Lavestia Gaston-Harper
Born in Memphis, TN Lavestia Gaston grew up with a passion for music and always admired artists like Anita Lewis of the Soul Children, Chaka Khan, and Diana Ross. Mentored by Anita Lewis, Lavestia began writing music at an early age and as she blossomed, she began performing in several circuits… from opening for major acts to performing as a background vocalist. She has worked with global entertainers such as Al Green, J Blackfoot, Ann Hines, Bobby Rush, Zucchero Fornaciari, Joe Walsh, Denise LaSalle and more.
Lavestia earned her undergraduate degree in accounting from LeMoyne-Owen College and her graduate degree in accounting/taxation from Stetson University. For more than thirty years, Lavestia has been an entrepreneur managing her own tax, financial advising and accounting services company where she provides expert services to small and medium sized businesses as well as private individuals. She is also a freelance columnist for Nashville’s Tennessee Tribune Newspaper.
An avid believer in giving back, aside from her work with NABFEME, Lavestia works with the Memphis Chapter of the Coalition for 100 Black Women, she is a member of the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP), National Society of Accountants (NSA) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). In her spare time, Lavestia loves to travel, sing for events and spend time with her loving husband, son and grandchildren.
Crystal "SaxLady" Brown
By day, Crystal "SaxLady" Brown is a Regulatory Specialist for a chemical specialty company and by night she packs venues as a soulful saxophonist. At the age of 11 after hearing saxophonist, Vernard Johnson, play "He Touched Me,” Crystal was determined to learn how to play sax. Later... Crystal, her brother Charles (organist) and sister Celeste (tenor saxophonist) formed "The Wilson Trio." For 15 years they sang and played at various venues in Memphis and throughout the United States.
Life's challenges culminated in Crystal's decision to cease from playing the saxophone for over ten years, until she married the love of her life, Kenneth. She and Kenneth have a blended family of six beautiful children. After a few years with the newly formed family, Kenneth encouraged her to stir up the gift of music within. Since that time, Crystal has played for weddings, receptions, concerts, showers, etc. She has been a guest artist for Arizona's Racial Reconciliation convention, The Grand Encampment conference in Fort Worth, TX, The United Supreme Council in Oklahoma, The National Coalition of 100 Black Women's Annual Fashion Show and many other events throughout the United States.
