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| PERFORMERS |
| Click here for highlights from the 30th Anniversary Peoples' Festival |
A. Marcy Francis is a seasoned musician and entertainer whose musical spirit continues to
enrich the lives of all she meets. Whether it's massage, Ms.Francis is the go to person for raising
spiritual vibrations. Inspired by Sarah Vaughn, Etta James, Louis Armstrong and James Brown
among others, she began as a vocalist, picking up the bass and shekere in her later years. As
Ms.Lady Fingers, she was the leader and A. Marcy founder of the all female band, Better Days,
Artist-in-Residence at the Arts and Spirituality Center of Philadelphia and the C.A. House of the
University of Pennsylvania. Teacher of the Shekere (sacred African hand drum) and also leads
stress release management retreats throughout the Caribbean. Her first love is the teaching of
children and helping them achieve a strong spiritual foundation for love of life and living.
enrich the lives of all she meets. Whether it's massage, Ms.Francis is the go to person for raising
spiritual vibrations. Inspired by Sarah Vaughn, Etta James, Louis Armstrong and James Brown
among others, she began as a vocalist, picking up the bass and shekere in her later years. As
Ms.Lady Fingers, she was the leader and A. Marcy founder of the all female band, Better Days,
Artist-in-Residence at the Arts and Spirituality Center of Philadelphia and the C.A. House of the
University of Pennsylvania. Teacher of the Shekere (sacred African hand drum) and also leads
stress release management retreats throughout the Caribbean. Her first love is the teaching of
children and helping them achieve a strong spiritual foundation for love of life and living.
Plan B, an artistic contemporary smooth jazz band, consists of four of Philadelphia's finest
musicians. The group began in 1997 with Dale Harris on bass, Ray Robinson on drums and
Mike Cummings on lead guitar. The trio had played together in their earlier years in a group
called The on keyboards and he was the special ingredient necessary to complete the recipe
for this soul flavored high energy group now called Plan B. To read their complete bio or to
purchase Plan B's music visit www.planbjazz.com
musicians. The group began in 1997 with Dale Harris on bass, Ray Robinson on drums and
Mike Cummings on lead guitar. The trio had played together in their earlier years in a group
called The on keyboards and he was the special ingredient necessary to complete the recipe
for this soul flavored high energy group now called Plan B. To read their complete bio or to
purchase Plan B's music visit www.planbjazz.com
| 2010 LIVE ON STAGE to be announced... |
Donald's mother purchased his first Alto Sax. She arranged for private instructions in their
home and he proved to be a natural. He has studied saxophone techniques with Ed Schluth,
Byard Lancaster, Middy Middleton, Rayburn Wright, Bobby Zankel and Sam Reed, Al Gray,
Bobby Watson, Jimmy Heath, Tootie Heath, Reggie Workman, and Johnnie Coles.
Early in Donald's music career, he played on the street corners of Philadelphia for coins and
in subways and coffee houses, such as Long March Coffee House, then eventually, at the
New York Café and the World Famous Zanzibar Blue Café and Warm Daddy's blues club.
In addition to playing in various R&B and Jazz bands, Donald has formed bands called "Last
Nerve", "NORTHBOUND", and "TO BE CONTINUED".
home and he proved to be a natural. He has studied saxophone techniques with Ed Schluth,
Byard Lancaster, Middy Middleton, Rayburn Wright, Bobby Zankel and Sam Reed, Al Gray,
Bobby Watson, Jimmy Heath, Tootie Heath, Reggie Workman, and Johnnie Coles.
Early in Donald's music career, he played on the street corners of Philadelphia for coins and
in subways and coffee houses, such as Long March Coffee House, then eventually, at the
New York Café and the World Famous Zanzibar Blue Café and Warm Daddy's blues club.
In addition to playing in various R&B and Jazz bands, Donald has formed bands called "Last
Nerve", "NORTHBOUND", and "TO BE CONTINUED".
It was an honor and a blessing for Donald to have played with other talented musicians in the area such as Bill Lewis, Kahn
Jamaal, Lex Humphreys, Sam Reed, Rufus Harley and Byard Lancaster, Kevin Eubanks, and Jamaaladeen Tacuma.
Don has produced and arranged his first two CDs. "Enchanted Memories" and "Pass It On" can be purchased on the web at
www.CDbaby.com. Check out Donald’s website at www.DonaldWilliams.net
Jamaal, Lex Humphreys, Sam Reed, Rufus Harley and Byard Lancaster, Kevin Eubanks, and Jamaaladeen Tacuma.
