Day 1 of The Upstream Festival & Summit Featured Quincy Jones And More!

The UpStream Music Fest

Forty years after co-founding one of the world’s most recognizable brands Microsoft, entrepreneur and philanthropist Paul G. Allen is still exploring the frontiers of engineering science and human knowledge and working to change the future.

An avid guitarist, his passion for the music of Jimi Hendrix inspired him to found MoPOP, which explores the ideas and risks that fuel pop culture. He founded the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum, a collection of rare WWII aircraft and artifacts restored to working condition, and the Living Computer Museum + Labs, a collection of restored vintage timesharing computer equipment. He believes the greatest value of art is produced when it is shared widely, which led to his founding of the Seattle Art Fair and Upstream Music Fest + Summit. He is president of Vulcan Productions, an award-winning media company that develops and supports media projects that help audiences understand and respond to challenges facing the world around them.

The Upstream Music Festival, Paul Allen’s ambitious new venture, was created to give musicians similar to Austin Texas, yearly event South by Southwest (SXSW) to showcase their northwest talent to the rest of the world.

Seattle Refined‏

The Upstream Festival & Summit started off with a bang and it all began with one of Seattle’s own. The legendary Quincy Jones speaking about working with some of the world greatest talents such as Frank Sinatra and of course Michael Jackson’s albums Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), and Bad (1987), as well as the producer and conductor of the 1985 charity song “We Are the World.” Quincy spoke about meeting Ray Charles for the first time at the age of 15. He also spoke about some of the current projects he is involved with including coming out with his own headphone line. In addition, to working on 10 movies, 6 albums, 4 broadway plays and working on serval projects all across the world.

During the Q& A segment of the Keynote session Quincy Jones spoke with local musician and Upstream Music Fest + Summit performer SassyBlack, Who shared how he has inspired her to pursue her dreams. He also spoke with current Garfield High School students about how his time at the school gave him the foundation and helped mold him into the person he is today.

UpStream Festival

Later on in the day during the second keynote session, Summit participates were educated on how important data collection is to helping artists achieve their goals by Dr. Portia Sabin the President of Kill Rock Stars Records, RCA Records Sir Director of A&R Tunji Balogun and music executive Amaechi Uzoigwe (Run The Jewels manager). They went in depth on how to use information to successfully market to new audiences.

Other things that Upstream attendees are talking about include Star Anna at Comedy Underground, Sundries at Central Saloon and Guayaba performing in front of a packed crowd. Quincy Jones was spotted at Court in the Square for Grace Love! In addition, some of the other performers showcase that were sought after Kraken Congee, Comedy Underground, House of Sparkling Ice and Piranha Shop. With Day one is the books we will have to see what else the final two days has in store for the First Annual Upstream Music Fest + Summit.

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Tags: Amaechi Uzoigwe, Dr. Portia Sabin, Paul Allen, Quincy Jones, Tunji Balogun, UpStream Music Festival, Vulcan

About the Author

Landon Buford Washington State Graduate Past Interviews include Grammy Award Winner Kenny G, David Banner, WNBA President Lisa Borders, What's Trending's CEO Shira Lazar, Ice Cube, NBC's Chicago PD LaRoyce Hawkins, Family Matters Darius McCrary, En Vogues Maxine Jones, Team USA Track & Field Member Norris Frederick, James Kyson, WNBA Great Lauren Jackson, and more.