Henry Street Heritage Festival
Festival contact info: (540) 345-4818 or email us at: festivalharrison@verizon.net
2008 Henry Street Festival Forms
2007 Henry Street Festival Performers
Kevin L.
Although many folks believe that it is impossible to legitmately combine the diverse musical universes of gospel, soul, and rap, yet for talented performer Kevin L. it is just another day in the studio. "For me, there are no musical borders," says Kevin L., whose debut disc Souled Out master-mixes various elements of Black music to create a sound that is completely his own. http://www.souledoutcd.com
Emily King
Emily King (born 1986 in New York, United States) is an American Singer, Songwriter. She started her career in 2005 with her debut album East Side Story being released two years later in 2007. King was born Emily Cowings to an international jazz duo, Marion Cowings and Kim Kalesti in New York. Emily and her brother Alex Cowings were always exposed to music, especially jazz and classical sounds during their childhood.
King may just be 22 years old, but this girl is a throwback to another era. The music on her J Records debut, East Side Story, reveals roots that are both deep & ambitious. Kings words are packed with references to the wide range of great artists that inspired her - the Beatles, Nas, Sarah Vaughn, Radiohead & Michael Jackson. “Every record that I’ve ever heard has been an influence on me,” she says.
http://www.emilykingonline.com/
Rob Base
Rob Base is from Harlem, New York and is best known for his hit with DJ E-Z Rock, "It Takes Two", a 1988 platinum-selling release that has since become one of the classic hits of the genre.
Their first U.S. single and release was "DJ Interview," appeared on World to World, which later got them a recording contract with Profile Records in 1987.
The first Profile release was "It Takes Two". It used a vocal sample from the James Brown and Lyn Collins 1972 song "Think (About It)." The track first became a regional hit and then slowly climbed the Hot 100, eventually peaking at #36 and picking up a platinum single certification. The song also peaked at #3 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. http://www.robbase.net/
Victor Fields
In this era of disposable popular music and “flavor of the month” idols, there remain a few song stylists who truly study their craft, sing songs with meaning and substance, and strive to create a significant body of work that will stand the test of time. Victor Fields is one such artist. He’s a romantic dreamer, an optimistic believer who committed to and invested in himself. He’s in it for the love: love of singing, love of song, and love of performing. His fourth album, Thinking Of You, led Fields to discovering his identity as a vocalist. It’s also the album his fans have been waiting for.
“It’s up-tempo and soulful,” described Fields. “It’s pretty much the same formula in that it’s smooth vocals over funky tracks. It’s decidedly more fun, more upbeat and more danceable.” It’s also the first album Fields made that will specifically appeal to smooth jazz listeners. He’s evolved from being a jazz vocalist with overt urban tendencies into a smooth jazz vocalist, which admittedly is somewhat of a rare breed in a format that predominantly spotlights guitars, horns and keyboardists. “This album feels like home to me. The music was fun and challenging. Smooth jazz is a format I’m comfortable with and it naturally suits my style.” http://www.victorfields.com/
Rare Essence
Rare Essence (from Washington D.C.), affectionately known by their fans as "THE WICKEDEST BAND ALIVE", grew from a relationship between four childhood friends: Quinten "Footz" Davidson, Andre "Whiteboy" Johnson, Michael "Funky Ned" Neal and John Jones. After school, the four young musicians would get together in each other's basements and play top forty hits from such influential bands like Parliament/Funkadelic, Cameo, and Confunkshun. Eventually the band adapted more players and conformed to the go-go sound that started in 1976. It was at that time that the band called on the assistance of Quinten's mother, Annie Mack, who became the band's first manager.
Today, Rare Essence's band is composed of 12 musicians who play a range of instruments from the timbales to the bass guitar. The band is still going strong playing up to six nights a week, even playing two concerts in one night. Rare Essence credits their continued success to the enthusiastic interaction they have with their fans at each performance.
Rare Essence has had success with such hits as "Body Moves", the hit album Live at Breeze's Metro Club, and the single "Lock-It" which was featured on the Strictly Business soundtrack. The band's most successful single, "Work the Walls", hit Billboard's top 10 charts and blew up airwaves nationwide.
While the greatest success from Rare Essence remains mostly on the East Coast, many dedicated fans all over the world love their groove. Even after 25 years true fans will gladly proclaim, "Rare Essence is the Wickedest Band Alive!" http://www.rareessence.com/
Donna Jones featuring Pressure Point
Additionally, we will have a performance by gospel singer Donna Jones featuring Pressure Point.
Cox Communication's Kids Corner (10 AM - 2 PM)
Balloon sculpting
Caricature artist
Face painter
Magician
Inflatable basketball game
2 moonwalks
Popcorn machine
Sno cone machine
2006 Henry Street Festival Headliners
The following artists were some of the many performers that participated at the 2006 Henry Street Festival:
The Barkays
Their Hit singles include: Soulfinger, Shake Your Rump, Attitude, Sex-O-Matic, Too Hot To Stop, and Freakshow On The Dance Floor. Fire, smoke, vibrant costuming, and even a live, 12 foot Python snake are all just part of what's in store for audiences these days at a typical stage performance by the Barkays. Spontaneity and excitement have been the group's trademark since its inception in the late 60s. Today's Barkays have boosted their high-energy act into even higher gear for the new millennium crowd.
Ruben Studdard
Irresistible Southern boy Ruben Studdard,"The Velvet Teddy Bear," proved he's got what it takes to win the hearts of millions of Americans when the then-25-year-old Birmingham, Alabama, native edged out Clay Aiken on FOX television's May 21 'American Idol' finale.
As a result, Studdard became a singing sensation taken under the wing of music industry legend Clive Davis. Davis signed Ruben Studdard to a recording contract on J Records through Simon Fuller's 19 Recordings Limited.
Algebra
As the first artist to be released on the revamped Kedar Entertainment Group, Algebra enters the contemporary soul music landscape following legacies created by artists like D'Angelo, Erykah Badu and India.Arie all of whom developed under the watchful eye of Massenburg. However her sound is unique. Algebra at first is unassuming, but it takes mere moments for you to recognize that she is not just a tempest in a teapot but more like the catalyst of a paradigm shift. With there being only two universal languages in this world - Math and Music; fate would have it, southern songbird Algebra represents both!
Lacee
Lacy Yvonne Reed was born in the early 70s, July 1st. “I learned music from my mom. She was a dynamic gospel singer, a nd my father was a pastor, a preacher of a church. I owe it all to my mother. She taught me everything.” When asked about the biggest influence in her career, there’s no hesitation in Lacee’s answer: “Patti LaBelle! I love Patti LaBelle. All through school I would do Patti LaBelle, and I would do some Gladys Knight, but Patti – I love her. And I got to add my mom, too. She was ingenious in her own way.”
“I started singing in the church, when I was five, and I’ve been singing there for years and years. Once I started singing in school, I started thinking that it was something I wanted to do. I’d say, about ten years back I started going to competitions, winning competitions and stuff, and then I started singing with Little Milton, and while singing background for him I really started to want to do this professionally. Since then I’ve worked with Archie Love, J. Blackfoot, Howard Hewett from the group Shalamar, a guy named Stevenson Clark – he’s gospel. I’ve been on stage with a lot of different people – Shirley Caesar, Tyrese, Mint Condition…”