Vocalist Ashley Dubose launches Rondo Community Music Series

A world renown vocalist with fans in 37 countries, and a hit single (“Intoxicated”) that has 5 million streams on YouTube, Soundcloud, and Spotify will bless the ears and hearts of the historic Black Rondo Community of St. Paul.

Ashley DuBose, Twin Cities native, known for being a top 32 contestant of Season Five on the NBC television show “The Voice” will be the featured artist of the inaugural Rondo Community Music Series on Friday, (Sept.13) at Walker West Music Academy (WWMA), 760 Selby Ave., on the eve of the Selby Avenue Jazz Fest. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the performance will begin at 7:30 p.m.

The Rondo Community Music Series is a four-month concert series presented by WWMA on the Central Selby Corridor in partnership with Harlan Boss Foundation for the Arts and the Rondo Land Trust: More Jazz on Selby Initiative. Braxton Haulcy, executive director of WWMA views the music series as a revival of the vibrant Rondo community in the early twentieth century before the development of Interstate 94 brought destruction to the heart of the community.

“In the early 1900s the Rondo community experienced a social and cultural boom. Music and theatre flourished. The construction of I-94 cut the community and half, displacing over 700 residents, and fractured Rondo's identity as a cultural center,” said Haulcy. “The Rondo Community Music Series, which starts Sept. 13th will bring back the social and cultural boom and the celebration of the spirit of the Rondo community. At the same time, the music series will support Walker West’s mission to provide music enrichment to people of all ages and backgrounds.”

DuBose is possibly the perfect talent to kick the series off. She is grateful for the WWMA contribution to the community, and the many musicians and vocalists that have impacted the world because of their development at WWMA.

“I have worked with former and current instructors and former students of Walker West. Walker West produces high quality musicians and I have benefited from performing with some of them,” said DuBose. “I want the audience to walk away feeling refreshed, feeling good, and feeling connected with me, the band and each other through my songwriting, the performances and the high good vibrations produced from the experience. I’m blessed to be living out my dreams as a performing artist, thankful to Walker West for making dreams of careers in music possible for its students and honored to have been asked to be a part of this beautiful occasion.”

Future concerts presented by The Rondo Community Music Series include the Twin Cities All Star Tribute to Ray Hargrove (Sept. 26), From R&B to Gospel: Robinson, Duncan & Duncan and DP Voices (Nov. 16) and Desean Jones of Detroit Music Factory (Dec. 7).

For more information on the Rondo Community Music Series contact WWWM at (651) 224-2929 or visit www.walkerwest.org.