In 2010 after a gig that didn’t go well because they club owner couldn’t pay the bands, I opened up my bank app on my phone to check my bank balance and realized it was almost zero and only $10 bucks in savings.

The issue is most people don’t read. Wanna know how to keep a secret??

Write it in a book.

Okay enough jokes, let’s get to the Financial Freedom Plan for Musicians. Below is a spreadsheet that you need to use to calculate your future. Available for Excel, Apple Numbers, and Google Sheets. To use it you must pay for the software, but Google Sheets is FREE. All you need is to sign up on google for Gmail account. Click on the link and download your spreadsheet..

Financial Freedom Plan for Musicians xlsx

This is simple, It doesn’t require quantum physics, just basic math for all you geniuses. Just follow the directions below to fill out the plan above.

1. The spreadsheet has a sample plan for you, but you can adjust it based on your current situation.
2. In the first section called “Current Situation”.
3. Enter in all your expenses in the Second column. The spreadsheet will calculate everything for you.
4. You can add any extra personal expenses or debt in column one under the correct section and enter the amount in column two.
5. Third column calculates how much you’re spending yearly for that particular expense. As you enter your expenses it should calculate automatically.
6. Under “savings” decide how much income percentage you intend to save for all your current savings accounts
7. Based on the number you intend to save, let’s say 30% or your income, use this formula (net monthly expenses x 30%) to calculate your Gross Monthly Expense.
8. Your Gross Monthly Expenses will tell you the income you need to earn in order to live the lifestyle you need.
9. Six Month Emergency Fund: will show how much money you need to save in order to survive if the apocalypse emerges.
10. Money System Target: tells you how much you need in order to retire. 5% yearly return of that number will give you your yearly income based off your chosen lifestyle.
11. Business System Target: will show you how much your business needs to incur in order to fund business taxes, retirement system target and your monthly income.
12. Second section to your right is called “Freedom Plan.” The is the fun part. You will see that in order to live your dream lifestyle it doesn’t require billions of dollars.
13. Research how much your mansion, Ferrari, internet, electric, clothes, insurance, and boat is gonna cost you on a monthly basis. This may take you awhile, but it’s fun to research and dream.
14. Once you enter in all your monthly expenses the spread sheet will calculate everything.
15. Follow steps 6-7 to calculate future savings.

Notice when you finish your freedom plan you realize in order to retire it doesn’t require billions of dollars. I thought I needed close to $100 million in order to live my dream and when I did this plan it turned out to be only $3 million. Not bad!

Cool huh?

Now that you have taken the time to invest and calculate your future, it’s time to take your musical talents and start creating or investing in assets that can create consistent monthly cash-flow.

Ready-set-go!

Thanks again for reading and don’t forget to share this post or leave a comment below.

Peace

I apologize, but that’s a bunch of cat doodoo!

Why would you want to pay into a system (American government) that literally jacks money from your pay check before you even see a single penny? Did you know that was implemented in the year 1943 called the Current Tax Payment Act. The government figured out a way to take your hard earned money from you and you have no choice as an employee.

Your taxes funded ungodly wars and trillions of debt. The United States is over 18 trillion in debt, which is where all your money is going into. Check out this debt clock here. http://www.usdebtclock.org/

If you’re a reader living in another country I would assume it’s a bit different.

Back in 2012 when Mitt Romney was running for president, people were attacking him because he made 13.7 million in 2011 and was paying less than 14% in taxes and Obama made $789,674 and payed over 20% in taxes. Read more here.

Romney is an entrepreneur and provides opportunities and jobs for thousands of Americans. As an entrepreneur the American government loves it when you provide job opportunities for Americans.

This creates a more stable economy and in turn gives the entrepreneur many tax benefits.

Here is one fact:

The tax code wasn’t written for employees, but for entrepreneurs like, Mitt Romney, Richard Branson, Robert Kiyosaki, Warren Buffet and Bill Gates.

You can complain all you want, but that’s how it works in the states. As long as you understand the difference. Which do you choose? Entrepreneurship or Employment? It’s your choice.

Disclaimer

Before I get into how to almost pay zero in taxes. I would like to add that I’m not CPA or tax account. This is purely for educational purposes only and should not take what is taught as 100% fact. Do your own research.

