Arts and Culture
Rebirth of the Peacock Lounge on Haight Street
In the 1950s, Blacks in San Francisco didn’t have that many places to go and socialize.
As a result, Peacock Lounge on Haight Street was founded by a group of African Americans in the Fillmore who wanted a place with an inviting atmosphere.
“The Peacock lounge was started in 1955, by seven people who wanted to leave something for their kids,” said Alex Watson, business manager for the Peacock Lounge.
“These seven formed a non profit corporation in 1961, the Unity Mutual Benefit Association, and the Peacock Lounge became a Black-owned, community-based facility, which has remained open and affordable to the community.”
Over the years, various events have taken place at the lounge, including wedding receptions, birthday parties, socials, lodge events and meetings of organizations. But the facility fell on bad times within the last few years, as the neighborhood changed.
One of those who saw the Peacock lounge needed some upgrading was Utuma Belfrey, a San Francisco-based electrician and vice president of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.
She spearheaded the effort, involving her organization and labor unions to help bring the Peacock Lounge back to life.
“This is the start of Black History Month, and we decided to use this month as a starting period to help renovate the building, making it more accessible to the public,” said Belfry, speaking at the kickoff event for the renovation of the lounge.
“Various organizations ranging from the painters union, electrical workers, Black firefighters and other individuals have volunteered to help improve and modernize this place,” she said.
Among those who attended the kickoff at the lounge were Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, Supervisor John Avalos and newly elected State Assemblyman David Chiu.
“Part of what is special about San Francisco are buildings and facilities like the Peacock Lounge,” said Chiu. “Our trades and African American community are coming together at a time when the city is changing, and this is important – to help keep this place open.”
Over the next two months, various members from organizations such as the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, will take the time from their regular work schedules to renovate the Peacock Lounge, including painting, changing the lighting and making improvements on the kitchen.
Shon Buford, a San Francisco firefighter and life-long San Francisco resident says that keeping the Peacock Lounge open is a very important project.
“This, the Fillmore, was once a community that African Americans flourished in,” said Buford. “The Peacock Lounge was a testament to this, as Blacks came here for various events. As blacks still remain in the city, we need to help to keep this place open.”
“This started out as an idea to give the Peacock Lounge some curbside appeal,” said Carl Jones, Northern California president of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. “We saw this as an opportunity to help a Black non-profit to stay open, and we are glad we got involved in this project.”
After the facilities are upgraded, the lounge will have live music nights every Friday night, as well as other community events.
“In San Francisco we don’t have to many places that are African American owned and affordable to hear live music and jazz performers,” said Belfrey. “This will be a reality very soon, once this project comes to fruition.”
Arts and Culture
Kedrick Armstrong: New Music Director for the Oakland Symphony
The Oakland Symphony Announced Kedrick Armstrong as its Next Music Director. In addition to conducting the orchestra’s public concerts, Armstrong will also actively participate in the Oakland Symphony’s many education and community engagement programs, designed to inspire a love of music in people of all ages.
By Post Staff
The Oakland Symphony Announced Kedrick Armstrong as its Next Music Director.
In addition to conducting the orchestra’s public concerts, Armstrong will also actively participate in the Oakland Symphony’s many education and community engagement programs, designed to inspire a love of music in people of all ages.
Armstrong is the successor to previous music director and Conductor Michael Morgan, who passed away in 2021 after a 30-year tenure at the Symphony.
Armstrong will open the Oakland Symphony 2024-2025 season on October 18.
Armstrong, who is 29 and hails from Georgetown, South Carolina, is currently the creative partner and principal conductor of the Knox-Galesburg Symphony.
The Chicago Tribune has praised Armstrong for his ability to “simply let the score speak for itself.” He enjoys a wide range of repertoire, spanning early music to premiering new works, using his joy and curiosity for all music to cultivate understanding and collaboration within diverse communities.
“I am deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the new music director of the Oakland Symphony,” Armstrong said. “As a Black conductor, I find it humbling to stand on the shoulders of both Michael Morgan and Calvin Simmons,” the most recent and the first African American music directors of the Symphony, respectively.
Armstrong led three programs at the Symphony between 2022 and early 2024, which showcased his broad knowledge of the classical repertoire and enthusiasm for spotlighting diverse voices.
On his Oakland Symphony subscription debut on Feb. 16, Armstrong led the world premiere of “Here I Stand: Paul Robeson,” an oratorio by Carlos Simon on a libretto by Dan Harder, commissioned by the Oakland Symphony.
