♪♪ -Funding for this program was provided by Friends, the Iowa PBS Foundation, as well as generations of families and friends who feel passionate about the programs they watch on Iowa PBS.

♪♪ [ Applause ] -Welcome to Juneteenth Movement 2022.

I'm Madison Ray.

And I'm Ms. Rockie.

Thank you for joining us as we celebrate Black history and culture with some of the best and brightest talent from across Iowa.

-That's right.

-Iowa PBS, Iowa Public Radio, and XBK are proud to be a part of the national Juneteenth celebration.

-Ms. Rockie, I'm so excited for tonight's show.

Not only will we get to see and hear an amazing concert, our friend and journalist Ty Rushing will take us behind the scenes to meet the performers and walk us through why celebrating Juneteenth is so important.

-Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration marking the end of slavery in the United States.

But how did it come to be?

-Here's Ty with a brief history lesson on the birth of the Juneteenth holiday.

♪♪ -Juneteenth, short for June 19th, is the day commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

It's a holiday that has been celebrated since 1866, and represents a critical turning point in American history.

Open up a classroom history book, and the author might say that slavery ended on January 1st, 1863, the day when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

It established that "all enslaved people in the Confederate states in a rebellion against the Union shall be then henceforth and forever free."

Of course, the proclamation stated this, but it did not instantly free any enslaved people.

It would take another two years for slavery to end in the United States.

♪♪ In Texas, slavery continued uninterrupted during the Civil War.

The state wasn't involved in large-scale battles, and there wasn't a real presence of Union troops.

♪♪ Two months after the war came to a close, U.S. General Gordon Granger arrived on Texas soil and read General Order Number Three.

"The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a proclamation from the executive of the United States, all slaves are free."

Granger's arrival marked the freedom for 250,000 enslaved people in the state.

Although emancipation didn't happen overnight, celebrations broke out among newly freed black people.

Juneteenth was born.

The following year, freed people in Texas organized the first of what became the annual celebration of Jubilee Day on June 19th.

The holiday wasn't widely celebrated across the country, but the traditions continue to grow over the next several decades.

♪♪ By 1979, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday.

Finally, in June 2021, Congress passed a resolution establishing Juneteenth as a national holiday.

-And now we take you live to the East Room of the White House, where President Biden is going to sign the law making Juneteenth a national holiday.

-Alright.

-Juneteenth marks a date of a major significance in American history.

It's longest tradition of celebrating the emancipation of thousands of enslaved people who forcibly worked and lived in inhumane conditions.

♪♪ The two-year march from when the Emancipation Proclamation was signed to the arrival of troops in Texas is a metaphor for the many ways in which freedoms for Black people have been delayed in this country.

Today, the holiday is a way to acknowledge past faults, help heal current divisions, and move toward a future of a more perfect union.

♪♪ -Let's listen in on some interviews previously recorded with Ty Rushing.

-Juneteenth is the reason we are all here so first question is a simple one.

When did you first hear about Juneteenth?

-I first heard about Juneteenth, about, I don't know, 15 years ago?

It was, the city of Cedar Rapids was going to hold a Juneteenth celebration.

And I was like, well, okay, this is a thing that I knew about, but I didn't know anybody celebrated it.

And so I guess I actually knew about Juneteenth at a much younger age, but didn't realize that it was something that as a community would ever be celebrated, you know?

But yeah, about 15 years ago.

-15 years ago.

Okay, Sharane?

-Yeah.

Same, I'd say.

I learned mine probably ten years when I got out of high school, which is sad, 'cause they don't even teach that in high school.

I didn't know about it, like... And that's something that's really important, like, truly important, so yeah.

I didn't learn about it till I was out of high school, and then I actually started performing for events that specializes the Juneteenth celebration in general, June 19th.

So that's when I learned about it and actually got deep down in the roots and actually understood what everything meant.

So about 10 years ago.

-Yeah.

-Okay.

Ade?

-Yeah.

So I would say I was raised in a very, very white town.

My brothers and I were the only three black kids in our school.

So Juneteenth again, like, even in places maybe that had a little bit more of a diverse surrounding environment, if they didn't hear it, it was, no, there was no chance that I was going to hear about it.

It wasn't until I got to college, I think it might have even been after I graduated college, so, like, maybe four or five years ago, maybe, is when I heard about Juneteenth.

And as soon as I heard about Juneteenth, I was like, "Bet, I'm on board on this.

Like, this is dope."

The reason behind Juneteenth is not the greatest, but, like, a celebration where we as Black folks are all agreeing, "Hey, this is actually what our independence...

This is the day we're choosing to celebrate our independence."

-But even bigger than that, it is an honest version of what we celebrate the 4th of July to be.

-For sure.

-The 4th of July is supposed to be this Declaration of Independence... -For all people.

-Well, for the United States, but it was not.

It wasn't a declaration -- the Declaration of Independence didn't happen until Juneteenth for all of its citizens.

You know, and it was a separation from not being represented by the government that was over over top of them in England.

It was the first time that we were acknowledged as a part of this country, was Juneteenth.

And so for the country to not be celebrating this at a level that is equal to or greater than the 4th of July?

-Is ridiculous.

-It's not knocking anybody's heritage.

It's just the fact that it's the first time that our country technically has ever been free of oppression, is that declaration right there.

-The arc of justice is long, and as we've seen with the reckoning our country has faced over the past few years, we as Americans are still struggling to reconcile the impact of our past.

-Yes, and that's why celebrations like Juneteenth are so important.

We're here to celebrate the promise of that day from so long ago, and bring to life the beauty of our national diversity.

And tonight is no exception.

-Talking about the promise of the future, our first performer is only 17 years old.

-Wow.

Yes, so young.

But her voice, man, it seems like she's been singing for decades.

You might know her from NBC's "The Voice," or from some of her live performances right here in Iowa.

-Ladies and gentlemen and everyone in between, all the way from the Quad Cities to right here on our stage at XBK in Des Moines, Iowa's very own Charlotte Blu.

♪♪ -♪ Behind a girl is the need to feel embraced ♪ ♪ Feeling of a place of belonging ♪ ♪ Behind the makeup is a girl with natural beauty ♪ ♪ She don't need to cover up her scars ♪ ♪ Every girl should know that they are beautiful ♪ ♪ In and out of the surface ♪ ♪ Got to be strong, strong like you are ♪ ♪ Be brave, brave like you are ♪ ♪ Be fierce ♪ ♪ We are warriors ♪ ♪ Got to be strong, strong like you are ♪ ♪ Be brave, brave like you are ♪ ♪ Be fierce ♪ ♪ We are warriors ♪ ♪ Behind a girl is the strength of a lion ♪ ♪ A powerhouse, she can move through fire ♪ ♪ Beyond the appearances is a personality ♪ ♪ Filled with high hopes and dreams ♪ ♪ Her reflection is a mirror of her strength ♪ ♪ She's stronger than she knows ♪ ♪ And every girl should know that they wear a crown ♪ ♪ 'Cause they are queens and their own rulers ♪ ♪ Got to be strong, strong like you are ♪ ♪ Be brave, brave like you are ♪ ♪ Be fierce ♪ ♪ We are warriors ♪ ♪ Got to be strong, strong like you are ♪ ♪ Be brave, brave like you are ♪ ♪ Be fierce ♪ ♪ We are warriors ♪ ♪ Oh, ooh ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Yeahh ♪ ♪ Break through the shell ♪ ♪ Throw it away ♪ ♪ And reveal your true self ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Break through the shell ♪ ♪ Throw it away ♪ ♪ And reveal your true self ♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ ♪ Break through the shell ♪ ♪ Throw it away ♪ ♪ And reveal your true self ♪ ♪ Whoa-oh ♪ ♪ Break through the shell ♪ ♪ Throw it away ♪ ♪ And reveal your true self ♪ ♪ Got to be strong, strong like you are ♪ ♪ Be brave, brave like you are ♪ ♪ Be fierce ♪ ♪ We are warriors ♪ ♪ Got to be strong, strong like you are ♪ ♪ Be brave, brave like you are ♪ ♪ Be fierce ♪ ♪ We are warriors ♪ ♪ Got to be strong, strong like you are ♪ ♪ Be brave, brave like you are ♪ ♪ Be fierce ♪ ♪ We are warriors ♪ ♪ Got to be strong, strong like you are ♪ ♪ Be bra-a-a-a-ve ♪ ♪ We are warriors ♪ ♪ Behind a girl is the need to feel embraced ♪ ♪ A feeling a place of belonging ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Why do y'all think Juneteenth is important?

