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 released the platinum-selling debut album Soulful and earned a Grammy nomination.
Led by Castillo, the band has spent 50 years defining the distinct Oakland soul sound, blending Detroit, Memphis, and Philadelphia influences with their East Bay roots. They debuted with the album East Bay Grease, released hit singles, traveled globally, and backed legendary artists.
Formed in Alabama by college students, the a cappella group Take 6 blends gospel, jazz, and doo wop. Their platinum-selling 1988 debut won multiple Grammy and Dove awards. Known for their intricate vocal arrangements and collaborations with legends like Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones, they later turned independent.
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.
Based in Dallas since 1900, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra is the Southwest's largest performing arts organization. Led by Fabio Luisi, the DSO presents over 150 annual concerts at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, featuring classical programs, pops concerts, and extensive community and educational initiatives.
Stanley Jordan is a jazz, rock, and classical guitarist best known for pioneering the touch or two-hand tapping technique. In 1985, he became the first artist signed to the reactivated Blue Note label, releasing the classic album Magic Touch. He has collaborated with legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and Kenny Rogers.
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.
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.
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.
