October 13, 2022
By Cora Jackson-Fossett
Managing Editor
South L.A.’s premiere outdoor event returns - live and in-person -with the 17th Annual Taste of Soul Family Festival on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., along Crenshaw Blvd., from Obama Blvd. to Stocker Ave.
According to Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., TOS creator/founder who describes the event as “the biggest and baddest block party in all of Los Angeles,” the festival will feature four concert stages, free health services, technical/digital booths and more than 300 vendors. Also, several high school and college bands, accompanied by dance teams, will perform.
“Taste of Soul is an event that your whole family can enjoy because it provides such a wide range of products and services - from food to clothing to housing assistance, educational information and leading music acts,” explained Bakewell.
“Thanks to the overwhelming support from our corporate sponsors, community members, small business owners and elected officials, we can present a free, first-class event for the people of South Los Angeles that includes great fun along with much-needed information to improve our health and finances,” he noted, referring to the number of booths manned by various healthcare agencies providing on-site screenings and other stands hosting representatives of local banks.
Attendees can also witness enjoy live entertainment and leading recording artists at the Bakewell Media “Music for the Soul” Stage sponsored by Chevrolet, 102.3 Radio-Free KJLH Stage, the Brenda Marsha-Mitchell Gospel Stage and Children’s World with presentations by talented youth and young adults.
The musical line-up includes Troop, Lakeside featuring Mark Wood, Midnight Star, Elijah Blake, Erica Campbell, Kenny Lattimore, Noel Gourdin and Ruff Endz.
Local choirs and choral ensembles representing Faithful Central Bible Church and Greater Zion Church Family are among gospel performers.
Other highlights include Digital World sponsored by Microsoft and Powered by TecLeimert and the Beer Garden hosted by Mothers In Action and KBLA. In addition, CBS2/KCAL9 will air live news throughout the day and KBLA 1580 AM will broadcast live interviews and commentary from the Beer Garden.
“The evolution of Taste of Soul has simply been about the care for Black people and wanting the best for our community,” insisted Bakewell, who also expressed appreciation to the corporate and commu
nity partners uniting with Bakewell Media to present the event.
Taste of Soul partners consist of The Bakewell Company, Los Angeles Sentinel, L.A. Watts Times, Mothers in Action, Brotherhood Crusade, 94.7 The Wave, County of Los Angeles, City of Los Angeles, LAUSD, 102.3 Radio-Free KJLH, CBS/KCAL Los Angeles, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall and the Law Offices of Ivie McNeill Wyatt Purcell and Diggs.
Sponsors include Transportation Partner & Premiere Sponsor: Metro, Presenting Sponsor of the Bakewell Media Sounds for the Soul Stage: Chevrolet, Sponsor of the Bakewell Builds Better Communities Pavilion: HPP Cares, LA County, Southcoast AQMD, Sponsor of Bakewell Media’s Digital World: Microsoft, Destination Crenshaw, SoCalGas Company, Chase Bank, Law Firm: Ivie, McNeill, Wyatt, Purcell & Diggs, SEIU 2015, LADWP, Metropolitan Water District, Bank of America, USC, Yes On A, Kaiser Permanente, Wells Fargo, Watts Health, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, US Bank, One Legacy, Charles R. Drew University, UTLA, CTA, California Black Power Network, Southwest Carpenters Union, Cedars-Sinai, Spectrum News 1, Waymo, California Highway Patrol, Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital, Aventiv Technologies, Comerica Bank, Southern California Edison, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, Save Our Water, Private School Network, LAWA, Providence, Boeing, Blue Shield California, MidFirst Bank, NHS, Learn4Life, California Highway Patrol, TecLeimert, Commerce Hotel & Casino, Self Help Federal Credit Union, ConcertoPACE, Lee Andrews Group, MRKT Co, West Basin, LA City Workforce Development Corporation, Oscar, AT&T, Elite Auto Network & Verizon.