-I just think it's important to know that our ancestors was being held back for that long.

Like, it's just sad, and it's sad that it took that long.

So it's very important.

I have a daughter now, and I want her to know that June 19th, 1865 is the true day that our ancestors was emancipated.

And she will know that day.

-Like Burt was saying, it is very much the truth, and so celebrating the truth is what we should all be striving for.

There was one time we did this Juneteenth celebration, and I think a lot of people are just like, only Black people celebrate Juneteenth, but it shouldn't be that case.

It should be all people should be celebrating Juneteenth.

I mean, I think that -- -There's people that still don't know about it, and it's just sad.

If you go walk up to a stranger and probably ask them, they'll be like, "Huh?"

-Yeah, for sure.

-And it shouldn't be that way.

-The fact that in this moment is the true, should be the true definition of freedom for this country.

Because when civil rights are passed, they're not -- they may focus on a specific group, but what it is telling everybody is that everybody gets these rights that this group already had.

So the passing and the and the understanding of civil rights, For some reason, there's a group of folks that always think that it takes something away from them as if it is pie.

You know, I've got this piece of the pie.

If I have to give you some of my my pie, my pie gets smaller.

It' like, no, it's just pie, and we're all going to get some now, instead of the pie just being yours.

♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Things are not the same as they were before ♪ ♪ And they are not my friends anymore ♪ ♪ Things are not the same as they were before ♪ ♪ And they are not my friends anymore ♪ ♪ I remember when we were little kids ♪ ♪ Eating Lunchables and watching "The Incredibles" ♪ ♪ But there ain't no more lunch time to be had ♪ ♪ Juice box is always empty and the playground is trashed ♪ ♪ And the playground is trashed ♪ ♪ Now I'm beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪ Beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪ I'm beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪ Beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪ I'm beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪ Beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪ Riding my skateboard in the parking lot ♪ ♪ Playing hide and seek till it got dark ♪ ♪ Dancing to the MJ CD ♪ ♪ But now my friends don't want to dance with me ♪ ♪ I'm beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪ Beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪ I'm beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪ Beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪ We are beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪ Beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeahh ♪ ♪ People change and people grow up ♪ ♪ So my life remains the same ♪ ♪ People move and people run on ♪ ♪ But still, my life will never change ♪ ♪ I'm beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪ I'm beginning to feel blue ♪ ♪ I'm beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪ I'm beginning to feel blues ♪ ♪ I'm beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪ Beginning to feel the blues, yeah ♪ ♪ Can't you see that I ♪ ♪ I'm beginning to feel the blues, yeahh ♪ ♪ 'Cause things are not the same as they were before ♪ ♪ And they are not my friends anymore ♪ ♪ Yeah-h-h ♪ ♪ 'Things are not the same as they were before ♪ ♪ And they are not my friends anymore ♪ ♪ I'm beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪ Beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪ I'm beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪ Beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪ Feel the blues ♪ ♪ Beginning to feel the blues ♪ ♪ Yeah-h-h, hey ♪ ♪ Things are not the same as they were before ♪ ♪ And they are not my friends anymore ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -The Biden administration made Juneteenth a federal holiday last year.

-Okay, yes.

-So I guess, what are your thoughts on that?

Do you think it's long overdue?

[ Laughter ] -Oh, yes.

Way long overdue.

I've had some folks be like, "Yeah, it's cool that it's a federal holiday, but that's not what we asked for."

It seems like... And I'm still kind of trying to figure out and process that a little bit, but it seems like, you know, there was a whole thing that everyone is, BLM and all these different things that are fighting for rights and to stop police brutality and all these different things, and it's like, we have a very systematic issue within this system in the US.

And then, I don't know, out of nowhere they're like, "Well, at least you get a day off of work."

-Right.

-And it's just like... -Just to shut us up, basically.

-It's cool and all.

Like, I do want a day off of work.

I want to celebrate, and I've honestly, ever since I learned about Juneteenth, I have taken June 19th off if it is on a weekday, just because, again, it's a time for me to celebrate with my homies, with my family and everything like that.

But now I don't have to worry about that.

So it's cool and I'm glad it happened, but it was just, like, there's so many other things that Black people are asking for, and this is not that high up on that list.

-Yeah.

Yeah.

-I think that in some people's minds, the concept of doing things that are long overdue is, it relieves a bit of pressure in a moment.

-Mm.

-But as I watch different groups of people bring up, "Hey, we're treated badly."

You know, the Civil Rights movement for Blacks has been however many years in the making.

You know, from day one that Blacks were enslaved, we've been trying to figure out how to end that.

The system was put into place as the system, and everybody knows that that's in place to make it uneven, unfair.

You know, folks can throw the blinders on as much as they want to, but the bottom line is, Stevie Wonder's written songs about police brutality, and if he can see it, you have no excuse.

You know, none of the stories, none of the videos, nothing's brand new.

This is the same story that's been being told from the beginning of our time.

And so, if we're going to look at making changes, you know, the impetus can't always be put on Black folks to solve the problem, because we didn't create it.

"Fix the system that we created so that it works for you, too."

That's not how this should work.

It should be acknowledged and modified at some point by those that created it, and until that starts to happen, all we're gonna ever do is be mad and hope for acknowledgment, for a day off to relieve the pressure.

And that's kind of where we're standing again.

[ Applause ] -This last song we're gonna do is, I wrote it during COVID, and it's kind of like a testament to mental health.

And I went through a lot during COVID, so this is kind of that testament.

It's called "Not Alone."

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ You open up the curtain to get a look outside ♪ ♪ Just to see this brand new life of mine ♪ ♪ But it's cold sometimes ♪ ♪ And it's sour, though I need another bite ♪ ♪ Breathe in the air of this lonely town ♪ ♪ I miss the smiles, I miss the hugs from all around ♪ ♪ When will it be the same again?

♪ ♪ 'Cause life's been strange, but I'm not alone ♪ ♪ No, I'm not alone ♪ ♪ I'm not alone ♪ ♪ I'm not alone ♪ ♪♪ ♪ So let's ride out this storm until the rainbow comes ♪ ♪ A glear and gleam set a blaze to my soul ♪ ♪ Fiery and red with thumping hearts ♪ ♪ Hours I lay in bed, I worry for my future ♪ ♪ Don't have the intuition to stare at a screen ♪ ♪ When will it be the same again?

