Grammy Nominated Christylez Bacon Gets Standing Ovation at the Atlas Theatre
Scroll Down to Check out Christylez' YouTube video footage "It's the Beatbox" LIVE at the Kennedy Center where he mesmerizes audiences with orchestra, rap, life stories, and the human beat-box!
By Andrea L. “Aunni” Young
No one expects a 2010 Grammy nominated rap artist to ride the Metro to every gig in Washington, DC. Neither can anyone imagine how a Southeast DC musician collaborated on “Banjo to Beatbox” with two folk artists, Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, receiving a 2010 Grammy nomination for Best Musical Album for Children. Known for his charismatic and rhythmic “mic” skills, Christon Bacon, or “Christylez”, is a progressive rap, human beat-box, and multi-instrumentalist. This down-to-earth and extremely talented artist originated in the roughest parts of Washington, DC and emerged as a Grammy nominated musician from Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Although the Grammy was awarded to Ziggy Marley’s album “Family Time”, Bacon was humbled by the experience and walked the red carpet with A-listers like Beyonce. Bacon said “they are very popular and talented, real people, it made sense for me to be there.” Bacon is an experienced Kennedy Center performer, Washington, DC area music teacher for kids, and college/university master class educator. Soon after his return to Washington, Bacon received a standing ovation for his theatrical-concert debut “In Pursuit of Me”, a biographical sketch featuring a collaboration of actors, rappers, singers and musicians at Northeast Washington’s Atlas Theatre.
Developed with the help of stage play director Patrick Crowley, Bacon’s journey of pain, hope and success was revealed. Bacon showed his versatility as he transcended culture and brought worlds of music together infusing classical theater, hip hop, human beat-box, African instruments, orchestra and a Greek chorus singing Baptist style songs. Bacon shared stories on the mic, sparing no one the truth-revealing stories of his past. Mesmerized audiences responded with reflective sighs and excited clapping as Bacon took his audience on a full circle journey of beating the odds and gaining success.
With a life purpose to “create cultural acceptance through music”, Bacon attributes Duke Ellington for exposing him to different art forms. Recognizing the human beat-box as an authentic instrument, Bacon also plays the West African djembe drum, West African spoon, Angolan benning bow, and acoustic guitar to name a few. “Heavy roots in folk music are actually Black; I learned the ukulele to collaborate more with Cathy and Marcy for the children’s album.” Bacon is influenced by the likes of multi-Grammy award winning Quincy Jones, known for big band orchestration and collaborative successes with artists like the legendary Michael Jackson. Other music groups that inspire Bacon are UK bands Jamiroquai and West London’s 4hero, whose music to “opens people’s minds”, and produces tunes with broken beats and exciting orchestration. Last fall Bacon performed at the 2009 Ludacris Foundation 6 Annual Benefit Dinner that honored Jones. Bacon inspires to perform with Jones and would also perform with the National Symphony Orchestra. Woolly Mammoth Theatre may be the next platform for this Grammy nominated artist to expand his story of growing up in Southeast DC to walking the red carpet and sharing his love of music.
Tweet with Bacon @ ChristylezBacon.
