The Demarius Hicks Quintet with Vocalist Tracy Smith

Join us for an unforgettable evening at "Soulful Serenade," where the smooth rhythms of jazz by The Demarius Hicks Quintet meet the powerful essence of soul. Featuring the dynamic and captivating female vocalist, Tracy Smith, this show promises to transport you through a musical journey filled with emotion and energy. With her rich, velvety voice and magnetic stage presence, Tracy will breathe new life into classic jazz standards and contemporary soul hits alike. Prepare for a night of soulful melodies, infectious grooves, and heartfelt performances that will leave you humming long after the last note fades. Don’t miss this chance to experience an enchanting night of music that will resonate in your heart and soul!

Band members- Demarius Hicks (Drums), David Hicks (Keys), Jason Swagler (saxophone), Eric Slaughter (guitar) & Bernard Terry (bass) also a few surprise guests!

Demarius Hicks is an exceptional musician whose voice of choice is drum set.  As a diverse musician, he has mastered a variety of musical styles such as gospel, straight ahead, funk, fusion, Afro-Cuban, big band, drum and bass, rhythm and blues and hip hop.

A native of East St. Louis, Illinois, Demarius Hicks, or “Heavy D” as his colleagues affectionately call him, began his musical journey playing drum set as a child in church.  Pursuing his love for music, Demarius later studied under the leadership of his mentor Marvin Sparks, Director of Percussion studies at UMSL, who introduced him to the wide world of percussion.

Demarius’ artistic uniqueness lies in his distinctive sound, authenticity and creativity.  A sensitive, colorful and innovative drummer, Demarius mixes different textures and tones on the drums and cymbals to produce breathtaking colors and images.  A versatile musician, Demarius approaches each genre in its’ authentic context, yet compliments it through incorporating various styles in an ingenious manner to create an interesting and innovative sound.  His distinctive sound combined with his approach to music compliments his expressive creativity.

Demarius has performed, toured and recorded with many artists from all genres.  He has been blessed to travel all over the world: Germany, Italy, Paris, France, London, Honduras, Haiti, Panama, Greece and San Juan just to name a few – performing with artist such as, Grammy award winning Stephon Harris, Marc Cary, Casey Benjamin, Chico Freeman, Hunan Romero, Bucky Pizarrelli, Nicholas Payton, Russell Gunn, J Oliver, Hiton Ruiz, Pibo Marquez.  I have performed locally with some phenomenal artists like Denise Thimes, Theo Peoples, Anita Jackson, Ptah Williams, Billy Barnett, Erin Bodi, Kim Massie, the late great Gene Lynn, Kasimu-Tet and many more.

Tracy Smith’s musical journey began in childhood and has since evolved into a distinguished global career marked by versatility, dedication, and cultural impact. Her enduring love for music has placed her on stages around the world, enabling her to connect with diverse audiences through a universal language that transcends borders.

Influenced by a wide array of genres—including jazz, blues, pop, rock, rhythm and blues, gospel, country, and contemporary Christian music—Tracy has developed a rich and adaptable vocal style. Her continuous exploration of vocal techniques and stylistic nuances reflects a commitment to artistic growth and authenticity.

Over the past decade, Tracy has served as a musical ambassador through the U.S. Department of State's Arts Envoy program. In this role, she has traveled to more than 34 countries across five continents, performing and engaging in cross-cultural musical exchange. Through her work, she promotes mutual understanding and uses music as a tool for diplomacy, education, and connection.