Valerie Ghent
valghent.com
Executive Director of Feel the Music!, Valerie Ghent is a singer-songwriter, musician and founder of the acclaimed Songwriter’s Beat. Valerie has worked with renowned singer-songwriters Ashford & Simpson since 1989 as keyboardist, vocalist and recording engineer. Valerie has released three CD’s on her own label, West Street Records, written music for three sold-out musicals and is hard at work on a double CD release for 2011.
A native New Yorker, Valerie volunteered at the WTC site for nine months after 9/11 and went on to found Feel the Music! in 2005. She has received multiple grants, awards and commendations for her work including the Betances Award for Service to the Arts. In addition to Ashford & Simpson, artists Valerie has toured, recorded and performed with include Deborah Harry (Blondie), Nina Simone, Billy Preston, Dr. Maya Angelou, TM Stevens, Grayson Hugh and many more.
In addition, Valerie is an instructor of Qi Gong and Ba Gua Zhang with New York Internal Arts and as photographer, has collaborated on two books.