Dinavon Bythwood
Background information
Birth nameDinavon Bythwood
Also known asX1
Born (1967-05-23) May 23, 1967
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
OriginBelle Glade, Florida, U.S.
GenresPop, pop rock, dance-pop, R&B, electropop, hip pop
Occupation(s)Executive Producer, Music Executive, Musician, Record producer, Songwriter
Instrument(s)Piano, Synth, Hammond Organ, vocals, electronic keyboard, DAW
Years active1998–present
LabelsEMI Music Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Dinavon Bythwood (born May 23, 1967, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American Sports Media and Entertainment executive. He is Founder, Chairman and CEO of the streaming entertainment platform Globalstream Live [1] and Blacklion Entertainment Group, overseeing a consortium portfolio of brands and companies within the sports, media, entertainment, and spirits industries. Bythwood is also a multi-platinum Grammy nominated Record producer and songwriter. Besides his contributions to the music and entertainment industry, Bythwood is also a former American professional football player who in 1994 was an NFL Rookie Free Agent acquisition by the Cleveland Browns.[2][3] A 6'4", 255 lb defensive end, Bythwood played at the University of Miami[4] where he received his bachelor's degree in Business Administration and won a NCAA Collegiate Football National Championship in 1991 as was determined by the AP Poll.[5] From 1991 to 1994 Bythwood played alongside notable teammates actor Dwayne Johnson, 2003 Super Bowl champion and 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee Warren Sapp,[6][7] two-time Super Bowl champion and 2018 NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee, Ray Lewis,[8][9] and 1992 Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta. Bythwood currently resides in Miami, Florida and has a son Brandin Mikel, born April 8, 1995.

Early life

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1967, Bythwood was adopted at birth through the “Children’s Home Society" not having known his biological parents.  After birth, as an infant, Bythwood was taken to Belle Glade, Florida, (often referred to as “Muck City”) a small agricultural farming town, in western Palm Beach County, Florida, known for its black rich soil. There, he was raised by his adoptive parents, Daniel S. Bythwood, and Hattie G. Bythwood, (then later by Elouise Bythwood, his Stepmother) following the passing of Hattie Bythwood due to kidney failure. Being college educated entrepreneurs, Bythwood’s adoptive parents were both educators and administrators for the School District of Palm Beach County and stressed the importance of education, having received their post graduate degrees in education from Florida A&M University.   During Bythwood’s early childhood years, Daniel, while working as an educator during the day, moonlighted as a Belle Glade Police Officer by night. He later transitioned into politics becoming a 6 term City Commissioner and Vice Mayor[10] of the City of Belle Glade, Florida.

Introduction to music

Bythwood was introduced to various forms of music in his formative years growing up in Belle Glade.  Often spending time to himself, he would listen to different genres of music on the family radio.  Music enthusiasts themselves, his parents had an extensive record collection of soul music consisting of such artist as: Roberta Flack, Barry White, Dionne Warwick, Otis Redding, Al Green, The Jackson Five, Isley Brothers, Donnie Hathaway, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Issac Hayes, Diana Ross, Mary Wells, and many others.  This helped to further his exposure, developing his growing love for the art or music.

Bythwood learned to play piano at an early age.  Having shown an interest in the instrument early, his mother Hattie bought him a piano when he was in the 2nd Grade.  It was during that time Bythwood learned to play, developing his “musical ear” by listening to 8 Track tapes, 45 records, cassette tapes, and music on the radio.  Never truly learning how to read music, Bythwood learned to “play-by-ear.”

Devout Christians and prominent members of the New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Belle Glade, Florida, Bythwood’s parents were directly responsible for the church’s procurement and acquisition of the land on which it constructed its new edifice.  In 1973, having purchased the land of the Church’s old building site, this transaction allowed the church to utilize the sales’ proceeds to build.  It was there where Bythwood developed as a musician and was introduced to gospel music, becoming the Church pianist for its youth and young adult choirs.

Bythwood attended Glades Central High School where he played sports and excelled as a musician.  He received the “Most Outstanding” musicians award in 1984 and 1985 from the schools’ Choral Music Department.  It was during that time Bythwood was exposed to music production by his choral director. Bythwood states: “I remember seeing my choral director programing a classic Chaka Khan song “I Feel for you” on one of the first programmable keyboards for production.  I was hooked!”

