The HistoryMakers video oral history with Russell Simmons.

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Entrepreneur Russell Simmons was born on October 4, 1957 in Hollis, New York, where he became a member of a street gang as a teenager. However, he went on to study sociology at the Harlem branch of the City College of New York. Leaving college, he became involved with the emerging hip-hop movement,...

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Bibliographic Details
Corporate Author: HistoryMakers (Video oral history collection) (Production company)
Other Authors: Simmons, Russell (Interviewee)
Hughes, Cathy, 1947- (Interviewer)
Language:English
Language of the Original:
English
Published: Chicago, Illinois : The HistoryMakers, [2016]
Subjects:
Simmons, Russell > Interviews.
Simmons, Russell.
African Americans > Interviews.
African Americans.
Media Company Entrepreneur.
Internet videos.
Interviews.
Nonfiction films.
Oral histories.
Genre:
Interviews.
Internet videos.
Nonfiction films.
Oral histories.
Online Access:
Connect to online resource - MSU authorized users (The HistoryMakers)
Physical Description:1 online resource (1 video file (1 hr.)) : sound, color.
Variant Title:
History Makers video oral history with Russell Simmons
Russell Simmons
Format: Electronic Video
Description
Summary:
Entrepreneur Russell Simmons was born on October 4, 1957 in Hollis, New York, where he became a member of a street gang as a teenager. However, he went on to study sociology at the Harlem branch of the City College of New York. Leaving college, he became involved with the emerging hip-hop movement, promoting young rap acts. With Rick Rubin in 1984, he founded Def Jam Records. Within three years, Def Jam acts such as L.L. Cool J, the Beastie Boys and Run-DMC were at the top of the charts. Simmons would also found the Phat Farm clothing label, movie production house Def Pictures, and Rush Media, an advertising agency. In 1985, Russell Simmons, with TV director Stan Lathan, created the award-winning HBO Series Def Comedy Jam, and later Def Poetry Jam, winning a Tony Award for Special Theatrical Events in 2003. Simmons produced many films, including The Nutty Professor.
Call Number:E185.97
Playing Time:01:00:00
Participant or Performer:
Cathy Hughes, interviewer.
Event Details:
Recorded Chicago, Illinois 2004 October 22.
Source of Description:
Vendor-supplied metadata.