(Michelle Ray, Image Credit: Facebook Page)
Over the years, Black musicians, songwriters, and vocalists have been forced to play and segregated concert venues or give up waive their rights to songs. While these issues are happening less today, Black music artists still have trouble booking performances and getting paid the same as their White counterparts. An organization in Philadelphia is looking to change that.
In 2019, Shekinah B. and The Women’s Coalition for Empowerment, Inc. began a project that would highlight and pay Black, local, independent artists from the Philadelphia region. The event, known as Sistah Soul Series, started in the Aloft Hotel in Center City but has moved outdoors due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
This year, Shekinah B. partnered with the Delaware River Waterfront, the Office of the Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, and Wawa to bring three shows at Spruce Street Harbor Park. These concerts are free and open to the public. Food and drinks are available from local vendors: French Toast Bites, Dre’s Water Ice and Ice Cream, Frozen Delights, Chickie’s and Pete’s, and Philly Tacos.
The program sponsors monthly outdoor concerts, and this year, it began with Michelle “Songbird” Ray. According to her Facebook page, “I’m an internationally known vocalist who loves to express herself through R&B/gospel/jazz music and excited to share my musical journey with you!”
(Ella Gahnt, Image Credit: ellagahnt.com)
Ella Gahnt was the second performer at this year’s Sistah Soul Series. Ella states on her website, “I am a vocalist in the jazz/traditional pop style and I am honored to say I perform with some of the most talented musicians in the quad-state area of Philadelphia, New Jersey, Delaware, and New York, who have also become some of my closest friends. Together, we tell stories in songs written and made famous by the best songwriters and singers in the world.”
Monica Fleurette will be the last artist in the summer series on 08.22 (Rain 08.29), but you can also find music stylings by Spinning House music DJ Tee Alford (WURD-FM/Funky People Radio, Ibiza 92.4FM) present at the events.
For information, view the Eventbrite series page.
This article is done in partnership with Resolve Philly.
Sources:
Kassidy Garland has had a great appreciation for reading and writing since she was young. She graduated from West Chester University in 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree in English & Women and Gender Studies. With a concentration in creative writing, Kassidy has 5 years of experience writing blogs, articles, and for social media. Kassidy is also pursuing a Master’s degree in IT with a concentration in Web Development. Based out of Philadelphia, Kassidy loves to write about a number of topics and looks forward to sharing her passion with those at FunTimes Magazine.