I have been an independent contractor and entrepreneur for over ten years. The first half of those years I didn’t know how it worked. I soon wised up and took business classes, read literally over 100 business books and the vail that was blinding me was soon uncovered.

As a self-employed musician, singer, producer, etc you can write-off many items you purchase just as long as they are related to your profession.

Here’s 40 tips that you may know or not. This usually applies to the musicians working in the United States. Those who live abroad in another country it may differ.

40 Tips to Almost Paying Zero Taxes for Musicians

1. Agency/management fees
2. Books, magazines, music
3. Business gifts
4. Business insurance
5. Business meals and entertainment
6. Cabs, subways, buses/automobiles
7. Copying, printing
8. Cultural events
9. Equipment and software
10. Film & processing
11. Gratuities
12. Home office: rent, gas & electric, insurance
13. Instrument and equipment repair
14. Instrument purchases
15. Memberships (museums, professional organizations)
16. Messengers, private mail carriers, postage
17. Music library: cd’s, dvds, videos, records, tapes
18. Concert tickets
19. Music Education
20. Music supplies
21. Musician fees
22. Office supplies
23. Promotion
24. Studio/rehearsal space rent
25. Tax preparation/legal fees
26. Telephone/internet
27. Clothing
28. Travel
29. Automobile expense
30. Business cards
31. Professional Photos
32. Website development and hosting
33. Dues – Union and Professional
34. Music Publications
35. Parking fees
36. Software 
37. Speaker systems
38. Cellular phone
39. Sheet Music
40. Copyright and registration fees

With all those tax write offs I literally can cut my tax bill in half. When you have a business that helps and serve others needs than the American tax code shines down on you. Because it was written for you, the music entrepreneur.

I would suggest you set up an appointment with your local tax accountant and ask tons of questions. I also do suggest that you choose the right tax accountant. Some will have an employee mentality and not an entrepreneurial one. Be careful and choose wisely my young Padawan.

We have come to the end of another informative post. Thanks for reading along and ask me some questions below. Also don’t forget to share these tips to your favorite social media outlet.

Thanks again.

Before you read any further click on this video, please…

I plopped on the headphones and pressed play on the Walkman. My 15 year old ears couldn’t understand the amazing sounds they were hearing. This bass funk solo was just pulsing through my ears and I was hooked.

“Who the heck was that?” I said.

“I dunno but he’s the bass player for Kenny G” Joe answered.

“Dang that guy is nasty on the bass you gotta let me borrow it to make a copy of the cassette.” I said.

“Better not lose it.” Joe answered.

“I promise.” I said.

After school I ran home and searched through my pile of junk for an old cassette tape to record over. That night I immersed myself in this “Kenny G Live” album. My life had changed, at the time I was playing tenor sax and bass in my high school jazz band and the album was the best of both worlds. Kenny G the ultimate sax man and his bass player Vail Johnson the ultimate funk machine turned my whole thinking on music.

I found that dope bass solo on youtube check it out.

20 years Later

You will never guess what Kenny G does besides music.

I received a text from my big brother and it said, “Check out what Kenny G does.” And added a link. The link sent me to a CNBC video of Kenny G being interviewed. Turns out Kenny G is an investor and stock trader and if you’re not aware I my self am an investor and stock trader as well.

I haven’t followed Kenny G’s career since the 90’s. I figured his career faded out, which it did. He isn’t as well known like he was back in the eighties and nineties. I assumed he was struggling financially and fell into the music business trap like many musicians and never really recovered.

Turns out I was wrong…dead wrong!

Kenny G’s estimated net worth is $50 million and a global total album sales of 75 million. But according to the “G” man himself he stated in an article from Reuters.

“Over the last decade, I have earned as much from stock trading as from music.”

Even though he was the number one instrumentalist back two decades ago he knew his money needed to be invested in other vehicles other than depending on album sales.

What a smart dude.

My sax hero from my childhood was the ultimate “Thinking Musician” and one day I’m gonna meet him and maybe interview him.

Here’s a video of Kenny G on CNBC discussing his investments and day trading. Go ahead and click in Kenny G’s luscious hair.

And another video with Kenny G and super model Cindy Crawford on Bloomberg discussing investment strategies. Click on the image.

