OUR TEAM
Charles Driebe
Charles Driebe received his B.A. from Tulane University and his J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law. He practices entertainment law as a partner in the law firm on Driebe & Driebe, P.C., in metro Atlanta. He also is the founder and CEO of Blind Ambition Management, Ltd.
Blind Ambition manages the legendary Blind Boys of Alabama gospel group who, during Charles’ tenure, have won five Grammy Awards and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, appeared on the Grammy Awards television show, played at the White House, toured internationally with Peter Gabriel, collaborated on CD with Ben Harper, and appeared on numerous national TV shows including the Tonight Show with Jay Leno (5 times), The Late Show with David Letterman (twice), and Late Night with Conan O’Brien (twice). Blind Ambition also manages rising blues star Ruthie Foster, sultry songstress Pieta Brown, and versatile singer/songwriter Steve Poltz. Charles was named the Blues Foundation Manager of the Year in 2007.
Charles’ legal clients have included John Keane (producer for REM, Widespread Panic, etc.), Chris Thomas King (who appeared in the movies O Brother Where Art Thou? and Ray) the Subdudes (Back Porch Records), Dorothy Norwood (Malaco Records), Col. Bruce Hampton (The Code Talkers), Rev. Jeff Mosier (Blueground Undergrass), Clarence Bucaro (Rounder Records) and the Georgia Music and Sports Halls of Fame.
Charles also served as a board member of the Georgia Lawyers of the Arts, and is the former Chairman of the Board of its predecessor the Southern Entertainment & Art Law (SEAL) Center, nonprofit corporations dedicated to educating artists and art organizations about legal and business issues. He is a past President of the Clayton County Bar Association, and a former member of both the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Georgia and the Executive Board of the Entertainment and Sports Law Section of the Bar. Charles formerly taught a course on Art and Law at the Atlanta College of Art and he has spoken at numerous seminars, including SXSW and Womex, and on radio and television about entertainment and art law.
Chris Goldsmith
Chris Goldsmith is the creative consultant to Blind Ambition, working on everything from album production to marketing plans to touring concepts.
He produced the 2008 Grammy Award-winning CD from the Blind Boys of Alabama, “Down In New Orleans” and served as executive producer of 4 other Grammy-winning releases by The Blind Boys, including their double-Grammy effort with Ben Harper, “There Will Be A Light” (Virgin Records), which sold over 750,000 albums worldwide. Chris has also produced albums for (and with) several other artists, including “100 Years of Robert Johnson” by The Big Head Blues Club featuring Big Head Todd and the Monsters, as well as Ruthie Foster’s Grammy-nominated “The Truth According Ruthie Foster”, Charlie Musselwhite’s Grammy-nominated “The Well,” and recent albums by Karl Denson, Dan Hicks, and Pieta Brown.
In 2010 Chris was tapped to be an artistic director/producer for the Lincoln Center Festival in NYC, presenting three sold-out shows with the Blind Boys and their many special guests. In addition, he has worked on recordings for Disney, Amnesty International, and HBO, and has produced sessions with Lou Reed, Meshell Ndegeocello, and many others.
Sue Schrader
Sue Schrader received her B.A. in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin and has spent the past two decades in the music and entertainment industries. She has participated in all aspects of music publicity and promotion, including creating and managing campaigns for various promoters, record labels, bands and venues. She has spent many years building solid regional and national relationships and her broad knowledge and experience are effective in creating and executing successful marketing and media campaigns.
Sue began her career as a talent buyer for her college and also did promotion for Alternative Concert Group. Subsequently she moved on to publicity and promotion at GMR Marketing, where she worked with the Miller Band Network and various other clients. She then managed Narada/EMI’s media relations department and was responsible for publicity and promotion campaigns for a number of artists including the Neville Brothers, The Subdudes, John Hammond, Cracker, Charlie Musselwhite, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Jeff Lorber, Afro Celt Sound System, Kathy Mattea, and many others.
In addition to her work with Blind Ambition Management, Sue also oversees Blonde Ambition Public Relations, an independent music publicity firm for artists from multiple genres. Their roster of current and past musicians includes the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Charlie Sexton, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Ruthie Foster, Bo Ramsey, Clarence Bucaro, and others. In her spare time she produces and publicizes several local music festivals and is also an ad hoc instructor at the Madison Media Institute, where she teaches marketing, publicity and promotion classes.
Beth Kazor
Beth Kaczor (pronounced ‘Kay-zor’) is the office administrator for Blind Ambition. She received a BBA in International Business from the University of Georgia, and was in the inaugural class of their Music Business Program. While at UGA, Beth worked with Velena Vego, booking agent at the 40 Watt Club and manager of the bands Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven. After graduation Beth moved to Atlanta, where she assisted in the promotions and talent buying departments for the Masquerade Club. Beth also worked as an independent agent, booking bands in the US and Canada. Beth enjoys live music, traveling, and Atlanta’s Piedmont Park.
Andrew Hoffman
Andrew earned a BBA in Management from “God’s University”, the University of Georgia, with an emphasis on Music Business. His interest in music was piqued when he started a garage band with his friends of the age of sixteen. That project continued into his college years, and Andrew took the knowledge he learned and decided to turn it into a career. Since that time, he has worked with many artists in different capacities from management and booking, to promotions and publicity. While interning for multiple companies over his academic career, Andrew found a home with Blind Ambition in January 2011.
Matt Scott
Matt Scott is the most recent addition to the Blind Ambition team, working in the Atlanta office. He is pursuing a degree in professional sales with a certificate from the Joel A. Katz Music & Entertainment Business Program from Kennesaw State University. Matt is also a freelance trombone player and brass pedagogue in the Greater Atlanta area and has a private low brass studio comprised of students from around the Atlanta area. In his spare time, Matt enjoys music, good friends and good food.
