Black Music Appreciation Month

PRESS RELEASE

LRS3 Appointed Official Ambassador of Black Music Appreciation Month Europe

Europe – June | Black Music Appreciation Month Europe

Black Music Appreciation Month Europe proudly announces LRS3 as an Official Ambassador, recognizing her powerful contribution to Black music culture and her growing international influence as an artist, creative professional, and cultural connector.

LRS3 is a dynamic independent singer-songwriter originally from Takoma Park, Maryland, whose artistry is defined by a sultry voice, emotionally rich lyrics, and an unfiltered storytelling style. Writing music from an early age, she discovered songwriting as a safe space—using it to express lived experiences and reveal the complex truths of relationships, identity, and self-discovery.

Deeply inspired by storytelling artists such as Aaliyah, Jhene Aiko, Brandy, Chris Brown, Missy Elliott, and DMX, LRS3 immersed herself in Hip-Hop and R&B, genres that not only shaped her sound but also her cultural perspective. Her music reflects the essence of Black musical heritage: honesty, resilience, vulnerability, and innovation.

Now based in Florida, LRS3 continues to redefine industry standards by expanding her work beyond performance. She is actively involved in radio, artist management, and A&R, nurturing emerging talent and contributing to the next generation of creatives across genres. Her journey may not have followed a traditional path, but it is precisely this authenticity that has built a loyal global community known as the “LRS3 GANG”—a space fueled by transparency, connection, and growth through music.

Her debut featured track “Paris” received widespread acclaim and marked a turning point in her international rise. Frequently touring Europe and Canada, while steadily expanding her audience in the United States, LRS3 has seamlessly transitioned into a compelling live performer, captivating audiences with emotional depth and soothing yet impactful melodies.

As an Official Ambassador of Black Music Appreciation Month Europe, LRS3 represents the spirit of Black music across borders—honoring its roots while pushing its future forward. Her appointment underscores the mission of Black Music Appreciation Month Europe: to celebrate, amplify, and connect Black music culture throughout Europe and beyond.

LRS3’s global outlook, commitment to artist development, and authentic storytelling make her a powerful voice for this movement. As she continues to expand her international network and share her artistry worldwide, her ambassadorship marks an exciting chapter for both her career and Black Music Appreciation Month Europe.

About Black Music Appreciation Month Europe
Black Music Appreciation Month Europe celebrates the cultural, historical, and contemporary impact of Black music across Europe, highlighting artists, professionals, and initiatives that shape the global music landscape.

🎶 Steve Pageot Appointed Royal Member Ambassador for Black Music Appreciation Month Europe 🎶

In a landmark celebration of Black musical heritage, Grammy Award-winning producer, engineer, and composer Steve Pageot has been appointed as the Royal Member Ambassador for Black Music Appreciation Month Europe. This prestigious role underscores his enduring impact on the global music scene and his commitment to honoring the rich tapestry of Black music.

A Storied Career Rooted in Musical Excellence

Born in Brooklyn and raised in Montreal, Steve Pageot’s musical journey began at the tender age of three under the guidance of his father, renowned bassist Fritz Pageot. His early immersion in diverse genres—jazz, reggae, samba, and bossa nova—laid a versatile foundation for his future endeavors. Pageot honed his classical skills at Montreal’s Pierre Laporte School of Arts, mastering the concert flute and clinching top honors at Canada’s prestigious music competition, the Canadian Music Competition.

Transitioning into the professional realm, Pageot’s breakthrough came in 1999 with the production of “The War Iz On” for Krayzie Bone, featuring Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, and Layzie Bone—a track that achieved platinum status. His engineering prowess was further recognized with a Grammy Award in 2004 for his work on Aretha Franklin’s “Wonderful.” Beyond these milestones, Pageot’s collaborations span a constellation of artists, including Talib Kweli, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, and contributions to the acclaimed Hamilton Mixtape.

Leadership and Advocacy in the Recording Academy

Steve Pageot’s influence extends beyond the studio. As the first Canadian elected as a Governor of the Recording Academy’s New York Chapter, he has been instrumental in shaping the organization’s direction and mentoring emerging talents. His tenure reflects a dedication to fostering diversity and excellence within the music industry.

