Music Cafe looks to backup new talent during annual college tour
By Kiana Simone | Published Dec. 11, 2016
Music Cafe, a group of six musicians who back up other artists and tour college campuses, held auditions for a new front person at Kean University and William Paterson University last month.
The group has yet to unveil its selection. The type of music which Music Cafe plays is diverse, and they do not define themselves as any particular genre. Each new front person determines their style for the entire year during their annual college tour.
Dezz Welder, 27, is the founder of Music Cafe and a Kean University graduate. At the age of six, Wilder began playing the drums. He caught on by watching his older cousins take on the instrument and knew he could do it too.
It was always Wilder’s dream to play in front of thousands of people, and today, he’s turning that dream into reality.
“When I got to high school, I started playing for my church and little concerts at my school,” Welder said. “When I got to Kean, I started attending different events that revolved around musicians and artist. From there I fell in love with the ambiance. It wasn’t too long until I wanted a showcase of my own.”
The first Music Cafe show was held on February 27, 2011 in Elizabeth at Paradise Lounge on East Grand Street. The tour officially started in the spring semester of 2013.
The selections of schools the tour travels to varies every year due to growth coming with better opportunities for Music Cafe. They’ve visited Montclair State University, William Paterson University and Kean University.
“Kean is very important to Music Cafe because the brains behind the production started there with Dezz and Shane,” said Shaquille ‘SB’ Brown, the new band leader for Music Cafe. “Real music and talent is still alive and our job is to showcase jersey’s finest.”
The group has yet to announce their future stops in the 2017 tour. For more information, follow Music Cafe on Twitter @MusicCafe_Live.
Follow The Tower on Twitter @KeanTower. Find The Tower on Facebook.
You must be logged in to post a comment.