The Black Academy of Arts and Letters (TBAAL), established in Dallas, Texas, in 1977 by Curtis King, is a cultural organization dedicated to supporting African Americans in the visual and performing arts. It fosters understanding of African, African-American, and Caribbean arts and letters. TBAAL preserves and promotes Black art and culture, offering a platform for diverse artistic expression. The organization was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2015.
Born in Washington, D.C., R&B singer Ginuwine rose to fame in the 1990s through his collaboration with producer Timbaland, notably releasing the hit single Pony and the double-platinum debut album Ginuwine...The Bachelor.
Stokley Williams is a seasoned R&B singer and instrumentalist born in St. Paul, Minnesota. He co-founded Mint Condition in the early 1980s before making his solo debut in 2017 with Introducing Stokley. He earned a Grammy nomination for his 2011 duet with Kelly Price and collaborated with Prince, Janet Jackson, and Elton John.
Baltimore-born jazz-soul singer Maysa Leak studied classical voice at Morgan State University and sang with Stevie Wonder's Wonderlove. She gained prominence as a vocalist for the British group Incognito, featured on albums like Scribes, Tribes & Vibes, before launching a prolific solo career.
Grammy-winning jazz-R&B guitarist Norman Brown rose to fame with his 1992 debut Just Between Us. Known for his mellow style, he topped Billboard's jazz charts with albums like Just Chillin, Let It Go, and Highest Act of Love. He is also a member of the smooth jazz supergroup BWB.
Born in Buffalo, NY, multi-instrumentalist Brian McKnight has sold over 25 million albums and earned multiple Grammy nominations, including for his 2M-selling album Anytime. Known for his 1999 hit Back at One, he has collaborated with artists like Mariah Carey and Quincy Jones.
Born in Frankfurt, Germany and raised in Alabama, American R&B and gospel singer Ruben Studdard won the second season of American Idol in 2003. Known for his smooth, Luther Vandross-styled voice, he earned a Grammy nomination for his song Superstar and released several albums.
Based in Washington, D.C., The String Queens is a soulful, orchestral trio known for performances at major U.S. venues, including the 2021 Presidential Inauguration and Wimbledon. They released their third album, RISE, supported by a Sphinx Organization grant.
Fantastic Negrito is the three-time GRAMMY Award-winning artist born Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz. Known for winning the first-ever NPR Tiny Desk Contest, he has earned three consecutive GRAMMY Awards for Best Contemporary Blues Album and collaborated with Sting and E-40.
Stanley Jordan is a jazz, rock, and classical guitarist best known for pioneering the two-hand tapping technique. In 1985, he became the first artist signed to Blue Note's reactivated label with his classic album Magic Touch. He has collaborated with legends like Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis.
Led by Castillo, the band defined a unique Oakland soul sound, drawing on Detroit, Memphis, and Philadelphia influences. Surpassing early aspirations, they have toured the world, achieved hit singles, and backed legendary artists over a fifty-year career, debuting with East Bay Grease.
Formed at Alabama's Oakwood College, the a cappella group Take 6 blends gospel, doo wop, and jazz. Their 1988 platinum self-titled debut won Grammy and Dove awards, leading to contributions for Spike Lee and Quincy Jones. Later albums featured collaborations with artists like Stevie Wonder and George Benson.
Based in Dallas since 1900, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra is the Southwest's largest performing arts organization. Led by Music Director Fabio Luisi, the orchestra presents over 150 concerts annually at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, reaching over 200,000 people.
A premier three-day music festival held at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas, featuring renowned international and local artists performing jazz, blues, R&B, soul, and neo-soul music across multiple stages.
CeeLo Green is an Atlanta-born singer and songwriter who rose to fame as a member of the influential hip-hop group Goodie Mob. He later achieved massive global success as a solo artist and as half of Gnarls Barkley, winning multiple Grammy Awards for hits like Crazy and Fuck You.
Jackson, Mississippi-born jazz singer with a genre-bending voice; M-Base alum (Steve Coleman). Reinvented Joni Mitchell/Beatles; 2 Grammys, Django d'Or; worked with Marsalis, Holland.
Patrice Rushen is a classically trained pianist known for a jazz-pop-R&B fusion. A four-time Grammy nominee, she wrote the hit “Forget Me Nots,” and has scored film/TV. She’s collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Prince and Herbie Hancock.
Oakland-born percussionist/singer Sheila E.: Prince protégé behind “The Glamorous Life” & “A Love Bizarre”; toured w/ Marvin Gaye; worked w/ Ringo Starr & Gloria Estefan.
