Author: GO BANG MAG

Radio/Music: DJ TONY “SANCHEZ” WILLIAMS

Posted on by GO BANG MAG

Tony Williams is a 61 year old GOD fearing man who has one son and a granddaughter. He’s been a DJ since he was 15 years old and his mentor is a DJ named William Armstrong aka Terrible Tubbs. In addition to DJ’ing, he is also an entrepreneur, being the owner of Truly Blessed Inc.

Currently, he is the host of “The Eye of The Storm” on Spreaker.com and on 102.DLRRadioFM every Monday & Wednesday night.

GO BANG! Magazine: You describe yourself as a GOD fearing man. What does that mean to you and how does it influence your life?

DJ Tony Williams: My grandmother introduced me to GOD through JESUS. I turned my back on HIM but HE saved me from me in 2000 when HE delivered me from crack (cocaine) and I will never look or go back. It’s 20 years later now.

GO BANG! Magazine: Where did you grow up and spend your childhood?

DJ Tony Williams: I grew up on 46th & Greenwood Avenue on the South side of Chicago, Illinois.

GO BANG! Magazine: How did you first become interested in being a DJ?

DJ Tony Williams: I was born to love music!
I was told that as a small child I would crawl to the record player and turn it on. I’ve been loving music ever since. I was introduced to it by walking by the Lake Village Lounge back in the 70’s and heard “Terrible Tubbs” (TT) spinning.

GO BANG! Magazine: Your mentor is William Armstrong aka Terrible Tubbs. Please inform our readers who Terrible Tubbs is and why he’s your mentor.

DJ Tony Williams: William Armstrong was the DJ of the lounge then, and he was COLD. So I wanted to learn from the best. He’s my mentor because he never gave up on me, even when I know I was getting on his last nerve.

GO BANG! Magazine: When and how did you know that you wanted to pursue DJ’ing as a profession?

DJ Tony Williams: After meeting TT, I asked him to show me how to spin. It was the best question I ever asked in my life.

GO BANG! Magazine: Currently, you’re the host of a pod cast on Spreaker.com and on 102.DLRRadioFM. Your on-air name is Tony Sanchez. Please tell us about your show Tony Sanchez.

DJ Tony Williams: That is my alter ego. My friend Bob King gave me that name and I loved it, and I’ve been Tony Sanchez ever since. My show “Eye Of The Storm” was given to me from The CREATOR where its motto is “Love Is The Key.”

GO BANG! Magazine: Your company, Truly Blessed Inc. provides DJ services for events. How can readers contact you if they want to be blessed with your DJ services?

DJ Tony Williams: You can find me on Facebook, Twitch or e-mail at hatchback2@yahoo.com

GO BANG! Magazine: Five years from now, where do you see yourself professionally?

DJ Tony Williams: Hopefully, still alive and streaming my shows.

GO BANG! Magazine: The COVID-19 pandemic has caught the world off guard. How are you dealing with it?

DJ Tony Williams: I was in the Marines so I know how to deal with issues like this. Pay attention, watch the signs, and trust yourself.

GO BANG! Magazine: Lastly, on May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down, begging for his life and repeatedly saying “I can’t breathe.” This incident has caused civil unrest and massive protests across the world. How do you feel about this unfortunate situation and call for police reform due to the horrible treatment of minorities by the police?

DJ Tony Williams: I’m 61. At 10 years old I watched the beating of Rodney King and it left a scar on my mind that I’ll never forget. It was White hate towards Black people by the police. Fast forward 50 years later and I see the police murder a Black man right before my eyes and again the 10 year old me is right back where it all started!

WE must first stop killing each other. Then maybe WE can come together to stop THEM. I grew up in the Burge era (Jon Graham Burge was an American police detective and commander in the Chicago Police Department who was accused of torturing more than 200 innocent men between 1972 and 199, in order to force confessions) so I will NEVER EVER trust the police!!!

YOU CAN FOLLOW TONY ON  http://Facebook.com & http://Twitch.com SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS @Tony Williams

Follow “The Eye of The Storm” on http://Spreaker.com





Pierre A. Evans is a freelance writer of Entertainment, Music, Art, Culture, Fashion and Current Events, and previously for SoulTrain.com, NDigo.com, ChicagoDefender.com, EmpireRadioMagazine.com, and UrbanMuseMag.com, an author, singer/songwriter, actor, model, poet, dancer, and DJ. He is also the owner of Pinnacle Entertainment Productions. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and on Instagram

Theater: THE LEAGUE OF CHICAGO THEATRES FELLOWSHIP

Posted on by GO BANG MAG

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The League of Chicago Theatres announces
the Samuel G. Roberson Jr. Resident Fellowship,
funded by the McMullen & Kime Charitable Trust
to support the work of Black theatre artists in Chicago

Chicago (July 15, 2020)– The League of Chicago Theatres announces The Samuel G. Roberson Jr. Resident Fellowship, a grant to fund a residency for early to mid-career Black theatre artists based in Chicago for a one-year partnership with a Chicago area theatre. This fellowship is funded by the McMullen & Kime Charitable Trust and administered by the League of Chicago Theatres.

Each year, the Fellowship will be focused on a particular area of concentration in Theatre Arts—Directing, Artistic Leadership or Education, for example. The focus of the 2020 Samuel G. Roberson Jr Resident Fellowship Award is Playwriting.

The artist and host theatre recipients will work together toward a public performance of a play, performance piece, or other performance endeavor. Each year, an artist will be awarded $20,000 for participation in the program. The host theatre will be awarded $7,500 for its support of the artist.
Application and eligibility requirements can be found at http://leagueofchicagotheatres.org

The spirit of this award encourages a relationship to be developed between the artist and the theatre that benefits the development of the artist’s career. The project should be driven by the needs, artistic growth, and professional development of the artist. Host theatres are expected to support the artist through the development of the work and the end of the timeline is not expected to be the end of the relationship.

Priority will be given to host theatres that have a stated mission to produce work by Black or BIPOC artists.
Executive Director of the League of Chicago Theatres Deb Clapp comments, “The grant from the McMullen & Kime Charitable Trust is a generous gift to the Chicago theatre community and a fitting tribute to the late Samuel G. Roberson, Jr., a respected teacher, actor, director, Artistic Director and champion of social justice theater. Sam was a beloved collaborator and friend to the Chicago theatre, and the League of Chicago Theatres is honored to administer this Fellowship in his name to support the work of Black theatre artists.”

