Local teen boys twerk their way to talent contract
Published 11:00 pm Thursday, September 19, 2013
Just like Ol’ Man River, Dem White Boyz, keep on rollin’ along, actually more like, thundering over Niagara Falls.
Not only are Dem White Boyz atop the Vine, not only do they have 1.8 million followers and counting, not only are their “tanks” selling like hotcakes, they have also just signed a contract with a Los Angeles-based management company so there’s nowhere for them to go but up.
Dem White Boyz – Baylor Barnes, Cole LaBrant and John Stephen Grice – “twerked” onto the scene in mid-summer and their fame has skyrocketed, as followers just can’t seem to get enough of their twerking and comedic antics.
Melanie Barnes was acting manager until Wednesday night when the “Boyz” inked a deal with the Los Angeles management company that could contract them with television, movie, modeling, commercial, merchandizing, touring and even record deals.
Barnes said Dem White Boyz will now be managed by Brian McKnight and Tim Miner, who were co-producers on Canadian pop star Justin Bieber’s Christmas record.
Dem White Boyz signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles management company with an option for a second year.
“The boys are being looked at for movies and commercials and, of course, modeling,” Barnes said. “Right now, it’s who gets them.”
Dem White Boyz will go to Los Angeles as soon as they are able to work the trip into their busy schedules.
Grice is a senior at Pike Liberal Arts School and plays football for the Patriots.
Barnes and LaBrant are juniors at Charles Henderson High School, where Barnes is a member of the CHHS football team.
“With going to school and playing football, it’s going to be hard to make the trip to LA,” Melanie Barnes said. “But they want to get out there as soon as possible. Cutting a record is something the boys want to do. And, if anybody can pull music out of them, Brian McKnight and Tim Miner can.”
Dem White Boyz continue to work Vining into their busy schedules that include school, football, merchandizing, meets and greets and on-demand events. They have 77 Vine posts and are moving rapidly toward two millions followers.
“And, Dem White Boyz tanks are selling really well,” Barnes said. “They now have a post office box for their fan mail. They are being invited to a lot of events. It’s crazy but it’s exciting. The boys are having a lot of fun and who knows what’s next for them. They’ll just have to wait and see.”