After welcome remarks from DC Public Libra ry Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan and DC Council Chairman Phil M endelson\, hear from city leaders and legends of Go-Go about the impact th at Go-Go has had on D.C.'s music scene and beyond over the decades. Panel members include:
\nModerator | \;Ronald Moten\, Co-Creator of Don't Mute DC and author of \;Don't Mute Moe: The V ision of an Urban Scholar
\nPanelists
\nFollowing the discussion groove to the beat with a LIVE concert featuring Pure Elegance and the "Kings of Cra nk" Junkyard Band! \; \; \;
\nAbout Keep the Be at Week
\nKeep the Beat Week celebrates Go-Go music history and DC culture\, and recognizes the anniversary of the signing of the "Go -Go Official Music of the District of Columbia Designation Act of 2019" bi ll.
\nRonald Moten
\n
Ronald Moten \;is a peace activist\,
political advisor and go-go promoter known as a passionate advocate for hi
s native Washington\, D.C. He is the co-founder of Don't Mute DC\, a Kenne
dy Center Caucus Member\, the co-founder of The Go-Go Museum and the autho
r of Don't Mute Moe: Visions of an Urban Scholar and Drinking
Muddy Water: The Streets\, The Scandals\, The Party of Lincoln.
Charles "Shorty Corleone"
Garris
Since signing his first recording co ntract with Warner Brothers Records at age 14\, American film and televisi on producer\, musician\, songwriter and composer Charles Garris (known as Shorty Corleone) has spent most of his life in the entertainment industry. He has released 3 albums as a solo artist as well as 20 live album record ings as frontman for Washington\, DC go-go music legends Rare Essence. Dur ing his tenure with Rare Essence\, the singles "Body Snatchers" and "Overn ight Scenario" (which was penned by Shorty Corleone) earned him two top 50 singles &\; Hot 100 placements on Billboard and to this day\, remain p arty classics in the world of go-go music and American hip-hop and R&\; B.
\nHe has recorded 300 singles with various recording artists\, 15 music videos and counting. Shorty's foray into filmmaking was marked by " Crank"\, a 15-episode series chronicling the evolution of DC's go-go music and its wide-reaching impact on the American urban culture. He is also th e mastermind behind The Capital Kidds\, a singing group of teen prot&eacut e\;gé\;s in support of which he created and produced "Cooking With C apital Kidds"\, a reality series showcasing the unique culinary and music culture of Washington\, DC. Shorty also served as music director on and pr oduced the original soundtracks for two major cable network projects\, "An grily Ever After" and "Twas the Chaos Before Christmas"\, both of which ai red on BET in 2019.
\nShanel Anthony
\n
Shanel Anthony is a lifelong resi
dent of the Petworth neighborhood. \;Growing up in Washington instille
d in him a sense of service and giving back to the community at an early a
ge. As a child\, he recalls volunteering at his church\, Martha&rsquo\;s T
able\, Catholic Charities and other local soup kitchens to feed the less f
ortunate. He served five terms on his neighborhood ANC as Treasurer and th
en Chairman. As a commissioner\, his contributions led to more affordable
housing\, healthier eating options\, improved recreational facilities and
most importantly\, a renovated Petworth Library. He is currently the Regio
nal Manager for Medtronic\, the world's largest medical technology company
. He continues to give back to his community as the Vice-Chair of DC Publi
c Library's Board of Trustees.
Pure Elegance
\nPure Elegance has been keeping the beat going since th e 90s with their 1996 Album Kep Ya Movin' \;danceable hits li ke Keep Ya Movin' and One Leg Up.
\nJunkyard Band
\nJunkyard band began in
1980 as a group of kids playing in a lot with plastic buckets\, soda cans
and other found objects\, emulating the sounds of some of their favorite g
o-go bands who performed in their Southeast\, DC neighborhood \;Barry
Farms \;also known as "the projects". The band began to play talent sh
ows and street performances throughout DC\, taking audiences by storm - pl
aying from the grounds of the Smithsonian and Washington Monument\, to the
streets of Georgetown.
The band became a novelty act across the D istrict\, Maryland and Virginia areas (DMV). Their popularity led to a TV commercial with one of the area's most popular retailers - Cavaliers Men&r squo\;s Clothing Store. Shortly thereafter in 1983\, the band landed an ap pearance in the movie "D.C. Cab" because it had quickly become a tourist a ttraction and Washington\, DC institution.
\nIn 1985\, \;Junkyar d \;caught the attention of \;Def Jam Records \;and was signed that same year to a multi-year recording deal. The band worked closely wi th producer Rick Rubin\, recording and releasing the national hit "Sardine s" and an underground favorite "The WORD". After release of the songs\, Ju nkyard began to tour in the United States and played major venues such as& nbsp\;Capital Centre\, \;Richmond Coliseum \;and the \;Apollo Theater. The tour included dates with a variety of groups such as \;Sl ayer\, \;Fishbone \;and the \;Beastie Boys. Following that\, i n 1986 Junkyard appeared in the \;Def Jam \;produced movie "Toughe r Than Leather" alongside \;Run-DMC.
\nBecause of the unique beg innings of the band\, it has performed on all types of stages\, in all typ es of situations from street corners\, to clubs\, to weddings\, to the&nbs p\;John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The band has opened for and performed with/backed-up numerous artists such as \;Tupac\, \ ;Ice Cube\, \;Salt-N-Pepa\, \;Doug E. Fresh\, \;Lauryn Hill\,& nbsp\;Chuck Brown \;and so many others. As the band started when the m embers were pre-teens\, \;Junkyard \;has been going strong for mor e than three decades.
\nAdding to the band's many accomplishments\, special honors\, awards\, and accolades\, Muriel Bowser\, mayor of Washing ton\, D.C.\, proclaimed Jan. 15\, 2018 as Junkyard Band Day!
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