“The League has served an important role in helping us fine tune both the vision and the details of this grant,” said Melinda McMullen and Duncan Kime, in a joint statement. “Through our work with the League, we discovered there is a gap in funding for new and emerging Black artists, and this Fellowship is one way to begin to address that gap. While the award money is significant, this is not just about money. The goal of this award is to create an environment in which a Black artist can work in partnership with a host theater to create new work and foster a relationship that will last well beyond the year-long period of the Fellowship.”

About Samuel G. Roberson Jr.
Samuel G. Roberson Jr. was Artistic Director of Congo Square Theatre and a teaching artist with Victory Gardens Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre, American Theatre Company, Northlight Theatre, and 16th Street Theatre. As an actor, his Chicago stage credits include: Samuel J and K (Steppenwolf), Civil War Christmas (Northlight), The Colored Museum and Sanctified (Congo Square), Living Green and The Lost Boys of Sudan (Victory Gardens), and The Ballad of Emmett Till (Goodman Theatre). As a director, credits include The Scottsboro Boys (Porchlight Music Theatre) and Twisted Melodies (Congo Square Theatre).

Samuel founded an Education and Outreach initiative with Congo Square Theatre Company called Y-BOOM (Young Brothers Owning Our Mission), a literacy-based leadership program that provided a safe environment for adolescent African American men. As a two-time leukemia survivor he always had a passion for giving back and started a non-profit organization, called Make Me A Match Project, dedicated to saving the lives of patients in need of a bone marrow transplant. He used theatre as a means to raise awareness about leukemia, blood related diseases, and the need for more people to join the marrow donor registry. A graduate of Howard University, he began his theatre career with an apprenticeship at The Children’s Theatre of Minneapolis, where he spent three years defining his desires for acting, writing, directing, and social justice theater.

Chicago lost a beloved, brave and committed truth teller when Sam lost his life-long battle with Leukemia on May 21, 2017. We are most pleased to honor his memory in this way.

About Chicago theatre
Chicago theatre is the leader in the U.S. with more than 250 theatres throughout Chicagoland, comprising a rich and varied community ranging from storefront, non-union theatres to the most renowned resident theatres in the country, including 5 which have been honored with Regional Tony Awards, and the largest touring Broadway organization in the nation. Chicago’s theatres serve 5 million audience members annually and have a combined budget of more than $250 million. Chicago produces and/or presents more world premieres annually than any other city in the nation. Last year alone Chicago theatre companies produced more than 100 world premiere productions and adaptations. Each year Chicago theatres send new work to resident theatres across the country, to Broadway, and around the world.

The McMullen & Kime Charitable Trust
Melinda McMullen and Duncan Kime serve as advisers to the McMullen and Kime Charitable Trust. They have been involved in Chicago theater for two decades. McMullen has served on the boards of Congo Square and Lookingglass Theatre Company. The Trust has been particularly active in supporting the work of Black artists, including HeLa at Sideshow Theater, Thaddeus and Slocum: A Vaudeville Adventure and most recently Her Honor Jane Byrne, both of which were produced at Lookingglass Theatre Company.

League of Chicago Theatres’ Mission Statement
Theatre is essential to the life of a great city and to its citizens. The League of Chicago Theatres is an alliance of theatres which leverages its collective strength to support, promote, and advocate for Chicago’s theatre industry. Through our work, we ensure that theatre continues to thrive in our city.

# # #

Business: OTIS RICHARDSON / LavenderPop Greeting Cards

Posted on by GO BANG MAG

Otis Richardson is a fine artist and illustrator residing in Chicago. Born in South Carolina, he is a graduate of South Carolina State University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Art Education. On the graduate level, he studied at Northern Illinois University, obtaining a Master of Fine Arts in Media Studies.

Otis’s freelance work as an illustrator has appeared in national and local publications, books, and health organizations. These include Sophisticate Black Hair Care magazine, Out And Proud In Chicago, BlackLines, Windy City Times, Test Positive Aware Network, and Chicago Department of Public Health. His fine art has been exhibited in shows sponsored by Stone Art Supply, The ETA Theater, Echoes of Chicago, Hyde Park Art Center, Stony Island Arts Bank, Arts Incubator, Prairie Avenue Gallery, UBUNTU Center of Chicago, and Black Creativity sponsored by the Museum of Science and Industry.

After co-creating BlackPop Greeting Cards in 1999, with former business partner Hana Anderson, Otis launched Lavenderpop Greeting Cards in 2004. Lavenderpop cards are currently carried in Whole Foods’ Englewood location and are being rolled out in 11 JEWEL/OSCO stores. Full list coming soon!

Otis is a longtime supporter of creative arts and social justice activities. He is a current member of the Soka Gakkai International Buddhists and ADOS, American Descendants of Slavery, Chicago chapter.

GO BANG! Magazine: When and how did you first know that you had talent as an artist?

Otis Richardson: Even as a small child, I had a natural talent for drawing and painting. As long as I can remember, I drew pictures and painted with watercolors and acrylics. My parents and friends of the family noticed this and always gifted me with art supplies.

GO BANG! Magazine: Your artwork has appeared in numerous publications. How would describe your style to our readers who may not be familiar with your art?

Otis Richardson: I think my style is very realistic with a focus on faces. When I’m creating images of Black people, I play close attention to representing our different skin tones, hair textures: natural, fades, braids, locs, etc. I think people appreciate the details.

GO BANG! Magazine: How did you make the transition from being an illustrator to becoming a greeting card creator?

Otis Richardson: I really wanted an outlet for my illustrations. Over the years, I’ve done some freelance work, but it wasn’t consistent. For a long time I’ve done handmade cards for friends, but never really thought about doing it as a business. The more I saw other cards in different retail stores, I said to myself that I can do that and add more diverse images.

GO BANG! Magazine: Prior to launching LavenderPop Greeting Cards, which is your own business, you were co-creator of BlackPop Greeting Cards with Hana Anderson. What did you learn from that business that prepared you to start your own and how did you know it was time to go solo?

Otis Richardson: Hana and I worked well together. She did the writing and I did the art, but we both collaborated on the ideas for the cards. We started off small by approaching local Black bookstores then we expanded by getting into select Walgreen stores. The process of becoming a retail vendor, creating invoices, and servicing so many stores really prepared me for getting into Jewel-Osco. Having to supply to so many stores was a lot of work for two people. We decided to close down BlackPop and focus on other creative endeavors. I enjoyed the process of creating cards and coming up with cool designs so I decided to start again and do the art as well as the writing myself.

GO BANG! Magazine: Your greeting card company is named LavenderPop, quite a unique name. Is there any meaning behind the name or any reason why you chose that name for your business?

Otis Richardson: Well, lavender is my favorite color. It’s also a color of royalty. I kept the POP part of the name because it relates to POP CULTURE. I’m very influenced by pop culture in my designs, so that’s what the name represents.

