Music Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How CC Thomas Jr of Music For Young Minds Foundation Is Helping To Change Our World
Avoid fear. So many individuals fear the unknown, but fear is the enemy of reaching a goal, so be fearless, brave and bold as you embark on your life’s journey.
As a part of our series about stars who are making an important social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing C.C. Thomas Jr an Artist, Philanthropist and Musical Director for Diana Ross, who founded the Music For Young Minds Foundation to provide free music education to youth who can’t otherwise afford it. Based in Lomita, California, the Foundation provides free access to state-of-the-art equipment, studios, classes, and professionals who help mentor, inspire, and support local youth explore their musical creativity in a safe, encouraging environment. In addition to working with Diana Ross for the last 20 years, C.C. has worked with Babyface, Jeffery Osborne, Dave Koz, Smokey Robinson and TLC.
Thank you so much for joining us on this interview series. Can you share with us the backstory that led you to this career path?
The first time I really experienced music through an instrument was around age 11 when my friend got a guitar and let me strum it. I was amazed, inspired and hooked! I asked my mom to buy me one and I played it for a while but like many kids I eventually lost interest in it. It wasn’t until I was about 15 that I became interested in it again. At that time however it only had a few strings left, so I was only able to play single note patterns. Someone told me that I was picking out the bass lines so I saved up money and with the help of my mom purchased my own electric bass and really got serious about it. I never had any professional training or lessons; I was self-taught and had the unique ability to play a song by ear. I started playing all the time and truly focused on honing my skills. Music became a mode of self-expression for me and I would get lost for hours playing, learning, listening and enveloped in the magic. Although I was musically inclined, I was also very good at math and enrolled at Tennessee State University after high school, majoring in Electrical Engineering. There I discovered the Music building, and my musical career started to develop. I met like-minded friends and together we became immersed in a musical connection that took over. After two years, I left the University to pursue my passion to become a professional musician!
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
I believe there are no such things as mistakes, only opportunities to learn and grow. With that in mind, early in my career two popular producers approached me to do a recording session. As a young university student and aspiring musician, I didn’t hesitate to say ‘YES’ when they asked me if I could read music, even though I couldn’t. I said yes, because they told me it was going to pay $1,300! I could not turn that offer down, so I thought I could just learn to read before the recording session date. Well, needless to say, I was wrong. This was my first experience in a real studio, and I was in awe and nervous at the same time; all the musicians took their places and the music sheets were placed in front of each individual including me… after some panicking and creative chart observation and listening, I ended up nailing the session through intuitive playing even though I wasn’t reading. I got through it all but it wasn’t easy. I was invited back for another session, and from that experience I learned that if I wanted to continue a career in music, I would need to learn how to read to continue to grow and excel. That day, I also learned a lot about courage and confidence, and I am so proud of myself for making it through that session and saying ‘YES’, but also for growing from it and evolving as both a musician and a human. We are always learning.
What would you advise a young person who wants to emulate your success?
There are so many lessons and bits of advice I would share with a young person wanting to emulate my career (or any career!). First and foremost, love what you do… work hard and practice your profession with discipline. If you love it, you will continue to have the hunger that it takes to navigate the challenges of life, the ups and downs of reaching your ultimate goals. When you love what you do, it isn’t a grind. Focus and invest your energy in resources on the avenues that will support your end goals — for some, that could mean investing in equipment; for others, networking or wardrobe, but understanding what areas are most beneficial to your end goals will help foster continued momentum towards achieving your professional goals.
Is there a person that made a profound impact on your life? Can you share a story?
Grammy Award winning songwriter Skip Scarborough made a significant impact on my life. I was recording with a well-known group in Nashville and Skip was producing them in the studio. I started showing up to the studio on days the group was not there just to observe Skip. My intent was simply to watch, listen and learn from him from afar. One day, he called me out and asked why I was there. When I told him it was to watch him and learn, he stopped and went over to a nearby piano. To my surprise, he couldn’t play his songs at the level that I expected — After several attempts to do so he then turned to me and said ‘I see your drive… never let your limitations limit your accomplishments.’ He went on to explain that to be successful you don’t have to be the best at everything. Through creative collaborations with the best, though, you can all become your best together. That mindset and insight changed my life and I am privileged to say I have since worked with so many of the ‘bests’ in the industry and we have all made each other better!