♪ ♪ 'Cause life's been strange ♪ ♪ But I'm not alone ♪ ♪ No, I'm not alone ♪ ♪ I'm not alone ♪ ♪ I'm not alone ♪ ♪ I'm not alone ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm still home ♪ ♪ And I'm alive ♪ ♪ And I miss my friends ♪ ♪ I miss my lover ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm still home ♪ ♪ And I'm alive ♪ ♪ I miss my friends ♪ ♪ I miss my lover ♪ ♪ See them again ♪ ♪ 'Cause life's been strange ♪ ♪ But I'm not alone ♪ ♪ No, I'm not alone ♪ ♪ I'm not alone ♪ ♪ I'm not alone ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you so much.

-First, let me say, wow.

Charlotte can really sing!

-Say that for real.

You know she has a brand new album out, right?

-No.

I gotta get mine right now.

Just wait here.

I'll get you one.

I'll get your mama one.

I'll get your sister one.

-[ Laughing ] No, stay here, Madison.

We've got a lot more of the show to go.

-I'm sorry.

My bad.

That's right.

-Okay, settle down.

-So, Ms. Rockie, who do we have next?

-Well, what do you get when you mix a middle school teacher with a guy that plays eight instruments?

Yes, I said eight instruments.

-I think you get Jim Swim + Ade.

And guess what?

Ade is debuting a brand new song for us tonight called "Love Myself," just for our Juneteenth celebration.

-Yes, and here is Jim Swim + Ade.

♪♪ -♪ I remember less than ever ♪ ♪ I remember with some effort ♪ ♪ I remember just a taste of fragile days ♪ ♪ I flex the effort ♪ ♪ My vaults got broken levers ♪ ♪ Two faulty wires severed ♪ ♪ I do recall grandpa's face ♪ ♪ Concentratin' on Chinese checkers ♪ ♪ In checkin' the board ♪ ♪ Plottin' my moves ♪ ♪ Tracin' the path that I weave ♪ ♪ Leavin' a wake ♪ ♪ See some mistakes ♪ ♪ Leave 'em in peace, they're deceased ♪ ♪ Frequently speakin' from grief ♪ ♪ I'm changin' my speech ♪ ♪ Losin' my hair in my sleep ♪ ♪ Reachin' the point where I peak ♪ ♪ Changin' my sheets ♪ ♪ See, I don't need the receipts ♪ ♪ Look back to see what's mine ♪ -♪ What's mine ♪ -♪ Lo-fi tape when the tape rewinds ♪ -♪ Rewinds ♪ -♪ Gold days, wavy lines ♪ ♪ That old place, the vacant shrine ♪ ♪ My first time, my first house ♪ ♪ Burned bright, I burst out ♪ ♪ Plugged in and turned loud ♪ ♪ Never turned off, but I've turned down ♪ -♪ Forgot how it feels ♪ -♪ Over and over ♪ -♪ When time wasn't real ♪ -♪ I'm older ♪ -♪ Lost in my own way ♪ -♪ No limitations ♪ -♪ Lost to my old way ♪ -♪ With no limitations ♪ ♪ It's faded ♪ -♪ Ohh, forgot how we feel ♪ -♪ Over, and over ♪ -♪ When time wasn't real ♪ -♪ I'm older ♪ -♪ Lost to my old way ♪ -♪ It's killing me ♪ -♪ Lost to my old way ♪ -♪ It's killing me ♪ -♪ It's killing me, it's killing me ♪ ♪♪ -♪ Soon you will see ♪ ♪ Soon you'll see ♪ ♪ Someday, someday soon ♪ -♪ You are more than ♪ -♪ You will see ♪ -♪ What the world tells you ♪ -♪ Soon you'll see ♪ -♪ You are more than ♪ -♪ You will see ♪ -♪ What the world tells you ♪ -♪ Soon you'll see ♪ -♪ Day dreams of what has already passed ♪ ♪ Like, oh, how wish I could go on back ♪ ♪ When science was learned on a magical bus ♪ ♪ And I'm met by another wild Rattata ♪ ♪ Arguing red is better than blue ♪ ♪ Advanced to a Gameboy with different hues ♪ ♪ Turned a box to a spaceship, drew cards from a duel disk ♪ ♪ The heart of the cards, I could never lose ♪ ♪ Yeah, it's morphin' time ♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm red this time ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ -♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ The bad guys attacking, siblings they back me, dinner ♪ ♪ I guess time to go inside ♪ ♪ Will I ever be happy like this again?

♪ ♪ Sadness creeping, recalling of what had been ♪ ♪ Life's in the fast lane, carpool ♪ ♪ Depression in shotgun, anxiety driven ♪ -♪ Anxiety driving my thoughts ♪ ♪ Manual, no stranger to stalls ♪ ♪ Clutch so I don't fall ♪ ♪ Hey, Siri, help with this one ♪ -♪ Where am I now?

♪ ♪ Sorry, but signal is lost ♪ ♪ But I'm trying to make it to Neverland ♪ ♪ Where being lost turns to adventures and ♪ ♪ I live in my moments ♪ ♪ Easy to say, but hard to uphold it ♪ -♪ Forgot how it feels ♪ -♪ Over and over ♪ -♪ When time wasn't real ♪ -♪ I'm older ♪ ♪ Lost to my own way ♪ -♪ It's killing me ♪ -♪ Lost to my old way ♪ -♪ With no limitations ♪ ♪ It's faded ♪ -♪ Ohh, forgot how it feels ♪ -♪ Older ♪ -♪ When time wasn't real ♪ -♪ I'm older ♪ -♪ Lost to my old way ♪ -♪ Lost to my old way ♪ -♪ It's killing me ♪ -♪ It's killing me, it's killing me ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Thanks, appreciate you guys.

-What are your thoughts on the state governments around the country attempting to limit materials in schools that discuss the Black experience as well as those of other marginalized communities under very questionable claims, some would say?

-Well, number one, if we're going to be critical of anything, it should be how we treat each other, period.

And that's just what community is supposed to be.

You shouldn't expect me to treat your children better than you'd treat mine.

No one should expect your child to get better education than my child.

It should be a situation where we try to make as many people come together, versus trying to figure out ways to keep us apart.

And there's too many governments right now that are trying to under the table re-establish separate but equal mindsets with voucher systems and different things.

Because the wealthiest of the wealthy will voucher to the schools that can't be afforded by other folks, just like they attend, they go to the hospitals that most folks can't afford to get to.

And it's not a Black and white thing.

It's an economic thing.

And until we acknowledge that, you know, the powers that be, they have figured out the way to keep us fighting over nickels and dimes while they're stacking hundreds and fifties, you know, until we figure that out, and figure out a way to put that to an end, that's where we'll be, in my opinion.

-This song is called "She's an Artist," and it's dedicated to all creative people, but especially the creative ladies in our lives, especially some gracing the stage tonight.

I've really, really benefited from the insight and energy of female artists that I know, and this song is for them.

