Marcelle Davies-Lashley is a Brooklyn native and the baby of seven children born to West African parents from Liberia and Sierra Leone. She began singing in the church choir at age five, and never stopped performing. Davies-Lashley was the solo Fairy singer in A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Delacorte Theater, directed by Lear deBessonet. She also toured Paris and Turkey with Craig Harris and the Nation of Imagination, and played the role of the Queen of Sheba in the national and international tours of Robert Wilson's opera The Temptation of Saint Anthony by Gustave Flaubert and Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon. Marcelle’s band has set the stage on fire at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Café, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Joe’s Pub, Harlem Stage, Lenox Lounge, National Sawdust, and The Ivy Room. She is featured as a percussionist and vocalist on Carl Hancock Rux's Cornbread, Cognac, and Collard Green Revolution. Marcelle has worked with musicians Angelique Kidjo, Bono, Dr. Dog, Karen Clark Sheard, Johnathan Nelson, and Macy Gray.

Vocalists:
Steve Capers
Tarralyn Dewely
Adam Henderson
Jevon Hyatt
Takeytha Johnson
David Khaleel
Nicole Staley
Carrie Suter
Keisha Swain-Andrews

Titus Dewely, keys
Isaiah Jone, drums

Lulada Club, NYC’s all-women salsa band, is a collective of vibrant musicians, each brilliant and accomplished in her own right. This group brings excitement and charm to the stage, with a contagious energy that will have you dancing in your seat! Vocalist and bandleader Andrea Chavarro founded Lulada Club in 2022 with a mission to close the gender gap in the NYC live music scene. She was inspired by her heritage, with roots in Cali, Colombia, renowned as the world capital of salsa. This powerhouse band pays homage to the classics by interpreting vintage tropical genres like salsa, bolero, and cha-cha-cha while offering a fresh perspective on Latin jazz through their original tunes.

Andrea Chavarro, lead vocals & director
Gina Benalcazar, trombone
Julia Chen, keys
Dawn Drake, bass
Dominique Gagnè, flute
Katherine Ocampo, tenor saxophone
Daniela Serna, congas
Paula Winter, timbal

Contrary to his parents’ reports, Xavier Smith was immaculately conceived. Any resemblance he bears to them is purely coincidental. He has received uncoerced praise for his vocal abilities from some of the biggest names in the business, including Madonna, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Mary J. Blige, and Ashford & Simpson. His U.K. debut on Virgin Records "Give Me The Night" earned him a spot in the top ten charts. As an alum of the Boys Choir of Harlem, he’s worked with numerous artists, including Sir Paul McCartney, Elton John, Scissor Sisters, Lake Street Dive, Joan As Policewoman, Bright Light Bright Light, and Stephin Merritt of The Magnetic Fields. Recently, Xavier teamed up with Grammy-winning producer Luke Solomon to co-write the song "Self Control" for Horse Meat Disco's debut album, Love & Dancing, further showcasing his musical prowess. He also co-produced a remix of Poolside's "Around The Sun" with Body Music, a dance music production team, while lending his vocals to the remix.

Xavier Smith, lead vocals
Andre "Chez” Lewis, musical director/keyboards
Greg Barrett, drums
David Cinquegrana, guitar
Destiny Davis, backing vocals
Kennedy, backing vocals
David Lizmi, bass

Ladies of Hip Hop (LOHH) is dedicated to empowering girls and women in Hip-Hop culture. LOHH provides girls and women with a platform to be heard, seen, respected, and celebrated. By providing resources and opportunities such as dance training, performance opportunities, mentorships, educational programs, career development support, and networking opportunities, they are building the next generation of hip-hop's changemakers. LOHH recognized Hip-Hop’s culture as one of resiliency and history—a culture worth preserving and archiving, seeking to serve as a living archive of Hip-Hop through the female lens. By highlighting those stories, they hope to ensure that girls and women have an active role in defining the future of Hip-Hop culture.