GO BANG! Magazine: LavenderPop Greeting Cards are a bold collection offering a new option for those looking for eye catching Black greeting cards. Why did you feel the need to launch a greeting card business?

Otis Richardson: To be very honest with you, I didn’t launch the line to make money. I’m a lot better now paying attention to the business side of things like marketing and production cost. But I started the cards because I felt like I could add some diversity to the stationery industry. A couple major companies have Black greeting cards that have been around for years. I thought it was time to put something new on the market, cards with fresher designs and attitude.

GO BANG! Magazine: LavenderPop has partnered with and is now carried in many Chicagoland area Jewel-Osco stores. It becomes the first independent Black-owned card line to be carried in the 121 year history of the popular grocery store chain. Congratulations! Please describe how this business partnership occurred and how it feels to be a trailblazer for minority business owners looking to get their businesses in major commercial stores.

Otis Richardson: This partnership happened by never giving up, which is a concept I embrace in my Nichiren Buddhist practice. You create the script that is your life. I’ve had other grocery stores say no, or at one point they were open to a deal, but then it didn’t happen. If I had stopped because of all the no’s, I would not be here with this accomplishment. Actually, getting a no from one store, gave me the motivation to approach Jewel. I’m like “your store ain’t all that, so I’m gonna go over here.” LOL.

The Jewel deal did not happen overnight. When you are dealing with a major commercial store, you have the find the category manager for your product. Once I did that, Jewel had to decide if my cards could even be sold there because of prior relationship with American Greetings. Often times, certain companies will have a monopoly that prevents other products from competing.

After some research, Jewel decided my cards could be sold. I think it took a while because apparently no one had asked them before, which is why I turned out to be the first. Once I got the ok, then I had to get business insurance, and proper UPC codes. The Jewel executives were very helpful in getting me through that process. I’m fortunate to have my day job to cover the business expenses. Entrepreneurs should make sure they have savings, investors or family that can help you fund your business until it reaches a point where you can turn a profit.

I would love to do this full-time and the response from the shoppers has been awesome. I’ve only done promotion on Facebook and people have congratulated me, purchased cards at the stores or ordered them online because they really believed in my product.

GO BANG! Magazine: You are well-educated, creative, a track and field athlete, and heavily involved in social justice activities. With all that you do, how do you find the time to, and more importantly, explain to our readers what type of activities you’ve participated in and why you feel the need to be socially active?

Otis Richardson: I feel I can do better with time management. I don’t think I’m busier than anyone else. I don’t have kids, so I’m so impressed with people who juggle their business and raise a family too. I think it’s true you make time for the things that are important.

Several years ago, I trained six months for the Chicago Marathon. Not sure I have that kind of time now, but you have to create your priorities. My Buddhist practice with Soka Gakkai International (SGI) is important in my spiritual growth. I’m also a part of ADOS American Descendants of Slavery which is the leading movement fighting for Reparations. There are ADOS chapters all over the country and a very active ADOS Chicago chapter here.

One of the sharpest women on the internet is Yvette Carnell of BreakingBrown.com. She often says “There is no Black business without Black politics.” Economics for the Black community is tied into our understanding of politics and what we are owed by the government and the country our ancestors built. I want to offer what I can because our survival as Black people depends on us not being taken advantage of by political leaders…and I’m including the Black ones who care more about their position than bringing policies to Black people who help put them in office. Although I’m disappointed by our so-called leaders, the bottom line is I have to look at myself and see what part I’m playing in making thing better.

GO BANG! Magazine: The COVID-19 pandemic has caught the world off guard. How are you dealing with it?

Otis Richardson: I’m fortunate I’m able to work from home. That’s not a reality for many of us. Even being partially furloughed, I’m using my time to get stuff done that I’ve put off. All of the Buddhist gatherings are happening on Zoom. We also have a campaign to reach out to members on the phone. This is what we call member care. It’s difficult not being able to see people face to face, but it’s important to keep in touch with others and by doing so, you keep yourself encouraged.

GO BANG! Magazine: Lastly, on May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down, begging for his life and repeatedly saying “I can’t breathe.” This incident has caused civil unrest and massive protests across the world. How do you feel about this unfortunate situation and call for police reform due to the horrible treatment of minorities by the police?

Otis Richardson: Great question!
I think police reform has its place, but I have to go back to Reparations. Antonio Moore is an attorney and expert in wealth inequality. He along with Yvette Carnell came up with the identity ADOS. He’s done YouTube shows about the lack of economic support in Minneapolis for Black people that led to someone like George Floyd being disrespected racially, but also being unemployed and having Covid19 when he was killed. The lack of wealth for Black America is the reason we are susceptible to being taken advantage of by organizations like the police or not having health care or our own businesses in our communities.

These initiatives sound good like police reform, or investing in jobs and education. But notice when the talk is about investment, it’s usually for ‘people of color.” People assume POC means Black people, but that money could go to everybody except Black Americans if we are not specific. You can’t fund universal programs for everyone, when you have not made us a priority after 400 years.

The time for Reparations is now and I want to be a part of it. Reparations is not just a single check, but let’s be clear, it does include direct financial payments for people whose ancestors endured slavery. Reparations is multigenerational. It’s also about ownership. My goal is for Lavenderpop Greeting Cards to be a part of that ownership movement and to create images that affirm our style, strength and beauty.

YOU CAN FOLLOW OTIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE WEB:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lavenderpop-Greeting-Cards-297117733332
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LavenderpopCard
Instagram: @lavenderpop


Websites: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LavenderpopCards & http://lavenderpop.com/





Pierre A. Evans is a freelance writer of Entertainment, Music, Art, Culture, Fashion and Current Events, and previously for SoulTrain.com, NDigo.com, ChicagoDefender.com, EmpireRadioMagazine.com, and UrbanMuseMag.com, an author, singer/songwriter, actor, model, poet, dancer, and DJ. He is also the owner of Pinnacle Entertainment Productions. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and on Instagram

Film: AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL GOES VIRTUAL

Posted on by GO BANG MAG

Online Edition Scheduled for August 21-30, 2020

LOS ANGELES, CA, (June 11, 2020) – ABFF Ventures LLC., today announced that the 24th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) will take place online August 21-30, 2020 at abff.com. The ABFF Online Edition will continue the tradition of the live festival, featuring the best of independent black cinema, studio premieres, conversations and panels, business of entertainment seminars, along with virtual networking events.

The ABFF will also use its platform for social change in response to the scourge of racial injustice in our country, as well as educate and support its community in an effort to help in its recovery from the coronavirus. This year’s festival theme is “Community First!”

