May 29, 2025 • 9 mins
The City of Memphis is honoring the Central High Jazz Band says Memphis Director of Creative & Cultural Economy DeMacus Suggs on The Bev Johnson Show on WDIA Radio.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Justin show bells with this talking and home away help
you go, you go so getting ready in time say
show let's go bell Justin will make Gordy by here.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Wrong t you d.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Listen to one.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
To say you know it's time of the bet just
show of the Mountain, show Y, let's go.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
We are rocking and rolling on this Thursday, May twenty ninth,
twenty twenty five. Enjoyed this fatabulous day to day. Let
me share the good news with you. And always we
like good news, and especially we like positive news when
it's talking about our young people in this city. And
some young people in this city are making headlines and
(01:04):
like to welcome to the show. He's gonna tell us
more about that? Is Memphis Director of Creative and Cultural
Economy is mister DeMarcus Sucks. How you doing, DeMarcus?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
I'm doing really well. How are you, miss Belle?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
I'm doing fabulous. I'm doing fabulous today, I'm doing fabulous.
I know you want to share some good news with
our listeners because we've been hearing the good news about
Central High Schools jazz band. What's going on with that.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Facing news to share? So in addition to the jazz
band taking the top band title at the essentially Ellington Competition.
That's an international competition, mind you, in New York City.
This year they came away with top band. They walked
away with the top trumpet section, trop trambone section, among
many other accolades. And so we as a city are
(02:00):
celebrating them tonight at the New Daisy. So we're taking
jazz that they took all the way to Manhattan. We're
bringing it right back to Beal Street, not even steps
from where Ellington himself performed along Beal Street. And so
we'll be there tonight at the New Daisy Theater at
six pm.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Wow Wow. And so our residents here in the city
they will be able to see this beautiful these young folks,
this jazz band, right, oh my goodness.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Yes, you know, as part of our initiative with the city,
we are always about celebrating what's always right with the
city and culture. We've always got it right. And so
Mayor Young is going to be inviting young the folks
to receive a proclamation as well as just you know,
listen to some live music. And it's free and open
to the public, so folks don't even need a ticket. Yeah,
(02:51):
just come on down to the New Daisy. We'll be there.
Here's some great jazz presented by our Memphis Jazz Workshop
faculty and alumni band. Many of them were instructors and
mentors to the young people who just won the title
as well as The show will be hosted by none
other than Debora Sweeney, our local jazz legend.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Oh yeah wow. And I love this, DeMarcus, because when
we say, you know our young people, we always hear
the negative about young people. But these young people are
doing something. And especially when you talk about being creative
in the arts. How important is the arts to the
city of Memphis.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
You know, it's so important because we have seen how
the arts have launched professional trajectories. They've made folks, you know,
have opportunities or provided opportunities as young people wouldn't have
otherwise experienced. We have artists traveling around the world behind
some of the most celebrated musicians are on cruise ships.
This is a real career trajectory changer for a lot
(03:53):
of young people. And we also know that, you know,
statistics show us that you know, people that are involved
with the arts and have a holistic creator of education,
they're more likely to become you know, civic engaged. They're
also more likely to have sustainable careers to move on
to post secondary education and the like. And so this
is important for us to really celebrate that these young
(04:13):
people not only are committed to their craft and their
creative journey, but they're also really on the track to
do some amazing things, you know, now and in the future.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
I love what you said. I was reading an article
about and you said, DeMarcus that this is our future
quote that meets our present, and it is also connected
to the past. And then when you said it's connected
and you just mentioned earlier connected to Duke Ellington.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Yes, ma'am, yeah, Duke Ellingtine. You know, we have a
Memphis is a historic place like for so many musicians
and including the Duke himself, who wrote a number of
works here in Memphis. But was you know, part of
his early career in the nineteen thirties was part of
being invited down here by Robert Church to perform along
(04:58):
Bill Street. And so that history of jazz music still
has a real connection and a route here in Memphis.
And these young people have brought that energy right back
to showcase that.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Oh that's going to be great and so people can
come out on this evening to the new days. I'm
glad y'all opening up the new Daisy.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Oh yeah, yeah, DMC is goodness open and yeah, it's
gonna be an amazing show.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
And so you said it starts at six o'clock.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Starts at six o'clock. We'll just keep you for about.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
An hour and a half, not a long time, so
you know what, And that's good, and it won't even
be dark.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Bud exactly, and you can go on out and enjoy
the rest of Beale Street. But yeah, we're excited to
celebrate doctor Lddell and all of the work that the
students have accomplished.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Is this the first time, I'm just curious DeMarcus that
the Central High has gone to this competition.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
No, so Central High has been competing in this competition
for a number of years now, and it's because of
doctor Lddell having a vision that you know what, let
me let me try my hand at you know, bringing
these young people to have this experience. And again it's
one of those things that you know, the arts can
be a bridge to opportunity, whether it's travel or experiencing
new and different ways of you know, life. So yeah,
(06:15):
it was all doctor Ldell's vision to bring them to
Manhattan to try their hand at it, and just a
few years later they won the top title.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Wow, you know. And when I heard that, I was like,
go on, Central, these young folks went went to New
York and and and just beat that competition.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Oh yeah. To see them in action and to hear them,
it was like nothing I've ever heard. It is just professional,
the quality, and you can tell. There's videos on YouTube
right now that just show that, like, these kids are
having an amazing time and they're just having a ball,
and that's just doing what Memphians do. It's in the music,
it's in the spirit of the magic of the moment.
