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Although Wally Amos didn’t set out to build a world-class brand, his creation has stood the test of time, leaving a lasting legacy. The beloved Famous Amos, with its signature bite-sized cookies inspired by Amos’ family recipe, launched in 1975 in a storefront on Los Angeles, CA’s Sunset Boulevard. When the store opened, his son, Shawn, was just seven years old, and he was one of its workers. “He worked in the back, and I worked in the front, and literally the two of us were tearing this place apart, building it, and opening it up. I learned the value of work, of just that all you have at the end of the day is work,” Shawn told AFROTECH™. “He wasn’t looking to create a worldwide brand or be an icon. He just wanted to open up a store selling cookies and make a living. And he really valued the work and took pride in the work.” The store’s launch was made possible through a $25,000 loan from notable entertainers such as Marvin Gaye and Helen Reddy. For years, Wally had been sharing his...
Frankie Beverly was an American singer, songwriter, and musician best known as the lead singer and founder of the iconic group Maze. With a career spanning over five decades, Beverly became a legend in the world of soul, R&B, and funk music. His smooth voice, timeless songs, and captivating performances earned him a dedicated fan base and substantial financial success. As of 2024, Frankie Beverly’s net worth is estimated to be around $4 million. Early Life And Career Beginnings Beverly was born Howard Beverly on December 6, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began singing in his local church choir as a child, which helped develop his vocal skills and love for music. During his teenage years, Beverly formed a doo-wop group called The Blenders and later joined a band named The Butlers, which enjoyed moderate success in the Philadelphia music scene. His early experiences laid the groundwork for his career and helped him refine his distinctive style. Formation Of Maze And Rise To...
Tyler Perry opened the world’s largest Black-owned studio, not just to build his own legacy but to empower others to create theirs. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, he self-funded Tyler Perry Studios to launch in Atlanta, GA, in 2008. I t’s now reportedly worth $280 million and serves as both a hub for his creative projects and a welcoming space for other filmmakers seeking to rent its stages and spaces. His ambition to succeed and help others is driven by his great-grandfather, who was enslaved, NBC News reports. “I’m on the wave that they set in motion,” he told the outlet. “So I feel like I’m supposed to live well. I feel like I’m supposed to have everything that I want. Not just for me, but for everyone who didn’t get it. …It’s not just about what I’m doing,” Perry told NBC News. “It’s also about all the people that’s affected.” Perry’s vision has manifested in several ways. His workforce is 99% Black and also includes a population of those who were formerly incarcerated and...
Usher’s mother, Jonnetta Patton, is opening a restaurant. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Patton had once been in business as a manager to Usher, born Usher Terry Raymond IV, for 17 years. She played a part in helping to reshape his image on his own terms, which later proved to be a wise decision. “During the time between that first record and the second record, I worked in silence. I didn’t tell the record label what I was doing,” Patton said in an interview on OWN’s “Behind Every Man.” “So now Usher said, ‘This time I’m gonna do it my way.’ So LA [LA Reid] said, ‘Okay. All right, Usher.’ See, they wanted him to be this bad boy image. Usher’s not a bad boy. That’s that whole image that they wanted. It didn’t work. So Usher said, ‘I’m gonna do it my way,’ and that’s basically what we did.” Usher released “My Way,” the album that gave him his first No. 1 record. “What you see on ‘My Way,’ you just see raw talent,” Usher said during the interview. “This is a true testament to an...
Charlamagne Tha God is investing in artificial intelligence (AI). According to a news release, he has invested in MeetKai Inc., an AI software company that aims to transform the metaverse. Already, through its MeetKai Reality platform, users can change digitized physical spaces into 3D models from their cell phones. The company also offers cloud AI and metaverse content creation. Its website mentions that at least 40 million individuals across 30 countries, including those working in design, architecture, engineering, and real estate sectors, have benefitted from its software since 2018. “MeetKai is redefining the future of entertainment. I see it as the future of social, shopping, gaming, and content creation, all while being excitingly immersive,” Charlamagne Tha God said in the news release. “It’s where the boundaries of reality and digital innovation blur, creating endless possibilities for connection and creativity.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by MeetKai...
