Toshi Reagon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Toshi Reagon
Reagon at the Holland Festival, 2018
Background information
Born	(1964-01-27) January 27, 1964 (age 61) Atlanta, Georgia
Origin	Washington, D.C.
Genres	Folk, blues, gospel, rock, funk, women's music
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1978–present

Toshi Reagon (born January 27, 1964) is an American musician. She is known for her unique blend of folk, blues, gospel, rock, and funk music. Toshi is also a talented composer, a person who chooses art for shows (curator), and a producer.

Early Life and Musical Roots

Toshi Reagon was born on January 27, 1964, in Atlanta, Georgia. She grew up in Washington, D.C.. Her parents were musicians who were very active in the civil rights movement.

Her mother, Bernice Johnson Reagon, started an all-woman singing group called Sweet Honey in the Rock in 1973. This group greatly influenced Toshi. Her father, Cordell Reagon, was a leader in the civil rights movement in Albany, Georgia. He was also a member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). Both of her parents were part of a civil rights music group called The Freedom Singers.

Toshi Reagon was also inspired by 1970s rock and roll bands like Led Zeppelin and Kiss. She also loved classic Blues musicians such as Big Mama Thornton and Howlin' Wolf.

Music Career Highlights

Starting Out and Collaborations

Toshi Reagon began performing when she was 17 years old. In 1990, the famous musician Lenny Kravitz asked her to open his first world tour. Since then, she has performed with many other well-known artists. These include Ani DiFranco, Elvis Costello, and Meshell Ndegeocello.

Her first album, Justice, came out in 1990. She has released many solo albums since then. Her most recent album, SpiritLand, was released in December 2018.

BIGLovely Band

Toshi Reagon's band, BIGLovely, has been performing together since September 1996. The name "BIGLovely" came from a loving nickname her girlfriend used for her. The band includes talented musicians like Judith Casselberry on acoustic guitar and vocals, and Robert "Chicken" Burke on drums. Other members include Fred Cass, Jr. on bass, Adam Widoff on electric guitar, and Catherine Russell on mandolin and vocals.

The Parable of the Sower Opera

Toshi Reagon created a rock-opera called Parable of the Sower. It is based on a novel by Octavia E. Butler. This opera first showed in Abu Dhabi in 2017. Soon after, it had its US premiere in North Carolina.

Toshi Reagon and her mother, Bernice Johnson Reagon, created and wrote the opera. It was directed by Eric Ting. The show featured over 20 singers, actors, and musicians. Toshi Reagon has always been a big fan of Octavia Butler's books. She felt that the book's themes of Afrofuturism and its look at political situations were very important.

Toshi Reagon explained that they made the opera different from the book. They wanted to show two types of communities. One is the community you are born into. The other is a new community you find. She wanted the audience to feel like they were part of the story.

Discography

Toshi Reagon also appeared on the TV show The L Word. She sang a song in the final episode of the fourth season.

Awards and Recognition

Toshi Reagon has received many awards for her music and art:

• 2021 Religion and the Arts Award
• 2021 The Herb Alpert Award in the Arts
• 2021 The APAP Award of Merit for Achievement in the Performing Arts
• 2015 Ford Foundation Art of Change Fellow
• 2009 Out Music Award
• 2007 Black Lily Award for Outstanding Performance
• 2004 New York Foundation for the Arts award for music composition

Personal Life

Toshi Reagon is the goddaughter of the famous folk singer Pete Seeger. She is named after his wife, Toshi Seeger.

Toshi Reagon lives in Brooklyn, New York with her partner and their adopted daughter.

See also

In Spanish: Toshi Reagon para niños