(06:59):
And so they really brought them to life. And you know,
they're gonna give us a little treat tonight as well.
So I'm excited to in addition to Memphis Jazz Workshop,
we're going to have the students play a little bit
of some of the work that they were known to win.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
For Oh good good and I'd love DeMarcus the title
for tonight, Memphis to Manhattan and Back.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Yes, ma'am. Yeah, So they did it.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Yeah, and they did and you know, as I said earlier,
we hear so many negative things about Memphis young folks.
But this is a positive thing. And we're inviting, and
I know you're inviting, DeMarcus, folks who can come out
tonight and celebrate these young people. Let them know we
care in Memphis, Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Absolutely come on down and join us. And yeah, let's
be on Bill Streets together to celebrate this important moment,
but just to also celebrate that culture is alive and
well in Memphis.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
All right, and DeMarcus one more time, tell our listeners
where it's gonna happen tonight.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Well, be at downtown on Bill Street at the new
It's at three point thirty Beal Street. Starting at six pm.
The doors will open a little bit before then, by
five forty five. Be ready. Come on down. We got
chairs and yeah, if you want to bring something to
drink with you, non alcoholic, feel free. We're opening the
doors to bring it on in.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Sounds good, DeMarcus Suggs, I thank you so much for
giving us and sharing with us the good news. Thank
you so very much.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Thank you, Mille, thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
You're so welcome. Bye bye, good news, y'all, so that's
good news. And when we hear about good news, yeah.
And so if you're not doing anything this evening, go
celebrate those young folks from Central High School as they
went to New York City and showed up and showed out.
(08:47):
I want to thank you callers, I want to thank
you my listeners for joining us this day on the
Bev Johnson Show. We do, we really do appreciate you.
So until tomorrow, please V say keep a cool hed y'all,
don't let anyone steal your joy. Until tomorrow, I'm Bev Johnson,
(09:12):
and y'all keep the faith. The views and opinions discussed
on The Bev Johnson Show are that of the hosts
and callers, and not those of the staff and sponsors
of w d I a
Justin show bells with this talking and home away help
you go, you go so getting ready in time say
show let's go bell Justin will make Gordy by here.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
Wrong t you d.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Listen to one.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
To say you know it's time of the bet just
show of the Mountain, show Y, let's go.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
We are rocking and rolling on this Thursday, May twenty ninth,
twenty twenty five. Enjoyed this fatabulous day to day. Let
me share the good news with you. And always we
like good news, and especially we like positive news when
it's talking about our young people in this city. And
some young people in this city are making headlines and
(01:04):
like to welcome to the show. He's gonna tell us
more about that? Is Memphis Director of Creative and Cultural
Economy is mister DeMarcus Sucks. How you doing, DeMarcus?
Speaker 2 (01:18):
I'm doing really well. How are you, miss Belle?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
I'm doing fabulous. I'm doing fabulous today, I'm doing fabulous.
I know you want to share some good news with
our listeners because we've been hearing the good news about
Central High Schools jazz band. What's going on with that.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Facing news to share? So in addition to the jazz
band taking the top band title at the essentially Ellington Competition.
That's an international competition, mind you, in New York City.
This year they came away with top band. They walked
away with the top trumpet section, trop trambone section, among
many other accolades. And so we as a city are
(02:00):
celebrating them tonight at the New Daisy. So we're taking
jazz that they took all the way to Manhattan. We're
bringing it right back to Beal Street, not even steps
from where Ellington himself performed along Beal Street. And so
we'll be there tonight at the New Daisy Theater at
six pm.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
Wow Wow. And so our residents here in the city
they will be able to see this beautiful these young folks,
this jazz band, right, oh my goodness.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Yes, you know, as part of our initiative with the city,
we are always about celebrating what's always right with the
city and culture. We've always got it right. And so
Mayor Young is going to be inviting young the folks
to receive a proclamation as well as just you know,
listen to some live music. And it's free and open
to the public, so folks don't even need a ticket. Yeah,
(02:51):
just come on down to the New Daisy. We'll be there.
Here's some great jazz presented by our Memphis Jazz Workshop
faculty and alumni band. Many of them were instructors and
mentors to the young people who just won the title
as well as The show will be hosted by none
other than Debora Sweeney, our local jazz legend.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
Oh yeah wow. And I love this, DeMarcus, because when
we say, you know our young people, we always hear
the negative about young people. But these young people are
doing something. And especially when you talk about being creative
in the arts. How important is the arts to the
city of Memphis.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
You know, it's so important because we have seen how
the arts have launched professional trajectories. They've made folks, you know,
have opportunities or provided opportunities as young people wouldn't have
otherwise experienced. We have artists traveling around the world behind
some of the most celebrated musicians are on cruise ships.