Armstrong was selected unanimously by the Oakland Symphony’s board of directors and musicians after an extensive two-year search. “The search committee was overwhelmed by Kedrick’s scholarship and curiosity about all kinds of music, from classical and jazz to gospel and hip-hop,” said. Dr. Mieko Hatano, executive director of the Oakland Symphony. “We are thrilled to have him join us at the Oakland Symphony.”
Arts and Culture
Faces Around the Bay Dr. Carl Blake, Pianist
Born in Liberty, Missouri, Carl Blake, a virtuoso and respected pianist, made his most recent migration to the East Bay in 1999. One might have seen him performing recently at Noontime Concerts in San Francisco, or at the Piedmont Center for the Arts in Oakland. He is Director of Music at The Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples in San Francisco. He was also co-organizer and collaborative pianist at Herbst Theater for The Majesty of the Spirituals concert in 2022 and has held several church positions in the Bay Area.
By Barbara Fluhrer
Born in Liberty, Missouri, Carl Blake, a virtuoso and respected pianist, made his most recent migration to the East Bay in 1999.
One might have seen him performing recently at Noontime Concerts in San Francisco, or at the Piedmont Center for the Arts in Oakland. He is Director of Music at The Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples in San Francisco. He was also co-organizer and collaborative pianist at Herbst Theater for The Majesty of the Spirituals concert in 2022 and has held several church positions in the Bay Area.
Blake obtained a Bachelor of Music from Boston University and continued post-baccalaureate studies in Jamaica before earning a Master of Arts in Music at San Jose State University. He was the recipient of two Fulbright residencies in Honduras and completed a third residency at the University of St. Petersburg in Russia. He has a Doctor of Musical Arts from Cornell University.
At age 19, Blake, then an undergraduate piano major at Boston University, was “discovered” by Impresario Dr. W. Hazaiah Williams, who is the Founder and Director of Today’s Artists/Four Seasons Arts.
Williams honored Blake by awarding him the first Marian Anderson Young Artist Award. Anderson personally presented the award at the Masonic Auditorium in S.F. Subsequently, Blake was presented by Dr. Williams in his San Francisco debut at The Herbst Theatre. Williams subsidized a year of study abroad for Blake at the Paris Conservatory of Music. Additionally, Williams sponsored Blake’s New York Weill Hall debut, where he has performed twice since. Blake performed several times at the Yachats Music Festival in Oregon.
Blake continues to perform nationally and abroad. His hobbies are reading, baking and travel. He says, “I’m still pumping ivories, as Belgian pianist Jeanne Stark described the disciplined practice of concert piano.”
Arts and Culture
Oakland Jazz Great Offers Master Class as City Declares “John Handy Day”
World-renowned jazz master saxophonist John Handy, a McClymond’s High School graduate, was presented with a Mayor of Oakland Proclamation declaring Feb. 12, as John Handy Day in the city. Handy is most notably known as the featured saxophonist for Charles Mingus on “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” from the album “Mingus Ah Um” (1959) and on “Hard Work” from his own album “Hard Work” (1976).
By Conway Jones
World-renowned jazz master saxophonist John Handy, a McClymond’s High School graduate, was presented with a Mayor of Oakland Proclamation declaring Feb. 12, as John Handy Day in the city.
Handy is most notably known as the featured saxophonist for Charles Mingus on “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” from the album “Mingus Ah Um” (1959) and on “Hard Work” from his own album “Hard Work” (1976).
“John Handy is a jazz icon and an inspiration to musicians everywhere,” said Ayo Brame, a 16-year-old Oakland tenor saxophone player who is enrolled at the Oakland School for the Arts.
In celebration of this day, the reception in downtown Oakland at Geoffrey’s Inner Circle was a gathering of artists, young and old, coming together in his honor and celebrating his 91st birthday.
Handy presented a Saxophone Colossus free masterclass for musicians. This class afforded a rare opportunity to learn about the saxophone from an aficionado. The class was free and open to all – saxophonists, vocalists, aficionados, students, and casual listeners.
“As a longtime friend for over 60 years, and fellow musician who has had numerous opportunities to share the stage with John, it has always been a pleasure performing with him and hearing his creative interpretations of the music and his gift of ease inspiring the next generation of jazz musicians,” said Roger Glenn, a multi-instrumentalist.
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