The VIPP Report: Celebrating the Legacy of Black Louisville with entertainment memories from the past

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Jazz at the Top Hat 2020

(Louisville, KY) Music is healing to the soul and jazz is the essence of the heart and when you combine the two, you celebrate music and its legacy.  Legacies Unlimited Inc. presents Jazz At The Top Hat Club featuring the jazz renderings of saxophonist Rick DeBow and The Palm Room Crew on Friday, January 24th at the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, (KCAAH) located at 1701 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd formerly known as Old Walnut Street at 7:30pm.

Although members of the group CRISIS have not played as a unit for a number of years, they will come together as The Palm Room Crew for this Jazz At The Top Hat event.

We invite you to The Top Hat Club, it’s the place to be and to be seen as we celebrate the legacy of Black Louisville. Tickets are $35 for general admission.

On Saturday, January 25th, it’s “Ladies Night Out” with The Walnut Street Revue.  We take you back to the 1930’s, 40’s and 50s.  Louisville legends song stylist Tanita Gaines and showstopper Sheryl Rouse will perform.

Ken Clay, founder of Legacies Unlimited says “Its two evenings full of great music and memories.  We take you down memory lane as we remember our music legends from Louisville in particular Old Walnut with music powerhouses of today.  We will also honor an entertainer on that Saturday with the Helen Humes Jazz Legend Award.  We’ve only given the award to a handful of people over the years, but we feel the particular artist we will honor is so deserving.  We invite you both evenings as we party Old Walnut Street style.”

The award is named in honor of Helen Humes. A jazz and blues singer from Louisville, KY who was a vocalist with Count Basie’s band.  Enthusiasts and historians have documented that Humes was a vital voice in the swing-era.  Helping them shape and define the sound of vocal swing music.  The only child of a school teacher and her father was the first black attorney in the city.  In 1937, Basie asked Humes to join his band, replacing Billie Holiday. The Louisville music icon  recorded her last album in 1980 and died from cancer in 1981 at the age of 68 years old.

Tickets for The Walnut Street Revue are $50 for general admission and $60 for cabaret seating. (limited space)

Celebrating the Legacy of Black Louisville is presented by Legacies Unlimited in partnership with the KCAAH.  It is made possible through support from Christy Brown, the Owsley Brown II Family Foundation, Hardscuffle Inc., WLKY-TV and George & Mary Lee Fischer.

Tickets for the both JAZZ AT THE TOP HAT and WALNUT STREET REVUE are available at Better Days Records in Lyles Mall or at 1765 Bardstown Road. You can also purchase them online at redpintix.com.

Please announce and/or post our event to your entertainment/event calendar.  To set-up an interview, please contact VIPP Communications at  info@vippcommunications.com.

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Jazz at the TOP Hat 2020 BACK

The VIPP Report: LCCC will raise the roof in a ceremony for a new theater

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PREPARING AREA YOUTH TO BE THE GREATEST IN THE ARTS ARENA WITH A NEW THEATER ALONG THE MUHAMMAD ALI ARTS, CULTURE AND INNOVATION DISTRICT

LCCC

LCCC RAISES ROOF FOR GRAND LYRIC THEATER   

Louisville Central Community Centers, the developer of the Muhammad Ali Boulevard Arts, Culture and Innovation District, is constructing a performing arts facility to support its Kids Art Academy and the continued development of the district at its’ Old Walnut Street Development at 1300 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.

On Friday, February 15, 2019 at 10:00 am there will be a roof raising ceremony with key stakeholders in the community, LCCC and advocators to bring Muhammad Ali Blvd back to life will be in attendance to lend their support.  Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith, an arts enthusiast, former Councilman David Tandy, Fund for the Arts’ CEO, Christen Boone, and representatives of the Norton Foundation and the Gheens Foundation all have confirmed their participation in the ceremony.  Representatives of the LCCC Kids Art Academy, the Tiny Tykes Theater Troupe and the Youth Repertory Theater Troupe of Louisville will perform to celebrate this achievement.

