Jasmine, by Michael Davis
About a year and a half ago my very good friend Giselle Fernandez (yes that Giselle Fernandez) called and asked me to dinner because she wanted me to meet a young lady named Jasmine.
Never one to pass up free food, I said yes. Truth be told if Giselle would have said; “Michael, Bigfoot is in my backyard break dancing, can you come over? I think you should meet him.” I would have believed her, dropped what I was doing and gone to her house.
I love Giselle Fernandez. She has been like a sister to me since the moment I met her. In the often BS world of Hollywood she is exactly what she appears to be, a warm, SUPER talented, genuine person. Trust me, that is as rare in Hollywood as a bacon eating Muslim. I still think she was robbed when she was on Dancing With The Stars a few seasons ago.
Giselle’s husband John is also a great guy…dammit!
Anywho, I get to this dinner at this swanky restaurant on Sunset Blvd. and there at Giselle’s table sitting quietly among some real heavy Hollywood playas was Jasmine. Jasmine is very pretty singer from Fiji. Giselle told who ever was sitting next to her (I think he was the head of some mideast oil generating country) to move and I was seated next to Jasmine.
She and I started talking and in the brief hour or so that we spoke I learned a lot about this beautiful young lady. One of the many things I learned was…she did not have a clue, but she was not stupid.
She had come to Hollywood with a real following from Fiji, gotten the attention of a manager and had set out to take the American music world by storm. She told me how her manager was “setting up deals for her.” I asked “what deals?” She said nothing had happened yet but he was working on it.
He was “working on it.”
In Hollywood speak, “working on it” means the check is in the mail, or I’ll call you, or No, you don’t look fat in that dress, or Yes, I will respect you in the morning.
It’s all fantasy, it’s all a dream, and it’s all a lie.
Jasmine was a sweet girl and I wanted to scream at her “You are being played!!” I didn’t. Instead I told her that deals take the time that they take. I also told her that in Hollywood if someone says one thing and it does not happen that’s one thing. Things often don’t happen in Hollywood.
If nothing ever happens and there is always an excuse then you have to consider that the person telling you what is what has no real juice and is simply playing you. Having never met her manger I can only assume that he was a decent guy and for whatever reason things just were not moving the way he said they would be.
Jasmine recounted a few stories in which she was offered some “deals” from other Hollywood types that were suspect, to say the least. These deals came with money and the promise of fame. She turned them down. She was not having any of that. She wanted to be a singer first and be true to her music. I was very impressed with that.
When dinner was over I gave Jasmine my card, wished her well and said goodbye to Giselle, John and the rest of her guests. John is a great guy and a good sport as evident by his getting up and singing at a Karaoke bar I took him and Giselle to.
Yeah, he’s a great guy and a good sport AND he’s married to Giselle Fernandez!!
I think I hate him.
Fast forward some time later, I get a call from Jasmine. She is asking me about the music business and I sense that this young lady has decided to take a stake in her own career. I’m sure that is what Giselle wanted for her in the first place. Jasmine’s manager and she decided to part ways and she was calling me for some counsel. Because of the tragic events that took my sister and grandmother from this world I have a real desire to make sure women in my life are protected. Jasmine came into my life from an introduction from Giselle, which makes her important to me so I listened.
Jasmine’s decision to call me is significant. She’s very young and talented and there are a multitude of parasites in Hollywood who come at people just like her trying to sell a false bill of goods and take advantage. Jasmine fits the profile of someone begging to be taken advantage like OJ fits the profile for stupid.
As I have written before in this column, there is a dangerous trap to Hollywood that many young artists fall into. It’s very easy to see the light of “fame” and cut corners, make horrible decisions and eventually sell your soul. It’s very hard to decide that you want your dreams but not at the expense of your integrity, soul and your vision. Making that decision is much harder than taking the easy route.
