WHO's WHO in 2009: THE TOP "PROMOCIALITES"

From the veteran promoters Jacque and Leata Land of Platinum Group to the new jack promoters Showtime Marketing Group, the STL has seen a record number of promoters and socialites doing their thing to keep the STL on and poppin with events. OUTTOWN has gotten the reputation for being the critic of who's who and who's doing what and why. Well, this year, we have many "promocialites" (that's promoters and socialites blended) who made names for themselves in the St. Louis area and beyond for promoting hot events, hosting hot events, gigging at hot events in the city and beyond and hitting the hottest events and parties as an STL Star.



New this year, we had OUTTOWN readers to vote for their Top Promocialite of 2009 by emailing their favorites promoter/socialite. After tallying all the votes, OUTTOWN readers picked for The Top Promocialite of 2009:



COREY BLACK, poet, recording artist, self promoter.


This brotha was all over the place in St. Louis either hitting the poetry scene at various venues including Soul U, Cafe Soul, Suite Soul Spot as well as white venues such as Atomic Cowboy and Llwyelyn's. He also got the biggest crowd of his burgeoning career this summer opening up for Lupe Fiasco at Live on the Levee (along with members of the hip-hop underground group Made Monarchs) with over 30, 000 onlookers on the Archgrounds. He also released a popular single, "Finger in my Nose" that stirred up a popular hand greeting. Not to mention, getting initial recognition as a poet duo with star STL poet Xplicit with their rapid wordplay performances across the city and beyond.







Before we get into the Top 20 Promocialites, those charted were picked based upon the criteria as follows:
-Their frequency as promoters of events over the year
-Their listings each week on OUTTOWN
-Their event's lasting impact, memorability and the attendance.


*The countdown is for individuals who are not affiliated with radio, TV or print media who's job is to promote events.





Here are the prmoters/socilaites who didnt make the Top 10 but are ranked based upon the criteria:

11. Corey Black

12. Vanita Applebum/VAE

13. Teddy Blackett/B Free Papparazzi

14. Arty J

15. MPAC /Mo Spoon

16. LME/Otto Nichols and Tim Slater

17. Koncepts/Keith Harris

18. Imperial Events/Ezekiel Obasi and Meka Wilson

19. Close To Famous/Triky and Hollywood

20. Major Brands/Elson and Tre Williams

HERE ARE THE TOP 10 PROMOCIALITES of 2009

10. Cafe Soul/Coco Soul, Angie Brown and Nichol Stevenson

This “sista power” promotions group kept their R&B showcase events coming each month even with the challenges of moving to three different venues (Lucas House, Old Rock House, and currently the Loft). They sponsored and co-sponsored memorable events involving national recording artists ( Al B Sure, Terell Carter, K Jon ) and two Michael Jackson tribute shows that were some of their greatest. Two of its members Soul and Brown also did their solo projects with Soul as a singer (Live on the Levee, Alive Fashion Week) and actress (Black Rep’s “Tell Me Something Good”) and Brown as a employee for concerts for Live Nation (Superjam 2). All three did their share of going to various hot events in St. Louis as well.

9. Stress Free Fridays/Markanthony Jones, Joe Jennings and Mario Wayne

This suit and tie promotion duo was non stop as always with their weekly networking happy hour that they hosted every week at different venues in St. Louis from The Loft downtown to St. Louis Happy Hour in the County. They also co-sponsored events with other promoters (Film Fridays and Soul Stylz) and they celebrated their 5th year anniversary at Posh. They are one of the few promoters who had an event every week of the year. Later this year, they added a new member to its group, Singlesvibe’s Joe Jennings. All three were spotted at many events in the St Louis area mostly catering to the upscale and over 35 crowd. In March, Wayne ventured briefly with Jennings in club owner ship when they opened the club, Factory in downtown STL, but unfortunately the club closed soon after it opened.

