AfroSolo Arts Festival 15 Gala Concert and Reception August 18, 2008

Gala Concert at Yoshi's San Francisco and Awards Ceremony In Honor of Four Great Ones: John Coltrane, Sammy Davis, Jr., Duke Ellington, and Hope Foye

When: Monday, August 18, 8pm (gala reception 6 pm)

Where: Yoshi's San Francisco (1330 Fillmore Street), SF map

Tickets: $25 Balcony, $35 Main Floor, $60 Includes Gala Reception and priority seating

Purchase at http://brownpapertickets.com or call 1-800-838-3006

Featuring: Hope Foye, Noah Griffin, Ohnedaruth, and Robert Sims
Hope Foye

Special Guest-Hope Foye, Soprano
Life Highlights:

*Friend of Paul Robeson
*Civil Rights Activist
*Performed at Peekskill, NY
*Was called before McCarran Senate Committee during the McCarthy era
*Fled into exile in Mexico where she had her own television show
*Internationally renowned soprano

For more info and a video of Ms. Foye visit: http://www.presstelegram.com/breakingnews/ci_8646031

Accompanied by Jefferson Award Winner - Jacqueline Hairston

Ms. Foye, 86, is a living African American treasure. A classically trained and internationally acclaimed soprano, she is a trilingual musician; teacher and activist who has lived an extraordinary life. She performed on and off Broadway, in Madison Square Garden, and at clubs such as Village Vanguard and Café Society. She appeared as Bess, in productions of Porgy and Bess, throughout Europe.

As a youth, she was befriended and mentored by Paul Robeson. As a result, she was drawn into the human rights movement that set the stage for the civil rights struggle. In 1951 she was called before the infamous McCarran Senate Committee during the McCarthy era. Rather then relinquish her visa; she fled into exile in Mexico, where she had a phenomenal career that included a television show and numerous critically acclaimed performances.

Ms. Foye's career includes three Rockefeller Grants, residencies and performances in Berlin, Israel and Zurich. Now living in California, she earned a BA in music at Immaculate Heart College, shortly before her 60th birthday, and began work on a Masters at Cal State Long Beach. In addition to her native English, she is fluent in both Spanish and German, and sings in other languages.

AfroSolo will proudly confer upon Ms. Foye its distinguished Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award.
Noah Griffin

Performing A Tribute to Sammy Davis, Jr. is Bay Area native Noah Griffin. Griffin began his singing career at the age of seven when he joined the San Francisco Boys Chorus; since then, he has performed with Duke Ellington, and shared the stage with Paul Robeson, Nat King Cole, and Leontyne Price. He has performed at many venues including Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and New York's Birdland. Most recently, Griffin played a six-month engagement at the Fairmont Hotel and was featured in Oakland Opera Theater's production of Duke Ellington's Queenie Pie.

Ohnedaruth

Comprised of members of the Saint John Coltrane Church in San Francisco, Ohnedaruth (Sanskrit for "compassion") will perform A Tribute to John Coltrane, featuring the melodies, harmonies and rhythms of John Coltrane's masterpiece A Love Supreme. Ohnedaruth has performed to critical acclaim at virtually every Jazz venue in the Bay Area, including Kimball's East, Yoshi's, Bimbo's, and the San Jose Jazz Festival. The group has also played at the Antibes Jazz Festival and at the Sorbonne in Paris.

Robert Sims

Performs a tribute to Duke Ellington entitled The Sacred Music of Duke Ellington. His interpretations of African American folk songs have won him praise throughout the Unites States, Europe and Asia. Following the tradition of Paul Robeson, Roland Hayes, and William Warfield, Sims has emerged as one of this generation's spiritual specialist. Upholding this proud heritage for today's audience, Sims is equally effective at bringing a deep intimacy to African American folk songs as well as to the traditional classical repertoire.

A leading interpreter of African American spirituals, Robert Sims recently made his recital debut at Carnegie Hall. He has been featured in concerts at Lincoln Center, the Smithsonian, the African American Museum in Los Angeles, Grace Cathedral, the Latour de France International Music Festival, and the American Church in Paris.

To see and hear Mr. Sims visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1j9MOt63E54&feature=related

Community Resilience Award
AfroSolo proudly announces the launch of its Community Resilience Award. This award is given to individuals who exemplify the spirit of fighting and overcoming setbacks, disappointments and failures. This year we honor:

Bernice Brown
For her service as an educator, philanthropist, community activist and her distinguished career in community services

Lisa L. Williams
For her service as a political, community and human rights activist.

Official Website: http://afrosolo.org