Making a decision to be the best actor, actress, dancer or singer before you think about stardom is the hardest decision an artist can make in this town. Jasmine made the decision to be a great singer, not a star, not an American Idol. She made the decision to become a great singer, to care about her craft.
That decision meant, wait for the fame, damn the money, and forget the easy way in, she kept her integrity and called me to help. Why did she trust me?
Two words. Giselle Fernandez.
If I told Giselle I wanted a mole on my neck removed and she vouched for Dracula, I would be holding my collar down so he could get a closer look at my throat. Giselle is simply a good person who can be trusted.
After speaking to Jasmine I made a call to my friend and music mogul Bruce Walker. Bruce and I met at Motown 10 years ago. We became fast friends and partners on a variety of projects. Bruce and his wife Brenda run b-sharp records and are as connected in the music world as water is to wet. To give you an example of just how much juice Bruce has, I called him once at his studio he calmly told me that he had some people over just hanging out. Those “people” included Janet and Michael Jackson, among others. Not to be undone, I told Bruce that I was having lunch with The Pope and Bill Clinton.
Anyway, that’s how Bruce rolls. Now his wife Brenda rolls hard also. How hard? She once ran operations for Death Row records and is still alive. That’s hard.
Before I go on there is something else I have to share with you about Bruce. He is VERY low keyed and laid back.
Very.
If Bruce says “Nice.” That’s a RAVE. I mean that’s a fantastic endorsement from him.
I invite Bruce to lunch to meet Jasmine. He’s late. Yes, he’s black. To new readers so am I so I can make that joke. ComicMix used to run my photo next to my byline but women all over the world were fainting at the site of my handsome features. So alas, they had to stop.
While we are waiting at The Cheesecake Factory Restaurant, (I hate that restaurant, but that’s another story) I tell Jasmine not to get her hopes up because Bruce is hardcore when it comes to music. I had listened to Jasmine’s demo tape and I liked it but what do I know? I voted for William Hung on American Idol so I’m no judge of music. Like most of us, I simply know what I like.
I liked Jasmine and her music, and because Giselle was looking out for her that was enough for me to hook her up with my contacts. I’m really very cautious whom I hook up nowadays. I have spent the better part of 20 years building my business infrastructure to a point where I can reach with one call some of the most powerful people in entertainment. Just because you can connect somebody does not mean you should connect somebody. You can do a lot of damage to your career by introducing the wrong person to a trusted contact.
By the time Bruce arrived I hoped that Jasmine’s expectations were not too high. Bruce listened to Jasmine with a stone face while she talked about her music. I started to feel a bit sorry for her. I mean Bruce is laid back to be sure but he looked bored out of his mind. I was beginning to think I had made a big mistake and called in a favor that I should not have. At the end of the meeting Bruce took her demo tape said goodbye, leaving Jasmine and I alone. I told her that the least that would happen is she would get a real assessment from an important producer and she would know where she really stood in terms of her music.
Jasmine smiled (she has a GREAT smile) gave me a hug and we said goodbye.
I work at least 16 hours a day. Sometimes even more. So it’s a pretty good bet that if you call my house at 2am I’m still awake. When the phone rang that morning at 2am, I was not awake. No it was one of those rare times when I decided to get some sleep, so I was not at all prepared for this call:
RING!!
Hello?? (VERY sleepy)
MICHAEL! IT’S BRUCE! (VERY LOUD)
What, who?
BRUCE!
When, what?
DUDE, I JUST LISTENED TO JASMINE’S DEMO. THIS GIRL CAN WAIL!
You in jail?
WE HAVE TO TALK! I’LL CALL YOU LATER!
You in jail for killing Darth Vader?
<click>
I swear that call went just like that. I could have sworn someone called me from jail and needed my help. Hey that would not have been the first time. So I did what any real friend would do. I went back to sleep.
A few hours later I got another call from Bruce he was as excited as I have ever seen him. Remember I told you he was laid back? Well, not this time. He wanted me to know that he was going to produce Jasmine and he had BIG plans for her.
