Today we’d like to introduce you to Garrett Bush.
Hi Garrett, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello, my name is Garrett E. Bush. I am a Host, Producer, Artist, Designer, and Influencer based out of Cleveland, Ohio. I currently Host, Produce, or Direct the following Projects:
CEO- Fifth Dimension Media LLC.
Host/Producer- The Barbershop Radio Show (92.3 “The Fan” WKRK FM)
Host- The Cleveland Browns Pregame Show ((92.3 “The Fan” WKRK FM)
Host/Producer/Director – The Barbershop Tour Pilot (WKYC TV Channel 3)
Content Creator – The Barbershop YouTube Channel
Co-Host – The Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show on (WKYC TV Channel 3)
Co-Host – The 2-minute Warning Cleveland Browns Postgame Live Stream (WKYC TV Channel 3)
Co-Host – Locked On Browns Podcast (Locked On Podcast Network)
Creator/Designer – Barbershop Clothing and Merchandise
Early Childhood:
I was born and raised in the Hall of Fame City Canton, Ohio. I am the oldest of 3 boys born to Ronald and Dorothy Bush. I couldn’t have had a better childhood, My Mother and Father are devout Christians and taught my brothers and me the values of kindness, honesty, and hard work. Growing up I was sort of awkward and really never got into playing sports until 11 0r 12 years old. I was more interested in astronomy, physics, and documentaries. When I finally decided to take athletics seriously, my dad served as my coach in baseball, basketball, and football.
Family Dynamics:
My parents have always believed that one day I would do something special in life. The was always an unbitten rule in our household that my siblings and I would attend college. I was around 8 years old when I saw a commercial about college. I asked my mother how we were going to pay for college. Like most families in America, we lived to check. With confidence, she said that I would receive a full scholarship for either athletics or academics.
Failure wasn’t in their vocabulary. Both of my parents were college educated and took academics very seriously. This is a rarity in the black community. Even while taking all advanced classes they never tolerated “C’s”.They pushed me hard when it came to school. So hard in fact, sometimes I felt I was being treated unfairly compared to my brothers and peers. As the firstborn child, I always felt the pressure to perform at a high level in whatever I did. Looking back on my childhood I’m thankful for the high standards that they placed on me, the lessons they taught me as a child prepared me for my long hard journey in broadcasting.
Teenage Year:
As I went through Jr. High into High School I became a great athlete. I attended the legendary Canton Mckinley High School where I was a 3-year varsity letterman in baseball, basketball, and football. I was fortunate to play on a team with countless future division 1 athletes and pro athletes.
High School Sports Achievements:
In 1997 we went undefeated and won the Division 1 state Championship. We were also named the USA Today National Championship. We were the first public school in history to win the title. In 1998 we the Division 1 State Championship for the second year in a row. This made McKinley the only public school in the state of Ohio to win back-to-back State Championships. During this time I began to really become a student of the game. I developed a thirst for competition and a passion for learning the game. I took my game to another level and was named to All-County, All-State, and All-American Football Teams. After graduating I received a full scholarship to play football at Ohio University.
College Years:
College is where things to a turn, It was also the period of time when Injuries began to affect me. I missed my entire Sophomore and Senior years because of major knee injuries. To add insult to injury the teams I played on were horrible. At this time I lost my grandfather who helped raise me as a child. I felt depressed and even guilty that I was able to be the player that I was in high school. My body was betraying me and no matter how hard I worked, rehabbed, and trained I couldn’t shake the injuries. The hardest part about being injured is that you know you still have the talent to play in the NFL but your body can’t take the punishment. My hopes and dreams of playing professionally vanished right before my eyes. Because of my injuries I missed a ton of time in school so I couldn’t graduate with my class and had to stay to finish my Degree. I used my time wisely and took as many courses as possible. In 2006 I was able to Graduate with 2 bachelor’s Degrees in Marketing and Communications.