“While we will surely miss being with our ABFF community in Miami Beach this year and connecting in person, what truly binds us together is our shared commitment to ensure inclusion in Hollywood and sustaining a place of inspiration for diverse storytellers. We will persevere through this year and end up a stronger community on the other side of this crisis.” said ABFF Ventures CEO, Jeff Friday.

The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) was conceived in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the Black entertainment community and provide a platform for emerging artists. It has become one of the leading film festivals in the world and a place of inspiration and community for many. The destination festival, which has typically attracted 7,000 to 10,000 attendees to Miami Beach, will open its virtual doors to a global audience, offering most of its programming free of charge.

Previously announced, Iconic Grammy Award® winning and Academy Award® nominated singer, songwriter, actress, producer and philanthropist Mary J. Blige serves as this years’ ambassador.

Sponsors to date include Warner Media, HBO® (Founding), Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (Presenting Sponsors); Comcast NBCUniversal, Amazon Studios (Premier Sponsors); Motion Picture Association (MPA), Sony Pictures Entertainment, Jeff Friday Media, UMC – Urban Movie Channel, Verizon Media (Official Sponsors); Accenture (Supporting Sponsor); Blackfilm.com (Media Partner).


For more information on ABFF and up-to-date news, go to http://www.abff.com and follow @ABFF on Twitter and @AmericanBlackFilmFestival on Instagram and Facebook.

Join in on the conversation by using #ABFF20 and #WeAreABFF.
________________________________________
ABOUT ABFF:

The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to recognizing black talent and showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Dedicated to the belief that diverse artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, ABFF founder Jeff Friday conceived the festival in 1997 as a vehicle to strengthen the black entertainment community by fostering resource sharing, education and artistic collaboration.

After 24 years, the festival has become a cornerstone of diversity in Hollywood, providing a platform for emerging black artists — many of who have become today’s most successful actors, producers, writers, directors and stand-up comedians, including Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), Will Packer (“Girls Trip”), Issa Rae (“Insecure”), Kevin Hart (“Night School”), Omari Hardwick (“Power”) and Steven Caple Jr. (“Creed II”). The ABFF is the preeminent pipeline for black artists in front of and behind the camera, and has significantly expanded the range of talent working in the entertainment Industry.

As “the nation’s largest gathering of black film and television enthusiasts” the ABFF attracts a broad audience of celebrity talent, emerging artists, upscale consumers and industry stakeholders. Approximately 7,000 to 10,000 people travel to Miami Beach each year for the five-day event. The festival opens with the premiere of an upcoming Hollywood release followed by a full schedule of intriguing independent film screenings, master classes, panels, celebrity talks, live entertainment, and a variety of networking and hospitality events.

ABOUT ABFF VENTURES:

ABFF Ventures LLC (ABFFV) is a multifaceted entertainment company specializing in the production of live events and branded content. Its mission is to entertain and inspire communities of color while promoting diversity in Hollywood. Headquartered in Los Angeles, ABFFV was formed to stimulate business growth through expansion into other events and services. Its tent-pole properties are the American Black Film Festival (ABFF), cited by MovieMaker magazine as “One of the Coolest Festivals in the World;” and “ABFF Honors,” an annual awards gala saluting the top stars of film and television. In creating ABFF Ventures, CEO Jeff Friday channeled his passion for film and television, as well as his discomfort with the underrepresentation of people of color in Hollywood, into an organization with the ultimate goal of advocating for diversity within the entertainment industry. Through his vision and perseverance, ABFF Ventures has become a highly respected enterprise, generating goodwill throughout the Hollywood and corporate communities.

Business: SPENCER BIBBS & CHICAGO JAZZ PHOTOGRAPHY

Posted on by GO BANG MAG

Spencer Bibbs is a lifelong Chicago resident and a freelance photographer who lives on the south side of Chicago. He went to Mount Carmel high school and then to Lewis University in Romeoville, IL, where he studied Computer Science and Philosophy.

He started his professional career as a grammar school Assistant Teacher on the south side of Chicago. He then transitioned and became as Social Worker, working with senior citizens, for about 10 years. There, he began doing a lot of digital media projects with the seniors and discovered his love for digital art and photography.

After leaving Social Services, he went back to teaching and began to pursue a career in photography. Around 10 years ago, he became the official photographer for the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce. Shortly after, he started working with the Hyde Park Herald. Through these organizations, he has documented his hometown neighborhood of Hyde Park for the past 10 years.

He discovered a love for “live music” photography a few years back and has recently created a social media outlet called “Chicago Jazz Photography” where he promotes jazz and shows his photo images.

GO BANG! Magazine: You just happen to stumble upon your love of photography through your work with senior citizens. What was it about photography that motivated you to pursue it professionally?

Spencer Bibbs: I was a case manager for 10 years prior to discovering photography. I loved my residents but realized that the job was not for me. I was making $45,000/yr. but I was always on pins and needles. I knew that my next job was going to be something that I loved. Money would not be a driving factor, if I could live and survive on what I was making.

As a photographer and artist, I fell in love with capturing images and liking the images that I captured. It makes you want to do more. When I left Case Management, I figured that was the best time to pursue my passion. I got lucky and got in as the volunteer photographer for the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce and a freelancer for the Hyde Park Herald. These were two driving forces.

GO BANG! Magazine: Over the years, you have worked with some prominent Hyde Park organizations. What is it in particular that you like most about the Hyde Park neighborhood?

Spencer Bibbs: It is a little strange to answer because I am a lifelong Hyde Parker. Working with various Hyde Park organizations has allowed me to become more connected to my neighborhood. There are many things that I love about this neighborhood.

This community has always been known as a place where everybody is welcomed, and it gives a lot to the people. Prior to COVID 19, there were always things to do and things to get involved in. It is a highly organized and highly active community.

GO BANG! Magazine: For our readers that may be unfamiliar with digital art, would you please describe what it is and why you’re so interested in it?

Spencer Bibbs: Photography for me is about perspective and creation. A photo is never going to be exactly what the photographer saw. When photographers were using film, different types of film produced different types of images based off what the photographer was trying to do. The photographer would then take that image and manipulate the film so that the image came out the way that the photographer wanted.

Rather than use film, digital photographers use digital cameras. The images that photographers capture are stored as files on disks. I use my computer to manipulate the images that I capture. As a newspaper photographer, my images cannot be manipulated. They must be as close to the actual scene as possible.

The great thing about digital photography is that you can do whatever you want with your images. You have a lot more tools now than film photographers did. Using your computer and special software, you can do whatever you want with your images. You can make day turn to night. You can make a cloudy day look like a sunny day, etc.

