The Fame Game author Ramon Hervey II is an American public relations specialist, talent manager, and music executive. He is equally known as the first husband of American singer and actress, Vanessa Williams. The pair had three children before their marriage ended in 1997.
Ramon Hervey has had a successful career in the entertainment industry. He has equally built an enviable career in public relations working with companies such as Starlite Music Artistes and Hamlett Marsh Publishers. He has also worked with quite a number of high-profile musicians including Stevie Wonder, The Jackson 5, and Diana Ross.
Who is Ramon Hervey II?
The music executive was born in Illinois Chicago on 18 October 1950 to his parents Ramon T. Hervey and Winifred Hervey. His family later moved to California where he started his academic pursuits.
Hervey II attended the Lompoc junior High School and also Cabrillo senior high school. After he graduated from senior high school, he enrolled at Whittier College where he later graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1972.
Ramon Hervey was Married to Vanessa Williams for Almost a Decade
Hervey met his ex-wife when he got hired as her publicist and manager in 1984. While working together, the pair fell in love with each other although Vanessa did not really want to date him.
Although it is not clear when they started dating, in 1986, it was made public that the two were romantically involved. Soon after they made their relationship public, the two decided to walk down the aisle in 1987, three years after they started working together.
The couple got married at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Flatiron District in the presence of quite a number of their family members and friends. The marriage did not only produce three beautiful children, but the pair also soared in their respective careers at that time.
Sadly, the marriage did not last forever. Challenges sprung up and rumours about them separating began flying. According to an interview Vanessa granted, she revealed that Ramon was not faithful during their marriage and it was unbearable for her. She also added that her work schedule often got in the way of her marriage.
The marriage ended in 1997 but they were co-parents to their three kids: Melanie, Jillian, and Devin.
Meet Ramon Hervey II’s Three Children
Ramon Hervey’s three children took after him and his ex-wife. His children have all done stints in the entertainment industry.
Melanie Hervey
The music executive and his ex-wife welcomed their first child Melanie on June 30, 1987. As a child, Melanie took an interest in dancing and by the time she turned 9, her mother got her a private dance instructor.
At the age of 13 in 2000, Melanie landed her first acting role in the film The Courage to Love. She continued to feature in other movies until she became a marketing intern in 2007. According to reports, she worked as an intern at Allure magazine.
Melanie seems to be drifting away from the entertainment industry. She also has an interest in real estate and has tried to build a career out of it. Reports say she joined the Corcoran Group as a licensed real estate salesperson in 2009.
While she was working at the firm, she served as the executive assistant to the senior vice president.
Being the daughter of a celebrated fashion icon, Melanie has also worked as a freelance stylist and creative consultant. She has reportedly worked with several famous brands and magazines including Vogue.
Of recent, Ramon’s oldest child has become a fitness enthusiast. She is now a pilates instructor. Around June 2017, she worked as a senior Pilates instructor at Equinox Group, and later in 2019, reports say she worked at New York Pilates.
Her Instagram bio states the 37 year-old now works as a pilates and barre instructor.
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Jilian Hervey
Ramon and Venessa had their second child, also a daughter on June 19, 1989. Jilian Hervey grew up to become a singer just like her mother. She is said to be part of a group called Lion Babe and she has achieved lots of success with the band.
Aside from her music career, 35 year-old Jilian is also an actress and earned quite a few acting credits to her name. She has appeared in movies such as Courage to Love (2000) and The Dog Thief (2019).
Devin Hervey
Ramon Hervey II’s only son Devin was born to the family in April 1993. The 31 year-old is not left out as well. Aside from trying to build a career as a record producer, he has also starred in the 2000 movie, The Courage To Love.
Take a Look at these Exciting Facts about Ramon Hervey II
1. The 74-year-old Worked as a Flight Attendant before He Built a Career in Public Relations
After he graduated from Whittier College in 1972, Venessa Williams’s ex-husband landed a flight attendant job. He reportedly worked with quite a number of airlines like Pan American Airlines.
He later quit his high-paying job with the airline to start working as a publicist for the famous artist management company, Starlite Music Artistes in 1974. While he was there, he was in charge of writing copies on behalf of artists.
