What Michael Jackson, Marvin Winans, and Oberlin College Have in Common

    CLEVELAND, OH, November 28, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Oberlin grad and acclaimed musician to the stars, Lafayette Carthon, has released a new book chronicling his musical life-lessons learned through experiences with Michael Jackson, Marvin Winans, and Oberlin College--three unlikely cohorts. "There are only three things I can do with music," says Carthon in his new book. "Worship with it, entertain with it or teach it."

Carthon, who toured the world with gospel legends, The Winans, first gained insider notoriety as studio pianist/keyboardist for Grammy Award winning artists Celine Dion, Michael Jackson, and Paula Abdul according to Scene Magazine. Having returned in recent years to Oberlin College to complete his degree in education--he dropped out at age 19 to pursue a successful performance career--he now shares his story in devotional form through his latest work, Lafayette Carthon Musicians' Handbook 2nd Ed.

The Handbook contains a plethora of readings with insider strategies intended to enlighten and motivate music enthusiasts and professionals alike--musically, spiritually, educationally and relationally. The book was newly designated the Official Handbook for Carthon Conservatory, a "YMCA of music" Carthon founded that challenges the status quo in music education today by teaching young students there is such a thing as "right and wrong" in music. Carthon--who is also the former Music Director for R-Kelly--is well aware of the public and private challenges musicians and artists can face. "We don't have a talent problem in music today," says Carthon. "We have an integrity problem. But together we can help change that."

Carthon Conservatory is a not-for-profit community music school that offers in-school/after-school music education & theory classes for public schools, charter schools, churches and non-profit organizations.

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