Read about Cyrus Webbās more recent activities and controversies here
The resume of Cyrus Webbļæ½born in Jackson 28 years ago, graduated from Brandon High School, didnļæ½t attend college, has worked in hotel management since 1996ļæ½can seem mundane at first glance. Nothing could be further from the truth. A young man who has single-handedly pulled himself through a life fraught with discordļæ½from without and withinļæ½Webb impressed me mightily. ļæ½It was a struggle to try to fit in, yet still be Cyrusļæ½thatļæ½s when C. A. stood up.ļæ½ C. A. is the artist and poet, while Cyrus manages the Best Western Executive Inn, downtown.
C. A. writes poetry about his life and how he and Cyrus have evolved. ļæ½I do live a double life; the parts of me after writing and creating art have had to relate to people. I have a balance, even with my family.ļæ½ Webb feels deeply that it is his responsibility is to share what he calls his ļæ½gift.ļæ½
The twainļæ½the man and his careersļæ½have certainly met to accomplish his self-set goals. Not one to hide his light beneath a basket, Webb says some think heļæ½s arrogant, promoting his creations and himself the way he does. But he didnļæ½t want to wait a lifetime to get work displayed in a public library; he knew he would have to think outside the box.
Each of the three hotel chains Webb has worked with have provided him with space for poetry readings and art showsļæ½at an employee rate, he added with a smile. Not only that, but the last several years Webb has set up his wares at McRaeļæ½s Metrocenter and at Jackson Medical Mall. ļæ½Not everyone will go to a museum or to a poetry reading, but if you catch them where they have to go, your success rate is better,ļæ½ Webb explained. He has on online gift shop and a catalogļæ½ļæ½to mail to those who donļæ½t go onlineļæ½ļæ½called TYFM (To You From Me). Plus, Webb hosts āConversations with C. A. Webb,ā on WMPR 90.1 FM Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.
All this is from a young man who calls himself shy. Yet he had no trouble cold-calling media outlets in five states as part of his thorough preparation for his latest projectļæ½the just-completed tour for ļæ½Metamorphosis,ļæ½ a spoken-word CD and his fifth poetry chapbook. Last year Webb developed a budget and began saving money. Rev. Vernon Moore of With Us Records is the co-producer of the CD.
ļæ½Iļæ½m retiring in 2005 [from hotel management] and going full time,ļæ½ Webb said. Success or failure, he said, is in his own hands. Steady and capable hands, to be sure.
