Entertainment

Freeny, Khan Lead Black Participation in 2019 Rose Parade

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The 2019 Tournament of Roses Parade presented by Honda included a considerable number of African Americans in the world-renowned production.

Published

5 years ago

January 14, 2019

Oakland Post

By Cora Jackson-Fossett

The 2019 Tournament of Roses Parade presented by Honda included a considerable number of African Americans in the world-renowned production.

Tournament of Roses president, Gerald Freeny, headed the distinguished list of Blacks in his role as the top executive of the 130th parade and the fabled Rose Bowl. Following behind him was 10-time Grammy Award-winner, Chaka Khan, who served both as the grand marshal and featured performer.

According to Freeny, Khan’s musical legacy – highlighted by hits such as “I Feel For You” and “This is My Night” – emphasized the parade’s theme, “The Melody of Life,” which underscores the universal appeal of music.

Chaka Khan sings a medley of her songs in the Rose Parade’s “Opening Spectacular” segment. (Clayton Everett photo)

[/media-credit] Chaka Khan sings a medley of her songs in the Rose Parade’s “Opening Spectacular” segment.

“Music has a unique power to transcend borders and boundaries, to travel across countries and continents,” said Freeny. “It speaks to old and young. It represents, enriches and sustains our human existence. It quite simply touches every single life on Earth.”

“This year’s theme ‘The Melody of Life’ fits perfectly into my philosophy that ‘Music is the melody of life,’” noted Khan.

Demonstrating the transcendence of music, Khan kicked-off the parade with a medley of her songs in the “Opening Spectacular” segment. Joining her were her nephew, Tyler McCrary; grandsons, Jett and Josh Khan-Corley; “Dancing with the Stars” champion Jordan Fisher and hundreds of dancers.

Also, the Grammy-winning band, Kool & the Gang, performed on the “Taste the Magic’” float sponsored by Stella Rosa Wines.

Pasadena resident, Ashley Symone Hackett participated as a member of the 2019 Rose Court. A senior at John Muir High School, she was selected from among 44 finalists to serve as a Tournament of Roses ambassador.

“For me, ‘The Melody of Life’ means that everyone has highs and lows in life, but just like in music both high notes and low notes add value to the piece, just as it would in life. Without the low times that I have experienced, I would not be able to appreciate the high moments of life that I have been blessed with,” said Hackett.

More than 200 FAMU band members performed outside First AME Church – L.A. on Dec. 30. (Clayton Everett photo)

[/media-credit] More than 200 FAMU band members performed outside First AME Church – L.A. on Dec. 30.

The parade’s 40 floral-covered floats, 18 equestrian groups and 20 marching bands from around the world included African Americans reflecting “The Melody of Life” theme. Among the performers were the LAUSD All District High School Honor Band, Alabama State University Mighty Marching Hornets (which included Pasadena native Robert Esaias Jones, Jr. as one of the drum majors), and the Florida A&M University (FAMU) Incomparable Marching “100.”

Music and “The Melody of Life” theme struck a positive chord with organizers, participants, attendees and TV viewers, said Freeny, who is the first African American president of the Tournament of Roses.

“On a personal scale, it (music) gets us through our day, it accompanies us through good times and bad times,” he said.

“It is quite literally the soundtrack of our lives. But on a grand scale, it has the ability to heal, to unite, to promote change, to bring joy and harmony and rhythm and happiness.”

City News Service contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared in the Los Angeles Sentinel.

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Oakland Post: Week of September 27 – October 3, 2023

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 27 – October 3, 2023

Published

1 day ago

September 29, 2023

Oakland Post

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of September 27 - October 3, 2023

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Bay Area

Writer Marc Spears Honored in Oakland

Bay Area leaders and key notables in the city of Oakland congratulated Marc Spears, NBA writer for Andscape/ESPN for receiving the 2023 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Curt Gowdy Media Award

Published

2 days ago

September 28, 2023

Oakland Post

Bay Area leaders and key notables in the city of Oakland congratulated Marc Spears, NBA writer for Andscape/ESPN for receiving the 2023 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Curt Gowdy Media Award. The event was held at Hiiiwav, a new location at 2781 Telegraph in Oakland recently purchased by Grammy Award-winner Bosko Kante and his wife Maya Kante. Pictured here, left to right, are Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce President Cathy Adams, Chef David Lawrence, Marc Spears, and Nola Turnage of Okta, Inc. Photo courtesy of Cathy Adams.

Art

Oakland Celebrates Hiero Day 2023, Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop

Thousands of music fans showed up at Oscar Grant Plaza Monday, Sept. 4 to celebrate the 11th annual Hiero Day block party and commemorate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, featuring the Souls of Mischief, Oakland native Kev Choice, Mister F.A.B. and a special guest appearance by Common.

Published

3 days ago

September 27, 2023

Oakland Post

Common was honored on Hiero Day at by Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and Deputy Mayor Kimberly Mayfield. Photo courtesy of Ariel Nava.

By Post Staff

Thousands of music fans showed up at Oscar Grant Plaza Monday, Sept. 4 to celebrate the 11^th annual Hiero Day block party and commemorate the 50^th anniversary of hip-hop, featuring the Souls of Mischief, Oakland native Kev Choice, Mister F.A.B. and a special guest appearance by Common.

Hosted by the City of Oakland and Mayor Sheng Thao, the free event showcased over 30 live performances on three stages, including legendary, underground and undiscovered performers of hip-hop, R&B and other genres.

Souls of Mischief is part of the rap collective Hieroglyphics, which founded Hiero Day and this year celebrated its 30^th anniversary.

“HIERO DAY (is) a driving force in the music festival culture in Oakland,” according to event organizers. “The event is widely regarded as a day to celebrate independent hip-hop music and serves as a Labor Day destination being one of the largest hip-hop music gatherings in the Bay Area.”

The event was held at Jack London Square last year, but this year, it moved to the plaza in front of Oakland City Hall, reflecting its new connection with the Mayor’s Office and the City of Oakland.

“I’m so grateful to be here in Oakland,” said Common said after receiving a “heavyweight champion” belt and proclamation from Mayor Thao. “Y’all inspired us … The music, the culture — Hieroglyphics influenced me.”

Said Mayor Thao: “Oakland is the heart of the Bay Area’s music, art and culture scene, and I am so grateful for all the work our Hiero Day organizers did to celebrate it.”

The City of Oakland this year is hosting three events to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of hip-hop, including the collaboration with event organizers of Hiero Day. A special event was held on Sept. 10 to honor “50 years of women rooted in hip-hop,” including Pam the Funkstress, the Conscious Daughters, Traci Bartlow, and Mystic and Black.