Kenny Ortiz


Kenneth "Kenny O" Ortiz is an American Grammy Nominated record executive, A&R, manager, consultant, radio and street promotion. As the CEO of World Trade Entertainment his efforts have resulted in 175 million records sold. Hits and acts Ortiz has been a part of, have been instrumental in the
careers and successes of Pharrell Williams and The Neptunes, Rodney Jerkins, SWV, Ne-Yo, Jazmine Sullivan, Missy Elliott, Timbaland. The 2019 Jordan Peele movie Us, features I Got 5 On It by The Luniz featuring Mike Marshall produced by Tone Capone whom he manages.
Widely known as the mastermind behind SWV, Ortiz is also known for discovering Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo also known as the Neptunes, whom Ortiz signed to EMI to their first production and writing deal. Ortiz would A&R the unreleased compilation album which featured Charlie Wilson and Kelis which subsequently led to Kelis's signing. It was Kenny Ortiz's idea to make Pharrell and Chad change their production name to the Neptunes.
Ortiz's innovative A&R and promotion skills through the 80's, 90's, 00's, and 2010's - have been instrumental in bringing numerous musical artists and figures across multiple genres to multi-platinum sales and legendary status, including but not limited to Mellow Man Ace, Pharrell Williams, Neptunes, SWV, Destiny's Child, The Luniz, MC Hammer, Brian McKnight, Martha Wash, Anita Baker, Tracy Chapman, Keith Sweat, BeBe Winans, CeCe Winans, Ryan Toby of City High, Mantronix, Simply Red, The Cure, Ten Thousand Maniacs.
Ortiz is responsible for helping acts to get signed by major labels. Artists that benefited from Kenny's musical ear include: Jazmine Sullivan, Brian McKnight, "Joe". Ortiz also helped in the development of acts like: Shaffer Smith aka Ne-Yo, Ryan Toby, Johnta Austin (discovered him, signed him to RCA Records and put him together with Pharrell Williams, and the Wu-Tang Clan received their first R&B record from Ortiz, who handpicked them to remix "Anything" by SWV which catapulted them from underground to household name.

Media

Television:
SWV Reunited: Season 2
VH1's: Dreamgirls: The Making and Breaking of Girl Groups
TV One's: "Unsung" for SWV and Martha Wash
In Movies As Executive Producer of Soundtracks:
Tupac's Above the Rim
Micheal Jackson's Free Willy
Articles:
Rolling Stone magazine: Feb 20, 2014
Books:
"How They Made It: True Stories of How Music's Biggest Stars Went From Start To Stardom" by Dan Kimpel.