Norman Otis Richmond of CKLN radio and Roy Heron at the University of Toronto on September 13, 2008. The photo was taken after a lecture delivered by Abayomi Azikiwe, PANW editor. (Photo: Abayomi Azikiwe).
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Norman (Otis) Richmond will appear on the African Woman and Family Saturday, June 6th between 12-1pm Eastern Standard Time. The African Woman and Family is hosted by Thando Hyman, Mesfin Aman, and Cary-Ann Martin. The show is aired on CIUT-89.5 FM in Toronto and on the World Wide Web http://www.ciut.fm
As this is being written President Barack Obama has not issued a
proclamation for Black Music Month which is in its 30th year. Richmond will discuss the 30th anniversary of Black Music Month.
In June 1979, around the time the Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" was being released; Kenny Gamble led a delegation to the White House to discuss with President Jimmy Carter the state of Black music.
At the meeting, Carter asked trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and drummer Max Roach if they would perform "Salt Peanuts", to which Gillespie replied that he'd only do so if the President (who made a fortune as a peanut farmer) provided the vocals.
Since that great and dreadful day when Carter butchered the song, June has been designated Black Music Month.
When broadcaster and community activist the late Milton Blake and
Norman (Otis) Richmond created the Black Music Association's Toronto Chapter in 1984, it was our intention to plug African-Canadian music makers into the international music market.
At that moment only Oscar Peterson was internationally known. Since
that time Deborah Cox, Devine Brown, Glenn Lewis and Kardinal
Offishall have conquered the world-- musically. Richmond will salute
artists such Washington Savage, Mel Brown, Eric Dolphy, Dennis
Brown, Phyllis Hyman, Jessie Belvin, Fela and others who have joined the ancestors.
For more information email norman.o.richmond@gmail.com
I have been always a bit jealous Vancouver has much more similar events, but i hope true music will once find it's way to our city too, this may be one of the first steps :)
ReplyDeleteTake care!