Music career

2009: Grammy nomination

Keyshia Cole

As a record producer, Bythwood and then production partner Alex Francis made up the American music production team known as The Ghostwriters.[11] In 2008 they produced Keyshia Cole's hit single "Heaven Sent", from her multi-platinum-selling album Just like You. According to Billboard, "Heaven Sent" peaked at #1 on U.S. Hot R&B/Rap Songs chart for nine consecutive weeks and also reached #28 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, making "Heaven Sent" Cole's most successful single release to date. The duo subsequently received two Grammy nominations in the categories Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Performance.[12]

Charice Pempengco

Charice Pempengco

In 2011 Bythwood /"The Ghostwriters" collaborated with former American Idol Judge / Grammy Nominated Songwriter Kara DioGuardi and Pop Music Recording Artist Jason Derulo to produce the critically acclaimed song "Lessons for Life" which featured on Warner Bros. Records' star Charice Pempengco's album Infinity. Pempengco is a Philippine international recording artist and actor for the hit television series Glee. She first rose to prominence on YouTube and was initially discovered by popular songwriter Haras Fyre (pka Patrick Grant). Charice was dubbed by media icon Oprah Winfrey as "the most talented girl in the world", which subsequently prompted Winfrey to introduce her to legendary songwriter and 16x Grammy Award-winning music producer David Foster.

Muzik~Hause Produktionen Internationale

Through his co-publishing joint venture with EMI/Sony ATV, Bythwood's music production and artist development company, "Musik~Hause Produktionen - a subsidiary of Blacklion Entertainment Group - leverages a vast network of award-winning, multi-platinum songwriters and music producers such as The Smeezingtons, Bruno Mars, Phillip Lawrence, The Monsters & Strangerz, Claude Kelly, Crystal Nicole, J. Angel, Evan Bogart, The Writing Camp, Dave Bassett, Bonnie McKee, and others.

They have collaborated with, produced and or written for artists such as: Burna Boy, Beyonce, Maroon 5, Rihanna, Nick Jonas, Selena Gomez, Pitbull, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Dua Lipa, Demi Lovato, Jason Derulo, Fifth Harmony, Kanye West, Big Sean, Jennifer Hudson, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Lizzo, Fantasia, Monica, Jason Derulo, Jazmine Sullivan, Flo-Rida, and Chris Brown.

Collectively their production and songwriting collaborations are responsible for 31 Billboard Hot 100 number one (#1) singles, 56 US Mainstream Top 40 chart Radio records, 33 Grammy Nominations including "Song of the Year", and "Record of the Year." With over 100 million records sold worldwide including US certifications Certified by RIAA, their production and songwriting has yielded over 85 billion consumer music streams across Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, and YouTube.

Reality TV

Musik Hause, through its joint collaborative with Sony Music, Fox, and NBC, has cultivated the projects of a number of "Stand Out Top Tier" performers from NBC's The Voice, FOX's American Idol and X Factor respectfully. Through this venture Musik Hause/Sony ATV concentrations have been the artist development and production of those standout performers that were eliminated from competition. Roster collaborations have included NBC's "The Voice (U.S. season 3)" Contestant Joselyn Rivera. In addition to Joselyn Rivera, Bythwood has worked with American Idol (season 11) Finalist/Runner-up Jessica Sanchez, NBC "The Voice (U.S. season 4) standout performer Monique Abaddie, American Idol (season 11) Contestant Deneco Pittman (Neco Starr) and contestant Tion Phipps among others.

Lewis performing at the Clive Davis Pre Grammy Gala in 2009

An ardent believer in "Reality TV" talent based shows; Bythwood's work with Simone Cowell's SYCO/Sony Music Entertainment recording artists and UK X Factor winners, Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke helped to further solidify Musik Hause's artist developmental philosophy. Bythwood explains: "Many talented artist become Superstar icons because of phenomenal songs and a great team surrounding them." Talented singers are not always great songwriters which is why our approach at Musik Hause is to operate within the framework of helping artists create and providing them with the best possible music composition that helps them win and succeed.

Music and entertainment industry influences

Bythwood's favorite bands, Iconic voices, and music entertainment influences are Chicago, Peter Cetera, Michael McDonald, Bill Withers, Donnie Hathaway, Al Green, Earth Wind and Fire, Whitney Houston, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, Coldplay, Maroon 5, Quincy Jones, David Foster, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Gamble and Huff, The Black Godfather Clarence Avant, Babyface and L.A. Reid of LaFace Records, and Big Jon Platt, Clive Davis.

