Hello my music friends, communities and fans. I am going to talk to you about music and musicians who have brought music of all kinds into our lives. I personally believe it has been woven into our lives no matter our lifestyle. After reading an article about musicians of the past and how they struggled to perform in various venues, particularly on the East Coast, it made me remember about those times since I am a former professional musician and singer myself. I wonder what life would be like without jazz, blues, roots, and R&B and the musicians who play them. I believe it would be a very sad world.
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Founder of the non-profit Dance Baltimore, a superwoman in the arts & entertainment world, Cheryl Goodman,. Renowned artist, performer, writer Goodman shares her gift and talent by opening classes to all types of dancing every Tuesday at Maryland Academy of Dance, 7097 Milford Industrial Blvd, Pikesville, Maryland. For more information, call at 410-370-8994.
I thank God for organizations such as Left Bank Jazz Society, Baltimore Chamber Jazz Society, Jazz Expressways Foundation, Baltimore Jazz Alliance, and Jazz Foundation of America, just to name a few.
Jazz Foundation of America (JFA) has been keeping jazz, blues, roots, and R&B alive for over 30 years by providing direct assistance to the people responsible for the music. Changes in the industry have left many behind, including underground legends, session players, and even the big names themselves. When age, illness, or disaster threatens a long career, many have nowhere to turn.
JFA keeps the rent paid, helps put food on the table, and lends a personal helping hand so that musicians can go back to doing what they love and what has been so precious to them—.making their music. Their social work services provide housing assistance, pro bono medical care, and emergency financial support to musicians in crisis. School programs that include music, jazz in particular, provide dignified employment for musicians who are unable to tour and reaches thousands of public schoolchildren every year.
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Happy Birthday to Baltimore’s renowned radio personality and Diva, Doresa Harvey who supports everybody in all walks of life. If you’re having a gospel show, bar party, jazz concert, Reggae Party, cabaret, crab feast, oldies show, children’s event, or just a community festival, you look up and there she is. She also celebrates 28 years in radio.
These musicians have played the soundtrack of our lives and comforted us in times of turmoil. “The Jazz Foundation came through for me in countless ways. They provided emotional and financial support, and they put me to work. Everyone at the foundation understands that healing doesn’t come from just sending someone a check… that helps, but it is only a part of the real healing. The Jazz Foundation sees the entire picture and the whole person, and I don’t know if I would be here today if it wasn’t for their love and care” quoted from a renowned musician.
The JFA team presents this level of compassion and understanding to every client, fostering long-term, personal relationships to empower musicians and restore hope and dignity in the most trying times. So my word to you, please support all music foundations that are incorporated and non-profit; you now know how much a couple of dollars purchasing a ticket at a non-profit music or jazz event or an organization such as the Jazz Foundation of American can help the next generation of musicians.
Okay my friends, you have talked me into it. I will write a third book about Baltimore Black History— all about you, your family and friends, entertainment, etc. It will be an extension from my second book, so my dear friends, I am going to need your help. I need a lot of special pictures with the information to go with it. If you, your family, friends from the ‘50s thru the ‘80s to be included, you must get it to me, I will edit it and include it in my book. Just call me if you have any questions, or email me with any questions.
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Clarence Mack, lovingly known as “Mack” the former owner of the famous bar/lounge called Mack’s C’est Bon Bar & Lounge on the corner of Reisterstown Road and Boarman Avenue in Baltimore for many years died December 30, 2019. Funeral Services are Saturday, January 11th at 9 a.m. at March Funeral Home on Wabash. Our condolences to his wife, Emma, and family.
Well, my dear friends, I got to go now, but if you need me, call me at 410-833-9474 or email me at rosapryor@aol.com. Or you can mail me your correspondence to 214 Conewood Avenue, Reisterstown, Maryland 21136. UNTIL THE NEXT TIME, I’M MUSICALLY YOURS.