Entertainment

Forest Lawn Memorial Parks presents ‘An Evening of Gospel, Jazz, and Blues’

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — In its fifth annual Black History Month celebration, Forest Lawn—Hollywood Hills presents An Evening of Gospel, Jazz, and Blues

Published

8 years ago

January 29, 2019

Oakland Post

By Sentinel News Service

In its fifth annual Black History Month celebration, Forest Lawn—Hollywood Hills presents An Evening of Gospel, Jazz, and Blues, a one-night-only evening of music, dance, and spoken word celebrating the broad spectrum of Black history and culture. The spectacular event on February 2, 2019, produced by Mychal Henry of MjDD Production Studio and Life Empowerment Church, includes an impressive lineup of choirs, soloists, musicians, comedians, African dancers, and poets hailing from San Bernardino to Riverside and up and down Los Angeles. The event is free and open to the public and also offers receptions with refreshments.

An Evening of Gospel, Jazz, and Blues celebrates the distinctive sounds of black music and the roots of jazz and blues within gospel music and the Church, as well as the stories the elements of each genre of music tell. Featured performers Janice Freeman of NBC’s The Voice and powerhouse comedian Carl Six Foota Slimm will headline performances of Umoja African dance by Makeda Kumasi; music and vocals by the MjDD Inland Empire Band, GMWA Gospel Choir of the Inland Empire with director Dansby Sturdivant II, Thokoza All Nations African Choir San Bernardino, Valerie Geason, Louis Mosely,Scottie Pierce, Rickey Vivey, Maudie Wilson, and saxophone by Donald Hayes, who is fresh off touring and recording with Robin Thicke; a skit by Jeanie Gaines; spoken word and solo by celebrated vocalist Phalia Louder; emcee Tifani Hanley; and keynote remarks by Reverend Henry Horsely.

An Evening of Gospel, Jazz, and Blues features performances of music and spoken word by some of the most important names in Black culture, including Louie Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Andraé Crouch, George Duke, Earth Wind & Fire, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mahalia Jackson, Michael Jackson, Prince, Otis Redding, and Maya Angelou. The event continues a five-year tradition of Black History Month celebrations at Forest Lawn, which bring the vitality of Black culture to life through community gathering, sound, and celebration.

“It is an honor to present this fifth-annual commemoration of the rich black culture that surrounds us in Los Angeles and is vital to the American experience,” said Rodolfo Saenz, Forest Lawn’s Senior Vice President, Marketing. “This year’s performances will make for a remarkable event and continue Forest Lawn’s tradition of community celebration.”

“Gospel, jazz, and blues each have their own definition, character, and expression, but they all tell a story particular to the black community,” said event producer Mychal Henry. “It is thrilling to see the music come to life and the diverse sounds of African culture expressed in one event. It is only because of the talented performers who represent the authenticity of the Black community that we are able to do so.”

An Evening of Gospel, Jazz, and Blues takes place on Saturday, February 2, 2019, from 6:30–9:00 PM, inside the Hall of Liberty at Forest Lawn—Hollywood Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068. Doors open for a pre-show reception at 6:30 PM. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis and will begin at 6:00 PM. Admission and parking are FREE. Visit www.forestlawn.com for more information.

This article originally appeared in the Los Angeles Sentinel.

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Oakland Post: Week of September 30 – October 6, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 30 – October 6, 2026

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2 days ago

October 4, 2026

Oakland Post

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From Historic Memories to New Possibilities: Oakland Celebrates Coliseum 60

More than 75 people gathered at Youth UpRising in East Oakland on Friday, September 18, for Coliseum 60, an event marking six decades of sports, entertainment, employment, and community memories at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Complex. Held 60 years to the day after the Coliseum first opened, the celebration featured cultural performances and a mini-documentary highlighting its history. Speakers reflected on the venue’s significant role in the community and its future possibilities. Read more to learn about the individuals and stories honored during this special event.

