A Crankin! Celebration
Join us on Tuesday, September 1st at 6 PM for a Crankin Celebration!
This Go-Go Museum & Café event will celebrate the book release of Crankin! Power and Resilience in Washington, DC’s Go-Go Culture, the definitive new history of the culture from Georgetown University Press.
The program will begin with a panel discussion with Crankin! authors Alona Wartofsky, Charles Stephenson, Jr., and Kato Hammond. Crankin! spans go-go’s beginnings all the way to its central role in recent social justice movements, including the movement for Black lives and the anti-gentrification activism of #Don’tMuteDC. This book details the life of go-go founder Chuck Brown; the genre’s early pioneers, Trouble Funk, Rare Essence, and Experience Unlimited; and go-go subgenres “3G” go-go gospel, grown ‘n’ sexy, and bouncebeat. The book also covers Snoop Dogg’s collaboration with Rare Essence and Backyard Band as well as go-go fashion and lifestyles, and, finally, the homecoming as go-go artists brought Chuck’s African-inspired beat to Africa.
The evening will feature a performance by Next Gen Krank, a band made up of teens from various D.C. public schools that represents the future of go-go. They’ll be joined by some of go-go’s brightest stars: Representing the iconic pioneers of go-go is the legendary Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliott, longtime leader of Experience Unlimited (EU), the most commercially successful band in go-go history. Joining them will be go-go stars Anwan “Big G” Glover and Leroy “Weensey” Brandon of Backyard Band, a top band in the city for decades.
The performance will also feature other surprise guest stars and showcase both traditional go-go sound created by Chuck Brown in 1976 as well as the fast-paced bouncebeat sound favored by younger fans. Beat Ya Feet dancers, an important aspect of go-go culture, will also perform.
Copies of Crankin! will be available for purchase and signing at the event.
Authors:
· Alona Wartofsky
· Charles Stephenson Jr.
· Kato Hammond
Special Guests:
· Gregory “Sugar Bear” Elliott of Experience Unlimited (EU)
· Anwan “Big G” Glover of Backyard Band
· Leroy “Weensey” Brandon of Backyard Band
Performers:
· Next Gen Krank
· Beat Ya Feet Dancers
· Surprise guest stars representing the traditional Go-Go and Bouncebeat sounds.
Time: Tuesday, September 1st, 6:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Location: The Go-Go Museum & Café
