A History of Motown - Krystle Dos Santos

Krystle Dos Santos is an award-winning, powerhouse vocalist, songwriter, and performer whose dynamic presence and rich, soulful sound have captivated audiences across Canada for nearly two decades. With a career spanning multiple genres and disciplines, she has shared stages with celebrated artists such as Allen Stone, Serena Ryder, Ruth B, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Bublé. More than just a performer, Dos Santos is a musical historian, using her art to illuminate the cultural and historical impact of music. Delighting in the art of what she coins “Edutainment,“ her projects delve deep into the roots of Black music and Canadian history, including BLAK: Canadian Women in Music, A History of Motown, and Hey Viola!, a musical tribute to civil rights icon Viola Desmond. From September 2025 to April 2026, Dos Santos will serve as a Shadbolt Fellow at Simon Fraser University, where she will be developing a new show about Vancouver’s historic Black Strathcona neighborhood and the women who lived and worked there, including Nora Hendrix and Viva Moore. In addition to her solo work, Dos Santos is also a member of the country-rock band Orchard Sky, where she brings Black representation to Canadian country music, expanding the genre’s diversity and storytelling. Whether on stage, in the studio, or curating historical narratives through music, Dos Santos is a powerful voice ensuring that the past, present, and future of music remain deeply connected.