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Ian Burke, son of a musician, first got his feet wet some 30 years ago while doing roadwork for a local Atlanta band. "That's when I decided I wanted to make it a career in Atlanta," Burke says. In 1984, upon graduating from high-school, Burke relocated from his hometown of Mount Vernon, New York to Atlanta, nicknamed the new "Motown" by many. Since that move, he has been involved with the launch of some of the city's most established acts.
The birth of Burke's professional career was as the head of the Hip Hop Department at Ichiban Records, a Georgia based label/distribution company where he focused on breaking new underground Hip Hop artist including Flint Michigan's own MC Breed and his hit single "Ain't No Future In Yo Frontin'". This position helped teach him the inner workings of an independent label and helped prepare him for what was yet to come in his career.
His next career move was at Elektra Records, hired directly by the legendary Sylvia Rhone. As the Southeast Director of A&R Ian's focus was quality over quantity. Burke's stint at Elektra included signing the teen R&B group Mista, which featured a young Bobby Valentino, and super producer and current chart-topping Akon. While there, he also helped introduce the world to one of Atlanta's signature genres, "Bass Music," by picking up the independent single, "Bankhead Bounce," by Diamond & D-Rock (half of the crunk duo, the Ying-Yang twins). Other accomplishments during his tenure there included, spearheading special events such as the Church Fire Benefit Concert in Atlanta, which aided in the restoration of churches burned throughout the south. The concert featured Mista, Akon, Keith Sweat, Silk, Michael Speaks, Goodie Mob and Kut Klose and raised over $50,000.00 in donations.
After his tenure at Elektra, Burke accepted the position of Senior Director of Creative Affairs for ASCAP (American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers) in Atlanta, where he set out to introduce new sounds and talent from the south. As Senior Director, Burke concentrated on the areas of Urban-Alternative, R&B, Hip-Hop and Rock. While there Burke successfully aided in re-branding ASCAP as the industry leader for representing some of the hottest producer/songwriters in the south such as Jermaine Dupri, Polow Da Don, Shekspere, Tricky Stewart, The Dream and others.
In between working his corporate entertainment jobs Burke never gave up his passion for independent projects and artists, keeping his ear to the streets. Some of the projects he put his stamp on, as an independent manager and A&R consultant, included Arrested Development (Chrysalis/EMI), TLC and Outkast (LaFace/Arista), Kris- Kross (Ruff House/Columbia), Xscape (SoSoDef), Sole' (Dreamworks), Debra Killings (Verity/Jive) and Blaque (Track Masters/Columbia). He also served as general manager of such Atlanta based production companies as Organized Noize Production, Inc. and Playmaker Music, LLC. With such a successful and growing list of credits, it was only a matter of time before Jermaine Dupri, self-proclaimed "Mayor of Atlanta," would seek Burke to consult for his label, SoSo Def. As consultant to SoSo Def, Burke brought new recording artists, Jarvis (So So Def/Jive) and 16 year-old actor/singer/songwriter sensation, Maestro Harrell (So So Def/Island), to the forefront as well as former Playmaker/So So Def producer, Chadron "Nitti" Moore.
After ASCAP with nearly two decades of experience, Burke launched Launch Pad Records, LLC, a consulting and artist development firm continuing his passion for discovering, developing and creating opportunities for established and up and coming artists. Under his consulting business, Burke managed songwriters/ producers, Brandon & Brian Casey, better known as the "twins" in the multi-platinum R&B group Jagged Edge. Burke also served as A&R Director of their imprint, 581 Music Group.
Now, entering a new phase in his career, Burke has decided to apply his gift for discovering talent to a new and growing industry in Atlanta, Television and Film. He discovered the McClain Sisters featuring China McClain (The Gospel, House Of Payne, Daddy's Little Girls & The A.N.T. Farm) and Navia Robinson (Being Mary Jane, Free Reign and Raven's Home) and got them started on the path of acting. Burke's latest discovery 7 year old Jaylen Xavier Blackburn is poised to take the acting world by storm!