GO BANG! Magazine: “Live music” photography sounds like an interesting genre of photography. It combines music with photography. How did you get involved and can you discuss in detail your social media outlet for those photos?

Spencer Bibbs: I stumbled into live music photography. As a neighborhood newspaper photographer, I began taking neighborhood live music assignments. Hyde Park has had many great live music events over the past 10 years. I still remember my first big live music event. The Family Stone (minus Sly) was playing at one of our neighborhood events years ago. I was on stage photographing them as they were playing in the rain and it was AWESOME! To be a music photographer, you must love music and taking pictures. When both come together, it is meditative. You go into a zone.

I love jazz music and have been finding every chance that I get to photograph live jazz music. Since jazz is so improvisational, it gives me the ability to improvise and create art with my images. I like to let the music take me into a creative place and just see what happens.

I created my own social media outlet called Chicago Jazz Photography where I display my work and support the music. I am on Facebook and Instagram.

GO BANG! Magazine: What is your favorite type of photograph to take and why?

Spencer Bibbs: I love finding images versus capturing moments. I am not here to document things.

GO BANG! Magazine: Growing up in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, and documenting it photographically, must have been a unique experience. Hyde Park is a Southside neighborhood that has a unique demographic make-up of all racial, social, sexual and economic backgrounds. It has changed over the years as well. Do you feel that the change has been for the better or for the worse and why?

Spencer Bibbs: My fear is that there will be a day that I cannot afford to live here. It is not easy to be low-income and live in Hyde Park. I think that was different 30 to 40 years ago. I blame the University of Chicago for that.

GO BANG! Magazine: What can our readers expect from you in the upcoming years?

Spencer Bibbs: I am going to keep creating and moving forward.

GO BANG! Magazine: The COVID-19 pandemic has caught the world off guard. How are you dealing with it?

Spencer Bibbs: As a music photographer, it has been tough. There has not been much live music since the shutdown. For a while, I was taking pictures of trees in parks and things of that nature but, that gets old after a while.

I have added a few new skills since the pandemic hit. I have also beefed up my contacts on social media so that when things do open back up, I will have a lot more eyes on what I am doing.

You can follow Spencer Bibbs on Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/spencer.bibbs https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoJazzPhotography https://www.facebook.com/spencerbibbsphotography
Website: www.spbdigitalconcepts.photoshelter.com




Pierre A. Evans is a freelance writer of Entertainment, Music, Art, Culture, Fashion and Current Events, and previously for SoulTrain.com, NDigo.com, ChicagoDefender.com, EmpireRadioMagazine.com, and UrbanMuseMag.com, an author, singer/songwriter, actor, model, poet, dancer, and DJ. He is also the owner of Pinnacle Entertainment Productions. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and on Instagram

Dance/Event/Music: HOUSE DANCE CLASS / ANDRE’ PIERRE “THE DANCIN’ MACHINE”

Posted on by GO BANG MAG

TICKET LINK:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/house-music-dance-class-tickets-98875293665

 

THE COVID-19 BAN WAS LIFTED IN CHICAGO ON FRIDAY, JUNE 26TH, 2020.

THEREFORE WE CAN NOW RESCHEDULE OUR 1ST HOUSE DANCE CLASS: 

Date And Time

Sun, August 16, 2020

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM CDT

Location

Dance Studio

403 East 69th Street

Chicago, IL 60637



CLASS SIZE HAS BEEN “REDUCED” to 10-15 TO ACCOMMODATE SOCIAL DISTANCING.

ADVANCED TICKETS ONLY – NO TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR!!!

GET YOUR “EARLY BIRD” HOUSE DANCE CLASS TICKETS NOW!!!

TICKETS GOING FAST!

EVERYONE WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS & PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, HAND SANITIZER WILL BE AVAILABLE.

ADVANCED TICKETS ONLY – NO TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR!!!

TICKET LINK:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/house-music-dance-class-tickets-98875293665


“GOTTA HAVE HOUSE” – House Dance Class Learn the basics through intermediate levels of house music club-dancing. House music began in Chicago in the 1980’s. The dance is primarily freestyle and there are few restrictions. Master the foundation steps, moves, gestures, and culture of the house community. Discover how to tap into your soul, free your spirit, and give in to the music. This class is for beginners through intermediate students looking to learn, brush up, or enhance their skills on the dance floor. “Dance like nobody’s watching!” DANCE INSTRUCTOR BIO: “ANDRE PIERRE THE DANCING MACHINE”  https://www.facebook.com/AndrePierreTheDancingMachine/

Hailing from Chicago, IL, Pierre Andre’ Evans graduated from Columbia College Chicago, receiving a B.A. degree in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management. He is a well-known fixture in the house community who was informally trained on the club dance floors under the tutelage of the late legendary DJ Ron Hardy, four time GRAMMY Award-nominee DJ Steve “Silk” Hurley, and the late GRAMMY Award winning DJ Frankie Knuckles. One of the highlights of his career was in 2015, dancing on-stage during the 25th anniversary of The Chosen Few DJ’s Reunion Picnic, with an attendance of over 40,000 “househeads.” Those in the house community affectionately refer to him as the “Dancing Machine” because of his carefree dancing skills and never-ending stamina. As a DJ for over 40 years, he’s well-versed in all sub-genres of house music and the dance styles associated with each.

Referring to his dancing alter ego, Andre’ Pierre, the community has coined the phrase: “If Andre’ Pierre is at your party, you know it’s going on!”


I AM HOUSE!

Hailing from Chicago, IL, Pierre Andre’ Evans graduated from Columbia College Chicago, receiving a B.A. degree in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management. He is a well-known fixture in the house community who was informally trained on the club dance floors under the tutelage of the late legendary DJ Ron Hardy, four time GRAMMY Award-nominee DJ Steve “Silk” Hurley, and the late GRAMMY Award winning DJ Frankie Knuckles. One of the highlights of his career was in 2015, dancing on stage during the 25th anniversary of The Chosen Few DJ’s Reunion Picnic, with an attendance of over 40,000 “househeads.” Another more recent highlight was in 2019, when he danced on stage at the founder of house music, “Robert Williams’ Day” celebration.
Those in the house community affectionately refer to him as the “Dancing Machine” because of his carefree dancing skills and never-ending stamina. As a DJ for over 40 years, he’s well-versed in all sub-genres of house music and the dance styles associated with each.
Referring to his dancing alter ego, Andre’ Pierre, the community has coined the phrase, “If Andre’ Pierre is at your party, you know it’s going on!”