♪♪ -♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ -♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ I'm in love with a girl, she's an artist ♪ ♪ Never here but I know where her heart is ♪ ♪ Do her thing, but she don't shave her armpits ♪ ♪ Every time she goes, yeah, she goes in the hardest ♪ -♪ I'm in love with a girl, she an artist ♪ ♪ Never here but I know where her heart is ♪ ♪ Do her thing, but she don't shave her armpits ♪ ♪ Every time she goes, yeah, she goes in the hardest ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ -♪ Sweet little Gemini ♪ -♪ Gemini ♪ -♪ I'mma keep it on her friendly side ♪ -♪ Friendly side ♪ -♪ When you meet her, you can see the vibe ♪ ♪ Tatted in a t-shirt, messy bun to free her mind ♪ -♪ Free like she wanna be ♪ ♪ She's a keeper with no keeper, movin' naturally ♪ ♪ She be late then be actin' like she's mad at me ♪ ♪ Yeah, she show up when she show up ♪ ♪ She was watchin' Oprah ♪ -♪ She's a go-getter ♪ ♪ I'mma go get her ♪ ♪ Hopin' she don't know better ♪ -♪ No, no ♪ -♪ She wants no letters ♪ ♪ Yeah, she's visual, so you gotta show effort ♪ ♪ That's on me ♪ -♪ Me ♪ -♪ That's alright ♪ -♪ Right ♪ -♪ I'mma show up to her show first night ♪ -♪ First night ♪ -♪ Tell her what I think ♪ ♪ Tell her what I like ♪ -♪ Like ♪ ♪ Ask about her colors lookin' warm in the light ♪ -♪ The lights ♪ -♪ Don't know what she's sayin, but I'm diggin' it anyhow ♪ ♪ It's Russian, she's gushin' ♪ ♪ Like she be rushin' to empty out ♪ ♪ Short on her money, but she be wanting to lend it out ♪ ♪ I told her to save it and she is major offended now ♪ ♪ Feeling yourself and you're feelin like giving advice?

♪ ♪ I do what I want, unlike you, I don't trip on the price ♪ ♪ Spent all your money on a Mac and a mic, yeah ♪ ♪ Spent all your money and only got 17 likes ♪ ♪ Boy, I'm living my life, oh ♪ -♪ Couple places that you can't go ♪ -♪ Can't go ♪ -♪ She can't hear you, like Van Gogh ♪ -♪ Van Gogh ♪ -♪ But there's nothing she can't handle ♪ ♪ So be careful with them hands, bro ♪ -♪ Ooh ah-ahh, ooh ah-ahh ♪ ♪ Ooh ah-ahh, ooh ah-ahh ♪ ♪ Ooh ah-ahh, ooh ah-ahh ♪ ♪ Ooh ah-ahh, ahh ah-ahh ♪ ♪ Ooh ah-ahh, ahh ah-ahh ♪ ♪ Ooh ah-ahh, ahh ah-ahh ♪ ♪ Ooh ah-ahh, ahh ah-ahh ♪ ♪ Ooh ah-ahh, ahh ah-ahh ♪ ♪ Ooh ah-ahh, ahh ah-ahh ♪ -♪ I'm in love with a girl ♪ ♪ She's an artist ♪ -♪ Ooh ah-ahh, ahh ah-ahh ♪ ♪ Never here, but I know where her heart is ♪ ♪ Do her thing, but she don't shave her armpits ♪ ♪ Every time she goes in, she goes in the hardest ♪ -♪ I'm in love with a girl, she an artist ♪ ♪ Doing her thing, but she don't, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Do her thing, but she don't shave her armpits ♪ ♪ Every time she goes in, she goes in the hardest ♪ ♪ You're so, ooh ♪ ♪ Yeah, oh, oh, mm ♪ ♪ Oh, now, na na na ♪ ♪ I'm in love ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheering ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Ooh ah-ahh, ooh ah-ahh ♪ ♪ Ooh ah-ahh, ooh ah-ahh ♪ ♪ Ooh ah-ahh, ooh ah-ahh ♪ ♪ Ooh ah-ahh, ooh ah-ahh ♪ ♪ Ooh ah-ahh, ooh ah-ahh ♪ ♪ Ooh ah-ahh, ooh ah-ahh ♪ ♪ Ooh ah-ahh, ooh ah-ahh ♪ ♪ Ooh ah-ahh, ooh ah-ahh ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Appreciate y'all.

Appreciate y'all.

Thank you.

-This song is called "Movie."

♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ This feel like a movie ♪ ♪ This my favorite scene ♪ ♪ Realize they greatness ♪ ♪ Now they running things ♪ ♪ No, it wasn't easy ♪ ♪ Harder than it seems ♪ ♪ But it's written in the stars ♪ ♪ Written in my genes ♪ ♪ This feel like a movie ♪ ♪ This my favorite scene ♪ ♪ Realize they greatness ♪ ♪ Now they running things ♪ ♪ No, it wasn't easy ♪ -♪ Harder than it seems ♪ -♪ But it's written in the stars ♪ ♪ Written in my genes ♪ ♪ Yeah, man, I'm feeling good, I'm kinda jealous of my life ♪ ♪ Figures in the 6, and...only 25, yeah ♪ ♪ Got a lot to say, a lot of things be on my mind ♪ ♪ Got the time ♪ ♪ I'm here forever, your duration be a Vine ♪ -♪ Throw it up ♪ ♪ This...ain't common, I'm cold as... ♪ ♪ All of my blessings, I scoop it up ♪ ♪ Just started to Blossom, a Powerpuff ♪ ♪ They choke at the top, so I cut 'em off ♪ ♪ On the run ♪ ♪ Them...can't catch me, I'm lappin' 'em ♪ ♪ Like clockwork, you know I already won ♪ ♪ I'm sorry I had to embarrass 'em ♪ -♪ I'm out the frame 'cause I'm thinking out the box ♪ ♪ I can't fit in, busy being what I'm not ♪ ♪ I don't show off, I just show 'em what I got ♪ ♪ It's a lot ♪ -♪ Baby, come and watch ♪ ♪ Movie, this my favorite scene ♪ -♪ Realize they greatness ♪ i♪ Now they running things ♪ ♪ No, it wasn't easy ♪ ♪ Harder than it seems ♪ ♪ But it's written in the stars ♪ ♪ Written in my genes ♪ ♪ This feel like a movie, this my favorite scene ♪ ♪ Realize they greatness ♪ ♪ Now they running things ♪ ♪ No, it wasn't easy ♪ ♪ Harder than it seems ♪ ♪ But it's written in the stars ♪ ♪ Written in my genes, yeah ♪ -♪ I'm doin' a job they can't automate ♪ ♪ My drive never laggin' in solid state ♪ ♪ My album and me, we gotta date ♪ ♪ Releasin' my heat, but I gotta wait ♪ ♪ If I flick my wrist, then I tickle the twine ♪ ♪ I get in a pickle, then slip out the bind ♪ ♪ It's love of the game, I live in the lines ♪ ♪ Its love so its simple but hard to define ♪ -♪ Whoa, if ya really sit and think about it ♪ ♪ Slow ♪ -♪ Ayy ♪ -♪ You're still thinkin' so it's really not the flow ♪ -♪ Flow ♪ -♪ I let go and let it operate ♪ ♪ To stop and waits to constipate ♪ ♪ I close my eyes and concentrate ♪ -♪ Single-minded ♪ ♪ Rock a monocle on unicycles ♪ -♪ Truly shinin' ♪ -♪ I make them mad while I smile ♪ ♪ I think I'm too defiant ♪ ♪ I got mine so you get yours ♪ ♪ I took my finals peep the file ♪ ♪ Got my style from the source like ♪ -♪ This feel like a movie, this my favorite scene ♪ ♪ Realize they greatness ♪ ♪ Now they running things ♪ ♪ No, it wasn't easy ♪ -♪ Harder than it seems ♪ -♪ But it's written in the stars ♪ ♪ Written in my genes ♪ ♪ This feel like a movie scene ♪ ♪ And now they running things ♪ ♪ Whoa, harder than it seems ♪ ♪ Written in the stars ♪ ♪ Written in my genes, yeah ♪ ♪ This feel like a movie ♪ ♪ Oh, no, nooo ♪ ♪ Whoaa ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Na na na na naaa ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Appreciate y'all.

