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JACKIE PATILLO
You’d be hard-pressed to locate a gospel industry insider who hasn’t heard the name Jackie Patillo. One of the most influential executives in the sacred music genre, Jackie Patillo presently facilitates such artists as Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Byron Cage, Marvin Sapp , Donald Lawrence and countless others , using her skills to bridge the creative and the corporate. In her illustrious 25-year career, her collaborations have netted a nationally syndicated television show, 50 recordings, 45 cover shoots, 16 music videos, 22 compilations, 19 artist acquisitions and 9 international concert tours. Currently the Vice President of A&R and Artist Development with Verity Gospel Group, Patillo is known for her “Midas Touch” and has discovered and honed the talents of many of gospel’s most popular artists. Responsible for artist acquisition, product development and providing creative guidance, she shines in her role at Verity Gospel Group, a position she was hand-picked for by industry icon Max Siegel, and now reports to Verity Executive VP and GM Jazzy Jordan.
Her path in the Christian music industry started as the wife of well-known artist Leon Patillo, former vocalist for GRAMMY Award winner Santana. Tapped as his artist manager and concert producer, Jackie got her feet wet in the industry and launched his Christian music career which ultimately placed him as one of Christian music’s top 5 selling artists. After her time at Leon Patillo Concerts, Inc., Jackie became Vice President at one of the top labels of the 80’s and 90’s. “Three months after I arrived in Nashville, I was working at Star Song Records,” says Patillo. “There I started as an administrator and set out to prove myself in the corporate world”. Prove herself she did and launched the label’s gospel division ultimately landing the position of Vice President of A&R. With an obvious gift for identifying new talent and picking future hits, she’s was influential over the careers of artists such as Phillips, Craig & Dean, one of today’s bright stars in Contemporary Christian music.
Her calling as an artist developer continued with her role at Benson Music Group in the late 90s. Using her skills to make key decisions concerning artist signings, song and production choices; to overseeing contractual obligations to shaping music videos further secured her place as a mover and shaker in the gospel music industry. In that position, as in other positions she held, she was responsible for all aspects of A&R and product development and synergizing the record label team on behalf of the artist. While there, she signed such ground-breaking artists as Natalie Grant and Russ Taff.
She joined Integrity Media, the largest praise and worship label in the world, in 2000, running their gospel division, Integrity Gospel. Patillo was the crux behind such chart-topping artists as Israel & New Breed, Joe Pace, Alvin Slaughter, Lisa McClendon and Stephen Hurd. During her tenure at the label as General Manager, Integrity Gospel became a leader in gospel music. In May 2006, she continued to climb up the corporate ladder and moved to gospel music’s largest record company, Verity Gospel Music Group, a Sony/BMG label. Overseeing a staff that is responsible for the best-selling artists in gospel music, she’s been at the helm of recordings by Marvin Sapp (with gospel music’s chart breaking record “Never Would Have Made It”), Byron Cage, Dave Hollister, Shari Addison, and the WOW Gospel and Gotta Have Gospel series, along with many others. With this position, Patillo has a firm footing as a force to be reckoned with in the music business.
After so many years in the industry, Jackie’s passion hasn’t changed. “I love the creative process; I love great songs that inspire the church, and I love helping creative people achieve their professional goals,” says Patillo. “I think my experience brings a broad overview to gospel music. When life dealt me a left turn with divorce, God told me to go to Nashville because He was going to continue to use me in Christian/Gospel music.” And God certainly did.
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