Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dwight Trible. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dwight, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I was thinking about this question yesterday.
I am a singer of songs about peace and love for all. Believe it or not, I remember being about 2 years old, sitting the family living room on a burnt orange couch that was by the window in our 2 bedroom Apartment.
The curtains were pastel pink and green chiffon. they were blowing in slow motion by the tender breeze. My mother was singing beautiful songs maybe by Doris Day and Ella Fitzgerald as she cleaned the house.
Her voice was in harmony with wafting curtains, I was completely mesmerized and taken by the music without even being conscious of how this force had me in a hypnotic dream state where time was non existant. I have been that way ever since. I don’t think I had a choice in the matter, I believe I was predestined before I was born to be involved in music
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I was born in the laurel Homes Housing project in the West End of Cincinnati Ohio. Number 4 out of 7 children. My older brother Frank the jazz guitarist / painter took me under his wing and exposed me to the wonderful world of artistic expression. when we graduated from high school he went to Drake University in Des Moine Iowa and I moved to LA seeking to learn more about The Black Arts Movement of Watts/ South LA, hoping to find some of those great people that I had heard about (The Watts Prophets Arthur Blythe , Pan African People Arkestra, Horace Tapscott , Ojenke, Harold Land, Johnny Otis) This was in 1975 I found my way to the Watts Coffee House and The Watts Towers where I met 2 important people that helped steer me in the right direction and shape my consciousness, Kamau Daaood and John Otterbridge .They were running the Watts Towers at that time The towers was a beautiful peaceful sanctuary. through this association I learned about Leimert Park and St Elmo Village where I met a man who was a living work of art, Rozzelle Sykes who took me under his wing and allowed me to sing on their annual Jazz festival .
At that time I was really hungry for the music. I was out every night going to various jam sessions and open mic’s, and slowly but surely I became a fixture on the scene doing gigs with various bands all over the city. At that time I also happened upon a Swedish click of musicians, one of the guys turned out to be one of my dearest friends in the world, a sax player named Bo Svensson who has since moved back to Stockholm through Bo I wound up in a band with Jimi Hendrix Drummer Mitch Mitchell. Some where around 1983 I met drummer Carl Burnett who had a spot in Leimert Park that was the blueprint and predesessor to The World Stage It was call Artworks 4. which had concerts ,jam sessions and workshops. I started singing with the house band on weekends. This place lasted until about 1987 or 88. Thats when Kamau and Billy Higgins decided to start The World Stage. there was no internet back then so Kamau would get on the phone and physically call people on the phone to let them know about concerts and other events. About the 3rd week that they were open I began playing there on a regular basis, thus was the begining of my long relationship with The Stage. It became my home base, I played there at least once a month, this also marks the begining of my working with Horace Tapscott and Billy Higgins. This was also about the time that I met my good friend and Activist partner torre Brannon Reese The founder of the FAMLI (Fighters for African Mental Liberation Incorporated) he is also the founder of the Malcolm X Festival We began working on many community issues and injustices in the community
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Treat everyone with Love and Humanity
2. When you see injustice speak up and call it out.
3. Stay humble and hungry. you never know where or who your blessing or your lesson will come from.
This is also what I would advise any young person coming up
Be honest, I read some where , be impeccable with your word.
Do not compromise your beliefs
Have complete and total faith and surrender in the creator of the universe
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
The challenge that I am facing now is time.
At this time of my life can I still summon the energy that it takes to continue to be effective at my job as an administrator and advocate for the arts, and to still be a relevant and forward reaching performing artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: theworldstage.org
- Instagram: The World Stage
- Facebook: The World Stage
- Youtube: The World Stage
