Queen of Underground Soul to Perform at Toledo School for the Arts

Acclaimed artist Sy Smith brings her Masterclass tour to TSA students and the community.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 11:03am

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Sy Smith, long hailed as the Queen of Underground Soul, is bringing her seasoned artistry, expertise, and signature mix of funk, neo-soul, and R&B to the Toledo School for the Arts. The acclaimed artist will lead a daylong residency and evening performance on March 27, giving TSA students an up-close look at her creative process before her powerful, joy-filled concert experience.

Why it matters

This event is part of TSA's CathARTic program, a growing initiative designed to support African American professionals in education and the arts and to make sure students see themselves in the people who teach and perform around them. It provides a rare opportunity for the community to experience an intimate performance by an artist who has collaborated with many renowned musicians over her 20-year career.

The details

Smith's first professional tour was with R&B balladeer Kenny Lattimore, followed by a life-changing experience singing background vocals for the iconic Whitney Houston. She has also lent her voice to television, including Ally McBeal, Soul Food, and American Idol, as a featured vocalist in the Rickey Minor Band. Smith is known for her collaborations with Grammy-winning trumpeter Chris Botti and her reimagining of Al Green's 'Let's Stay Together' with percussion legend Pete Escovedo.

  • The Toledo School for the Arts event will take place on March 27, 2026.
  • Smith's first professional tour was in the early 2000s.

The players

Sy Smith

A Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, and producer who is long hailed as the Queen of Underground Soul, with a career spanning more than 20 years.

Patti LaBelle

A legendary singer who had a formative influence on Smith's career after pulling her on stage during a performance when Smith was 8 years old.

Whitney Houston

An iconic singer with whom Smith had a life-changing experience singing background vocals early in her career.

Toledo School for the Arts

A school hosting Smith's daylong residency and evening performance as part of its CathARTic program to support African American professionals in education and the arts.

Erica Leverette-Traorét

The human resources director at Toledo School for the Arts who helped expand the school's guest artist program to be more inclusive of Black and African American professionals.

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What they’re saying

“She stands me up out of my seat, reaches her hand out to me, and sings right to me. I felt this energy, this connection, and it brought me to tears. I remember thinking, 'Oh, my God, what is this feeling? What is this? Whatever this is, this is something I want to do.'”

— Sy Smith

“Now I get it … that was the best lesson ever.”

— Sy Smith

“I want to give a master class with my show. Not a master class of my skill, but a master class on joy, a master class of intention and purpose, because that's really what my message is.”

— Sy Smith

“We really try to tell our students [their] art has value … this is just another way to show them that. And when we can, you need to pay people for their time and their talent.”

— Kim Buehler, Vocalist and educator

What’s next

General admission tickets for the March 27 performance are $20 and can be purchased at https://ts4arts.org/events-guide/.

The takeaway

This event showcases Toledo School for the Arts' commitment to supporting and elevating Black and African American artists, providing students with role models and mentors in the arts. It also offers the community a rare opportunity to experience an intimate performance by a seasoned and acclaimed artist like Sy Smith.