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Kansas City is one of the
birthplaces of jazz, and the New York Times recognized
Queen Bey as one of the best known jazz artists from
Kansas City, along with Charlie Parker, Count Basie, and
Max Roach.
Queen Bey was the first jazz artist to
receive the coveted Governor's Arts Award, given to her
in recognition of her efforts in promoting the heritage
of jazz and the blues. In 1999, Kansas City Mayor Kay
Barnes proclaimed Queen Bey as the "National Jazz
Ambassador."
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Performing with one of Kansas City's
most dynamic quartets, Ms. Bey "epitomizes the true jazz
singer, in that she comes from a vocal tradition that is
rooted in older African American music such as blues,
spirituals, and gospel. You can hear her command and
understanding of these powerful singing traditions when
she performs. Her vocal stylings are outstanding and she
is a contemporary master continuing the tradition of
great singers like Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, and
Dinah Washington."
- Dr. Leonard Brown
- African American Studies
- Northeastern University
Boston
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Queen Bey has served as Kansas
City's Ambassador of Jazz, performing in Costa Rica,
Uruguay, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, Argentina,
Holland, Belgium, Ethiopia, and France. In 2000, she
represented the United States at the World Expo in
Hanover, Germany.
Her experiences working with Dinah
Washington, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie
Holiday are revealed in many of her original works
including "Backstage With Dinah" and "Live From The
Orchid Room."
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