R&B group SWV performs for the crowd during the Rhythm & Soul Fest on Feb. 20 at Texas Hall. Their hit single “Weak” spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1993.
UTA honored Black History Month over the weekend with worship and nostalgic R&B and hip-hop.
Students, faculty and alumni gathered for the second annual Rhythm & Soul Fest on Friday at Texas Hall. The event featured performances by gospel singer Le’Andria Johnson, rapper and beatboxer Doug E. Fresh and Grammy nominated R&B group SWV.
Hosted by Student Affairs and the Intercultural Student Engagement Center, the event also honored five trailblazers with Beacon of Excellence awards.
Nursing junior Sinalena Manisela said events like this at UTA are important to sustain culture.
“To keep the history going, to keep the culture going, to keep it alive,” Manisela said. “To remember our past and to utilize it for the future.”
The members of SWV said seeing younger generations connect to their music felt refreshing.
Their performance portrayed the passing down of R&B to younger listeners, many of them singing along to “Rain” and “Weak.”
News reporter Courtney Franklin contributed to this article.
Gospel singer Le’Andria Johnson performs during the Rhythm & Soul Fest on Feb. 20 at Texas Hall. One of Johnson’s first albums, “The Awakening of Le’Andria Johnson,” was No. 1 on Top Gospel Albums in 2012.
Rapper and beatboxer Doug E. Fresh dances during the Rhythm & Soul Fest on Feb. 20 at Texas Hall. Fresh was awarded the I Am Hip Hop Icon Award at the 2014 BET Hip Hop Awards.
Rapper and beatboxer Doug E. Fresh performs during the Rhythm & Soul Fest on Feb. 20 at Texas Hall. The 2010 hit song “Teach Me How to Dougie” by Cali Swag District was a tribute to Fresh.
Concertgoers shine their phone flashlights during the Rhythm & Soul Fest on Feb. 20 at Texas Hall. The event featured performances from gospel singer Le’Andria Johnson, rapper and beatboxer Doug E. Fresh and R&B group SWV.
Crowley, Texas, resident Nona Humphrey, 50, cheers during the Rhythm & Soul Fest on Feb. 20 at Texas Hall. Beacon of Excellence awards were presented between sets.
SWV backup dancers perform during the Rhythm & Soul Fest on Feb. 20 at Texas Hall. SWV performed “Weak” and “Rain.”
R&B group SWV performs during the Rhythm & Soul Fest on Feb. 20 at Texas Hall. SWV was honored as urban music icon award at the eighth edition of the Black Music Honors.
A concertgoer makes a hand heart toward SWV during the Rhythm & Soul Fest on Feb. 20 at Texas Hall. The trio has sold more than 25 million albums during its career.
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