Queen Bey-Blythe, Local Artist and Jazz Educator, on Her International Career in Music, Film, and Theatre

Queen Bey-Blythe is an artist and jazz educator with a long career in film, theater, and music. 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’s wide repertoire of jazz and blues standards and innovative songs are drawn from her first-hand experiences working with the legends of jazz and blues. Queen’s style, “a natural and understated approach to the material make for a solid crowd pleaser” according to Variety magazine.

Queen has performed with B.B. King, The Platters and the late jazz pianist Earl Garner. She received rave reviews in the national entertainment magazine Variety and The New York Times for her act at New York’s Michael’s Pub.

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. 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 promoting jazz and blues music on behalf of the United States and jazz organizations. In 2000, she represented the United States at the World Expo in Hanover, Germany.

Ms. Bey has acted on stage and television and in film, including Broadway musicals – Ain’t Misbehavin, One Mo’ Time and Blues in the Night.

Host and producer: Donna Morrow Wolfe        Co-host and co-producer: Karen E. Griffin

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