Testimonials

I am honored by your request to provide this letter of recommendation in your pursuit of contracts or a position as an executive producer and special events coordinator.

After 38 years I recently retired from the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. For more than 20 years I was pleased to have your support as production assistant on a variety of projects associated with the Department of Cultural Affairs’ the Historic Leimert Park Vision Theater, the William Grant Still Arts Center, the Annual Martin Luther King Day Parade & Festival, and the City of Los Angeles African Marketplace and Cultural Affair, my favorite creation that attracted an annual audience of more than 200,000 – 350,000 attendees annually.

The opportunity to work with you on behalf of the Performing and Folk Arts Division of Cultural Affairs as Special Projects Director was rewarding on many levels. Your ability to work with others, and implement many crucial elements to special projects, concerts, and festivals contributed to the success of those events. Your skillful insight into fine arts exhibitions, filling in as Project Director and Production Stage Manager of the African Marketplace provided me with a willing and capable back up. When I employed you to assist as a production coordinator you were an enthusiastic listener and pupil and required little encouragement and enthusiasm for the role. Your work contributed to the Annual African Marketplace & Cultural Faire receiving selections in 1996 and 2002 to the “List of Top 100 Events in North America.” The section to this distinguished list is a status reserved for only the top theme parks and events in North America. This also resulted in my being invited to represent the state of California at the 1996 White House Conference on Tourism. That was the mission and goal of the African Marketplace organization in its work to build a template that could build a coalition of African American communities, artists, and small businesses that are trying to become part of the local tourism industry.

With your skills and support we were able to emphasize the cultures of the African Diaspora where the people and their diverse cultures could be experienced and guided by core values, Collaborative, Responsible, Entrepreneurial, Self-Awareness, and trusting that our purpose was to be a catalyst for change, emphasizing a shared prosperity and a better future. Through our recruitment, career development and community focused programming, we were committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive entertainment environment where high-performance talent of diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives can demonstrate that communities around the world can build on the exciting and growing tourism industry.

I am pleased to see and recognize your continued growth in planning and execution of small, mid-size, and large events from initial conception to fruition, including pre-event organization, budget management, production management, to onsite execution, and staff management.

Many of those artisans, organizations, and businesses who have worked with you trumpet your value and the benefits they gained from now owning pieces of complex conferences, events, and celebrations.

Your assistance helped with advancing the ideology and economic value of the Creative Industries and Tourism as tools for social economic development and strengthened trade relations between cultures, communities, and countries of the African Diaspora. We share a similar interest our vision of using the Creative Industry to tear down media stereotypes of minority communities, and advancing the thought that these same communities play a tremendous role in their contributions to the national tourism and trade commerce. I was pleased with your support on concerns affecting the local African American community, and happy to see your decision to continue in this field.

It is my sincere appreciation and opportunity to provide this recommendation on your behalf to any organization seeking an early to mid-career professional with a broad range of professional, academic, and personal skills, with a demonstrated vision and commitment to building relations and a brand based on a creative industry platform. I am therefore honored to support you based upon my personnel knowledge of your strong personal work ethic and experience in the field of special events and fine arts.

I can honestly and effectively attest to your expertise and qualifications demonstrated over the years, and comfortable with submitting this recommendation on your behalf and hope that positive consideration will be given you in your endeavor to attain a position in this field.

Please feel free to contact me if additional information is required.

 - James V. Burks

   Board, Los Angeles Southwest College Foundation

   LA Inner City Cultural Center Board of Director

   Destination Crenshaw Foundation Board Member

I must start with WOW! This letter is in regards to the JazzZone performing at the Casa Colina Golf Classic Tournament in October in West Covina, CA and the Casa Colina Tribute to Gala in March in Pomona, CA. Both were WOW! performances and I just had to send my thanks to you and your musicians.

It was my pleasure to have the JazzZone perform for these two major fundraisers hosted by Casa Colina Hospital and Centers for Healthcare. The music provided by the JazzZone and the specific work of you, Mr. Owens, as emcee and music coordinator were most excellent. Coordinating all of the details for timing, set-up, sound needs, etc. was so easy for me…you took care of it all.

Roscoe is excellent at creating a climate of musical excellence for the myriad of musicians and performers that contribute to the JazzZone. Roscoe is a highly knowledgeable leader and event producer who knows just how to get the maximum performance from his musicians without undermining their personal creativity. Mr. Owens features all types of musicians and expertly tailors their participation so each performer takes pride in being a part of an eclectic musical team. Again, WOW!

One of the most important goals of any event I manage is the overall guest experience. Roscoe was always willing to share his time, energy and expertise with me to help improve our guests’ experience. With confidence and without ego, he is very easy to work with and goes the extra mile.

In closing, if you ever need a reference for a potential client, I will gladly recommend the JazzZone. I confidently recommend your services to anyone hosting a corporate event, fundraiser, cocktail party or any type of celebration calling for live music. My only hesitation is that if their event falls on the same date as my next event, you might give them first choice! Please don’t take away my chance to have the WOW! again at my next event.

Roscoe, I look forward to the opportunity to work with you, Steven, Royce, Linda and the other JazzZone artists again and watch you all work your magic. Thank you…and one more time…WOW!

 - Karli Tanner, CMP 

   Associate Director, Events and Sponsorships

   Casa Colina Foundation

If I can recall correctly, you have been serving the Pasadena/Altadena SGV community for over 40 years. Your work is excellent, and your service is outstanding! You have been more than accommodating in meeting the needs of this community and the many events I produce and host. The JazzZone makes an 

event worth discussing and creates an ambiance that meets the needs of every guest.

The Late Councilmember John J. Kennedy depended on you and almost exclusively used you for all his significant events. The Honorable Councilmember Tyron Hampton used your incredible service for his Christmas celebration, which I coordinated.

Community Women Vital Voices exclusively uses your service for our many events, from President Obama to Congressman Elijah Cummings to Governor 

Gavin Newsom, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, and many more significant events we have hosted – you made the event magnificent with your incredible music.

Roscoe, you are timely, and your team knows how to deliver music in a way that creates the feeling of fun or cozy or relaxing or upbeat, yet you can make the 

environment feel soothing and conversational; you know how to set the tone for an event! The talent of JazzZone is highly respected. You have a skill which knows how to accommodate any event. The JazzZone dress code is always respectable, professional, and appropriate for each event!

Every time I called you for service, you have been there, and I am forever grateful! It is with the highest praise that I give my 100 percent 

recommendation, and if there is anything I can ever do for you, please let us know!

 - Lena Louise Kennedy

    President/CEO