Featuring:

Imani Arrington
Michele Byrd-McPhee
JaiQuinn Coleman
Alora Martinez
Reyna Nunez
Roukijah Rooks
Khadijah Sieferllah
Mari Ella, DJ

J. Hoard is a GRAMMY-winning singer and songwriter (2x for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Album for "No Problem") whose lyricism and vocal arrangement are showcased on numerous projects. He has collaborated with a multitude of artists including Meshell Ndegeocello, Sonnymoon, Javier Santiago, Brasstracks, and many more.

J. Hoard, vocals
Savannah Harris, drums
Alexis Lombre, keys
Endea Owens, bass
Sean Richey, guitar
Helen White, backing vocals
Elliot Aguilar, backing vocals

Mahogany L. Browne, selected as Kennedy Center's Next 50, is the Executive Director of JustMedia, a media literacy initiative supporting the groundwork of criminal justice leaders and community members. This position is informed by her career as a writer, organizer, & educator. Browne has received fellowships from Arts for Justice, Air Serenbe, Cave Canem, Poets House, Mellon Research, and Rauschenberg. She is the author of Vinyl Moon, Chlorine Sky, Woke: A Young Poets Call to Justice, Woke Baby, & Black Girl Magic. Browne's latest project is a poetry collection responding to the impact of mass incarceration on women and children: I Remember Death By Its Proximity to What I Love (Haymarket Books). She is the first-ever poet-in-residence at Lincoln Center and lives in Brooklyn, NY.

The Soapbox Presents is a literal and figurative platform for Black and brown expression. Taking to the streets, we build community by providing free arts programming featuring some of NYC’s most talented artists. Founded by Marija Abney in response to the murder of George Floyd and the racial injustice that plagues this country, The Soapbox Presents creates a space for us to commune, resist, be rejuvenated, and revived as we celebrate the brilliance of Black and brown people through art. From Mahogany L. Browne, Lincoln Center’s first poet in residence to legendary graffiti originators Tats Cru, The Soapbox Presents gives Black and brown artists the opportunity to give back to their communities. And each and every artist featured on our platform gets paid. "Since our founding in 2020, through third-party, non-branded sponsorship and grants, we have executed over 32 activations and have featured and paid over 150 artists. You can find out more about our programming on IG @thesoapboxpresents."

Marija Abney, organization founder
Doni Nicole, lead vocals
Marvin Carter, saxophone
Dennis Dove, drums
Will Hazell, keys
Errick Lewis, bass

Helen White, supporting vocals
Martavius Leonard, supporting vocals
Jada Valenciaga, host

Martha Redbone is a Native and African-American vocalist/songwriter/composer/educator. She is known for her unique gumbo of folk, blues, and gospel from her childhood in Harlan County, Kentucky infused with the eclectic grit of pre-gentrified Brooklyn.

Martha Redbone, vocals and percussion
Charlie Burnham, violin
Fred Cash, bass
Aaron Whitby, piano

Anthony Mills is a great-grandchild of the industrial revolution. Born and raised in the factory town of Akron, Ohio, his roots stretch from Lake Charles, Louisiana to Barbados by way of Trinidad and Tobago. Mills is cloth cut from a classical voice degree from The Manhattan School of Music. Through the 1990's, Mills toured extensively with Harry Belafonte and Grace Bumbry and was featured on recordings with Leela James, Amy Winehouse, Krs-One (BDP), and Sizzla (Xterminator). He writes and produces within the genre he minted as “ghettotrance,” which weaves techno, reggae, alternative, R&B, punk, hip-hop, house, deep house, and jump style. Mills began sharing his Louisiana-dipped country music with the debut of his album blue-collar work ethic and partnered this with "up norf" nuances for his sophomore release drankin songs of the midwest. Fightin Songs, under construction right now, will close out this “Uh?mericana” trilogy released on the Swedish boutique label Icons Creating Evil Art.

