Meet Ralph Royale Holland | Entertainment | Corporate Executive & Philanthropist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ralph Royale Holland and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ralph Royale, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
It’s SIMPLE… Continue to build and/or support someone else’s dream/vision OR find what you are passionate about, strategically plan, then execute relentlessly. Let’s focus on the record label & publishing company – Geismarland Music. After realizing I possessed the gifts of singing/writing AND that the true path to sustainable wealth/success/generational wholeness is ownership, I immediately immersed myself in “the business of music” via books, attending conferences and the insight from entertainment attorney’s. Please take note of the statement, “the business of music” NOT “the music business”. There is a difference….in which some may not agree! I created the business entity and it was off to the races!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am most proud of AND excited about how a campaign that I started almost two decades ago (CampaignKRBA – Keeping R&B Alive) has finally yielded results domestically. What does that mean? A tsunami of 90’s style R&B is rolling upon the shores of the U.S. again!! Please allow me to paint this Picasso of a journey….

2+ decades of navigating both traditional corporate (as a consultant to B/Million dollar brands/organizations & the entertainment industry (A-list theatre actor, film, R&B Soul songwriter/recording artist, and executive) in parallel with being a philanthropist and Chief Marketing Officer for Javon Johnson Productions (Javon Johnson of Tyler Perry’s The OVAL), is a fulfilling journey!

Early Days: After an early 90’s major production/record deal went south (contractual reasons), there was still a ray of sunshine for me. While attending Southern University on a band scholarship and in pursuit/obtaining of several undergraduate degrees, I landed another recording deal in Oct. 1997. During this venture, I began working on (a second attempt) at a debut album and contributed to the success of several of that label’s rap artists’ via background vocals & vocal arrangement. In parallel to signing with the Baton Rouge-based label, I started my own recording & publishing company, Geismarland Music (1997). Although I terminated my venture with the label three years later, I made sure to continue gaining exposure, knowledge, and stage presence. Under the umbrella of my company, I continued working with various artists. I later landed five single-song contracts in 2001 from Hilltop Records & Hollywood Artist Record Company, out of Hollywood, CA. On March 11, 2003, Geismarland Music regionally released “Keeping You Satisfied”, which took the region by storm with the follow-up project “A Lifetime of Love” (June 28, 2005). Released on September 16, 2008, the stand-alone single “Slow Dance” garnered tremendous support in the UK, Netherlands and Japan. In 2010, GM dually released two singles, “I’ll Never Give Up” (INGU) & “Tipsy”…..in which INGU and Slow Dance are still in heavy rotation to date around the globe.

Over the course of my entertainment career, I was responsible for building key relationships that afforded me the opportunity of performing or recording and/or writing with independent and major record executives, record producers and artists (Hi-Five, H-Town, JS, Gerald Levert, Avant, Carl Thomas, Case, New Edition, Public Announcement, Tony Terry, 4.0, Chantay Savage, Sam Salter, Ce Ce Peniston, Jesse Campbell, Jesse Powell, Mark Nelson, MoKenStef, Rome, Silk, SWV, Tami Davis, Changing Faces, Link, Shai, Soul For Real, Tevin Campbell, Kut Klose, UGK, No Limit Records etc…). With influences to the likes of Babyface (songwriting genius), LA Reid (Executive/Record Man), and my personal mentor Gerald Levert, how is that not a winning combination!

After moving operations to Atlanta in 2006, my main focus was keeping R&B/Soul music alive…hence the labels © Campaign Keeping R&B Alive movement. By strategically putting the flag in Atlanta’s soil, I assembled an A-list team, which includes entertainment attorney Kendall Minter Esq. and vocal coach to the stars Jan “Mama J” Smith. The late Amanda Davis (veteran Fox5 Atlanta Journalist/News Anchor) once stated, “Geismarland Music is slated to be the 21st century “new” Motown of the south. On the heels of the legendary Laface Records (which made history in Atlanta), the label is making waves in the fabric of the music industry by focusing on R&B & Soul music.”

In addition to running full steam ahead in entertainment, I continued to build a personal, corporate brand in Atlanta. With a proven record of successful leadership in several industries, I’ve been recognized for being a strategic advisor that is able to navigate in both the creative and business arenas.

I have been tremendously blessed to not only make waves in the music industry & corporate America but as an actor in Atlanta’s vibrant film and stage sector. I’ve toured with several stage plays, including Shelly Garrett’s Beauty Shop, which is the #1 urban stage play of all time – still holding box office records to date. Unfortunately, Shelly Garrett passed away in Atlanta on May 3, 2018. He was known as the Godfather of Urban Theatre. A few more film and stage credits are Stomp the Yard II – Homecoming, Disney’s Odd Life of Timothy Green, Tyler Perry’s House of Payne (episode), Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection, STAR, Ambitions, Cocaine Diaries, Don’t Worry Bout A Thing, Love’s Triangle, You Are Not the Father, Stage: FJJ Productions- Singing Through The Storm, Mark Hunter’s-I Can’t Make You Love Me, Ruby Manuel’s-Suitcase, When A Man Loves A Woman, Miracles, Sisstazz, Church Girl and Marqrois’s – U Got It Bad.