-Thank you guys.

-Thank you, thank you.

Thank you.

Appreciate y'all.

That's a fun one.

-So you were born in New York, but you grew up in Minneapolis as one of the few Black people.

-Yes.

-What was that like?

Yeah, being raised in Iowa was very interesting, to say the least.

A lot of microaggressions, A lot of racism.

With it came a lot of self-hate, because being attractive did not look like me.

Being, like, wanted, didn't look like me.

It looked like the guy Connor with blond hair and blue eyes type of thing.

And one of the songs that I wanted to actually perform for this show is called "Love Myself," and it talks about that journey to loving my blackness, in which I used to, like, relax my hair.

I used to wear color contacts.

I used to use lightning cream, because I wanted to at least be light-skinned.

If I could at least be light-skinned and closer to European standards of beauty, maybe I'll be seen as worthy, seen as attractive and everything like that.

And yeah, so that took a huge toll on my self-confidence and self-worth, and then eventually got to this point where, like, my blackness became beautiful.

So when I came to college, I surrounded myself with people of color, Black folks, in the end, the whole range of different types of people.

And I was like, "Oh," and saw a lot of people who had similar experiences as me.

And my crew right now, we're all like hype each other up, like, "Dang, you look good."

We just always want to uplift each other.

And so with it, after a while, you start believing that.

You be like, "Okay, maybe I am cute with it," you know, type of thing.

And then now I just love my blackness.

I have locs now and like, I mean, I love being dark-skinned.

I think it's beautiful.

Exactly.

Exactly.

Wouldn't ever, like... We in this now.

And then, obviously, there's some days where it's like, [ Sighs ] you still wrestle with that, because it's so many years of that, dealing with that.

But there's definitely, like, as you look back, you just see that growth and you're just like, dang, that was quite the journey.

♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Wondering eyes, whispers from a distance ♪ ♪ Cheeto stained prints, pointing my differences ♪ ♪ Talk of the town, few hundred ♪ ♪ First contact with immigrants ♪ ♪ My new home ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Struggling to find a place to fit in ♪ ♪ Can't be myself, 'cause myself isn't in ♪ ♪ Breeding feelings, negative ♪ ♪ Hate the shade of my pigment ♪ ♪ Oh, no, no, no ♪ ♪ 'Cause I need to love me before ♪ ♪ I can love somebody else ♪ ♪ And if you're lucky, you'll get to love me just as well ♪ ♪ No longer comfy with feelings unworthy of myself ♪ ♪ Ooh, no ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm gonna love me ♪ ♪ 'Cause me is deserving of top shelf ♪ ♪ Mm, no, no, no ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ I used to think that this skin was a curse ♪ ♪ Lighten it, increase worth ♪ ♪ Coloring in my iris ♪ ♪ 'Cause only blue is enticing ♪ ♪ Loosening up these curls ♪ ♪ Guess tight curls ain't for white girls ♪ ♪ My speech labeled Caucasian ♪ ♪ Guess...lack education ♪ ♪ Hold up, look ♪ ♪ Smartest people I know packed with melanin ♪ ♪ Heaven sent ♪ ♪ And my Jesus black and rocking hella dreads ♪ ♪ My ancestors packed with Royals, not from Kansas ♪ ♪ A mantis ♪ ♪ Praying all these blessing to existence ♪ ♪ How can you hate on me?

♪ ♪ Serving all these looks, y'all can't return a thing ♪ ♪ I'm the progeny of kings and queens ♪ ♪ Success runs in my family, like ABC ♪ ♪ Love me before I can love somebody else ♪ ♪ No-oo-o ♪ And if you're lucky ♪ ♪ You'll get to love me just as well ♪ ♪ No longer comfy with feelings unworthy of myself ♪ ♪ Oh, no, no ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm gonna love me ♪ ♪ 'Cause me is deserving of top shelf ♪ ♪ No, nooo ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you guys.

[ Applause ] -Guess what?

Our next performer was also on "The Voice."

-Wow, seems like "The Voice" has some real love for Iowa.

-That's right.

Well, y'all heard what Charlotte Blu just did.

They knew what they were doing when they tapped our next artist, too.

-They sure did.

Please welcome the incomparable Sharane Calister.

♪♪ -♪ Yeah, oh ♪ ♪ Come on ♪ ♪ It's Friday night, been waiting for it all week ♪ ♪ Can't wait to hang out with my girls ♪ ♪ I put my makeup on, then I put my clothes on ♪ ♪ Then I glance up in the mirror ♪ ♪ We looking sexy ♪ -Hey!

-♪ And feeling fine, listen ♪ ♪ I can't wait to have a good time ♪ What'd they say?

♪ 'Cause you only live once, so get ready for tonight ♪ ♪ Get ready for tonight ♪ ♪ Get ready, 'cause what?

♪ ♪ 'Cause we gon' party like there's no tomorrow ♪ ♪ Dance like no one is watching us, hey ♪ ♪ It's only right that we party all night, hey ♪ ♪ When the music's gone, we're gonna party on ♪ ♪ We in the club, yeah, it's about to go down ♪ ♪ Music's jumpin', party's bumpin, everyone is here ♪ ♪ And you know what time it is ♪ ♪ Time to hit the Soul Train line ♪ Come on!

♪ 'Cause everyone is on the dance floor ♪ ♪ Try to keep calm but we out of control ♪ ♪ We just want to have fun ♪ You know why?

♪ 'Cause you only live once, so get ready for tonight ♪ ♪ Get ready for tonight ♪ Sing it if you know it, y'all, come on!

♪ 'Cause we gon' party like there's no tomorrow ♪ ♪ Dance like no one is watching us, hey ♪ ♪ It's only right that we party all night, guess what?

♪ ♪ When the music's gone, what?

We're gonna party on ♪ ♪ 'Cause we gon' party like there's no tomorrow ♪ ♪ Dance like no one is watching us, hey ♪ ♪ It's only right that we party all night, hey ♪ ♪ When the music's gone ♪ Alright, y'all.

Y'all help me sing it!

Come on!

♪ We, we gon' party, we, we gon' party ♪ ♪ We, we gon' party ♪ XBK, one more time, come on!

♪ We, we gon' party ♪ -What?

-♪ We gon' party ♪ -Say what?

-♪ We gon' party ♪ -Alright, break it down, y'all.

♪ 'Cause you only live once, so get ready for tonight ♪ ♪ Get ready for tonight, get ready, ready, ready ♪ Come on, come on!

♪ We gon' partyyyy, yeah ♪ ♪ It's only right that we party all night ♪ ♪ When the music's gone, hey ♪ Come on, y'all!

