Network & Explore: Third Thursdays at the American Jazz Museum

1616 East 18th Street,Kansas City MO 64108

16 September, 2021

Description

Third Thursdays at the American Jazz Museum features a networking event, a cash bar, free museum admission, & live music later in the night The evening's schedule From 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, the American Jazz Museum & Negro Leagues Baseball Museum have free admission for all to explore!Starting at 6:00 pm in The Blue Room, the museum's part-exhibit, part-fully function jazz club, a networking event will be held featuring keynote speaker Lance Alexander, music producer & co-founder of hip hop/R&B band Lo-Key?. A cash bar will complement the event.After the programs conclude by 7:30 pm, live music will follow behind the museum underneath the Jay McShann Pavilion.This event is made possible by Kansas City's Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund. Get To Know Keynote Speaker Lance Alexander Lo-Key was a group founded by Lance Alexander and Tony "Prof T" Tolbert, staff writers signed to Flyte Time Productions, respectively. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Lance and Prof T were in a band called 'Grand Jury' before moving to Minneapolis. During a seminar that was attended by Jimmy 'Jam' Harris, the duo was able to get their demo to the producer, which led to a songwriting deal. Affectionately known as the "B-team," Lance & Tony went on to pen songs for Alexander O'Neal, New Edition, and other artists that came to Flyte Tyme looking for songs. After solidifying their place in the studio as up & coming producers and songwriters, the ambitious pair put together the Lo-Key project. The first album "Where Dey At?" was named after a dig at a Jamaican studio owner who signed Lance to a 'slave' contract before his Flyte Tyme deal and owed him money and kept his Masters. Although amongst music circles the group was lauded, Lo-Key never reached Platinum or Gold status, due to corporate restructuring and political maneuvering at A&M records. Performances were kept at a minimum, due to the grooming of Lance & Tony as producers. After the sale of the Perspective imprint, Tony became A&R for a while at the new Flyte Tyme Records, and Lance went on to form his own label, "Baby Honey Records", with music promoter B-Rich, which is based out of Atlanta, as well as the Baby Honey Recording studio. The only group signed to Baby Honey Records was V.I.P., a trio vocal group from Minneapolis. The rest of Lo-Key disbanded. Lance Alexander discovered the R&B group 'Next' while working as a staff writer at Flyte Tyme Productions. Initially, the pair brought the group, who was known at the time as 'Straight 4ward,' into the Flyte Tyme studios to cut demos and after pitching the group to Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, the Producers passed on the project. After performing at an annual black music seminar in Minneapolis, Naughty by Nature's DJ Kay Gee discovered the group and signed them to a recording contract. Lance wrote the B-side "Butta Love" to the million selling single "Too Close". The group was renamed Next. Lo-Key was influenced heavily by Con Funk shun, and also by old school R&B acts.