Born and raised on the sunny south side of Dallas, Texas, Von is emerging as one of the clearest and strongest of America's young voices. As a vocalist, she is applauded for the courage and originality in her unique delivery, calling to mind a time when music shook the soul like thunder and lightning.
As a poet, she spits fire (the fire that needs no water)--commanding the stage with such authority that audiences are left frozen and spellbound, yet delightfully fulfilled. As an author, she is respected for tackling the most critically sensitive of our world's issues, and is recognized by many for unleashing a self-publishing frenzy in major cities across America when she released her first book in 1997--a time when spoken word had yet to reach club and cafe popular society.
She is the author of two self-published books, Lemonade--Sweet & Sour Black Thought Power (Wizdumrime 1997) and The Slave Tree (Balance Books 2000), which features a companion LP, The Slave Tree Hymnal--which she wrote, arranged and produced. Her works appears in numerous literary anthologies and on several musical compilations, including the Dallas releases, Sankofa Live and Nommo, a compilation album which spotlights fellow Dallas natives Erykah Badu and N'Dambi Blue. Through The Afterset Sessions, released in Chicago in 1999, she recorded with jazz legends Fred Anderson, Harold Atterberry (of The Temptations) and Sonny Seal. Her latest independent LP, Live at Cocoabean's, debuted Spring 2003 in Chicago.
Von has shared the stage with the best in art and culture from Malcolm Jamal Warner and Floetry to Amiri Baraka and The Last Poets. Just recently, she overwhelmed an unsuspecting audience with an opening musical performance that set a magical stage for new neo-soul artists Calvin Richardson and Javier. Her musical influences range from the old school--Anita Baker, Natalie Cole, Marvin Gaye to the new and eclectic--Lenny Kravitz, Ben Harper, and Rachelle Ferrell. She is vocally indebted to Ella and Sarah and Dinah, and is a diehard fan of Outkast and The Roots.
She is recognized in the hottest clubs and cafes across America as one of the best poets in the country and has been featured abroad in Europe and South America. As performer and guest lecturer, she frequents schools and universities nationwide.
She is often spotted performing with her band, TheSweatLodge, at local hot spots and is a frequent host at artist venues in Dallas.