Championing Black Music Across Europe

In his new ambassadorial role, Pageot is poised to spearhead initiatives that celebrate and elevate Black music throughout Europe. His vision encompasses educational programs, cultural exchanges, and events that spotlight the profound contributions of Black artists to the global musical landscape.

Stay Connected with Steve Pageot

For insights into his ongoing projects and initiatives, follow Steve Pageot on his official platforms:
• Instagram:
• Twitter:
• Official Website:

Steve Pageot’s appointment heralds a vibrant chapter in the celebration of Black music, promising to inspire and resonate across continents.

Live at Naava Club 20.APR.2025 Europe

Get ready for Black Music Appreciation Month

ARE YOU WITH ME ?

It’s the most wonderful music month of the year.
I am getting ready to visit SXSW London this year.
And olso to celebrate Black Music Appreciation Month this June in Londen this year.

Please contact us if you gonna and want to be there this year.

Rest in peace Michaela DePrince

THE LAST DAY OF
Black Music Appreciation Month we present to you the last Ambassador of this edition.
We are still in The Netherlands and we want to present one of the Icon Artist of The Netherlands to you.

DENISE JANNAH. (Vocalist, actress, composer, lyricist, voice educator.)
Biography

-“This woman can make you dream, cry, and fall in love. What more could you desire…” (The Music Advocate, Washington)

-“Quite simply, Denise Jannah is one of the best jazz singers to come along in the 25 years I’ve been writing about music.”
(Award winning jazz author and critic Gary Giddins in the New York ‘Village Voice’)

Born in Suriname, South America and residing in The Netherlands,Denise Jannah has made her mark in the international Jazz scene. Renowned for her stage presence, her rich voice, impeccable phrasing, diction and timing, she is also admired for her warm personality that makes her audience feel like special guests in her comfortable living room.

Jannah is a Jazz vocalist who does not shy away from other musical styles as Latin, Gospel, Fusion, R&B, Surinamese- and World music. Being multilingual, and easily moving and grooving in different styles is her forte. She’s always looking for a new challenge to widen her artistic horizon, and therein claiming her artistic freedom.
She has 9 solo albums to her name of which 4 were released by Blue Note Records. Denise Jannah was the first Dutch musician to have been signed by this prestigious U.S. label. With her guitaris Wolf Martini she released ‘Live in Johannesburg’. Together with renowned Japanese pianist Atzko Kohashi she recorded a vinyl album ‘Lost & Found’. Furthermore she has been featured as guest vocalist on various albums from a.o. the Willem Breuker Kollektief, the Amsterdam Jazz Sextet, the Gypsy Boys, trumpeter Gidon Nunes Vas, and most recently she recorded with pianist Yannic Forster.

Denise Jannah has received numerous awards among which are two Edison Awards (Dutch equivalent to the US Grammy Award), the Bata Anastasijević Award from the Niśville Jazz Festival, First Prize at the Golden Orpheus Festival in Bulgaria and the Meer Jazz Award (The Netherlands).

Denise Jannah has shared the stage with a variety of ensembles and orchestra’s, from the Rosenberg trio and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band (USA) to the Dutch Metropole Orchestra and the Willem Breuker Kollektief, from the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra andthe Royal Dutch Marine Orchestra to the Bob Belden Big Band(USA) and the Cyrus Chestnut Trio (USA), and from the Dutch Jazz Orchestra and the Bulgaria Radio Big Band to the Suriname Police Orchestra. She has shared the stage with Jon Hendricks
She toured and performed in countries like Japan, Chili, The Caribbean, Indonesia, South Africa, Taiwan, the USA, Montenegro, Croatia, Azerbaijan, Hong Kong… just to name a few of the 31 where she has performed so far.

Denise Jannah is a talented composer, known also for composingmusic for poetry. On her album ‘Gedicht Gezongen’ (=Poetry Sung, ‘04) she sings 22 poems in 6 languages, all compositions are her own. She has furthermore made her mark as a lyricist, actress, voice educator and musical director/theatre coach, for some productions she wrote part of the songs.

