Debra James Tucker: Music of Fred Hammond

Debra James Tucker presents Blessed: Celebrating the music of Grammy Award-winning artist Fred Hammond, featuring Debra, Milton Ruffin, Dwight Bailey, and Vernon Hairston. They will be focusing on the works of Hammond, the gifted vocalist, songwriter, musician, producer, and arranger who has influenced music lovers around the world for more than 35 years.

The unique sound of vocalist Debra James Tucker is a product of extensive training in jazz, classical and gospel music. She is the writer/performer of the one woman show Survival of the Boulevard Singer—winner of an Ohio Arts Council Award for Individual Excellence, has been visiting instructor at Denison University in the history of African American Gospel Music, and an artist in residence with a number of youth arts organizations.

Dr. Milton Ruffin holds a BA in Jazz Studies and BA, MA and PhD degrees in music education from OSU, and currently serves as principal and director of the Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center. Dwight Bailey is a renowned bassist who has worked with multiple Grammy award winning artists such as Dr. John, Blind Boys of Alabama, DeDe Bridgewater, and many more. Vernon Hairston has a BA in Jazz Composition from OSU where he studied with the late great Hank Marr, and has toured and recorded with many international jazz recording artists over the years.