Trevor Jackson Shares His Approach To Building A Black-Owned Creative Empire With His Family – AfroTech
Artist Trevor Jackson is getting real about money.
The Indianapolis native’s foray in the entertainment industry was inspired by Gregory Hines, an actor, singer, and dancer, he acknowledged on the “Can We Talk RNB” podcast. Jackson began tap dancing at age 3, and by the time he was 8 years old, he was touring as Young Simba in Broadway’s “The Lion King.” He continued in the role until he was 11 years old, performing in various cities across the country, he shared on the podcast.
Then he moved to Los Angeles, where he continued to pursue acting, music, and dance. He auditioned for commercials and met with various music labels, including Epic Records, Interscope Records, and Motown Records. Today, he is currently signed with UnitedMasters, he shared on the podcast. Still taking inspiration from Hines’s career, Jackson incorporates dance into his music, with his most recent album being “I Love You, Goodbye.” He has also continued to pursue acting, earning roles in “Let It Shine,” “American Crime,” “Burning Sands,” “Superfly,” and “Grown-ish,” according to IMDb.
Jackson now carries more than two decades of industry experience, and he remains guided by the principles of family, peace, and happiness, according to BET. For Jackson, money is not his first priority.
“Sometimes I had to turn down money when I needed it, but if it didn’t align with who I was and didn’t align with my values, then you know, I had to take that risk. So I think when you tie those two together, you’ll always end up in a better spot,” he said, according to BET.
Instead, sharing his wealth with his family remains important. In fact, Jackson told BET that his mother took on a central role in his business pursuits as his manager. Together, they are intentionally building a family-run, Black-owned business with diverse investment areas, including clothing, music videos, and screenwriting.
“With my family, I love that we invest in ourselves. We are a family business. We are a Black-owned business … The main thing is just wanting our visions to be seen. The way we see it in our head,” he acknowledged to BET.
Looking ahead, Jackson said he has four finalized albums he plans to release, according to the interview.