The Lesson

Think like Kenny G. Think like the 1% of wealthy musicians, not the 99%.

Investment in only album sales is foolish. Take your hard earned cash and invest it building more and more assets. That way you won’t need to solely rely on performance income or royalties for a living, because as I’m writing this blog major artists are getting their royalties cut from digital sales from companies like Pandora and Spotify. Here is an article about Pharrell Williams click here.

“Think McFly, think!”

Fame and riches is what most artists look for and not everyone gets a piece of the fame pie but everyone can get a piece of the rich pie. Wealth is not made out of shear luck, success is not an accident it’s planned. The wealthy didn’t win the genetic lottery and were born into wealth they earned it.

“More than 80% of all millionaires are self made.”

Every millionaire that I’ve met are self made, they hustled, had a game plan, failed many times, got back up, restructured their game plan, executed, failed again and kept at it until they reached their goal.

“You’ve got to be hungry to succeed.” -Les Brown-

Desire, dedication and discipline is what it takes.

Thanks for reading and please give me some insight into your mind and enter them in the comments section below.

Have you taken your hard earned income and started investing?

Those were the words that stuck out to me from some financial guru, I didn’t get it.

Rushing to church one sunny Sunday afternoon, I was the music director and I was late. I know, I know, typical right?

Don’t worry if you’re not a churchy person this is not a churchy story.

After the worship music set was finished the musicians including myself usually sat down to hear the sermon. The MC (master of ceremony) began with the word “money.” First thought in my head was, “Oh great, he’s gonna say money is the root of all evil, blah, blah, blah. I’m going to grab me some coffee in the church lobby.”

But what stopped me in my tracks was he didn’t mention money being the root of all evil  but rather “the love of money is the root of all evil.”

We were shown a video of this financial gurus and thought to myself again, it’s not typical of church to talk about money…I liked it.

At that moment in time in my life my finances were okay and it was also a time in life where I needed to figure out how to take charge of my “dinero” (money in Spanish). I thought I was getting ahead but after watching that video I realized my money controlled every aspect of my life and I wasn’t even in control of it.

Pay yourself first!

Now I got the point.

No matter where you live the tax boogey man is gonna get you I also realized that your impulse buying habits get you as well.

“Managing your money is 10% “how to” and 90% habitual.”

Mc Hammer made an estimated $33 million in album sales and song royalties that dude ended up spending every freaking dime. And when the IRS came a knocking for their $14 million he couldn’t pony up the cash because he spent it. Now what kind of dummy makes that much cash and spends it all on freaking parachute pants? I know what you’re thinking.

Who the hell are you to tell me how to manage my money?

Well I’m the guy who spent all my gig money and barely had enough for cup of noodles. If my band was successful and cranking out hits and making millions, my bad spending habits would have stowed away I would have been broke like many other famous musicians. I learned from the best in the business.

Check out my other blog on wealthy famous musicians that are broke and stupid. Also read the “Millionaire Mind” by Thomas Stanley. This amazing book gives you the insight on how millionaires think and how they stayed that way.

“It’s not how much you make but how much you keep.”

How to be better at managing your gig money than M.C. Hammer.

It’s Friday, payday, playday.

Finally I can buy that dope Boss Limited Enhancer and effects pedal for my bass. Guitar Center here we come baby. I struck a sweet deal with the sales rep and he gave me 10% off. Not bad eh?

Over the weekend I spent hours experimenting with the zillion of effects trying to find the perfect set of sounds for my bass. On my next gig I’m gonna blow their minds.

Two months later I headed towards my mailbox to get the mail right after I finished up teaching my last bass class. I grabbed my mail and threw away the junk mail. I spotted my car note opened it up and it had a minimum balance of $700.

“$700?? WTF?? My car note is $350.”

The note indicated last months balance was not paid. I checked my bank accounts balance. Want to know what it was?

$25… Ahhhhh!!!!

What happened?

Uhhh… Don’t you remember buying all that bass gear awhile back dummy?

What do I do? First of all I hate borrowing so that’s out of the question. I know…I’ll hock my old saxophone from high school and among other things or I’ll just return the gear I bought months ago.

I ruffled through my papers for the Guitar Center receipt which thankfully I kept. The receipts money back guaranteed already expired. Arghhh!