That was a year ago. In the last year Jasmine has worked as hard as anyone I know on her craft. She is relentless and always full of joy. I’m pretty hard on her as is Bruce and Brenda because she is young and talented and that is a recipe for disaster if you don’t watch out.
Yes, I am pretty hard on her but I’m also very proud of her. I’m prouder still that her single, “I’ll always be there 4 u” was just released on iTunes Dec 4th and her album will be out in April. You should all check it out and buy a copy. 99 cents is a small price to pay to support an artist who did things the right way.
Jasmine’s record is a remarkable feat considering she came from Fiji on her own and made the right decisions and not the right now decisions. Jasmine’s mom and sister have always been in her corner and I’m sure they are even prouder than I am.
This part is just for you Jasmine. Everybody else stop reading!
Jasmine, I know I can be a pill and I’m hard on you sometimes but you have absolutely made me very proud and there are big things in store for you. At some point when you are riding around on your tour bus with a #1 hit and a few Grammys under your belt I hope you look back at these days and think of them with joy.
Oh by the way if you EVER get a big head about success you know I will kill your puppy with my DEATH RAY! What puppy? The stupid little puppy that divas always get and carry around with them.
THAT puppy.
Remember that…DEAD PUPPY WALKING.
I love you, Jasmine and as your song says, I’ll always be there 4 u…and that puppy, if you get my drift.
Michael Davis is a comics creator and the founder of the Guardian Line series of comics as well as being a television producer and writer. He was a co-founder of Milestone Comics and his artwork has appeared in Wasteland, Green Arrow: Shado, Green Hornet and The Question, among others.
Another wonderful article, Michael!
Thank you JR.How are things in Dallas?
I bought the single, It is really catchy!!! Jasmine sounds like a wonderful, sweet role model.
You know who else sounds like a wonderful, sweet role model? ME! Without my DEATH RAY I think I can swing that.
All Jokes aside, I think she has a real shot of becoming a role model UNLIKE those silly Hollywood kids who end of driving on the wrong side of the road or on a video tape. For her not to take the quick road to fame at her age is really remarkable. And she has real talent not like some people I won't name who's name P A R I S H I L T ON I won't mention. I'm also sure that she will not need drug tests like a certain star I won't mention B R I T N E Y S P E A R S as she builds her career.
A soon as I saw that picture, and noticed the story didn't start with a buried lead after a joke, I fully expected it to end with a sentence including the word "married" and a vague date range.This was good too.
Vinnie, Vinnie, VinnieVinnieVinnieVinnieVinnie…Vinnie,So what am I a clown? Do I amuse you? Am I funny? How am I funny?
Well, erm, I wondered, too.
Marilee,I know that YOU know that those lines are from the greatest gangster movie EVER made.Or ….do you? hehehehhehehehehehehehehe..hee evil laugh
I think the closest I've seen to a gangster movie is Charade. Although I can see Marlon Brando saying that.
It's from Goodfellas, a movie I heartily endorse if you want to listen to bad words. As they are gangsters, they must be manly men, so they curse and swear a lot.Joe Pesci said the words in one of the few scenes in any movie that made me think I was looking at a true psycho.
Heh. I have to reset my mind to watch Deadwood on DVD. It if wasn't so good, I'd avoid it because of the language. Thanks for the movie ID!
Excellent article, as always.One thing to keep in mind as you are "being hard on her" is for her not to diverse herself too prematurely. In other words, getting into acting or musicianship and such before she is ready and properly equipped to do so with skill and confidence.I can give Madonna as an example. Her acting skills are alright, but her film choices (with a couple of exceptions) were horrible. Then there was the incident where she decided that she would "play" a guitar for a couple of songs in her set. I am a guitarist and, having had experience with teaching the instrument, I can honestly say that I have seen nine-year-olds with more skill.Her acting creds suffered from leaping into the business before she was ready and leaping into projects that were less than stellar. Her premiere of her guitar "playing" was clearly ill-conceived. She should have waited to debut this new musical skill when it was of a more proficient nature.I have heard the song and I agree with the positive assessments. I think that, all ducks in a row, Jasmine will have a wonderful career.She's cute, too.
