Logan H. Westbrooks

Logan H. Westbrooks is an American music executive, educator, author, and pastor whose career has spanned the music industry, higher education, publishing, and community service.[1]

Education

Westbrooks attended Booker T. Washington High School and graduated. He later enrolled at Lincoln University in Missouri, where he studied business administration and earned a bachelor’s degree.[2] In 2014, LeMoyne–Owen College awarded him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in recognition of his contributions to the music industry and community development.[1]

Career

After completing his education, Westbrooks began working in sales and marketing. During the early 1960s, he was employed by Johnson Publishing Company, the publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines.[2] He later worked with RCA Victor’s distribution operations, gaining experience in the promotion and distribution of recorded music. In 1967, Westbrooks joined Capitol Records, becoming one of the company’s African American sales representatives in the Chicago market. His work led to a promotion as Regional Promotion Manager for the Midwest, where he focused primarily on rhythm and blues releases.[2]

He moved to Mercury Records in 1970 as National Promotion Director for R&B products.[2] During this period, he worked with a number of recording artists and helped coordinate promotional campaigns for releases distributed by the label.[3] He joined CBS Records as Director of Special Markets. His responsibilities included developing marketing strategies aimed at expanding the company’s reach within African American communities.[4] He later worked with Columbia Records International and participated in projects involving music markets in Africa.[5] In 1976, he became Vice President of Marketing for Soul Train Records in California. Two years later, he established Source Records, an independent record company that released recordings by artists including Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers, Rose Banks, and Travis Biggs.[6]

Following his years in the recording industry, Westbrooks became involved in education, publishing, and community programs.[7] He taught courses related to the music business at California State University and worked in artist management and media.[8] He also served as vice president and general manager of Black Radio Exclusive, a publication focused on the radio and recording industries.[9]

Publications

Westbrooks has written several books dealing with the music industry, personal history, and African American communities.[10]

  • The Anatomy of a Record Company: How to Survive in the Record Business[11]
  • The Anatomy of a Record Company II[12]
  • African Rhythms: The Autobiography of Logan H. Westbrooks[13]
  • The Last Black Disc Jockey[14]
  • Lauderdale Sub: The Story of a Memphis Neighborhood[15]

References

  1. 1 2 Memphis, We Are (2026-02-27). "Black Legacy Lives Here: Dr. Logan H. Westbrooks". We Are Memphis. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Collection Detail | AAAMC". aaamc.indiana.edu. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  3. ↑ "Cool Jobs: Meet Music Industry Vet Logan Westbrooks". Ebony.
  4. ↑ mdatcher (2017-11-24). "Great Holiday Reads By Rickey Smiley, Kim Fields, Dick Gregory and More". Chicago Defender. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  5. ↑ Wicker, Jewel (2021-02-27). "Nashville's National Museum of African American Music: An Inside Look". Billboard. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  6. ↑ "Logan H. Westbrooks". Discogs. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  7. ↑ ""The Anatomy of a Record Company:" An Essential Guide to Navigating the Music Business by Dr. Logan H. Westbrooks and Lance A. Williams". WebWire. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  8. ↑ "Exhibit: Logan Westbrooks: Music Industry Executive, Entrepreneur, Teacher, Philanthropist". Bloom Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  9. ↑ #teamEBONY. "[COOL JOBS] Meet Music Industry Vet Logan Westbrooks". EBONY. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  10. ↑ ThriftBooks. "Dr Logan H Westbrooks Books | List of books by author Dr Logan H Westbrooks". ThriftBooks. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  11. ↑ "The Anatomy of the Music Industry: How the Game Was & How the Game Has Changed - Westbrooks, Dr. Logan H.: 9780692502228 - AbeBooks". www.abebooks.com. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  12. ↑ "The Anatomy of a Record Company: How to Survive the Record Business - Westbrooks, Dr. Logan H.: 9780692851524 - AbeBooks". www.abebooks.com. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  13. ↑ Westbrooks, Logan H; Traughber, Schuyler C (2022-08-26). POWER 101: The Harvard Report, Soul Music, and The American Dream. Ascent Book Publishing.
  14. ↑ "Logan Westbrooks". The Michael Jackson Reel. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  15. ↑ Westbrooks, Logan H. (2025-11-03). Lauderdale Sub: Memories of a Memphis Neighborhood. Ascent Book Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9987822-5-6.
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