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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING DONALD L. BURNSIDE
WHEREAS, Donald L. Burnside has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment and advertising industries as a writer, producer, engineer, and musical arranger; and
WHEREAS, Donald’s work and experience includes various musical legends and record labels: The Chi-Lites, Gene Chandler, The Dells, Johnny P, Romeo, Captain Sky, Harry Ray, Jerry Butler, El Coco, Brunswick Records, Chi-Sound Records, Vintertainment Records, Elektra Records, SBK Records, Atlantic Records, AVI Records, and Mercury Records; and
WHEREAS, Donald served as the VP of Operations for Granville White & Associates, where along with Granville “Granny” White and M. Glenn White, he formed Burning White Productions, Inc. and Chicago International Music; and
WHEREAS, Donald worked as a managing partner for Gene Griffin and Teddy Riley’s GR Productions, whose work included Guy, Bobby Brown, New Edition, Whitney Houston, Keith Sweat, Today, Boy George, Stephanie Mills, Basic Black, Johnny Kemp, Rex 'N Effect; and
WHEREAS, Donald is a Managing Partner with Wake Up Music/R&R Management Entertainment, music marketing consultants for Beyonce, Ne-Yo, Ludacris, Robin Thicke, Ashanti, Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey, MC Hammer, Erykah Badu, Snoop Dog, Backstreet Boys, Lady Gaga, Cash Money Records, No Limit Records, Dreamworks Records, Mariah Carey, Tamar Braxton and many more; and
WHEREAS, Donald established R&R Records, distributed by Universal Music Group, and released “I Draw Near” by Jessica Love featuring Grammy nominated star Todd Dulaney, both Cook County based artists; and
WHEREAS, “I Draw Near” peaked at #2 in Roots Music Report, spent 17 weeks in Billboard’s Top 20 Gospel Chart and was featured 4 straight weeks in iTunes New Artist Spotlight; and
WHEREAS, to improve the quality of life for the underprivileged, Donald established “The Invisible People Project”, a musical collaboration featuring some of Chicago’s top platinum and Grammy award-winning artists, whose mission is to raise awareness and funds to help feed and house Cook County’s homeless men, women, children and families; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the residents of Cook County, honor Donald L. Burnside and praise his essential contributions to the musical and cultural viability of Cook County.
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