 




Pierre A. Evans is a freelance writer of Entertainment, Music, Art, Culture, Fashion and Current Events, and previously for SoulTrain.com, NDigo.com, ChicagoDefender.com, EmpireRadioMagazine.com, and UrbanMuseMag.com, an author, singer/songwriter, actor, model, poet, dancer, and DJ. He is also the owner of Pinnacle Entertainment Productions. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and on Instagram

Event/Music: HOUSE CLUB TOUR

Posted on by GO BANG MAG

July 1, 2020
6th Annual HOUSE CLUB TOUR Global Crawl #2

Enjoy Four Hours of Sounds from Chicago, Detroit, Japan,
Italy, Jamaica, London, Moscow & Brazil

SHOWING @ HOUSECLUBTOUR.COM

Music By: Maurice Joshua, Paul Johnson, Roussoul
Jukie Tha-Kidd, Randall Dean, Hula, First Lady
Dave Maze, Bruce Bailey, LoftSoul
SoulBridge, DJ MarshyRedz, Cem Ceylan
Risha_Rush, DJ G

VIEW on YOUTUBE
or Visit CHICAGO BARS
(Limited Seating so Crawl Around)!
*City Life 11am -11pm
*Frances’ Cocktail Lounge 12am – 11pm
*The Family Den 1pm-11pm
*Renaissance Bronzeville 4pm-11pm

Powered By: HCT, RFK Promotions, Tri-M Entertainment

Music: JOHN ROCCA (Dance/EDM)

Posted on by GO BANG MAG

John Rocca, a dance music performer, remixer and record producer. During the early 1980s, he formed, played with, wrote for, produced and managed his first musical band, Freeez, with success. His first self-funded and self-released effort was “Keep in Touch”, a #1 song in the UK Blues & Soul Magazine Dance Charts and #49 in the United Kingdom Gallup charts – partly by sales from the back of a van. His next effort, “Southern Freeez” by Freeez – now considered a jazz funk classic – was not only a UK Blues & Soul Dance Chart #1 but a popular music chart success in various other countries in Europe, scoring the United Kingdom Gallup Charts at #8.

During 1983, one of the first records to use digital sampling – “IOU” by Freeez – featured John’s falsetto voice and became one of the major dance successes of the 1980s electro music style. It scored number one in dance charts in Europe and the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play and had popular music chart success across the world spending three weeks at #2 in the United Kingdom Gallup Charts.

As a solo artist, John Rocca scored #1 yet again, this time with “I Want It To Be Real.” It went #1 on the U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart during 1984. After these and various other successes, John engineered, produced and mixed for various other artists, as well as recording by his own name and several other pseudo names.

John Rocca retired from the music business during 1993. His last recording, by the pseudonym Midi Rain, John wrote and played all of the instruments. He also recorded, engineered, produced, and mixed all of the songs. Midi Rain scored the Billboard US Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart with the album “Shine”, which scored number one during 1993.

John Rocca, one of the pioneers of Dance music!

GO BANG! Magazine: You’re born and raised in London, United Kingdom. How did you get started in dance music?

John Rocca: It was 1974, and I was probably not yet 14 years old when my life was CHANGED FOREVER… Not just by Bruce Lee, but by one particular record. One day when I was in a youth club near my school, a track came on with a sound like nothing I’d ever heard before. It was just a groove. No verse, no chorus, no mid 8 of any significance, just that amazing groove. It was “Wicky Wacky” by the Fatback Band. I found out what it was and went in search of more, digging out tiny specialist record shops all over London and soon found gems like James Brown’s “Papa Don’t Take No Mess” and The Beginning of the End with “Funky Nassau.” Let’s face it. There was no turning back after those tracks reached deep into my little growing bones.

GO BANG! Magazine: The United States became aware of you and your songs in the 80’s with your group Freeez, with songs like “I.O.U.” on the club dancefloors and commercially on radio. How did you feel when Americans embraced you?

John Rocca: I first came to the US in 1982 to find a producer to help us do the second Freeez album that would go on to become IOU. It was all an amazing adventure, especially NYC, early 80s, which was a concrete jungle of skyscrapers to a young English boy. Music and recording technology was changing, and that change brought Freeez into the realms of drum machines like the 808 and the early sampler technology.

I have always loved technology so I embraced that change rather than staying in the style we had started. It was of course very flattering to see the success of IOU when we returned to New York and other US cities during the summer of 1983 when the record was a bit hit. Back then however, just our English accent was already a passport to new friends.

GO BANG! Magazine: As a solo artist, you received even more play with your hit “I Want It To Be Real.” You’ve always utilized a different and unique sound, using the vocoder and your falsetto voice. Did you know, when recording songs, that they would be iconic staples on the dancefloor?

John Rocca: I have mostly tried (though not always succeed) to do something different each time I make music and ‘I Want It To Be Real” was exactly that. It was everything I’d learned from NYC electro, adding in any other new technologies, as things were moving fast, as well as it being written back in London. Injecting something else from myself and the UK technology had now brought me to the point where I could convey a lot more of my ideas into my tracks. This was in contrast to working with a whole band. That also brought some difference to the music, retaining more of myself (though still partnered with Andy Stennett of Freeez to convert those ideas, as well as add his own).

It’s not that I knew what I was doing in terms of creating something new, but I’m often experimenting with something, embracing something else, and if I like how it sounds, then I keep it, as simple as that. It just worked out well on some occasions (and, not so well on others).

GO BANG! Magazine: You’ve also performed under the name Midi Rain. What would you say is the difference musically, between John Rocca and Midi Rain?

John Rocca: Midi Rain was the first time I was able to do all the music myself. Computers and digital technology now meant I didn’t need a real musician to help me play the music because the computer could do that for me, or at least, it could correct my poorly played ideas into a basic version of what was in my head. Midi Rain was therefore pure John Rocca for the first time. I wrote every song and was the sole performer of all instruments on every track. Of course, with that in mind it was bound to be different to anything I’d done before hand and at the very least, some sort of progression of the sound I had been getting closer and closer to. The sound was also limited by my musical ability so my sound changed because of that too.

When “Shine” was a US Dance #1 in 1993, it seemed like a good time to retire from music. I had already started at University to learn all about computer and digital technology in more of a global sense and not just related to music. Keep in mind, that by the mid 90’s, we had begun the era of the “Mobile Phone” as GSM was rolled out across the world. It was a massively exciting time and continued to be over the coming years as the next step was the evolution of the smart phone, social media and the connected mobile internet world we all live in today.

GO BANG! Magazine: You retired from music in the early 90’s after you recorded “Shine.” But there is now a brand new version of your first big UK hit from 1980 aptly called “Southern Freeez 20+20”. It’s a smoother and cooler version of the original track. Has that inspired you to come out of retirement and go back into the studio or produce new talent?

