KIRK WHALUM TO PERFORM AT DETROIT JAZZ FESTIVAL

Seven-time Grammy nominated Jazz saxophonist, Kirk Whalum, performs live, Saturday, September 4, 2010 at the 31st Annual Detroit Jazz Festival for The Woodwind and Brasswind’s live webcast. To take advantage of this amazing opportunity and hear one of modern jazz’s finest musicians, tune in from 9:00 to 10:30 p.m., EST. Whalum, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, first gained wide notice in the mid-‘80s through a partnership with Bob James. That collaboration produced 3 well-received albums, including his 1988 break-through outing, And You Know That! Whalum went on to record hits that ranked at the top of the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Chart, earned Grammy nominations, and won him a Stellar Award. Kirk Whalum’s music collection and his podcast 2010 Bible in Your Ear are both currently available online. Whalum’s performance at this year’s Detroit Jazz Festival is a tribute to one of his principal musical influences—influential R&B artist Donny Hathaway. The eldest daughter of the legendary Mr. Hathaway (who passed away in 1979), Lalah Hathaway, will make a special guest appearance as the key vocalist during Whalum’s set. Whalum and Lalah will be backed John Stoddart on keyboards and vocals, Braylon Lacy on bass, Kevin Turner on guitar, and Marcus Finnie on drums. Whalum brings his own voice to the stage while celebrating Hathaway’s life and musical stylings.

Whalum was recently named president and CEO of the Memphis-based Soulsville Foundation as he takes over for longtime Soulsville head Deanie Parker. Parker originally retired from her post in late 2007, but returned last year in an interim capacity after the departure of her replacement, Marc Willis. In addition to Whalum's appointment, Memphis businessman Mark Wender has joined Soulsville as the foundation's chief operating officer. The 51-year-old Whalum is no stranger to Soulsville, having grown up in the famed South Memphis neighborhood and having served as the Stax Music Academy's artist in residence since 2006. "I felt I was already invested in Soulsville on so many levels," said Whalum. "And so it was a matter of asking myself, 'Is this something you can do?' And the answer was yes." "I just really wanted to qualitatively invest -- more so than I was doing as artist in residence -- in the Soulsville kids and community," said Whalum. Although Whalum will continue to record and tour, his new duties at Soulsville will mean a change in his performance obligations. "I'm 51, and I've been out here traveling for 25 years or more, and I've gotten to the point where I'm actually ready to scale back a little," said Whalum.