Black Pearl is not so much a destination as it is a continuation of one man's journey.  That man, a man of vision, a man of enduring faith, a man of unwavering devotion to bringing a positive message to the urban landscape, is Anthony Gaynor.  This story is as much about Anthony's hopes and dreams as it is about Black Pearl, but then it has to be as they are inextricably linked.  The story begins in New York. . .

        Anthony Gaynor was born and raised in New York and spent the first years of his young life in the New York public schools system.  When it came time for Anthony to attend junior high school, his mother had other plans, plans that would ensure Anthony had every opportunity to not only succeed, but excel, in life.  Ever-patient and incredibly wise, Anthony's mother sat Anthony down and explained to him that she saw a dim future for the New York schools system - it was failing and the deterioration was getting worse with each passing day - and, moreover, there was no real future for Anthony on the mean streets of Brooklyn.  Anthony's mother knew, even then, that a true change was needed if Anthony were to have a chance to grow into the man she knew he was destined to become.  So, over Anthony's strong, often vocal objections, he was sent Upstate to attend the New York Military Academy.  He protested the decision, but in the end he knew he had no choice.  His transfer to the New York Military Academy came as a direct order from the woman he would come to refer to as the strongest woman he has ever known - his mother.  Anthony didn't realize it at the time, but the Lord had begun to reveal His plan for Anthony even at this early stage in his life. . .

        While attending the New York Military Academy, Anthony quickly overcame his initial opposition and grew to truly enjoy the experience.  Consequently, he threw himself into his studies, where he excelled.  It was here he developed his lifelong passion for the performing arts.  Anthony's love of performance was kindled by his playing the role of Captain Smolet in a school production of "Treasure Island."   Anthony's mother found that the young man who had so opposed going away to military school was immersing himself and coming home for weekends less and less frequently.  Only a woman of true strength and character could see this development for what it truly was - a young man's first steps toward an expanded horizon.  Anthony's mother accepted these long absences knowing that it was all part of God's grand plan.

        Life for Anthony seemed to be going in a new and positive direction, just as his mother had hoped for.  However, as with all things, Anthony's situation changed dramatically, and he had to leave military school.  Although he was in no way underprivileged, Anthony was not as privileged as the other young men and women at New York Military Academy, and he had to return home to Brooklyn and the New York public school system.  Upon his return to New York, Anthony did passably well in school, but he found it unchallenging and never really developed the same level of excitement and interest he experienced in military school.  Something just seemed to be missing. . . 

        It wasn't too long before Anthony discovered what that missing something was, and it came to him in a most unexpected way.  One day, Anthony met a substitute teacher who had done some work as an extra in various films.  Hoping to generate some interest in his students, that teacher gave the class a simple exercise on how to conduct themselves at job interviews.  Recalling the exhilaration he felt while performing on stage in military school, Anthony knew what had been missing - a chance to channel his energy and passion positively through the performing arts.  Anthony's improvisational skills so impressed his teacher that the teacher encouraged Anthony to seek a future in the performing arts.  It seemed that, although Anthony didn't realize it at the time, the Lord had kept a guiding hand on Anthony's course. . .

        Anthony pursued his love of acting throughout the remainder of his time in high school.  When he completed high school, Anthony knew that acting was his one true joy and he had to follow that path no matter where it might lead.  After finishing school, Anthony began taking acting lessons at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and worked his way into numerous stage productions in and around New York.  While Anthony was honing his craft on stage, he also took on some minor roles in television as well as commercials.  No matter what job Anthony took, he always learned something, whether it was purely performance related or more toward the business end of the industry.  Anthony continued to work in and around New York until he and a close friend decided that a change of venue was in order, and they struck out for the Promised Land - Los Angeles.

        From the very beginning the journey from New York to Los Angeles proved challenging.  However, building on the lessons he had learned earlier in life, Anthony accepted each of the challenges placed before him and turned them into positive, educational milestones.  Anthony was finally starting to sense that something larger than himself was leading the way. . . 

        Before they even reached Los Angeles, Anthony and his friend, Neko, faced their first seemingly insurmountable challenge.  Crossing the Arizona/California border, the transmission in their car started to show signs of pending catastrophic failure.  Somehow, they managed to coax the car all the way across California, and with the Lord watching over their shoulders, limped into Los Angeles at 25 miles per hour on those notoriously crowded and unforgiving freeways.  Rather than a hero's welcome, the young men were greeted by a volley of honking horns, curses and obscene gestures.  Regardless, they had arrived in Los Angeles on, as they say, a wing and a prayer.  They had made it!

        Life in Los Angeles proved every bit as challenging as the journey there.  Yet, even in the face of adversity, Anthony maintained his resolve and strove to learn from each and every experience.  It was here, in Los Angeles, that Anthony learned the true nature of the entertainment business and the true meaning of sacrifice.  As a newcomer and outsider, Anthony learned quickly that, as the old adage goes, it's not what you know, it's who you know.  Since neither he nor Neko knew anybody in Los Angeles, times were extremely tough and work was not immediately forthcoming.  As work continued to elude the two young men, their situation became progressively worse.  From their initial base at a decent hotel, Anthony and Neko were forced move to a drug and prostitute-infested motel in South Central Los Angeles.  Their resources continued to dwindle, and finding themselves in the most abject of circumstances, Anthony was soon living out of his car behind a local Rite-Aid Pharmacy.  Still, he knew that God had a plan and he had to stay the course.

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