The first concert in the Mott Community College Centennial Lecture & Concert Series will feature two alumni, Rufus Ferguson on piano and Caleb Robison on drums. They will be joined by Rockelle Whitaker-Fortin with vocals and Brandon Rose on bass. They will perform hits from the first-quarter of MCC’s century of existence, from 1923 to 1948. 

The concert will be Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. in the Mott Memorial Building Auditorium @MCC. The concert is free and open to the public.

Ferguson and Robinson are both graduates of MCC’s Music Program. 

About the artists:

Rufus Ferguson is a multi-genre pianist and organist raised in Flint and based in Detroit. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in jazz piano from Western Michigan University as well as an Associates of Arts degree from Mott Community College. He is currently the Assistant Professor of Jazz and Popular Music at Albion College. 

Born and raised in Flint, Caleb Robinson is a multi-talented drummer who has been playing and learning the craft since the age of three. He also plays bass and produces music. An alumnus of the MCC Music Program, Caleb is currently a student in Michigan State University’s Jazz Studies Program.

Brandon Rose incorporates elements of jazz, funk, hip hop and R&B into a full-bodied sonic experience. In the 2000s, he achieved early notoriety on Michigan-based television programs and online streaming platforms as a child bassist. 

Rockelle Whitaker is a vocalist, composer, lyricist and “Ghost” lyricist from Detroit. As the eldest of jazz bassist Rodney Whitaker, her musical talent is rooted in gospel, baptized in the blues and an immensely inherited legacy of jazz. She has toured and performed in jazz clubs/festivals in the U.S., Europe and Asia. 

The Centennial Lecture & Concert Series is part of the yearlong celebration leading up to the main anniversary event in September. Over the course of the year the College will sponsor monthly lectures alternating with concerts throughout the community, a run/walk on campus, and a 100th Anniversary Week in September including outdoor movies, music, festival on the main campus, fireworks and a gala dinner dance.

To join the celebration and explore MCC’s history, visit 100.mcc.edu, or MCC100th on Facebook.