In this series, we're highlighting community members of all interests and experiences, sharing their top reasons and tips for living in Ypsilanti.

For this feature, we’re putting the spotlight on John E. Lawrence, beloved jazz musician and creator of the John E. Lawrence Summer Jazz Series through the summer. Hear directly from John on why Ypsilanti is always his top choice!

1. What should we know about you and your event series?

I'm the founder and artistic director of the the John E. Lawrence Summer Jazz Series. This is our 4th year coming up and I'm very excited! Each year it grows and I'm looking forward to seeing the crowds this year. What I like about it is it's first class. We get national recording artists you hear daily on the radio and we bring them to lil ol’ Ypsilanti to perform on a first class stage, with first class sound and first class environment, and we love having them!

Bring your own chairs and enjoy smooth jazz every Friday! This year, the festival opened the show with Adam Hawley, guitar player with sixteen #1 Billboard hits to his credit.

2. What can you share about Ypsilanti that only a local would know?

Ypsilanti is a good place to be raised and to do business. There’s still businesses in Ypsi since I was a teenager. There's businesses that have been around for a long time, and if you do your homework and find what your customer wants, it's a good place. You can make it happen here!

I do a lot of performing in Ypsilanti, private and corporate parties, I taught at Washtenaw Community College, so it's a good place. If you have a good business plan, you can be successful.

3. What is something you're looking forward to this year in Ypsi?

I'm a national recording artists now and they play my music all over the world on SiriusXM Radio Watercolors (channel 66). I have a new song coming out in August called: Time for Change. I call it time for change because it's a different style I normally record, so time for me to do something different.

In the Fall, I'll have another song coming out featuring Jerald Albright who is a very accomplished national recording artists, one of the best saxophonists in the world and I was blessed to have him perform on my song. That is called "Cruisin' on the South Side" dedicated to the South Side of Ypsilanti where I grew up.

4. Why choose Ypsi to live and play events?

I was born and raised in Ypsilanti, and I really want to give back to my own community.

5. How would you describe Ypsilanti in 3 words?

Peaceful, loving environment.

We’d like to thank Mr. John E. Lawrence for sharing the insider information with us! Visit Ford Lake Park for the JEL Summer Jazz Series and catch John perform August 23.

Want to learn more about living in Ypsilanti? Find more features and property listings at LiveNypsi.com.