I gathered up certain music gear and equipment which I didn’t want to sell but had to. I went to Sam Ash Music to sell the gear and those thieves barely gave me enough dough to pay my car note.

Learn this lesson from me, “King Dumb Dumb”. Your household should be managed first. The four basic needs that need to be taken care of are:

• Food and water (I don’t mean splurging at the Cheesecake Factory.)
• Shelter (Rent, utilities.)
• Clothes (Only if you’re clothes are falling part or you’re getting too fat.)
• Transportation (Car note, insurance, gas, car repair.)

Enough about me let’s learn 10 things famous musicians taught me on how to be broke and stupid.

1. Tony Braxton: “I owe between 10 to 50 million dollars in debt to creditors and the IRS so I had to file chapter 7 again.”
2. David Crosby: “My solo career failed so I had to file bankruptcy in 1985.”
3. MC Hammer: “I burned through $33 million and went bankrupt in 1996. It was fun while it lasted, Lol.”
4. Dee Snider: “Lawsuits over tour advances and endorsements got me.”
5. Goo Goo Dolls: “We sold over 2 million albums and we still owe the record label I wonder why.”
6. Isaac Hayes: “I started a record label and ended up owing over $6 million in debts.”
7. Jerry Lee Lewis: “I filed for bankruptcy in 1988 with over $3 million in debt.”
8. Lisa “Lefty Eye”Lopez:  “I sold 13 million in album sales but I still went bankrupt.”
9. Michael Jackson: “You guys are losers, I racked up half a billion in debts. I beat you all. Lol!”
10. Wilkie Nelson: “I owed the IRS 16.7 million dollars in back taxes, but that’s ok. I released an album called the “IRS Tapes” and soon paid it off.
11. Meat Loaf: “I found shady money managers and never saw a dime I ended up in bankruptcy twice.”
12. Suge Knight: “I had $11 to my name after I file bankruptcy in 2006. Tupac come back!”
13. Tom Petty: “I filed for bankruptcy in 1979. No biggie, I released an album later and now I’m back.

There you have it straight from high paid dummies. We all make mistakes and I’m sure they all learned a valuable lesson. Debt is a huge part in the downfall of many famous musicians. I thank God I never liked borrowing. I did however had to borrow to get a car, but I didn’t know any better.

“Wise men learn from their mistakes, but wiser men learn for the mistakes of others.”

“But remember my friend it doesn’t matter now much money you earn as a musician if the four basic needs are not met than being broke is not a matter of chance but rather a matter of time.”

One last piece of advice… Never borrow money!!

Not from family, friends, coworkers, banks, boyfriend, girlfriend, neighbors, dog, cat, pet snake… You get the point.

“The borrower is slave to the lender.”

If you’re starting a business and your really need to borrow than make sure you have your ducks in a row. When a business model has been unproven to be successful in the market than it’s risky and not a good idea. Billionaire Mark Cuban said it best:

“Only morons start a business on a loan.”

Thanks for reading and feel free to leave a comment below and let me know your opinion.

Cheers

They were a group of college educators that, in 1892 established the American High School education system.

Their standardization would separate the college-bound and working-class students from the start. In other words, this group created the grades K-12.

Their curriculum established how we think today as a society of automatons, brainwashed with the idea of Go to school, get good grades, go to college, work for an employer for 40 years, retire and die.

Sorry, to be blunt. =)

Many working musicians today are also a victim of this insanity with mounds of debt. I’d like to state that God did not create us as slaves or automatons, but as free thinkers, and creators.

In God We Trust.

Not! In Government We Trust!

I’d like to throw out a list of known musicians that dropped out of school and still achieved success.

I’m not anti-education I’m anti-unnecessary education tagged with a high price tag.

Our society as a whole has indoctrinated us to believe that we need a costly college education in order to succeed as musicians or songwriters and in general.

Far from the truth…

The current list of successful musicians proves my point.

