Known as the largest street festival in Los Angeles, the 13th Annual Taste of Soul kicked off Saturday morning Oct. 20, in the heart of Crenshaw Boulevard. Crowds flocked through the streets with an intention to eat, dance, and enjoy an uplifting community.
Sounds from meat sizzling on the grill, to people laughing filled the street. However, the true sound was indeed from the music.
Music from all walks of life encompassed the festival. Singers young and old took to the different stages to showcase their talent. One of those stages was 94. 7 The Wave.
The Wave has sponsored a stage since 2008. Their contribution has given Taste of Soul opportunities to work with talented musicians throughout the years. Some of those musicians were invited again to perform this year.
Gospel group Chosen Recovery and On Tour were asked to perform again this year due to their amazing past performances. Chosen Recovery, a local gospel group, was one of the first performances to take the Wave Stage. Throughout the day, the stage continued to fill with talented singers and even some musical legends.
She’s known as one of Billboard Magazine’s Top 60 Female Artists of All Time. Jody Watley, singer, writer, and dancer, performed new and old melodies. Her signature style didn’t disappoint. She danced across the stage while rocking leather and chained pants. There was even a moment when two women bedazzled in colorful garments joined her on stage. Though the stage was filled with various well-known talents such as Erin Stevenson and Sean Michael, one newer singer was granted an opportunity to perform.
Marcio Donaldson, a Compton native, received an opportunity to show the audience his skills. Donaldson was the adult winner of this year’s StarQuest talent search. StarQuest allows musicians the ability to perform on stage in front of entertainment executives. Music wasn’t the only experience recognized.
Promoters took a moment to reflect on the numerous contributions made by Taste of Soul. Organizers were welcomed on stage to express gratitude for creating a community event that benefits residents. Some of those benefits included booths on therapy, voting, and finding local jobs.
As the night ended, disco legends Sister Sledge rocked the stage performing classic hits. Sister Sledge is known for their iconic song We Are Family. That is exactly what Taste of Soul promoted. It is about families coming together enjoying music, food, and soul.
