We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alonzo Townsend a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alonzo, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
That’s easily from my father and his story in whole. My late father is legendary Delta Blues musician and Grammy winner, Henry James Townsend. He was born in 1909 and ran away from home at age 9 because of “discipline” his father promised and left on a train car not knowing where he was going.
If you can survive throughout half of the things he seen and been through, I would be doing an disservice in folding or complaining about what it takes to do this work in advocating and strengthening the ecosystem of this St. Louis Music heritage and identity. It’s harder than I expected lol but it’s worth the full scope of what it can fully convey.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Alonzo continues to make significant contributions to the St. Louis music scene and made it his mission to bring it to major infrastructure status.
Founder of The Townsend and Three Agency, an Artist Management & Enrichment agency set to help independent artists obtain the necessary tools to thrive and survive in St. Louis.
This was built with the management business ingrained in him by his late legendary father, Blues Patriarch & Grammy award winner, Henry Townsend.
Alonzo used his tools and lifted the St. Louis music environment with help of a dynamic resume’ of names like St. Louis natives, Tonina, Marquise Knox, Lydia Caesar, Legendary Vocalist, Denise Thimes, Hip-hop heavyweight, Recording artist & inaugural Director of Musical Experience for St. Louis City SC, Mvstermind, premier creative, DJ Nico Marie, legendary stable, Midwest Avengers, Powerhouse, Dylan Triplett, and current rising star, NandoSTL, among others.
He started working for his father, on the business side, at the age of nine, and his career has progressed from there as an Emcee, Manager, and advocate of St. Louis Music now currently directing all live music experiences at The Dark Room through his The Townsend and Three Agency.
The Townsend and Three Agency produced apx. 90% of headline shows for St. Louis artists at City Winery St. Louis in 2023-2024.
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?
Being teachable, being thick skinned, and having the ability to not be satisfied with opening just a few doors. Everything is always evolving in our industry that means learning is never done.
Everyone will have an opinion or critique what they feel the work is and the way you do it. But everyone also isn’t looking at the bigger picture like you may be…my everyday mantra is “this is and will always be bigger than you.”
Sometimes our work only makes sense to those who know the picture is bigger than them.
My best advice is enjoy the journey. Forget the short cuts…enjoy the joy and pain and fruits…of the journey.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
Expose me to different faces, places, and environments that helped mold my mind and vision of the world. Challenge my inner self to understand what was being created around me and where I came from.
I think even bigger what to and not to accept.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @thetownsendx3agency
- Facebook: The Townsendx3 Agency
- Linkedin: Alonzo J. Townsend
Image Credits
Alonzo Townsend Archives
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