During the era between 1940-60’s, there was a theatre that was considered the hub where artists showcased their talents, which many went on to become professional entertainers performing alongside entertainment legends like Helen Hune, the jazz and blues singer with Count Basie’s band.  So, in 2019 we will revitalize the name The Grand Theater and Lyric Theater on historic Old Walnut Street in Louisville, KY in hopes of bringing life back into the arts and the community with a rich history in arts and entertainment.

The 300-seat Grand Lyric Theater will be home to LCCC’s Kids Art Academy (KAA), a youth arts education program with a focus on all facets of performing arts for over three decades.  KAA currently serves hundreds of school-age youth annually and has produced theater troupe sell-out productions of “Broadway-quality” musicals as “Beauty and The Beast”, “Black Nativity”, “A Christmas Carol”, “Once On This Island” and the nationally acclaimed show, “The Wiz.”. This state-of-the art facility will also serve as another venue for community groups to use for training, rehearsals and performances.

National experts from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) of Washington, DC endorsed LCCC’s economic revitalization vision by recommending to our community that Muhammad Ali Blvd. between 6th to 21st Streets be transformed into a cultural arts commercial district to help create a vibrant corridor that supports economic development and job creation west of Ninth Street.  This plan aligns itself with what used to be the historic Walnut Street (now known as Muhammad Ali Blvd.) between 6th to 15th Streets, an area once the commercial heart of the black community that contained thriving businesses, professional offices, restaurants and entertainment venues prior to the razing of the commercial district by an urban renewal plan in the 1960s. This plan has been included with support of Louisville Metro and Louisville Metro Housing Authority as an important part of the transformation of Russell.

Partial funding has been provided by U. S. Housing & Urban Development through its community development block grant to the city of Louisville and a number of private sources.  To complete the theater, additional sponsorship and naming opportunities are available to support:

  • lighting, sound and recording systems – $265,000
  • main stage, staging area and loading dock area – $140,000
  • rehearsal, restrooms and dressing rooms – $270,000
  • lobby, vestibule and restrooms – $250,000
  • seating, coat check and storage – $280,000

To setup an interview to discuss the Grand Lyric Theater and/or to setup a tour after the roof raising contact VIPP Communications at booking@vippcommunications.com.  We will see you on Friday, February 15th for the ceremony.  Please arrive at least 15 minutes in advance so you can be in position to get everything you need for your stories.

 Louisville Central Community Centers Inc. is celebrating its 70th year of service to residents of the Russell neighborhood and west Louisville community.  As an anchor institution, LCCC provides an array of services including early childhood education, youth development, workforce development training, small business and neighborhood development activities.

The VIPP Report: Preparing area youth to be the greatest in the arts arena

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LCCC

A NEW THEATER ALONG THE MUHAMMAD ALI ARTS, CULTURE & INNOVATION DISTRICT
LCCC RAISES ROOF FOR GRAND LYRIC THEATER            

Louisville Central Community Centers, the developer of the Muhammad Ali Arts, Culture and Innovation District, is constructing a performing arts facility to support its Kids Art Academy and the continued development of the district at its’ Old Walnut Street Development at 1300 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd.

On Friday, February 15, 2019 at 10:00 am there will be a roof raising ceremony with key stakeholders in the community, LCCC and advocators to bring Muhammad Ali Blvd back to life will be in attendance to lend their support.  Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith, an arts enthusiast, former Councilman David Tandy, Fund for the Arts’ CEO, Christen Boone, and representatives of the Norton Foundation and the Gheens Foundation all have confirmed their participation in the ceremony.  Representatives of the LCCC Kids Art Academy, the Tiny Tykes Theater Troupe and the Youth Repertory Theater Troupe of Louisville will perform to celebrate this achievement.

