By: Lennard James
Tonya Dyson is a Memphis native whose impact on the city’s music, arts, and culture scenes over the past two decades has been nothing short of transformative. As the founder and president of Neosoulville, a lifestyle marketing and events company launched in 2004, Dyson has helped to foster a dynamic space for soulful, funky, and progressive creative expression. Through Neosoulville, she has developed an influential platform that not only showcases music, arts, and culture but also builds community connections that extend far beyond Memphis.
Since its inception, Neosoulville has produced an impressive array of events, spanning weekly, monthly, and annual celebrations of music and culture that consistently draw local and national attention. Dyson’s mission is clear: to celebrate and uplift Memphis’s rich and diverse culture through soulful sounds and art forms that embrace the city’s unique spirit. Through online news, lifestyle marketing, and strategic event management, Neosoulville has become a bridge between Memphis and wider audiences who seek genuine, vibrant cultural experiences.
Dyson’s expertise doesn’t stop at events; she also works directly with brands, venues, and promoters to help them connect with a target market of young, professional lovers of music, art, and culture. Her firm serves as a vital resource for those looking to reach this demographic, which is particularly drawn to genres like soul, hip-hop, spoken word, jazz, and visual and literary arts. By providing brands with the tools and insights they need to resonate with this audience, Dyson has solidified Neosoulville as an invaluable asset for arts and entertainment in Memphis.
Beyond her work with Neosoulville, Dyson has taken on the role of Director of the Soulsville USA Festival. This annual event is a celebration of Memphis’s historic Soulsville neighborhood, home to the legendary Stax Records. Dyson’s role in bringing the Soulsville USA Festival to life is a testament to her commitment to honoring the neighborhood’s legacy while encouraging future generations to explore their creativity. She’s deeply passionate about preserving Soulsville’s cultural heritage and believes in the power of music and community to inspire young creatives and connect generations.
Dyson’s efforts have also been instrumental in the transformation of Memphis Slim’s house, an iconic site located across the street from the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Thanks to Dyson’s advocacy and the support of Community LIFT, the house has been redeveloped into a vibrant community space where up-and-coming Soulsville musicians can gather, rehearse, and create. Through partnerships with institutions like Visible Music College, the University of Memphis Music College, and Stax Music Academy, Dyson has helped re-imagine Memphis Slim’s house as a place for the next generation of musicians to explore and develop their artistry.
This transformation was made possible by the generous support of foundations such as the Kresge Foundation, ArtPlace America, The Assisi Foundation of Memphis, and the Hyde Family Foundation. Together, Dyson and these organizations have created a new foundation for music and arts education in Memphis, ensuring that the Soulsville neighborhood continues to be a place of inspiration and creation.
A truly multifaceted creative, Dyson’s talents are as boundless as her dedication to Memphis and its art scene. She’s a community builder, a cultural advocate, and a visionary with an innate ability to blend traditional and contemporary expressions of soul and artistry. In her various roles, Dyson exemplifies how one person can bridge the past, present, and future of a city’s cultural landscape.
Through Neosoulville, the Soulsville USA Festival, and the redevelopment of Memphis Slim’s house, Tonya Dyson has helped Memphis reimagine itself, inspiring a movement of creativity that has no limits. Her work not only preserves the city’s cultural heritage but actively shapes it, making Memphis a richer, more inclusive place for artists and audiences alike.
Published by: Nelly Chavez