How are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting causes you’re working on right now?
I’ve traveled the world, toured and performed with some the industry’s biggest artists and I know first-hand that music is a universal language with the capability to build bridges, create opportunity, connect and empower individuals to achieve great things, together! With this guiding insight, I founded the Music For Young Minds Foundation to provide free music education to youth who can’t otherwise afford it. Based in Lomita, California, the Foundation provides free access to state-of-the-art equipment, studios, classes, and professionals who help mentor, inspire, and support our local youth explore their musical creativity in a safe, encouraging environment. Through the Foundation, we’ve supported hundreds of Southland youth by helping them gain confidence and by exposing them to music and its countless other developmental benefits.
Can you share with us a story behind why you chose to take up this particular cause?
The foundational story behind Music for Young Minds Foundation is truly my life story — the Foundation exists to help kids… I see myself in them and I know what to do to help them. There was a point in my life when I couldn’t address or understand my own emotions. Through music, I became understood and seen in my own unique way. Music has given me so much since I was 11 and I want to support other children with the access and opportunity to explore it as well. There is a true magic behind music that can inspire and unite individuals like nothing else I have ever experienced.
Are there three things or are there things that individuals, society, or the government can do to support you in this effort? There are a lot of things that can be done to help foster and support music education including:
Government: Empower people who support and value arts and education, ensure there are resources allocated to creative art programs both in school (formal) and outside of schools (informal). Funding towards music education and all art should be more prevalent and accessible to those who need it.
Society: Evolve the narrative and recognize the accomplishments of hard work that it takes to excel in creative arts. Society can be so quick to dismiss hard work by focusing on little things, or by throwing around titles like ‘iconic’ and ‘legendary’ — nothing comes easily, although it may appear that way.
Individuals: Support organizations and initiatives that are good for kids. By supporting these avenues to access, arts and education, we are in essence supporting our children.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started”
This is a tricky question. I am so thankful for how my career has turned out. I did not know the things I know now but if I had, my career and life may have turned out differently and I don’t know what that would have looked like; I had to learn and discover things on my own… with that in mind, the lessons Skip Scarborough taught me were so helpful and would be good for one to know when starting out. How to allocate resources and energy based on goals is a good one as well. You don’t have to be good at everything to excel in something. Avoid fear. So many individuals fear the unknown, but fear is the enemy of reaching a goal, so be fearless, brave and bold as you embark on your life’s journey.
You’re a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
I truly hope to foster a movement where we value creative arts and help make music and art education accessible and equitable for all.
Can you please give us your favorite life lesson quote? And can you explain how that was relevant in your life?
I can share two life lessons that I love and cherish that influenced my life and career in countless ways. Both lessons helped me carve my own path in music and find the joy and happiness in helping others while doing what I love. The first is, identify what you love, find your ‘gift’ and then use your gift to benefit others. For example, if you love to cook, become a chef but not to make money, but instead to feed and nourish others. The second is that when there’s an unknown door — just walk through it. Fear can paralyze us from moving forward, but when you continue to push through, the outcome can amaze you!
We are blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.
This is an easy question…I would love to spend time with President Barak Obama. To take it an additional step, I would love to have him golf at the Music for Young Minds Foundation celebrity golf tournament. I had the pleasure of meeting him when Ms. Ross received an honor at The White House and would be eager to spend more time with him 1:1, as he truly embodies the humanitarian spirit. Even when challenged with adversity, he is inspiring and uplifting!
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
Music Stars Making a Social Impact: Why & How CC Thomas Jr of Music For Young Minds Foundation Is… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.