This is a real career trajectory changer for a lot
(03:53):
of young people. And we also know that, you know,
statistics show us that you know, people that are involved
with the arts and have a holistic creator of education,
they're more likely to become you know, civic engaged. They're
also more likely to have sustainable careers to move on
to post secondary education and the like. And so this
is important for us to really celebrate that these young
(04:13):
people not only are committed to their craft and their
creative journey, but they're also really on the track to
do some amazing things, you know, now and in the future.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
I love what you said. I was reading an article
about and you said, DeMarcus that this is our future
quote that meets our present, and it is also connected
to the past. And then when you said it's connected
and you just mentioned earlier connected to Duke Ellington.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
Yes, ma'am, yeah, Duke Ellingtine. You know, we have a
Memphis is a historic place like for so many musicians
and including the Duke himself, who wrote a number of
works here in Memphis. But was you know, part of
his early career in the nineteen thirties was part of
being invited down here by Robert Church to perform along
(04:58):
Bill Street. And so that history of jazz music still
has a real connection and a route here in Memphis.
And these young people have brought that energy right back
to showcase that.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Oh that's going to be great and so people can
come out on this evening to the new days. I'm
glad y'all opening up the new Daisy.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Oh yeah, yeah, DMC is goodness open and yeah, it's
gonna be an amazing show.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
And so you said it starts at six o'clock.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Starts at six o'clock. We'll just keep you for about.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
An hour and a half, not a long time, so
you know what, And that's good, and it won't even
be dark.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
Bud exactly, and you can go on out and enjoy
the rest of Beale Street. But yeah, we're excited to
celebrate doctor Lddell and all of the work that the
students have accomplished.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
Is this the first time, I'm just curious DeMarcus that
the Central High has gone to this competition.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
No, so Central High has been competing in this competition
for a number of years now, and it's because of
doctor Lddell having a vision that you know what, let
me let me try my hand at you know, bringing
these young people to have this experience. And again it's
one of those things that you know, the arts can
be a bridge to opportunity, whether it's travel or experiencing
new and different ways of you know, life. So yeah,
(06:15):
it was all doctor Ldell's vision to bring them to
Manhattan to try their hand at it, and just a
few years later they won the top title.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Wow, you know. And when I heard that, I was like,
go on, Central, these young folks went went to New
York and and and just beat that competition.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Oh yeah. To see them in action and to hear them,
it was like nothing I've ever heard. It is just professional,
the quality, and you can tell. There's videos on YouTube
right now that just show that, like, these kids are
having an amazing time and they're just having a ball,
and that's just doing what Memphians do. It's in the music,
it's in the spirit of the magic of the moment.
(06:59):
And so they really brought them to life. And you know,
they're gonna give us a little treat tonight as well.
So I'm excited to in addition to Memphis Jazz Workshop,
we're going to have the students play a little bit
of some of the work that they were known to win.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
For Oh good good and I'd love DeMarcus the title
for tonight, Memphis to Manhattan and Back.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Yes, ma'am. Yeah, So they did it.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Yeah, and they did and you know, as I said earlier,
we hear so many negative things about Memphis young folks.
But this is a positive thing. And we're inviting, and
I know you're inviting, DeMarcus, folks who can come out
tonight and celebrate these young people. Let them know we
care in Memphis, Tennessee.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
Absolutely come on down and join us. And yeah, let's
be on Bill Streets together to celebrate this important moment,
but just to also celebrate that culture is alive and
well in Memphis.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
All right, and DeMarcus one more time, tell our listeners
where it's gonna happen tonight.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Well, be at downtown on Bill Street at the new
It's at three point thirty Beal Street. Starting at six pm.
The doors will open a little bit before then, by
five forty five. Be ready. Come on down. We got
chairs and yeah, if you want to bring something to
drink with you, non alcoholic, feel free. We're opening the
doors to bring it on in.
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Sounds good, DeMarcus Suggs, I thank you so much for
giving us and sharing with us the good news. Thank
you so very much.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Thank you, Mille, thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
You're so welcome. Bye bye, good news, y'all, so that's
good news. And when we hear about good news, yeah.
And so if you're not doing anything this evening, go
celebrate those young folks from Central High School as they
went to New York City and showed up and showed out.
(08:47):
I want to thank you callers, I want to thank
you my listeners for joining us this day on the
Bev Johnson Show. We do, we really do appreciate you.
So until tomorrow, please V say keep a cool hed y'all,
don't let anyone steal your joy. Until tomorrow, I'm Bev Johnson,
(09:12):
and y'all keep the faith. The views and opinions discussed
on The Bev Johnson Show are that of the hosts
and callers, and not those of the staff and sponsors
of w d I a
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