Torre Reese was in the studio today discussing mentoring young African American men as well as his film festival this weekend.
Bio
Born and raised in history rich New Orleans, Louisiana, Torrence Brannon-Reese, aka, Torre`, is a true Renaissance man. Torre` is a full-time father/grandfather and is a dynamic, creative educator, cultural advocate/activist, plays guitar, is a festival and event producer, published poet/writer, musical historian, event Host/MC and has been singing and entertaining all of his life, now, as a producer and lead background vocalist and member of nationally renown A’capella vocal group, Street Corner Renaissance, which he co-founded in 2005; and the group will be featured on NBC’s the Sing Off, December 9, 2013! After an honorable discharge from the US Air force, he moved to Los Angeles and entered LA Southwest Community College where he served as Student Body President, and then matriculated to Cal State University Dominguez Hills where he obtained his degree in Communications and Africana studies. In 1992, Torre` (founded his own 501 © (3) nonprofit agency, FAMLI, Inc., Fighters for Afrikan Mental Liberation International, which has grown into, the Foundation for Arts, Mentoring, Leadership and Innovation.
In the early 90’s, Torre` was intimately involved in the Gang-Truce movement, working with people like Congresswoman Maxing Waters, Jim Brown, Aquella Sherrells, and others, and was a featured speaker on the KJLH groundbreaking show, “Peace Treaty”. For 15 years, (1993-2007) Torre` produced the annual Los Angeles-MALCOLM X arts, culture & education Festival, which grew to be the largest celebration for Malcolm X in America. In 1993, Torre` developed the dynamic mentoring programs, See A Man, Be A Man and Princess 2 Queen, which he ran simultaneous alongside the LA Bridges Gang Prevention project at Audubon Middle School for 13 years. For 15 years, Torre` worked alongside one of his mentors, Dr. Earnestine Thomas-Robertson, former Dean of Academic Affairs at LA Southwest to produce the annual Strategies for the Development of the African American Manchild Conference., which he chaired for two years.
For the past twenty five years, as a mentor, teacher, counselor, and director of his agency, Torre` has worked tirelessly to help save at risk youth from the horrors of drugs, gangs, illiteracy and more. As a beloved community/cultural advocate, and along-side Billy Higgins, Horace Tapscott, Richard Fulton, Dwight Trible, Michael Datcher and Kamau Daa`ood, Torre` is one of the recognized architects of the Leimert Park Cultural Renaissance music & arts movement. As grand an entertainer as he is, Torre` is a human being who truly cares about his people.
Torre` Brannon-Reese lives in Los Angeles with his children. Currently, he is working on his first book, “A Question of Culture” and is developing his new Film Festival, I’ve Known Rivers. He may be reached at 323 864-2656, or email him at, torrereese@yahoo.com
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