The concept which is Organix Soul was started in October of 2006 by cultural activist and poet Darryl "D" Moss.
Organix Soul was created as a means to re-acclimate music fans to the notion of good soulful music and prose. Live Music! To remind them of a time when singers really had to know how to sing, and poets had to recite as if their lives were on the line, and both were desperate to change the world.
The mission was to find performers whose material shared a common theme: Social and Spiritual Growth. D. Moss wanted to provide that music that spoke of struggle, hope, change and also of love, God, and relationships.
You know: Soul Music….
Wikipedia defines Soul music as a music genre that combines rhythm and blues and gospel music, that originated in the United States . According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of funky, secular testifying."
Being a poet, the model had to include Spoken Soul - An eclectic blend of Poetry, Jazz-funk, soul & acoustic blues music elements. A form of soulful urban storytelling reminiscent of the sermons heard throughout the Black Church Experience.
The venue launched in December of 2006 and featured gospel artists Yvette Early and Leon Timbo, along with spoken word performers Taalam Acey and Faraji Salim.
Since it’s inception, the list of Organix Soul performers has grown to include: DaVina, Jean Baylor (of Zhane), Anthony David, Marcell & The Truth, E.Bland, Mahogany Browne, Crystal Senter-Brown. Young City Ru, April Hill, Cheryl Pepsii Riley, Maya Azucena, Ragan Whiteside, Curtis Haywood, James Gordon, Angela Johnson, Gordan Chambers, LaSonya Gunter, Dwayne Morgan, Julie Dexter, Isaac Young Quartet, Big Brooklyn Red, and a over hundred other artists
As the venue evolved Moss recruited veteran radio personality James Lewis, along with Andrew “AK Soul” Keaton and Butch Grant to form a team that could provide the region with the quality programming needed to sustain the venue.
To date, Organix Soul remains one of the very few venues around the country to mix all the elements of Black Music into one venue.
The popularity of Organix Soul has grown to the point of franchising venues in both Hartford Connecticut and Boston Massachusetts, which will both be launched in October of 2008 by promoters in both cities. Organix is looking at further expansion and are currently engaged in ongoing discussions with groups in Brooklyn New York and Huntsville Alabama to launch venues in regions.
Organix Soul is a program that promotes good ole fashioned soulful music and spoken soul. Moss says “Our goal is to develop and promote events that are socially and artistically relevant and inspiring not only to music fans, but for everyone."