About

Doug Fenske upholds a Grammy-nominated, six-time platinum, 19-year career in music engineering and production. He has worked on a string of commercially and critically successful albums, including Frank Ocean’s channel ORANGE, Chris Brown’s Exclusive [The FOREVER Edition], Jamie Foxx’s Intuition, and Jordin Sparks’ Jordin Sparks. Doug has also spent time in the studio with Bruno Mars, Andre 3000, Ne-Yo, Ryan Tedder and LL Cool J.

Fenske earned his B.A. in Speech Communication from Eastern Illinois University, then graduated from The Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences. He has passionately held various roles in music production education since 2012 and currently serves as the Director of Education at 1500 Sound Academy.

Jamie Blake is a producer, songwriter,
performer, and music educator. As a musician, he specializes in playing drums and using the Ableton Push as a chromatic instrument. He has shared the stage as a DJ and live performer with artists such as JMSN, Smino, Joe Kay, ESTA, Sango, Snoh Aalegra, Dave B, Flamingosis and more.
Jamie is an Ableton Certified Trainer, has a B.A. in Audio Engineering from The Evergreen State College and earned a master’s in music from Berklee College of Music.

Jeanette Tampan was raised in Inglewood, California and fell in love with music as a dancer and varsity cheerleader. She graduated from Concordia University with a BS in Business. Jeanette is experienced in relationship building and helping others succeed in their career paths. She is proud to be a part of the 1500 Sound Academy family and passionate about helping each student build a solid foundation that leads them to finding their way through the music industry.

A motivating, solutions-driven Business Executive with a knack for achieving success in ambitious and competitive environments. An experienced educator and mentor focused on creating opportunities for young artists both in the classroom and professional studio environments. A tireless problem-solver with unmatched follow through and dedication to achieving collaborative, win-win solutions.

Kita is a Los Angeles based DJ most reputable for her energetic sets and dynamic taste and technique in open format style DJing, earning her a notable repertoire of career highlights and growing popular demand in the world of music. She is known for her collaboration in throwing an eclectic party called Hood Rave which is a popular underground party that centers around black and queer people. She has toured both nationally and internationally. She has also DJ’d for brands and establishments such as Nike, T-Mobile, Vans, Warner Bro’s Music, Undefeated, HUF, The California African American Museum, The Gagosian, and Camp Flognaw.

Chuck Sutton is a multi-talented artist, producer, performer, and educator from Montclair, New Jersey. With over a decade of expertise in Ableton Live, his unique sonic style, instructional content, and DIY devices have made a significant impact in the online production community. Since 2017, he's created videos for Ableton, iZotope, Antares, and Serato, encouraging both new and veteraned producers to reimagine the tools at their disposal. In 2019, he independently released his debut album, "i know what I'm doing*," organically amassing over 6 million streams. In 2021, his single "All or Nothin" premiered on season 5 of Issa Rae’s award-winning HBO series "Insecure," establishing his presence in both the music and television industries.

Channing B. Smith, Esq. is a transactional attorney with more than 10 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Her resume boasts of previous experience at RCA Records, Universal Music
Group, BMG Rights Management, Red Bull Media House, and Fifth Season. As an attorney, Channing has structured, negotiated and drafted a wide range of deals across the entertainment industry,
including artist recording, profit share, producer, sponsorship, vendor, merchandising and release
agreements within the music industry, and option-purchase, writer, executive producer, director, and actor deals within the television industry.
Channing earned a B.A. in Mass Communications from Dillard University, a Master of Communication Management from the University of Southern California, and a J.D. from Southwestern Law School. She is licensed to practice law in California
and New York.
Channing is also a member of several professional organizations, including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association, Langston Bar Association, Beverly Hills Bar Association, The Recording Academy, and Fortune & Forks. She also serves on the board of the R.E.A.C.H. Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides programming for young children, low income families, minorities and disadvantaged individuals.
In her free time, Channing has been a guest speaker on several industry panels and has curated and led a music law workshop at 1500 Sound Academy. Additionally, Channing mentors current students interested in careers in the entertainment industry and/or the legal profession through her alumni organizations.