Ramon Hervey II later quit Starlite and joined Hamlett Marsh Publishers as an editor. He got his big break after he left Hamlett and joined Motown Records in 1976. His life began to change for good since he joined Motown records, which was one of the biggest artist management companies. During his time there, he was assigned to work with famous artists like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and many others.
2. His Ex-wife was the First African-American to be Crowned Miss America
Vanessa Williams became the first African-American woman to ever clinch the title of Miss America. She was crowned Miss America 1984 in 1983. However, less than a month before the end of her reign, Penthouse magazine reportedly published nude photos of her. Following the scandal, the Miss America Organisation made her resign as Miss America in July 1984. Venessa Williams was then replaced by the first runner-up Suzette Charles.
Apparently, the Miss America CEO, Sam Haskell reportedly offered a public apology to Ramon’s ex-wife during Miss America 2016.
Following the scandal that erupted in 1983, Ramon II was hired to help the actress resuscitate her career. The father-of-three helped Venessa to overcome the trauma by using his connections to boost her career and save her reputation again.
3. Ramon Hervey is also a Movie Producer
It is worthy of note that Venessa Williams has not only worked as an artist manager but also as a film producer. According to reports, he was the executive producer of the documentary Chisholm ’72: Unbought & Unbossed in 2004. The documentary earned a Peabody Award.
He also worked as a music consultant for the drama/comedy movie Should’ve Been Romeo in 2012 and also another documentary Free Angela and All Political Prisioners.
4. Hervey II Has Been Running His Own Company for Over 30 Years Now
Having acquired a lot of experience, the artist manager worked with a media firm, The Gibson Group as a partner and co-president in the mid-1980s. He eventually started his own company and named it Hervey & Company.
Hervey’s company was quite popular in the 1990s and has helped quite a number of artists that have earned several awards like the Grammy Award. The company has also organized live events and concerts to promote its artists.
5. Venessa Williams’ First Husband Published His First Book in 2022
Ramon Hervey II has built a respectable brand for himself in over four decades as a public relations expert and artist manager. He published his first book The Fame Game: An Insider’s Playbook for Earning Your 15 Minutes in 2022. He shared his insightful knowledge of more than four decades career in the book.
6. His Ex-wife Has Been Married Twice After Their Divorce
Two years after Ramon Hervey II and Venessa Williams divorced, she later went on and married the former NBA star Rick Fox in 1999. Venessa and Rick had a daughter, Gabriella Fox together before the marriage ended in 2004.
In 2015, the fashion icon married a Buffalo businessman named Jim Skrip. While his ex-wife remarried twice, it seems Ramon never remarried.
7. Ramon’s Ex-wife Has Been Active in the Struggle for LGBTQ+ Rights
While thriving in her career, Vanessa Williams has used her status to join in the struggle for the recognition of LGBTQ rights. She has also been passionate about sourcing help for low-income women. She has partnered with Dress for Success to help provide needy women as well as young boys at risk.
8. Has He Received any Award?
According to reports, the music consultant has received several nominations and awards through artists that are signed in his company. However, it is uncertain if he has personally received any although he is highly recognized for his tremendous contribution to entertainment.
Nevertheless, the mother of his three children has received many awards including several Emmys, Grammys, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Venessa Williams has won four Satelite Awards, a Soul Train Music Award, and 7 Naacp Image Awards. She was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007.
9. What is Ramon Hervey II’s Net Worth?
According to different sources, the talent manager has accumulated a net worth of about $10 million. He might have accumulated his wealth through his work as an artist manager and also from his company.
According to our findings, talent management companies in the United States earn about 15 to 20 percent from what their artists make. Therefore, since he has worked with some high-profile artist, it is safe to say he might have earned quite a fortune from his career.
On the other hand, his ex-wife Venessa is speculated to have a net worth of about $25 million. She has made a fortune out of her career in the entertainment industry.
10. Where is Ramon Hervey II Now?
Ramon seems to be enjoying his role as a father and also a virgin grandfather as he calls it. He often shares photos of himself and his children having a good time.
Aside from spending time with his family, he seems to be focused on promoting his book as well.
The talent manager and PR expert has been in the game for more than four decades and throughout his career, he has molded and managed artists to their peak. Besides his successful career, he also dedicated time to co parent his three children with his ex- wife.
While it might look like Ramon has retired, it is obvious that age has not slowed him down. According to findings, he still promotes artists through his social media platforms.