Don has produced and arranged his first two CDs. "Enchanted Memories" and "Pass It On" can be purchased on the web at
www.CDbaby.com. Check out Donald’s website at www.DonaldWilliams.net
Tha Truth is a conscious/political hip hop artist, poet, and activist from Philadelphia whose music addresses poverty,
inequality, the environment, and imperialism. He believes that all art is political and that silence on the critical issues of the day
equals approval. He has released 3 CDs in the past 3 years.
Tha Truth has performed in countless venues at concerts, colleges, demonstrations, marches, conferences, and benefits.
Among these appearances Tha Truth performed at “The People’s March for Peace and Justice” in Newark, NJ where he shared
the stage with Amy Goodman of “Democracy Now!” and Congressman Jon Conyers (one of the initators of HR 676/the Universal
Health Care bill). He was also featured as a special guest performer along with M-1 of Dead Prez at the 2008 People's Peace
Conference at Rutgers University Law School in Newark, NJ, he performed in the Iraq Veterans Against The War (IVAW) benefit
concert in Philadelphia, and in the annual "Drop Beats Not Bombs" concert at Rutgers University. Environmental benefit events
Tha Truth has been featured in include concerts at Pennsylvania’s Cedar Brook Middle School Earth Day Festival and “Arts in
The Park” in Elkins Park, PA.
inequality, the environment, and imperialism. He believes that all art is political and that silence on the critical issues of the day
equals approval. He has released 3 CDs in the past 3 years.
Tha Truth has performed in countless venues at concerts, colleges, demonstrations, marches, conferences, and benefits.
Among these appearances Tha Truth performed at “The People’s March for Peace and Justice” in Newark, NJ where he shared
the stage with Amy Goodman of “Democracy Now!” and Congressman Jon Conyers (one of the initators of HR 676/the Universal
Health Care bill). He was also featured as a special guest performer along with M-1 of Dead Prez at the 2008 People's Peace
Conference at Rutgers University Law School in Newark, NJ, he performed in the Iraq Veterans Against The War (IVAW) benefit
concert in Philadelphia, and in the annual "Drop Beats Not Bombs" concert at Rutgers University. Environmental benefit events
Tha Truth has been featured in include concerts at Pennsylvania’s Cedar Brook Middle School Earth Day Festival and “Arts in
The Park” in Elkins Park, PA.
Tha Truth put out his debut CD “Tha Civil Rights Movement” in 2006. His second CD “Tha Civil Rights Movement Part II” was released in 2007. In 2009 Tha Truth
dropped his latest CD "Tha People's Music." "Tha People's Music" was heavily inspired by Howard Zinn's classic book "A People's History of the United States (from
1492 to Present)". On this CD Tha Truth sums up the suppressed, real history of the United States from 1492 to 2008 in just two songs! Throughout the project
Tha Truth alerts listeners to the most critical issues occuring throughout the US and the world. Through his complex rhyme patterns he describes how these issues
go back through time, and specific ways to take action to fix them. Amongst many issues, Tha Truth takes on bigotry, the prison industrial complex, U.S. healthcare,
Hurricane Katrina, US foreign policy/empire, and so much more. Tha Truth's music is available on itunes and amazon.com and you can find more information at his
website link www.thatruthmusic.com
dropped his latest CD "Tha People's Music." "Tha People's Music" was heavily inspired by Howard Zinn's classic book "A People's History of the United States (from
1492 to Present)". On this CD Tha Truth sums up the suppressed, real history of the United States from 1492 to 2008 in just two songs! Throughout the project
Tha Truth alerts listeners to the most critical issues occuring throughout the US and the world. Through his complex rhyme patterns he describes how these issues
go back through time, and specific ways to take action to fix them. Amongst many issues, Tha Truth takes on bigotry, the prison industrial complex, U.S. healthcare,
Hurricane Katrina, US foreign policy/empire, and so much more. Tha Truth's music is available on itunes and amazon.com and you can find more information at his
website link www.thatruthmusic.com
On rare occasions a combination like ALL UP ON IT emerges. All world class musicians who have toured, recorded or performed with the likes of Musiq
Soulchild, John Legend, Fred Hammond, Stevie Wonder, Freddie Jackson, Evelyn Champagne King, Change, Chubby Checker, Denise Williams, the late Freddie
Hubbard, The Blue Notes, The Delphonics, The Ebonys, Al Green, Ray Goodman & Brown, Bloodstone, Jazmine Sullivan, Gerald Veasley, and Norman Connors.