John Rocca: To be honest, I had no idea it had been 40 years since the original “Southern Freeez” but when the record company contacted me regarding its anniversary it seemed like it would be fun to take some musical ideas I had written over the past few years and blend them into a mix of the 80s UK Jazz Funk scene and the scene today. Doing a cover version of my own song was a bit weird to start with and not something I would normally be keen on, but somehow it happened and I enjoyed the boundaries and as well breaking them a little. There’s even a touch of House in there too.

GO BANG! Magazine: What are you up to now after moving from the UK to Malaysia?

John Rocca: I came to Malaysia around 20 years ago with a UK technology start-up that I had been working with all over the world, and I somehow settled.

GO BANG! Magazine: You have legions of fans all over the world that love your music and have great memories of dancing to your songs. What message would you like to say to them, and even more specifically, to your American fans?

John Rocca: That’s probably the most difficult question. Thank you… most of all. I am very, grateful, flattered and humbled by their support.

GO BANG! Magazine: Everyone wants to leave a positive legacy. What do you want the world to remember most about you as your legacy?

John Rocca: That’s not something I think about really.

GO BANG! Magazine: The COVID-19 pandemic has caught the world off guard. How are you dealing with it?

John Rocca: For me personally it has been fine. I am a fairly solitary person who is happy to be around those few special people who are close to me. What I worry about is for the people of the world as a whole. I’m referring to everyone who’ll find life even more difficult, over the coming years. What I hope is that Covid-19 can also help bring change in the many ways the world needs.

GO BANG! Magazine: On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down, begging for his life and repeatedly saying “I Can’t Breathe.” This incident has caused civil unrest and massive protests across the world. How do you feel about this unfortunate situation and call for police reform due to the horrible treatment of minorities by the police?

John Rocca: I stand in absolute solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. The world today remains a terrible indictment of the resistance to change by the establishment – the stock markets, corporations, conglomerates and now tech giants who control governments. These are all an extension of the capitalist colonial past that continues to syphon wealth from those without the power to resist.

The majority of humanity care deeply about each other. The question I aim at the minority in power is one that Marvin Gaye asked so beautifully half a century ago in his timeless song “Save The Children; “ “Who really cares?” In the lifetime, that has passed me since that song was written, so little has really changed. Without real action from the reluctant few at the top, and equality right now for everyone else, we are left facing the same recurring question of how to force change upon the stagnant status quo that the elite cling on to so desperately. It is and remains this tiny moralistic minority who encourage the so called “racial divide” of what in reality is a single race of human beings. They hamper, stifle and strangle change at best and murder change at worst. All in order to feed their constant, insatiable but wholly pointless greed and in doing so, pervert our so called modern freedom and democracy.

YOU CAN FOLLOW JOHN ROCCA ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA FORMATS

SONG LINKS:

“IOU”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2vb9zlEzmk
“I Want It To Be Real”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJdofyzcXdo
“Move”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zenMMFJwO54
“Once Upon A Time”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bpJ7XJh748
(Midi Rain) “Shine” (Pierre’s Chicago House Mix): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6JX6UpZIpk
“Southern Freeez 20+20”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QIp4O1gRUE




Pierre A. Evans is a freelance writer of Entertainment, Music, Art, Culture, Fashion and Current Events, and previously for SoulTrain.com, NDigo.com, ChicagoDefender.com, EmpireRadioMagazine.com, and UrbanMuseMag.com, an author, singer/songwriter, actor, model, poet, dancer, and DJ. He is also the owner of Pinnacle Entertainment Productions. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and on Instagram

Business/Music: FREDERICK DUNSON / FRANKIE KNUCKLES FOUNDATION

Posted on by GO BANG MAG

 

Photo credit:  Ernest Collins

Serving others and giving back to his community has always been important to Frederick Dunson. Born on Chicago’s west side, he attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Grammar School, St. Ignatius College Prep and Columbia College where he majored in Arts & Entertainment Management & Public Relations. He was employed at the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County for nearly 34 years where he worked his way from File Clerk to Chief Deputy Clerk of the Juvenile Justice Division. He received numerous commendations and acknowledgements for his public service and retired in December of 2014.

Since then he has continued his service work as Founder, President & Executive Director of the Frankie Knuckles Foundation – NFP, formed to honor famed Grammy Award winner Frankie Knuckles, Frederick’s best friend and business partner to continue Frankie’s legacy through charitable endeavors.

Dunson and Knuckles who were partners of their production company D/E Entertainment held some of the most highly anticipated and attended events for 13 years at some of the most renown and venerable venues here in the city of Chicago!

Founded in December 2014, the Frankie Knuckles Foundation – NFP is a not for profit educational, and cultural organization dedicated to the advancement of Frankie Knuckles’ mission as the global ambassador of House music through media, conservation and public events continuing and supporting the causes he advocated. The FKF is a recognized 501c3 and focused on these initiatives: music in schools, LGBTQ youth homelessness, AIDS research / prevention & diabetes research / education.

Frederick currently serves on the Black Perspective Committee of the Chicago International Film Festival, the Board of the Empowerment Center for Better Living where he attends and is a member as well as a member of the Non for Profit Committee of the West Loop Community Organization and recently served on its Board of Directors.

GO BANG! Magazine: When and how did you first become aware of and get involved in the club scene of the Disco days, which predates House.

Frederick Dunson: I became aware of the club scene during my high school years, so we’re talking about ’75. There was a group of friends who were slightly older and they would let me tag along with them and they would get me in the bars/clubs. So, this was during the disco era…blinking lights, mirror balls and lighted dance floors…LOL! I got involved once I started working at the Warehouse, so that would have been ’76 – ’77.

GO BANG! Magazine: I understand that DJ Frankie Knuckles was your best friend. How did you and Frankie first meet and what was it about him that clicked and made you guys become homies?

Frederick Dunson: Frankie was more than just my best friend he was my brother. When you’ve been friends as long as we were (38 years) there’s no other way to describe it. My family considered him to be a part of our family as well. We met through a friend (Kurt Robinson) who introduced us at the Bowery one night and we just clicked. We chatted during the week. He would come by our house for dinner. Kurt and I started helping him out addressing invites for the weekly parties and the next thing I knew (as mentioned) was that I started working at the Warehouse.

Frankie was such an open, warm and caring person that his sensibilities about life and what makes a great party drew us close. And the fact that he wanted to see what Chicago had to offer made us gel, plus we shared a love of music and he introduced me to the music that I came to love…House!

GO BANG! Magazine: Not only were you guys best friends, but you also went into business together being business partners in a production company, D/E Entertainment. Can you name a few of the most memorable events that D/E Entertainment produced?

