Our Founder
Founder
Dallas Austin is a Grammy Award–winning producer, 2019 Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, and founder of Rowdy Records. A pioneering force in music and film, Austin has produced more than 60 Billboard Hot 100 hits, with over 20 songs reaching the Top 10, including iconic works with Boyz II Men, TLC, Madonna, Brandy, Monica, and Michael Jackson.
An original architect of Atlanta’s rise as a global music and entertainment capital, Austin has shaped culture for more than three decades—producing landmark albums such as CrazySexyCool, Fanmail, and Cooleyhighharmony, as well as contributing to major film soundtracks and motion pictures including Drumline and ATL.
Rooted in his hometown of Columbus, Georgia, where he began playing guitar and keyboards at age seven, Austin has remained committed to investing in the next generation. Through the Dallas Austin Music Foundation, he has helped install recording studios in Atlanta Public Schools, launched artist-in-residence programs at Georgia State University’s Center for Creative Industries, and supported youth initiatives in partnership with organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club and the Urban League of Atlanta.
Today, Austin continues to expand his cultural influence across music, film, and global creative initiatives—while remaining dedicated to supporting the arts and youth through opportunity, access, and mentorship.
Dallas Austin
Executive Director
Ashley Austin serves as Executive Director of the Dallas Austin Foundation, guiding the organization into its next chapter with a lifelong commitment to youth advocacy, creative access, and community impact. An actress trained at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York, she understands the transformative power of the arts as a foundation for confidence, opportunity, and long-term growth for young people.
Raised in a family deeply engaged in the arts and philanthropy, Ashley’s commitment to service began early through hands-on community involvement, including holiday outreach to families in need. As she forged her own path, she volunteered with Girls Inc., served as a daycare teacher at the Atlanta Day Shelter, and supported Genesis Shelter (now Our House), where her work deepened her passion for addressing homelessness and its impact on children’s stability and development.
Through visits to schools supported by the foundation, Ashley has witnessed firsthand how creative access and mentorship can shape a young person’s trajectory. As the daughter of founder Dallas Austin, her leadership reflects thoughtful intergenerational stewardship—honoring the foundation’s legacy while expanding its mission to meet the evolving needs of today’s youth.