Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of ending slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, on June 19th, the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official on January 1st, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.

Valerie Tyson is one of those unique performers, renowned and revered by audiences and musicians alike. As the leader of one of the most dynamic notable event bands to come out of South Florida, Valerie Tyson fronts a stellar group of musicians and singers who create magic every time they take the stage.

This nine-piece band boasts an enviable repertoire of favorites, including today’s Top 40 hits, smooth jazz, soulful R&B classics, essential rock melodies, standards, and evergreens…even reggae and tropical staples! They are a dynamic, electrifying ensemble that packs the dance floor time after time, event after event.