Friends, family and community members will gather Sunday for the funeral of Arthur Leon Burnette, a Huntsville musician and business owner.

Burnette died on Christmas, according to a statement from his family, released today by Ivan Thomas, president of Intrigue Media Group. He was 72.

Burnette founded the Media Arts Institute of Alabama in Huntsville, a nonprofit to teach young people digital media production and technology.

Burnette studied at Long Beach State University in California and Oakwood University (then Oakwood College) in Huntsville. Over the years, he worked with funk and R&B musicians, including Take 6, according to Thomas.

Burnette founded the Black history travel company Civil Rights Trail Tours. He also led the Pathways Project, which focuses on training women and minorities who want to enter the tourism industry. His company was featured in The New York Times in 2022.

“My father was a man of purpose, a visionary, and a family man. He showed us that with God all things are possible, and he instilled in us the importance of leaving a legacy for future generations,” said eldest son Monualdai Burnette in a statement.

“To others, he was a man that made things happen. He had a keen ability to see talent in people before they saw it in themselves. He wanted only the best for those around him, he wanted them to win and he wasn’t concerned about the credit and recognition. He just wanted to win!”

Burnette is survived by his mother, Ruth Mildred Burnette; his wife, Marcia Adams-Burnette; his three sons, Monualdai, Miles, and Marques; and his grandchildren, Xavier Marques Burnette, Monualdai Ethan Burnette and Xaria Mariea Burnette.

The funeral is at 11 a.m. Sunday at Oakwood University Church in Huntsville.