102 Famous Musicians that were college dropouts.

1. Bryan Adams, singer, songwriter. High school dropout.
2. William Adams, aka Will.i.am, singer, songwriter, music producer, founder of the Black Eyed Peas, actor, entrepreneur. Never attended college.
3. Adele, Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, singer. Intended to go to college but got signed to a recording deal just after her high school graduation.
4. Trace Adkins, country music singer. Attended Louisiana Tech University but never officially graduated. Worked on an oil rig instead.
5. Christina Aguilera, singer, songwriter. Never finished high school.
6. Peter Allen, singer, songwriter, composer. High school dropout
7. Rick Allen, member of Def Leppard. High school dropout.
8. Billie Joe Armstrong, frontman for Green Day punk rock band. High school dropout.
9. Louis Armstrong, jazz musician. Dropped out of high school.
10. Eddy Arnold, country music singer and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. He debuted at the Grand Ole Opry in 1943. Between 1945 and 1983, 145 of his songs made the country charts, with 28 of them at #1. He sold more than 85 million records.
11. Chet Atkins, country singer. High school dropout.
12. Mickey Baker, rhythm and blues guitarist. Did not finish high school.
13. Count Basie, bandleader, pianist. Dropped out of high school.
14. Natasha Bedingfield, singer. Dropped out of college after her freshman year to pursue a music career. Her Unwritten album debuted at #1 in England.
15. André Benjamin, aka André 3000, rapper, singer, songwriter, member of OutKast. Dropped out of high school.
16. Tony Bennett, aka Anthony Benedetto, singer, artist. Attended New York City’s High School of Industrial Art but dropped out at the age of 16.
17. Irving Berlin, Oscar-winning songwriter, composer. When his father died when he was 8 years old, he had to work to survive. Wrote such long-lasting hits as God Bless America, White Christmas, There’s No Business Like Show Business, etc.
18. Chuck Berry, rock singer. High school dropout, left in the 11th grade.
19. Clint Black, Grammy-winning country singer, songwriter, record producer, actor. Dropped out of Stratford High School in Houston, Texas.
20. Mary J. Blige, Grammy-winning singer, songwriter. Dropped out of high school in the eleventh grade.
21. Michael Bolton, Grammy-winning singer, songwriter. High school dropout.
22. David Bowie, singer, songwriter, actor, record producer. Sold 136 million records. May not have graduated from high school.
23. Ray Charles, singer. Dropped out of high school.
24. Kelly Clarkson, pop singer. Got several college music scholarships but passed on them to move to Los Angeles to pursue a singing career.
25. Phil Collins, singer, songwriter, drummer, keyboardist. Never attended college. Solo singer as well as lead singer for Genesis.
26. Sean John Combs, rapper, producer, fashion designer, entertainer, actor, and entrepreneur. Did not finish college.
27. Harry Connick, Jr., Grammy-winning pianist, singer, actor. Has sold over 25 million albums. At the age of 18, he left New Orleans to move to New York City. Did study at Loyola University, Hunter College, and the Manhattan School of Music, but apparently did not graduate.
28. Miley Cyrus, singer, actress. Did not attend college.
29. Sammy Davis, Jr., singer, actor. Never finished high school.
30. Jimmy Dean, singer, songwriter, actor. Dropped out in the 9th grade to join the Merchant Marines at the age of 16. After getting out of the Air Force, he and his band, the Texas Wildcats, developed a following in Washington state
31. Snoop Dogg, rapper, and actor. Never attended college.
32. Bob Dylan, singer, and songwriter. Dropped out of the University of Minnesota and moved to New York City to seek out his idol Woody Guthrie.
33. Duke Ellington, bandleader, composer. Dropped out of high school.
34. Fergie, aka Stacy Ann Ferguson, singer, songwriter. A straight-A student and cheerleader in high school. Never attended college.
35. Ella Fitzgerald, singer. Dropped out of high school.
36. Caleb Followill, rock musician, Kings of Leon. Has not yet attended college.
37. Nathan Followill, rock musician, Kings of Leon. Has not yet attended college.
38. Lady Gaga, aka Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, rock singer and songwriter. Dropped out of NYU at the age of 19 to pursue her music career full time.
39. George Gershwin, songwriter, composer. High school dropout.
40. Dizzy Gillespie, musician, songwriter. Dropped out of high school.
41. Benny Goodman, clarinetist, bandleader. Dropped out of high school.
42. Beck Hansen, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist. Dropped out of high school to pursue his musical career.
43. Jimi Hendrix, rock ‘n roll guitarist. A high school dropout.
