Building Bridges: What I Learned From The Chairman Chief Richard “Dick” Griffey About Music, Gaming, and Brand Growth

Building Bridges: What I Learned From The Chairman Chief Richard “Dick” Griffey About Music, Gaming, and Brand Growth

By Kahari S. Nash “The BooRay King” & CEO KSN Gaming 

In a world where boundaries are blurred and industries overlap, few synergies are as electric as the one between gaming, sports, and music. It’s a collaboration that’s not just shaking up industries but revolutionizing the way brands grow, connect with audiences, and define culture. And who better to embody this intersection than the legendary Chief Richard “Dick” Griffey? A friend, mentor, and strategic partner to so many, his legacy transcends music, echoing through gaming and global cultural movements.

A Personal Connection Between The Chairman and The BooRay! King

When I think of collaboration and vision, I think of Chief Richard Griffey “The Chairman”. Known for founding Sound of Los Angeles Records (S.O.L.A.R.), Griffey’s journey is one of bold moves, calculated risks, and an unrelenting commitment to empowering others. He wasn’t just a Music Pioneer; he was a bridge to bigger ideas “INNOVATION”. Griffey’s work with Artists like The Whispers, Shalamar, and Midnight Star wasn’t just about creating hits; it was about building IP—Intellectual Property—that could stand the test of time.

I can still hear The Chairman telling me, I’m a Senior Member of the Turf Club (Del Mar Thoroughbred Horse Racing Track) and Bill Gates is a Junior Member, which really resonated with me when we were meeting with The Prolers (Bill & Cris Proler) and they found a common interest in Thoroughbred Horse Racing and as Thoroughbred Horse Owners (Izzy Proler’s Irish Fighter Kentucky Derby 1985) outside of discussing expanding the Proler’s Scrap Metal Recycling business (PSW “Proler Southwest” Sims Metal Management – World’s Largest Scrap Metal Recycling Company) to Nigeria and Africa with The Chairman’s ADPIC and The BooRay! King’s KCM Trading. 

I also reflect on The Chairman teaching me, it’s the “Song Business”, not the “Music Business”,bring me all the “Songwriters” you can find because I can go to any Black Church on Sunday morning and find me a Singer. Those lessons resonated – Levels, Creators, Relationships & Ownership – with me then and even more now as The BooRay! King and aggregating the BooRay! Intellectual Property.  

For those of us in gaming, it’s impossible not to draw parallels. Griffey’s SOLAR Music Catalogues are like the Intellectual Property in Gaming. Just as a “Hit Song” generates Royalties through Publishing, Streaming, and Licensing; Gaming IP creates revenue through Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR), Player Engagement, and Brand Partnerships. The structure of the Music Industry mirrors the Gaming Industry in fascinating ways, and Griffey’s legacy serves as a blueprint for how to navigate and excel in both worlds.

The Power of Music in Gaming and Sports

Music isn’t just an add-on; it’s a driver of emotion, engagement, and loyalty. Think about the power of an iconic soundtrack in a game or the way a stadium erupts when the perfect hype song hits. Griffey understood this better than anyone. From curating sounds that defined an era to nurturing talents like Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2022 to Antonio “LA” Reid & Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds – Co-Founders LaFace Records (Arista Records – BMG), he built a pipeline for creativity that brands across industries can learn from today.

Gaming and sports are tapping into this magic now more than ever. The rise of collaborations like Travis Scott’s Fortnite concert or Drake’s partnerships with esports teams shows how music amplifies engagement. These aren’t just crossovers; they’re cultural moments that redefine industries.

Chief Griffey: The Chairman Who Built Bridges

Born in Nashville, Tennessee, and cutting his teeth as a concert promoter (Co-Founder Black Promoters Association “BPA” – President United Black Concert Promoters of America). Griffey went on to become the Biggest Black Concert Promoter working with everyone from Ike & Tina Turner, The Jackson Five, Aretha Franklin, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Sly & The Family Stone, Earth Wind & Fire and Stevie Wonder (1st World Tour). 

