Join us for a conversation on the influence of original compositions of African-American musical forms on society today with Larry Watson, musician, performer and professor at Berklee College of Music. The event will be moderated by Ron Klein of Key Bank.
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Lawrence (Larry) Watson is an experienced performer boasting over thirty-five years of performing experience throughout New England and around the world. He has traveled as far as Singapore and Malaysia, delivering his own special brand of music. In a return engagement to Shanghai, China, Watson wowed the Chinese people as the lead male vocalist in a concert entitled “The American Songbook.” He was the featured artist in the annual Passion Caribbean Dance and Music Festival in Barranquilla, Colombia and spent two seasons as a judge on the Boston WGBH television show Sing That Thing!
In 2018, SaveOurSelves Productions and Consulting, the company of which Lawrence Watson is the executive director and founder, concentrated its musical and educational efforts in China. Presently, due to the coronavirus pandemic, touring has been put on hold. As the world slowly reopens, we will focus our efforts in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
Watson has recently published his long-awaited book of original music and all-time classic standards. The book, entitled H.E.M, focuses on what he refers to as “Highly Emotional Music.” In addition, the book offers the audience thirty-three classic songs with accompanying illustrations by young artists of color. All of the illustrations in the book visually capture the intention and spirit of the songs. H.E.M. is an insightful look at the social history of people of African descent through their popular musical forms.
Being a master teacher, Watson has used this opportunity to highlight often-overlooked young talent in America and continues the long legacy of collaboration between visual and musical artists in the Black community. With its comprehensive curriculum, H.E.M. will eventually become the textbook of choice for several music programs around the globe.
Ronald P. Klein, Jr. is currently a Senior Area Retail Leader for KeyBank, in which he is responsible for 17 Retail Bank Branches covering a span of seven counties in the Central New York market. In addition to leading the Retail Branch Teams within his market, he is also directs small business, mortgage, investment and relationship household growth initiatives.
Covering a span of 32 years in Banking, Klein has held senior leadership roles in learning & development, consumer lending, mortgage and retail banking. Before joining KeyBank, he enjoyed a 25 year span of leadership roles with Citigroup, HSBC, First Niagara and Citizens Bank.
Klein is a graduate of Onondaga Community College and SUNY Oswego. He stays very active with both universities working with current student and alumni in career development, mentorship and collaboration opportunities.
Klein resides in Liverpool with his wife of 32 years. He has three Children, JC, Alex and Nick.