how did we get here?

Pull up a chair and sit a spell...

Electra grew up learning about and living natural health and empowerment but didn't adopt and embrace those principles until she had her own children. Since then, she worked as a private, in-home caregiver for most of the last decade and was continually dismayed by all the medications and illnesses that surrounded her clients and the limited capacity in which she was able to help. She knew there was a better way to address mental and physical health but had to watch her clients further decline and eventually pass away, knowing she could have helped if they and their families had been open to healing instead of masking illness. In 2017 she decided she could not continue in that predicament and enrolled at The Institute for Integrative Nutrition to become an Integrative Health Coach. While pursuing this certification she realized she wanted to specialize in the health of musicians, since they struggle with so many mental and physical health issues and often die relatively young. She started writing a health column in the southern music magazine, Kudzoo. On her way home from work, while still pursuing her new career path, she heard an ad on the radio that was calling for radio show hosts. The school asked students to be the ripple that makes changes in the overwhelmed and broken healthcare landscape. In her signature approach to areas of passionate interest, she decided to be the tidal wave instead and called the station to accept, though she had no radio experience. Unfortunately, they wanted a lot of money from the hosts in order to share their messages. Electra wanted to share "Real Health Talk with Real Solutions for Real People" for FREE. 

Radio Land Lesson #1. 

Remembering that a local social activist had some sort of connection to radio, Electra told him the story. He suggested she talk to a nearby community radio manager. She contacted Carol, the manager at WUBA, who suggested they meet for dinner to discuss their idea. They did and she accepted the show. A few months later, Rockin' Your Health first aired on June 5, 2017. The show enjoyed a 5-year run of weekly programs that were interviews by Electra with experts in the field of integrative health. These health-related discussions included mental, physical, societal and environmental topics. Rockin' Your Health is on hiatus so that Electra and Jimmy can now focus on outreach through The Music Collective Foundation. 

When Rockin' Your Health was just three months old, Jimmy and Electra were catching up with their friend Arturo. Jimmy mentioned the show and that it was being broadcast on two local community stations. Their friend lit up and said they should come to a meeting for a two-day music festival and put that on the radio. Jimmy and Electra thought that was an excellent idea. They already had the capability. Jimmy, the tech wizard, had created a mobile rig in order to interview the director of the St. Francis House, which is the local homeless shelter for women and children. He just had to make a few additions. The stations agreed to broadcast the festival. Electra and Jimmy shared the event, getting there early, leaving after 4am and returning by 8am the next morning, which is fine in the younger years but hard on "older" folks. They continued to find other events to share, hoping to revamp the excitement in local radio they had come to know in the 1970s. The stations started declining the broadcasts for various reasons, including other show hosts not wanting to give up their spots, not wanting newcomers to gain the spotlight and that musicians sometimes use language that is not allowed on terrestrial radio. 

Radio Land Lession #2. 

Knowing that sharing live concerts on the radio was hugely popular and important, and not being interested in the politics they saw in radio, they decide to start their own internet station. ElectraLand Radio was born in November of 2017. They spent three years broadcasting live music events, sometimes up to three times a week, which is an insane pace for "older" folks, all while continuing to work their day jobs. They collected the recorded music from the artists to put in rotation on the 24/7, band-centric and ad-free station. The broadcasts were of local and regional bands who were passing through. They even traveled to nearby towns and to Electra's home state of Tennessee to share live shows with their listeners. Their following grew slowely but steadily. The musicians and their fans shared the station and events. Jimmy and Electra started producing Album Hour, which was a few songs of recorded music from the artists in their upcoming live broadcasts. This gave listeners a taste so they would decide to spend money on the live shows. They created an album release show so listeners could preview the album and hear some words from the artists about their music, which helps endear them to the artist and helps them decide to buy their music. Jimmy and Electra promoted those shows on social media with what little money they could contribute and asked the musicians to share with their fans as well. They have spent whatever time and money they could spare on the station since it began. 

The first band ElectraLand Radio broadcast live was playing a show some time later, that they also shared live on the station. When they were saying their goodbyes, the singer said, "My brother in Texas got to hear me for the first time!" That brought tears to Electra's eyes and has fueled their passion even more. There have been other similar exchanges since, from musicians and their visiting family members who could share with the people back home. Being able to listen and participate from afar is golden for the musicans and listeners alike. Being able to build a following in this way, for free, is unheard of in the music industry. Jimmy and Electra believe it is their calling to change the dynamic so that the artists are at the top of the pyramid, which in fact revolves around THEIR art! 

Three years into this venture, Covid 19 hit the world and the United States. The last live ElectraLand Radio broadcast was February of 2020. The shutdown gave Jimmy and Electra more time to address some infrustructure improvements and highlighted the need to develop alternative content. They turned their attention to having more produced shows. These include the ElectraLand Radio Listener Top 10 Countdown, Fresh Squeezed Brunch, Music Around the World and The Welcome Wagon, all produced and hosted by dedicated and talented volunteers. Jimmy and Electra maintained and grew the station, while continuing the weekly production of Rockin' Your Health. The listenership grew very quickly while people were cooped up in their homes during lockdown. ElectraLand Radio now has a very large, worldwide audience that is still growing quickly. 

All along the way, Jimmy and Electra watched these hard-working and committed musicians bust their asses and sacrifice their health and well-being to do what it takes to deliver their heart and souls to their audience. These musicians were often the age of Electra's own children. She watched them pile out of their cars and vans, rush to eat some fast food, get on stage and play their hearts out, spend a little time connecting with the audience after the shows, pile back in their vehicles and go home or drive to the next show, wherever that may be. Most of these people do not make a living wage, are not able to focus on themselves, their sleep, their health and their personal relationships. Musicians suffer disproportionately from mental health and addiction issues in part because of this difficult lifestyle, but they are still called to share the language of music. Electra and Jimmy have felt called to continue to try to make a difference in the lives of those who sacrifice so much to bring joy to others. 

The Music Collective was created with the mission of helping, in any way it can, those who make music and make music happen. There are two main facets of this outreach. The first is the continuation of promoting, presenting, broadcasting and recording music for posterity at no expense to the artists, ever. The second line of support is that of collective bargaining for discounts on products and services that musicians and those in supportive roles need to make their lives easier and that will save their hard earned dollars. The Music Collective Foundation will seek to serve their membership in these and any other ways they are able. 

Electra and Jimmy have shown their dedication and commitment to their visions and have a record of proven success. The Music Collective Foundation will succeed with the contination of their hard work, guidance, devotion and the help of all those who share their vision and offer their support.