Bobby Rush, who lives in Jackson, began his musical journey performing in Louisiana, Arkansas, Chicago, and Mississippi back in the 1950s. Rush is a 3x GRAMMY winner, a Blues Hall of Famer, and still tours internationally today. Bottom line, Bobby isn’t stopping any time soon. He wants to show the power of the blues because “it’s the root of all music… if you don’t like the blues, you probably don’t like your mama.” We like the Blues and want more of it.

Dear Silas - a singer, rapper, and trumpeter - was born into a musically inclined family in Jackson, Mississippi. He has become a nationally recognized artist, blending Hip Hop, R&B, Jazz and Soul. His song “Skrr Skrr” reached the No. 1 viral record on Spotify with over 2.6 million streams in its first two weeks. Dear Silas has released four albums and collaborated with dozens of other artists in creating his personal blend of music.

Violinist John Uzodinma has received numerous awards for his talent and is currently working on his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at Southern Miss. Over the years, John's competed in multiple music competitions across the world, including British Columbia, Canada, and Australia—a real globetrotter for Mississippi’s music. The Jackson native's musical exploits include leading the Louisiana State Symphony Orchestra for three years and a beautiful rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” with more than 6.5 million views online.

Rising Stars Fife and Drum has performed its trademark blend of Folk, Pop, Blues, and Gospel since 2003. As noted on the group's website, "Each member brings a unique musical aesthetic to the band, and over the years, we’ve grown comfortable jumping genres and mashing up influences." Based in North Mississippi but with roots going back to the Jackson area with band leader Sharde' Thomas's grandfather Othar Turner, Rising Stars continues to tour across the U.S. and the world.

Denny Burkes, a singer, drummer, and performer, has significantly impacted the Jackson music scene through groups like The Hot Mops, Superband Wasteband, and The Vamps. Since 1985, he has performed nationwide and internationally, including in France, Portugal, and England, and regularly plays local venues. Allison Jenkins is a local singer known for her gypsy jazz music. She has worked with Ballet Mississippi, Milsaps College, Fondren Players, and Mississippi Opera.

Started in Jackson, Mississippi, in 2016, Epic Funk is a second-line brass band with a big, bold New Orleans sound, bringing the party wherever they go. The group's new single, Box Truck, began streaming in April with more on the way, and the band appears frequently in Jackson, New Orleans, and across the region. The mission of Epic Funk, as their website conveys, is to "push musical boundaries and captivate audiences with… infectious energy.” Mission accomplished and continuing.

Stephen Brown (AKA 5th Child) is a hip-hop artist and music producer who combines real-life experiences with poetic themes. He has nine full-length albums and four instrumental albums and performs at venues throughout the southeastern United States. As an artist, 5th Child embraces his roots. About his hometown, he says, "Jackson is a very inspiring place to come from" because of its resilience: "The way we move and the way we succeed... we're built tough."

Once Jock Webb began playing the harmonica in his twenties, his life was never the same. Jock's unique style is reminiscent of traditional blues and juke joints. He says on his social media account, "Traditional Blues is the flavor that I savor." Originally from Alabama, Jock continues to perform in Jackson and across Mississippi and the Southeast. Today, he plays his blues with his trusty harmonica, and we can't get enough of it.

Barry Leach began his guitar career at age 12. Over the years, the Jackson-based artist has made a name for himself for his unique blend of multiple genres and styles. Barry's music endeavors today include the jazz ensemble “The Vamps,” a solo project called “Stepfingers,” and his band, “The Barry Leach Group.” He has performed with a wide variety of acts like Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Carmine Appice, Dorothy Moore, and Mac McAnally, making Mississippi music his own.

Raphael Semmes has a 40-year career as a musician and promoter of Mississippi culture. He received the 2021 Governor’s Award for being a cultural ambassador for our state. After playing across the country for decades, the Jackson-based artist simply says, “There aren’t better musicians anywhere than Mississippi.” You can listen to the Raphael Semmes Quartet perform on Tuesday evenings in Jackson at Hal & Mal’s Jazz Night and at the annual Township Jazz Festival, which Semmes co-founded.

Four Washington is a family band made up of Jackson-area siblings. Online viewership of their harmonies has reached 1.3 million followers on TikTok and over 11 million likes. This proud Mississippi group has been featured on the Steve Harvey Show and had a shoutout from pop star legend Rihanna. Four Washington often takes the stage right here in Jackson, recently performing Beautiful: The Carole King Musical for a two-week show. Beautiful is exactly how you’d describe their angelic harmonies.