Black River Technical College (BRTC), in collaboration with the Eddie Mae Herron Center, will host a Black History Month event at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 29 at the Randolph County Development Center on the Pocahontas BRTC campus, located at 1410 Hwy. 304 East.
This year’s Black History Month Event will feature a presentation entitled “An Introduction to Arkansas Musicians” presented by Saxophonist and Vocalist Michael Eubanks. Then he will perform jazz, and take questions.
Eubanks is an Arkansas native, a performing artist, sound engineer, and educator for over three decades. In addition, He is a United States Army veteran (the 2nd of three generations of veterans in his family). Eubanks studied music and performed in various music ensembles at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock throughout the early to mid-2000s while building his brand as a performing artist.
Eubanks has performed in the US, Europe, and East Asia. He became famous as a saxophonist and vocalist in South Arkansas and Monroe beginning in the winter of 1996 to the mid-spring of 1998. His popularity increased in the Summer of 1998 when he performed at the River Market Amphitheatre in Little Rock as the opening act for “Jazz Lights 98,” which featured legendary and internationally acclaimed recording artist Jonathan Butler, Gerald Albright, and famed, legendary jazz guitarist, Earl Klugh.
Since then, Eubanks has been on the bill with renowned national and international artists (Blackfoot, Lynn White, Betty Wright, Mel Waiters, The Bar-Kays, Earl Klugh, Freda Payne, Chante Moore, Kirk Whalum, and Melba Moore) and has performed for presidents, vice presidents, other important people. He has two completed works, “On A Day Like This” and “Christmas at Michael’s.”
Eubanks is on the Board of Directors of the Robert L. Brack Music Scholarship fund and a member of the Arkansas Arts Council as an Artist-on-Tour and Artist-in-Education. He owns JBM Entertainment Production, is a partner of the Creative Talent Council, and hosts “3rd Sunday Jazz—Art in this Space.” Eubanks will take your breath away when he takes center stage with his smooth sax and soulful, sultry vocal style.
For more information about the event or to RSVP, contact BRTC Development Specialist Shawna Lepard at (870) 248-4026 or shawna.lepard@blackrivertech.edu.