Photography Exhibit Celebrates Huntsville Music Scene

Experience the power of music and art as one at Hear To Be Seen on September 5 backstage at The Orion Amphitheater!

 

Hear To Be Seen is a portrait series of Huntsville-area musicians featured on the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library’s Blast Music streaming platform. Photojournalist Shedrick Pelt is the eye behind the lens and the vision in this partnership with the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library. 

 

On the evening of September 5, the public is invited to step backstage at the award-winning Orion Amphitheater from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. In addition to a gallery showing of the musician portraits, there will be a pop-up photo experience by local photographer Dokk Savage, an artist talk moderated by Shedrick Pelt, and on-stage performances by several musicians who are subjects of the portraits. 

 

Of the series, Shedrick says, “This portrait series arrives at a pivotal moment for Huntsville, Alabama, a city currently in the process of defining its own unique identity within the entertainment world…Through these portraits, we endeavor to amplify the voices and faces driving the rhythm, unveiling the intricate tapestry of experiences that have cultivated the dynamic music scene in Huntsville. Our mission is to bridge the gap between the past and present, paying homage to the roots, embracing the ongoing evolution, and rejoicing in the authenticity and diversity of the artists who play a pivotal role in its unfolding narrative.” 

 

A Huntsville native, Shedrick currently resides in Washington DC covering Capitol Hill as well as telling the distinct local stories of our nation’s capital. With over a decade of experience, Shedrick specializes in photojournalism, portraiture, music, and commercial photography. Since 2018, he has been an active collaborator with a dynamic network of artists and grassroots organizations, including Story District, Dupont Underground, Exposed DC, Parklife DC, and Partners Global. In 2022, Shedrick started as a contributing photographer for Getty Images and, most recently, in 2023, a freelance photographer for The Washington Post and Black media outlet The Washington Informer. Commencing his career in live music photography, Shedrick has been an integral part of the official SXSW photo crew since 2015, collaborating with numerous artists across the United States. Currently serving as a Board member at Focus On The Story, he actively contributes to their annual photo festival.

 

As for the nine subjects of the portraits, read on for a quick introduction!

 

B Smoove: Born and raised in Huntsville, AL, B Smoove grew up listening to and loving music at an early age, where R&B staples from stations like 94.1 were constantly on in the car. B Smoove started entertaining when he was 14 years old and continued to grow in his involvement by collaborating with other local artists and even writing his own music. The goal of his music is to bring back good, nostalgic feelings and to make listeners know that they are not alone. 

Camacho: Comprised of Joe Canada, Andrew Segler, Alex Powell, Heath Brister, and Mac McDonald, Camacho is a rock band with a taste for the theatrical, anthemic, and energetic. Their live shows are an experience you don’t want to miss!

Dizzy D: A rapper and producer from Huntsville, AL, Dizzy D’s journey into the music industry began after forming the hip-hop duo Betta Half in 2006. The group achieved critical success with hits such as The Untold (2007) and AWOL (2009). With much hard work and diligence, Dizzy released his first album, Elevation, in 2011 and made a name for himself in the underground rap community. His energy on stage is unmatched and garnered him a performance at the 2017 Bonnaroo Music Festival. He continues to add to his legacy as one of Alabama’s best MCs by keeping his sound powerful, epic, and futuristic. 

DJ Siza Hanz: Raised in Pulaski, TN, DJ Siza Hanz has been an originator in the Tennessee Valley for many years. Not only does he DJ, he is also a producer and engineer, currently hosting his own radio show, the “Siza Hanz Radio Show,” on G93, Live365.com. DJ Siza Hanz also co-hosts the “No More Dirty Radio Show” on 103.1 WEUP Huntsville. He is the house DJ for the “Session – Bible, Beats, and Bars.” He also has his hands in film and television production. He believes education and being involved positively are the efforts that are needed for success in the community.

