Curtis Daniel III

Originally from Carson, California, Curtis Daniel III attended Michigan State University from 1990 to 1995 on a football scholarship. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Communications. After earning his degree, he took a chance to pursue a career in the music industry as one of the founders of PatchWerk Recording Studios, now a multimillion-dollar studio in Atlanta.

Although he didn’t major in business, Curtis credits his MSU psychology education as part of the reason for his success in running a company.

“Psychology gives me an understanding of the why. Every day, my background helps me approach my clients and our employees with empathy. I understand what motivates them — why they do what they do.”

While much of his time at Michigan State was spent on the football field, a spinal injury that prevented him from playing allowed him to explore new passions, like working at a radio station to help promote local musicians.

“Music was something I always loved, but, for my whole life, I felt like I was doing stuff that I had to do. Football was a means to get an education, but music is a passion.”

By his senior year, Curtis decided he would spend his first two years out of college to try to chase his music dreams.

When Curtis graduated, he moved to Atlanta and found success as a music mogul, co-founding PatchWerk Studios, which recently celebrated 25 years of business. PatchWerk’s clientele is packed with music legends, including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Whitney Houston, Snoop Dog, Notorious B.I.G., Mariah Carey, 2Pac, Madonna, Outkast, Britney Spears, Megan Thee Stallion, and Kendrick Lamar.

In addition to PatchWerk, Curtis also launched a music education brand, called IdOMUSIC, which educates and empowers artists and musicians worldwide.

Curtis uses the IdOMUSIC brand to give back to his community and to the industry he loves through educational programs, workshops, and music events including Music University, Weekend Workshops, and R&B Live.

“Giving back is how things grow. I’m big on doing things others haven’t done before, and then educating other people so that they can do it, too,” Curtis said. Smiling, he continued, “but it won’t be as hard. My goal is to break down barriers to success.”

 In addition to giving back within his community and the music industry, Curtis provides his insights and expertise to Michigan State’s alumni network.

“I encourage people to plug back into the school because, you know, some people graduate from college and never look back. They don’t donate their money or time, and then they feel like they don’t have a relationship with the university. But the relationship with your school is what you make it. I’m proud to say I have a great relationship with MSU.”

When he originally expressed interest in giving back to Michigan State University as an alumnus, he was placed with the School of Social Science because of the connection from his psychology major. He then started working with the students in the Music program. When the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation was established, he knew that was where he could help the most.

“I don’t know that everybody understands my excitement about Michigan State’s entrepreneurship program or realizes the true impact that this program is going to have. This is big. And I’m really happy to be a part of it.”

The Burgess Institute and its entrepreneurship resources did not exist at Michigan State while Curtis was on campus, but he recognizes its value and is constantly recommending the program to all the MSU students and families he meets.

“I know that this thing is changing people’s lives, and it’s going to be one of the preeminent programs at our institution.”

Curtis is the 2021 recipient of the Jack Breslin Life Achievement Award and has returned for his second year as a valued Entrepreneur-in-Residence.