Famous Amos is a Black-founded brand that’s brought smiles to our faces since 1975. To survive this long, they’ve had to undergo many changes in the past nearly 50 years – mostly in terms of ownership. The visionary behind the cookie company, Wally Amos , found quick success after opening a shop in Los Angeles, but he was faced with financial and personal challenges leading him to walk away. Since their lowest point, the Famous Amos net worth has grown considerably. Despite the ups and downs, they remain one of America’s favorite cookies. The Wally Amos Days (Photo by Diana Walker/Getty Images) Before opening his flagship location, Amos made history as the first-ever Black talent manager, working out of William Morris Agency. When meeting with record labels and signees he would bring in fresh baked cookies after uncovering a love for baking while living with his aunt in New York. Word got out about the “famous Amos” cookies, leading his friends Marvin Gaye and Helen Reddy to gift...
Ernst & Young LLP (EY) aims to equip Black and Hispanic entrepreneurs with the necessary tools to scale and grow their businesses through the official opening of applications for its 2025 cohort of EY Entrepreneurs Access Network (EAN). Since EAN’s inception in 2019, EY has supported Black and Hispanic/Latino-owned businesses for their impact on their communities and the overall American economy, according to the EY website. Already Black and Hispanic/Latino entrepreneurs have shown a proven track record of success, producing more than $183 billion and $800 billion, respectively. However, some roadblocks stand in the way of them reaching their full potential. Thus, EY wants to bridge the gap to access and resources for minorities throughout their entrepreneurial journeys. The 2025 EAN installment is another step toward helping them scale their businesses. “Black and Hispanic/Latino entrepreneurs are among the unsung heroes of our economy,” Nit Reeder, EY EAN program director, said...
The beautiful thing about fine art, specifically music, is that it speaks to the issues of the time. Often, those songs are made to address certain historic moments but end up being a case study of sorts for the future. It can be seen across genres in songs such as Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” or Walter Hawkin’s “Thank You Lord,” where in one of the verses he sings, “economies down, people can’t get enough pay.” Although some of these songs were produced well before the issues of today, they are perpetual concerns that society has found itself facing again and again. Those same messages are on par with the pain points many people feel and are going through. One of those pain points is the economy’s impact on the job industry, and it has now impacted what is known as the happiest place on Earth. According to The Wall Street Journal, Disney is part of the long list of employers recently announcing layoffs. The Florida-based company eliminated its entire Metaverse division. At its...
The Famous Amos cookie company is an American cultural icon. Each year, millions of delicious confections made by the company founded by Wally Amos are sold in stores nationwide. But despite early investments from his celebrity friends — including a soul legend — Wally Amos couldn’t keep Famous Amos afloat. Amos was an experienced Hollywood talent broker, but he didn’t know his way around the corporate world. What’s more, Amos — known for his perpetually sunny, upbeat demeanor — has no regrets about how it all went down. “If you sit around starting to feel sorry for yourself, and blaming everyone else for your position in life, it is like being in quicksand,” he said to the New York Times. “In quicksand, if you start flailing all about and panicking with each movement you go in deeper, but if you just stay calm and look about, chances are you’ll see a twig or something you can reach to pull yourself out. Or, if you stay there long enough someone will come and rescue you.” Let’s take...
When Wally Amos founded Famous Amos Cookies in 1975, he was navigating one of the most challenging times of his life. Newly divorced and struggling with the tides of pursuing Hollywood success, he went on to find major success in sweet treats. However, his success was not a solo effort. With early backing from celebrities like Marvin Gaye, Amos was able to sell approximately $300,000 worth of cookies in his inaugural year. The cookie brand is now paying it forward with the second round of entrepreneurial grants. In a May 19 press release, Famous Amos announced a partnership with the National Black Chamber of Commerce to launch the second cycle of the Famous Amos Ingredients for Success Entrepreneurs Initiative . The entrepreneurial program is designed to offer grants and mentorship as essential tools and resources to assist Black business owners. Participants will engage in a pitch contest that provides a high-level overview of their business, why it will become a successful...