Cequita Monique on how she was ‘born into jazz’

By , Daily Memphian Updated: October 30, 2025 3:22 PM CT | Published: October 30, 2025 3:21 PM CT

In some ways, Cequita Monique can’t remember a time she wasn’t surrounded by music. “I think I was born into Jazz,” she says.

Monique, who is a jazz singer as well as the founder of the First Sunday Jazz Jam Pop Up Series, joined me on this week’s episode of “The Sidebar.”

Monique was also the proprietor of the Precious Cargo, the jazz club, coffee shop and more that was in the Pinch District from 1996 to 2008. 


Collage Dance debuts a new season, new members program


The next concert in the First Sunday Jazz Jam Pop Up Series is on Nov. 2 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Center for Southern Folklore. The last concert of the year will be Dec. 7, also from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Center for Southern Folklore.

Monique joined me to talk about the series as well as her love of jazz, blues and gospel.

Take a listen.

“The Sidebar,” which airs every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. on WYXR 91.7 FM, is also available as a podcast here on the website or wherever you get your podcasts.

Note: WYXR is a partnership between Crosstown Concourse, the University of Memphis and The Daily Memphian. As part of that partnership, I serve on the board of Crosstown Radio Partnership, which owns and oversees WYXR.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

 

Topics

The Sidebar Cequita Monique Center for Southern Folklore
Eric Barnes

Eric Barnes

Eric Barnes is CEO of The Daily Memphian, host of Behind the Headlines on WKNO-TV, host of The Sidebar on WYXR 91.7, and the author of four novels.


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