Meet Mr. DARRYLL BROOKS and the contributions of C D Enterprises Inc.
C D Enterprises, Inc. (often referred to as “CDE”) was born out of rich and diverse entertainment industry experience. Although best known as a full service business and personal management firm, as well as a full service production and event promotion firm, this company also possesses an exciting history of creative and dynamic leadership. CDE is helmed by the long‐time team of Carol Kirkendall and Darryll Brooks ‐‐ a team that represents the best the business has to offer from financial and business management, to marketing, promotion, and production.
The early years …
This team’s journey started with charitable and community‐oriented work financed by (among others) the District of Columbia government, the National Park Service, and the National Endowment for the Arts. In the mid‐1970s, they created a non‐profit “Compared To What, Inc.” through which they spearheaded a variety of innovative youth programs. The “Summer Hut,” a daily camp for kids held throughout the summer in Anacostia Park, which provided a safe and positive alternative to the streets. Summer Hut featured diverse arts, athletic and educational programs. The “Winter Workshops,” which introduced D.C. youths to the technical arts by offering training workshops throughout the District at schools and community centers. The program placed promising Winter Workshops graduates in jobs with touring performers (such as Earth, Wind & Fire and Natalie Cole) working on stage crews, doing sound and lights, staging and production.
Compared To What also worked with District high school students involved in the United Students organization (a group made up of two representatives from each high school in D.C.) to create a weekly radio program featured locally on WOL radio; and, significantly, Compared To What was also proud to have coordinated the Smithsonian’s first ever live African‐American theater presentation and civil rights exhibit (featuring photographs and coordinated in conjunction with the Martin Luther King Library). Compared To What’s youth and community oriented activities culminated each year with a weekendlong Spring event known as “Human Kindness Day.” Human Kindness Day weekend always commenced with the Run For Human Kindness, which each year was led by a celebrity such as Muhammad Ali or Dick Gregory. The streets of D.C. were closed for this symbolic event.
The unquestionable focus of Human Kindness Day was the students of Washington’s public schools. It was a celebration of their achievements and the year’s work. Human Kindness Day featured D.C.‐wide writing and art contests that honored the works of D.C.’s students. Contest winners’ works were featured in the Washington Post and displayed in art exhibits. Students were also celebrated in a special annual awards ceremony held on the Mall. Human Kindness Day also sponsored a special TV production. The students involved in the United Students program produced an annual television special on human kindness which was aired during the celebration on D.C.’s ABC affiliate WJLA‐TV7.
Perhaps the best known part of the Human Kindness Day celebration took place on the Mall, where the entire Sylvan Theater side was turned into a huge festival featuring arts, dance and other vendors and demonstrations. Many of the instructors who participated in the Summer Hut presented demonstrations and exhibited their work. The remainder of the Mall featured a stage on which each year’s event culminated with a concert honoring and featuring a prominent African‐American entertainer, honorees included Stevie Wonder, Dick Gregory, Nina Simone and Roberta Flack. Other well‐known performers such as the Pointer Sisters and Larry Graham also put in appearances. Human Kindness Day drew massive crowds numbering around a half million or more.
From their Compared To What and Human Kindness Day work, the CDE team moved into full‐time concert and live‐event promotion and production. Operating as “Tiger Flower Concerts” and “G‐Street Express” they launched into a 35+ year career as concert promoters. Most people in the Washington, D.C. area are familiar with their mark … “It’s not just another concert, but an Event from… .” Carol and Darryll became the premier national promoters of Rap music as well as a major force in the R&B concert world. This team promoted shows including such acts as The Jacksons, The Commodores, Bootsie’s Rubber Band, Earth Wind & Fire, Zap, Mother’s Finest, Sister Sledge, Rick James, Leon Russell, The Bar‐Kays, Luther Vandross, Prince, and Parliament/Funkadelic (including devising the legendary landing of the Mothership), to name a few. Their involvement in Rap music and in Hip Hop harks back to the beginning of the genres, the days of Sylvia Robinson and the Sugar Hill Gang. They were the first national promoters to acknowledge that Rap music was not just the sound of preference for inner city youth, but was in fact rapidly evolving into the sound of preference of all of America’s youth. They were the first to place the majority of Rap’s early acts on national tours as early as 1979.
As national concert promoters during the 80s, they promoted and were involved in the careers of most every major Rap artist in America. From touring RUN/DMC’s “My Adidas” and “Run’s House” shows, as well as Heavy D shows, in over 100 cities, to the introduction of such artists as MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice, the Beastie Boys, Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Whodini, Grand Master Flash and the Furious Five, and Kool Moe Dee, and the development of close relationships with the likes of Public Enemy, LL Cool J and Salt‐NPepa, this team’s reach encompassed the urban music world. They developed close relationships with every radio station, record label, video network and publication or press outlet active in Rap and R&B music.
