James “Jim” Hamlin, of the Royal Theater & Community Heritage Corporation and the owner of The Avenue Bakery (Home of Poppay’s Rolls), at the Avenue Bakery Courtyard last week, located at 2229 Pennsylvania Avenue, unveiled a one-of-a-kind photomontage titled “Billie Holiday A Life in Music,” by artist James Earl Reid, celebrating her life and work. Music was provided by Nevita & Company.
Hello Folks! Check out this great weather we are having; mannnnnnnnnnn! I am ready to put on my bathing suit! (Just kidding) I had a busy week last week. Honey Child I was at one end of the city to the other and still didn’t make all the festivities given in honor of the legendary Billie Holiday’s 100th birthday. I swear, my Boo-Boo and I were doing book signings at a few of them, and there were some we just couldn’t make. I have never seen so many celebrations for Billie Holiday as I have this year. Just to mention a few, community leaders and organizations who did celebrate “Lady Day” were groups such as: Leonard E. Hicks Multi-Purpose Community Center, Matthew A. Henson Neighborhood Association , headed by president, Dr. Marvin L. “Doc’ Cheatham Sr. celebrated the life of the late-great Billie Holiday; The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum presented the wax figure of Billie Holiday; James Hamlin of the Royal Theater and Community Heritage Corporation, Arch Social Club, the Renaissance Productions and Tours, and Lou Fields just to name a few.
Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center, located 847 N. Howard Street now has a room called “Eubie Live”, which is an intimate venue on the fourth floor featuring local talented artists. There will be variety of concerts in jazz, gospel, neo soul, classical and much more. Cash bar and dinner menu. A Comedy Show with Howard G and many others are scheduled for April 17. Call 410-225-3130 for more information.
This week will be busy as well. Bluesman Reggie Wayne Morris will introduce his new CD “Don’t Bring Me Daylight,” opening as special guest of the Nick Moss Band for the D.C. Blues Society, 7 p.m., April 18 at the American Legion Post #41 at 905 Sligo Avenue in Silver Spring.
Brian Hall, CEO and founder of D.O.T Entertainment shown here with his first born, will honor over 20 local and national R&B groups and entertainers from the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area at his “Hall of Fame Award Show, Party and Cabaret,” 5-9 p.m., April 19 at the Patapsco Arena, 3301 Annapolis Road in Baltimore. For ticket information call 410-929-1360.
Brian Hall of D.O.T. Entertainment will have the “Hall of Fame Awards Show and Cabaret,” 5-9 p.m., April 19 at the Patapsco Arena, 3301 Annapolis Road in Baltimore, honoring such groups as “The Ebony’s, Skip Mahoney & The Casuals, Soul Generation, Joe Phillips & The Winstons, First Class, Black Ivory, The Young Senators, the late Al Anderson of the Unifics, Big Jim of WEAA 88.9 FM, the late “Baretta & the Rolex Band, Randy Dennis, and many more. BYOF and cash bar. For more information call 410-929-1360.
Join the Enlisted Association Chapter 9 and Auxiliary for their Chicken & Fish Dinner (eat in or carry out), noon to 6 p.m., April 18 at the Northeastern American Legion Post #285, 2324 McElderry Street in Baltimore. For ticket information, call Kelvin Johnson at 410-236-5372 or 443-741-5176.
“The Crew” from Caton Castle on Baltimore and Hilton will have their “Oldies Show,” 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., April 17. Dance and party to your heart’s delight to the music of our past while you wine and dine on the delicious food Caton Castle serves. For more information, call 410-675-6379 or go to: www.catoncastle.com.
Carlton and Darlene Douglass, owners of Carlton Douglass Funeral Service, will be emcees for the Rosa Pryor Music Scholarship Fund Gospel Prayer Breakfast Fundraiser, 8 a.m. to noon, April 18 at the Forest Park Senior Center, 4801 Liberty Heights Avenue. For ticket information, call 410-833-9474.
Then there are the out-of- town events given by our local folks. Fullwood Travel Unlimited is sponsoring a motor coach trip with an evening with the Temptations and the Four Tops, April 24 in Lancaster, Pa. Dinner at Cracker Barrel. For more information, call 410-542-2530.
The 23rd Annual Las Vegas City of Lights Jazz & R&B Festival, April 18 and 19, featuring such acts as: Maysa, Norman Brown, Gerald Albright, Richard Elliot, Peter White, Eugene Grove, Sax Pac, Kim Waters, Jeff Kashiwa, Steve Cole, Down to the Bone, Johnny Gill, Angie Stone, Kenny Lattimore and The Family Stone, just to name a few. For tickets and more information, contact: candidjazzads@yahoo.com or www.yourjazz.com/ . Well, my dear friends, it is about that time. I am out of space and out of time. Enjoy this beautiful week that God has given us. Remember, if you need me, you can email me at rosapryor@aol.com, or call me at 410-833-9474. Also I am available for book signing at your next event. UNTIL THE NEXT TIME, I’M MUSICALLY YOURS.