Annette R. March-Grier, MUSICALLY President and Co-Founder of Roberta’s House, a family grief support center, is hosting a fundraiser for the healing hearts. There will be “Mystery Bag & Basket Bingo” which includes a wide variety of prizes including vacation packages, designer bags, shopping sprees, food and much more on Sept. 11 at the Ivy Center, 3515 Dolfield Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215 starting at 6 p.m. For more information call (410) 235-6633.
Hello everyone. I hope you are enjoying the fantastic weather this week. Find something to do outdoors and have fun. I will help you out a little bit with that.
Stuart Hudgins, a curator, will host “Billie Holiday’s Life in Music”, which will start on Sunday, September 6, and will run until October 3, 2015 at the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute and Cultural Center on Howard Street in Baltimore. The exhibit is a part ofa series of celebratory events marking the centennial year of the great jazz vocalist Billie Holliday in her hometown of Baltimore. The interactive exhibition allows visitors to view photos and rare film clips of Billie Holiday’s performances and interviews and to listen to her music recordings. Holiday was born on April 7, 1915 and raised in Baltimore. Her Baltimore years are fundamental to her career in music. For more information, contact Stuart Hudgins at 443-925-8771 or email: stuhud093@gmail.com.
James “B-more” Wharton, author of You’ve Been Hoodwinked will have an open discussion and book signing of his book on Sept. 12, 3-6 p.m. at Nothing Fancy Dinner Theater located at 4709 Harford Road, Baltimore, MD 21214. This event, called “Wish upon A Star,” will be hosted by Anndell Banks. For more information, call (443) 610-8287.
There are a couple of blues events coming up I want to share with you. First of all, for those of you who really know me, know that I am a strong fan and lover of the blues and Motown R&B music. So, I am looking forward to the D.C. Blues Festival on Sept. 5 from 12 noon until 7:30 p.m. It will be held at the Carter Barron Amphitheater, 16th Street & Colorado Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. I am really excited about the festival this year as I am every year. The line-up looks like this: Sharrie Williams, the Princess of Rockin’ Gospel Blues and a three-time Blues Music Awards Nominee and international performer, trained in jazz, gospel and drama, will perform. Although she credits KoKo Taylor, Etta James and Aretha Franklin as influences, her styles is all her own; James Armstrong (Ambassador of the Blues); Full Power Blues (formerly known as The D.C. Blues Society Band); Jackson & Oziel (2014 D.C. Blues Society Solo-Duo Competition Winner); The Mojo Priests (2014 D.C. Blues Society Battle of the Bands Winner), just to name a few. Also included will be workshops for musical instruments, petting zoo, etc. For more detail information, go to dcblues.org.
Sharrie Williams, “Princess of Rockin’ Gospel Blues” is the headliner for the free 27th Annual D.C. Blues Festival on Sept. 5, from noon to 7:30 p.m. The festival is at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre, located at 16th Street and Colorado Avenue NW. Washington, D.C. For more information, go to dcblues.org.
Leaving the blues party for a minute, but still in Washington, D.C., I want to mention that my good friends John Lamkin “Favorites” Jazz Quartet will entertain you on Sept. 9 at the “Jazz and Blues Cultural Society, 2813 12th Street NE in Washington, D.C. from 6-9 p.m. with Todd Simon on organ, Jessie Moody on drums, Mike Hariston on saxophone and John will play trumpet and flugelhorn. For more information, email John at: jrlamkin2@gmail.com.
The Old School Runners invite you to their 13th Annual Crab Feast on Sept. 6 at the Columbus Gardens, 4301 Klosterman Avenue, Nottingham, MD 21236 from 1-5 p.m. For ticket information, call 443-676-9038.
Let’s go shopping! There will be a “Fall Expo” on Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the State Office Complex, 201 W. Preston Street, Baltimore MD 21201. It will be the ultimate shopping experience. Vendors will have clothes, hats, gloves, jewelry, shoes, pocket books, arts and crafts, CD’s, food, just lots and lots of everything including “Rambling Rose” books; both of them, yes, I will be there too, doing a book signing. It is free and open to the public. There are spaces for more vendors, just call 410-787-8376 or go to brian.neal@maryland.gov.
Meet me at Mike Jones “Old School All White Virgo Cabaret” on Sept. 13 from 5-9 p.m. at the Patapsco Arena, 3301 Annapolis Road, Baltimore MD 21230. BYOF and cash bar; live entertainment by the Rollex Band and music by DJ Mike Jones and DJ TC Flash, “Rambling Rose” will also be there for a book signing, cash, check or charge is acceptable. For ticket information, call 443-525-5016.
Now, I believe I am out of space. I got to go folks, but remember if you need me, call me at 410-833-9474 or email me at rosapryor@aol.com. UNTIL THE NEXT TIME, I’M MUSICALLY YOURS.