“Unsung and Off the Chain” Fundraiser in Celebration of Black Music Month

Call for Volunteers from 3 to 7pm. If you are able to help, please email llovett@sandiego.gov or call 619-865-9230.

On Saturday, June 8, 2013, the Valencia Park/Malcolm X Branch Library &
Performing Arts Center Branch Library will host “Unsung and Off the Chain,” a musical
tribute honoring African American performers during Black Music Month. The musical event and theatrical production will start at 7:00 pm and is a fundraiser to benefit the San Diego Public Library. All monies raised will be donated to the Malcolm X Library for the purchase of children and teen books and to the City Heights Library’s Performance Annex for future programming. The suggested donation is a sliding scale of $5.00 to $25.00, which is tax deductible.

Prior to the evening show at 7:00pm, there will be pre-show activities occurring outside on library grounds from 4:00 to 7:00pm. Activities include:

• ?International Food Festival
• Music provided by The Matthews Company
• ?Free fashion show by Ethnicity’s Unique Boutique
• ?Free Face Painting
• Raffle
• ?Free HIV testing, Health Screenings, & Funk for Fitness

June is Black Music Month. Black Music Month was created in the mid 70’s by legendary radio
pioneer Jack “The Rapper” Gibson, Kenny Gamble, Ed White and other members of the Black
Music Association to highlight the contributions of Black musicians, as well as the importance of black radio. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter signed a bill declaring June Black Music Month, to acknowledge Black Americans’ contribution to America’s musical culture. Enslaved Africans blended their traditional musical styles with the influences and realities of their new equipment to create even more innovative sounds. Recognized and cherished the world over, African American musical genres include blues, jazz, gospel, rhythm and blues, and hip-hop, as well as their many variations.