As an actress she starred in several musicals and theatre shows, and she was one of the leading ladies of A Night At The Cotton Club and in Fats Waller’s musical show Ain’t Misbehavin’. She has toured The Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname with her one woman theatre play ELLA! in which she portrayed the legendary Ella Fitzgerald. Currently she still performs her Mahalia Jackson Gospel Tribute, next to her Denise Jannah Soul & Blues- as well as Jazz –and other concerts.
Denise is also part of the all-female international cast of DEAR WINNIE, a big Belgian/Dutch theatre production about the legacy of Winnie Madikizela Mandela, that was selected both in The Netherlands as well as in Belgium to be among the 10 best theatreplays of 2020. So far the play has been performed in the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain, and will be picked up again in January 2025 after a stop caused by the covid pandemic. In the fall of ’22 she portrayed the Trojan Queen Hekabe in the theatre play ATROPA, the Revenge of Peace, that toured in The Netherlands. In the summer of 2022 (in The Netherlands) as well as in April 2024 (in South Africa) Denise played the leading part in Swart Wyn, a South African story.
She did the voice-over -in Dutch as well as in English- for Tessa Leuwsha’s film documentary Moeder Suriname, Mama Sranan that premiered at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) in November 2023 and received a special mention after having been nominated for Best Documentary.

Denise Jannah has performed for heads of states, amongst whom arepresident Nelson Mandela and Mrs. Graça Machel-Mandela, Her Royal Majesty Beatrix, Queen of Holland and His Royal Majesty Prince Claus, president Bill and Mrs. Hillary Clinton, president Ronald and Mrs. Liesbeth Venetiaan (Suriname), president Kenneth Kaunda (Zambia) and mrs. president Ellen Sirleaf-Johnson (Liberia), and the ‘Eurotop’.
Both president Venetiaan (2005) and Her Royal Majesty Queen Beatrix (2009) have decorated her.

Some more press quotes:

-“Jannah’s voice is fine – rich, certain and teeming with a candor undiminished by the artifice of record-making.”
(Down Beat, USA)

-“If you’re having trouble keeping track of the score of female singers swamping the current jazz scene, let me save you sometrouble: Denise Jannah is worth your time.” (Detroit Free Press, USA)

-“Her voice is so direct, the delivery so fresh and clear that she will surely withstand the test of time.” (Jazz Times, USA)

-“Jannah has a captivating timbre, throaty and revealing, that disarms you from the start. She can pin a note in the air like Betty Carter or sculpt a phrase with a finesse that recalls Sarah Vaughan, though her style is quite unlike theirs.”
(Award winning author and critic Gary Giddins in the New York ‘Village Voice’)

If you want more information about Denise Jannah just Google here.

It’s the last day in June to celebrate the Black Music Appreciation Month Europe.
And we are landing at Schiphol The Netherlands to introduce the last two Ambassadors to you.
Introducing to you
THE KING OF THE DUTCH SOUL MUSIC.
And a true legend in the Netherlands

Derick and SoulNL

Singer/songwriter, saxophonist and producer.
Derick Stadwijk first made himself heard as the writer of the song ‘Sensions’, which reached the final of the 1998 national song contest.
His own debut album ‘Zwart Zaad’ was considered the first Dutch-language Soul album by the leading music magazine ‘Oor’ at the time.
This was also the birth of SoulNL.
The music collective under this label plays Dutch classics, based on the American Soul and Funk tradition with influences from contemporary Hip-Hop and R&B.
With this crossover of music movements, SoulNL, led by singer/saxophonist Derick Stadwijk, has created a unique sound and the Netherlands has a new sound.