Anthony Mills, vocals
ELEW, piano

Creative executive, author, producer, filmmaker, voice actor, activist, and entertainment branding specialist Thembisa S. Mshaka has been in love with words, music, and media for as long as she can remember. She served as lead screenwriter for the docuseries Running While Black, directed by Jenn Shaw, and executive produced by Spike Lee for VICE TV. Her first feature screenplay, Islamic Speed Dating, is complete and adapted for a series. She has pilots in development for multiple TV projects, including a docuseries with veteran makeup mogul Ashunta Sheriff (Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Ciara). As Senior Advertising Copywriter for Sony Music, Thembisa created the award-winning global ad campaign for Lauryn Hill’s solo debut album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (now RIAA certified Diamond) along with multiple campaigns for Will Smith, Destiny’s Child, Beyonce’, Wyclef Jean, NAS, Jill Scott, Wu-Tang Clan, Maxwell, and others. Prior to joining Sony Music, Thembisa was the first Black person and the first woman to hold the position of Rap Editor at GAVINmagazine, where she coined the phrase ‘Generation NeXt’ and broke many of today’s world-class hip-hop and soul artists (The Roots, Busta Rhymes, D’Angelo, Common, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, The Lady of Rage, Timbaland).

Known and beloved in New York and London as Mistress of Ceremonies at the prestigious and provocative late-night show/club, The Box, Seattle native Kimberly Nichole has been slaying stages for over a decade. After graduating from Spelman College (Atlanta, Georgia) with a Bachelor's in Economics and relocating to New York, Kimberly made waves on the underground music scene as a ROCK singer, songwriter, and captivating performer. Her original music has been heard on Netflix, MTV, Showtime, LOGO, and VH1, and she was amongst some of the first indie artists to perform live on the BET Awards for their Music Matters segment for unsigned artists on the rise. She made her Broadway debut in 2018 in the limited engagement of Rocktopia, and in 2019 she was cast as The Acid Queen in The Who’s Tommy at the John F. Kennedy Center of Performing Arts; Broadway Series. Nicknamed the ROCK ballerina for adorning custom-made tutu ensembles, which she co-designs, her style and beauty have led her to be featured in Vogue Magazine and in international commercials by brands such as Coca-Cola. She’s shared stages with Christina Aguilera, Slash (Guns N’ Roses), Joe Walsh (The Eagles), Ledisi, Kehlani, Janelle Monae, Nona Hendryx (Labelle), Nancy Wilson (Rock & Roll Hall of Famer/Guitarist) and more. She currently resides in London and is continuing to perform while writing and recording new music.

GLR¥A’s 4.5 octaves resonate from shared stages with Rihanna, Jennifer Hudson, Deborah Cox, and Patti LaBelle. She has had residencies in some of New York’s most recognized hot spots, like Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster Harlem where she’s featured in the restaurant’s eponymous cookbook as a voice of Harlem, and Melba Wilson’s Melba’s Restaurant, The Seville, and Gurney’s Montauk and Soho House-The Dumbo Location as lead songstress of The Rakiem Walker Project. In addition to performing as a vocalist, she’s also a skilled songwriter, arranger, and producer. While GLR¥A has a few Grammy nods under her belt as a background vocalist, she’s most excited about her work with Walker Entertainment Group/SONY ORCHARD and RWP. She is excited for her audience to experience her live performances and sonic flavor. “My daily prayer is that my voice will reach people to incite love, healing, and hope.”

GLR¥A, vocals
Rakiem Walker, band leader/saxophonist
Gemaal Brown, keys
DonJay, drums
Criston Oates, bass
Ricky Ramos, electric guitar
DJ Miss Saigon, DJ

Rakiem Walker is an accomplished saxophonist and musical director born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Harlem and the Bronx. He has toured the world playing for independent band Bluesyde, R&B group Soul 4 Real (Uptown Records) and hip-hop group The Spooks (Sony Records). Rakiem has also recorded as a saxophonist for several Wu-Tang Clan recordings including albums ‘Only Built 4 Cuban Linx’ (Raekwon) and ‘Tical 2000’ (Method Man). As a musical director, he has toured with Lisa Simone Kelly (daughter of legendary soul singer and songwriter Nina Simone). He was previously the musical director of Red Rooster Harlem and Ginny’s Supper Club owned by celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson. He is also the musical director for his band The Rakiem Walker Project (RWP) and the international Afro-beat band The Earthman Experience. Rakiem has worked/performed with everyone from legendary R&B recording artists Freddie Jackson, Melba Moore, Tito Jackson, Atlantic Starr; R&B/soul artist Eric Benet, UK soul singer/musician Omar Lye-Fook, legendary producer Teddy Riley to Nashville singer-songwriter Maren Morris.

