Musician. Entrepreneur. Philanthropist. Humanitarian. Damien Escobar bears many titles and

puts no limits on what more he can achieve, making him one of the most prolific figures hailing

from Jamaica, Queens. And if you had any doubt about the Emmy-award winning breakout

violinist, his resume, which spans nearly two decades, humbly includes billboard chart-topping

albums, sold out global tours, collaborations with music legends, and more — an inspirational

success story that started with Escobar playing his violin on NYC subways. Proving his hustle,

drive, passion and unquestionable talent, are the pillars that hold up his ever-expanding brand.

Escobar’s life, like a rollercoaster, has been full of high highs and low lows. It was just 8 years

ago that Escobar hit rock bottom — facing homelessness and battling depression. But he

persevered and won the war by recommitting to his music and reclaiming his spot as one of the

top violinists in the world— garnering millions of fans, selling out four national and international

tours, and releasing two billboard chart-topping albums.

The NAACP Image Award nominee who rebuilt his career from the ground up through

grassroots movements fueled by his soulful mixtapes, now uses his platform, not only to share

his music, but to make a difference in the world. His first passion project was sparked by his

desire to help bridge the gap in the arts and culture sector for women and people of color. In

2018 The Gloria Gail Gallery opened its doors with a mission to diversify the arts world and

enrich the community. Escobar extended that promise with planned outreach programs for

youth and young adults provided by The Gloria Gail Foundation. Escobar knows firsthand that

the arts are an outlet, and as a high-risk youth, he plugged into it and his life was forever

transformed. Through his commitment and service to the community with The Gloria Gail

Gallery and Foundation, he looks to expose underserved youth to the arts, elevate emerging

artists, and celebrate established figures who’s stories inspire others.

Never one to be labeled as “just” a violinist, Escobar took to playing with other notes— perfume

notes. And in 2019 he released his first signature fragrance, H2H. His scent story resonated

with so many, it resulted in his site crashing the day of the launch. Needless to say, his

fragrance was sold out the day of its release. The sweet smell of success contributed to

Escobar’s plan to launch a new line, Awaken, in the fall of 2020.

While his career was on the rise, another area of his life began to decline. In 2019, the soul

stringer was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and was advised by his doctors to shut down all his

planned performances and projects. The disease nearly paralyzed him, but his passion for all

his initiatives helped him fight through the pain. Combatting Lyme Disease was just another

chapter of his story, and now his life will always be dedicated to spreading awareness to others

on how to prevent the disease.

From rebuilding his career to restoring his health, Escobar’s past allows him to connect with his

audience in a truly personal and authentic way. He does so through his music, live

performances, transformative work with his nonprofit organization, and initiatives like “I Thought

it was Just Me” podcast — a podcast designed to spread positivity and break down stigmas

surrounding mental health issues. No part of his life story has been wasted, Escobar takes

every success and failure to inspire others. And in 2020, the artist and entrepreneur has a clear

vision for the next steps in his career, as he’ll release three musical projects including a highly

anticipated Christmas album, and will kick off his "Breakthrough," an empowering musical event

that will motivate individuals to speak their truths to transform their lives. Many can learn from

Escobar’s emotional journey— that when life serves you the lowest of lows, you have to think,

believe and strive to achieve the highest of highs.