Feb 9, 2020 – I attended exhibit, celebrations, and performances at the CSUDH Gerth Archives and Special Collections and the Georgia and Nolan Payton Sacred Music Archive titled Will the Circle Be Unbroken -The Sacred Music of the African Diaspora-curated by Beth McDonald and Greg Williams at CSUDH Library Cultural Arts Center. The gospel music exhibit…
Langston Hughes by Terrance McKnight As a poet, Langston Hughes wrote about people and situations that were familiar to him. The characters in his poems and short stories were the people from his neighborhood and in his family. In my own family, my sisters would often recite his poems as if they were their own. From…
2-15-2020 – I attended Georgia Laster Association of Musicians in collaboration with Knox Presbyterian Church presents A BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM-AFRICAN AMERICAN LEGACIES-Outstanding Moments in our History. The program included live performances and video clips with introduction by musicologist Dr. Hansonia Caldwell-Harriford. Legacy-1-Jimi Hendrix, Rock Guitarist (1942-1970); Legacy-2-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Civil Rights Activist (1929-1969);…
Thee Black Swan Theatre & Opera Company presents TROUBLED ISLAND at UCL in London Sep. 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. TROUBLED ISLAND composed by William Grant Still with libretto by Langston Hughes. TROUBLED ISLAND From the African American composer William Grant Still.The Opera tells the story of Jean Jacques…
During the speaker portion of February 4, 2020 Long Beach City Council meeting, I briefly shared some African American history that occurred in Mexico.
Judith Anne Still, publisher and daughter of William Grant Still, shared the following information with MusicUNTOLD.com: A MAJOR EVENT IN THE HISTORY OF MUSIC!! The British Arts Council has provided funding (in part) for the second performance in 75 years of Still’s TROUBLED ISLAND, the opera that honors the slaves who triumphed in the Haitian…
SUMMERLAND: Music for Cello and Piano by Composers of African Descent DUO DOLCE: Kristen Ji-Yun, cello and Phoenix Park Kim, piano After months of researching, practicing, rehearsing, and recording, Phoenix Park Kim (piano) and Kristen Ji-Yun (cello) new CD “Summerland” has finally hit the market. This CD features cello and piano music by composers you might…
Novaya Russiya Orchestra John McLaughlin Williams, Conductor Tchaikovsky Hall Moscow 1/11/20
January 15, 2020 attended the historic production of Porgy & Bess at the Metropolitan Opera. With deep gratitude to composer George Gershwin and his estate for required color casting that has provided invaluable employment opportunities on and off stage for generations of African Americans. My single opinion henceforth recommends color casting be revoked and blind…