DJ Ebony

Thomas K. Lytle aka DJ E.B.O.N.Y. was the former vice president of promotions at the influential Island Def Jam Music Group in New York City, where he worked from 1990 until his retirement in 2011. Lytle was responsible for strategic planning; managing artists’ exposure through radio, television, new media, and retail sales; and promoting albums and tours. His life’s work has contributed to the growth and popularity of hip-hop culture around the globe.

With an astute understanding of the marketplace and consumer preferences, Lytle has helped propel the careers of such chart-topping artists as Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Ne-Yo, Ludacris, LL Cool J, Rihanna, Rick Ross, and Young Jeezy. He is recognized for his ability to promote both new artists and established recording stars.

A native of Brooklyn, Lytle attended the High School of Performing Arts in New York City, which was later immortalized as the setting for the movie Fame. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in broadcasting at Buffalo State, where he also joined the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. In July 2011, during Omega Psi Phi’s centennial celebration in Washington, D.C., Lytle received the prestigious Century Award of Excellence, placing him alongside other such notable Omega Psi Phi alums as actor Bill Cosby, basketball star Michael Jordan, NASA chief Frank Bolden, actor and comedian Steve Harvey, and the father of pop singer Beyoncé, Matthew Knowles.

Lytle was named Music Industry Executive of the Year by the Street Information Network in 2008 and was recognized in 2009 by Cambridge Who’s Who Among Executives, Professionals, and Entrepreneurs for his dedication, leadership, and excellence in all aspects of music production.