44. Whitney Houston, Grammy-winning singer, and actress. At the age of 19, she was discovered singing in a New York City supper club by Clive Davis, who immediately signed her to a contract with Arista Records. Her first album, and the next six, all went multi-platinum. She is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the most awarded female artist of all time.
45. Gregory Isaacs, reggae singer. Did not attend college.
46. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson III, rapper, entrepreneur, producer, actor, book author, amateur boxer. Dropped out of high school in the 10th grade.
47. Etta James, singer, queen of R&B. Signed as a recording artist when she was still a teenager. Never attended college.
48. Quincy Jones, musician, composer, music producer, music executive, and more. Attended the Berklee College of Music but left when he got the opportunity to tour with Lionel Hampton’s band as a trumpeter, arranger, and pianist.
49. Toby Keith, country music singer. After high school, he joined his father to work in the oil fields.
50. Alicia Keys, singer and songwriter. Graduated from New York’s Professional Performing Arts School at age 16. She enrolled at Columbia University but dropped out after a semester to sign with Columbia Records.
51. Jewel Kilcher, singer, and songwriter. Scored a major recording contract at the age of 18. Her first album sold 11 million copies. Has not attended college.
52. B.B. King, blues musician, songwriter, and legend. Never finished high school.
53. Chad Kroeger, frontman for Nickelback rock group. In a Playboy magazine interview, he noted that “I didn’t go to school. I mean, after the eighth or ninth grade, I don’t remember going to school five days out of the week, ever.” He was a few credits short of graduating from high school when he left school and took to the road.
54. Nick Lachey, singer, and actor. “I was trying to be an athletic trainer. That’s what I was studying in school when I quit doing music.”
55. Miranda Lambert, country singer. Began singing as a professional while still in high school. Did not attend college.
56. Cyndi Lauper, singer, songwriter, actress. Left home at 17 to work a number of odd jobs and sing in bars until she was able to break through as a bestselling singer.
57. Avril Lavigne, singer, songwriter. Dropped out of high school.
58. Demi Lovato, singer, and actress. Did not attend college.
59. Bruno Mars, singer, songwriter, music producer. After graduating from high school, he moved to Los Angeles and signed with Motown Records.
60. John Mayer, Grammy-winning singer, and songwriter. Left the Berklee College of Music after two semesters to pursue a singing career in Atlanta, Georgia.
61. Martina McBride, country music singer. After high school, she traveled around Kansas playing and singing with various bands. Did not attend college.
62. Bret Michaels, rock singer, reality TV show star. Graduated high school with a GED degree. Has not attended college.
63. Nicki Minaj, aka Onika Tanya Maraj, singer, and songwriter. After graduating from high school, she worked as a waitress and other odd jobs while trying to land a record deal.
64. Moby, author, rock star, tea-shop proprietor. Sold more than 15 million albums. A college dropout.
65. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, classical music composer, and performer. In his early years, his father taught him music, languages, and other academic subjects. He never attended high school or college.
66. Sinead O’Connor, singer. Never attended college.
67. George Alan O’Dowd, aka Boy George, singer, songwriter, fashion designer, photographer. High school dropout. Never attended college.
68. John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne, heavy metal singer, songwriter, and reality TV star. Left school at the age of 15.
69. Charlie “Bird” Parker, jazz musician and father of modern jazz. Attended Lincoln High School in Kansas City, Missouri but left after a year and a half to join the local musicians union.
70. Katy Perry, singer. Left home at the age of 14 to make it on her own in Nashville; then moved to Los Angeles at the age of 17. Did not attend college.
71. Lisa Marie Presley, singer. Dropped out of high school.
72. Usher Raymond IV, quadruple platinum singer. He won the Star Search male teen vocalist competition when he was 18. He was signed to a music label immediately thereafter.
73. Trent Reznor, musician, Nine Inch Nails. Dropped out of Allegheny College after one year to pursue a career in music.
74. Charlie Rich, Grammy-winning country, and blues singer and songwriter. Dropped out of the University of Arkansas to join the Air Force.