Sports, media, entertainment, alcohol, spirits

Blacklion Media Group

Black Medallion Media Group is a vertically integrated sports, lifestyle and entertainment media consortium comprising four companies founded by Bythwood: Globalstream Live, Muzik Hause Produktionen (formerly Ghostwriters Productions), Blacklion Sports Agency in alliance with Bus Cook Sports, Blacklion Film and Television, and Blacklion Spirits.  The media group’s business interests span the spectrum of music, technology, film, television, spirits, brands and culture.  As its Chairman and CEO, Bythwood Founded Blacklion Media Group in 2020 consolidating the member companies as a one group.  In their various individual capacities, they have been responsible for the development, production, and release of a number of commercially successful entertainment projects. The company’s advisory board and board of directors includes icon NFL sports agent Bus Cook, Sony Music CEO Jon Platt, Greenberg Traurig Global Entertainment Division Founder Chairman Emeritus Joel Katz, and 16x Grammy award winner Music Producer icon David Foster.

Globalstream Live

In 2017, Bythwood was Executive Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Investor Relations for the streaming technology company Tilted Globe, now Stream-Guard. During his tenure, the company, under the leadership of CEO and founder Joe Tremols, was awarded a US patent, US20160007060 "System for enabling a Virtual Theater", by the US Patent Office. Bythwood then developed and instituted Globalstream Live, an online pay-per-view entertainment streaming platform for major music concerts and events. Bythwood secured the first Stream-Guard multi-year license for its "non-broadcast secured streaming technology" in the company’s history. In 2018 he became the founder, president, and CEO of one of the first live-streaming platforms, built for major music artist(s) and live music concerts.

Bythwood, through the Globalstream Live platform, has collaborated with artists and industry executives such as Pitbull, Ozuna, Chris Brown, Matthew Knowles, YSL Music Group, 50 Cent, Future, Rolling Loud, Anitta, Sony Music, and others. In its inaugural streaming season, Globalstream Live garnered 2.8 million paid viewers and grossed over $28m dollars in 2018. Through this success, Globalstream Live joined one of the world's most prominent entertainment companies, AEG Live. The venture and alliance via AEG's Global Partnerships Initiative enabled the company's global expansion in content distribution of live events. Bythwood, through Blacklion Films and Television, also secured a four-film deal with Jamie Foxx and executive producer Rodney Mason of Fastmouse Films. The first feature film of the venture slated for release is the "faith-based" production When We Pray. The film was written by Foxx and comedian Donald "Speedy Ray" Caldwell.

Blacklion Spirits

In 2022, Bythwood, in an innovative move to transcend traditional industry boundaries, expanded Blacklion Media Groups’ footprint and diverse portfolio with the formation of Blacklion Spirits, a subsidiary focusing on the ultra-premium alcohol and spirits’ sector. This strategic initiative reinforced the conglomerate's multi-sectoral influence, characterized by a unique convergence of media, sports, lifestyle, and high-quality spirits.  The establishment of Blacklion Spirits was emblematic of the group's commitment to market innovation and value creation, setting a new industry standard for integrated business models.

Underscoring a significant investment in the growth and diversification of premium alcoholic beverages, the partnership between Blacklion Spirits, Fat Dog Spirits, and Royal Elite Vodka, LLC, represents a strategic endeavor, solidifying anchor funding, in the furtherance of the alcohol brands' initiatives. The partnership leverages the strengths of each independent brand to enhance market positioning, innovation, and synergies within the alcoholic beverage industry.  

Utilizing a strategically curated blend of social media product placement and influencer endorsements from A-list celebrities, Blacklion Spirits soundly elevated its brand visibility and market share. This proven approach saw Blacklion’s utilization of this time-tested model employed by high-profile celebrity-branded spirits, such as Dwayne Johnson's Teremana Tequila, Ryan Reynolds' Aviation American Gin, Jay Z's Ace of Spades, Sean "Diddy" Combs' Cîroc Vodka, and others.  Each endeavor successfully merged celebrity influence with brand identity, thereby commanding considerable market presence and consumer loyalty.

Personal life

Bythwood’s biological mother Patricia Ann Jones (now Jones-Ford) was a young college student attending the University of Pennsylvania at the time of his birth. His biological father, Mervin Darling, Jr., was a successful serial entrepreneur from Nassau, Bahamas, and was unaware of Jones’s pregnancy or of Bythwood’s birth.  Given the age of his biological mother, Lillian Hutcheson, Bythwood’s maternal grandmother, made the decision to relocate him to Miami, Florida for adoption through the “Children’s Home Society”.