This team was also at the front of Washington, D.C.’s popular “Go Go” music movement. Such notable Go Go performers as Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers, Rare Essence, Little Benny and the Masters, and a host of others have been presented by the CDE team. CDE’s work in Go Go included the creation and release of a well‐known live Go Go concert video and record called “Go Go Live at the Capital Centre.”
Carol and Darryll’s interests include all music genres and they have worked with such Country stars as Willie Nelson (some may remember a much publicized visit from President Jimmy Carter at a Nelson show presented by CDE) and Waylon Jennings, Pop acts such as Eddie Rabbit and New Kids On The Block, and Rock acts such as the Rolling Stones. The team is also proud to say that, during the Carter administration, they (in conjunction with the Black Music Association of Philadelphia) presented the first R&B concert ever at the White House.
The 90’s …
This decade symbolized a change in focus for the team. Although concert and event promotion remained a key part of the business, a commitment was made to serve as full‐time artist managers to several clients, including Hip Hop legends Salt‐N‐Pepa. Although in the early phase of their career when CDE signed on, Salt‐N‐Pepa were elevated to the level of superstars by 1994, when they released their fourth album the five times Platinum smash VERY NECESSARY. Salt‐N‐Pepa’s mega success was achieved through the teamwork of S‐N‐P, their producer and founder Herby Azor, and CDE. CDE moved the group from the small independent label Next Plateau Records to the PolyGram label London Records. It was thanks to London’s international distribution network that VERY NECESSARY was able to reach a greatly expanded audience worldwide. Later, CDE parlayed the success of that album into a long‐term mega‐deal with MCA Records (that was later assigned to Red Ant/London). Throughout its tenure with S‐N‐P CDE coordinated all elements of the group’s career, including touring, record production and promotion, publishing (in fact, CDE administered the group’s music catalogue), television and films (including a sitcom development deal with Disney), endorsements (including a much touted deal with Cover Girl), and independent industry pursuits of each member. CDE resigned from managing Salt‐N‐Pepa in 1998 after nine years. CDE’s team also served as management to several up and coming and hot artists in the 90’s, including Salt‐N‐Pepa’s dee jay Deidra “Spinderella” Roper (MCA/Red Ant), the hip hop duo Kid N Play (best known for their House Party movies)(Select Records), the R&B five‐some Day Ta Day (MCA/Red Ant), and the RCA Records ensemble 4‐Kast.
In early 1998, CDE also signed on to represent a new bright light, Interscope Records artist MYA. As
always, CDE worked closely with MYA, her label and representatives to guide her career. Among the focuses
were extensive touring; endorsements (including Coca‐Cola, Tommy Hilfiger and Bongos); soundtrack
projects (including collaboration with Pink, Christina Aguilera & Lil’ Kim on the Grammy Award winning
smash “Lady Marmalade” from the motion picture Moulin Rouge); special projects (including performance
as part of a James Bond video game); and forays into film (including roles in the Academy Award winning
Best Picture Chicago, Havana Nights a/k/a Dirty Dancing II, and Shall We Dance), and television (both variety
shows and acting roles). MYA achieved Platinum success on her first two albums. The relationship ended
in 2003 after a five ó year tenure.
Although not their sole focus, this team never lost sight of its roots as event promoters. Throughout
the ‘90’s they selectively undertook concert promotion opportunities. A sampling of projects included
shows featuring Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Brian McKnight, Alicia Keys, Lauryn Hill, Prince,
Parliament/Funkadelic, Luther Vandross, Def Comedy Jam, Bernie Mack, R. Kelly, Chris Rock, Jazz Explosion,
and believe it or not the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. The team has also spearheaded certain special
events, such as producing the April ‘96 “Heritage Celebration” for WBLS radio in New York City and the
October ‘98 “Evening of Stars” fund‐raiser for the United Negro College Fund.
Never afraid to explore uncharted territory, during the mid‐90’s CDE took on a sideline project called
the International Wrestling Council (“IWC”) which presented live Lucha Libre (Mexican style) wrestling
events nationally. IWC events were featured on Pay Per View and internationally via televised coverage.
Although new to the USA market at the time, Lucha Libre has since become hugely popular with American
audiences.
