Nashville, Tenn. (July 13, 2023) – As first reported by Billboard, music industry vets Chuck Rhodes and Dr. Glenn Toby have officially launched The Entertainment Alliance (TEA), a new full-service, multi-genre entertainment company headquartered in Nashville.
TEA, headed up by co-founders Rhodes (CEO) and Dr. Toby (President), will include an in-house record label with global distribution (via The Orchard), management, publishing, booking, as well as label services including social media and public relations. TEA will also broker select movies, television series, documentaries and subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) products. TEA’s A&R services are based in New York, with a satellite office in Atlanta.
Flagship artists will be announced soon with an inaugural project release scheduled for later this year.
“As we move forward with this new company, I am proudly and respectfully standing on the shoulders of those who have mentored me along the way, all legendary in their own right,” says Rhodes. “Jimmy Bowen, Nick Hunter, James Stroud, Shelia Shipley Biddy and Bob Frank just to name a few. These men and women have inspired, taught, and prepared me to take on a leadership role in this business of music and entertainment we all love.”
“Rhodes is the Clive Davis of the South whether it’s country, southern blues or soul and I’ve been involved in hip-hop, pop, R&B and dance,” explains Dr. Toby. “We don’t care about age, race or genre; we’re bringing everybody in. The fuel for this new venture is two music industry veterans that have written, arranged, produced, performed, advised and discovered talent in our more than 40 years of combined experience. We’ve been behind the curtains for so long that it’s time to come to the forefront.”
A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, Rhodes migrated to Los Angeles in the 70s where he began his career as a keyboard player, working with such luminaries as Cher, Ray Charles and many more artists. A return to the Lone Star state in the 80s saw Rhodes transition to the radio industry. The energetic executive was an integral part of the team that made KVIL the No. 1 adult contemporary station in America. Rhodes then set his sights on Nashville and moved to Music City to work with Irving Azoff and Jimmy Bowen at MCA Records. In 1990, Azoff recruited Rhodes to develop the newly created Giant Records with acclaimed producer James Stroud and legendary promotion man Nick Hunter. The team went on to enjoy tremendous success, including seven No. 1 singles with Clay Walker and launching the career of the late Daryle Singletary, who Rhodes worked with for 25 years. Rhodes has worked with a diverse roster of influential artists, among them Loretta Lynn, Kenny Rogers, Charlie Daniels and the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson. He currently helms several successful enterprises, including his production company, On the Rhodes Entertainment, and his record label/distribution company in partnership with Bob Frank Entertainment, which has thrived for more than 15 years.
As founder/CEO of Glenn Toby Enterprises (GTE), the New York native shepherds an international holding corporation with extensive ties in the real estate, technology, entertainment and sports communities. The list of artists, actors and athletes he’s worked with is extensive, including LL Cool J, Positive K, Rapper Saigon, the late Lance Reddick, Swizz Beatz, Damion Hall of Guy, actor Jason Mitchell, “Queen of House” Barbara Tucker, David Banner, former undisputed cruiserweight O’Neil Super Nova Bell, former Philadelphia Eagle Assante Samuel and Green Bay Packers legend Antonio Freeman. A noted philanthropist, Dr. Toby is also founder of The Book Bank Foundation, which promotes literacy. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, Dr. Toby worked hard to overcome multiple challenges, including homelessness. Over the years, Dr. Toby’s career expanded beyond the spotlight to encompass all facets of the entertainment industry from promoting and producing to contract negotiation, public speaking engagements and authoring books. He’s been honored with The Harvard Outstanding Man of the Year “Vanguard Award,” The National Urban League Leadership and Achievement Award, The Princeton. University “Excellence Award” and has received the Congressional Proclamation of Honor. In his career, Dr. Toby has been responsible for selling over 50 million records with artists he has been associated with through advising, consulting, managing, discovering, or writing and producing for.
Reach Rhodes via email at chuck@theentertainmentalliance.com and Dr. Toby at dgt@theentertainmentalliance.com.
For more information on TEA, visit theentertainmentalliance.com.
*Photo credit: BMR Photography LLC
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