GLR¥A, vocals
Rakiem Walker, band leader/saxophonist
Gemaal Brown, keys
DonJay, drums
Criston Oates, bass
Ricky Ramos, electric guitar
DJ Miss Saigon, DJ

With a career that has spanned thirty-one Broadway seasons, LaChanze consistently brings women of complexity and triumph into the cultural lexicon. LaChanze won a Tony Award for her performance as Celie in The Color Purple, originated the role of Ti Moune in Once on This Island (Tony Award nomination), and upheld her commitment to artistic excellence this past season as Wiletta in Alice Childress’ historic play, Trouble In Mind (Tony Award nomination). Other notable stage performances include roles in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (Tony Award nomination), A Christmas Carol, The Secret Life of Bees, If/Then, The Wiz, Ragtime, Uptown... It’s Hot! and Dreamgirls. On-screen, she has delivered memorable roles in both TV and film including Handel’s Messiah Rocks: A Joyful Noise (Emmy Award), East New York, The Blacklist,Melinda, The Help, HBO’s The Night Of, Law & Order: SVU,The Good Fight, Sex and The City, and the Disney animated feature film Hercules, among other titles. Next season, LaChanze will make her New York City directorial debut with Alice Childress’ Wine in the Wilderness at Classic Stage Company. This season, LaChanze serves as a producer both on the 20th-anniversary revival of Suzan-Lori Parks’ acclaimed Pulitzer-Prize-Winning play, Topdog/Underdog, as well as Kimberly Akimbo, a new musical by Tony Award Winning Composer Jeanine Tesori and Pulitzer-Prize-Winning Playwright David Lindsay-Abaire. She is the President of Black Theatre United, a community of creatives dedicated to awareness, accountability, and advocacy. Proud mother of Celia Rose and Zaya LaChanze. She resides in Westchester, New York with her three cats and gardening hats.

LaChanze, vocals
Marco Paguia, piano

In the spirit of two-fisted political singer-songwriters such as Nina Simone and Joni Mitchell, Nona Hendryx tackles social issues, love, and politics with a smoky vocal tessitura somewhere between funk and the end of the stratosphere. Hendryx’s legendary career spans six decades of sound and style evolution. Fans know her as a founding member of the girl group Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles with Sarah Dash, Cindy Birdsong, and Patti LaBelle. In the ’70s, the group morphed into 'Labelle' with the #1 record, Lady Marmalade, where Hendryx emerged as the chief songwriter of the group’s socially conscious and illuminating songs. Following this, Hendryx fans welcomed a new era as the revolutionary art-rock, new-wave goddess embarked upon her own impressive solo career, which spanned eight studio albums and engaged her with collaborators such as Prince, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, Laurie Anderson, Bono, and Keith Richards. Fast-forwarding into the 20th and 21st centuries without losing a note (or gaining a pound), Nona Hendryx remains the “Queen of Transformation,” writing music for theatre (the Roundabout’s BLUE, written and directed by Charles R. Wright and starring Phylicia Rashad), film (the Lee Daniels 2010 Oscar-nominated Precious), and producing and collaborating with a new generation of artists, as well as co-writing songs and appearing on the Grammy Award-winning Mosaic Project with Esperanza Spalding, Cassandra Wilson, Diane Reeves, and Sheila E.

Nona Hendryx, vocals
Kimberly Nichole, vocals
Asa Lovechild, vocals
Kiki Hawkins, vocals
Joi Giliam, vocals
Liza Jessie Peterson, spoken word
Milena Casado, trumpet
Felicia Collins, guitar + vocals
Clerida Eltime, cello
Camille Gainer,drums
Neta Raanan, saxophone
Divinity Roxx, bass + vocals
LeFrae Sci, electronics
Simi Stone, violin
A.T.N. Stadwijk, keys/musical director
Kalia Vandever, trombone