Black History Month Concert
Name:
Black History Month Concert
Date:
February 11, 2018
Time:
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM EST
Website:
http://www.blackhistorygnv.org
Event Description:
The City of Gainesville celebrates Black History Month with a double bill concert at Bo Diddley Plaza on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. The concert features the bands Dr. Neu & BluJaFunk, featuring renowned trumpeter Longineu Parsons plus Billy Buchanan & his Rock 'n Soul Revue. The public is invited to bring their blankets and lawn chairs to the beautiful downtown amphitheater and enjoy this free world-class concert that celebrates many of the great pioneer artists of Black music.
The concert kicks off with Dr. Neu & BluJaFunk, a name put together from the music genres they cover; blues jazz and funk. Dr. Neu is Longineu Parsons (trumpet/flugelhorn/flutes/lead vocals) who has been hailed by critics internationally as one of the world’s finest trumpet players. Parsons has performed and recorded with such greats as Cab Calloway, Nat Adderley, Nat Adderley Jr., Cecil Taylor, Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams, Herbie Mann, Philly Joe Jones, Kenny Werner, Frank Foster, Mal Waldron, Archie Shepp, Sun Ra, Sam Rivers, David Murray, Billy Harper, and many others. He has performed in some 30 countries in North, South and Central America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. He has entertained such dignitaries as the King of Morocco, the President of Gabon, the Royal Family of the Netherlands, the President of Austria, the U.S. Ambassador to France, the Royal Family of Monaco and for UNESCO. He has been a soloist with the Jacksonville Symphony, Palm Beach Pops, Tallahassee Symphony, Augusta Symphony, Gainesville Symphony and the University of South Carolina Symphony Orchestras. In 2014, he performed for the second time at Carnegie Hall in New York as one of the soloists in The Black Stars of the Great White Way Broadway Reunion. Parsons holds a BS degree in Music from Florida A&M University, a Master of Music in Classical Trumpet from the University of Florida and a Doctorate in Classical Composition from the University of Florida. He is currently Professor of Music at Florida A&M University.
Next on the bill are Billy Buchanan & his Rock 'n Soul Revue. They perform hit songs by soul greats that include Ray Charles, The Drifters, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jackie Wilson, Stax Records icons, Motown superstars, and many more. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Billy Buchanan has a deep musical heritage. Digging into his father's LPs at a very young age, he became a disciple of all the soul, blues, and rock trailblazers. Buchanan is not only an accomplished musician; he is also an award winning songwriter. In his original music, you can hear the back beat rhythms and musical influences of the many artists he admires. As an award winning recording artist, Buchanan has released five albums as a solo artist and two albums with his former band Fusebox (Elevate/EMI). He’s had three Top 20 songs on the CCM charts and has performed in all 50 states and in 26 countries. As a sideman, he's played bass, guitar, or sang background vocals for many great artists, including Grammy winners Rebecca St. James, Michael Tait, and John Carter Cash. As a songwriter, he's written songs with Busbee, Clint Lagerberg, Mike Hartnett, Marc Byrd, and other established writers. His most recent album, “ShagShuffleShimmyShakeSwing Vol. 1”, was released on January 12, 2018.
This concert is presented by The City of Gainesville and funded in part by Florida Division of Cultural Affairs.
The Bo Diddley Plaza is located at 111 E. University Ave. in downtown Gainesville.
For general information, contact Russell Etling, cultural affairs manager, at etlingrh@cityofgainesville.org or 352-393-8532.
For more information about this event, contact David Ballard at ballarddg@cityofgainesville.org or 352-393-8746.
The concert kicks off with Dr. Neu & BluJaFunk, a name put together from the music genres they cover; blues jazz and funk. Dr. Neu is Longineu Parsons (trumpet/flugelhorn/flutes/lead vocals) who has been hailed by critics internationally as one of the world’s finest trumpet players. Parsons has performed and recorded with such greats as Cab Calloway, Nat Adderley, Nat Adderley Jr., Cecil Taylor, Nancy Wilson, Joe Williams, Herbie Mann, Philly Joe Jones, Kenny Werner, Frank Foster, Mal Waldron, Archie Shepp, Sun Ra, Sam Rivers, David Murray, Billy Harper, and many others. He has performed in some 30 countries in North, South and Central America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. He has entertained such dignitaries as the King of Morocco, the President of Gabon, the Royal Family of the Netherlands, the President of Austria, the U.S. Ambassador to France, the Royal Family of Monaco and for UNESCO. He has been a soloist with the Jacksonville Symphony, Palm Beach Pops, Tallahassee Symphony, Augusta Symphony, Gainesville Symphony and the University of South Carolina Symphony Orchestras. In 2014, he performed for the second time at Carnegie Hall in New York as one of the soloists in The Black Stars of the Great White Way Broadway Reunion. Parsons holds a BS degree in Music from Florida A&M University, a Master of Music in Classical Trumpet from the University of Florida and a Doctorate in Classical Composition from the University of Florida. He is currently Professor of Music at Florida A&M University.
Next on the bill are Billy Buchanan & his Rock 'n Soul Revue. They perform hit songs by soul greats that include Ray Charles, The Drifters, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jackie Wilson, Stax Records icons, Motown superstars, and many more. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Billy Buchanan has a deep musical heritage. Digging into his father's LPs at a very young age, he became a disciple of all the soul, blues, and rock trailblazers. Buchanan is not only an accomplished musician; he is also an award winning songwriter. In his original music, you can hear the back beat rhythms and musical influences of the many artists he admires. As an award winning recording artist, Buchanan has released five albums as a solo artist and two albums with his former band Fusebox (Elevate/EMI). He’s had three Top 20 songs on the CCM charts and has performed in all 50 states and in 26 countries. As a sideman, he's played bass, guitar, or sang background vocals for many great artists, including Grammy winners Rebecca St. James, Michael Tait, and John Carter Cash. As a songwriter, he's written songs with Busbee, Clint Lagerberg, Mike Hartnett, Marc Byrd, and other established writers. His most recent album, “ShagShuffleShimmyShakeSwing Vol. 1”, was released on January 12, 2018.
This concert is presented by The City of Gainesville and funded in part by Florida Division of Cultural Affairs.
The Bo Diddley Plaza is located at 111 E. University Ave. in downtown Gainesville.
For general information, contact Russell Etling, cultural affairs manager, at etlingrh@cityofgainesville.org or 352-393-8532.
For more information about this event, contact David Ballard at ballarddg@cityofgainesville.org or 352-393-8746.
