The Black-Ups

Downtown lounge and concert venue DROM welcomes soul-singing duo and performance artists The Black-Ups to the East Village in a new monthly musical extravaganza. Neighborhood soul man extraordinaire, James Jackson, Jr. teams with long-time friend and hair-changing Diva-About-Town, LaDonna Burns (Rent Nat’l Tour, Seussical Nat’l Tour) as America’s favorite bawdy, and bad-ass lead singer-less back-up duo, The Black-Ups.

Bringing the hits from the 1970s into today in the spirit of The Richard Pryor Show and The Flip Wilson Show, “The Black-Ups: Variety Hour…& a half” asks “What would happen if Sonny & Cher had…a little more soul?” Each month a very special guest will be a part of a comedy and music party that only The Black-Ups could throw.

With the sexiest soul band in town, lead by the multi-talented, ever-charming Elliot Roth, “The Black-Ups: Variety Hour…& a half” takes your soul on a much-needed & long overdue journey.


James Jackson, Jr. Interpreter of tight jeans, too much jewelry, and good soul-searching music, the diamond-hearted, sharp-witted, Boston native Mr. Jackson was undergraduately reared by lesbians in the New England Berkshires after artistically growing up on the south shore of Massachusetts under the soul-food tutelage of a deep southern family. The shoes; Birkenstocks. The music; Indigo, Simone, Franklin, & Difranco. The relationships; many, lost, and strong.

Deposited in New York City over a decade ago & the real work began. Dance belts, regional stage yelts, never fitting in with the in-crowd, a team of demanding Brits, and even a rather unfortunate stop in Branson, Missouri all lead to his discovery of artistic truth on prestigious stages like Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall. His highly emotional, devastatingly funny cabaret act has been seen at Joe’s Pub, 54 Below, Duane Park, DROM, The A.R.T.’s Club Oberon, and Los Angeles’ Lyric Theatre. James’ razor-sharp wit, unique sense of humor, talent, and on & off stage persona have become an artistic force to be reckoned with as well as a voice people want to hear as the changes the face of the concert stage.