♪ We gon' party like there's no tomorrow ♪ ♪ Dance like no one is watching, yeah ♪ ♪ It's only right that we party all night ♪ Guess what, y'all?

♪ When the music's gone, we gon' party on ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Your bio... You've overcome a lot.

-Man.

-And you say that music was your only outlet.

So could you tell us a little bit about your story?

Because I know it's a lengthy one, but it's a good one.

And then just how music became that escape for you?

-Well, it was always my escape, because, first of all, I was in the system.

I was in foster care.

So I got placed, you know, in different homes.

I was in so many different elementary schools, I lost count, so never had one teacher, never had one classroom, never had one friend, never had one locker that I could call my locker.

I was always moving around, so music was the only thing that I could keep at a steady pace that I knew I could keep the pace, you know?

I could write, I could sit down no matter where I was at -- I could be on the bus or I could be in the school.

Whatever school I was, writing was just my escape, my happy place where I could just go and be myself.

I was in the system.

I was separated.

My mom had six kids, two sets of twins.

I'm a twin.

We all got separated.

The system was really messed up back then.

They didn't believe in keeping siblings together, so I got separated from my twin, and I think it was what, six, seven years had passed by, and I didn't see my sister until the first day.

It's literally like a movie, I swear.

First day of choir class.

We both auditioned for the same choir, didn't even realize it, and we showed up to the same high school.

Again, didn't realize it, 'cause we wasn't in communication.

I seen her in the room and I was like, "Oh, wait, is that my sister?"

They called her name, and I'm like, "We're in the same music class?"

I was like, "Oh, my God."

So that was another outlet.

I was looking forward to always going to my music class, because I knew I could see my twin sister there.

We had been separated for so long, and music was both of our outlet.

She sings, I sing.

So music was always that connection for me.

And going through everything I went through, you know, I've learned that it's okay not to be okay and that life can go your way, you know?

I went through so much with just growing up and seeing -- I've seen stuff that a 10-year-old probably should never see, and seen stuff that a teenager, that a girl should never see, heard stuff that I probably should've never heard.

So definitely scarred, and I write music to this day because I know I'm not the only person who went through what I went through.

And there's so many people out there who give up.

Like "The Voice," take, for instance.

I auditioned four times.

I got rejected three.

So my message is, you know, life can go your way.

Don't give up, just because you get told one no.

Keep going.

In my life, I kept getting told no.

I was being placed in foster care.

Did nobody want me, you know?

It felt like my world was coming down to an end.

Didn't have my mom, didn't have my dad, but I didn't let that stop me.

I let that keep going.

And I got to be where I'm in today, you know, because I didn't stop.

So music has always been just this big connection for me, just for everything, and it got me to where I am now and...

I don't care if I ever be famous.

I just want to write good music and share my message to the world that it's okay to be okay.

Or It's okay not to be okay, you know?

♪ Ahh, la da ♪ ♪ Da da da ♪ ♪ Ahhh ♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ ♪ You seen me when I was low ♪ ♪ Now I'm sitting on high with you ♪ ♪ I ran but you wouldn't let me go ♪ ♪ Now I can't imagine my life without you ♪ ♪ And every time that I think of you, baby ♪ ♪ I feel the intensity of loving you ♪ ♪ 'Cause all I wanna do ♪ ♪ All I wanna do, baby ♪ ♪ Is love you ♪ ♪ Do you know how you make me feel?

♪ ♪ You make me feel like this love is real ♪ ♪ Every time we touch ♪ ♪ I can't get enough ♪ ♪ Oh, boy, I swear, you know what you do to me, baby ♪ ♪ And I know that this love will last ♪ ♪ So take my hand ♪ ♪ And let's forget about the past ♪ ♪ 'Cause if it's me and you against the world ♪ ♪ Nothing should else matter, baby ♪ ♪ And I love you, love you, love you, love you ♪ ♪ And I need you, need you, need you, need you ♪ ♪ 'Cause all I wanna do ♪ ♪ All I wanna do, baby, whoa ♪ ♪ Is love you ♪ Come on, band!

Hey!

♪ Is love you, baby ♪ ♪ All I wanna do is lo-o-ove ♪ ♪ Youuu ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ Youuu ♪ ♪ Youuuu ♪ ♪ Youuuuu ♪ ♪ No, no, no, no, no ♪ ♪ Is love you ♪ Come on, hey!

♪ 'Cause you seen me when I was low ♪ ♪ Now I'm sitting on high with you ♪ ♪ I ran, but you wouldn't let me go, baby ♪ ♪ Now I can't imagine my life without you ♪ ♪ And every time that I think of you, baby ♪ ♪ I feel the intensity of loooving ♪ ♪ 'Cause all I wanna do ♪ ♪ All I wanna do, babe ♪ ♪ Is love you ♪ Whew!

Make some noise if you're in love tonight.

[ Cheers ] ♪ Is love ya, baby ♪ ♪ Love ya, baby ♪ Is it okay if I take this song back one more time?

-Come on!

Take it back, take it back!

[ Laughing ] -I love her.

-♪ 'Cause every time that I think of you ♪ ♪ I feel the intensity of loving you ♪ ♪ 'Cause all I wanna do ♪ ♪ All I wanna do, baby ♪ ♪ Is love you ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] So this is my last song.

It's called "Welcome to Summer Time," which is my new song.

I hope you guys like it and party with me on this last song, okay?

-Yeah!

It's one of them, guys.

-Yes!

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Vocalizes ] [ Trills ] -Hey!

-Ay-ya-yai!

Come on, hey!

Hey!

Hey!

♪ Hello, summer ♪ ♪ Are you ready for me?

♪ ♪ Tired of the cold ♪ ♪ Ready for some heat ♪ ♪ So let the good times roll ♪ ♪ Let the city lose control ♪ ♪ It's gonna be a good night ♪ You know why?

♪ A little party never hurt nobody ♪ ♪ And tonight, I wanna get a little naughty ♪ ♪ Look so good, got paparazzi ♪ ♪ We gon' hit the town, like, like ♪ ♪ One shot, two shot, three shot, four ♪ ♪ All I know is I want more ♪ ♪ As soon as the liquor hits my cup ♪ ♪ I'mma hit the dunce floor ♪ ♪ Like one step, two step, three step, four ♪ ♪ Looked around and started a dance floor ♪ ♪ What are you standing around for?

♪ ♪ Welcome to summertime ♪ ♪ Summertime, summertime ♪ -Hey!

-♪ Welcome to summertime ♪ -XBK, make some noise if you're having a good time tonight!

[ Cheering ] Hey!

Come on, hey!

♪ I've been drinking all night ♪ ♪ And he's been looking at it all night ♪ ♪ I'm intoxicated, feeling X-rated ♪ ♪ If you roll with me, just know we getting wasted ♪ ♪ You know why?

It's summertime ♪ ♪ A little party never hurt nobody ♪ ♪ And tonight, I wanna get a little naughty ♪ ♪ Look so good, got paparazzi ♪ ♪ We gon' hit the town, like, like ♪ ♪ One shot, two shot, three shot, four ♪ ♪ All I know is I want more ♪ ♪ As soon as the liquor hits my cup ♪ ♪ I'mma hit the dance floor ♪ ♪ One step, two step, three step, four ♪ ♪ Looked around and started a dance floor ♪ ♪ What are you standing around for?

♪ ♪ Welcome to summertime ♪ Hey!

