Arty Whittenberg shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Arty, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
The thing that makes me lose track of time the most is music! No matter how old I get, I can still lose myself in a timeless classic. Earth Wind & Fire are the normal culprits that cause me to lose track of time because of the feelings and emotions that are in their music. Yacht-Rock has been getting me a lot lately! There is a simple peace in this music that causes memories and emotions to flow, and I just have to stop and take it all in! Getting back to reality is normally the urgent feeling of something not complete. I generally snap out of it and get back to work, but the memory remains in my heart. That makes my day complete!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Greetings to everyone! My name is Arty Whittenberg. I am professionally known as “Autiztry”. I am professional singer in the genres of Gospel, R&B, Classic Rock, Opera and Country music! I am also a professional musician. My instruments are Percussion, Drum Set, Piano, Bass and I am an arranger/composer of all types of music. My daytime job is education. I am a music teacher, and I teach High School Choir, Band and Orchestra. I’ve been a music teacher for 22 years now and I love giving back to my wonderful students. I am originally from Los Angeles, California. I was raised a majority of my life in Fort Worth, Texas by my wonderful grandmother Mildred Ballard. She was a gospel sing and composer of music as well. I was taught music in high school by my amazing choir teacher and mentor Mrs. Gwen McWilliams. She molded the passion for music in me that I never knew existed. I am a graduate of Grambling State University, Louisiana State University and a soon to be graduate from University of Arkansas!
What make what I do interesting is the opportunity to reach all people through music! Not only do I teach the future generation of musicians and singers, but I create music and I use music as therapy to help people cope with common issues and problems that occur in our lives such as depression, fear, autism, sickness and memory loss. Music is not just about a pleasurable experience for me; I use music to Bless others with the opportunity to experience life through the hermeneutical lens of feelings and emotion that music causes humans to feel! There is “HEALING IN THE MUSIC!” I quote this all the time to my students. Music heals and is my calling to use music to help encourage and actively promote healing at its truest form, and that is LOVE!
My story is simple. Music saved my life!!! My Grandmother, teachers-mentors like Mrs. Gwen McWilliams, Mrs. Mantequilla Green, Mrs. Holly Searcy and Mrs. Donna Timmons, all allowed me to use music as source of self-expression and healing for my soul. Growing up was hard, and I needed something to cling on to, and music was it. I just want to give back what was given to me!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
As a kid, I always had these huge dreams that I could be anything I wanted to be. To be honest, I wanted to be a Firefighter for the longest period of my life. There was something about saving lives that made me feel good inside and Firefighters were the men I always saw in my neighborhood doing that! But my grandmother Mildred Ballard knew that I was different and that God had a special calling for me. A purpose that I didn’t know how to tap into. She knew it was music, but I did not have a clue. Around the age of 2, I would bang on the pots and pans in the kitchen all day long. But it wasn’t just noise, I was playing actual beats from music I listened to and my grandmother noticed it and told my Aunt Janelle Allen about it. So, my aunt bought me my first set of drums for Christmas in 1984. That was it! I played all day, every day! That’s when my grandmother knew the gift was real. She took me all around the world with her. She wanted to expose me to as much music as possible. Every gospel artist in the 80’s and 90’s I met personally and even had the opportunity to sing and play drums with them. I never knew I was good at it. I just saw my grandmother performing and building those relationships in music with everyone. I was around Kirk Franklin, The Hawkins Family, James Cleveland and the Mighty Clouds of Joy gospel quartet. Then my grandmother put me with the person that literally changed the trajectory of my life, Mrs. Gwen McWilliams who is a music genius! My path was set from there!
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
There are so many lessons that suffering has taught me. I mean life is truly a lesson in itself. The biggest lesson that suffering has taught me that success never could is, when you are at the bottom, you should never stop looking up. No matter how successful you are always keep looking up. You never know where you are going if you keeping looking down in life. Suffering has also taught me to be kind and show compassion to those who are less fortunate. I remember during my first stint of graduate school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, I was homeless. I stayed in shelters, slept under bridges, witnessed many things at a young adult age that scared the me into anxiety traumas that I deal with today. I remember walking back to the shelter from work one day, and I couldn’t even afford a $.99 chicken sandwich. I had to eat leftovers from my boss and other people at work as well as shelter food. My spirit was broken. I truly understood the Biblical story of poor man Lazarus who was sick and disabled. I prayed to God and said I would never treat anyone horrible who was less fortunate than me. I would show love and compassion to all. I would give back to the students of my community, so they can be a Blessing to those in the future. The struggle made my Faith Stronger and my Compassion deeper for all humanity!
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
The Cultural value that I protect at all costs it to love one another they you would want others to love you! I value people. Therefore, I value their culture. Everyone that knows me understands that music represents all ethnicities, cultures and creeds. You must make a point to understand the people you share the world with. We live here as ONE World! Music to me, is the binding tie that brings us closer together. Let me rephrase that, the way you use music, determines its impact on society and the world as a whole. Positivity is not just a slogan to make you feel good for the moment, for me it is a lifestyle. The power of Positivity is real! I teach all ethnicities of students every single day. I first respect the students and what they bring to my class culturally. Then I pour as much positivity into them as I can. When I am down and feeling low, the students power right back into my spirit positivity and appreciation. My values mean a lot to me. I can’t say I am a follower of Christ and not live it to the fullest. Life is a gift, and I want this life to count in a positive loving way to all.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
As a music educator, I teach every day for one reason. That reason is to make a connection with students and give them the best experience possible in learning music. I want to change kids’ lives the right way and give them the opportunity to have options of what their lives could be if they decide to choose music. I don’t look for praise or approval. I don’t search or seek accolades. I do this for the love of it! It doesn’t pay much. but anything worth creating that is positive, you can’t put a price tag on it. I’ve been told I was crazy for teaching, but when my kiddos graduate and come back to visit me, my heart feels so full of joy! When I perform across the globe, I don’t do it for self-gratification, I perform for the people to have a moment in their lives where they can get away from reality and dance the night away! I want you to feel joy, love, peace and happiness when you hear me sing a song that is familiar to you! I want you to leave my show feeling like you can conquer anything. That’s what music does for me. I feel on top of the world, and nothing can bring me down! This is the purpose God has put me here for, and that’s to bring harmony to the world with music!
Image Credits
DJ Autiztry
Spring 2025 Philly Soul Concert Performance in Houston, Texas
Community Choir of DFW