GMANE: Born Geoffrey Keith Robinson in Florence, AL, GMANE is an underground rapper who made his name with the independent group/label Slave Kamp Music in the 90s. He subsequently made the jump to Straight Off Da Chain/Select O Hits in early 2000 for the release of the critically acclaimed album “Collector’s Item.” Taking matters into his own hands, he returned to the underground rap scene with his newly formed Alabama Hustle Unlimited in 2003. Newly inspired, he worked to build an audience for himself via the internet and mixtapes.

Hailed as “The Godfather of Shoals Area Hip Hop,” GMANE has recorded over 30 albums and mixtapes, done countless features, and built such a strong audience that his work has allowed him to tour and record internationally in Malmo Stockholm and Landskrona, Sweden as well as Copenhagen, Denmark. As an advocate for the unhoused community, GMANE serves on the board of Crossroads Community Outreach and has mentored at the local Boys & Girls clubs. He also has his own philanthropic “Coats for Kids” and “Feed the Shoals” events during the holidays and gives to several charities and organizations advocating for the youth.

Kim Tibbs: Since birth, Kim Tibbs has been honing her craft. Crediting her late father, Pastor Robert L. Tibbs for her musical ability, Kim has over thirty years of musical experience as an accomplished arranger, B-3 organist, keyboardist, lyricist, pianist, producer, and songwriter. Kimberly is currently an Endorsed Hammond Artist with Hammond Organ Company USA, a Roland Artist with Roland Corporation US, a Peavey Artist with Peavey Amplifiers USA, and a Slick Audio Recording Artist, as well as a Staff Writer for the Songs of Love Foundation. Kimberly is also a Council Member of the Board of Advisers in the College of Arts at J.C. Calhoun Community College. Kim has worked with many award-winning artists including CeCe Winans, Percy Sledge, The Blind Boys of Alabama, and Billy Ray Cyrus. 

SamSei: A North Carolina native, SamSei is now based in Huntsville. His sounds range from funk and soul to Afrobeat and dancehall. He runs the Afrobeat/Huntsville Facebook group. SamSei has been producing, composing, and songwriting in addition to singing for the last three years and loves performing across Huntsville.

Treetop: Treetop made Huntsville his home in 2015 when he moved to attend Alabama A&M for Music Performance. He immediately fell in love with the music scene here and met a ton of very talented artists who influenced his artistry. Treetop’s album Shells and Leaves is a reflection of his time here and what he learned about himself. With his music, he hopes to spread a positive message and introduce listeners to a type of music they haven’t heard before. You can catch Treetop performing around town with his band, The Gifted!

Zami Mare’: Renee Cain, professionally known as Zami Maré, is a singer, songwriter, and actress from Athens, AL. Her music genres range from R&B and Pop to Gospel. As an independent artist, her first single, “I Am Enough,” first aired on Gospel Grind Radio and can be heard locally on WLRH and WJAB along with her hit Pop single, “I’m Yours.” She also has other singles, such as “227” and “Sweet Love,” that are playing on Huntsville Radio Station Worship 94.5FM and Internet Station Paradox East Radio. Listeners can find her music streaming on Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, Pandora, and Blast.

Hear To Be Seen is grateful to have the financial support and partnership of several key organizations in Huntsville and Alabama, including the Huntsville-Madison County Library Foundation, the Alabama Humanities Alliance, the Huntsville Music Office, and The Orion Amphitheater. September is Music Month in Huntsville, and Hear To Be Seen is one of the signature Music Month events.

Can’t make the event on September 5? You will still have plenty of time to view the Hear To Be Seen portraits. In continuing celebration of Music Month, from September 6-30, they will be on display on the second floor of Huntsville City Hall! The portraits will be in the company of works by other revered local artists, including Jahni Moore, Yuri Ozaki, David Nuttall, and Guadalupe Lanning Robinson. 

The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library is proud to be a part of this unique event that explores and showcases the rich artistic, musical, and cultural traditions in Huntsville and Madison County. Hear To Be Seen welcomes our community to celebrate with us on September 5!