Introduction

I had the pleasure of interviewing Alhadji Dounard Thrash, head of Georgia State’s Music Management department. I chose to interview Thrash, because I feel that he is very qualified to provide his opinion and input on the subject that I chose: entertainment in the music industry. These responses were very helpful because they ultimately line up with my thesis. Thrash suggests that Michael Jackson is the greatest entertainer of all time and that his music spans generations, as I presumed, meaning his impact supersedes entertainers of his time as well as performers before and after his time. He also mentions that to be a great entertainer, you have to implement elements other than having great music. Lastly, he mentions that the downfalls of an artist do not outweigh the accomplishments or good things that they have done in their life; Ultimately it does not tarnish their legacy. In summary, this interview serves as an expert opinion that provides data to help answer the question: Who is the greatest entertainer of all time?

 

1.Who do you believe to be the greatest entertainer of all time and why?

Michael Jackson- His music makes ALL people happy, ALL the time. It spans generations and geographic boundaries.

 

2.What qualities create a great entertainer/ musician?

• Vigorous work ethic
• Visionary
• Risk taker
• Dreamer
• Perfectionist

 

3.Can different artists of different genres, genders, age, etc. be compared in terms of greatness? Why or why not?

Yes, because regardless of the genre and demographic, artists are tasked to entertain and inspire, Both of which can be measured across genres

 

4.What kind of music do you prefer to listen to? Do you believe this choice affects your belief of who the greatest entertainer is?

I prefer to listen to old school- rock, soul, hip hop and r&b.

I think this does have some influence on my belief of greatest entertainer.

 

5.Does an artist’s downfalls while they are alive affect their overall legacy? Why or why not?

This depends on how “low” the downfall takes the artist. I would say more times than not, the legacy can withstand downfalls.  Historically, fans have had a way of separating the art that a musician creates, from the real life they live. One main reason is that fans did not know much about the private lives of many musicians  This is starting to change and I think it will continue now that fans have direct access to the lives of their favorite artists via social media, and will thus hold them accountable for more than just the music they make.