-♪ Summertime ♪ -♪ Summertime, summertime ♪ One more time.

XBK, make some noise if you're having a good time!

[ Cheers ] -♪ Welcome to summertiiime ♪ ♪ I said, I want more ♪ ♪ Come on, hit the dance floor ♪ ♪ Like one step, two step, three step, four ♪ ♪ Looked around and started the dance floor ♪ ♪ What are you standing around for?

♪ ♪ Welcome, said, welcome to summertime ♪ [ Cheering ] -Woo!

[ Cheers and applause ] -What a great show we've had so far.

And for anyone who's ever doubted the talent of Iowa artists, this show has definitely proved our talent runs deep.

-Amen.

-What an amazing group of artists we've had right here in our own backyard, Madison.

-And none is more talented than our next artist.

I had a chance to meet with him a couple of weeks ago right here on the stage at XBK.

And I can tell you, this man is the blues.

-Say that.

-He's a 2019 Blues Music Award nominee, an International Blues Challenge Winner in not just one, not two, but three categories.

So please welcome to the stage Iowa blues legend and my friend, Big Love... Kevin Burt.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I've been watching you ♪ ♪ I've seen everything you do ♪ ♪ I been watching you, baby ♪ ♪ I'm seeing everything that you do, yeah ♪ ♪ I been watching you, baby ♪ ♪ Oh, for a mighty long, long time, yeah ♪ ♪ You got me dazed and, baby, dreamin' 'bout ♪ ♪ Oh, the day I get to call you mine, yeah ♪ ♪ I been watching you, honey ♪ ♪ Well, I see you night and day ♪ ♪ I been watching you, baby ♪ ♪ You know I see you night and day ♪ ♪ I been watching you, baby ♪ ♪ Want you to hear every word, child, that I have to say ♪ ♪ You got me dazed and, baby, dreamin' 'bout ♪ ♪ All the games that you and me could play, yeah ♪ Ladies and gentlemen, Danny "DJ" Johnson on that base.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I been watching you ♪ ♪ Oh, and I see you in my dreams ♪ ♪ I been watching you, baby ♪ ♪ You know I see you in my dreams ♪ ♪ I been watching you, baby ♪ ♪ Oh, it's not as strange as it might seem, no, no ♪ ♪ And just think about it, baby, baby ♪ ♪ You might be digging on watching me, yeah ♪ ♪ I been watching you ♪ ♪ I been watching ♪ ♪ Oh, my baby, I been watching you ♪ ♪ I'm seeing everything that you do ♪ ♪ I been watching you, baby ♪ ♪ Oh, for a mighty long, long, long, long time ♪ ♪ You got me dazed and, baby, dreamin' 'bout ♪ ♪ Oh, the day I'll get to call you mine, yeah ♪ One time.

♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you very much.

-I was going to ask you what drew you to the blues in particular?

-It found me.

It found me after I got cut from a professional football team and I was about to destroy myself.

You know, football was my identity.

It's all I ever grew myself up to be.

My senior year in college, my knee that got dislocated, and I was a preseason all-American.

I was all-American at center and all-conference and all-district on both sides of the ball.

I played center nose guard in college at a small school in South Dakota.

When I got injured, all the accolades gone.

I got an opportunity to try out for a team in Canada and a couple of opportunities to try out for practice squads with some NFL teams.

But the opportunity to...

I was damaged goods.

And so I found alcohol as my self-medication, and I started working a lot of jobs in Iowa City, and my boss heard me singing in my office.

And thank God for Ethel Madison, because she tricked me into auditioning for a blues band.

And from that point forward -- I mean, I've always kind of had an old soul.

It took 7 hours for me to drive from my driveway in Waterloo to my dorm in South Dakota.

And so for 7 hours every weekend, for 14 hours every weekend, driving back and forth, I was singing Luther Vandross songs or Teddy Pendergrass or singing along with Anita Baker, you know, and just didn't realize that I was training myself for my future.

-And I've got to ask you, like, how did you get tricked into auditioning for the blues band?

-[ Laughing ] I was singing.

I was sitting in the office singing and doing paperwork, and she had a Luther Vandross CD playing in her office, and I was singing to it.

As she walked by my office, stuck her head in, and said, "Damn, boy, you can sing."

I was like, "whatever."

She was like, "No, you can sing.

My son's putting together a blues band.

You need to come audition.

They're looking for a singer."

I'm like, "Yeah, sure.

Okay.

Pbbt."

You know, I didn't like how I sounded.

I didn't care for it at all, because I didn't sound like who I admired.

And a few weeks later she was like, "Hey, what are you doing for dinner tonight?

Why don't you come by?

We're gonna play some games and watch a movie or something.

We'll hang out in my house."

I'm like, "cool."

I'm friends with, you know, her family, you know, and they're all good folks.

And got over there and walked in, Ethel was standing in the kitchen and looked at me and said, "No, ain't no dinner, but the boy is down there playing the blues.

You need to go audition."

-Gotcha!

-And that was it.

-I would be angry.

-I'd be like, "There's no food?"

-You could at least have something.

-So I auditioned for the band, and that's where it started.

That's where it started.

I went from a dude working five jobs and singing a couple times a week to 4, 3, 2, 1, and eventually making the decision to do music full time.

♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ These moments just pass me by ♪ ♪ Watching my brothers and sisters cry ♪ ♪ Cry for my help ♪ ♪ Cry from my witness ♪ ♪ Cry till there were no more tears to cry ♪ ♪ Now, here you are, my captors ♪ ♪ You're angry because I'm down on my knees ♪ ♪ I'm trying to pray that you understand ♪ ♪ But you're not listening ♪ ♪ So I'll stand up to the injustice, to the inequality ♪ ♪ I'll stand up to all the times that you look down on me ♪ ♪ I'll stand up when I'm tired, hot or cold ♪ ♪ I'll stand up for the young, I'll stand for the old ♪ ♪ I'll, I'll stand for the way that it ought to be ♪ ♪ I'll stand alone, but I pray you'll stay with me ♪ ♪ I pray you'll stand with me ♪ ♪ There's always people out there looking ♪ ♪ But they don't understand what it is that they see ♪ ♪ They only look from their own perspective ♪ ♪ And they don't have to care, 'cause it's not their reality ♪ ♪ See, we've been beaten and lynched throughout our history ♪ ♪ And now you tell me to sit down ♪ ♪ Because I defy history ♪ ♪ So now I'll stand up to the injustice, to the inequality ♪ ♪ I'll stand up to all the times that you look down on me ♪ ♪ I'll stand up when I'm tired, hot or cold ♪ ♪ I'll stand up for the young, I'll stand for the old ♪ ♪ I'll stand for the way that it ought to be ♪ ♪ I'll stand alone, but I pray you'll stay with me ♪ ♪ I pray that you're standing with me ♪ ♪ Now here we are again, back where we've always been ♪ ♪ Where we work to make it like the place ♪ ♪ That we all thought we live ♪ ♪ Or are we going to drop the torch and watch it burn?

♪ ♪ Or take the mistakes of the past ♪ ♪ And finally show the world ♪ ♪ That we finally learned to stand up to the injustice ♪ ♪ To the inequality ♪ ♪ To stand up to all the times that you look down on me ♪ ♪ To stand up when we're tired, hot, or cold ♪ ♪ To stand up for the young, to stand for the old ♪ ♪ To stand for the way that it ought to be ♪ ♪ I'm not standing alone ♪ ♪ I'm not standing alone ♪ ♪ 'Cause you're standing right next to me ♪ ♪ You're standing right next to me, yeah ♪ ♪ You standing right next to me ♪ ♪ I pray that you're standing with me ♪ ♪ Oh, I pray ♪ ♪ That you're standing with me ♪ ♪ Mmm ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you so much.

