"Bentley is the most 'etiquatted' person I know. I always ask Bentley for style tips—now he's sharing his secrets with the world."
—Kanye West
"Of all the gentlemen that I have known, Fonzworth Bentley is the most refined of them all. His style flawless.his etiquette impeccable.and his swagger timeless."
—Cameron Diaz
"Very necessary!"
—André 3000
"The right book at the right time written by the right man."
—Russell Simmons
As the impeccable pop icon Fonzworth Bentley, visual/musical artist and writer, Derek Watkins is bridging the worlds of high- fashion and hip-hop with his sartorial class and dedication to fantastic urban grooves. Bentley, the first gentleman of hip-hop, caught the world's attention a few years ago as the flawlessly-dressed personal assistant hoisting a white umbrella over P. Diddy's head in St. Tropez. With two soon to be releases, CoolOutrageousLoversofUniquelyRawStyle (C.O.L.O.U.R.S.), his eagerly-awaited debut album, and his highly anticipated book, Advance Your Swagger: How to Use Manners, Confidence and Style to Get Ahead, which will be published by Villard Books, a division of Random House, Fonzworth Bentley is completing his transformation from Puffy's assistant to immaculate overall entertainer. The Atlanta native's journey has been full of improbable twists and turns. Though stepping in front of the microphone was not part of Derek's master plan, his Fonzworth Bentley personae rapidly grew too large to restrict to photo-ops and fashion spreads. "Bentley is what hip-hop is about," Kanye West exclaims. "When everyone's rapping one way, he comes with an original style all the way from his patterns-on-beats to his fashion sensibility. What's known need not be said, but Bentley is a motherf**** star!" And his stardom was completely revealed when he performed, "Shock Therapy" on the stage of Elton John's 2006 Fashion Rocks. "Music has been in Derek's blood since birth," says his mother, Harriette Watkins. His uncle, a band director, played him Beethoven's 5th Symphony at 18 months and, by the time Derek was 2-1/2 years old, he was learning to play violin via the Suzuki method. He would later become concert master in his high school orchestra. It was in Atlanta during his formative years where Derek became conscious of the combination of sartorial splendor and flowing footwork thriving on the city's dance floors. During his junior year at Morehouse College, he won an on-campus comedy competition, was befriended by Bill Cosby's daughter, and found himself being mentored on the fine points of entertainment by Cosby himself. The entertainment bug was firmly planted in his blood. After graduating from Morehouse, with a bachelor of science degree, he took a job at a local Polo store in Atlanta where his customers included his childhood friend Andre 3000 and future employer Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. When offered a job at The Polo Mansion, Derek relocated to the Big Apple. Working retail by day and networking by night, he periodically ran into Diddy in the clubs. Leaving Polo, Derek became an apprentice for the famous designer, Alan Flusser. And, later became maitre d' at one of New York's finest restaurants to help support his dream. One day, Bentley knew it was time to move from his safe and secure job as maitre d' and return to his dream of being an entertainer, so he reached out to Diddy and asked for a job. After passing the hazing process, he was hired as Diddy's personal assistant. After working for Diddy for almost two years, Bentley took another leap of faith. In 2002, he opened his Bible, prayed, resigned from his assistant gig and headed for Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. Couch-surfing between the homes of friends, including Andre Harrell and Macy Gray, Bentley landed a small role in the film "Honey" before receiving a call to join Diddy's MTV reality series "Making The Band 2." Then Andre 3000 and Big Boy gave Bentley guest spots in two OutKast videos, "I Like the Way You Move" and "Roses." "I think music is something that I've been running away from and never dealt with it," Bentley admits. His debut album is the sound of an artist finding his true voice and soul. It was important for Bentley to make his album with people he was familiar and comfortable with. So he teamed up with Kanye West, Andre 3000, Tony DeNiro, C.A.S.H., Faith Evans and others. Miri Ben Ari wrote the violin solo played by Bentley on the one of his tracks. " I'm an artist, a violinist, a singer, a dancer. I'm an MC. As an MC, you gotta be able to rock the party. Some have called me the hip-hop Sammy Davis, Jr. Now that's an incredible role model to live up to?". Bentley's book, Advance Your Swagger: How to Use Manners, Confidence and Style to Get Ahead, is designed to bring his generation back to the grace and dignity of their ancestors. A time when 'Please and thank you' were common words in our vocabulary. "I want people to know a lot more about Derek Watkins and to know a lot more about my world," he says. "At the end of the day whether you like my music or my book, whether you like me or not, you're gonna learn something." That's what it's all about…helping others as much as I've been helped. "I think that Derek not only has an incredible opportunity, but a responsibility," says his mom. "It's time to show you can be smart, you can dress appropriately, you can be articulate and be hip. Fred and Harriette Watkins set the example and Derek/Bentley walks confidently in that path. "It's about making sure you're the best individual you can be so that when the opportunity presents itself, you are prepared," he states. "I have a degree, but I am not better than anyone, that's not what I'm selling, but I am selling get an education." With CoolOutrageousLoversofUniquelyRawStyle (C.O.L.O.U.R.S.) and his soon to be released book, Advance Your Swagger as his curriculum, Fonzworth Bentley is showing everybody how to matriculate with style and humility. Sit up straight, class is in session!
