JUS BLUES MUSIC FOUNDATION
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SHELBY COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL &
MIDDLE SCHOOL

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
DISTRICT-WIDE TALENT SEARCH SUBMISSION

Jus' Blues Music Foundation recognizes the many diverse and wonderful musical impacts the Blues has had on the contemporary music scene, particular in the development of Hip Hop.  Performances and musical  presentations of Hip Hop, R&B and Soul are very connected to the  Blues. It is sampled and used by many of the Hip Hop artists today. So, as we join Shelby County Schools in this talent search, we will be looking for the best of the best Shelby County High Schools and Middle Schools students who will be competing for the top spot.

Submit your  photo and video performance below to enter the Shelby County Schools Talent Search. If you are selected , you will go to the semi finals of this search. Once you are selected to go to the semi finals you will have the opportunity to be mentored by a professional performing artist, and perform on the  big stage with a performance video. This video will be posted on TALENT SEARCH @ YouTube and the public will vote on the finalists. ​
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​GRAND PRIZE: - 1 song professionally recorded at a Memphis studio. Produced by artist mentor / music producer, released publicly in over 50 digital stores, Professional photo shoot, marketed and advertised nationally and internationally.


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​PreSonus Studio One Recording Bundle - A complete, all-PreSonus hardware/software recording kit — just add a Mac, PC, or iPad! Start recording today with this complete, all-PreSonus package! Record high-resolution 96K audio with the ultra-mobile AudioBox iTwo bus-powered, 2-channel, USB/iPad audio/MIDI interface for Mac, Windows, and iPad. Just add your computer or iPad (sold separately), XLR and two 1/4" TRS cables (sold separately)! It's the ultimate all-in-one home recording solution, only from PreSonus! 

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Presonus AudioBox 96 USB 2.0 Audio Interface Studio Bundle with Studio One Artist Software Pack (Interface Color May Vary in Blue or Black)

EICAUS 10'' Ring Light with Stand and Phone Holder, Cell Phone Tripod with Ringlight and Phone Holder, Selfie Ring Light for Live Streaming/Makeup/Photography, Compatible with iPhone Android Phones


SUBMISSION QUALIFICATIONS 
​
Only students in good standing within the Shelby County School system may apply.

​ALL GENRES ACCEPTABLE
 
NO INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE

NO INAPPROPRIATE VISUALS

​All submissions limited to 4 minutes in duration

JUDGES & MENTORS

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Domonique Mitchell - Domonique possesses more than 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Mr Mitchell has been an instructor for his entertainment music bootcamp for over 10 years. Domonique’s bootcamp is all about music artists being mentally and physically fit for success in the music industry.  NSYNC, TLC, DRU HILL, BOYZ II MEN, 112, ESCAPE, KEITH SWEAT, GERALD LEVERT, NEW EDITION and hundreds more.


​KEISHA JACKSON - SINGER, SONGWRITER
Daughter of sassy, legendary soulstress Millie Jackson, Keisha began singing professionally at age 15, as a background vocalist for her mother. She went on to record 2 solo albums with Sony Records and has contributed vocals on recordings with iconic artists like Aretha Franklin, Toni Braxton and Whitney Houston. She has also toured with the likes of Outkast, Erykah Badu, Angie Stone and Raphael Saadiq. 
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Keisha started a vocal coaching agency, One Voice entertainment in 2001 and has become a well-respected industry vocal coach. She is also a certified life coach and mentors aspiring vocalists in Atlanta and across the globe. 

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​Stacy Epps - Stacy Epps has devoted her career to the business of music. She has worked in the music business with combined experience of over 18 years as an artist and an attorney. Having experienced the “sharks” in the business firsthand and seeing many of her friends and associates get taken advantage of, fueled Stacy’s passion to become an advocate for creatives. From working at the Arista Records to Proskauer Rose to B. Lawrence Watkins & Associates, P.C. to opening her own practice in 2010, Stacy has represented Arts & Entertainment clients large and small for nearly 8 years. Stacy also taught music business at the Art Institute of Atlanta and UCLA Extension.

