Grammy award-winning drummer, Julliard graduate, and Jacksonville native Ulysses Owens Jr. has performed with world-class musicians from Patti Austin to Wynton Marsalis.What’s more, he believes in the power of music and the arts to bring a better life to underserved kids.
Owens is one of the founders of Don’t Miss a Beat, whose mission is to use the arts to inspire and empower inner-city students.
This summer, Don't Miss a Beat will take a delegation of local students from the Brooklyn-Riverside neighborhoods for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Paris. At a different point in the summer, French students will visit North Florida.
"I believe in the power of the arts," says Owens. "I wasn't a great student, but once I got into music, it gave me a path. I'm excited to be doing the same thing for the next generation."
You can follow Melissa Ross on Twitter @MelissainJax.