Injuries
– Torn ACL in right knee (2)
– Torn ACL left knee (1)
– Back Surgery (2)
– Neck Surgery (4)
– Calf Surgery (1)
– Toe Surgery
After College:
My first job out of college I worked as a financial advisor in Charlotte, NC. The market Crash of 2008 made it impossible to work mainly off commission. I went back to Ohio University and even pondered going to Grad School and becoming a Graduate Assistant Coach for the football team. Soon after I returned, I realized that my heart wasn’t in it. So I moved back home and stayed with my parents until I could figure out my next move. I bounced from job to job for 2 years and realized that I needed to find a career, not just a job. My parents encouraged me to search my heart and let God lead and guide me. I was laying on my mom’s couch one day and I was watching a local Sports talk Host Bruce Drennan on TV. A young man called his show and asked for advice on getting into the broadcasting industry. Bruce gave him the contact information for the Ohio Center for Broadcasting (Now The Ohio Media School). Something moved in my soul as if he was speaking to me. It was such a strange feeling to know your destiny. I knew this is what I was born to do. Ultimately, I didn’t know that it would be 13 long years of struggling before I would reach my goal of being a full-time entertainer.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve had to fight, claw, and scratch for everything that I’ve got. I’m still fighting as we speak. When I went to school at the Ohio Center For Broadcasting I wasn’t eligible for financial aid because I already had a college degree. So I was forced to pay for tuition out of my pocket. I also drove 1 hour from Canton to Cleveland 5 days a week. There were sometimes I didn’t have money to eat because all of my money was going into gas. I soon ran out of money for tuition. Quitting was not an option.
I used to avoid the financial counselor because I knew I owed them money. Once they finally tracked me down. They asked how I was going to pay my tuition. I said that I would win a scholarship. They all laughed because it was extremely competitive to earn that scholarship. All of my instructors gave me great references. I eventually won the Cleveland Association of Broadcaster Scholarship! I was able to pay my tuition. I graduated with the most internship hours. I also graduated with honors and the Nev Chandler Award for Outstanding Commitment to Broadcasting.
As you know, we’re big fans of Fifth DIMENSION MEDIA. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I am the CEO of FIFTH DIMENSION MEDIA LLC. which is the umbrella company for numerous projects and companies. I consider myself an artist, creative, hustler, and entrepreneur, Fifth DIMENSION MEDIA reflects the multi-facets of my personality. Below is a list of products and services that we provide:
– Bush Line Vegan Inspired Cosmetics
– Signature Fragrance “Knocturnal” by 62 Degrees
– The Barbershop Clothing & Merchandise
– Fifth DIMENSION Media Immigration Services
– Top F5VE Music Countdown TV Pilot
– The Barbershop Tour TV Pilot
– Freelance Content on The Barbershop YouTube Channel
I started my company out of necessity. I wasn’t given the opportunity out of broadcasting school to host my own show. In fact, I started answering phones at the radio station at the age of 30. I soon began to work for the board and then finally produced shows. I was very frustrated because I felt that I was ready and earned the opportunity to host my own show. One day I called the program director and told him that I wouldn’t accept any more producing shifts. I told him to only call me when he had an open hosting shift. I went home and started my YouTube Channel, Created the Barbershop Logo, created a mascot, and created my first barbershop shirt. I later copyrighted the logo and created my company Fifth Dimension Media. I’m a true believer in collaboration and Family. My parent Ronald and Dorothy believed in my vision so much that they invested in my business after they retired. My wife Rosie is the driving force behind the Immigration Services and The Bush Line Cosmetics.
Achievements
I was named by Cleveland Scene Magazine as one of the Most Interesting People of 2022
Article Link
https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/people/articles/garrett-bush-most-interesting-people-2022
My radio show the Barbershop on 92.3 “The Fan” WKRK FM. was named by Cleveland Scene Magazine as a top 5 sports talk radio show in the Cleveland Market
Article Link
https://www.clevescene.com/best-of/2022/people-and-places/best-sports-talk-radio-show-40469853
The co-hosts of the Ultimate Cleveland Sports Show threw out the first pitch at the Cleveland Guardians home game at progressive field.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory was summer at my Grandparent’s house. My mother and father both worked so in the summer me and my brothers were dropped off at my grandparent’s house. My grandfather grew up very poor as a sharecropper in Georgia. He married my grandmother when he was 19 and she was 16 and moved to Ohio for a better life. He only had a 3rd-grade education.
My grandmother made it to 6th grade. My grandfather found work in the steel mills and put down roots in Canton, Ohio. My grandfather was the best man I ever knew. He had a magnetic personality, was tremendously wise, and had a huge heart. The best days of my life we spent with him telling stories and watching my baseball games as a kid.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bushlinebeauty.com/
- Instagram: @gbush91_Barbershop
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gbush91
- Twitter: @Gbush91
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9q8FWVDHmzecwIe_0JoDeg
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/c/UltimateClevelandSportsShow