-I know you're a bit of a blues historian, too.

-Yeah.

-Could you tell us a little bit about the origins of blues, you know, how did it start, it's founders, why it's important and, you know, a little bit why you kind of need a little bit of gravitas in your voice to properly convey the blues?

-Well, it's not so much the gravitas in the voice.

Blues, it's our folk music.

You know, we have the only folk music that other cultures take, bring in and then hand it back to us and say, "We do it better than you, better than the originators."

You know, you don't have a group of German folks going down to Mexico, talking about, "Let me show you what real mariachi's all about," you know?

And so, I mean, it's just a thing.

And so, you know, the music started because a whole bunch of different cultures were brought together.

And the only way that they communicated initially, because everybody didn't speak everybody's language, but drums.

Those drums were a heartbeat and those rhythms.

And so in places like Congo Square, these drum circles would start happening and there would be a cultural exchange in music.

And then everybody'd be sold and be sent to where they're going.

It's like the biggest game of telephone, alright, that ever existed, because people went and they played what they thought they remembered.

And so if you listen to blues as it's evolved, it's remarkably geographic.

Blues from Texas sounds different than blues from Mississippi sounds different than blues from Memphis sounds different than blues from the Carolinas, you know?

And so every place has its own fingerprint of what it is, because it's not written down.

It is our history in story to music.

And it wasn't born in slavery.

It was born in spite of slavery.

It was how we stayed strong.

We always had that music.

We always found a way to write the songs to lead us out of slavery.

Because the field chants, the field hollers, the work songs that we created initially were to get us through our day.

That was the original headphones, were these work songs, you know?

For my kids, if I ask them to help me in the yard, they throw on the headphones and they out there with me, because in that moment, they don't want to be in the yard, but that music helps them have that space that's theirs.

It allows them to work without thinking about the work.

"I'm just digging my music right now," you know?

And we do that.

We use music to persevere.

On our worst day, we turn to music.

And if it hits us in the right spot, it makes our worst day a better day.

On our best day, we turn to music.

If it hits us in the right spot, I was already here, now I'm turnt up, you know?

And that is what our culture has always done.

We've made it cool.

Other cultures made it profitable.

This is a little song I put together.

It's called "Real Love."

I found mine.

I hope you find yours someday.

In my head, it goes like this here.

[ Harmonica playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Now, when I think about it, babe ♪ ♪ Spent a long, long time searching for a love ♪ ♪ Like you found in me ♪ ♪ You kept asking for it, praying for it ♪ ♪ Hoping for it ♪ ♪ And when you found it, babe ♪ ♪ You wouldn't open up your eyes so you could see ♪ ♪ I was right here, my dear ♪ ♪ I'm ready to give you more ♪ ♪ Still, I have so much in store, honey ♪ ♪ You never needed another ♪ ♪ Oh, baby, open up your eyes ♪ ♪ And be glad we found each other ♪ ♪ And a real love, baby ♪ ♪ I said, a real love ♪ ♪ The kind of love that we should hold onto ♪ ♪ It's a real love, baby, wow, wow ♪ ♪ Oh, it's the kind of love I want to share ♪ ♪ With nobody else but you ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ And when I think about it, babe ♪ ♪ I spent a long, long time searching for a love ♪ ♪ Like I found in you ♪ ♪ I kept asking for it, praying for it ♪ ♪ Hoping for it ♪ ♪ And when I found it, babe, I wasn't sure what it was ♪ ♪ That I was supposed to do ♪ ♪ But now I'm older now, wiser now ♪ ♪ And I understand, some way, somehow ♪ ♪ I got to keep you here, baby, in my life ♪ ♪ I never needed another ♪ ♪ I finally understand why ♪ ♪ There is no need to look no further ♪ ♪ Real love, baby ♪ ♪ Said, a real love ♪ ♪ The kind of love that we should hold onto ♪ ♪ It's a real love, baby, wow, wow ♪ ♪ Whoa, it's the kind of love I want to share ♪ ♪ With nobody else but you ♪ ♪ Heyyy, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Now, when we think about it, baby ♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪ We spent a long, long time ♪ ♪ Searching for a love like we found in one another ♪ ♪ But there's a question we both know ♪ ♪ We need to ask ourself ♪ ♪ 'Fore either one of us should go on any further ♪ ♪ Are we dreamin' 'bout a future ♪ ♪ Instead of living in the past?

♪ ♪ Baby, these are the questions ♪ ♪ Both of us know we afraid to ask ♪ ♪ And I just know, honey ♪ ♪ I don't want no other ♪ ♪ I'm so glad, child, we finally found each other ♪ ♪ And a real love, baby ♪ ♪ A real love ♪ ♪ The kind of love that we should hold onto ♪ ♪ It's a real love, baby, wow, wow ♪ ♪ Oh, it's the kind of love ♪ ♪ I want to share with nobody else but you ♪ ♪ I said, it's a real love ♪ ♪ Hey-yeah-yeah ♪ ♪ A real love, baby ♪ ♪ The kind of love we should hold onto ♪ ♪ It's a real love, honey, wow ♪ ♪ No need to look no further ♪ ♪ Oh, baby, open up your eyes ♪ ♪ Be glad we found each other ♪ ♪ Said day-oh, said day-o ♪ ♪ Mama G-I-O, hey, yeah ♪ ♪ Don't look any further, further ♪ ♪ I said, day-o, I said my day-o ♪ [ Scatting ] ♪ Don't look any further, further ♪ ♪ I said, it's strange ♪ ♪ When you think of the chances ♪ ♪ That we both be in this state of mind ♪ ♪ Too cool to be careless ♪ ♪ We're looking for the right thing ♪ ♪ Oh, baby ♪ ♪ Don't you look no further ♪ ♪ I say day-o, I said my day-o ♪ ♪ Mama G-I-O, ha, ha, yeah ♪ ♪ Don't you look no further ♪ ♪ I say day-o, I say my day-o ♪ [ Scatting ] ♪ Oh, ohhh, yeah-yeah-yeah ♪ ♪ Ahhh ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Ladies and gentlemen, come on, show your love.

Danny "DJ" Johnson.

Eric Douglas back there on the drums.

I'm Kevin Burt.

Big Love.

Happy Juneteenth, everybody.

[ Cheers and applause ] One, two!

[ Final chord plays ] -I can't believe we've come to the end of our show.

-But what an incredible show it was.

We hope everyone here at XBK and the audience at home enjoyed our celebration.

We've had a great time.

and we hope you continue to listen to and support the fantastic artists you heard here tonight.

-Thank you for celebrating Juneteenth with us as we continue to acknowledge and grapple with our nation's complicated past, we must continue to look forward and celebrate the promise of our future.

-Thank you, Ms. Rockie.

-Thank you, Madison.

-Thank you, Iowa.

-And happy Juneteenth.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much.

Big love, everybody.

Be good to yourselves.

-Funding for this program was provided by Friends, the Iowa PBS Foundation, as well as generations of families and friends who feel passionate about the programs they watch on Iowa PBS.