75. Rihanna, aka Robyn Rihanna Fenty, singer, actress. At the age of 15, she formed a singing trio in Barbados. At the age of 16, she went to live with songwriter Evan Rogers and his wife in Connecticut. At the age of 17, she signed a singing contract with Def Jam records. Has not yet attended college.
76. Asher Roth, hip-hop artist, I Love College hit song. Dropped out of West Chester University after being signed.
77. Kelly Rowland, singer. Has not yet attended college.
78. Seal, aka Seal Henry Olusugun Olumide Adeola Samuel, R&B singer, and songwriter. He received a two-year associate’s degree in architecture. He struck out on his own at the age of 15.
79. Shakira, aka Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, Grammy-winning singer, and songwriter who has sold more than 50 million albums. Attended a modeling school for a while.
80. Blake Shelton, country singer, reality competition panelist. Left home right after high school and went to Nashville to try to make it as a country singer. Never attended college.
81. Robert Sherman, Oscar-winning songwriter. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the Army. After World War II, he returned to write a novel but was soon encouraged to partner with his brother Richard in writing songs
82. Harper Simon, musician son of singer/songwriter Paul Simon. Enrolled at the Berklee College of Music but quit before graduating.
83. Will Smith, Grammy-winning rapper, actor. Did not attend college. As the Fresh Prince, he and DJ Jazzy Jeff released their first album before he finished high school. They received the first Grammy for a hip-hop act. Due to the success of that first album, Smith decided to forgo college for show business.
84. Phoebe Snow, singer, songwriter. Dropped out of college to perform in clubs and coffeehouses.
85. Britney Spears, singer, actress, youngest woman to have five albums debut at #1 on the Billboard list. Dropped out of high school.
86. Jamie Lynn Spears, actress. Dropped out of high school.
87. Rick Springfield, singer, and actor. Never attended college.
88. Bruce Springsteen, Grammy-winning and Oscar-winning singer and songwriter. Never attended college.
89. Ringo Starr, drummer for the Beatles. He did not attend college.
90. Gwen Stefani, singer, and songwriter, No Doubt. Struggled in school. Never attended college.
91. Barbra Streisand, singer, and actress. Started her singing career at the age of 18. Did not attend college.
92. Taylor Swift, singer, and songwriter. Released her first album at the age of 16; left high school at the same age. Has not yet attended college.
93. Ashley Tisdale, singer, and actress. Has not yet attended college.
94. Derek Trucks, singer, and musician. Attended high school on the road while playing for the Allman Brothers Band. Never attended college.
95. Donnie Wahlberg Jr., singer (New Kids on the Block), actor, music producer. Never attended college. Started his singing career at the age of 15.
96. Lil Wayne (Dwayne Carter), rapper. Never attended college.
97. Kanye West, rapper, record producer. Attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago for one semester and then transferred to Chicago State University, but dropped out to focus on his music career. Had a hit album called The College Dropout.
98. Gretchen Wilson, country singer. Quit school after the eighth grade. Finally earned her GED equivalency degree in 2009.
99. Lee Ann Womack, country music singer. Attended South Plains Junior College for one year. Then took a few classes at Belmont University. Never graduated.
100. Adam Yauch, aka MCA of the Beastie Boys, rapper, songwriter, film director, Buddhist. He attended Bard College for two years before dropping out.
101. Jay-Z (Shawn Carter), rapper, entrepreneur, owner of Rocawear clothing, co-owner of New Jersey Nets basketball team. Never attended college. “I’m a thinker. I figure things out. I don’t have a high level of education, but I’m practical–and I have great instincts.”
102. Frank Zappa, rock musician. Probably dropped out of college. As he noted in liner notes for his Freak Out album, “Drop out of school before your mind rots from our mediocre educational system.

Conclusion

The purpose of this list is to show that expensive college degrees were not catalysts for their success.

The accumulation of the list was referenced from collegedropoutshalloffame.com

I will repeat. I am not anti-education. This monster list shows that all one needs is a true desire, and persistence.

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:7

I should create a shirt with this verse on it.

You’re probably wondering why I’m I addressing this issue.

The reason is our society has endowed with fear and obedience and in turn controls our futures. We need to break these sacred cows.

Don’t hesitate to voice your opinion in the comments section below.

You guys are awesome!

And please let me know. Was higher education a key component to your success?