We Saluut you Derick.🫡🫡🫡

INTRODUCING OUR FIRST ROYAL AMBASSADOR of
BLACK MUSIC APPRECIATION MONTH EUROPE.
( Team Elite ) AAA

Marcus Wade from USA

In 2001, DJ Marcus created and launched the independently syndicated radio program “Cross Culture Radio”, a 2 hour radio show that featured the latest in house music seamlessly mixed on several terrestrial radio stations. Today, Cross Culture Radio has been rebranded as Gospel Meets Dance Radio and is currently broadcasted on radio in Amsterdam via CLFrequency and over various internet radio stations in Africa and Columbia. Salt Shaker Records launched in early 2010, focusing on the creation of promotion of quality house music and events. In 2017 DJ Marcus realized a dream of producing a house music festival. Dance In The Park Charlotte’s inaugural year was a great success and was quickly adopted as a regional event in the Mid Atlantic US.

In 2018, DJ Marcus joined the artist roster of PTGW Music and IndiePlant Gospel managed by the Gospel Agency of Amsterdam, NL with the main focus of expansion of the DJ Marcus brand in the Netherlands and throughout Europe. DJ Marcus was officially introduced to Europe during ESNS 2019 Showcase Festival. With slated seminars and performances during DanceFair 2019 and ADE 2019, DJ Marcus will be a part of the ultimate goal of introducing gospel and inspirational dance music into the European markets.
The future is bright for DJ Marcus as he continues to expand his musical brand internationally and fulfill his creed to reach this at risk generation through dance music.
DJ Marcus Wade

BLACK MUSIC CULTURE IN ITALY EUROPE
Introducing our Black Italian beauty Ambassador of Black Music Appreciation Month Marcia Sedoc.

Marcia Sedoc born in Suriname on 1-11-1959, left for the Netherlands with her parents in 1968. She became a photo model and at the age of 19 she was chosen as the first Miss Black Holland in 1980, after which she independently organized Fashion Shows in Hotel Krasnapolsky (De Dam), Hotel Caransa (Rembrandsplein) and Hotel Marriott (Leidseplein) respectively, which, in terms of quality, were a quantitatively large audience, were highly valued. Marcia has lived and worked in the Italian fashion and music world for approximately 30 years. She currently presents television and radio programs as well as in the Italian film and theater world, where as an actress she had to portray various roles with the famous film actor Mastroiani under the direction of the famous film director Fellini. With the “FAJALOBY” Foundation, she not only promotes Suriname and Surinamese, but also promotes art, dance, music, tourism, talent shows and fashion, alternating with cultural artists. Also organizes fund raising event and she is a Ambassador of Black Music Appreciation Month Europe.
Fayalobi - A Suriname-American Organization

INTRODUCING DJ ALL STAR FRESH
Ambassador of Black Music Appreciation Month

DJ and Producer All Star Fresh is a true winner.Starting as a Pro in 1979 made his base as a DJ already internationally. His musical talent, made it happen that he established a well respected name all around the world, already back in the 80-ties: After playing all the major clubs in Amsterdam being one of the first mixing djs he needed a new challenge. After winning the Dutch Mixing Championships (DMC) in 1988, he was invited for the The World Mix Championships in the London Royal Hall and won third place in a fierce competition. He was invited by Dave Funkenklein to enter the lions hole in New York. He made history in the Big Apple of Hiphop by being the first non -American to fly into the finals of The World Supremacy Battle of DJs. He gained the highly respected second place of this prestigious DJ contest). The impression that he made that year, resulted in many invitations to perform with world known artists like Public Enemy, Stetsasonic, Ice T and Ultra Magnetic MCs.
For more info about DJ All Star Fresh go to or visit the website www.allstarfresh.com

If Gospel music is the cornerstone of Popmusic than we are proud to introduce to you the next Ambassador of Black Music Appreciation Month worship leader and artist Noel Robinson

Noel Robinson is a musician and songwriter signed with Integrity Music. “This is the first artist agreement Integrity Music have ever given to a worship leader who is African-Caribbean heritage, British born, and it feels like a door-opener to a new generation,” says Noel. “Integrity’s a good place to be for someone like me who feels called to cross cultures.”

Noel ministers internationally, which allows him to travel extensively around the world, leading, teaching and training worshippers in diverse settings. Noel can be found supporting and partnering with trans-local, as well as international, events as a worship leader!

Noel’s heart is to see the Church empowered and revived as agents of change and transformation in this world.

For more information about Noel Robinson go to or visit https://www.noelrobinson.com/bio/