Bobby Newt: Why Having A Record Deal Doesn't Mean You Have Money In The Bank

I had the pleasure to interview Bobby Newt, a singer, songwriter from San Francisco, CA.

Bobby is that rare artist who is fortunate to possess all the attributes that make a star. Enormous talent, great look, gregarious, & unlimited drive; the type of drive that overcomes adversity.

He and his brothers were groomed by The Jacksons, earning a record deal at the age of 15. With a mildly successful first album, the label was excited about their potential, planning a big push for their sophomore effort.

Unfortunately, that sophomore album would never be released as tragedy struck the family. “that was an extremely difficult time for me, my twin brother was gone, my dad was locked up, it was just a really bad situation”.

Burying himself in his music to escape his present reality, his submersion deemed to pay off. He became a three-time Grammy-nominated songwriter for artists: Chris Brown, LeToya Luckett, Omarion, Pleasure P, Ron Isley, and Keyshia Cole to name a few. Bobby was also an Executive Producer on Tank’s album, “Now or Never”.

Thank you for joining us! Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

I grew up in San Francisco. My Dad was a hustler and a housewife. I started singing at 7 years old and street performing with my brothers at 9 years old on pier 39. Then we started our group the Newtrons and I was the lead singer. We would win local talents shows and go back and forth to Los Angeles trying to get a record deal. I met Michael Jackson at 11 and got my record deal at 15 on MCA records.

Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?

I was a huge Michael Jackson fan and I could sing and dance from a very young age. I wrote my first song at 10; it was called Elementary Love. I got my record deal at 15, my twin was killed a year later at 16.

Then I started using sex to heal the pain. I ended up with 5 kids by 4 different women by the time I was 23 .

I did a deal with Suge Knight and Death Row as a solo R&B artist at 27.

I met my wife at 28 and got saved in the Church. I got married at 30 and now I do inspirational music to tell my testimony and share my music to show how good God is.

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

Hanging out with Michael Jackson at the Havenhurst house in 1985.

Being managed by Joe Jackson.

Writing a song with Babyface.

Being nominated for three Grammys.

Writing for Chris Brown.

Hanging out with Suge Knight.

Executive producing Tanks Now or Never an Album.

Doing a reality show with my family and Mona Scott.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

When we were signed with MCA records I wrote several songs on the album and my dad got the publishing credit for them and the check cause I didn’t know anything about publishing.

You have to know the business side of things you can’t just be creative.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now?

My own Inspirational Ep that will be dropping this summer, new videos and a book I am writing now.

We are very interested in diversity in the entertainment industry. Can you share three reasons with our readers about why you think it’s important to have diversity represented in film and television? How can that potentially affect our culture?

There should be role models of all colors. We need to show all the colors in powerful roles. It gives our younger generation hope that they can be the next Denzel or Halle Berry.

What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a small story or example for each.

1. Always stay true to who you are.
2. You have to sell your soul to be famous in some type of way.
3. Fame is a hell of a drug.
4. Just ‘cause you have a record deal does not mean you have money in the bank.
5. Pick up an instrument and be more of a musician.

Which tips would you recommend to your colleagues in your industry to help them to thrive and not “burn out”?

Learn how to be an owner.

Put out a great product.

Never stop believing in yourself

You are a person of influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger

That movement is to make the Love of Jesus known to all of the worlds.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

Yes, my wife, Courtney Russell-Newt came and changed my life. She made me a better person in every way. Being married to her is the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m more responsible, more committed, selfless and more focused than ever.