Griffey’s career was a series of firsts. He Co-Founded Soul Train Records with Don Cornelius, only to later transform it into S.O.L.A.R., a label that bridged the gap between Disco, R&B, and the emerging New Jack Swing sound. Griffey’s belief in Black Economic Empowerment extended beyond music—he spearheaded initiatives like SOLAR Africa, a cultural exchange that funded anti-piracy campaigns, local community causes in Nigeria, Guinea, Angola, Namibia and the Anti-Apartheid Movement in South Africa.

The Chairman’s affinity for and highest-level relationships in Africa lead him in 1985 to forming A.D.P.I.C. (African Development Private Investment Corporation), which was the first African American owned company to lift (export) crude oil in a commercial quantity (1 Million Barrels Per Month for 10 Years) from Sonangol (Angola’s National Oil & Gas Company) with Morgan Stanley as a partner. This would set a precedent on Black Enterprise Magazine’s BE100 List with The Chairman becoming the first (1st) Black Entrepreneur with two companies on their list and lead him to the illustrious title of “Richest Black Man in America” in 1991. 

But perhaps his most audacious move came in 1991 when SOLAR secured the rights to the Deep Cover Movie Soundtrack, which launched Snoop Dogg’s career and preceded Dr. Dre’s The Chronic; and he began mentoring Marion “Suge” Knight alongside Michael “Harry-O” Harris and laying the foundation for Death Row Records (Interscope Records). Griffey’s influence on Death Row’s success—home to legends like Dr. Dre, D.O.C., Snoop Dogg, and Tupac Shakur—showcases his knack for identifying and nurturing disruptive talent; which Dr. Dre took to Aftermath Entertainment (Interscope – Universal Music Group) that launched the careers of Eminem, 50 Cent and Kendrick Lamar along with the Beats by Dre Headphones (Apple). 

The Blueprint for Modern Brand Growth

Griffey’s playbook for success holds lessons for gaming and sports brands today:

1. Build IP That Lasts: Griffey’s SOLAR catalogues were more than songs; they were assets. Gaming and sports brands must think the same way about their Intellectual Property.

2. Foster Collaboration: Whether it was working with Babyface or empowering SOLAR Artists to collaborate, Griffey knew the value of collective creativity. In gaming, partnerships across music and sports are the new frontier.

3. Empower Communities: From SOLAR funding Anti-Piracy Campaigns to supporting local causes, Griffey understood that true success is rooted in giving back. Gaming and Sports Brands have a unique opportunity to do the same through scholarships, outreach, and inclusivity.

Gaming, Music, and BooRay!

As someone who’s been inspired by Griffey’s legacy, I see BooRay! as a continuation of his ethos. Our vision for BooRay! isn’t just about creating a game; it’s about building a cultural movement. The same way Griffey used music to unite and inspire, we’re using BooRay! to bridge gaps, connect generations, and redefine what a gaming brand can be.

Just as Griffey leveraged his partnerships to elevate SOLAR and Death Row, BooRay! is collaborating with influencers, athletes, and artists to expand its reach. The intersection of gaming, sports, and music isn’t just a strategy; it’s our identity.

The Bottom Line

Chief Richard Griffey’s legacy isn’t confined to the music industry; it’s a testament to the power of vision, collaboration, and resilience. From Soul Train to S.O.L.A.R. to A.D.P.I.C. to Death Row, he showed us what’s possible when you think big and stay true to your roots.

As gaming, sports, and music continue to converge, let’s take a page from Griffey’s book. Let’s build IP that lasts, foster partnerships that matter, and use our platforms to uplift communities. The Beat Goes On, and the game is just getting started, BooRay! 

As Quincy Jones said, “Dick Griffey was one of the great pioneering executives in the music business, whose fingerprints were on some of the biggest R&B hits of the ‘80s.”

I know you, Quincy, Clarence (Avant), Michael (Jackson) and Frankie (Beverly) are Back in Stride Again

Thanks for sharing your wisdom, time, family (Carrie, Carolyn & Lucas…IYKYK) and relationships (Virgil & Harold…IYKYK) with me! 

Long Live The Chairman and SOLAR!

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