TRIBUTE TO LOVE AND LEGENDS

MUSIC PROPOSAL 2020

JOIN US for EM Production’s first annual celebration of Music.

“A Tribute to Love and Legends” will occur on Saturday, July 18,, 2020 at the Carpenter Theater.   Proceeds from this exciting venue benefits Ezibu Muntu.

Ezibu Muntu is a 47 year old African-American cultural organization that teaches African dance, drumming and African principles. Upon the return of founder Tanya Dennis, and after two years of collaboration, Ezibu Muntu has added music, theater and education to its repertoire of services.  The expansion of services and securing a central location for Ezibu Muntu’s activities is how fund proceeds will be utilized.  Ezibu Muntu’s intent is to lease with an option to purchase the property in order to secure their place in the Richmond Community for the next 46 years.  Land ownership is key for Ezibu Muntu must lead by example if we are to authentically teach financial literacy.

Ezibu Muntu, having witnessed the increasing moral decline in the African American community and American society at-large, realized something must be done.  Successfully teaching African principles for over forty-five years the Company has embraced “Living Values” an international curriculum they will utilize to reintroduce values, morals and ethics to children and the community. http://livingvalues.net

 

HISTORY & FUTURE PLANS

After operating on Main Street for over 18 years, Ezibu Muntu was displaced from their centrally located center in 2017 after the property was sold by the property owner.  Currently operating more than 20 minutes from downtown Richmond on Old Warwick Road, programming and offering programs to the Richmond community has been limited and problematic.

Ezibu Muntu is seeking a building centrally located in Richmond, and will use proceeds from the Music concert to secure the new facility, install a wooden floor, and add new programs:

  • Values classes
  • Parenting classes
  • Dance classes: Zumba, Hip-Hop and Classes for Seniors: chair aerobics and yoga
  • Nutrition classes
  • African History classes
  • Financial Literacy classes
  • Investor Education classes
  • Positive Image classes

In addition to workshops and classes, the center will be used for symposiums; lectures; film festivals/viewings; storytelling; poetry slams; practice space for other artists; and home for the development and eventual production of “Brother Dap” a Black History Musical.

Sponsorships for the Music Concert will include a food and live entertainment, featuring entertainment by comedian Jammin’ Jay Lamont and vocalist Jerel Crockett and Ezibu Muntu members  at the Dominion Energy Center venue with an exciting After-Party  to the concert as well as a post-concert dessert reception.

 

July 24, 2021 –   TRIBUTE TO LOVE AND LEGENDS MUSIC CONCERT

Master of Ceremonies Jay Lamont The ultimate entertainer Jammin Jay Lamont: His stage show is so unbelievable that he receives standing ovations night after night no matter where he performs.  Jay’s secret recipe to his success is his ability to perform in front of any type of audience by adapting his show to fit their expectations.  His show is one of a kind as he is a clean upscale entertainer that mixes a dash of comedy with a sprinkle of impressions and a hand full of music to create the ultimate experience.

Lamont has performed on BET’s Comicview, Comedy Central, Showtime at the Apollo, Tom Joyner Family Reunion, Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam, Byron Allen’s “Comic Unleashed” Jamie Foxx presents “Laffapalooza” and Martin Lawrence’s “1st Amendment” and several other television shows.  He has performed with the late Luther Vandross and Roger Troutman; the Gap Band, The O’Jays, Anita Baker, Ledisi, MAZE featuring Frankie Beverly; D.L. Hughley; Sheryl Underwood; Cedric the Entertainer, Mike Epps, Jamie Foxx, After Six, Charlie Wilson, New Edition and many more.

 

Opening Act:  Tribute to Luther Vandross featuring Jerel Crockett

Opening Act:  Tribute to Aretha Franklin featuring Nia Simmons

Opening Act:  Tribute to Stevie Wonder featuring Gary Walker

Headliner:  Tribute to Love with Jeffrey Osborne

 

Jeffrey Osborne is an American Grammy–nominated singer–songwriter, musician and lyricist. Osborne is the former drummer and lead singer of the American R&B/Soul group L.T.D.; with whom he began his musical career with in 1970.

Osborne began his music career in 1970 becoming a member of the American soul band “Love Men Ltd.”, who would later become known as L.T.D.[2] The band recorded hit singles such as “(Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again”(1977), “Concentrate on You,” “Love Ballad” (1976), and “Holding On (When Love Is Gone) (1978). At first, Osborne served as only a drummer, sharing lead vocal duties with his brother Billy Osborne; but by 1976 he became the group’s primary lead vocalist. Osborne and his brother both left the band in late 1981 to start solo careers. Osborne’s solo success includes five gold and platinum albums.

In 1985, Osborne wrote the lyrics to the Whitney Houston hit “All at Once” (music by Michael Masser. He appeared on USA for Africa’s fundraising single, “We Are the World in 1985.

Osborne has two gold albums, Don’t Stop and Emotional, the latter of which had his highest charting solo pop hit, “You Should Be Mine”, which peaked at #13 in 1986. The following year, Osborne had the highest-charting hit of his career duetting with Dionne Warwick on “Love Power”, which reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and also topped the Adult Contemporary singles chart.