During the era between 1940-60’s, there was a theatre that was considered the hub where artists showcased their talents, which many went on to become professional entertainers performing alongside entertainment legends.  So, in 2019 we will revitalize the name The Grand Theater and Lyric Theater on historic Old Walnut Street in Louisville, KY in hopes of bringing life back into the arts and the community with a rich history in arts and entertainment.

The Grand Lyric Theater will consist of 300 seats and will be home to LCCC’s Kids Art Academy, a youth arts education program with a focus on all facets of performing arts.  It currently serves hundreds of school-age youth annually and has produced theater troupe sell-out productions of “Broadway-quality” musicals as “Beauty and The Beast”, “Black Nativity”, “A Christmas Carol”, “Once On This Island” and the nationally acclaimed show, “The Wiz.”. This state-of-the art facility will also service as another venue that community groups will use the facility for training, rehearsals and performances.

National experts from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) of Washington, DC endorsed LCCC’s economic revitalization vision by recommending to our community that Muhammad Ali Blvd. between 6th to 21st Streets be transformed into a cultural arts commercial district to help create a vibrant corridor that supports economic development and job creation west of Ninth Street.  This plan aligns itself with what use to be the historic Walnut Street (now known as Muhammad Ali Blvd.) between 6th to 15th Streets, which was once the commercial heart of the black community that contained thriving businesses, professional offices, restaurants and entertainment venues prior to the razing of the commercial district by an urban renewal plan in the 1960s. This plan has been included with support of Louisville Metro and Louisville Metro Housing Authority as an important part of the transformation of Russell.

Partial funding has been provided by U. S. Housing & Urban Development through its community development block grant to the city of Louisville and a number of private sources.  To complete the theater, additional sponsors are needed to support:

  • lighting, sound and recording systems – $265,000
  • main stage, staging area and loading dock area – $140,000
  • rehearsal, restrooms and dressing rooms – $270,000
  • lobby, vestibule and restrooms – $250,000
  • seating, coat check and storage – $280,000

To setup an interview to discuss the Grand Lyric Theater and/or to setup a tour after the roof raising contact VIPP Communications at booking@vippcommunications.com.  We will see you on Friday, February 15th for the ceremony.  Please arrive at least 15 minutes in advance so you can be in position to get everything you need for your stories.

Louisville Central Community Centers Inc. is celebrating its 70th year of service to residents of the Russell neighborhood and west Louisville community.  As an anchor institution, It provides an array of services including early childhood education, youth development, workforce development training, small business and neighborhood development activities.

#CreateGrandThings

The VIPP Report: Oaks Day is the start of a Kentucky “Holiday” and LCCC welcomes the artist with the same name to kickoff the celebration

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JHolidayPromoPic

(Louisville, KY) Louisville Central Community Center, (LCCC) in collaboration with VIPP Communications announces their inaugural Kentucky Derby event.  On Friday, May 4th from 10 am to 2 pm at Old Walnut Street, 1300 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd, it’s the Oaks Day Derby Brunch. This year’s theme: Songs in the Key of Life, a Stevie Wonder Tribute starring R & B/Soul artist J. Holiday.

The Derby Brunch hosted by Sherlene Shanklin is from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm.  Some of Louisville’s top artists will open for Holiday.  Ade’, Sheryl Rouse and Junior J will perform some of Wonder’s greatest hits.  The Youth Repertory Theater Troupe will showcase their talents after LCCC’s leadership and performing arts department prepared a curriculum giving the youth a history and music lesson on the humble beginnings of Stevie Wonder.  The youth studied the multi-Grammy Award winning artist and his long span career in the entertainment industry.

Tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door.  You can purchase them at louisvilletickets.com.  Doors open at 10 a.m. and guests are asked to wear their Oaks Day attire including your fascinator and/or hat to the brunch.  There’s will be vendors with your last-minute items needed for Derby.  If you would like to reserve a booth contact Erica Bledsaw, Oaks Day Coordinator at Erica.bledsaw@lcccnews.org or by calling LCCC at (502) 583-8821 ext. 130.  Proceeds benefit LCCC youth programs.