Frederick Dunson: D/E came out of Frankie coming to Chicago and playing for different promoters…after a gig one night at the Rivera where the management and staff were so nasty to the LQBTQIA+ attendees and pretty much everyone who was there, that at the end of the evening he told me that the only way that he’d come and play again was that “it would have to be an event we produced”. So we formed D/E and started producing two annual events a year – 4th of July & Thanksgiving – at a few of Chicago’s hottest venues.

A few of our most memorable events included Adeva performing at Crobar, Jocelyn Brown at the House of Blues, a party that included a Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor and Madonna impersonators, and the evening Cristina Aguilera dropped in to party!

GO BANG! Magazine: Individually, you are quite a dynamic person. You had an extensive career in the Cook County Circuit Court system, which you retired from in 2014. But, since then, you’ve kept busy being one of the founders of the Frankie Knuckles Foundation – NFP. The foundation focuses on specific initiatives: music in schools, LGBTQ youth homelessness, AIDS research / prevention and diabetes research / education. I understand that these were all issues that Frankie held dear to his heart. Why did you think it was important for the Frankie Knuckles Foundation (FKF) to exist?

Frederick Dunson: FKF was the brainchild of Randy Crumpton (the late entertainment attorney) who represented Frankie. After Frankie’s untimely passing, there were events and fundraisers that was using his name and we (his family and friends) didn’t know where the funds were going. So, Randy’s thought was that a foundation in Frankie’s honor could do the same thing for causes he advocated, help people out, plus have an educational and conservation component regarding House music, as well as continue his legacy and oversee his brand.

It’s amazing! Even though he’s not with us, he and his music continue to touch the lives of many. There’s always an email or a post on one of our socials (media sites) that describes that very thing and to me that validates why it was so important to establish FKF!

GO BANG! Magazine: The fact that the FNF calls the south side of Chicago its home and has a physical location at the Stony Island Arts Bank, 6760 S. Stony Island Avenue, is a testament to the fact that south siders made up a great part of the House music family and culture. What factors went into choosing the location for the foundation?

Frederick Dunson: I know it seems like it, but our office is located in the West Loop. Frankie’s vinyl catalogue is housed at the Stony Island Arts Bank, as a result of a conversation that Randy arranged between me and friend to FKF – Theaster Gates. The collection could have been sent to a number of other cities, but it was Frankie’s wishes to keep his collection in Chicago. We were in discussion with Columbia College’s Center for Black Music Research to house it there but after spending time and speaking with Theaster about our (FKF & Rebuild) vision for the collection, it made all the sense in the world to house it there…besides Theaster loves House music !

There have been a number of FKF and Rebuild events produced there, as well as revolving around the collection. And yes the response to it being housed there is indeed a testimony to the fact that south siders have definitely made a contribution to the fabric of the House music culture here in Chicago…but there are also a number of visitors from overseas that drop in to take a look at the collection or attend events.

GO BANG! Magazine: The FKF Board of Directors includes an array of individuals from different backgrounds including you, Alan King (Chosen Few DJs), Maurice “Judd” Chaylor, David Morales (Def Mix Productions), Robin Robinson (Journalist), Eric Kupper (Hysteria Productions) and Ken Dunkin (Politician) to name a few. How does this variety of individuals enhance the Board?

Frederick Dunson: A few of the names mentioned were Founding members and have now moved on. I like to think that we are a great representation of what House music looks like. It was important to me that each person that belongs to the Foundation had some sort of relationship with him, knew him and could bring their respective gifts to assist in our efforts to bring visibility and accomplish some of the goals of the organization.

GO BANG! Magazine: Besides being an integral part in the history and legacy of the House music culture, what are some of your other interests?

Frederick Dunson: You’re too kind…thank you for such kind words…

Some of my other interests…hmmm…bingeing on TV. I’m unapologetically a television junkie; travel, music, art and cooking. I consider myself a pretty good cook. Frankie and I always wanted to open a restaurant, and of course an interesting and great conversation.

GO BANG! Magazine: After we get through this COVID-19 pandemic, are there any events, panels, or productions coming up at the Frankie Knuckles Foundation that you can share with our readers?

Frederick Dunson: Hopefully things will get back to what seems like our “new” normal and we’ll be able to gather and celebrate each other and life, but in the meantime we’re tentatively planning a global virtual celebration observance of Frankie Knuckles Day on August 25th.

GO BANG! Magazine: The COVID-19 pandemic has caught the world off guard. How are you dealing with it?

Frederick Dunson: Yes it has! Unfortunately, our leadership in Washington didn’t pay attention to all of the red flags that were sent and we as a country could have responded sooner! I’d like to think that I’m dealing with it fairly well by being vigilant and following the guidelines prescribed by Governor Pritzker and Mayor Lightfoot, by being compliant and staying out of harm’s way, plus a positive attitude goes a long way (smile).

GO BANG! Magazine: On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during an arrest for allegedly using a counterfeit bill. Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down, begging for his life and repeatedly saying “I can’t breathe.” This incident has caused civil unrest and massive protests across the world. How do you feel about this unfortunate situation and call for police reform due to the horrible treatment of minorities by the police?

Frederick Dunson: It is indeed a very unfortunate situation…seeing Mr. Floyd lose his life because of the hatred instilled into one person who abused his power was so horrendous, but seeing Chauvin’s partners stand there and do nothing was even more offensive!

Since a large amount of my professional background was working in the court system, I respect the criminal legal system, when it works like it is meant to do. It’s when those involved in the system don’t follow the law and treat people with the kindness and dignity we’re all entitled to under our Constitution that it then goes awry and liberties get abused. We have a right to be angry and ask for change, but not destructive to our own neighborhoods and destroy the services and business that we so desperately need in our communities to keep us alive. And yes, there certainly must be police reform to bring about a change nationwide. It’s a must that it comes sooner than later!

You can contact Frederick Dunson at: fdunson@thefkfoundation.org. For individuals seeking more information or to learn about FKF, you can visit the website at: http://thefkfoundation.org and follow on FB and Instagram.




Pierre A. Evans is a freelance writer of Entertainment, Music, Art, Culture, Fashion and Current Events, and previously for SoulTrain.com, NDigo.com, ChicagoDefender.com, EmpireRadioMagazine.com, and UrbanMuseMag.com, an author, singer/songwriter, actor, model, poet, dancer, and DJ. He is also the owner of Pinnacle Entertainment Productions. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and on Instagram

NEVER MISS A HIT!!!

Subscribe to GoBang! Magazine

You have successfully subscribed to the newsletter

There was an error while trying to send your request. Please try again.

GO BANG! Magazine will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.
Verified by MonsterInsights