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Hundreds of free prom dresses claimed at Killeen event

BY JADA HOLCOMB KILLEEN DAILY HERALD

The “A Dress & A Blessing” giveaway event hosted by Marcus Simmons Fashion & Arts Academy took place Saturday at the Killeen Civic and Conference Center.

The noon event brought in hundreds of girls throughout the day, excited to get their hair and makeup done, paint their nails, take professional photos by photographers, and of course — claim a free dress for the upcoming prom season.

“There’s a lot of different emotions, I want to say a relief but it’s a beautiful relief,” said Dominique Simmons, the event’s organizer and fashion designer. “They’re looking amazing; the parents are happy and it’s a relief for the parents financially because prices are going up on everything,”

This was Simmons first-ever dress giveaway event. He expressed to the Herald how he wanted to bring something to Killeen that will help out parents financially, as well as getting the opportunity to see girls feel confident in their new dresses and makeovers. Fashion is what inspired him to come up with the event, and future Marcus Simmons Fashion & Arts Academy plans are underway “I wanted it to be almost like a woman empowerment event” focusing on beau-

JADA HOLCOMB | HERALD

The A Dress & A Blessing dress giveaway event, hosted by Marcus Simmons Fashion & Arts Academy, took place Saturday

DRESSES

ticians and women who have their own companies, said Dominique Simmons, the brother of the late Marcus Simmons.

“Some of them are students, and so I think it’s important for young girls to see that,” he said. “God just used me for this moment and I’m just happy it came together.”

Also during the event were outdoor community vendors, local businesses, food and raffles for all ages to walk

around and participate in. Families walked around getting to buy a variety of products ranging from makeup kits, customized clothing and furniture, free Easter eggs, stuffed animals, hair accessories and more.

“Whatever shirts they need I’m ready to make, it helps me a lot, too, because they give me the inspiration to just freestyle a shirt.” said 20-year-old Kalani Rodillas, the owner of Made by Kalani.

The event ended around 5 p.m., with many families and girls satisfied.

“My mom just told me about it and I was like ‘I want to go’, I like looking at dresses,” said 15-year-old Lauren Perkins.

JADA HOLCOMB | HERALD

The A Dress & A Blessing event, hosted by Marcus Simmons Fashion & Arts Academy, took place Saturday. People waited to get their eyebrows done.

New live music venue — featuring R&B music — opens in Killeen

BY THADDEUS IMERMAN KILLEEN DAILY HERALD

“Alexander’s Music Box is open.”

Those are the words shouted — at the behest of former Killeen Councilman Ken Wilkerson — by supporters of a new business in downtown Killeen, which celebrated its grand opening Saturday afternoon.

Owner Jessica Gonzalez got emotional many times throughout the ceremony, but for good reason.

Alexander’s Music Box, 313 N. 8th St., is the culmination of a dream she had to honor the memory of her father, Alexander Hollmon. A painted portrait of Alexander hangs above the bar.

Hollmon passed away in 2019.

“When I got over the sadness of his transition, I was like, how can I honor him and keep that (good) feeling alive?” said Gonzalez, who is also a Killeen councilwoman. “And this was the only thing I could think of.”

Hollmon was a military veteran who did three tours in Vietnam. He was from Louisiana and loved the blues

Gonzalez said her father was a cousin to Leonard Lee, who was an R&B and doo wop singer and who teamed up with Shirley Goodman to form Shirley and Lee. Gonzalez said R&B and soul singer Aaron Neville also perfor med at her father’s high school before his career

took off

As people conversed in a low mur mur before the music started Saturday, Gonzalez flashed back to her past.

“When you came into our house, this is what you’d hear,” she said. “It was just music and people talking to each other; it was always live.”

“Est. 1938” sits at the bottom of the venue’s logo, which Gonzalez said was her father’s birth year

In his remarks during the ceremony, Wilkerson thanked Gonzalez for bringing something the community needed.

“Thank you so much for bringing us something that we need,” Wilkerson

said. “When Jessica does anything, she does it top-notch, so we’re getting the best right here in Killeen.”

Charles Wilson of the Innovation Black Chamber of Commerce, which hosted the grand-opening ceremony, said Alexander’s Music Box is more than “just a music venue.”

“It’s a home for soulful sounds of blues and more — right here in downtown Killeen where music meets the heart and the community gathers to share and enjoy the live perfor mances,” Wilson said. “As we cut this ribbon, we’re not just opening doors; we’re unlocking a new chapter of musical journeys and cultural richness in our town.”

Alexander’s Music Box is open to the public three days a week: From 4 p.m. to midnight on Thursdays and 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. It will be for patrons 18 and older.

The venue can be booked for private parties on other nights.

Friday nights, the venue will feature karaoke and a D.J. Fridays will also feature an open mic and jam session. Saturdays will feature live perfor mances.

The venue had a soft opening beginning Feb. 24.

Alexander’s Music Box will feature a food and drink menu and will also serve non-alcoholic beverages

For more on the new music venue, go to alexandersmusicbox.com.

PHOTOS BY THADDEUS IMERMAN | HERALD Jessica Gonzalez, center, cuts the ribbon on Alexander’s Music Box on Saturday in downtown Killeen. Gonzalez, who is on the Killeen City Council, owns the new live music venue

Alexander’s Music Box in downtown Killeen features a teal and black color scheme. Supporters mingle a er the venue’s grand opening on Saturday.

Family members and friends of Alexander’s Music Box owner Jessica Gonzalez, socialize a er the grand opening of the music venue on Saturday in downtown Killeen.