“Raisingthebar, an artist’s loft” was developed when drummer Mario Dawson came to vocalist Kathleen Johnson in the summer of 2009 wanting to have a “Jam Session”.  He asked for help in getting things going, so Kathleen went to work and found a venue and gathered up the vocalists of BKS.  Mario put together a band and off we went working on this project for several months.  A musical project, venue and stage was developed to offer vocalists, musicians, poets, a visual artist and anyone who had a voice and needed to express themselves artistically the avenue to develop their talent.  We give great big thanks to Ms. Arnellia of Arnellia’s in St. Paul for believing in us and giving us our first avenue to make this happen at her establishment!  A back up band of some of Minneapolis’s most talented musicians and vocalist come together UNPAID or for a fraction of what they are usually paid to in order to support this up and coming community of artists LIVE ON STAGE, who sooner than later had the opportunity to work with a LIVE REHEARSED BAND!  At the same time we as professionals have the opportunity to tap into our creativity and find that we have not lost it while working in other established bands around town that hardly ever rehearse and play the same songs over and over again yes for pay, but at the expense of creativity!  “RTB” continues to be an outlet in which to tap into our creative side, brush up on our professionalism and excitement about being a chosen creative artist!