By Jacquinette D. Murphy, NDG Contributing Writer
Peace! Love! and SolJazz 2012!
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The City of Desoto and the DeSoto Chamber of Commerce will partner with the Desoto Independent School District (Desoto ISD) to host its inaugural 2012 SolJazz Festival, a 10-day, multi-venue arts and music entertainment festival from June 1 to June 10.
“The goal for the chamber is to host the biggest concert series in the DFW Metroplex that will brand the city of Desoto as the ‘entertainment mecca‘ of the Best Southwest area,” said Tesi J. Irving, the communications coordinator for the event.
One of the major events will consist of SolJazzy – themed happy hours scheduled to commence at partnering venues which include the New Buttons Place, Chili’s, Holiday Inn Express and Suites, MCM Grande Hotel Fundome, and Coach’s Corners as a kickoff to this 10-day festival on June 1. Guests will enjoy drink specials and good music. They can win t-shirts and other special prizes to be announced.
A Walk for Diabetes Prevention and a health fair is scheduled for June 2 at Zieger Park in Desoto with Spinderella of the group Salt-n-Pepa. She is a spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association and will be on-site to sign autographs. Proceeds from the Walk for Diabetes Prevention will be shared with the American Diabetes Association and DeSoto ISD Scholarship Fund. Participants can register online, a minimum donation of $10 is requested.
Now for those who think they really missed their calling in life and should be on stage, the SolJazzy Karoke contests is the chance to prove it. Scheduled daily from Sunday June 3 – Wednesday June 6, participants can sing-a-long and win prizes. The locations hosting the karoke singing completion include Real Time Sports and Entertainment, the MCM Grandé Hotel and FUNDome, and the recently revamped Buttons Place.
The SolJazz Spotlight Concerts is scheduled for June 4-7 at the DeSoto Amphitheater in the Town Center. The outdoor shows are free and will feature diverse artists performing, including Brannon Barrett and Anthony Lewis. The concerts are scheduled from 12 – 2 p.m. daily.
Also planned is a shotgun celebrity golf scramble on June 8 at the Cedar Crest Golf Course in Dallas along with a Comedy and Casino Night hosted at the Hilton Garden Inn in Duncanville.
For those who enjoy Sunday brunches and jazz, they are invited to attend the closing SolJazz Rejoice Breakfast Brunch at Button’s Place on June 10. The tickets are $20 presale and will include live jazz, gospel and dance performances. Guests will sip on mimosas, delicious food including deserts for those with a sweet tooth.
According to Tesi J. Irving, the main event of the fest is the 2012 SolJazz Saturday. “We will have Grandmaster Dee, Doug E. Fresh, Rachell Ferrell, Cameo, Pieces of a Dream, MC Lyte, Brannon Barnett and the Buster Brown Band at the DeSoto Eagle Stadium. The concert starts at noon and the doors will open at 10 a.m.,” shared Irving. The tickets are $40 and are available at the Williams Chicken location on Pleasant Run, the Dallas Explosion Lounge and on the event website. There will be a vendor expo on site as well.
The idea of a multi-day concert and tourism event is the vision of Cami Jackson, the current president of the DeSoto Chamber of Commerce. According to Jackson, this event has been in the making for about two years and will yield a three-fold benefit for the area.
“As the chamber, we are also the Desoto Convention and Visitors Bureau. It is our goal to make Desoto a destination city for arts and music lovers. We want to establish Desoto as the place to come for this music and arts festival in this area,” began Jackson. “With the caliber of talent that we are having this year, it will put Desoto on the map like the Essence Festival in New Orleans.”
Though this is the first year, according to Jackson and Irving, the event is also designed to shape the perspective of Desoto as a tourism district.
“Our target audience for this event is all of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas. We anticipate about 10,00 people coming to the area for this festival,” said Jackson. “With people coming, we will have new money coming into the area. Businesses and gas stations will be hopefully beaming with customers. It is truly economic development in its purest form.”
The patronage of the event throughout the city is also expected to accumulate the funds to eventually build a tourism and convention center. “It is our goal to put ‘heads in beds’ and to bring new tourists to the area this year and for them to come back over and over for years to come,” Jackson stated.
Irving also indicated the event will serve as a scholarship fundraiser for students in DeSoto ISD. “We are still accepting applications from students at this time, so please apply.” Students will be awarded onstage during the Saturday concert.
The current sponsors of the event include: Walgreens, 7-Eleven, Dr Pepper, Bank of Desoto, Mac Haik Ford in Desoto, Southwest Mobile Advertising, Smooth Jazz R & B 105.7, Real Time Sports and Entertainment, Gemstone Management and Consulting LLC, Cedar Crest Golf Course and Chili’s.
For a complete list of sponsors, more details on the 2012 SolJazz Festival, to register for the golf scramble, obtain the event schedule, or purchase tickets, please visit or contact the Desoto Chamber of Commerce at 972-224-3565.
