PHOENIX began her musical career in a Chicago area Pentecostal church, where her father was pastor. Her mother (a music scholarship graduate of Arkansas State University) introduced her to the music of Marian Anderson and Mahalia Jackson. This sparked her interest. Phoenix began her musical studies at the Dr. John A. Martin School of Music, won and retained a four year position in Chicago's All-City Chorus, and went on to become a member of the Augustana College Choir, Rock Island, Illinois.
Among her career highlights, Phoenix (who performed under the name Princess Ladia for 10 years) has performed with nationally acclaimed Grammy Award winner Albert Collins, W.C. Handy lifetime award winner Robert Lockwood Jr., and SAFFIRE. She was also the first act to perform at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame (9/1/95) in Cleveland,Oh. Since returning to her native Chicago, she has performed with many internationally known Chicago based musicians: Bob Gutherie, L.V Johnson, Karl Johnson and ZIMPROV (just to name a few).
Recently, Phoenix was selected to portray Dinah Washington in a play at the DuSable Museum entitled “Back in the Day II”. She is also a jazz radio host for the University of Chicago radio station WHPK 88.5 The show airs on alternate Tuesday from 7-9pm, "Jazz in Flight" is also syndicated on internet radio.
In addition to her career as a performer & host of a radio show, Phoenix has a lifelong dedication to music and educating youth about the various creative art choices that wait their embrace. Her major concern is that these young people receive encouragement and support in developing their artistic abilities. Phoenix recently founded an organization aptly named Artist Empowerment Opportunities Inc. The mission of the organization is to empower endeavors among artists to enjoy an effective lifestyle and to provide viable communication regarding essential aspects of the community of the creative arts.
For more information, visit their website: http://www.jazzinflight.com/phoenixzone.cfm
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