Thanks Steve,She IS cute. I think her head is in the right place, but if that ever changes three words PUPPY DEATH RAY!
Hi Michael,Thanks for the great article! You just about go it all summed up in one go. But let me share a couple of things with you about our new rising star.I was (am – ?) Jasmine's singing teacher. When she first came to my studio, I wasn't sure if she wasn't crazy. But my instinct as a singer was telling me that she was probably going to make it. Besides, crazy's a good thing, right??!?So what was the best way to go about her voice? C-L-A-S-S-I-C-A-L !!! Yep. Classical. The old Italian Bel Canto school. She'd come to her lessons, often twice a week, and sing scales, more scales and Italian arias. And I pulled her up on absolutely every wrong breath, wrong sound, wrong shape, wrong anything. And Jasmine never, repeat, 'Never' got sick of it. She just went back home and kept trying to get it right; and she never complained. This girl had brains, quiet determination and patience. And she would ask questions… millions of 'em; about singing, industry matters; you name it. But, the thing which proper singers value most…. she had Humility. And it wasn't too long before I realised she actually had a good chance of making it – provided she linked up with the right people. And it sure looks like she's done that. Oh yeah! So thanks all you guys for looking out for her.Now, about that PUPPY DEATH RAY. You're not going to need it, Michael. Cos if she gets a bit too carried away with it all, I'm gonna send the flat tire demon from the 4th dimension which will send her endless flat tires every time she gets into the limo. So, she's not going to be going anywhere with that dmn dog!Thanks again for the great article, and all your help.John
Oh no, not classical. My voice teacher in college made me sing lieder and opera. :::spit::: If I want to be cultureless and sing folk, r&b, jazz, and some rock, I should get to.
Thanks Marilee,……and after she could sing classical, I showed her what bits to leave out to sing contemp.(Didn't want to bore you with all the details of a few years of singing lessons). It works really well. You don't have to guess every time you sing. You actually KNOW what you're doing. And, listening to I'll always B there 4 you, it sounds like we got it right.Anyway, give me a call, and I'll show you how to sing blues that'll melt their sox. Hey, cos Christmas is coming up, we could work on a blues version of Silent Night. Just kiddin'. LOL.John
Well, thanks for the offer, but before my vocal cords became partially paralyzed, I sang professionally quite often and I'm right good at blues. I never minded classical in choirs or orchestras, but I don't like listening to it or singing it solo. I think it's the participation and harmonies that make it work for me. (When I was 12, I taught music theory to adults; I first performed professionally at five.)
This article proves the magic and miracle of friendship and God at work. How beautifully Michael writes –and how real and truthful and yes as always, funny and witty he re-tells sweet history. It is true I called Michael to meet Jasmine because I knew he would take her under his vast wing expanse and help her fly with her amazing talent and unique, sweet spirit. I just knew he was the one to connect the dots and keep it real in this town of knuckle-heads. How did I know? Because Michael has saved, lifted, inspired and changed lives all his life. It's in his being and he does it without saying a word– It's not just kids and young people he reaches out to –on many occasions he has saved me, inspired me and reminded me I had value. Michael is one of my great inspirations and I am so proud to see that once again he has helped another beautiful talent find her way through connections–that once again he has gone out on a limb for another and once again he trusted his instincts and helped make another's dream come true. I'm proud of you Jasmine– you've come along way from that Karioke bar– where you sang your heart out and planted that seed of friendship in me and certainly in Michael forever. You never know when you meet someone who could make the difference you've always dreamed of. I'm proud of you Michael too and love you dearly–you are the finest man I've ever known– Ok enough–or his head will get really out of control.. Jasmine–I'm betting on your star power and talents baby– and Michael.. you've definitely got a shot at heaven!! Give a hug to your lovely wife and a big fat hello to all the gang I miss at the bowling alley!
