Ellington’s Evening of Music and Poetry
Due to COVID-19, we will be canceling the event this spring and are exploring options for rescheduling this fall.
6 p.m. Saturday, May 9, 2020
Jesse Auditorium
Parking free in MU garages
Tickets are $20 general admission/$5 student with ID and can be purchased online via Ticketmaster or in person Monday-Friday at the Student Center Box Office from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. or Missouri Theatre Box Office from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Join the Division of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity for the third-annual Ellington’s Evening of Music and Poetry! This year’s event is a benefit concert for student success.
This year’s EEOMP headliner is R&B artist Raheem DeVaughn, an American singer and songwriter also known as the ‘Love King.’ Also performing will be St. Louis creative ensemble Dirty Muggs and Mizzou’s own Indie Poets.
Raheem DeVaughn
Although some have compared his smooth vocals to the likes of music legends such as D’Angelo and Donny Hathaway, all while having the swag of a modern day Marvin Gaye, Raheem DeVaughn has carved out his own place among R&B royalty as the “Love King” of the Neo-Soul universe. DeVaughn’s impressive career has been a living testimony to the benefits of dedication and commitment. Now entering his third decade at the top of the industry, DeVaughn’s raw talent has led his loyal fan base on an incredible musical journey ever since his soulful voice found the ears of the masses on his debut album, The Love Experience, in 2005.
DeVaughn followed the initial success of his debut with his second project, Love Behind the Melody in 2008. The album featured Grammy nominated-hits “Woman” and “Customer” and was one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year. It launched DeVaughn into superstardom, reaching #1 on the Top 10 R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart and peaking at #5 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.
Since then, the self-proclaimed “R&B hippie” has produced other gold standard albums, including The Love & War Masterpiece, which earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album in 2011. In total, DeVaughn’s decorated career has earned him two BET Awards and three Grammy nominations. He also was recently nominated for Outstanding Male Artist at the NAACP Image Awards in March 2019.
Going stronger than ever, the gifted singer/songwriter has been in high demand, releasing his sixth and seventh studio albums, giving fans his vintage, smooth sound while providing a new collection of timeless anthems for couples everywhere.
DeVaughn’s charity work has been serving as an instrument of hope and empowerment for years. He founded the LoveLife Foundation in 2014 to focus on improving lives through social, educational and wellness development. DeVaughn believes in and fights for causes dealing with issues related to women’s rights, domestic violence, and HIV/AIDS awareness among others. He is both a talented artist as well as an inspiration to people across the globe.
Listen to more Raheem DeVaughn.
Dirty Muggs
Dirty Muggs is a high energy, choreographic machine that provides everything you have always wanted in a band: a diverse and eclectic music set list that calls you to get on the dance floor, tap your toe, or shake something. Dirty Muggs is the creative outlet formed by a skilled set of musicians and entertainers from St. Louis.
Dirty Muggs brings star power that is sure to capture the hearts of new fans wherever they play. The choreography included with each show takes one back to the real music era featuring the likes of the Jackson 5 and Earth, Wind and Fire. Welcome to the “now” era. The next step for you is to become part of the masses who have found getting dirty with Dirty Muggs an experience that just can’t be washed away in one night.
Indie POETS
Indie POETS is an organization that aims to positively influence the campus, and the Columbia community by entertaining, encouraging, motivating, and educating to unite diverse backgrounds through the art of poetry, spoken word, music, singing, and songwriting. Through workshops and performances members transform personal narratives to convey social and cultural consciousness to the public.