The Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is presented by BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, and Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York.
Join this NYC celebration, together with civic, cultural and community leaders to honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, and his legacy. This year’s event features performances by For Greene/Clinton Hill’s very own Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir, and the R&B duo Kindred the Family Soul. And of course, the most significant part of the 27th annual tribute is the keynote address by the legendary musician and humanitarian, Harry Belafonte. His personal commitment to social activism in today’s society, as well as his close friendship with Dr. King indeed makes his the ideal channel for King’s message to all of us, and his memory.
In addition, the live simulcast of the 57th presidential inauguration commencing the historic second term of President Barack Obama will be presented.
Event Details
- What: Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Where: Peter Jay Sharp Building, NYC
- When: January 21, 2013 at 10:30 am
- Tickets are free and will be distributed according to first-come, first-seated basis. Doors open at 8 in the morning at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House Lobby
- Speaker: Harry Belafonte
- Music Performances: Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir and Kindred The Family Soul
- Master of Ceremony: Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Sandra Chapman
About the Artists
Kindred the Family Soul is an adult R&B duo from Philadelphia. The members are husband and wife, Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon. Dantzler was born in Philadephia and started in the music business by writing songs for the Pebbles and Bell Biv DeVoe. The two met and began writing and performing songs together. They eventually got married and raised 6 lovely children. Their albums include the Surrender to Love, In This Life Togetehr, The Arrival, and Love.
On the other hand, the Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir was founded by Frank. A Haye, Jr. in the year 2010. It is an ensemble committed to bringing NYC together through their own way of artistic impression. The group encourages New Yorkers to appreciate, celebrate and learn the different cultures that have surely made the big city great. The choir’s home base is at Fort Green section of Brooklyn, famous for the cultural arts institutions and passion for arts.
Harry Belafonte
Born in Harlem of NYC in 1927 but grew up in Jamaica, Harry Belafonte’s cultural reservoir is the island and its diverse inspiration. But during the outbreak of the World War II, he moved back to Harlem. Moving back had given him a difficult time adapting. He was unable to finish high school, but he enlisted himself in the US Navy and served for two years.
Belafonte’s first exposure to the performing arts is at the Hunter at the American Negro Theater. He then joined Dramatic Workshop of the New School of Social Research. Some of his classmates were Marlon Brando, Walter Matthau, Bea Arthur and Tony Curtis. Together with his passion for theater arts is his love for jazz. His first professional appearance was as the “back-up band” for Charlie Parker, Max Roach, Tommy Potter and Al Haig. And from then on, his career as a musician flourished, with history-making records for the RCA Album Calypso.
This man is not only a musician, but a humanitarian as well. His contribution in breaking down the racial barriers is indeed impressive. He met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. when he visited NYC during the early 50s. From that day forward until the great man was assassinated, they developed a close, deep, and abiding friendship which stood the test of time.