Gigi,If I was not a real man I would say that I shed a tear reading your post. But I am a real man so i will just say thanks (snif, snif, snort) You know I love you and will always be there for you. You have NO idea what you have done for the fans by posting on this comic site. This is why you ROCK!
Hi Jasmine and Michael, This is John The Guy you hate for being lucky enough to have married Giselle.It's a great story as we all think back to the Karaoke Bar. Wow Jasmine I am proud of you too, and of Michael for following up and being the magic man , as always! I will download the single tonight as we sip our Martinis naked in the Spa, I would be lying if I said I was thinking of you at that moment.God bless you Michael I am happy to be your friend. Jasmine GO GIRL!! you do our beautiful Fiji proud……Love to you both from your #1 fan,…… Karaoke John
John,Look- you are married to one of the worlds greatest women. I HAVE to hate you it's THE LAW. If it means anything I respect you and really love you as a person. That aside I have to hate you. Don't take it personally. Giselle, if John ever develops a cough-I'm here for you.
Seriously terrific article and outcome. I'm not going to go too deep on this one, but dreams are worth waiting for and fighting for. Our only other option is living life just from the skin out, and Jasmine has made a better choice. Well done! Michael D., only you could turn puppy threats into a higher purpose.
lets see if YOUR STILL UP!!! Anywho loved it. Laughed through it. Nice photo by the way.
Amber,I'm still up!
One, that child is stunning. Two, where can I preview her music? MySpace? Personal blog? Three, are you having a Black Panel at NYCC this year? Yes, I know that was off topic, but I need to know where I can find all the cool people in advance. Four, would it be possible to get a direct link to columnists on the main page?
I can speak to the latter question, Cheryl. No doubt Michael shall be waxing eloquently at his earliest available opportunity.We'll be adding all kinds of stuff to our home page real soon — yep, it's Phase III, folks, and I'm announcing it right here, nested a mile deep into Michael's column. What better place? Anyway, I think the sort of thing you're looking for will be part of all that; certainly, we've been talking about this very thing all year, and even as I type these words Brian, Craig and our crack tech team is gathering in Philadelphia to move us to the next level.
You can review her music on I-tunes. Where by the way her single 'I will always be there 4 you (as of 3pm today Sunday Dec.9 2007) is NUMBER ONE on new releases on I Tunes!!!!!!I am going to write a follow up article o Jasmine since she has a real connection to comics that has yet to be revealed. I think we should adopt Jasmine as comicmix's own! She does have a my space page: myspace.com/jasminebsharprecords I will most likely do The Black Panel at NYC this year and you are right it is where the coolest people hang.
Just wanted to let people know that if they visit her MySpace page there are 4 songs to check out. Nice kid. She should have a Disney deal!
And who says she won't? hehehehehhhehehehee…evil laugh
Here's a direct link to her debut single, I'll Always B There 4 U
Sorry here is the link:http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa…
Michael & JasmineWhat can I say beautiful article. Michael you have such a tough exterior but a wonderful heart and lucky are the few who you let in to see the real Michael. It is so nice to still have people like you in this world who are willing to help someone without expecting something in return. You see potential in people and you work hard to mentor them. Good job! I have met Jasmine and she is a wonderful and beautiful young Lady very genuine and as you said she has such a wonderful smile. Jasmine, I wish you the best because you deserve the best. I applaud you for sticking to your dreams and not compromising your integrity. Here in Hollywood it is so easy to get caught up in Just Being Famous. Heard your single and love it, good luck with your new album.Carmen
Great article Michael and i must say Jasmine will NOT let you down. She's definately is what you say she is!!! Hardworking and Determined!!! Way to go Jasmine we are proud of you!!!p.s "DEAD PUPPY WALKING"….LOL classic!!!!