Overview
As the nation’s first collegiate Black popular music ensemble offered for course credit, the IU Soul Revue is known for its dynamic and authentic performances of R&B, Soul, funk, and contemporary Black popular music. Established in 1971 on the Indiana University Bloomington campus, the “Revue” has wowed thousands of fans across the nation, from New York to Florida to LA. In addition, the Revue opened for a slate of famous artists, including James Brown, The Emotions, Con Funk Shun, and Booker T. Jones. The Revue shared the stage with two-time Grammy nominee/two-time ASCAP award songwriter Terry Steele, who hosted the group at the legendary Spaghettini jazz club in Seal Beach, California. In addition, the Revue served as the band for funk legend Bootsy Collins at the renowned Cincinnati Music Festival. The Soul Revue celebrated its 50th Anniversary in April 2022 with a concert featuring past and present members at the Madam Walker Legacy Center in Indianapolis.
Over the years, the Revue has provided invaluable experiences for hundreds of student members from diverse backgrounds, influencing their love for the Black popular music, and giving them the tools for success in many fields, including the entertainment industry. The alumni roster includes Donna Taylor, a long-time backup singer for Burt Bacharach; Crystal Taliefero, vocalist, saxophonist, and percussionist with Billy Joel; Lance Tolbert, keyboardist and bassist with Mariah Carey and Charlie Wilson; Keith Mitchell and Kevon Edmonds of After 7; Bryan Thompson, saxophonist with Babyface; guitarist Alex Goldblatt whose resume includes Lizzo, Lil Nas X, Giveon, and others; and the phenomenal Michael Burton, whose “soulful Saxophone” has been on stage and record with a long list of artists, including Patti Labelle and Adam Blackstone. The group’s talent has been recognized by the multi-Grammy-winning Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, who received his Honorary Doctorate at Indiana University, and his songwriting partner Daryl Simmons, who conducted a songwriting workshop for Soul Revue students.
Indianapolis-born bassist and Soul Revue alumnus James Strong currently directs the Revue. Now holding a Professor of Practice appointment at Indiana University, Strong has led a successful career in the entertainment industry for 30 years and served as musical director for Stephanie Mills and LL Cool J, in addition to playing with Toni Braxton, En Vogue, Tupac, New Edition, and others.
The IU Soul Revue is one of three ensembles managed by the African American Arts Institute, a unit of the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Multicultural Affairs at Indiana University Bloomington. The ensemble is offered to students for academic credit through IU’s Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies.
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