Our Story
Our Story
Founded in 1988, Jazzmyne Public Relations has spent more than three decades helping organizations, brands, executives, artists, authors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders build visibility, credibility, and influence.
What began as a traditional publicity firm has evolved into a full-service strategic communications consultancy, providing expertise in public relations, media relations, executive visibility, brand positioning, strategic messaging, crisis communications, and reputation management.
Our approach is highly personalized because no two clients are the same. Every engagement is tailored to the client's goals, audience, and market opportunity. Drawing upon decades of communications experience across the entertainment, corporate, nonprofit, education, technology, and entrepreneurial sectors, we develop customized strategies that generate meaningful media exposure and measurable results.
Throughout our history, Jazzmyne Public Relations has represented an impressive range of clients and campaigns. Early in their careers, the agency worked with entertainment figures including Jamie Foxx, Mo'Nique, J. Anthony Brown, Dorien Wilson, and Kevin Eubanks, as well as athletes Wayman Tisdale and Nick Van Exel, and civil rights leader Dr. Joseph E. Lowery.
Early on, the agency has also supported nationally recognized events and initiatives, including the Soul Train Awards, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Convention, the Black Radio Exclusive Conference, the Pan African Film & Arts Festival, and the acclaimed film project Daughters of the Dust.
Today, Jazzmyne Public Relations continues to combine the relationship-driven principles of traditional public relations with modern communications strategies, digital media, social platforms, and thought leadership development. This blend of experience and innovation allows us to help clients navigate an increasingly complex media landscape while maintaining authentic connections with their audiences.
At Jazzmyne Public Relations, we believe visibility alone is not enough. Visibility must build credibility. Credibility must create influence. Every campaign, media opportunity, and communications strategy is designed with that goal in mind.
When we represent our clients, we represent our reputation. That's why we approach every project with integrity, professionalism, and a commitment to excellence.
Building Visibility, Credibility & Influence Since 1988.
Public Relations Professionals
Senior Media Strategist
Makeda Smith
Hundreds of clients have benefited from the magic touch of Jazzmyne Public Relations in the past three decades. A-list celebrities, athletes, authors, filmmakers, music producers, rappers, special events and businesses alike have received not only expert publicity service, management and consulting but a caring ear and kind heart from agency head, Makeda Smith. Now celebrating almost 40 years in business, Makeda is still proudly and diligently pushing forward.
Makeda’s personalized approach to the vast and hectic world of entertainment public relations has proven not only successful but also solid. A boutique operation, Jazzmyne has consistently boasted a client base that competes with the majors. Past celebrity accounts have included Kevin Eubanks, Jamie Foxx, Nick Van Excel, Mo’Nique, Dorien Wilson, and J. Anthony Brown to name a few.
“I remember when I launched my agency. The naysayers informed me that a home-based business would never be perceived as legitimate. Well not only have I been home-based for the past 30 years, but now, home-based operations are the current trend. They also told me I would not survive serving a Black clientele and urban base. Today I’m perceived as an expert in the urban arena.”
It was 1988 when Gwendolyn “Makeda” Smith resigned her position as Associate Director of West Coast Publicity at Hervey & Company, a public relations firm headed by industry veteran, Ramon Hervey. With no savings or financial backing, it was a single press release that launched her firm, Jazzmyne Public Relations, named for her oldest daughter.
“My biggest surprise has been the emails and phone calls I’ve been blessed to receive throughout the years from the women I have inspired. As a Black, single mother of two, I started out as a welfare mom. My motivation and success has unwittingly inspired so many women, and that just truly overwhelms me sometimes. You never know who is watching, whose heart you are touching. Always carry yourself like God/Goddess is watching, and the rest will eventually fall into place,” she advises.
Specializing in publicity, branding, consulting and management, Jazzmyne Public Relations can be found on the web at www.jazzmynepr.com
Education
• Bachelors in Public Relations, Boston University, 1982
• Master in Communication Management, USC, 1985
Edrea Davis with JazzmynePR client, Vivica A. Fox
Senior Media Strategist
Edrea Davis
Over the past three decades communications strategist, producer and author, Edrea Davis, has been busy. She mastered the art of integrating all forms of media to communicate compelling, action-oriented messages to the public.
Davis started out as an intern at First Class PR working on campaigns for Cameo and The SOS Band. Since then, she has produced radio and TV commercials, music videos, and coordinated publicity campaigns for a host of notable clients including: late civil rights leader, Dr. Joseph E. Lowery; actor/singer/comedian, Jamie Foxx; actor/producer, Vivica A. Fox; and the BronzeLens Film Festival.
For nearly two decades consulting The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation she helped brand the organization’s signature programs – Black Women’s Roundtable and Black Youth Vote. She also directed all communications for their Unity Voter Empowerment Campaign, a coalition of over 150 civic and nonprofit organizations working together to increase voter participation in hard-to-reach communities. The massive initiative was credited with registering over one million voters and having a major impact on the election of President Barack Obama. To educate and mobilize voters, she wrote and produced over 30 commercials featuring celebrities including Angela Bassett, LisaRaye McCoy and popular radio personalities.
Serving as executive producer for Bruce Dorn Films, a commercial production company based in Hollywood, Davis was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the company; managed commercial budgets ranging from $300 thousand to $1.5 million; and coordinated with leading advertising agencies like Leo Burnett, DMB&B, and Chiat Day. Commercials included, McDonald’s “Break In a Hurry,” Paramount Pictures/Hallmark, “Star Trek,” and Clio Award winning RE/MAX “Castle,” shot on location in Fiji, Egypt, Italy, and Canada.
Davis was credited as associate producer on the 2018 award-winning short film, “Let My People Vote,” directed by Gilda Ann Brasch and producer of 2019 short film “Post No Bills.” Over the years she has worked on music videos for hip-hop artists like Travis Porter, Snoop Dogg, and the late Tupac Shakur. She also coordinated media for "Breaking Out," a film featuring over 30 hip-hop stars re-enacting the journey from the mainland to Alcatraz Island Federal Penitentiary.
On the international front, armed with a laptop in one hand and a digital recorder in the other, Davis transmitted audio reports from the United Nations Climate Conference in The Netherlands to black radio stations across America. She coordinated a press conference for the US Delegation to the UN World Conference on Racism (which included the Congressional Black Caucus) in Durban, South Africa, resulting in front page articles in Africa, Europe, and the USA. Her distinguished work enabled her to travel to Switzerland, Copenhagen, Senegal, Egypt, and Ghana, among other places.
The North Jersey native is the author of social justice novel, "SnitchCraft," was educated at Georgia State University, and studied production at UCLA Extension.
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