MAHOGANY JONES - LIVEHip Hop / Soul / Spoken Word

MAHOGANY JONES - LIVE (DETROIT, MICHIGAN) brings together an eclectic blend of Hip Hop, Soul and Electro Pop to craft a sound that is intimate and soulful, yet assertive. The instrumentation and lyricism of Mahogany Jones - LIVE carries the listener on exciting journeys of love, faith and social commentary. The music comes alive as elements of Hip Hop are deftly combined with live instruments to form a unique style and sound.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced a partnership with the Association of American Voices to engage with people across the world through music. Known as American Music Abroad, this people-to-people exchange will feature a wide variety of American musical genres through international cultural exchange initiatives that will reach more than 40 countries around the world during 2012 and 2013.

Press Kit Contents:

Introduction/Biography

Band Members

Background

Song List

Photos / Videos

Artwork

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau

of Educational and Cultural Affairs

a m e r i c a n m u s i c a b r o a d

LAUREN JOHNSON (DRUMMER/PERCUSSIONIST) was born and raised on the music of the Motor city. It was during the tender stages of “toddler-hood” that her father picked up on her love for music and armed her with pots, pans, and wooden sticks— from there it “stuck”. Early on during high school, Lauren decided to focus all her energy on the drums and learning the tools needed in order to become a percussionist. She was involved in the symphonic band, orchestra band, jazz band, funk band, percussion ensemble, harp and vocals. Lauren attended Tennessee State University, playing in the school’s marching band and jazz band, respectively.

ROSYLN WELCH (EMCEE/VOCALS) was born in Guyana and raised in New Jersey, and she has since been journeying through different lands while discovering and developing her own unique style. Inspired by the sounds of The Rhythm and Praise Party, a radio show hosted by dj P.DOGG, Roslyn learned to memorize scripture as she listened each week to artists like FLAME, J.R., da Truth, and many others. Roslyn Welch made her debut on Pro’s Redemption album with the song “Blow My Mind.” It was during the recording of that song that her passion for using her gift of singing truly ignited and as that passion continues to grow, Roslyn writes and performs her music both nationally and internationally. She also serves in her local community by investing into the lives of young women and teenage girls.

DJ Sean Blu (DJ) has an unrelenting spinning style that allows unique harmonies to be released by using heavenly atmospheric samples and innovative beats. He then ventures into gentle melodies, before spiraling into more spiritual meditative moods. His signature turntable style on the 1s and 2s along with his strength and energy draws the crowd into a web of truth that takes you on a journey of faith that’s hard to resist. DJ Sean Blu has released several Mix tapes including: Good Times (2006), City Is Mine (2007), and The New Regime (2008) just to name a few. He was the only “Gospel” DJ selected in the 2007 Pepsi Scratch Off/ DJ Battle Com-petition; for which he was named a Semi-Finalist. He was a recipient of the 2008 Youth Gospel Entertainment Award Gospel DJ of the Year. DJ Sean Blu was also the co-recipient of the 2009 Youth Gospel Entertainment Award Mix tape of the Year, and in 2010 he won H20 Award DJ of the Year.

MAHOGANY JONES (EMCEE/ VOCALS) is an arts educator and wordsmith phenomenon. Born in New York and raised in Detroit, she is a member of Toni Blackman’s “Freestyle Union,” “Rhyme Like A Girl,” and The Yuinon. In 2001, Jones was the four time undefeated Champion of BET’s 106 & Park’s “Freestyle Friday’s.” Mahogany is also the co- host of 5e’ The Foundation Open Mic, which celebrates women in hip hop. Her discography includes over 30 albums that she is featured on, as well as three of her own mixtapes and one full-length album “Morphed.” Mahogany has graced stages all throughout the United States, including with Gil Scot Heron, Talib Kweli, KEM, Rah Digga, The Roots and many others.

The Association of American Voices has presented concerts, workshops and master classes, and summer youth performing arts academies to over 200,000 audience mem-bers in 110 countries during the past 16 years. With a focus on nations emerging from conflict or isolation, American Voices has taken its unique brand of cultural engage-ment programs, Jazz Bridges, YES Academy and Hiplomacy, to nations such as Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Afghanistan. In recognition of its work, American Voices was selected as a Best Practice Organization by the International Cultural Engagement Task Force and the U.S. Center for Citizen Diplomacy (USCCD) in 2010.

American Music Abroad builds on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s vision of “smart power” diplomacy, which embraces the use of a full range of diplomatic tools – in this case music – to bring people together and foster greater understanding. It also builds on the historic legacy of the Depart-ment of State’s Jazz Ambassadors, who first traveled the world in the 1950s to connect with people through music.

The Department of State and the Association of American Voices create a series of month-long, multi-country exchange programs. During the exchange, 10-12 ensembles representing American music will conduct public concerts, interactive performances with local musicians, lecture demonstra-tions, workshops, and jam sessions with diverse audiences. American Music Abroad activities will focus on younger and underserved audiences in approximately 40 countries with little or no access to live American performances.

American Music Abroad ensembles are selected on the basis of artistic quality and commitment to education and cultural engagement through an open competition. Further information about the appli-cation process for musicians will be announced fall of 2012.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs promotes international mutual understanding through a wide range of academic, cultural, private-sector, professional, and sports exchange programs. These international exchanges engage youth, students, educators, artists, athletes, and emerging leaders in many fields in the United States and in more than 160 countries. Alumni of ECA exchanges comprise over one million people around the world, including more than 50 Nobel Laureates and more than 320 current or former heads of state and government.

http://americanvoices.org/ama

Originals

Shake the WorldFighter (9to5)Hail to the VVirtuousSoverign OneNever AloneTurn to the SunKeep OnMusiqLose ControlThrow it up!Mirror MirrorStar Respectable

Covers

Valu Valu Mama Africa - Garnet SilkLost Ones - Lauryn HillBob Marley Medley - Bob Marley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXciwaSVNYY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP7tLYuOO5U&feature=youtu.be

videos

photos

C��’� ���� ��n��n�

H�l� O�

Click to download

Hi-resolution

photographs here

Concert Programfront/back covers

Poster

Banner

Click each item to dowoloadartwork files

printed material artwork