AMNH Global Weekends Celebrates African-American History Month with African-American Musical Mosaic 2/18

The American Museum of Natural History celebrates African-American History Month with Global Weekends: The African-American Musical Mosaic on Saturday, February 18, from noon to 6 pm. The festivities, which include family-friendly activities and live musical performances, are presented in association with Community Works and New Heritage Theatre Group. The program will conclude with a special concert by Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, co-founder of the multi-platinum hip-hop group Run-DMC.

Gospel, jazz, blues, rhythm and blues, soul music, and hip-hop are the result of an ever-evolving African-American musical journey that has produced unique musical forms and traditions. Musical performances throughout the day include the innovative Harlem Quartet, dynamic First Corinthian Baptist Church Choir, Oscar-nominated IMPACT Repertory Theatre Choir, singer-songwriter Charles Mack, and celebrated jazz vocalist Sandra Reaves-Phillips. Fashion model Gail O’Neill will host the evening program.

At the conclusion of the program, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels will rock the house with Run-DMC classics and new singles, including “Rock Solid” and “Attention Please,” from his soon-to-be released album Rock Solid. The celebration will close with an uplifting collaboration by DMC and the soulful IMPACT Repertory Theatre choir. After the performance, DMC will be available for a special signing in the Grand Gallery.

About the Performers
As performers, teachers, and orchestral collaborators, the widely acclaimed Harlem Quartet advances diversity in classical music while bringing excitement to repertoire ranging from Ravel and Haydn to Wynton Marsalis and Chick Corea.

Harlem’s own Grammy- and Academy Award-nominated IMPACT Repertory Theatre is rooted in the rich traditions of the African-American musical legacy. This popular choir, which received a standing ovation for its Oscar-night performance of “Raise it Up” from the critically acclaimed film August Rush, inspires as it “raises the roof” with soulful traditional and contemporary gospel favorites.

GRAMMY-nominated composer Charles Mack proudly serves as the musical director for the IMPACT Repertory Theatre. His performance credits include a televised vocal solo for former Presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton. Mack has also penned songs for Michael Jackson, Usher, and Britney Spears.

Singer and actress Sandra Reaves-Phillips has starred in numerous theatrical, television, and feature film roles, including as the dedicated music teacher in Lean On Me with Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman. A modern-day griot, Ms. Phillips blends the very best of the blues, gospel, and jazz into an artistry all her own.

Darryl “DMC” McDaniels is co-founder of the multi-platinum hip-hop group Run-DMC. In between recording, performing, and writing, DMC has become an advocate for adoption and foster kids. He is actively involved with the Felix Organization, a nonprofit organization that promotes adoption and works with adoptees and foster children. He’s received numerous awards including the Hard Rock’s 2007 Love All Serve All Award for his numerous philanthropic endeavors and was recently inducted into the 2009 Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

The Presenting Sponsor of the Museum’s cultural public programming is MetLife Foundation.

Support for Global Weekends is made possible, in part, by the Ford Foundation, the May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, Inc., and the family of Frederick H. Leonhardt.

The African American Musical Mosaic is presented in association with Community Works and New Heritage Theatre Group.

Media Partner is WBGO Jazz 88.3FM / WBGO.org.

American Museum of Natural History (amnh.org)
The American Museum of Natural History, founded in 1869, is one of the world’s preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. The Museum encompasses 45 permanent exhibition halls and galleries for temporary exhibitions, the Rose Center for Earth and Space with the Hayden Planetarium, state-of-the-art research laboratories and five active research divisions that support more than 200 scientists in addition to one of the largest natural history libraries in the Western Hemisphere and a Permanent Collection of more than 32 million specimens and cultural artifacts. Through its Richard Gilder Graduate School, it is the first American museum authorized to grant the Ph.D. degree. In 2012, the Museum will begin offering a pilot Master of Arts in Teaching with a specialization in earth science. Approximately 5 million visitors from around the world came to the Museum last year, and its exhibitions and Space Shows can be seen in venues on five continents. The Museum’s website and growing collection of apps for mobile devices extend its collections, exhibitions, and educational programs to millions more beyond its walls. Visit amnh.org for more information.

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