If that is not enough to put another notch in the belt, as Co-founder & CEO of Chateau de Hollandaire, Keys to Success, Inc. – a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and registered Georgia charity, I am responsible for leading and mapping out the strategic direction of the organization. As a philanthropist, I’ve had the opportunity to make a significant impact in the community by partnering with the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, United Way of Greater Atlanta, Special Olympics of Georgia, Habitat for Humanity, Rainbow PUSH, National Action Network, Hands on Atlanta, Junior Achievement of Georgia, Leadership Atlanta among others. Several years ago, the foundation partnered with Teddy Riley, Blackstreet, and Shanti Das for the first annual “No Reservations Needed” event for a day of serving and giving at the Atlanta Mission. I had the pleasure of helping serve nearly 500 homeless men. On hand to support was former Mayor Kasim Reed, Ceasar Mitchell, Kwanza Hall, Trina Braxton, V103, and many others.

WAS IT EASY?

As you can imagine, life’s journeys have many twists, turns, and detours. One notable entertainment struggle was coming to the realization that signing a major production/record deal (in the early 90s) would not be beneficial for me. Years later, you would hear stories about what happened to global artists and the folks that are now in my network who were big and still legendary to date. When I was working on the album, I asked if I could write three or four songs to prove myself or holistically be a co-writer on the project . I knew that would allow me to get some of the royalties and publishing. I was told that I wasn’t a proven songwriter as of yet. That was a no go! Immediately, I knew that there would be too many hands in the pot. I handled the financials and went independent. Honestly, I’ve been more successful by going independent than some of the major artists that were out. I’ve been quoted stating, ” I was independent before independent was a “thing”.

Non-Profit: I think any boutique to mid-size non-profit would ditto this answer. “FUNDING” Most nonprofit leaders report that raising money continues to be their greatest challenge, especially when factoring in the second big trend, increasing needs in communities. While charitable giving from individuals and foundations is slowly creeping upwards, what is often overlooked is that a substantial portion of the uptick in the past years was due to unprecedented gifts to donor-advised funds and a handful of huge gifts to large institutions. Yet even with several incredibly large gifts in past years, philanthropic giving has not returned to pre-recession levels (in particular sectors). And it’s not just financial resources that are scarce.

What Do I Want The World To Know About The Brand?

There’s a slogan I created as it relates to all things entertainment… “A Place Where Even Love, Loves…” Whether it’s music or a film/theatre role, the consumer should feel the passion/love through whatever medium.

What has worked for me is being an “A” player. Whether it’s in Corporate America or the Entertainment Industry, be knowledgeable, reliable, trustworthy, and known for getting the job done.

“This is just the beginning! I am an incredibly lucky guy to do what I am so passionate about.”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
High Level: Any smooth jazz, neo-soul type entertainment venue (i.e. St. James Live), High Museum of Arts etc., countless dining spots: Pricci, Bar Margo ATL (Four Seasons), Sundial, Nikolai’s Roof, Cafe Bistro & Davio’s (Phipps Plaza), The Palm (Buckhead), There are so many options in metro Atlanta and the suburbs that it would literally take months to visit all of them. I cannot forget about one of my favorite breakfast spots… Grits & Eggs Breakfast Kitchen (Cobb County – minutes away from the Atlanta Braves stadium).

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Let’s dig in!! How did I get to where I am today? The 3 P’s: Prayer, Perseverance & Patience! My journey is deeply rooted in faith. As a child growing up in Geismar, Louisiana (20 min east of Baton Rouge), music was and is a part of the culture. Gospel, R&B, Jazz – you name it, it’s there. From the capital of Baton Rouge to the bayous of New Orleans, there’s an abundance of creative energy. It was a local Gospel artist (Theorlyn Rayborn) that helped identify the musical talent and gift that was upon my life. Fast forwarding… joined the band in 5th grade, and shall we say the rest is history! It would be a major miss if I did not recognize my musical mentor the late great R&B legend Gerald Levert, LaFace Records founders – Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds for his songwriting & production greatness, Antonio “L.A.” Reid for his business prowess, attorney’s Donald Passman and Kendall Minter Esq., Atlanta radio personality Joyce Littel, veteran Fox5 Atlanta Journalist/News Anchor Amanda Davis, record production partner Gregory “Greg” Charley (1/2 of Arista Records group KIARA), and my vocal coaches Canagela Boyd Robertson & Jan “Mama J” Smith.

As it relates to business and the corporate world in general, major shout out to Robert “Bob” Johnson (founder of BET etc.), Tyler Perry among others. Several books that were extremely insightful are, Donald Passman’s “All You Need To Know About The Music Industry”, Howard Schultz’s “Pour Your Heart Into It, How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time” and Jim Collins, “Good To Great”.

Website: https://geismarlandmusic.com/about

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamralphroyale/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/royalemusic?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ralph.r.holland

Image Credits
Ralph Royale Holland/Geismarland Music