In 1998 the team signed on as tour producers of the Smokin’ Grooves Tour; a 30‐city tour that
featured a sizzling list of talent, including Wyclef Jean & Refugee All Stars, Busta Rhymes, Cypress Hill, Public
Enemy, the Black Eyed Peas, and Gang Starr. In 1999 and 2000, CDE’s ventures included the production of
the D’Angelo North American tour and promotion and coordination of Brian McKnight’s Tour.
The New Millennium …
Projects have included shows featuring a wide variety of music and comedy attractions, including:
Alicia Keys, Anthony Hamilton, Arnez J, Backyard Band, Bernie Mack, Big Daddy Kane, Big Sean, Biz Markie,
B.o.B., Busta Rhymes, Cedric the Entertainer, Chaka Khan, Charlie Wilson, Chip Tha Ripper, Chris Paul, Chris
Rock, Chrisette Michele, Chuck Brown, the Chuck Brown Band, Cody Simpson, Common, Corey Holcomb,
Diggy Simmons, DMX, Drake, DJ Unk, Doug E. Fresh, Earthquake, Eddie Griffin, En Vogue, Eric Benet, Eric
Roberson, Estelle, Fantasia, Floetry, Frankie Beverly, George Tandy, Jr., Gladys Knight, Hamilton Park, How
Sweet the Sound (choir competition), Hiatus Kaiyote, Hiroshima, Huggy Low Down, Jacob Latimore, Jaheim,
Janelle Monae, Jamie Foxx, Jawan Harris, Jazmine Sullivan, Jazz Explosion, J’Davey, Jennifer Hudson, Jim
Jones, Joe, Joe Clair, John Legend, Jordin Sparks, Junk Yard Band, Kanye West, Katt Williams, Kid Cudi,
Kindred the Family Soul, The Kings Men (Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Israel Houghton & Marvin Sapp),
KEM, Keyshia Cole, Lauryn Hill, Lavell Crawford, Ledisi, Leela James, Lil’ Bow Wow, Lil’ Wayne, Lillith Fair, LL
Cool J, Lupe Fiasco, Lyfe Jennings, Macy Gray, Mali Music, Mary Mary, Marsha Ambrosius, Maze, Melanie
Fiona, Meshell Ndegeocello, Mike Epps, Miguel, Mindless Behavior, Monica, Mo’Nique, Morris Day and the
Time, Mother’s Finest, Musiq Soul Child, Naughty By Nature, NERD, NE‐YO, OMG Girlz, The O’Jays, OutKast,
Parliament/ Funkadelic, Phil Ade, Prince, Queen Latifah, Rare Essence, RDGLDGRN, R. Kelly, Rachelle Ferrell,
Raheem DeVaughn, Raphael Saadiq, Rick James, Rick Ross, Rihanna, Rob Base, Robin Thicke, The Roots, Salt‐
N‐Pepa, Sharon Jones and the Dap‐Kings, Slick Rick, Smokey Robinson, SOS Band, Stevie Wonder, Sugar
Water Festival, Superstars of Jazz Fusion, Talib Kweli, T.I., Tinie Tempah, Teena Marie, TK N CA$H, Trey
Songz, Usher, Wale, Whodini, and Will Downing. Among the other tours presented (some artists we’ve
toured repeatedly) include Brian McKnight; India Arie; Jill Scott; and Erykah Badu.
In addition to myriad touring activities, CDE provides marketing and consulting services in connection
with various attractions, such as a run of the Broadway hit “The Color Purple” at the John F. Kennedy Center
for the Performing Arts in DC. The CDE team has also volunteered their time to the Duke Ellington School
of the Arts in D.C. in connection with the planning, production and presentation of the School’s annual
benefit concert (held in recent years at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall).
Among CDE’s proudest achievements in recent years is the implementation of its vision for an annual
festival extravaganza ‐ the SUMMER SPIRIT FESTIVAL ‐ which celebrates diverse
Soul/Rap/R&B/Jazz/Rock/Unlimited sounds, as well as African‐American culture (as represented in a festival
ground marketplace). In August 2016, CDE will present the 11th Annual Summer Spirit Festival, which has
been headlined by such talents as Ms. Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and Jill Scott and featured diverse artists
from the iconic Chuck Brown, to up and comers such as Estelle, B.o.B., Sharon Jones and the Dap‐Kings, and
Janelle Monae, to comedy greats such as Mike Epps, to crowd pleasers such as The Roots, Busta Rhymes
and Common.
Because the CDE team has been on the map for many years, they have relationships throughout the
touring world. Their experience and contacts make it possible for them to smoothly facilitate and
accomplish event planning.
As the new millennium continues to unfold, this talented team strives forward into new and
uncharted areas, while at the same time maintaining their hard‐won reputation in the industry for integrity,
professionalism and quality.