These musicians have performed all over the world. From the Montreal Jazz Festival to Europe and all over the United States. They come together as All Up On It to
give audiences a taste of their own spin of the music performed by the artists they have been privileged to work with over the years. Call it ole' school funk and jazz.
Call it whatever you will. They call it All Up On It. Learn more about this fantastically talented group by visiting their website www.eastsideproductionsinc.com
Soulchild, John Legend, Fred Hammond, Stevie Wonder, Freddie Jackson, Evelyn Champagne King, Change, Chubby Checker, Denise Williams, the late Freddie
Hubbard, The Blue Notes, The Delphonics, The Ebonys, Al Green, Ray Goodman & Brown, Bloodstone, Jazmine Sullivan, Gerald Veasley, and Norman Connors.
These musicians have performed all over the world. From the Montreal Jazz Festival to Europe and all over the United States. They come together as All Up On It to
give audiences a taste of their own spin of the music performed by the artists they have been privileged to work with over the years. Call it ole' school funk and jazz.
Call it whatever you will. They call it All Up On It. Learn more about this fantastically talented group by visiting their website www.eastsideproductionsinc.com
Philadelphia Young Artist (PYA) is a non-profit organization in which aspiring artists can hone their creative skills in a
studio setting. PYA provides a studio space where talented young individuals can produce something tangible that showcases their
talents. Music artists are taught to compose, sing or rap, record their music in a sound isolation booth and to perform live. They each
create their own artist MySpace page that enables them to post their own original music recordings and contains photos and video
footage of the artists. PYA seeks opportunities for students to perform at events and hosts its own seasonal performances.
Although music education is one of PYA’s main goals, it is not PYA’s sole purpose. Mentoring the young students of PYA is an
important factor of the program. The artists are provided not only with a place to go for creative purposes, but it also keeps them from
participating in less than desirable activities on the streets. Members of PYA receive guidance from more experienced adults that can
provide the students with feedback on their music as they develop.
Many teenage singers and rappers get lost in a fantasy about being a star. PYA helps to get their minds focused on reality, and
teaches them the steps necessary to truly be an artist. Some PYA students aspire to be musicians for a career, while others attend the
program as a hobby. Regardless of the reason the students come, they are driven by a creative passion that brings them to the PYA
studio to develop their craft in a safe haven under the guidance of adults who help them become successful. For more information
contact: Joe Malachi Silberstein, Executive Producer/Philadelphia Young Artist (PYA)
malachijoe@yahoo.com - 610-299-8166 - www.myspace.com/pyaprogram
studio setting. PYA provides a studio space where talented young individuals can produce something tangible that showcases their
talents. Music artists are taught to compose, sing or rap, record their music in a sound isolation booth and to perform live. They each
create their own artist MySpace page that enables them to post their own original music recordings and contains photos and video
footage of the artists. PYA seeks opportunities for students to perform at events and hosts its own seasonal performances.
Although music education is one of PYA’s main goals, it is not PYA’s sole purpose. Mentoring the young students of PYA is an
important factor of the program. The artists are provided not only with a place to go for creative purposes, but it also keeps them from
participating in less than desirable activities on the streets. Members of PYA receive guidance from more experienced adults that can
provide the students with feedback on their music as they develop.
Many teenage singers and rappers get lost in a fantasy about being a star. PYA helps to get their minds focused on reality, and
teaches them the steps necessary to truly be an artist. Some PYA students aspire to be musicians for a career, while others attend the
program as a hobby. Regardless of the reason the students come, they are driven by a creative passion that brings them to the PYA
studio to develop their craft in a safe haven under the guidance of adults who help them become successful. For more information
contact: Joe Malachi Silberstein, Executive Producer/Philadelphia Young Artist (PYA)
malachijoe@yahoo.com - 610-299-8166 - www.myspace.com/pyaprogram
| Philadelphia Young Artists |
Copyright © 2010. The Peoples' Festival Committee and Peoplesfestival.org. All Rights Reserved
| If you are interested in performing at this year's festival send your electronic media kit, bio and photos and links to performers@peoplesfestival.org |
| ATTENTION MUSICIANS LEARN MORE ABOUT RESOURCES THAT COULD BENEFIT YOU BY VISITING OUR PARTNERS AT A.M.R.N. |
| Smooth Jazz Magazine, courtesy of Capitol Records, will give away several of Corinne Bailey Rae's new CD, "The Sea", to randomly selected entries during the last two weeks of February. Just go to our website http://www.smoothjazzmag.com Just click the “Subscribe” tab on SmoothJazzMagazine.com and then click Promotion and just fill in the form to enter into this promotion and maybe you will get “Closer” with Corinne Bailey Rae this month. |
