7 August

Monique Ella Rose

Monique Ella Rose is a singer/songwriter whose style blends with soul, R&B, blues & funk. She is quickly earning a reputation as one of Michigan's most exciting new talents. She is an in demand artist that is grateful for this new chapter in her life that is creating wonderful opportunities.

Born in Saginaw, raised in Detroit she was immersed in music at a very young age. She contributes her strong musical roots to her family and growing up in church. With her father being a artist and poet and her mother, an author, playwright, and educator, creativity was bound to flow through her veins.

Her sister, Tracey, was her first director and vocal coach, who would often lead Monique Ella Rose and her cousins in a impromptu choir rehearsals to teach new songs that she learned, while working as the University of Michigan's gospel choir president while attending college. The cousins later became a gospel group called, DGC (standing for Dorsey Grandchildren).

It was also her stepfather who gave Monique Ella Rose her first solo "Safe In His Arms" at the age of 8. He was a Motown musician, who gave her thee first taste of music studios. " Nearly everyday, I would go to the studio with my step father while he and his colleagues would make great music".

After years of honing her talent in churches, plays, and local concerts, Monique Ella Rose entered high school at Detroit's Cass Technical High School majoring in Performing Arts. There, she was apart of the concert choir and harp program. Her love began to grow for music when she would practice with her friends, Damien and Nigeria. They would sing songs by groups like Witness and more. Monique Ella Rose began to write music and record it using a tape recorder. Artists like Tracy Chapman, Nina Simone, Oleta Adams, and Ella Fitzgerald became great influences.

While singing on the praise team and being mentored by her then choir director, Steven Ford, at Straight Gate Church in Detroit, Monique Ella Rose decided to take music more seriously. He gave her the opportunity to sing background in the studio and concert for world renown gospel singer, Vicki Winans and many others.

While living in Saginaw, MI, Monique Ella Rose finally decided to launch her solo career in 2014 and released her first single, "Move On". Her second single, "Hustle & Grind" was released later that year on her label, Soul Blend.

"Music is an outlet that allows me to express myself in full form. I want my music. to inspire, awaken, and encourage listeners, " shares Monique Ella Rose. Her impeccable raw talent has earned her a spot on stage opening for artists like Anthony Hamilton, Chrisette Michelle, Marsha Ambrosius, Dwele' and more. One of her most proud moments was opening for the late Dr. Maya Angelou.

When Monique Ella Rose sings, you are taken on a passionate ride that leaves you feeling good and wanting more. " Rather being placed in any genre, I consider my music to be life music. That may come out sounding like funk one moment, classic R&B the next or even gospel. I write and sing what I feel," says Monique Ella Rose.

She is currently working on her first cd that is soon to be released in early 2016.

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8 August

Comedy Challenge

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14 August

De'Sean Jones

BIOGRAPHY

Confidence and talent have taken De’Sean Jones far in the last decade and a half, a long road that started with a casual bet between De’Sean and his father.

Just 12 years old at the time, and having only dabbled in music up to that point, De’Sean heard the music of Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. Intrigued, but not intimidated, his reaction was “I can do that.”
To his surprise, the elder Jones called his bluff by purchasing a saxophone and gave the young man six months to prove himself. The rest is Detroit music history, still in the making.

A prodigy on tenor sax, Jones participated in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra's civic jazz program, attended the Detroit School for the Fine and Performing Arts and the prestigious Oberlin Conservatory. He also studied under renowned jazz bassist Rodney Whitaker both through the DSO and Michigan State University.

His mentors entered his life early, leading him into the folds of Detroit’s weighty jazz scene at the age of 15. As a teenager Jones played with such notables as the late-great Gerald Wilson, Donald Walden and Lawrence Williams. But it was Detroit jazz icon, Marcus Belgrave that left the deepest imprint on his musical soul.

“Marcus is the reason I became a musician,” De’Sean says of the late- great trumpet player. Belgrave became a second father to De’Sean; his musical father. He brought him into the world of jazz that would be his home, his familiar place, into adulthood, even as he ventured out into other areas of musical experimentation. The two even engaged in long, sometimes harsh conversations that were rarely about music, but rather about life.
“He was much more than a force from the bandstand,” says De’Sean. “He was my… read more

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