Published

1 week ago

September 27, 2026

Post News Group

Quixote Atkins of VillageGIVE moderates a panel discussion at the Coliseum 60 celebration at Youth UpRising featuring Keith Brown, a member of IATSE Local 107; author, historian and former Black Panther Party member Tareka Lewis; and African American Sports and Entertainment Group President Ray Bobbitt.

By Carla Thomas

More than 75 people gathered at Youth UpRising in East Oakland on Friday, Sept. 18, for Coliseum 60, a celebration honoring six decades of sports, entertainment, employment and community memories connected to the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Complex.

Held 60 years to the day after the Coliseum opened, the event carried the theme, “One Community. One Legacy. One Future. Forward Together.”

The celebration opened with the national anthem performed by sisters Anese Jade, Amina Benjamin and Zaza Benjamin. Diamano Coura West African Dance Company contributed African dance and drumming, bringing movement, rhythm and cultural expression to the program.

A mini documentary highlighted the Coliseum’s sports history and its broader role as an entertainment destination. Archival material recalled performances by Prince and Tina Turner, along with memorable games featuring the Warriors, Oakland A’s and Raiders.

“The Coliseum 60 is about much more than celebrating a building or looking back at 60 years of history,” said event organizer Quixote Atkins of VillageGIVE.

“It’s about the people who made that history possible: the families, workers, athletes, artists, community leaders, fans and generations who gathered there and created memories together.”

A panel exploring that history featured author, historian and former Black Panther Party member Tareka Lewis; stagehand and union representative Keith Brown; and Ray Bobbitt, president of the African American Sports and Entertainment Group AASEG. Lewis described her family as fourth-generation Bay Area pioneers.

“My family and Black families who arrived even earlier helped build the Bay Area, grew businesses and established culture here,” Lewis said. “This should be taught in the public schools.”

Lewis recalled Oakland’s influence on sports, music and literature, from the Raiders’ beginnings at Laney College to stars such as The Pointer Sisters and Rickey Henderson who attended Oakland public schools. She also advocated for school museums, historical timelines, entrepreneurship training and investments benefiting corridors such as Bancroft Avenue and High Street.

Keith Brown, a member of Local 107 of the International Alliance of Theater and Stage Employees (IATSE) who began working at the Coliseum in 2011, remembered the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the Ice Capades, baseball bat giveaways and Nelson Mandela’s 1990 appearance.

“The special events are amazing, but it’s the workers that make the memories real for everyone,” Brown said. “They make the magic happen at the Coliseum.”

The program recognized longtime workers, including beer-stand manager Robert Preston, who served for 40 years, and Kenyatta Gentry, who worked as a vendor for 24 years and used her earnings to purchase her first apartment. Union workers Jose Gonzales and Carmen Sandoval were also honored. Speakers emphasized that Coliseum employment provided generations of residents with union wages and benefits.

Dr. Denise Saddler, the superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) was also honored. Saddler shared her family’s history of working at the Coliseum.

District 7 Oakland City Councilmember Ken Houston discussed the complex ownership arrangements involving the city, county and private interests.

“This was the most complex deal of its kind in the country,” Houston said.

Prior to moving from the East Coast, Alameda County Supervisor and Coliseum Joint Powers Authority Chair Nate Miley recalled learning about Oakland through its three professional sports teams. As an elected official and public servant, Miley fought hard to keep the Golden State Warriors, Oakland As, and the Raiders, but he is hopeful for the future.

“The story is not over for the Coliseum,” Miley said. “We’re entering a new chapter.”

Bobbitt said the departure of three teams had once seemed unimaginable, but he maintained that Oakland’s future remains bright.

“Oakland is a cultural superpower worldwide,” Bobbitt said. “We’re going to write the future where we participate and drive the redevelopment.”

Bobbitt highlighted AASEG’s four-year partnership with Castlemont High School’s architecture program, which engages students in reimagining and creating redevelopment concepts for the Coliseum property. “The youth will always move us forward. They are the future.”

In closing, Atkins said, “September 18 is the celebration, but what we build together afterward is the legacy.”