I WAS BORN THIS WAY: Bios

Maxi-CD cover

I WAS BORN THIS WAY BIOS



Carl Bean in 1977 (The singer)	Bunny Jones (The songwriter, along with Chris Spierer)	Mel Cheren (West End CEO) (The label owner)	Gomi (The remixer)	Archbishop Carl Bean in 2005 (The singer)

Archbishop Carl Bean: Artist "I Was Born This Way"
As an openly Gay man, Carl Bean was ordained as a Minister on August 17, 1982. He then went on to become Founder and Pastor of Unity Fellowship of Christ Church, Los Angeles (aka Mother Church), in 1985.

Unity Fellowship Church
The Unity Fellowship Church Movement (UFCM) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization founded in 1990 by Rev. Carl Bean for primarily gay and lesbian African-Americans. Bean explains, "The mission of the UFCM is to proclaim the sacredness of all life, thus focusing on empowering those who have been oppressed... rejected by society's institutions and systems and made to feel shame." The UFCM has a far-reaching network encompassing various national departments, urban outreach ministries, a national mass choir, periodicals and constituency-based programs. There are chapters of the Los Angeles-based UFCM in Riverside, Long Beach and San Diego, CA; Detroit; Brooklyn; Newark and New Brunswick, NJ; Baltimore; Charlotte; Atlanta and Washington, DC.

The Minority AIDS Project
Archbishop Carl Bean is also the founder and CEO of The Minority AIDS Project (MAP). It is the first community based HIV/AIDS organization established and managed by people of color in the United States. Founded in 1985 in Los Angeles, MAP's mission is to reduce suffering and deaths due to HIV/AIDS infection in the African-American and Latino communities by making HIV/AIDS-related health services and education available and accessible. Since its inception, Bean has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including, in 1987, the NAACP Image Award for his pioneering work on AIDS in the African-American community.

Please visit the highly informative website for more information on Archbishop Carl Bean and the UFCM: www.ufc-usa.org and www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/bean_c.html.

BUNNY JONES songwriter
"I Was Born This Way" was co-written by Bunny Jones — a straight black woman — and Chris Spierer. Originally recorded by a gay black singer named Valentino, it was first released on Jones' Gaiee Records. She said, "I wanted to give gay people a label they could call home." [This version can be heard on queermusicheritage.com.] A 1976 article in the Advocate on the Valentino version reveals the inspiration for the song: "Before entering the music business a decade ago, [Bunny] owned several beauty salons in Harlem. Most of her employees were gay and became her friends and she became aware of their suppression. "I began to feel that gays are more suppressed than blacks, Chicanos or other minorities. You hear of great designers or famous hairdressers, and that's about as far as society will let gays go." [Think this sounds dated?: Thirty years later, the top gay show on television is "Queer Eye For the Straight Guy."]

Gomi: Producer of the 2005 "I Was Born This Way" Remix
Gomi, a student of producer Quincy Jones while at The Berklee College of Music, broke out as a remixer/producer with his re-production of "Heartbreaker" for — and with — Mariah Carey. He went on to remix everyone from Madonna to Whitney and from Celine to Janet to Cher. As an engineer he's known for his work with Hex Hector, George Morel and, most notably, Junior Vasquez. Note: Gomi is straight, but such a fan of the Carl Bean record, he asked to remix it.

You approached West End about doing this remix. Why?
They have a vast, incredible collection of music. I have always been a big fan of West End Records. The quality of their music is great and I have always wanted to remix one of their songs. It's my dream come true.
What is it about this song that you like so much? The message. Freedom about your life. You cannot change your gender, where you were born, whether your family is rich or poor. You have to learn to accept that. The lyrics say "I'm gay" but if you change it to your situation — for example, I am Japanese - it's the same thing. It gives everyone a strong sense of encouragement. Live strong.
As a straight guy, what would you say to other straight guys who ask why you like this and wanted to remix it so much? I have lots of gay friends. For me, they just have a different sexuality — it's nothing special. Everybody is different but we are all human beings, and not that different. What matters is that this song has a great message.

More on Gomi on Discogs.com.

Mel Cheren: CEO West End Records
In addition to founding West End Records in 1976, Mel Cheren is a pioneering AIDS activist (who gave the Gay Men's Health Crisis their first home,) the Founder and President of 24 Hours For Life (an AIDS charity,) the former financial backer of the legendary NYC nightclub — the Paradise Garage, and owner of the Colonial House Inn in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. Cheren remains a vocal gay rights and AIDS activist and is a familiar fixture on the NYC gay club scene. On September 19, 2005, Mel Cheren's history of service in the music industry was recognized by his induction into the Dance Music Hall of Fame with the honor of their Lifetime Achievement Award.

More on Mel Cheren on westendrecords.com

More on West End Records on westendrecords.com

West End Records
One of dance music history's most prominent labels, West End stands in good company with labels like Prelude, SalSoul and Casablanca. From its debut hit, "Sessomatto," which, according to Grandmaster Flash, was the first instrumental break to be scratched by DJs as break-beats, the West End label has gone from one Richter-registering smash to the next. Taana Gardner's "Heartbeat," which sold 800,000+ copies at the time, went on to become one of the biggest selling 12" records in music history. Included in VH1's 100 Greatest Dance Songs, it has been sampled over 65 times, is still played in clubs all around the world and is a favorite of the Hip-Hop generation. Other hits like Karen Young's "Hot Shot," Raw Silk's "Do It To the Music," Mahogany's "Ride On the Rhythm" and The NYC Peech Boys' "Don't Make Me Wait" helped define West End's still revered sound.