​Damion Kereem Pearson, aka ‘Yella P’ 
​A multifaceted artist from Memphis creating a sound rooted in the Delta blues with shades of soul, gospel, and hip-hop. Mostly self-taught, Damion began playing harmonica at age 13, saving up his lunch money for a month to purchase the instrument. Adding to his arsenal, Damion later learned to play the guitar, saxophone, trombone, and piano. He got his start on Beale Street playing with ‘Big’ Jerry Parnell. Damion Kereem Pearson, aka ‘Yella P is a current Black Traditional Music Practitioner! He also is an educator for the Shelby County School System.
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Toni Green. Toni Green was born in Memphis and began her career as a background singer with both Isaac Hayes, Luther Ingram, Millie Jackson, The Bar-Kays, Dennis Edwards and others. Toni began her solo singing career in 1970 at the infamous Hi-Records with Imported Moods.  She recorded her first solo record Mixed Emotions in 1998 with legendary producer Willie Mitchell.  Toni has also had the honor of opening for such acts as Carlos Santana, Dionne Warwick and Solomon Burke. She most recently returned from living part time in Paris, France and recently released another long awaited recording with R&B Group Malted Milk, entitled Milk & Green

​EUGENE "HIDEAWAY" BRIDGES, born in 1963 in New Orleans and raised in Amite, Louisiana, the son of Otheneil Bridges Sr, also known as blues guitarist Hideaway Slim, Eugene is the fourth child of five. His mother was from the Bullock family (the same as Anna Mae Bullock better known as Tina Turner) and Eugene claims he got his guitar skills from the Bridges side and his voice from the Bullocks. At five he was already playing with his father around Louisiana; with his brothers as The Bridges Brothers he sang gospel and was the musician of his church touring with the Pastor, Elder AA Edwards. At thirteen Eugene was entering R&B talent shows and had formed his first R&B band The Five Stars.
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Gaye Adegbalola
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Blues Music Award winner (formerly called the W. C. Handy Award) and a founding member of Saffire - The Uppity Blues Women (1984-2009), plays guitar, harmonica and is a composer. She has recorded 10 CDs on Alligator Records and has toured widely throughout the U.S. and internationally. A former Virginia State Teacher of the Year, Gaye is also in demand for workshops, lectures and motivational public speaking. ​


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CARLETT MARTIN, born and raised in Mobile, AL, Carlett is a graduate of Alabama State University (ASU).  She’s been in the music industry since the early ‘90s. In 1994, Carlett was signed to Mercury Records as part of a girl group, Female. Her real strength came though, through writing songs for various other music artists She’s also written music for television and film, as well as working as a vocal coach. Artists who have experienced her skills set include Shaq, Paula Abdul, KRS-1, Usher, Kid Rock, Christina Aguilera, David Archuleta, Hilary and Haley Duff, and many others

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JUDGING CRITERIA 

Judging Criteria: 100 Possible Points

Musical Ability:
 Poor/average/good/excellent technical command of the instrument
 Does the audience hold its breath, not worry, or is it enthralled with the performer’s technical ability?

Musical Sound:
 Jarring/Uninspired/Pleasant/Dreamy sound
 Little variation in tempo and volume demonstrated/ Some nuance in tempo and volume/Very nuanced
 Are you inspired to hear less or more from this musician?

Stage Presence, including introduction, performance, and stage departure
 Makes no audience contact/Dutiful presence/ Confident command
 Rattled by mistakes/Maintains poise even during a mistake
 Does a “performer personality” come through, even if musicianship does not?

Musical Selection:
 Piece obviously too easy or too difficult/Piece consistent with performer’s abilities
 Too many mistakes or sloppiness/Appropriate demonstration of abilities
 In choice of piece, does the performer appropriately showcase his/her musical experience? o 20 point
maximum

Musical Empathy
 Technical performance only/Moderate indication of a connection with music/Obvious connection
between performer and music
 Does the performer “get into” the piece, and thereby connect with the audience?

 Jus` Blues Music Foundation, Inc., Post Office Box 44771, Atlanta, GA 30336, 678-403-1993, © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED  2020

  • Home
  • About
    • Mission
    • Directors
  • Blues Got A Soul
    • Black Music Month recap
    • Black Music Month Youth Camp 2020
    • BLUES HISTORY
    • 2016 Technology Conference
    • 2018 Tech Conference
    • Youth Retreat 2019 >
      • Shelby County Schools
    • Delta Blues Tour
    • Mississippi Delta Tour
    • Black Music Month 2019
    • Youth Retreat 2016
    • Youth Workshops
  • Membership
    • Our Partners
  • 2021 Jus' Blues Awards
  • 2021 HONOREES
  • Contact
  • Jus Blues Magazine 2020
    • Press Release