BIOGRAPHY OF FRED WHEATT

Fred Wheatt was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio.  He graduated from Cleveland’s John Adams High and attended Cuyahoga Community College. Wheatt then went on to receive a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Kent State University, a Master of Arts degree in College Student Personnel Services and Counseling from John Carroll University, and a Juris Doctorate degree in law from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University. 

Wheatt was an administrator at Cuyahoga Community College, planning and implementing concerts, speakers, film series, and other programs for the college and the greater Cleveland community’s multicultural populations.  He has served as an entertainment manager, booking agent, record producer, music arranger, and composer.  Wheatt’s music career has included performances with, just to name a few, Stevie Wonder, Sammie Davis, Jr., the Temptations, Bill Cosby, Grover Washington, Jr., Richard Pryor, Joe Williams, Marvin Gay, Lou Rawls, Jackie Wilson, Melba Moore, Jack Jones, Patti Paige, Flip Wilson, Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, the Ojays, Carmen McRae, the Drifters, Curtis Mayfield & the Impressions, the Dells, the Spinners, Sonny Stitt, Celia Cruz, and Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra.  Wheatt’s national touring company performances include The Wiz, Bubblin’ Brown Sugar, Sophisticated Lady, and Ain't Misbehavin’.  He was a trombonist and arranger for the Cleveland Browns football team orchestra.  He has taught music performance, theory, and history throughout the greater Cleveland, Ohio, area.  He has given workshops and lectured throughout the U.S. on concert and performance implementation and the music business. Wheatt has also served as an academic and career and financial aid counselor for the federal Talent Search program, assisting many first-generation multicultural youth through senior citizens further their education and training.  He is the founder of The Wheatt Foundation, a non-profit organization educationally promoting the performing arts.  Wheatt is also the founder and president of Hall of Fame Productions, Inc., a music, entertainment, and sports production and management firm.  Wheatt is the Executive Director of the Leo’s Casino Arts & Music Collaboratory, which is a cultural hub created to be a resource platform for the creative arts, community wealth-building strategies, and social and economic development for, by, and with community partners and affiliates.  He’s the founder, director, and music arranger for Fulla Love Orchestra.  Wheatt also promotes literacy in the schools through the use of music and other performing arts.  He enjoys composing and playing jazz, gospel, classical, R&B, Latin, and many other music genres.  Since 2001 Wheatt has been researching and developing music documentaries. He has developed the Museum of Black Music, which is a virtual online museum.

Wheatt’s honors and awards include the American Federation of Musicians of the U.S. & Canada’s Diversity Award, the United Labor Agency’s Unsung Hero of the Labor Movement, the Kiwanis Club Bell Award, and the Salvation Army Kettle Award.

Wheatt’s latest publication, “It’s All About the Music Business,” is a resource book for musicians as well as non-musicians. The book introduces the reader to various music styles and genres, music theory, copyrights, publishing, marketing, and financial and health issues faced by those in the music business.

Organizational memberships have included the American Federation of Musicians, Northeast Ohio Jazz Society, National Association of College Activities Administrators, National Bar Association, Friends of Culture Board of Directors, Martin De Porres Center Board of Directors, Ohio Licensed State Counselors, Ohio Licensed State Teachers, Mid-American Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel, 21 Congressional District Caucus, Cleveland Federation For Community Planning, National Association For the Advancement of Colored People, and the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association. 

Wheatt’s leisure and other activities include motorcycling, gardening, fishing, camping, composing music, and researching historic sites and people. 

Wheatt has been married since 1973 to Linda, a now retired school teacher.  They have two children.