8.Wellz Fargo Slim (left)/Loose Cannon

Its been a trying time for the King of the Hood this year. First, when Slim took ownership of Lush Nightclub earlier in the year, he had weekly weekend events (Best Damned Fridays Period and Sunday Night Shindig) hosted by Mocha Latte and the celebs who came through after their concerts (Keyshia Cole, Bow Wow). But the club closed in June after some license issues. During the lull, he put on parties outside of St. Louis (Miami) and locally he put on events with promoters like his promoter family, the Derrty Ent and UC ME (pictured is Kyjuan of UC ME) including the annual Derrty v Loose Cannon Basketball Game at Chaifetz. In September, Slim and former VOKALexec Yomi Martin reopened Lush under new name, Karma after a false grand opening weekend a few weeks prior with weekly events (Friday Night Fixx and Sutra Saturdays ) hosted by Latte and celebs coming through (Vivica Fox, Maxwell, Boris Kodjoe) and sometime on Sundays. They also host Monday Night Football event there as well. Slim--who was the TOP STL-ICIOUS male of 2009-- also was part of the Red Carpet premiere of the movie, ‘Streetballers” (that he also was an actor in) that was screened at Ronnies 20.It was also shown at the Tivoli as well as Mann Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

7.Rob Kirk/Precision

Kirk’s Precision was all over on the STL scene as a promoter and socialite. As a promoter he had many weekly events at 609 called Ladies Night with DJ Charlie Chan, and joined with Liquid Assets for Day and Night (with SYGU as well) which had a day and night portion of an event on Saturdays at Black Label, which then turned to Signature Saturdays with Liquid Assets held at Black Label (then moved to Jazz Spot) and DJ Needles for a laid back networking event called Amplified at Sugar’s Lounge. On his own, he started Flawless Fridays at Black Label for the mature crowd. .. He was one of the few who had an event going on almost every week of the year. Kirk, who made several listings of STL-ICIOUS, was at many of the hot parties that were put on by many of the promoters listed in the Top 20.

6.Freetime/Adrian Saddler, Daryl Freirson and Roy Robinson

This swagged out promotions group had the reputation of having the best themed parties of 2009 mainly at Mike Shannons ("Raising the Bar," "Glow"). They also had two popular weekly networking events that lasted together most of 2009 at Exo Nightclub (Groove Theory on Thursdays and Sexy Saturdays) and they did many co-promotions with other groups including Koncepts (THE GRAND OPENING OF "THE FACTORY"), 1st Fridays, and Stress Free Fridays and LiquidAssets (the upcoming Miracle on Washington on Xmas nite at Lure) . The trio also have been very active on the socialite scene throughout 2009 especially Roy Robinson who made memorable appearances at this year's Annie Malone Parade steppin with his brothers of Omega Psi Phi, dressed as Bruce Leroy at Exo's Halloween Party and being celebrated at his 30th b-day at Fun E Katz's Jokes N Notes at the Ambassador .

5.Fred Finely and Harry Michel

This promotions team is the only veterans on the countdown (since 1995) and are still going strong on the upscale promotions and socialite scene. Their juggernaut 1st Fridays continued to be a popular networking event mainly for the college age crowd at various venues in the STL (including their own club, Exo). At Exo, the Friday-Saturday venue was where many of the promoters who are listed in the Top 20 (especially Major Brands) used to host their events , mini concerts were put on(Rahsaan Patterson) and many celebrity appearances (Steven Jackson of The St. Louis Rams, Dougie Fresh, Bill Bellamy). A first happened when the club was used as the broadcasting hub for the Foxxhole Radio Show in November. The duo also celebrated one year opening Exo in September. Of the two, Finley was the most visible on the social scene.

4.Mocha Latte/Monopoly

The Queen of Promotions has been No. 1 on our countdown since 2006. Although she is no longer in the top spot, she still managed to do her promotions magic this year. She started off the year strongly doing her hosting duties at Lush Nightclub every Friday and Sunday at her events The Best Damned Fridays Period and Sunday Night Shindig (that were both moved from the Skybox on Lacledes Landing). But thing halted in May when Lush closed. But that didnt stop Latte from hosting other events including a guest host at Soul U's Solace event at Nubia and hosting the Top Urban Fashion Show of 2009, Angels in Disguise at SLU in tribute to her cousin, the late fashion designer Shawn Williams, She also continued doing her social thing at some of the promoters events listed on the top 20. She also added public relations to her crown by helping to promote the local film, "Streetballers." and its Red Carpet event at Ronnie's 20(where she also attended) Latte, who is the STL ICIOUS female of the year and OVERALL STL -ICIOUS person of the year, also helped on several out of town social events including assisting Slim/Loose Cannon on a Miami party hosted by Nelly, a video shoot with Teairra Mari in Las Vegas and the Hollywood premiere of 'Streetballers." In September, she resumed her hosting duties at ths new Karma Nightclub (formerly Lush) where she hosts the events Friday Night Fixx and Sutra Saturdays.

