Musical trailblazer Lakecia Benjamin: From chasing Prince to touring with Stevie Wonder

By FRANCE 24 English

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In this interview with FRANCE 24's Culture editor Eve Jackson, saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin looks back at her distinguished career. From trying to sneak into Prince's Las Vegas shows to catching the attention of Stevie Wonder, the six-time Grammy-nominated musician has carved out a career working with some of the biggest names in music, from Missy Elliott and Jay-Z to Alicia Keys. In 2023, her album "Phoenix", recorded after a near-fatal car accident, earned three Grammy nominations and marked a turning point in her career. Now, with her sixth album, "We Dream", she blends jazz, hip-hop and soul to explore a world divided by political and cultural battles, offering a message of unity, compassion and hope. Lakecia Benjamin also talks about the musical influences that shaped her, the personal loss that changed her life, and why she believes music can bring people together when the world seems determined to pull them apart. She will be performing at Paris's New Morning venue on October

Tags: Alicia Keys, Culture, France 24, France 24 english, Grammy awards, JayZ, Jazz, Lakecia Benjamin, Missy Elliott, Music, New morning, Paris, Prince, Saxophone, Stevie Wonder, US Culture, US culture, We Dream, arts24, culture