1975
  • Swarthmore College – B.A., Anthropology, 1971
  • American Film Institute – Film Producing, 1976

HONORS

  • Swarthmore Council of Alumni, 1994
  • Aspen Institute Fellow, 1974
  • Thomas J. Watson Fellow, 1972

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT/MANAGEMENT/STRATEGIC PLANNING CONSULTANT (1995-2002)

  • ShoWiz, Inc.
  • Disney Interactive
  • BRE Magazine
  • Tiger Records
  • Zambia Institute of Mass Communications
  • Sew It International (L.A./Ghana)

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT/ENTERTAINMENT STRATEGIC PLANNING CONSULTANT (1988-1994)

  • Walt Disney Co. (Consumer Products Division): Character Acquisition and Development; Children’s Music; Disney Consumer Data Base; Disney Stores; New Mickey Mouse Club
  • Motown Records: MoJazz Division
  • Zoo Entertainment: Urban/Contemporary Music
  • Warner Brothers Records: Contemporary Jazz
  • Virgin Records: Reggae and World Music
  • Qwest Records: Urban/Contemporary Music
  • BRE: Black Music Trade Publication

CORPORATE MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE (1977-1984)

  • VP/GM Urban/Contemporary Music/Jazz/Fusion – Elektra Records
  • VP/GM/PD KJLH-FM Owner, Stevie Wonder

ARTIST MANAGEMENT/CAREER DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT (1980-2002)

  • Stevie Wonder
  • DeBarge
  • Morris Day
  • The Braxton Brothers
  • Kevin Toney
  • Various Jazz and Reggae Artists

MUSIC/VIDEO (1989-1994)

  • Walt Disney Records: Produced “Sebastian,” sequel LP to “The Little Mermaid” soundtrack (certified gold)
  • Don Mizell Productions: Produced “Rastine” and “AU” LP’s; Produced and Directed “Rastine” and “AU” music videos for Zoo Entertainment/BMG

BROADCASTING (1972-1992)

  • WGBH-TV (PBS): “The Advocates,” Public issues talk show
  • WHRB-FM: Harvard University, “Aphrocentric”, Weekly broadcast music show,
  • KJLH-FM: “AfroCentric”, Weekly broadcast music show
  • KPFK-FM (Pacifica Foundation): “Fusion and Beyond,” Weekly broadcast music show

INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL AWARDS AND HONORS

  • 1996: National Library of Poetry North American Open Poetry Contest – Winner – “Voodoo Rue”
  • 1990: AFI Alumni Writers Competition – Best Original Screenplay – “Harlem Goes to Harvard”
  • 1985: Outstanding Young Man in America
  • 1983: BRE Publications, Inc. – Broadcasting GM of the Year
  • 1982: NAACP Image Award – Community Service
  • 1981: Crenshaw YMCA – Man of the Year

COMMITTEES AND MEMBERSHIPS

  • 1999: Board of Trustees, Friends of The Watts Towers Arts Center – Chairman, Watts Towers Arts Center Jazz Festival
  • 1980-1994: National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences – Jazz, Reggae and World Music Committees (Grammys)
  • 1984: National Jazz Service Organization/National Endowment for the Arts (NJSO/NEA) – Founding Member Board of Trustees/General Counsel