3.Liquid Assets/Chelsea Dawn, Ill Will and Phil Assets

This new promotions group made a big splash in 2009 starting off with a memorable award show, The Notice Me Awards in Feburary at Forest Park Golfhouse where they selected the Top STL promoters and models of this year. New to the countdown, they also created the popular weekly event Red Hott Thursdays, that's been going strong all year, held at Lure Nightclub. They collaborated with other promoters including MPAC for Tastemakers, an event that was held briefly at Lure Nightclub; along with SYGU and Precision, also produced Day and Night, an event that occurred on weekly Saturdays in the Spring at Black Label where there was a Day party then a night party followed. After that ended, the group, along with Precision, came up with Signature Saturdays that also took place at Black Label (then moved to the Jazz Spot). The group also put on a memorable concert with Ginuwine at the Loft and a held afterparties during the MLB All Star Game festivities(mainly at Lure with Cedric the Entertainer hosting). Their last event of the year is the Miracle on Washington at Lure (co-sponsored with Rob Kirk,Koncepts and Freetime) Separately, each member attended many events put on by promoters in the Top 20 and Chelsea Dawn, who is a model in St. Louis, also assisted in many other project separate from Liquid Assets under her own namesake promotions company including hosting at MPR's Grand Tuesdays at Club Viva. Ill Will hosted events including Signiture Saturdays and the Greedy Genius fashion show at Karma.

2.Soul Stylz/Jamie Spencer, Carletta, Cornell Boone and Treanna Kerney (Sarah Bryant not pictured)

This promotions team, which consist of a dapper dressed socialite (Boone) and a popular STL singer (Spencer) and rotating female assistants, this group managed to have weekly events every week of 2009. They started off the year with the weekly Friday nite networking event Beautiful (with Koncepts) at Sleek (then moved to the City Lounge). They also created for a brief time the monthly Modern Luxury at F15teen that brought celebrity hosts (including Lisa Hartwell of the Real Housewives of ATL) After Beautiful ended, in the summer, they, along with Close to Famous, started Breathe another weekly Friday event at Exo Nightclub. Also at Exo, they produced, "Fashion For A Cause” an annual Fashion show to help build awareness of Breast Cancer. This year, Boone, who has several accounts with major alcohol companies (especially Nuvo), expanded his company to events in Kansas City sponsoring events at some of the clubs in that area including the Zen Nightclub. Spencer continued his singing appearances at Cafe Soul's monthly showcase and each member could be seen at many promoters events listed in the Top 20. At years end, the group brought back its popular event Zodiac Connection now presenetd in Kansas City. This year they added member model Sarah Bryant who replaced Treanna Kerney(who's still a member) who moved to Chicago.

AND THE NUMBER ONE PROMOCIALITE OF 2009 IS:

1.Soul U/Xplicit and DJ 76 Kid

This new promotions team made an impressive dent in 2009 as well as individually. New to the countdown this spoken word/dee-jay duo created the most weekly events each month on a constant basis in 2009. Their event Soul Stages which showcases local and national poets was a popular event on Wednesdays that have survived many venues including House of Comedy (when it was located at Laclede's Landing), and now on Thursdays at its newest home STL Finest Bar and Grill (The event also celebrated its one year anniversary at the Grill as well). They also spun off the spoken word series with Soulace, a monthly Saturday event that was at Nubia and Not Just Another Bookstore and Soul Live, a monthly spoken word showacse for artsist to record their own CD that were housed at Cultural Cafe and Legacy Bookstore.

Midyear, they worked with other promotion teams inclduing Nightsociety.org for the brief Artistic Essence events that bridged fashion and poetry. On the East Side, along with Mo Soul presented Fresh Air, an open mike showcase for soul artists every 1st and third Wednesdays at Mister G's.

Separately, Xplicit went across the bi-state as well outside the area to perrform his wordplay poetry at the mic at different venues and events (earlier in the year he teamed with spoken word artist Corey Black). DJ 76 Kid was a well sought out dee-jay to some of the promoters events on the Top 20 (including Stress Free Fridays and B Free Paparazzi)and he created the popular Poetry Ball at Phyliss Wheatley Center where many local and regional spoken word artists performed before an after five dinner crowd.