Valencia Bey

Official Biography (courtesy of Valencia Bey)

In 2006, Valencia produced her debut CD, Heart of a Brown Girl, a diverse folk/rock CD that is, according to WXRT-Chicago's Richard Milne, "a little bit of Tracy Chapman with more of the big wailers like Odetta." With a little help from her friends - renown guitarist Pat Fleming, drummer Rick Vitek, and bass player James T. Bromley - she created a project that appealed to fans across genres - rock, folk, pop and soul.

Her latest project, Coffee and Conversation, is music that adults can relate to. Also a blend of genres - rock, blues, soul and jazz - its themes of sunshine and loss, love and pain will appeal to a broad audience. This time around, she is joined by her band, Frankie Blaze, producer for Chicago's Crucial Conflict, on lead guitar, Jauqo III-X, renown bassist and creator of the 15-string bass as well as the Low C sharp Theory and Glover Washington, Jr., seasoned rhythm king, on drums.

Coffee and Conversation is currently a CD Baby recommendation in the Rock: Adult Contemporary music category. Valencia has been recognized for her songwriting by the Academy of Gospel Music, VH1's Song of the Year and the International Narrative Song Competition.

Heart of a Brown Girl received positive reviews. "I'm Falling" received national airplay and was featured on WXRT - Chicago. "Let Freedom Ring", "Brown Girl" and "If I" received national college radio airplay.