Kool Moe Dee kicks off Levitt series at Bessie Smith Cultural Center [video]

Kool Moe Dee

Kool Moe Dee, known for such hip-hop hits as "Wild Wild West," "How Ya Like Me Now" and "I Go to Work," is the headlining act for the inaugural Levitt Amp Chattanooga Music Series at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center.

The 10-week series is presented through a partnership with Jazzanooga, Urban League of Greater Chattanooga, Bessie Smith Cultural Center, Chattanooga Convention and Visitor's Bureau and the city's Office of Multicultural Affairs.

It is funded by Benwood and Lyndhurst foundations and a matching Levitt Amp grant, which is made possible by the Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation, a national organization whose mission is to bring communities together through music. Chattanooga was one of 15 cities across the country to receive the grant.

Kool Moe Dee began his career in the early '70s as part of the Treacherous Three with DJ Easy Lee, Special K and L.A. Sunshine.

The group split up in 1985 and Kool Moe Dee released his solo self-titled album in 1986. His second album was called "How Ya Like Me Now?" He performed on Quincy Jones "Back on the Block" in 1991 and earned a Grammy. He was one of the first to perform on the Grammy Awards show.

Jazzanooga founder Shane Morrow said the series was designed to showcase a variety of musical styles that don't always get performed here and to bring people of all backgrounds and demographics together.

"The arts are just a great way to bring all people together and especially today, we need to come together," he said.

Mary Howard Ade with the Visitor's Bureau recommends people bring a blanket or a chair.

Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354.