With its connotations of supreme skill and talent, the term “legend” is most often associated with musicians who’ve reached a consummate, extensive display of success away from their hometown, not necessarily those still living in it. That’s a faulty standard. An artist can be just as legendary in St. Louis as in New York City, and local talent shouldn’t be forgotten.
Denise Thimes wholeheartedly agrees. For nearly 30 years, the esteemed jazz singer has entertained audiences with her pristine vocals.
Get a guide to the region’s booming music scene
Subscribe to the St. Louis Music newsletter to discover upcoming concerts, local artists to watch, and more across an eclectic playlist of genres.
“I just think of myself as a woman in jazz, a woman in the music industry, a mother who sings jazz, a woman who has a foundation for pancreatic cancer who also sings jazz. Historically and based on the definitions that we give the word legend, then I guess I am [one].”
Thimes is just one of several acts who’ll be featured during The Grandel Legacy Series, which will highlight the careers of artists who’ve defined St. Louis’ music scene. The inaugural event starts on August 6 and is sponsored by the Kranzberg Arts Foundation in collaboration with The Townsend X3 Agency and Knox Entertainment.
Performances for the month-long series include “Trailblazers of St. Louis Blues & Soul” featuring Skeet Rodgers & Boo Boo Davis on August 6; “Three Queens” featuring Denise Thimes, Marsha Evans, and Renee Smith on August 13; and “St. Louis Gold” featuring Tef Poe, The Knuckles, and Blvck Spvde on August 20.
“The concept of the legacy series is to honor these legends of St. Louis and give them the platform they deserve to tell their story while we still can,” said TownsendX3 Agency’s Alonzo Townsend in a press release announcing the series. “The shows are an honor to the artists, but also provide the audience an archival opportunity to soak in a live performance by these legends across some of the most important genres that helped this city be known as a music town.”
Charles “Skeet” Rodgers says he was speechless when he heard the news about being selected for the series. With a career that spans more than 40 years, Rodgers is considered a doyen of St. Louis Blues. His band, Skeet Rodgers & the Inner City Blues Band, is among the most popular and legendary in the city.
“To be part of the legacy series and be honored as one of St. Louis’ trailblazers is a privilege, and it’s well overdue,” Rodgers says.
Rodgers will be featured alongside Boo Boo Davis, who he says he has always looked up to as a mentor. Earlier in his career, he was a drummer for Davis before starting his own band.
“He’s the one who put me out,” Rodgers, 57, says. “I used to play drums behind him, so it’s kind of like a family thing. We’re both musicians, but he calls me his godson, so it’s a pleasure. It’s going to be awesome.”
Renee Smith cried when she knew she’d be a part of the series. She said the news was humbling.
“People still remember you,” Smith says. “People who you don’t think have even noticed you are still thinking about you. I’ve been in the business so long, so you don’t even think about being honored. I’m so attached and dedicated to my work that I think I’m just giving back all the time.”
Dubbed the “Queen of St. Louis Soul,” the East St. Louis-bred singer has opened for artists such as Bobby “Blue” Bland and Little Milton. She’s also performed at the Apollo Theater in New York City. This month’s concert is her second time performing after a cancer diagnosis in 2019 strained her voice, prompting her to receive speech therapy. Smith is currently in remission, but she wants the show to be a reminder to audiences that she’s still here making great music.
“I’m going to continue to do what I’m doing, because evidently it’s right,” Smith says.
Denise Thimes, who’ll join Smith and Marsha Evans for the first show, said she’s previously worked with both singers. Smith also worked with Thimes’ sister over the years.
“Who can not know [Smith] for her blues style of singing?” says Thimes. “She, too, is just this phenomenal person, performer on stage, but then you look at her story—and that can go for all of us—I think when you look at our story and our journey, that makes us more of a legend than anything else to me.”
Thimes, who has performed with jazz greats like Clark Terry, Wynton Marsalis, and James Moody, says balancing her role as a single parent while pursuing her music career was an obstacle, but one she’s overcome.
“I think being a woman in this business and this industry, being a single mom and raising your children to attend private school their entire lives, has been a part of my journey. And with that being said, I’m very grateful to my village during that time when I was raising my children,” Thimes says. “I don’t regret one single moment of my struggles in juggling their schedules and my schedule”
She hopes the Legacy Series show makes audiences understand the rarity and privilege of seeing legendary acts in the city.
“I would like for St. Louis to come out and embrace these performers who are getting on the stage and giving their all like we always do, and for them to understand and know we have history, we have a lot of stories to tell. We’ve been there and done that, we’ve had a lot of disappointments, we’ve had some good times, and we’ve lost a lot of wonderful singers right here in this city due to COVID. Never take us for granted,” says Thimes. “Every time you see one of us performing somewhere, get there.”
All shows for The Grandel Legacy Series start at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets range from $25-$35 and can be purchased online.
