Centerville grad's Beyonce & Hamilton mashup featured by TIME, Huffington Post, Entertainment Weekly, LA Times, others

A Centerville grad is adding credibility to the belief that some of the nation's most creative people were born right here in Dayton.

Michael Korte, a 2006 Centerville High School grad and son of  Randye and David Korte of Washington Twp., created, directed and cast the viral Youtube video #HAM4BEY.

He said he wants his art to fill the soul.

"I knew if it were done correctly, it would uplift people and inspire people," Korte said of making #HAM4BEY.

>>MORE: Dayton Native on Tonight Show 

Posted on Nov. 21,  the electrifying mashup of songs from the singer Beyoncé and the smash Lin-Manuel Miranda Broadway hit "Hamilton" has  already had more than 300,000 views and has been featured by VH1.comTIME,  Entertainment Weekly, The Los Angeles Times,  Huffington Post, Billboard, Playbill.com and several other publications.

#HamBey features musicians India Carney, Vincint,  Mariah Maxwell, Jej Millanes, Kelly Margareth Lee and Jamond McCoy. 

It was arranged by Jared Jenkins.

Korte's roommate, fellow Centerville grad Baxter Stapleton, was #HAM4BEY's videographer and helped Korte edit it.

Now based in Los Angeles, Korte is an actor,  LGBTQ and Black Lives Matter activist and founder of the pop culture website CityofTenants.com. 

The Ohio University graduate and huge Hamilton and Beyoncé fan plans to make more mashups.

At six minutes long, #HamBey  blends “Helpless," “The Story of Tonight” "The Schuyler Sisters," "Yonce," “Countdown," “Alexander Hamilton," “Partition,” “My Shot” with “Survivor” and so on.

Korte said he is proud to be from Dayton. While in school here, he was in band, theater, choir and was on the speech and debate team.

>>MORE: 16 Daytonians who made us proud at OSCARS, Grammys and SAG Awards

"The art young people are making in Dayton is worthy and so deserves a global spotlight," Korte said. "Dayton has a great history and is a great place for artists to be." 

Credit: Submitted

Credit: Submitted

About the Author