The Louisville Central Community Centers is a 501c(3), private, non-profit community-based organizations.  We offer a variety of programs and services in support of children and families.  Early childhood, education, youth development, arts education and other after school programs, employment services and job training for adults, money management, and homeownership are just some of the services provided

We would like to thank the following who made our inaugural event successful: JIGGA MCC Ent., Erica Denise, VIPP Communications, Passport Health Plan, Manhattan on Broadway and WoodForest National Bank.

If you would like to be a sponsor, request media credentials and/or request interviews, please contact us at please contact VIPP Communications at  info at vippcommunications dot com.

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VIPP Communications is a full service public relations, event management and production firm headquartered in Louisville, KY with clients and/or projects all over the U.S. We can create, maintain and sustain your brand.  Our clientele ranges from small businesses, non-profits, corporate leaders, entertainment to current and retired professional athletes.  Contact one of our team members to see if we can assist you at info at vippcommunications dot com.

OaksDayBrunchOfficialFlyer

The VIPP Report: Celebrating the legacy of Black Louisville linking the past to the present

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Vic & Jazz Flyer (Back)

From workshops to live entertainment and it takes place along the Old Walnut Street strip

(Louisville, KY) Legacies Unlimited in partnership with the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, (KCAAH) & the University of Louisville Archives & Special Collections presents Celebrating the Legacy of Black Louisville on Friday, January 26th and 27th at KCAAH located at 1701 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd formerly known as Old Walnut Street.  This year’s theme is “Linking the past to the present.” 
On Friday, January 26th from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm there will be a reception and the opening of exhibits. There will be five works on exhibit: Two Centuries of Black Louisville…the Exhibit; The Expressionism of Victor Sweatt; Louisville Entertainers & Musicians Exhibit Part 1; The textile designs of “Bag Lady: Zephra May Miller and The Folk Art of Louisville’s Marvin Finn. 
From 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm KCAAH will transform into the most prominent club housed on Old Walnut Street known today as Muhammad Ali Blvd.  In the 1940’s and 50’s everyone would dress up and head down to the Top Hat Club.  Jazz would be bellowing out into the streets from some of the greatest jazz artists of their time.  So, by linking the past to the present, it’s Jazz at the Top Hall featuring vocalist/musician Gayle King and Hammond B-3 along with Kendall Carter and his quintet.  General admission is $30.00 per person. 
 On Saturday, January 27th starting at 9:00 am there will be workshops discussing the historic 2nd Baptist Church in New Albany, IN entitled Pathway to Freedom.  The free workshop takes you back in time when the church was a beacon of hope and served as a pathway to the Underground Railroad.  Following that workshop will be a jug band music session.  German & Irish immigrants along with slaves created this unique sound that left a lasting impression on music’s culture. 
At 12:00 pm, guests will get to enjoy The Listening Room.  Music from the 1950’s, 60’s & 70’s recordings from Louisville’s African American entertainers and musicians provided by the Soulful Sounds of Derbytown. 
To close out the weekend, it’s The Walnut Street Revue featuring Louisville native Vic Frierson.  It’s A Song for You: A Tribute to the Life & Music of Luther Vandross. Frierson will celebrate the life and music of Luther Vandross. The event begins at 7:30 pm with Tony Fish & Band. Hosted by WLKY-TV’s Ann Bowdan. General admission tickets are $40 per person.  You can purchase them online at http://www.louisville.com, Better Days Records in Lyles Mall and 1765 Bardstown Road.  Workshops and exhibits are free to the public.
The event is made possible due to the support of the following: The Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, Christy Brown & the Owsley Brown II Family Foundation, George & Mary Lee Fischer and WLKY-TV. 
If you would like to setup an interview with Ken Clay and/or to have one of the artist(s) to perform on your show please contact Sherlene Shanklin with VIPP Communications at 502-295-0435 or by email at info@vippcommunications.com. 

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Vic & Jazz Flyer (Front)