Musically influenced by the innovative sounds of Michael Jackson, Prince and James Brown, at the early age of 5 Infa-Red fell in love with many genres of music, particularly Hip Hop. Originally from
Brockton, Massachusetts, Infa-Red learned to Dj at the age of 14 in Brooklyn, New York, where he spent his summers with family.
Infa-Red moved to Los Angeles to become the Director of Hip Hop programming for Dash Radio and the first official DJ of MLS – LAFC (Los Angeles Football Club) in 2022. In 2023, DJ Infared was selected by the LA Rams to be an official DJ of the team and began DJ’ing for Eminem’s Radio Station Shade 45 on Sirius XM.
Infa-Red has played in several major markets including New York City, Boston, Miami, New Jersey and Los Angeles.
He was an honorary guest at the 2009 BET Hip Hop Awards in Atlanta. He has played at shows for Zed, NAS, Nicky Ramero, Fabolous, 50 Cent, Dirty South, Ne-Yo, Jadakiss, Styles P, The Lox, Fat Joe, Allen Iverson, Pitbull,Trina, Madcon, Ace Hood, DJ Khaled, Ray J, T.I., Green Lantern, Biz Markie, DJ Enuff, DJ Camilo, Dirty South, De La Ghetto, Speedy, Joel y Randy, Jazmine Sullivan, Kevin Cossom, Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, Yung Berg, YC, 2 Pistols, Baby Bash, NBA, NFL, Celebrity Weddings and many more. Continually fine-tuning his craft, Infa-Red is taking the necessary steps to expand to International markets while he continues to grow in the radio and music production

Elias Clarke Cambell, also known as A Modern Artist, was born in Costa Rica, before being raised in Brooklyn, NY. He was a recipient of the Morehead-Cain scholarship, the first merit scholarship program in the US. Elias graduated from University of North Carolina with a B.A. in Communications with a concentration in multimedia productions and a Masters Degree in Animation and New Media, from NC State’s College of Design.

Elias looks forward to bringing Music and Entertainment to the areas of Education and Healthcare in hopes of creating a smarter, healthier, more creative and enjoyable environment for all.

Alexandria (Alex) Dopson, the sister of Larrance Dopson, takes pride in being an original member of 1500 or Nothin'. She has had the privilege of lending her vocals to the Grammy-nominated album "Victory Lap" by the late, great Nipsey Hussle, featuring prominently on tracks such as "Dedication" and "Real Big". Additionally, she has provided background vocals for acclaimed artists such as Beyoncé, Lauren Hill, Snoop Dogg, Bobby Valentino and more.

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Alex's talents extend beyond being a captivating songstress and professional vocalist. She is also a gifted songwriter, artist developer and vocal coach. Her extensive work includes collaborations with renowned artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Saweetie, Dave East, Gunna, Ari Lennox, Ashanti, Alicia Keys, The Isley Brothers, and numerous others. She shares her expertise by teaching the Songwriting course at 1500 Sound Academy.

Raymond Medina is a music producer, songwriter, tracking engineer, and mixing engineer from Orange County, CA. He is a graduate of the Los Angeles Recording School and is an alumnus of the 1500 Sound Academy. He is proficient with both Ableton and Pro Tools and has worked in multiple studios in the Los Angeles area. He is currently working and assisting behind the scenes with a few of the top charting songwriters and music producers in the music industry today.

“Pops” Dopson started his career in the Music Industry in 1967 professionally. He was Lead Singer in the group The “5” Wagers in Chicago. For 15 years he worked with artists like The Temptations, Earth, Wind & Fire, Emotions, The Impressions, Barry White and Smokey Robinson.

He loves teaching vocal and harmonic training to both new artists as well as professional artist’s in todays industry. He truly enjoys his position at 1500 Sound Academy as a mentor to all who works there. “Pops” and his wife Brenda had a vision for his family’s future and that has translated in his son’s Rance endeavors. He is proud of all of the accomplishments 1500 or Nothin’ has achieved and the success of their new location in Inglewood.

GianCarlo was born and raised in Culver City, California. His interest in the music industry really began to grow back when he would DJ at my high school at lunchtime. This lead to interest in production software such as Ableton Live, as well as the various ins and outs of recording music in studios. “I’ve been so fortunate to be a part of the 1500 team for a handful years now, and the knowledge I’ve gained truly is priceless. With how much 1500 has grown since I started, the possibilities for the future seem endless.”

LaMark, a native of the Inland Empire, is a producer and proud graduate of 1500 Sound Academy. His journey through the Music & Industry Fundamentals Program not only sharpened his technical skills, but also immersed him in a community of free-thinking creatives. In this empowering space, he discovered that the true magic of music lies in experiences made from genuine connections.

1500 Sound Academy gave LaMark a sense of belonging and the confidence to share his music and collaborate with other artists. Now, as a Teaching Assistant at 1500 Sound Academy, he's dedicated to providing future students with the same inspiring experience, helping them discover their unique artistic identity and style.

Zari transcends the label of "R&B singer." A graduate of 1500 Sound Academy, she is a complete artist, crafting her sound through songwriting and production. Her dedication extends beyond the stage; she has delved into the technical aspects of music creation and the complexities of the music industry. Music runs deep in her veins. Her grandmother, Phyllis Nelson, was a trailblazer—the first Black woman to top the UK Singles Chart with her own sole composition. Her father, Marc Nelson, was a founding member of both Boyz II Men and Az Yet. Inspired by this legacy, Zari pursues her own path, guided by kindness and authenticity.