Ancestry DNA

Never having known his biological parents, in 2018 Bythwood took a DNA test through Ancestry DNA to locate his biological family.  Approximately 4 weeks after submitting his DNA sample, there was a 99.999% match indicating a “Parent/Child” biological connection.  The results indicated that he had found his biological mother Patricia A. Jones-Ford along with a maternal aunt, and a paternal sister. Bythwood contacted his biological mother through the Ancestry DNA portal to connect with her.  Unbeknownst to each of them, they were both living in South Florida (Miami and Miramar, Florida) and at one point, had been residing in the same area (just several miles apart) for 15 years.

Family Reunification

Upon their reunification, it was then that Bythwood learned his biological father’s name, Mervin Darling, Jr.   Through other Ancestry DNA matches on his profile, Bythwood was able to connect with the paternal side of his family in search of his father.  Reverend Dr. C.B. Moss of the Mount Olive Baptist Church of the Bahamas, the cousin of Mervin Darling, Jr., was instrumental in connecting Bythwood with the Darling family in the Bahamas.  Bythwood was contacted by one of his paternal siblings and learned of the passing of his biological father, and that he was the eldest of seven brothers and sisters.

It was then he learned of the storied history and heritage of his biological family in the Bahamas, particularly his grand-uncle Sir Clifford Darling, the patriarch of the Darling Family.  Knighted by the Queen of England-Elizabeth II, Sir Clifford was bestowed the highest honor of knighthood, becoming a Knight of the Prestigious Royal Grand Cross of the Victorian Order (GCVO). 

In 1957, under his leadership as General Secretary of the Bahamas Taxi Cab Union and later, the President, the Taxi Cab Union and other trade organizations confronted the Bahamian government and island social elite, over socio-economic disparities, spotlighting the transportation sector's importance. His orchestration of a general strike in 1958 set the stage for majority rule in 1967 and reshaped Bahamian industrial relations. Appointed in 1973 by the Pindling Administration to defend worker rights, Sir Clifford's career included prominent roles as Senator, Cabinet Minister, Parliamentarian, and Governor General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Biological Mother | Maternal Family

Bythwood’s biological mother Patrica Jones-Ford is the founder and President of “The Ford Group” and has two (2) other sons (Bythwood’s half-brothers) to which he is the elder.  She is credited with being the first African American woman in South Florida to oversee 4,000 subcontractors and 3,000 employees of a $1bn dollar public-private partnership, the Port of Miami Tunnel project.

With an achieved 51% Hispanic, 28% Black, and 11% Anglo diverse workforce, under Jones-Ford’s leadership, The Ford Group was responsible for meeting and or exceeding mandated contract compliance for Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Affirmative Action (AA), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), On the Job Training (OJT) and Federal Wage Rate requirements.

Working directly with the Prime contractor for the Port of Miami Tunnel project, Bouygues, a multi-billion-dollar French industrial construction group with 196,000 employees, the Port of Miami Tunnel project was heralded as a success.  Since its inauguration in 2014, following nearly half a decade of construction, the Miami Tunnel Project has set a benchmark for tunnel engineering both in Florida and nationwide, establishing best practices during its construction phase and continuing to excel in operations and maintenance.  Connecting the mainland to Miami-Dade County’s second-greatest economic engine, the Port of Miami Tunnel supports more than 334,000 jobs contributing $42 billion annually in economic impact. Jones-Ford and the Ford Group, continues to work with Bouygues and other major Prime contractors around the country on projects specializing in public-private partnerships (PPP or P3), ensuring, and overseeing compliance of contractually mandated diversity workforce initiatives.

References

  1. ↑ "Globalstream Live".
  2. ↑ "Dinavon Bythwood athletic career, photos, articles, and videos | Fanbase". Archived from the original on 2009-12-04. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
  3. ↑ "Cleveland, New York - Facebook Statistics". Archived from the original on 2013-04-10. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
  4. ↑ "Miami Football Alumni - MIAMI OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE". Archived from the original on 2010-01-07. Retrieved 2010-01-05.
  5. ↑ 1991 NCAA Division I-A football season
  6. ↑ "Warren Sapp among seven voted into Hall of Fame". National Football League.
  7. ↑ "2013 NFL Hall of Fame Inductees". USA Today.
  8. ↑ "Ray Lewis' final game-worn uniform sent to the Hall of Fame | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site".
  9. ↑ "One Last Playoff Run for Future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis". 6 January 2013.
  10. ↑ "Daniel Bythwood Obituary (2007) - West Palm Beach, FL - The Palm Beach Post". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  11. ↑ "The Ghostwriters Productions Alex 'Lex' Francis and Dinavon 'X1' Bythwood". ASCAP. September 1, 2008.
  12. ↑ "Grammy nominations in top categories". TODAY.com. Archived from the original on 2014-09-14. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
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