Andy Reyes a 23 year old music lover has begun his journey as a entrepreneur for his entertainment business. Reyes has emerged out of the South Suburbs of Chicago to market his new business Rage Management as a promoting business for entertainers. Reyes’ biggest project is currently Mike Golden & Friends, who just so happens to be a long time high school pal, Mike Golden.
Being involved in a family business has taught Reyes a lot to this point and has him picking up small bits and pieces of useful knowledge for the future. Reyes says his parents have been huge supporters and helpers for his current endeavors and are pushing that he goes after his goals. “I admire my parents especially my mother for being an angel on earth to us (my family). But as far as someone being my hero, it would have to be my father.”
“Ever since age 10, he has been working and has never complained about anything when it came down to our family,” said Reyes. Reyes’ father “Ramon,” (originally from Octolan, Jalisco, Mexico) made his living selling “Birria,” a traditional Mexican dish in which he found in “Birrierias, Ocotlan” 39 years ago and ever since then it has been good to Reyes family business.
With success being in the Reyes family blood, Andy knew that he wanted to pursue his dream of owning his own business one day and watching it grow as time went on. “Since high school I’ve always had the idea that I was going to be my own boss, and I’m just trying to make that come true,” said Andy.
Reyes doesn’t play a guitar, the drums, or the piano, he just appreciates good music when he hears it and he blames that on his biggest reason for starting Rage Management. Andy understands that time is money and with patience only good will come so he works at a constant speed and that is fast but efficient . Reyes explains the importance of networking and promoting Mike Golden & Friends as much as he can and that itself is a 24 hour job.”My day to day revolves around spreading the word of Mike Golden. We won’t eat until Mike’s music is heard,” said Reyes.
Reyes realizes latinos around the world already have a tendency of producing great talented stars and entertaining music and he shares why he believes they are so successful.
“Did you know Kid Cudi’s father was half Mexican? Interesting fact right?” Said Reyes. Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez have very successful careers and are both hispanic influences in North America and South America. Latinos have been through a lot historically. It seems that schools nowadays leave out the importance of the Chicano movement from the civil rights chapters. I point this out because like all movements, the Latino movement is for progression and to be accepted as equals in this great nation of ours. Latinos are growing in numbers and as time passes more and more are being involved in the entertainment business, I think that’s why we (Latinos) are having such a great impact with the business.
Mike Golden & Friends has been around for a little over a year now and already has released 2 EP Albums to the public. Mike Golden, who is a Hammond resident has been playing since the age of 14 and attended Bishop Noll Institute with his partner in crime Andy Reyes. After the two sort of split and went their separate ways after high school they kept in contact especially since Golden was still active with his former Alternative band CardBoard Cutout. “Andy and I have always stayed cool and in contact. We went to the same college after high school and been through a lot of the same stuff. It’s interesting trying to incorporate a business relationship that has to go alongside our friendship but its pretty easy with us because we are such easy going yet nose to the grind type of guys,” said Golden.
Mike Golden & Friends produce a sound like no other, they manage to make music using industrial sounds and live objects, oppose to actual instruments. MG&F also uses friends on stage and in the studio to make stomping noises and beer bottles for beats. Just like Reyes, Golden does his best to work everyday to make side money for the business but also throws in the extra time to promote himself. “It isn’t an easy job, and hopefully it puts the food on the table soon,” said Golden. According to Mike Golden, the hardest part of being a new musician is finding the time for everything. “Time becomes money to a crazy extent when you decide a musician is going to be how you make your living.”
Reyes and Golden have both come a long way so far and with their youth being an advantage, their expectations for Mike Golden & Friends are high and will continue to stay high. “If it weren’t for Mike Golden I probably wouldn’t have had the crazy idea to actually follow through with the business. My expectations are for him to create the most organic and inspiring music. He’s a great friend of mine as so are the people that play along with him, failure is not an option at this point. I will push and push until the world recognizes Mike’s talent it’s only fair.” – Andy Reyes.
