By Nicole Hamilton
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MADISONVILLE - Music entrepreneur and magazine publisher Herman "HD" Lamont Dunn didn't need a reason to lend his time and talents to anyone. It was simply his nature.

He produced a theme song for local boxer Aaron Pryor, "Hawk Time," because he saw Pryor doing positive things in the community. He organized several fund-raisers for the FreeStore/FoodBank and donated profits from a record he produced, "Cherish Our Loved Ones at Home."

Mr. Dunn also produced radio public service announcements for the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Greater Cincinnati and even showed up at their holiday functions dressed as Santa.

Mr. Dunn died Dec. 22 at his Madisonville home from complications of surgery. He was 54.

"He was a very good man who was dedicated to making a difference. Very energetic and always involved, he had an impact on everyone he met," said his wife of 23 years, Princie Joy Dunn of Madisonville.

Raised in Mount Auburn, he had a love of entertainment - especially the production aspects of the business - that started early, when he did the lighting for his Cutter Junior High School plays. He went on to attend Hughes High School.

He worked with brain damaged and mentally retarded children in Middletown.

In the 1970s, Mr. Dunn worked with musicians in Los Angeles including Mike Foster and Enoch Morgan, another Cincinnati musician.

Mr. Dunn was an account executive for NIP Magazine in Cincinnati before founding Uptempo magazine in the 1980s. Recently, he started publishing Accent on Youth, an Uptempo for young people.

Mr. Dunn also showcased the talents of several local acts via his two companies, Effective Communication Services and Infinity Productions, in clubs and on the BB Riverboats. He was also involved in the Gibson Music Studio Workshop, which teaches young people about the music industry.

Mr. Dunn had two cable television shows, Variety USA, and a children's program, Tree of Knowledge.

Other survivors include four daughters, Yolanda Johnson of Colerain Township, Monica Hedges of Westwood, Princie Dunn of Mariemont and Melody Dunn of Madisonville; and two sons, Zamar Dunn of Colerain Township and Steven Hedges of Rossmoyne; and seven granddaughters.

Visitation will be 11 a.m. to noon today at J.C. Battle & Sons Funeral Home, 543 Rockdale Ave., Avondale. Service will follow.

Burial will be in Vine Street Cemetery, Clifton.

Memorials: FreeStore/FoodBank, 112 East Liberty, Cincinnati, 45202; or to Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Greater Cincinnati, 3770 Reading Rd., Cincinnati, 45229.

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E-mail nhamilton@enquirer.com